China, United States can achieve mutual success, shared prosperity

17:42, November 01, 2025 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily

On Oct. 30, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in Busan, South Korea. The two heads of state held in-depth discussions on strategic and long-term issues concerning China-U.S. relations, as well as major topics of shared interests.

Both sides agreed to maintain interactions on a regular basis, enhance cooperation in economic, trade, energy and other fields and encourage more people-to-people exchanges.

The international community has followed this meeting closely, viewing it as a positive signal to the world. It is believed that this meeting has provided new guidance and fresh impetus for the stable development of China-U.S. relations, and injected valuable certainty into a world undergoing turbulence and transformation.

Head-of-state diplomacy is the compass and anchor of China-U.S. relations, playing an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance for the relationship. Xi and Trump have maintained long-term interactions and mutual respect, which has become the most valuable strategic asset in China-U.S. relations.

Since the beginning of this year, the two presidents have maintained close engagement through three direct phone calls. When challenges arise in China-U.S. relations, such high-level communication enables both nations to transcend immediate differences, prevent misunderstandings and steady the bilateral relationship - safeguarding the relationship's overall stability and positive trajectory.

This year witnessed complex developments in bilateral economic ties. Guided by the important consensus reached between the two heads of state, the two sides' economic and trade teams conducted five rounds of consultations, successfully establishing frameworks for issue resolution.

During this latest meeting, the two presidents held substantive discussions on trade relations and committed to enhanced cooperation. The relevant understandings and arrangements reached by the two teams during the Kuala Lumpur consultations have served as a "stabilizer" for both the Chinese and U.S. economies, as well as the world economy.

This progress demonstrates that as long as both sides fully and faithfully implement the important consensus reached by the two presidents, and continue discussions in the spirit of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, they can continuously shorten the list of problems and lengthen the list of cooperation, and ensure that economic and trade ties remain the ballast and engine of China-U.S. relations.

China and the United States should be partners and friends. That is what history has taught us and what reality needs. Given different national conditions, it is normal for the two countries to have frictions. What matters most is how to view and handle them properly. Both sides should focus on the bigger picture and the long-term benefits of cooperation.

At present, there is a good momentum in China's economic development. In the first three quarters of this year, the country's GDP grew by 5.2 percent, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality. For more than seven decades, China has been working from generation to generation on the same blueprint to make it a reality. It has no intention to challenge or supplant anyone. Its focus has always been on managing its own affairs well, improving itself, and sharing development opportunities with all countries across the world. And that is an important secret to China's success, which is in no way at odds with the United States' aspiration to "make America great again."

At its fourth plenary session, the 20th CPC Central Committee deliberated over and adopted the recommendations for the economic and social development plan over the next five years, which has drawn broad international attention and positive responses. China will further deepen reform across the board, expand opening up, and promote higher-quality economic growth while achieving an appropriate increase in economic output. This will also expand the space for cooperation between China and the United States.

As long as the two sides uphold mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, China and the United States can achieve mutual success and shared prosperity.

The current international landscape is marked by transformation and turbulence. The world once again stands at a crossroads. As two major countries with global influence, China and the United States shoulder special responsibilities. Their positive interactions in regional and global affairs are key to addressing the many global challenges that continue to emerge.

There is good potential for the two countries to work together on combating illegal immigration and telecom fraud, anti-money laundering, artificial intelligence, and responding to infectious diseases. Through cooperation under both bilateral and multilateral frameworks, China and the United States can accomplish more great and concrete things for the good of the two countries and the whole world, and demonstrate the shared sense of responsibility as major countries.

China will host APEC 2026, and the U.S. the G20 summit next year. The two sides can support each other in making both summits productive to promote world economic growth and improve global economic governance.

A stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. relationship serves the long-term interests of both countries and meets the common expectations of the international community. The Busan meeting between the two heads of state once again proved that the common interests between China and the United States far outweigh their differences, and that cooperation is the only right choice for both sides.

The lessons of history, the needs of reality, and the call of the future all point to the same conclusion that the planet is broad enough to accommodate both China and the United States. The two countries can be partners and friends.

China hopes that both sides will work together to earnestly implement the consensus reached at the Busan meeting, enhance dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and build a more solid foundation for China-U.S. relations, so as to bring greater benefits to both peoples and contribute more to the world.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)

(Web editor: Huang Kechao, Zhong Wenxing)
Interview: China illuminates global digital future with "responsible AI technology and human-centered vision" -- Kuwaiti official

Xinhua) 11:42, November 02, 2025

Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah (L), chairman of Kuwait's Association of Artificial Intelligence of Things (AAIOT), a government agency promoting AI and Intelligence of Things (IOT) awareness, research, and adoption, attends an event in Doha, Qatar, April 24, 2025. (Xinhua)

KUWAIT CITY, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China is illuminating the world's digital future with "responsible artificial intelligence (AI) technology and a human-centered vision" through its achievements in innovation and digital governance, a Kuwaiti official said.

In a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah, chairman of Kuwait's Association of Artificial Intelligence of Things (AAIOT), a government agency promoting AI and Intelligence of Things (IOT) awareness, research, and adoption, praised China's leading role in global AI development and digital transformation.

He explained that China is not merely building factories but shaping "a new philosophy of the relationship between humans and machines." By placing AI at the core of its national strategy and guiding it with science, ethics, and human-centered principles, China has presented the world "a model that combines technological strength with moral responsibility."

With strategic foresight and long-term planning, Sheikh Mohammed said, China has become "a pillar shaping the world's digital future." He emphasized that China is not merely competing in the global AI race but guiding the world toward "a wiser and more responsible application of artificial intelligence."

Regarding the digital transformation of Kuwait and the wider Gulf region, Sheikh Mohammed noted that "the future of cities is built on ideas, not just on oil." He said Kuwait is steadily advancing toward its "New Kuwait 2035" national vision, focusing on developing data- and innovation-driven infrastructure while promoting systematic progress in digital identity, smart education, and sustainable energy.

"We are building the infrastructure of thought -- the very root of a digital nation," he said, while acknowledging that Kuwait still faces challenges such as a shortage of skilled professionals, a weak innovation ecosystem, and the need for more advanced data governance regulations.

Challenges in Gulf countries, including talent shortages, weak innovation capacity, and regulatory lag, represent opportunities for deeper cooperation between China and the Gulf states, he said.

Sheikh Mohammed suggested that both sides could work together to establish high-performance computing centers, develop smart cities, train applied AI professionals, and jointly formulate ethical standards for AI to help build a global digital governance system that balances efficiency with human values.

He highlighted China's Digital Silk Road initiative as "a bridge of light connecting Asia and the Gulf," opening new avenues for cooperation in green energy, smart education, and joint research and laboratory development.

Looking ahead, Sheikh Mohammed expressed strong confidence that the next five years will witness "a new model of cooperation between Kuwait and China -- one born not from corporate contracts, but from shared dreams."

He said key areas of partnership will include smart cities, green energy, smart education, and digital healthcare, noting that Kuwait's Silk City, a major infrastructure project in northern Kuwait, and Gateway Smart City, a flagship smart city initiative, will stand as landmarks of this collaboration.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
HARARE, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) offers a gateway for Zimbabwean horticultural products to enter the Chinese market, enabling local businesses to directly connect with Chinese buyers and partners, a Zimbabwean exporter has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Tatenda Mukazi, marketing director of Procitru Investments, a Zimbabwean private company that contracts the growing of fresh produce and other horticultural crops mainly for export, said the CIIE is expected to open new avenues and unlock more growth opportunities for Zimbabwean exports to China.

The expo will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, this year's event will feature an expanded special zone for African products, with the number of participating African enterprises increasing by 80 percent year on year.

"We are going to exhibit blueberries, avocados, avocado oil and macadamia nuts," said Mukazi, who will attend the CIIE for the first time.

Zimbabwe's blueberries are set to enter the Chinese market following the signing of an export deal during Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa's visit to China in September. A trade protocol on Zimbabwean avocado exports was also signed last September, a move that has excited local farmers eager to access the Chinese market.

"For this trip, we are going to look for markets, meet buyers and explore machines that can process blueberries into juice for export. We are also looking for partners to do business with," Mukazi said.

The expo will also allow him to better understand Chinese market dynamics and systems. "I am going to visit their supermarkets and facilities to see how they operate, how they run their systems, and their payment methods, so that we move on the same page," he added.

One of Mukazi's key goals is to secure direct export agreements with Chinese businesses. "I am aiming to meet real buyers so that we can cut off all the middlemen. This is why I am pushing for this trip to be successful," he said.

With years of experience in exporting fresh produce, Mukazi works closely with Zimbabwean farmers to identify markets and facilitate exports. He said that the Chinese market represents a significant opportunity for local exporters and that the CIIE serves as a vital bridge connecting Zimbabwean farmers with one of the world's largest consumer markets.

The expo, he added, allows Zimbabwean exporters to showcase a broader range of products beyond the country's traditional exports such as minerals. "Now we are venturing into horticulture, citrus, avocados and berries. For us, it is a great opportunity. We need to show the Chinese market that we are not only buyers; we also have value to offer back home. We can be customers to them, and they can be customers to us," said Mukazi.

"For us, it is a challenge. We need to up our game and be ready for big deals. It is a new adventure, a new market, and great exposure for us," he added.

Beyond opening new export markets, Mukazi sees the CIIE as a platform to deepen partnerships with Chinese companies. As trade with China expands, he said, there is a growing need to work with Chinese partners to increase value addition for local produce such as avocados and blueberries.

"Already, we have local companies processing avocado oil. On this trip, we are going to bring some samples to market and see how the Chinese market responds," Mukazi said. 
COLOMBO, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's total government revenue excluding grants rose 24.8 percent year on year to 2,321.7 billion rupees (about 7.7 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of 2025, driven mainly by higher tax collections, the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policies said in its mid-year fiscal report.

In the same period in 2024, the revenue was 1,860.6 billion rupees.

In the first half of 2025, tax revenue increased 25.9 percent to 2,151.1 billion rupees, up from 1,709.3 billion rupees a year earlier, the report said.

Key contributors included excise duty on motor vehicles, up 335.6 percent to 99.5 billion rupees, value added tax, up 27.6 percent to 170.4 billion rupees, customs import duties, up 92.7 percent to 45.2 billion rupees, and income tax, up 9.2 percent to 41.3 billion rupees, the report said.

The ministry said the stronger revenue performance is expected to support ongoing economic stabilization and fiscal consolidation efforts under the government's medium-term recovery plan. 
Since dockworkers operate at a crucial choke point in the military supply chain to Israel, their boycotts are a powerful form of solidarity with Gaza.

( Waging Nonviolence )  In the weeks leading up to the latest ceasefire, protests against Israels genocide in Gaza widened and deepened across the world. In early October, in some of the largest demonstrations in the two years since the war began, millions took to the streets in Amsterdam, Istanbul, Rome, Jakarta, Tokyo, London, Athens, Melbourne, Los Angeles, Paris, Chicago, Berlin, Stockholm and Santiago.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, an attempt to break Israels illegal blockade of Gaza, particularly captivated global attention. In September, roughly 500 people from 47 countries set sail from Barcelona on 50 vessels carrying humanitarian aid. Flotilla participants included humanitarian aid workers, clergy, elected officials, veterans, doctors, lawyers and artists  Greta Thunberg among them.

Labor activists  in particular, dockworkers who load and unload the cargo that makes the world economy go round  played an increasingly visible role in this wave of solidarity with Gaza.

If we lose contact with our boats, with our comrades, even for just 20 minutes, we will block all of Europe, declared an unnamed dockworker, who stood before a large crowd in Genoa, Italys busiest port, in a widely shared video. Together with our union, together with all the dockworkers who stand with us, together with the whole city of Genoa  from this region 13,000 to 14,000 containers leave every year for Israel, not a single nail will leave anymore.

This bold stance by Genoa dockworkers came on the heels of their recent refusal to load military supplies to Israel. In doing so, they joined a growing list of dockworkers boycotting cargo intended for Israel, including those in Spain, Morocco, Sweden, Greece and France.

The Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, or PGFTU, had repeatedly called upon workers and unions to do just that. In July, for instance, the PGFTU called on workers to organize days of rage and global solidarity in factories and workshops, in ports and airports, in the streets and public squares, in support of Palestine and its brave people.

In response to the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza, the declaration of the Genoese dockworkers, and Israels interception of the flotilla attempting to break Israels blockade, sparked several single-day general strikes. In Spanish cities and especially across Italy, an estimated two million workers participated. Inspired by Genoese dockworkers, people deployed work stoppages in solidarity with Palestine.

The Genoese dockworkers had inserted themselves into the globes most contentious political issue using the best tool in every workers toolbox: stopping work. Call it a boycott, call it direct action, call it a strike. When workers stop working, employers pay attention. And when workers interfere with the prerogatives of business and governments, for instance in refusing to move cargo, ordinary people perk up because it has become so rare for them to prove they can shape the world we live in.

A long history of boycotts

Its nothing new to say that workers greatest power is their ability to put down their tools and walk off their job. More than a hundred years ago, Big Bill Haywood, a legendary leader of the Industrial Workers of the World, observed, If the workers are organized, all they have to do is to put their hands in their pockets and they have got the capitalist class whipped.

Yet not all workers have the same amount of power. First and foremost, a strike needs all workers to stand or to walk out together, which requires they already be organized; thats why its called organized labor. One need not necessarily have a union in place to strike, but workers must be organized, formally or informally, to pull off something like a strike. Dockworkers, notably, remain among the most likely sorts of workers to belong to a trade union. They also possess one of the most robust global networks of any group of workers via the International Transport Workers Federation  the oldest industry-specific labor organization in the world  and the International Dockworkers Council.

Ideally, workers declare a strike at a time-sensitive moment and to inflict maximum material impact. Workers who transport cargo, also called logistics, fully appreciate Benjamin Franklins famous dictum, time is money. Especially in industries where both wages and other costs are paid by the hour, stopping or even simply slowing down can quickly hit a bosss pocketbook.

Shipping is a component for about 90 percent of all goods consumed (raw materials and finished products) the world over. It remains as central to the global economy in the 21st century as it was in the 15th or 18th. Dont forget the maritime version of Franklins saying: the ship must sail on time.

The most important parts of the supply chain have recently become known as choke points  in other words, the supply chain is only as strong as its weakest link. In this context, weakness refers not only to companies vulnerabilities but also to the points where workers can break the chain. Thus, when a few thousand dockworkers in a particular port are organized into a union, they can shut down the movement of goods  which is to say, the economy.

Yet organization and strategic location alone do not explain why dockworkers downed their tools in solidarity with Palestine  that requires having political views. Prior to the container revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, loading and unloading cargo ships required large numbers of workers who toiled together. These dockworkers interacted with people from around the world and were daily exposed to new people, ideas and information. This meant that many dockworkers developed knowledge and views about international affairs in ways that most others did not. Hearing stories about war and political repression, personally experiencing poverty (since the trade historically paid poorly), and working collectively together led to many dockworkers developing both anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist perspectives.

Among the first of these political actions happened in 1935, after fascist Italys invasion of Ethiopia, when dockworkers in Durban, Cape Town, and Luderitz, Namibia (then called Southwest Africa and a South African mandate, just like how Palestine was a British mandate), refused to load food and other cargo aboard Italian ships. This action was among the very first political boycotts by dockworkers. It was also the first one documented by African workers  and it was even more tantalizing since it was in solidarity with Ethiopians, fellow Africans, fighting fascist, imperialist invaders.

Similarly, around May Day in 1936, San Francisco longshoremen first boycotted cargo to protest Italys invasion. These dockworkers soon helped form the International Longshoremens and Warehousemens Union, or ILWU. Two years later, in 1938, in solidarity with local Chinese picketers, ILWU members in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle refused to load cargo for fascist Japan, which had expanded its invasion of China; they continued doing so dozens of times in the next few years.

Similarly, on hundreds of occasions in the second half of the 1940s, maritime and other union workers in Sydney and other Australian port cities refused to be complicit  as their government was  in helping the Netherlands attempt to recolonize Indonesia, which had declared independence in 1945. Australias union dockworkers (called wharfies) refused to work Dutch ships, thereby providing mighty assistance to the Indonesian struggle against imperialist-driven war.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Egypts new billion-dollar museum near the Giza pyramids opened on Saturday. It has 100,000 artifacts, including a massive statue of Ramses II (1279 BCE  1213 BCE). It may be the biggest museum in the world.

Given that Egypt is now a rigid dictatorship with few rights for citizens, the opening of the museum could be seen as a bit pharaonic itself. But in fact it has been planned for 20 years, long before the current regime. Moreover, for reasons I will explain below, many Egyptians will benefit from it economically and they are proud of it and setting some hopes in it. Europe and its heirs often lay a claim to the mantle of civilization, but here is one area where they are outmatched, and Egyptians take enormous pride in the fact.

The ceremony began with an extravaganza attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, First Lady Entesar al-Sisi, and heads of state and dignitaries from 79 countries, including presidents and prime ministers from countries like Germany, Greece, and Palestine, and royalty from Denmark, Spain and Belgium, Spain. It may be the biggest cultural event in the country since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, which was also attended by kings and leaders from elsewhere. It was for that occasion that the Cairo Opera House was inaugurated and Verdis Aida was commissioned..

On Saturday at the inauguration of the museum, renowned Egyptian soprano Fatma Said performed.

The Grand Egyptian Museums opening ceremony  FRANCE 24 English

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Replay: The Grand Egyptian Museum's opening ceremony  FRANCE 24 English

Gen. Napoleon Bonapartes brutal invasion and occupation of Egypt in 1798 also marked the beginning of modern Egyptology. Bonaparte brought along more than 150 scholars and scientists, among the some 50,000 men in the invasion force, who spent the occupation years 1798-1801 intensively investigating Egypts architecture, geography, and natural history. They sketched and took samples of plants and fish. This scholarly effort, which produced the multi-volume Description of Egypt, underlines the truth of the saying of French philosopher Michel Foucault that power is inextricably bound up with knowledge.



Juan Cole, Napoleons Egypt: Invading the Middle East. Macmillan. Click here to buy.

Of course, Muslim scholars in Egypt knew about the pyramids, and the story of Moses and Pharaoh plays a prominent role in the Quran. Some early medieval Muslim scholars may still have been able to read the hieroglyphs, though that knowledge was lost. But they had not developed a discipline of Egyptology, any more than Europeans had to that date.

The French scholars also paid attention to monuments such as the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. They did not shoot cannons at the pyramids, despite that scene in Ridley Scotts recent film on Napoleon, as I explained to NBC news:

At the time, knowledge of the hieroglyphs had been lost, but the French discovered the Rosetta Stone during the occupation. History.com explains,

The Rosetta Stone is a slab of granitoid stone featuring a written decree issued in 196 B.C. by a group of Egyptian clergy and Egypts ruler, Ptolemy V, attesting to his generosity and devoutness. The decree is written in three ways: hieroglyphics, which were used mainly by priests; Demotic, a somewhat simpler script used for everyday purposes; and ancient Greek.

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It wasnt until 1822-1824 that Jean-Francois Champollion was able to read the hieroglyphs. It isnt usually mentioned that he had some help in that regard from Egyptian Copts, whose liturgical language was still related to the old Pharaonic tongue (an Afro-Asiatic language).

That step was the first toward reading the surviving inscriptions and papyri of ancient Egypt, allowing the reconstruction of its civilization.

By 1868 an Egyptian scholar, Rifaah al-Tahtawi, had brought out a history of ancient Egypt in Arabic, and knowledge of their past began to affect Egyptians self-conception.

Egyptians gradually had adopted Arabic after the countrys incorporation into early Muslim empires, and most Muslims by the nineteenth century were Arabic-speaking Muslims. In the twentieth century, Egyptians developed a modern nationalism in which the Pharaonic heritage played a central role. The one exception was Muslim nationalism, the equivalent of our Christian nationalism, which tended to dismiss the pre-Islamic heritage as an age of ignorance, mired in polytheism and moral corruption. Muslim nationalism, as exemplified by the Muslim Brotherhood, briefly came to power in 2012-2013, but Mr. al-Sisi made a coup against then president Mohamed Morsi and persecuted the Muslim Brotherhood so vehemently that it slid into irrelevance.

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Ironically, Europeans and those who consider themselves heirs of European civilization appropriated ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt as the fonts of their own culture. It is quite odd that French, British, Germans and Spanish should think that they started in ancient Egypt, but that is more or less what many text books teach the children. But then once they get to Rome (which ruled Egypt), they become nativists and construct a timeline of progress inside Europe, of Rome  Medieval Europe  Renaissance  Enlightenment  Industrial Revolution. They cut Egypt, Iraq, China and Japan out of the story, thereafter. Leaving out China is especially bizarre, but Mamluk Egypt and the Ottoman Empire were consequential for Europe and the latter was a European power.

I think it would be fair to say that most Egyptians today are proud of their civilizational inheritance from pharaonic civilization.

And it is after all a money-maker for them. Few tourists come to Egypt primarily to see the magnificent Islamic architecture, though they should. Something like 16 million tourists came to Egypt in 2024, despite the Gaza War that raged right next door. The tourism sector brought in $15.3 billion last year, some 8.5% of the Egyptian economy. The new museum is hoped to take these numbers even higher.

The sector generated 2.7 million jobs in 2024, in a desperately poor country with a work force of some 32 million. Many Egyptians depend on tourism for their livelihoods, directly or indirectly. Imagine all those who work in hotels, restaurants, guiding and hospitality. The sector has rebounded strongly since the COVID-19 pandemic, which was deadly to it.

Tourism has drawbacks, though, as a development strategy. All those millions of travelers are hard on the environment, and the industry doesnt create a big pot of money in anyones hands that could be invested in real development. Egypt could be manufacturing solar panels for the African market. And it needs free speech and democracy if it is to achieve further civilizational greatness and not just remain a rentier cash cow for its military elite.
by Karam Nama < ( Middle East Monitor )  When Yitzhak Shamir stood in the Israeli Knesset, reciting with bitterness and historical humiliation the searing lines of Those Who Pass Between Fleeting Words in Hebrew, he wasnt merely quoting a poemhe was confronting a linguistic bombshell that shattered the illusion of Israeli permanence. He was exploiting historical disgrace to forge new political justifications for Israels permanence.

On the other side, Mahmoud Darwish never abandoned his human essence as a poet. He kept echoing the resonance of that poem, which fractures political geography and dissects history on the table of truth. The collective feeling of survival consumed both the poet and the Palestinian man. The poem became the most faithful expression of that survival. It seemed to be the only truth when all truths about historical Palestine were gathered. But what about Israel?

One of the most astonishing and devastating answers lies in Darwishs 1988 poem, written during the First Intifada:

O those who pass between fleeting words Carry your names, and be gone Rid our time of your hours, and be gone Steal what you will from the blueness of the sea And the sand of memory Take what pictures you will, so that you understand That which you never will: How a stone from our land builds the ceiling of our sky.  It is time for you to be gone Live wherever you like, but do not live among us It is time for you to be gone Die wherever you like, but do not die among us For we have work to do in our land.

I imagine the poetic echo in Darwishs heart reaching his coffee cup, while on the other side, Shamir embodied the truth of what the West itself once called the scum it had cast onto Palestinian soil.

The war, then, was not over land or history, but over the spaces between the poems lines. The Knesset failed to ban the poem, knowing it was like clouds in Palestines real skyuntouchable by any Iron Dome. The poem remains Israels most painful literary wound, described by both left and right as a plague and a historical bomb that destroys Israel. That explains its resurgence today, amid Netanyahus genocidal war on Gaza.

Years ago, I wrote an article titled An Israeli Poem in Gaza, where I revisited Darwishs poem but focused on anotherby Yehuda Amichai. I had no idea Gaza would face such death two years later.

It was a perfect story, set in Gaza. Professor Refaat Alareer, from the Islamic Universitys Faculty of Arts, handed his students a poem without naming its author:

On a roof in the Old City Laundry hanging in the late afternoon sunlight: The white sheet of a woman who is my enemy, The towel of a man who is my enemy, To wipe off the sweat of his brow. In the sky of the Old City A kite. At the other end of the string, A child I cant see Because of the wall. We have put up many flags, They have put up many flags. To make us think that theyre happy. To make them think that were happy.

The students, all young women, unanimously assumed the poem was by a Palestinian poet from Jerusalem. One said, No Israeli could write about Jerusalem with such warmth. But the shock came when Alareer revealed the author: Yehuda Amichai, Israels most celebrated poet.

The classroom erupted. The students reeled, revisiting their assumptions. That lesson, held two years before the genocide in Gaza, shattered the stereotype that Gazans only respond to news of Israeli rockets.

Al Jazeera English: If I must die: Remembering Palestinian Poet Refaat Alareer 

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If I must die: Remembering Palestinian Poet Refaat Alareer

But the deeper tragedy is this: the professor who taught them that poemRefaat Alareerwas later killed by Israeli missiles. The army that produced Amichais poetry also silenced the man who taught it.

After publishing my article, I received an email from Avi Melamed, an Israeli expert on Middle East affairs, expressing deep admiration for my piece. He said he shared my interest in Iraqi music, especially the work of Jewish Iraqi composer Saleh Al-Kuwaityhis maternal grandfather had immigrated to Israel from Iraq.

But what would Melamed say now, after seventy thousand Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, half of them children? What cultural empathy remains after such an immoral war? Can he explain what the most moral army in the world was thinking when it killed a poetry professor who taught Amichai?

Refaat Alareer taught his students the poetry of Israels greatest poet. But the Israeli army killed him anyway. Because it does not understand that poems do not die. What remains is what poets build. And the poem cannot be killed.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.
NEW DELHI, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Several areas in the Indian capital faced "Severe" air pollution levels on Sunday, even as the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the 400-mark and a dense smog enveloped the city.

Experts said that people living in Delhi should regularly use air-purifiers. There was said to be a surge in the number of people suffering from respiratory problems, said doctors.

Several areas, including Anand Vihar, Chandni Chowk, Nehru Nagar, R.K. Puram, Rohini, recorded an AQI of over 400 thus making the air quality in these areas as "Severe."

An online report by The Indian Express quoted pulmonologist Gopi Chand Khilnani as saying that those suffering from respiratory diseases should leave Delhi for the next few weeks so as to keep themselves away from the city's air pollution.

Over the past few days, the Delhi government has been using air-guns in an attempt to reduce air-pollutants in the atmosphere. Strict anti-air pollution measures, like a ban on open burning of coal and usage of diesel generators, were already in place. 






Saturday, November 1, 2025 - There was drama during President William Rutos tour of Western Kenya after one of his elite escort officers was confronted by locals for harassing an elderly woman.

The incident reportedly occurred as the Presidents motorcade was passing by.

The officer is said to have roughly pushed the woman, who was trying to get closer to the road to catch a glimpse of the Head of State.

The commotion drew the attention of nearby residents, some of whom boldly confronted the officer, accusing him of using unnecessary force on an innocent woman.

Umefanya makosa! (What you have done is not right), one of the locals is heard saying in the viral video as they challenge the officer, who appeared unmoved by the outcry.

Watch the video.

Kenyan men from Western Kenya confront a presidential escort officer for harassing an elderly woman! pic.twitter.com/8t1UtYdHc6  The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) November 1, 2025

The Kenyan DALY POST






Saturday, November 1, 2025 - Fear has gripped residents of Kiserian after a woman was brutally murdered by a suspected serial killer who is said to be on a killing spree in the area.

According to eyewitnesses, the victim, a mother of two, was accosted by the suspect while running her errands and fatally stabbed multiple times, dying on the spot.

The horrific scene sent shockwaves through the area as residents tried to chase down the suspect, but he managed to escape into nearby thickets.

Locals say the assailant has been terrorizing the area in recent weeks, with several similar attacks reported, prompting calls for urgent police intervention.

The community is now living in fear, pleading with authorities to hunt down the killer before he strikes again.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, November 01, 2025 - Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, has sharply criticised President William Ruto over recent remarks suggesting that the late Raila Odinga was the only credible challenger he would have faced in the 2027 elections.

Speaking at an ODM delegates meeting in Mombasa on Saturday, November 1st, Sifuna dismissed Rutos claims and affirmed that ODM remains politically strong - even without Raila.

Ive heard people saying only Raila could challenge them in 2027.

The young lion is still a lion - they will be shocked, Sifuna declared, hinting that ODM is prepared to front a presidential candidate in the next General Elections.

He added that the partys strength lies in its collective leadership and not in any single figure.

Even if you front me, we will win, he said confidently.

Sifunas remarks follow Rutos comments during a development tour in Kakamega on October 30th, where the President claimed that Raila was his only worthy opponent and dismissed other contenders.

Ruto also accused opposition leaders of divisive politics, urging them to present concrete development plans instead of slogans.

Look at me and look at the people competing against me.

The only person I would have competed with in 2027 is Raila.

I will be done with these ones very early in the morning, Ruto said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, November 01, 2025 - Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta shared a light-hearted anecdote during the funeral service of his friend, veteran banker Frank Marangu Ireri, held at Karura Community Chapel on Friday, October 31st, 2025.

Reflecting on the late Ireris integrity, Uhuru praised his friends refusal to mix personal relationships with professional matters.

Frank never liked those issues of mixing work with other things, Uhuru said, contrasting him with another friend who once attempted to use their friendship for personal gain.

Uhuru recounted a moment involving another friend, who, after being stopped by police at an alcoblow checkpoint, attempted to use Uhurus name to avoid arrest.

He had the nerve to call me, Uhuru said, drawing laughter from mourners.

And in his state of mind, you know, reminding a fellow, you know who I know.

Rather than intervene, Uhuru pretended not to hear the call and promptly hung up.

I just sort of pretended, hello, hello, I cant hear you, and switched off the phone, he added, underscoring his stance on keeping personal ties separate from official matters.

Frank Ireri, who passed away at 63 on October 26th at Nairobi Hospital, was celebrated for his transformative leadership at Housing Finance.

Appointed Managing Director in 2006, Ireri steered the institution beyond its traditional mortgage focus.

Watch the video

Uhuru Kenyatta: When my friend called me after getting caught at alcoblow stop, I hang up the call pic.twitter.com/axH9tRo9uQ  NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) November 1, 2025






Saturday, November 01, 2025 - Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has publicly disclosed his battle with cancer.

Uhuru made the revelation during an emotional tribute to his close friend, the late Frank Ireri.

Speaking at Ireris memorial service on October 31st at Karura Community Chapel, Kenyatta reflected on the strength and encouragement Ireri offered during his health struggles.

Ireri, the former Managing Director of the Housing Finance Company of Kenya (HFCK), passed away on October 28th at the age of 63.

He was widely respected for his leadership in transforming HFCKs mortgage lending model.

Kenyatta described Ireri as a guiding presence, especially over the past year.

Whenever we met, he was very encouraging about some of the challenges we were going through, he said.

He recalled a poignant moment when Ireri held his hand and reassured him, saying, Dont worry, things will come to pass. We trust in God.

The former President linked Ireris counsel to his own ongoing health journey, noting that others close to him are also facing similar battles.

Those of us who have those challenges, we'll continue fighting, he said, adding that when the time comes, we shall join him and be thankful for the life we lived.

Uhurus candid admission drew widespread admiration, with many Kenyans praising his openness and courage.

Sad Moments to listen President Uhuru Kenyatta declaring his health status while eulogizing his friend Frank Ireri. When he said, "I don't know whether I should say this" revealing, almost reluctantly, that he too is battling cancer. Heartbreaking moment. Wishing him strength and pic.twitter.com/TWpvzOkmnl  Abdulahi Adan (@AbdulahiAdan10) November 1, 2025
KABUL, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Three people, including a woman, were killed and five others were injured, including four children and one woman, when a truck turned turtle in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, local authorities said late Saturday.

The accident occurred when the truck transporting a family during relocation overturned due to reckless driving on the outskirts of Police District 10, Lashkar Gah city, the provincial capital, according to a statement from the provincial department of information and culture.

Earlier, three people were killed and 18 others injured in a collision involving a tractor and two passenger vehicles in eastern Laghman province on Wednesday.

Road accidents claim thousands of lives annually in Afghanistan, largely due to reckless driving, poor road conditions, overspeeding, overloading, congested highways, and a lack of proper traffic signage. 
By Rebecca Black, PA

A fire at a building accommodating people applying for international protection has been confirmed as arson.

A number of people had to be rescued from the building in Drogheda, Co Louth, on Friday night.

It has been reported the people rescued included four children, one of whom was a baby.

They were rescued from the top floor of the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre following the blaze which was reported at about 8pm.

The International Protection Accommodation Services centre in Drogheda, Co Louth, after the building was attacked (Brian Lawless/PA)

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he condemned, in the strongest terms, the deeply disturbing incident while Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan warned of serious consequences.

On Saturday evening, gardai confirmed they were investigating the incident as an arson attack.

Emergency services were first alerted to the blaze at the property on Georges Street at about 8.15pm.

Following initial reports of the fire being started by the discharge of fireworks, investigations by An Garda Siochana to date indicate that the fire was started deliberately by person or persons unknown, a Garda spokesperson said.

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan (Brian Lawless/PA)

An Garda Siochana has commenced an investigation into the attempted arson of this residential property.

This was an extremely dangerous act endangering the lives of the residents, including children, who were in their home at the time.

The occupants of the property were safely evacuated and a number were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital for medical assessment.

A senior investigating officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the investigation from the incident room at Drogheda Garda Station.

Families, children, and babies who have fled war and persecution targeted as they tried to rebuild their lives in safety. If not for the Fire Service, this could have been even more serious Nick Henderson, Irish Refugee Council

Gardai are renewing their appeal for any person with any information on this serious incident to come forward.

Anyone in the Georges Street area of Drogheda between 7.30pm and 8.20pm, yesterday Friday October 31 2025, or any person with information on this incident, is asked to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 9874200 or any Garda Station.

Earlier, Mr OCallaghan condemned a terrifying ordeal for women and children living there, adding some were taken to hospital.

I condemn the criminal attack on a building accommodating people applying for international protection in Drogheda last night, he said.

This was a terrifying ordeal for the women and children living there, a number of whom were taken to hospital.

Mr OCallaghan said alternative accommodation is now being sourced for the residents affected.

A full Garda investigation into this arson attack is under way. There will be serious consequences for those responsible, he added.

Nick Henderson, chief executive of the Irish Refugee Council, said it was an appalling incident.

The Irish Refugee Council condemns in the strongest possible terms the horrific arson attack on people seeking protection, he said.

Families, children, and babies who have fled war and persecution targeted as they tried to rebuild their lives in safety. If not for the Fire Service, this could have been even more serious.

Those responsible are a tiny minority and do not reflect the proud and welcoming spirit and people of the Drogheda community.

This appalling incident is another salient reminder of the need for strong leadership  both locally and nationally  to stand against hatred and uphold compassion and solidarity.

Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy has said that those responsible must be held to account.

The appalling arson attack on the International Protection Centre in Drogheda could have easily resulted in death and serious injuries, he said.

There can be no excuse for such action and those involved must be held to account.

This was clearly a very frightening ordeal for those impacted. I want to commend the Fire Service for rescuing people, including small children, from this fire and preventing lives from being lost.

The Gardai must now be allowed to do their job and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
By Rebecca Black, PA

Sinn Fein has confirmed it will back a no-confidence motion in Education Minister Paul Givan as crowds gathered to call for his resignation.

The DUP minister has been under fire over his recent trip to Israel, during which he visited a school and asked his department to publicise it on their social media channels.

On Saturday, crowds gathered at Belfast City Hall to call for Mr Givans resignation, and Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey confirmed her party will back a no confidence petition in Mr Givan by People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll.

Mr Carroll welcomed the move, saying he is confident of getting the 30 signatures that he needs for the petition after the SDLP also indicated it would support it.

Paul Givan is going nowhere. Unionists will not be bullied by the whims of the Pan-Republican front.

I choose who serves as a DUP Minister and whatever about the faux outrage and petty politicking, Paul has my full support.  Gavin Robinson (@GRobinsonDUP) November 1, 2025

More than 12,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Mr Givan to resign.

However DUP leader Gavin Robinson said Mr Givan was going nowhere, and reiterated his full support for his party colleague.

He also accused the protesters of a long-standing hostility towards the Jewish state and their sympathies to, and support for, the Hamas terrorists who can have no part in the future of Gaza and the Middle East.

Mr Givan said he has been vilified.

In a statement on his Facebook page on Saturday, Mr Givan said: Over the past week, I have been vilified by those who have sought to call into question my character and my commitment to the people of Northern Ireland.

The very same people among whom, today in Belfast, were shouting the antisemitic chant From the river to the sea.

He added: I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been in touch with messages of support.

I will continue to represent the people of Lagan Valley and Northern Ireland with the same energy and enthusiasm that I have always brought to public life.

Education Minister Paul Givan. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

Last week many, including teachers unions expressed concerns, with the Northern Ireland Teachers Council claiming the departments promotion of the school visit is an overtly political and divisive act and urging the post be deleted.

Rival politicians have questioned whether it was appropriate to visit Israel at a time when the country is facing international criticism for the conduct of its military offensive in Gaza.

Several unionist MLAs went on the fact finding trip as a delegation from Northern Ireland on the invitation of the government of Israel.

Mr Carroll is to bring a no-confidence motion against Mr Givan at the Assembly on Monday.

Speaking at a rally at Belfast City Hall on Saturday afternoon before Palestine solidarity activists, education workers and community groups, Ms Hargey said her party will support the no-confidence motion.

Speakers also included Mr Carroll, Paul Doherty of the SDLP and Anthony Flynn from the Green Party.

Republicans and Sinn Fein have a long and proud history and tradition of solidarity with the Palestinian people, and we will continue to do so, she said.

A placard at a demonstration calling for Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan to resign. Photo: Rebecca Black/PA.

It is grotesque that the Education Minister has decided to visit Israel at this time when they are continuing to commit genocide, I say shame on him.

Sinn Fein will be raising this on the floor of the Assembly on Monday morning, and holding the Education Minister to account.

The vice chair of the Education Committee Pat Sheehan has also called for him to appear before the committee urgently to explain his trip and the inappropriate and unacceptable use of departmental resources, and we will look at all options to hold this minister to account.

This also includes Sinn Feins support of the motion of no confidence in the minister that is being tabled on Monday morning, and I, along with all Sinn Fein MLAs, will be proudly putting our names to that motion.

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll speaks at a rally calling for the resignation of Education Minister Paul Givan (Rebecca Black/PA)

Mr Carroll hailed the turnout at the demonstration, and said Mr Givans actions over the last week was the last straw.

Hes done a lot of abhorrent and disgusting things, but what he did this week was the last straw, and thats why were saying today, loudly and clearly, he has to go, his time is clearly up, he said, to applause, and shouts of out, out.

I have been inundated with hundreds of emails of constituents who are appalled at what he has done, classroom assistants, teachers, Palestine solidarity people as well.

I hope that the motion I will propose at Stormont is passed, and he is sanctioned but equally the key thing that will make a difference in my view is not just the motion, is people here mobilising today but also protesting at Stormont on Monday, and every single public engagement he is on.

In a statement Mr Robinson accused Sinn Fein of using the Assembly to advance an anti-Israel agenda rather than focusing on improving Northern Irelands schools.

Their decision to back a motion of no confidence in the Education Minister over a visit to Israel is rooted in their long-standing hostility towards the Jewish state and their sympathies to, and support for, the Hamas terrorists who can have no part in the future of Gaza and the Middle East, he said.

The pan-Republican fronts futile attempt to bully and intimidate will always fail.

We will never bow to such demands which show the depth of hatred for Israel and its people. We will call out such antisemitic sentiment which should have no place in public life.

We can now see their hatred in full view. They can huff and puff all they like and for as long as they like but they will not be dictating to me about who I appoint to serve as a minster from the Democratic Unionist Party.

Paul Givan will continue to be focused on delivering real improvements for children and young people, and on supporting working families through better childcare provision.
A JUDGE criticised the Irish state again for its perceived failings in failing to protect children in its care, after yet another under-18 person came before him charged with property crime [theft, vandalism] at their own care home.

This could be coincidental, but these young people who come before me, and who are their victims? Their care homes! Judge Desmond Zaidan commented during a closed-door session in Naas District Court last week.

If you send your child to boarding school, the teachers would be fully in charge  kids there cannot open a door and walk  but in care homes a ten-year-old can open a door and walk, the judge said.

I have criticised the state on this before, but there is something wrong with the system. If that was mine or your child, you would want to know.

There is very little child protection. Alleged, he added to protect himself.

He was speaking in the case of a 17-year-old who was appearing in court for the first time, charged with criminal damage and theft on a date in July last year from the care home in central Kildare in which he was placed.

I have a two-page letter here from Tusla, and I note Tusla does not believe him fit for trial, said the judge. It seems he has some serious challenging needs, and I feel sorry for him."

He is on station bail? the judge checked with investigating officer Garda Stephen Potter, which the garda confirmed.

The barrister acting on behalf of the boy  Donnacha Craddock BL  said he had sought his clients documents from the court presenters but their email box was full.

No, its not, countered Sergeant Dave Hanrahan. Mr Craddock was using the wrong email address, he added.

The defendant crashed a car in one incident, and allegedly broke into premises at the care home, he expounded on the details of the charges.

Youve both got these two pages? the judge held up the Tusla letter, and both Sgt Hanrahan and Mr Craddock replied Yes.

Autistic young people may be more compliant with statements that might not be true. Be aware of this, warned the judge.

When in garda custody, they may not have the capacity, or fear, to say that didnt happen that way, he said.

The full decision is with the DPP, he concluded, before adjourning the case to 6 November for direction.
The Kilkenny man who has been at the helm of an organisation that represents farm and forestry contractors has stepped down from the role after five years.



John Hughes, from Danville, recently completed his five-year term in the position. He is succeeded by Norman Egar from Brannockstown, Naas, Kildare, who was elected as the new FCI National Chair, at the Associations AGM held in Portlaoise recently.



John Hughes was an active member of the FCI National Council for a number of years before being elected national chair of the organisation. He is a second generation farm contractor; his late father Kevin Hughes began the family farm contracting business back in 1947.



Norman has been FCI Vice-Chair for a number of years and his family has links to Kilkenny.

His term of office begins in January 2026.



Norman runs an agricultural contracting business from Brannockstown in association with his brother Mark and trading as Garavald Ltd.



They also operate as Agrilife, which is an agricultural nutrient management operation working closely in association with the agri-food sector, covering a large area of the country.



More recently, they have also developed BVS Parts Ltd as an agricultural machinery parts supply business in association with Patrick and Laura Nolan of Belan Agri and also operating from Brannockstown.



Norman and Mark have a farming background and have been running their agricultural contracting business for more than twenty five years. The business was originally started by their father Herbert and the third generation of the Egar family, Normans son Jonathan is currently an important member of the team.



Norman and Mark are both graduates of Gurteen Agricultural College, while Jonathan more recently completed his agricultural education at Kildalton Agricultural College.



Why is FCI important?

At FCI we will continue to work towards proper Contractor Registration, and it remains a high priority for us, said Mr Egar.



I will continue to work with our FCI Council members to strive to get a proper registration process in place, to our sector on a professional basis, he added.



Training has become another priority for agricultural and forestry contractors, and at FCI we are giving this a huge effort in 2026.



FCI is getting the message out through proper representation, effective lobbying both here in Ireland and in Europe through our involvement in CEETTAR, giving a level of support for our sectors that has never been there for contractors in the past, said Mr Egar.



These are among the reasons that I have been associated with FCI since its foundation in 2012. And there is much more work to be done. It can only be achieved when agricultural and forestry contractors communicate with each other, and support one another in solving problems and achieving goals that allow for sector sustainability and we are confident that being part of FCI provides the best opportunity for that, he added.
Ann Marie Delaney from Lord Edward Street, Kilkenny has been named the Kilkenny Lidl Family Carer of the Year 2025.

The awards recognise the remarkable commitment, compassion and strength of family who provide essential care to loved ones every day. They celebrate those whose dedication and compassion make a difference in the lives of the people they care for.

The awards also serve as a reminder that behind every person receiving care is someone providing it, often quietly and without rest, recognition or access to vital supports and services which arent provided by the State.

Ann Marie is a devoted mother to her two daughters, including Yasmin (13), who is autistic. She gives her days and nights to caring for Yasmin, supporting her through the difficult moments and helping her to make sense of the world around her.

It can be exhausting at times, but Anne Marie never stops, showing endless patience, finding ways to comfort her daughter and making each day a little easier. Anne Marie gives everything to her girls and asks for nothing in return. Her care, compassion and determination capture what it truly means to be a family carer.

SEE ALSO: Two men in car that hit hidden rock and 'took flight' on rural Kilkenny road

Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy with Family Carers Ireland, said: Family carers are the silent supporters of so many households across Ireland. They juggle multiple responsibilities, often at great personal cost, driven by love.

Too often, their work takes place behind closed doors, unseen, unsupported and unacknowledged. These awards are about visibility and respect for the vital work that they do.

Ann Marie represents the compassion and resilience we see every day among family carers in every town and village. By recognising them, we are shining a light on all those who quietly care, who continue to give, and who deserve to know that their efforts are valued and understood, she added.

Since announcing their partnership with Family Carers Ireland at the end of 2024, Lidl has been supporting the caring community through the development of their Lidl Charity Champion programme.

One team member from every Lidl store and Regional Distribution Centre across Ireland has volunteered their time and energy to support Family Carers Ireland through a host of activities including planning and participating in store fundraising and fostering greater community engagement.

TAP HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS
Kilkenny students are among the 3,600 graduates being celebrated at South East Technological Universitys (SETU) annual conferring ceremonies across its campuses in Waterford, Carlow, and Wexford in recent days.

The ceremonies mark one of the most special events in the university calendar. It is a time to recognise the hard work, dedication, and resilience of SETU students whose commitment to their academic careers and student life has culminated in this occasion.

Addressing graduates, Professor Veronica Campbell, SETU President, congratulated the Universitys graduating classes.

SETUs conferring ceremonies are a celebration of achievement and a reflection of the transformative power of education, she said.



TAP HERE FOR MORE KILKENNY SCHOOLS & EDUCATION NEWS

Our graduates embody the best of SETU. They are people of knowledge, character, and compassion who will continue to shape a better and fairer world. I encourage you to carry forward SETUs ethos of empathy, leadership, and service. We wish you every success as you move into the next chapter of your lives.

Prof Campbell also extended warm thanks to the families and friends of graduates, acknowledging their unwavering support and encouragement in helping graduates to reach this milestone. She also expressed her thanks to the Universitys academic and professional staff for their role in supporting students to realise their personal and professional potential.

PhDs and honorary doctorates

This years conferring ceremonies also saw a record number of 43 PhD graduands conferred across disciplines, the universitys highest number to date. Ceremonies will also feature the presentation of two honorary doctorates in recognition of enduring integrity, leadership, and contributions to Irelands cultural and social progress.

It has been a momentous year for SETU as significant developments were made in relation to the universitys pharmacy and veterinary medicine programmes. SETU welcomed the official approval of the capital programme supporting the Veterinary Places Activation Programme (VPAP), a significant initiative that will establish a new veterinary school at SETU.

The Universitys new Department of Pharmacy also announced the official accreditation of its new five-year Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) programme by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI). These developments strengthen SETUs expanding portfolio of professional and health science education.

New programmes have been designed to meet growing regional and national workforce needs, equipping future graduates with the skills and expertise to lead in critical sectors.
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- A policeman was killed and two others were injured in an accidental explosion at a police station in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, an official statement read.

The explosion occurred in the provincial capital city of Peshawar, due to the detonation of old explosive material stored in the police station's ammunition room, Capital City Police Officer Mian Saeed Ahmad said in a statement.

"Fire has also spread to other ammunition, causing further explosions," the statement added.

Rescue teams and police officials rushed to the scene, while the injured were shifted to nearby hospitals, said the statement.

An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the blast. 
MOSCOW, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia strongly condemns the United States for the excessive use of military force during counter-narcotics missions in the Caribbean, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Saturday.

Such actions violate both U.S. domestic and international law, Zakharova said, adding that the position is recognized by representatives of a number of countries and international organizations, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.

"We reaffirm our firm support for the Venezuelan leadership in its efforts to defend national sovereignty," she said.

"We advocate for preserving the Latin American and Caribbean region as a zone of peace," she said.

The spokesperson added that steps are needed to de-escalate the situation and facilitate constructive solutions to existing problems in line with international law. 
HEIDELBERG, Germany, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Second China-Europe Scientists Forum is held here on Saturday and Sunday with an aim to explore the possibility of deepening scientific and technological cooperation between China and Europe.

Hundreds of scientists, scholars, and business representatives from China and Europe engaged in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, ICT transformation, control engineering, and sustainable systems at the forum.

In addition to keynote speeches, the forum consists of a series of online and offline parallel sessions, covering topics such as AI and advanced manufacturing, ICT transformation, translational and clinical medicine, carbon neutrality and new energy, and China-Europe sci-tech global strategies.

Zhou Jie, rotating president of the Federation of Chinese Professional Associations in Europe (FCPAE), said that the community of Chinese scientists is increasingly transitioning from "followers" to "contributors".

Zhou voiced his hope that the forum would serve as a "connector" linking the scientific minds of China and Europe, an "accelerator" for the transformation of knowledge and technology, and an "incubator" for nurturing the ideas of young talents.

Zhou Zhiqiang, the Education Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Germany, emphasized in his speech that sci-tech exchanges have always been an important bridge connecting China and Europe.

Confronted with global challenges, Chinese and European scientists must join hands and address them through joint efforts, said Zhou, adding that there is great potential for cooperation between the two sides in fields such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and climate change. 
Kenneth Fox

With news that Allied Irish Bank (AIB) bought out the Government's stake in the bank for 390 million, speculation is growing that it will do the same with the stake it has in Permanent TSB.

Seeing as the State recouped 20.2 billion from its investment in AIB, selling its stakes in PSTB seems very likely in the near future.

Why does the Government have a stake in Irish banks in the first place, and what is the future for the shares it currently has in banks?

Here is everything you need to know.

Why did the Government buy shares in Irish banks?

With the collapse of the global financial system in 2008, many Irish banks were faced with mounting debts. The Government had to decide whether to let these banks fail or keep them afloat by buying shares.

The Fianna Fail-led government decided to do the latter and bought stakes in various banks to stem the bleeding.

In February 2009, the government bought 3.5 billion worth of shares in AIB. By 2011, the stakes were at 99.8 per cent, effectively nationalising the bank.

The same number of shares was bought in Bank of Ireland, but it only ever owned a 36 per cent stake in the bank overall. This meant it was the only major Irish bank to avoid being nationalized.

Bank of Ireland logos in Dublins city centre. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins

In 2011, the government acquired 4 billion worth of shares in Permanent TSB (PTSB), resulting in a 99.2 per cent ownership in the bank. Due to PSTB's heavy mortgage losses, it would be too difficult to do it through private investment.

When it comes to the now-defunct Anglo-Irish Bank, the State took full ownership of the bank, costing over 29 billion in total bailout funds.

The same went for the Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS), which they ended up taking a 100 per cent stake in before merging with Anglo-Irish and being wound down in 2011.

So while not all banks weathered the storm, the Government sought to buy shares in these banks, and when the time was right and the economy was on a better footing, they could sell their shares.

What roles does the Government have?

They have no control over the day-to-day operations of the banks, and they are not managed directly by the government. They are governed by published Relationship Framework Agreements.

They said Government policy is not to hold these investments long term and, subject to market conditions, is willing to exit in a manner that generates value for the taxpayer.

The Shareholding and Financial Advisory Division (SFAD) is responsible for:

Monitoring the overall strategic direction of the banks;

Developing and executing plans to optimise the value of the States investments.

What stake does the Government still have?

Bank of Ireland (BOI)

In September 2022, the Minister for Finance announced that the State had completed the sale of its remaining shareholding in Bank of Ireland, making it the first Irish bank to return to full private ownership.

The government recovered almost 6.7 billion in cash from its 4.7 billion investment in and support for Bank of Ireland over the 2009-2011 period.

Allied Irish Banks (AIB)

AIB agreed with the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, to cancel the over 271 million warrants held by him for a cash payment to the State of 390 million.

The warrants, which gave the Minister the right to subscribe for ordinary shares in AIB at a specified price, were originally granted in July 2017.

A deed of warrant cancellation between AIB and the Minister was signed on Thursday to give effect to the warrant cancellation.

The warrant cancellation follows the States exit from AIBs share register in June 2025, marking the return of the company to full private ownership.

Permanent TSB (PTSB)

In May 2015, PTSB completed a capital raise of 402 million equity by way of a Placing to new institutional investors and an Open Offer to existing shareholders, along with 125 million Additional Tier 1 debt issuance, in total raising 527 million in new capital.

As part of the capital raise, the Minister was requested by the bank to sell shares to enable PTSB to meet the free float requirements of the main market listings on the Irish Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.

As a result, the Minister sold shares with a value of 97 million through a secondary offering. At the same time, PTSB repurchased the contingent capital notes for which the State received 410.5 million plus accrued interest.

In November 2022, PTSB issued subscription shares to NatWest Group Plc (NatWest) as partial non-cash consideration for its Ulster Bank transaction.

As a result, NatWest held 16.66 per cent of the issued share capital of PTSB, and the States shareholding in the bank reduced from 74.9 per cent to 62.4 per cent.

In June 2023, the State sold a further 5 per cent stake in PTSB for 2.025 per share, generating 55.2m for the Exchequer. Following this transaction, the States shareholding in PTSB reduced from 62.4 per cent to 57.4 per cent.

Through a combination of fees, dividend income, and disposal proceeds, the State has to date recovered 2.7 billion of the 3.9 billion invested in the bank, with the States remaining 57 per cent equity stake valued at 0.5bn at March 2025.

Will the Government sell its stakes in PTSB?

PTSB, in which the State owns a 57 per cent stake, has put itself up for sale.

Shares in the bank jumped 23.4 per cent on Thursday, pushing its market value up to 1.58 billion.

The bank has hired investment bank Goldman Sachs to manage the process, it said in a statement. PTSB chief executive Eamonn Crowley told reporters on a call that he expected the process would conclude in the first half of next year.

The board of PTSB, with the support of its largest shareholder, the Minister for Finance of Ireland, Paschal Donohoe, has concluded that it is now in the best interests of the bank and its key stakeholders to commence a formal sale process with the intention of identifying a new long-term owner of the bank, it said.

A sale would complete the return to the private sector of the domestic banks that survived the 2008 financial crisis.

Mr Donohoe said: With increased investor interest in European banks, this presents the State with the opportunity to exit its last remaining shareholding in an Irish bank after 17 years.

So it looks quite likely that the Government will sell its remaining stake in PTSB.
NOVEMBER for many is a challenging month. Winter darkness brings a change of mood, winter makes us all somewhat vulnerable. Nature seems to have fallen asleep, November mirrors our human mortality and in this regard traditionally in November we remember loved ones gone before us. However, it is important that we nourish our hope and embrace the light that comes from God's presence at this time. A light that's brighter than any winter darkness. Grace is the great gift that follows the presence of God. Grace always whispers, all will be well!

John Newton was a cruel and vile man who seemed beyond hope, but he became an example of Gods amazing grace. His true story gives me hope, because his heart and life were so radically changed. The same amazing grace that transformed Newton brought hope to his contemporaries and still reaches our generation with hope today. Newton was a man of whom I could believe that if God would give him a hope and a future, then He will do the same for us all.

In Newtons own words from his diary (March 21, 1748):

On that day the Lord sent from on high and delivered me out of deep waters. And 57 years to the day later (March 21, 1805):

Not well able to write; but I endeavour to observe the return of this day with humiliation, prayer, and praise. Of Newton and his ministry from Christianity.com:

Only Gods Amazing Grace could and would take a rude, profane, slave-trading sailor and transform him into a child of God. Newton never ceased to stand in awe of Gods work in his life.

In 1764, at the age of 39, John Newton began 43 years of preaching the Gospel of Christ.

In 1779 Newton left Olney to become rector of St Mary Woolnoth in London. His ministry included not only the London poor and the merchant class but also the wealthy and influential. William Wilberforce, a member of Parliament and a prime mover in the abolition of slavery, was strongly influenced by John Newtons life and preaching. Newtons Thoughts on the African Slave Trade, based on his own experiences as a slave trader, was very important in securing British abolition of slavery. Missionaries William Carey and Henry Martyn also gained strength from Newtons counsel.

For the Sunday evening services, Newton often composed a hymn which developed the lessons and scripture for the evening. In 1779, 280 of these were collected and combined with 68 hymns by Newtons friend and parishioner, William Cowper, and published as the Olney Hymns.

The most famous of all the Olney Hymns, Faiths Review and Expectation grew out of Davids exclamation in 1 Chronicles 17:16-17. * We know it today as Amazing Grace.

Newton lived to be 82-years-old and continued to preach and have an active ministry until beset by fading health in the last two or three years of his life. Even then, Newton never ceased to be amazed by Gods grace and told his friends, My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior. The words of the beloved hymn penned by John Newton acknowledges Gods amazing grace as he experienced in his own life.

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but now am found,

was blind, but now I see.

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

and grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear

the hour I first believed.

Thru many dangers, toils, and snares

I have already come 

Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,

and grace will lead me home.

When weve been there ten thousand years

bright shining as the sun,

weve no less days to sing

Gods praise than when we first begun.

(John Newton)

Hope is a powerful energy that allows us to breathe with confidence and resilience. To celebrate hope we must first experience despair and desolation. Peace of mind is a most important gift that we must never take for granted. The following prayer is full of spiritual and life-giving hope.

A New Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change,

which is pretty much everyone, since Im clearly not you, God.

At least not the last time I checked.

And while youre at it,

God, please give me the courage to change what I need to change about myself,

which is frankly a lot, since,

once again, Im not you, which means Im not perfect.

Its better for me to focus on changing myself than to worry about changing other people,

who, as youll no doubt remember me saying,

I cant change anyway.

Finally, give me the wisdom to just shut up whenever I think that Im clearly smarter than everyone else in the room,

that no one knows what theyre talking about except me, or that I alone have all the answers.

Basically, God, grant me the wisdom to remember that Im not you.
By Rebecca Black, PA

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has confirmed it will not back a no-confidence motion in Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan.

The party said they want to focus on finding solutions together, instead of more divisive rhetoric that delivers nothing for those we serve.

Sinn Fein and the SDLP confirmed on Saturday they will back the no-confidence motion in Mr Givan proposed by People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll.

The DUP minister has been under fire over his recent trip to Israel, during which he visited a school and asked his department to publicise it on their social media channels.

Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey speaks at a demonstration at Belfast City Hall on Saturday afternoon where crowds turned out calling for the resignation Paul Givan (PA)

Crowds gathered at Belfast City Hall to call for Mr Givans resignation on Saturday, and Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey confirmed her party will back the no-confidence petition.

Mr Carroll has said he is confident he will get the 30 signatures needed on the petition after the SDLP also indicated their support.

More than 12,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Mr Givan to resign.

However, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the minister was going nowhere, and reiterated his full support for his party colleague.

He also accused the protesters of a long-standing hostility towards the Jewish state and their sympathies to, and support for, the Hamas terrorists who can have no part in the future of Gaza and the Middle East.

Mr Givan said he has been vilified.

In a statement on his Facebook page on Saturday, he wrote: Over the past week, I have been vilified by those who have sought to call into question my character and my commitment to the people of Northern Ireland.

The very same people among whom, today in Belfast, were shouting the antisemitic chant From the river to the sea.

Education Minister @paulgivan visited Ofek School in the Jerusalem District today to learn more about Israels innovative approaches to gifted education and inclusive learning.



The Minister engaged in discussions with Principal Racheli Yitzhak, along with representatives of the pic.twitter.com/VhVThJjMg0  Education NI (@Education_NI) October 27, 2025

He added: I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been in touch with messages of support.

I will continue to represent the people of Lagan Valley and Northern Ireland with the same energy and enthusiasm that I have always brought to public life.

Last week, teachers unions were among those expressing concern about Mr Givans trip, with the Northern Ireland Teachers Council claiming the NI Department of Educations promotion of the school visit was an overtly political and divisive act, and urging the post be deleted.

Rival politicians have questioned whether it was appropriate to visit Israel at a time when the country is facing international criticism over its military offensive in Gaza.

Several unionist MLAs went on the fact-finding trip at the invitation of the Israeli government.

In a statement on Sunday, the UUP said it will not back the no-confidence motion in the Assembly on Monday.

As a party, we have consistently and unequivocally voiced our disgust about the tragedy of 7th October 2023, and the devastating loss of life that has followed in both Israel and Gaza, they said.

We share and understand the deep frustration and anguish felt by many across Northern Ireland at the ongoing suffering in the Middle East.

At a time when our communities are crying out for leadership and delivery from Stormont, we need a focus on finding solutions together rather than more divisive rhetoric that delivers nothing for those we serve.
A local group is working to stop a cannabis cultivator from opening a facility in the suburban New Jersey town. Aristide Economopoulos for NJ Ad

A New Jersey appellate court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a cannabis cultivator against a group of residents who opposed its proposed facility in Lebanon Township.

The judges ruled that the opposition group was protected under the right to free speech.

The NAR Group sued the Save Lebanon Township Coalition and several residents, alleging they acted in bad faith to block the companys plans to open a cannabis cultivation site in Hunterdon County.

The lawsuit claimed one defendant, William Bohn, initially sought to invest in the project and later planned to open his own cannabis facility. When his investment bid was rejected, the NAR Group alleged Bohn helped form the coalition to derail the project.

Attorneys for the NAR Group and the Save Lebanon Township Coalition did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the court decision.

The lawsuit is one of a growing number of allegations related to the municipal cannabis facility approval process.

Save Lebanon Township Coalition attorneys argued the claims in the lawsuit lacked evidence and that residents had a constitutional right to petition the government during the municipal approval process.

More importantly, plaintiffs allegations run headlong into a bar that vindicates a core constitutional right belonging to every American: the right to seek redress from ones government, the coalitions lawyers wrote in court filings.

The appellate court agreed with the lower courts ruling, citing the Noerr-Pennington doctrine  a legal precedent that shields political speech, including lobbying and petitioning the government.

The doctrine includes an exception for petitions that are baseless or intended solely to harm a business, but judges found that did not apply in this case. The appellate court also found that examining the motivation for the case fell outside of the courts scope.

The NAR Group still has pending lawsuits against Lebanon Township.

Under New Jersey law, municipalities can ban cannabis businesses, set limits on licenses or decide which types of facilities to allow. About 36% of municipalities statewide have opted to permit cannabis operations, according to state data.
Maria Markovich believes she is wrongly being taxed on her internet service in Hunterdon County, NJ on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media

Maria Markovich keeps an eye on her expenses.

Rather than use a big-name carrier for internet service, she uses a Brightspeed, a discount provider, for her Hunterdon County home.

She no longer has a landline or a fax line  they were rarely used so she dumped them to save a few bucks  so her bill for only internet service was $55 a month.

All was well until her September, when her bill was $3.64 more than usual.

Suddenly  and for the first time  Brightspeed was charging sales tax on the service.

Markovich remembered that internet service is exempt from sales tax, so she called customer service.

When I finally got through to a person, she seemed to be reading from a script which said, `fees and taxes can increase any time, which she repeated no matter what I said about the exemption, Markovich said.

She asked for a supervisor, but none were available.

By the end of the 48-minute call, the representative agreed to remove the charge, so that was a win.

But when the October bill arrived, it had the same $3.64 line item for the sales tax.

Markovich wasnt happy, but she wanted to be sure she was right. And if she was, she wanted to know how to report it.

You probably have bigger fish to fry but Im tired of these monthly bills that creep upward with miscellaneous fees, Markovich said in an email to Bamboozled. But this is no miscellaneous fee  its New Jersey sales tax.

WE LIKE FISH OF ALL SIZES

Bigger fish, smaller fish. It all comes down to money  and the irritated feeling we get when it seems someone might be trying to get one over on the public.

Markovichs small fish comes out to $43.68 a year, money most of us would rather spend to supplement rising grocery and utility bills, or maybe to splurge on a dinner out.

New Jersey publishes a sales tax guide, and it indeed says internet access service is exempt from sales tax in the state.

If Brightspeed was wrongly charging sales tax to all its New Jersey customers, that could be a whole lot of moolah ending up in the states coffers.

We took it to Brightspeed, whose boss may be familiar to Bamboozled readers.

We first met Tom Maguire when this column launched in 2009. He was a Verizon bigwig at the time, and he solved some vexing Caller ID mix-ups that a few customers were unable to fix on their own.

That may not be so remarkable. That was his job.

The notable thing? Maguire asked us to forward him any complaints wed receive about Verizon, whether we were going to write about them or not. In the years that followed, he handled literally hundreds of reader complaints  most of which we never wrote about  and he fixed their issues. And he did it knowing thered be no opportunity for good publicity attached to each good deed.

While Bamboozled regularly wrestles with companies that are more worried about bad publicity than actually solving a customer problem, Maguires been a stand-up guy.

He agreed to take a look at the sales tax issue.

SALES TAX CONFUSION

This isnt the first time a company has made a mistake about charging sales tax.

After a consumer complained to Bamboozled that Costco had charged him the wrong sales tax on light bulbs, and a second customer said she was wrongly charged the tax on postage stamps she purchased at the retail giant, the Division of Taxation started an investigation.

Costco seemed to make some changes. By the time investigators checked it out, the problems were resolved.

What is taxed and what isnt can be confusing, as we saw when two consumers went to two different Dunkin locations and complained the chain was wrongly charging the tax on coffee beans.

Because yes, coffee beans and already-ground beans are nontaxable while brewed coffee is taxable.

Certainly, keeping up with sales tax rules can be a challenge for national chains because they have to contend with different state laws. And when consumers complain to a specific retail location, managers will often say the sales tax is set by the home office, not at the specific location. And, they often say, they cant change their registers because they are controlled by corporate headquarters.

Annoying, right?

But mistakes do happen, and thats what happened here.

Brightspeed uses third-party software for tax compliance, Maguire said. That software had an error, causing the wrong sales tax charge. But he said hes not playing a blame game.

We ultimately own our customers experience, he said, noting a fix is underway.

Of course well make it right for any impacted customers, so people wont need to call us for adjustments, Maguire said, adding the company is looking into why customer service didnt escalate the issue when Markovich first called. It wants to make sure calls like hers get different attention in the future, he said.

Kudos to your reader for noticing this and bringing it to your/our attention, Maguire said.

Its another reminder, Jersey, to read your bills carefully. Dont assume everything is correct. You never know what you may find. You could save yourself  and other consumers  a little bit of cash.

Within days, Markovichs November bill came in with no charge for sales tax.

If you find youre wrongly charged sales tax and the business isnt playing ball, you can file Form A-3730 with the state Division of Taxation to ask for a refund. The wrongly collected money goes into the states coffers, after all.

And if you believe a business isnt paying its taxes properly or is violating the law, you can notify Taxation online at the Citizens Against Tax Cheats (CATCH) web page or by calling (609) 292-6400.

You can let us know, too.

ONE MORE THING

When we explained it all to Markovich, she said she was glad to see the issue will be resolved, but she had a thing or two to say about the customer service experience.

Her complaint wasnt only about Brightspeed, but about how she sees other companies handling their customer service issues. Indeed, weve received many a complaint from our readers about what happens when you dial an 800-number to ask for help.

So on behalf of all frustrated customers, we thought Markovich should have a chance to get it off her chest. A little venting is good for us all, right?

Like many other companies these days, Brightspeeds customer service seems to be more about presenting a public appearance of service to the customer while, first and foremost, avoiding/discouraging customer contact, she said.

It begins with obtuse, multi-level automated phone tree selections, if not AI, then a long wait for a human, all while being assaulted with either awful music and/or advertising jargon, interspersed with oxymoronic messages telling us how valuable we are as customers, she said.

Then when you finally get a human, they are often in an overseas call center, reading from a script. Then they put you on hold  cue the hold audio assault, Markovich noted  but they can never seem to find an available supervisor.

When it becomes clear that there is little to no actual relief for the issue available, much time has been spent, the customer is emotionally exhausted  and has nowhere to go but consumer advocates or agencies, she said. Or give up, which I imagine is the whole point of this experience from the companys point of view.

It sure can feel that way.

Is anyone out there listening?
A crash barrier is needed on a section of local Laois road where a tractor crashed and turned over, according to a Laois councillor.

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran tabled a motion at a recent meeting asking Laois County Council to install a crash/safety barrier on the L-7890 Ballynakill road, where stream has eroded bank close to the road edge.

Cllr Moran said she had raised the matter with the Council on a previous occasion. She said it was a narrow road and drivers "cant see that there is a dyke.

A tractor went into it one of the days, and it turned over, she said at the meeting in County Hall, Portlaoise.

Cllr Moran added that the barrier doesnt need to cover a large distance but it was need in the interest of safety.

Senior Executive Engineer, Tom Drennan, replied in writing.

Laois County Council will carry out an assessment and if warranted, will consider this for Climate Adaptation and Resilience works application in 2026. Any measures required to ensure road safety at this section of road in the interim will be considered, said Mr Drennan.

READ ALSO: Give free solar panels to every Irish home insists Laois represenative

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan seconded the motion at the monthly meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.
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TAM's production line of electric buses for the needs of the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is pictured in Maribor, Slovenia, on June 14, 2024. TAM, a leading bus and commercial vehicle producer in Slovenia, is experiencing a significant revival after its acquisition by China. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

TAM Europe currently has an annual production capacity of 500 electric commercial vehicles. Over the next three years, it plans to produce around 100 hydrogen-powered vehicles annually.

MARIBOR, Slovenia, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- As the morning light gilded the gates of Slovenia's pillar automaker on the outskirts of Maribor, the country's second-largest city, brand-new hydrogen fuel cell buses slowly rolled out of TAM Europe, marking the official rollout of the company's latest clean-energy vehicles.

In late October, dozens of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles were delivered from TAM Europe to Seoul, South Korea, and Vienna, Austria, the first batch of hydrogen-powered buses produced by the Slovenian manufacturer.

The company currently has an annual production capacity of 500 electric commercial vehicles. During the Paris Olympic Games, TAM Europe supplied 24 electric buses to Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport. Over the next three years, it plans to produce around 100 hydrogen-powered vehicles annually.

This photo taken on June 14, 2024 shows an external view of TAM in Maribor, Slovenia. TAM, a leading bus and commercial vehicle producer in Slovenia, is experiencing a significant revival after its acquisition by China. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

Founded in 1947, the Maribor Automobile Factory (TAM) was once renowned for producing trucks, trailers, and military vehicles. However, severe challenges amid market changes and economic restructuring eventually forced the company into bankruptcy in 2011.

After the infusion of Chinese investment and technology, production resumed in 2013, and the company retained its original brand. Year by year, TAM Europe has regained its vitality and reemerged as an active player on the European manufacturing stage. It has become a driving force in advancing green and sustainable urban transport through its hydrogen and electric buses.

The newly launched 70 MPa hydrogen fuel low-entry city bus marks another milestone in TAM's new energy production line. The model integrates Hyundai's hydrogen fuel cell system, hydrogen storage tanks, and power control system. Emitting only water vapor during operation, it marked a major step forward in the decarbonization of urban mobility.

"Our breakthroughs in environmental protection and technology upgrading have been key to our entry into the high-end European market," said TAM Europe CEO Ma Fuxiong, adding that the rollout demonstrates the factory's sophisticated craftsmanship and lean management in complex new energy assembly.

A TAM worker works on the production line of electric buses for the needs of the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in Maribor, Slovenia, on June 14, 2024. TAM, a leading bus and commercial vehicle producer in Slovenia, is experiencing a significant revival after its acquisition by China. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

"It fully embodies the forward-looking layout and strong cross-border collaboration driven by Chinese capital in global green technology and high-end manufacturing - a vivid example of how 'Chinese wisdom' connects with global resources," Ma added.

Li Minghai, vice president for technology and manufacturing at TAM, highlighted the transformation brought by Chinese investment. He said that through strategic investment and resource integration, this green manufacturing project has gained strong momentum in the heart of Europe.

"It ensures efficiency at every stage - from technology alignment and supply chain management to production implementation," Li said.

FuelCellsWorks, a professional platform for the hydrogen and fuel cell sector, analyzed in an article that the successful rollout carries dual significance: it consolidates TAM's position as a European hub for specialty vehicles and new energy manufacturing, while also exemplifying the deep integration and synergy between Chinese capital and European industrial capabilities in green technology.

TAM workers work on the production line of electric buses for the needs of the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in Maribor, Slovenia, on June 14, 2024. TAM, a leading bus and commercial vehicle producer in Slovenia, is experiencing a significant revival after its acquisition by China. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

Some hydrogen fuel cell buses have entered operation in Seoul and Vienna. Li said, "Our brand recognition is growing steadily, with customers now across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East."

At present, the company employs nearly 200 local workers. It regularly sends local employees to its plant in China to learn new technologies, while Chinese technicians also visit the Slovenian plant to provide on-site guidance.

"This is not only the success of a company but also a testament to win-win cooperation in green development," Li added. 
A fire at a building accommodating people applying for international protection has been confirmed as arson.

A number of people had to be rescued from the building in Drogheda, Co Louth, on Friday night.

It has been reported the people rescued included four children, one of whom was a baby.

They were rescued from the top floor of the International Protection Accommodation Services (Ipas) centre following the blaze which was reported at about 8pm.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he condemned, in the strongest terms, the deeply disturbing incident while Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan warned of serious consequences.

On Saturday evening, gardai confirmed they were investigating the incident as an arson attack.

Emergency services were first alerted to the blaze at the property on Georges Street at about 8.15pm.

Following initial reports of the fire being started by the discharge of fireworks, investigations by An Garda Siochana to date indicate that the fire was started deliberately by person or persons unknown, a Garda spokesperson said.

An Garda Siochana has commenced an investigation into the attempted arson of this residential property.

This was an extremely dangerous act endangering the lives of the residents, including children, who were in their home at the time.

The occupants of the property were safely evacuated and a number were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital for medical assessment.

A senior investigating officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the investigation from the incident room at Drogheda Garda Station.

Gardai are renewing their appeal for any person with any information on this serious incident to come forward.

Anyone in the Georges Street area of Drogheda between 7.30pm and 8.20pm, yesterday Friday October 31 2025, or any person with information on this incident, is asked to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 9874200 or any Garda Station.

Earlier, Mr OCallaghan condemned a terrifying ordeal for women and children living there, adding some were taken to hospital.

I condemn the criminal attack on a building accommodating people applying for international protection in Drogheda last night, he said.

This was a terrifying ordeal for the women and children living there, a number of whom were taken to hospital.

Mr OCallaghan said alternative accommodation is now being sourced for the residents affected.

A full Garda investigation into this arson attack is under way. There will be serious consequences for those responsible, he added.

Nick Henderson, chief executive of the Irish Refugee Council, said it was an appalling incident.

The Irish Refugee Council condemns in the strongest possible terms the horrific arson attack on people seeking protection, he said.

Families, children, and babies who have fled war and persecution targeted as they tried to rebuild their lives in safety. If not for the Fire Service, this could have been even more serious.

Those responsible are a tiny minority and do not reflect the proud and welcoming spirit and people of the Drogheda community.

This appalling incident is another salient reminder of the need for strong leadership  both locally and nationally  to stand against hatred and uphold compassion and solidarity.

Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy has said that those responsible must be held to account.

The appalling arson attack on the International Protection Centre in Drogheda could have easily resulted in death and serious injuries, he said.

There can be no excuse for such action and those involved must be held to account.

This was clearly a very frightening ordeal for those impacted. I want to commend the Fire Service for rescuing people, including small children, from this fire and preventing lives from being lost.

The Gardai must now be allowed to do their job and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
A Roscommon man living in Australia has been fined after a speeding notice was sent to the wrong address due to a clerical mix-up with his name on an old Irish driving licence at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on October 28.

Kieran Kelly, of Northyard, Scramogue, Co Roscommon, was stopped for speeding at 160 km/h in a 100 km/h zone when travelling near Carrick-on-Shannon on June 8th, 2024. Carrick-on-Shannon District Court heard Garda Gareth Farrell stopped Kelly, who produced a valid Australian driving licence. However, when Garda Farrell checked the Garda mobility

system, it retrieved an out-of-date Irish licence listed under the spelling Kieran Kelly.

As a result, the fixed-charge penalty notice was issued to an incorrect address linked to that expired licence. Defence solicitor Colm Conway told the court his client had been prejudiced because the wrong licence was used, and said Kelly would have paid the fine if it had been sent to the correct address. Kelly, who divides his time between Ireland and Australia, gave evidence that he had handed over his Australian licence at the roadside and that the Irish address was automatically drawn from Garda records. However Judge Eiteain Cunningham said she accepted Garda Farrell had acted properly based on the information available but found the facts proven.

Kelly was convicted and fined 320, the same amount as the original fixed-charge notice, with five months to pay. Youre lucky Im only fining you the fixed-charge amount and not more for speeding at 160km/h, she added.

READ MORE: Taoiseach 'certainly never did me any favours; absolutely not!' says Leitrim councillor
ROME, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Five German ski mountaineers were killed after an avalanche struck Mount Ortles in northern Italy's Alps, local authorities said Sunday.

According to Italy's ANSA news agency, the avalanche occurred around 4 p.m. local time on Saturday on the northern slope of Cima Vertana in South Tyrol. A group of five German tourists was swept away by the snow.

Three bodies were recovered on Saturday, while two others, a father and his 17-year-old daughter, were found dead on Sunday morning.

Authorities warned that rising temperatures in the region have made snow conditions unstable, increasing the risk of avalanches. They urged climbers and ski enthusiasts to pay close attention to weather and avalanche alerts and to avoid high-risk mountain areas. 
MAYOR John Moran said he is dismayed at a planned city centre brewery closure and is seeking an emergency meeting to find a solution.

Jono Crute, owner of Crew Brewing Company on Thomas Street, announced on Friday it will cease trading after five years of serving as a hub for local beer lovers.

READ NEXT: 'Final blow to the business' viability': Beloved Limerick city pub to close after parklet removal

One of the major reasons for the pub's closure is the recent removal of the parklet outside the premises by Limerick City and County Council. The build-out was installed at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Crute said it was "quite a devastating decision" to make.

"We are unfortunately closing for good on Christmas Eve this year. We were facing the same challenges as everybody in the industry currently - rising costs and less money in the pockets of our customers.

We had intended to fight through these issues as we always have but the removal of the parklet without notice and without a succession plan was the final blow to the business' viability and to my mental capacity to fight on. Thank you to every one of you for the support over the years, he wrote on social media.

Mayor Moran, in a statement, expressed his dismay at the plan by a city centre pub and microbrewery to close.

He said the removal without notice or consultation by the council of a covered parklet allowing customers to gather outside the premises should never have happened.

READ ALSO: Limerick businessman fears for future after parklets removed without warning

Mayor Moran paid tribute to the business, saying that in a short time it had become a beloved venue.

He confirmed that council officials had indeed removed the parklet, and did so without consulting anyone -- including him.

This should never have happened, Im very unhappy about it, said the mayor.

He added: Its not good enough. Earlier this month we had robust discussions internally about how the parklets came to be removed without discussion, and Im hopeful there wont be a recurrence.

Removing the parklets is inconsistent with my vision for Limerick. I warned a fortnight ago that, if not done carefully and replaced by something better, there could be serious economic consequences. The announcement by Crew Brew strengthens my view.

On October 17, Mayor Moran wrote to Cllr Peter Doyle, the Chair of the economic Special Policy Group, who he said also was not consulted, asking for an urgent review of the matter.

The mayor noted that Crew Brew said it did not plan to close until Christmas Eve, almost two months from now.

This gives me hope. I am ready to facilitate an urgent meeting between council officials across several directorates and all the impacted businesses in the area, including Crew Brew, to see if a solution can be found.
As the nights draw in this November, we get a front-row seat to one of the years best celestial light shows: the Leonid meteor shower. Peaking around November 17, these 'shooting stars' are debris left behind by Comet Tempel-Tuttle. Although the predicted rate for 2025 is modest, they are famously fast-travelling at about 70 kilometres per second and often leave bright trails across the sky. Find a clear spot and enjoy this dramatic natural fireworks display!

But November also marks a momentous anniversary for human-made space history: the day we first successfully landed on a comet.

READ MORE: Limerick items to take pride of place in Dublin exhibition

Ten years ago, on November 12, 2014, the European Space Agencys Rosetta mission achieved the seemingly impossible.

After a ten-year journey, its little washing-machine-sized lander, Philae, successfully touched down on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko - a strangely shaped, 4km-long lump of ice and dust often described as looking like a giant rubber duck .

The drama was immense. Philaes harpoons, meant to anchor it to the comet's low-gravity surface, failed to fire.

It bounced twice before settling in a shadowy spot, landing awkwardly on its side near a cliff. This meant its solar panels couldn't fully recharge, giving scientists only 48 hours to collect data.

Despite the nail-biting finish, Philae sent back invaluable information. Perhaps its most surprising finding came from Rosetta itself, which analysed the comets water vapour.

It revealed that the isotopic signature of the water was vastly different from water on Earth.

This finding directly challenged the popular theory that comets like 67P delivered the majority of water to our planet billions of years ago.

It's a fantastic reminder that the smallest robots can often deliver the biggest cosmic surprises!

The Limerick Astronomy Club meets next on the first Thursday in November, in Mary Immaculate College, Room 202 at 8pm. We'd love to welcome you and embark on this cosmic journey together. Reach out to us at limerickastronomyclub@gmail.com for more info.
THE TRIAL of a Limerick man who is accused of stabbing another man during a violent incident more than five years ago has been adjourned to allow the State to serve a witness summons on a former garda.

The case was listed for hearing before Limerick Circuit Court earlier this month but before a jury was selected, prosecuting counsel John O'Sullivan said there had been a development and that he was seeking an adjournment.

During the application, some of the alleged facts and information relating to the subsequent garda investigation were outlined to the court.

Judge Colin Daly was told the prosecution relates to an incident that happened in the Ballynanty area of Limerick city on October 16 2020. It is alleged a teenager sustained a number of stab wounds during the altercation and required treatment in hospital afterwards.

The accused man, who is now aged in his early 20s, faces four separate charges and has been before the courts awaiting trial for some time. The application for an adjournment was opposed by his barrister Kenneth Kerins.

READ NEXT: Judge dismisses prosecution against Limerick landowner who moved soil to improve drainage

Detective Sergeant Shane Ryan, who took over supervision of the case last year, told the court a former member of An Garda Siochana who was involved in the investigation had subsequently resigned his position and had moved to Canada.

He told Judge Daly when previously contacted about the court proceedings, the former indicated he wasn't available to give evidence in person or via video link from Canada.

However, he said having made further enquiries ahead of the scheduled trial date, he established that the former garda has since returned to Ireland but is living outside of Limerick.

When Judge Daly questioned why the enquiries were not carried out at an earlier date, Det Sgt Ryan replied: "I have no excuse, I accept I should have done it sooner. It was an oversight on my part."

The detective sergeant said he subsequently travelled to the former garda's home and that he spoke directly with him by phone as he was away, for work reasons, on the day he called.

"I'm very confident he will appear on the next occasion, he's aware of his commitments to the courts despite his commitments to the guards being finished," he said.

Opposing the application, Mr Kerins submitted the State has handled the case poorly he suggested the prosecution is putting all its eggs in one basket. Regarding the appearance of the former gardai, he commented: "They are hoping to have the ability to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse."

Granting the application, Judge Daly noted the case had been listed before the court on six previous occasions and he said he was doing so with "great reluctance".

He warned Mr O'Sullivan he will not entertain any further applications for an adjournment if the former garda does not attend.
ALTHOUGH over 2,500 events took place nationwide during the biggest National Heritage Week yet, a Limerick event celebrating otters and outdoor discovery stood out from the crowd.

Wild Child Day  All About Otters from the Maigue Rivers Trust took home the Wild Child Award at this years Heritage Week Awards.

This award recognises events that took place on Wild Child Day, August 23, 2025, and successfully encouraged children to get outdoors and explore the richness of natural heritage and biodiversity in their local area. The event was led by otter expert Albert Nolan at Lough Gur and included activities such as exploring otter ecology, tracking, and building holts, making it a fun-filled and educational day.

READ MORE: Limerick council recognised for innovative soundscape study at UK awards

Limerick hosted 49 events during National Heritage Week, highlighting the countys major role in this years celebrations. The awards are run by The Heritage Council, which promotes awareness of the importance of Irelands heritage to communities across the island. The winners of the awards were announced at a ceremony on October 17 in Dublin.

Limerick City and County Council Heritage Officer, Tom O'Neill said:

I am very proud to say that County Limerick has won a National Heritage Week Award. Wild Child Day- All about Otters from the Maigue Rivers Trust won the Wild Child Award for County Limerick. It was an amazing and unique event that shined a light on our natural heritage and creativity. Congratulations on coming together to create such a memorable event.
Slowly then all at once, OpenAI became something of a juggernaut thats hard to fully fathom.

It hasnt yet turned a profit. Its annual revenue is 2% of Amazon.coms sales. Its future is uncertain beyond the hope of ushering in a godlike artificial intelligence that might help cure cancer and transform work and life as we know it. Still, it is brimming with hope and excitement.

But what if OpenAI fails?

Theres real concern that through many complicated and murky tech deals aimed at bolstering OpenAIs finances, the startup has become too big to fail.

Or, put another way, if the hype and hope around Chief Executive Sam Altmans vision of the AI future fails to materialize, it could create systemic risk to the part of the U.S. economy likely keeping us out of recession.

Thats rarefied air, especially for a startup. Few worried about what would happen if Pets.com failed in the dot-com boom.

We saw in 2008-09 with the bank rescues and the Chrysler and General Motors bailouts what happens in the U.S. when certain companies become too big to fail.

Altmanby design or happenstancehas engineered OpenAIs rise to a $500 billion valuation just as the Trump administration has embraced its own policies of picking champions in the name of national defense and economic security.

The White House has been very vocal in efforts to protect AI development in the U.S., which is helping fuel what otherwise would be a much slower economy. More than that, some are betting that AI and robotics will be the salve to our nations debt troubles.

An economy thats over $30 trillion in debt needs the productivity boost that AI is going to give us," tech investor David Sacks said on social media years ago before becoming the White House AI czar.

Recent days have brought several reminders of how big and central OpenAI, founded in 2015 as a nonprofit, has become.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) said he thought OpenAI and its chatbot, ChatGPT, should be broken upa remarkable statement considering the company is expected to generate just $13 billion this year.

We need to take a deep breath and understand that its like a meteor coming to this planetwe gotta be prepared to deal with it in all of its complexity," Sanders told Axios about AI.

And, after a lengthy effort to reorganize itself, OpenAI announced moves that will allow it to have a simpler corporate structure. This will help it to raise money from private investors and, presumably, become a publicly traded company one day. Already, some are talking about how OpenAI might be the first trillion-dollar initial public offering.

In a blog post Tuesday, OpenAI Chair Bret Taylor marked the moment, declaring: Built to benefit everyone."

Its the kind of altruistic talk Altman is known for as he predicts that superintelligent AIor AGIwill help cure cancer and save humanity.

I think AGI is probably necessary for humanity to surviveour problems seem too big to solvewithout better tools," Altman tweeted a few years ago.

Microsoft, which will hold a 27% stake, saw its shares rise on the latest news, pushing its market value past $4 trillion. (Later in the week, Nvidia, which had previously announced plans to invest $100 billion into OpenAI, became the first $5 trillion company.)

The linkages between these tech behemoths and the stock markets dependence on them are notable. The lessons of the financial crisis earlier this century werent just that the banks were too big to fail, they were too interconnected to fail.

The big financial institutions were intertwined by a web of complex financial instruments and vehicles that threatened to bring down the U.S. system as certain players teetered toward collapse. This led the U.S. government to step in with a bailout package as well as take other unusual measures.

Nobody is saying OpenAI is dabbling in anything like liar loans or subprime mortgages. But the startup is engaging in complex deals with the key tech-industry pillars, the sorts of companies making the guts of the AI computing revolution, such as chips and Ethernet cables.

Those companies, including Nvidia and Oracle, are partnering with OpenAI, which in turn is committing to make big purchases in coming years as part of its growth ambitions.

Supporters would argue it is just savvy dealmaking. A company like Nvidia, for example, is putting money into a market-making startup while OpenAI is using the lofty value of its private equity to acquire physical assets.

Theyre rooting for OpenAI as a once-in-a-generational chance to unseat the winners of the last tech cycles. After all, for some, OpenAI is the next Apple, Facebook, Google and Tesla wrapped up in one. It is akin to a company with limitless potential to disrupt the smartphone market, create its own social-media network, replace the search engine, usher in a robot future and reshape nearly every business and industry.

I think the industry is underrating and underinvesting given the scale," Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman told me the other day during our appearance at a Paley Center for Media event in Menlo Park, Calif.

Suleyman was sidestepping concerns raised about OpenAI becoming too big to fail. Instead, he painted a more optimistic picture, pointing to how investments in AI have already shown truly exponential improvement in capabilities" and saying that future spending will drive incredible improvements in capabilities." The sort of capabilities, he added, that will upend basically every industry."

To others, however, OpenAI is something akin to tulip mania, the harbinger of the Great Depression, or the next dot-com bubble. Or worse, they see, a jobs killer and mad scientist intent on making Frankenstein.

But thats counting on OpenAIs success.

Write to Tim Higgins at tim.higgins@wsj.com
The dine-out economy is regaining momentum, with food-tech giants Swiggy and Eternal (Zomato) taking divergent paths to capitalize on the trend: Swiggy is chasing profitability, Eternal is building scale through a broader business mix.

Swiggys latest numbers show its dine-out arm has turned profitable for the first time. The company reported a Gross Order Value (GOV) of 1,118 crore for its dine-out arm in Q2 FY26, a 52% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase from 734 crore in the same quarter last year. Its adjusted Ebitda margin of +0.5% marks a small but symbolic operating profit of 6 crore, turning the corner after several loss-making quarters.

Eternal (Zomato), meanwhile, reports a Net Order Value (NOV) for its District business, which includes dining, events, and retail. The vertical grew around 32% y-o-y, but remains in the red with an Ebitda margin of -3.1% and a quarterly loss of 63 crore. Eternals broader revenue base 189 crore in Q2FY26 compared to Swiggys 88 crorereflects a wider business mix, but also heavier operational intensity.

Also Read | Affordability first: Swiggy bets on new initiatives for food delivery growth

It's important to note that Swiggy reports Gross Order Value (GOV), which is the total before discounts, whereas Zomato uses Net Order Value, the total after deducting partner commissions and discounts, a metric it argues better reflects the platform economics.

Zomatos higher revenues are rooted in its more diversified business mix, which encompasses dining, events, and retail, while Swiggys topline reflects a narrower focus.

Analysts say the dine-out recovery is steady but is still finding its feet. The pickup is partly macro, thanks to office reopenings, consumer premiumisation, and partly behavioural, with loyalty programmes driving repeat visits, explains Sandeep Abhange, LKP Securities analyst.

Push for dining out

Dine-out had been sluggish for several quarters, largely because the convenience and discounts of food delivery cannibalised dine-in demand, especially on weekdays. Platforms heavy reliance on discounts further squeezed margins for both themselves and restaurants, a trend exacerbated by the pandemic.

Both Zomato and Swiggy report that their dine-out businesses contribute around 10-15% of their overall business, according to management commentary in their recent earnings calls.

Key Takeaways Swiggy's dine-out arm achieved its first-ever operating profit in Q2F Y26, focusing on profitability in a narrower vertical. In contrast, Zomato is prioritizing scale and breadth in its wider District business, which remains loss-making.

Swiggy's dine-out business reported a gross order value of 1,118 crore and an adjusted Ebitda margin of +0.5%, marking a symbolic turning point for dine-in.

The dine-out recovery is driven by macroeconomic factors like office reopenings, consumer premiumization, and behavioural changes, including the success of loyalty programmes.

Dine-in offers significantly higher margins for restaurants compared to delivery, giving them better leverage.

The recovery's long-term sustainability is questioned, as analysts note that current traction is heavily incentive-led due to consistent deep discounting.

Abhange adds that the goods and services tax (GST) rationalisation has provided a measurable, though partial tailwind", especially for organised restaurants and quick-commerce categories. The tax change has improved partner-level economics, but the main driver remains behaviour, people are simply going out more."

For restaurateurs, the recovery is visible but uneven. Weve seen 1-2% savings depending on the restaurant category, especially for QSRs (quick service restaurants) that rely on processed foods earlier taxed at 12%," said Pranav Rungta, an industry veteran and vice president at National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), adding that GST cuts have modestly improved input margins.

However, platforms still foot most of the bill for discounts and payment routing, a long-standing sore spot for the NRAI, which has repeatedly flagged deep discounting as distorting restaurant margins and consumer pricing.

Dine-in offers better margins than delivery since theres no revenue share involved. There is more leverage as the consumer is in direct touch with the outlet. Though aggregators are trying to take a piece of this business by offering reservation services with deep discounts," Rungta said.

Also Read | Inventory wars: Swiggy and Blinkit stock up quick commerce race

The NRAI has been advocating for fair trade terms and against arbitrary charges or fee increases by aggregators, for which they [platforms] have been largely responsive," he added.

But the bigger win is psychologicalit helps restore pricing parity between eating in and ordering out, says Sagar Daryani, co-founder of Wow! Momo, and the president of NRAI.

The same customer whod order online every 45-60 days is now returning to their favourite QSR every 30-35 days," said Daryani.

Change in behaviour

Dine-out bills also pad up the average order value (AOV).

Dine-out bills typically range between 1,600 and 2,200 per guest, increasing with cocktails, compared to 450-700 for delivery. Family bundles also reach 750-900 on weekends, according to Zorawar Kalra, founder of Massive Restaurants.

Kalra believes dine-out gives restaurants more leverage across the board, from landlord negotiations to supplier contracts, and even allows brands to push back gently on aggregator take rates.

But not everyones convinced this is a long-term turnaround. Footfalls and frequency are yet to show consistent recovery, as channels still lean on heavy discounting, while online delivery continues to grow 18-20% annually, driven by habit and convenience," said Karan Taurani, senior vice-president at Elara Capital, adding that discounts have risen consistently over the past two years, making current dine-out traction largely incentive-led rather than purely organic.

The recovery remains seasonal, though underlying consumer sentiment has turned firmer.

The combined out-of-home Gross Order Value for Swiggy and Zomato crossed 3,588 crore in Q1 FY26, up 38.9% y-o-ya remarkable jump, but one that shows signs of flattening sequentially after festival peaks, according to data from Datum Intelligence. Spending fatigue and wallet reallocation toward home delivery and quick commerce in metros are slowing momentum," the firm notes.

For now, delivery continues to drive the volumes, but dine-out is quietly back on the table.
Following massive job cuts, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that the tech giant plans to expand its workforce; however, the focus will now be on a more strategic and leveraged approach post-AI revolution.

Nadella told investor Brad Gerstner at the B2G podcast that the companys employee numbers will grow again, but in a smarter, more leveraged way.

We will grow our headcount, Nadella said. But the way I look at it is, that headcount will grow with a lot more leverage than what we had pre-AI.

Microsoft layoffs Nadella's comments follow the tech company's reported layoffs of nearly 4,000 software engineering roles amid the growing adoption of AI, according to a Bloomberg report. Microsoft plans to cut nearly 6,000 jobs across its divisions, with over 30% of the layoffs based in Washington.

In May this year, Satya Nadella addressed the company for the first time after announcing layoffs of roughly 6,000 employees, which account for about three per cent of the global workforce. He highlighted that this decision was part of a wider internal restructuring and did not indicate any issues with employee performance, Mint earlier reported.

During a company-wide town hall, Nadella addressed the staff, explaining that the layoffs were essential to realign teams with Microsofts shifting priorities, particularly its growing emphasis on artificial intelligence. He recognised the emotional impact of the decision but emphasised that it was motivated by strategic changes rather than issues with productivity or talent.

Notably, Microsoft is not the only company that has recently cut jobs. E-commerce giant Amazon earlier confirmed plans to cut nearly 14,000 corporate jobs, just months after Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy warned that AI would reduce the companys workforce. The company plans to cut 30,000 jobs in total, Reuters reported. TCS, Accenture, Microsoft, Salesforce and Google are among the IT and tech companies that have conducted restructuring.

IT and technology companies around the world are experiencing significant changes due to ongoing pressure from their US operations and recent worries about US President Donald Trump's proposed increase in H-1B visa fees, which could affect new applicants aiming to work in the United States.
The gloves are off in the obesity-drug fight. But Novo Nordisk might be swinging so hard it risks losing its balance.

The maker of Ozempic has been losing ground to Eli Lilly and a crop of copycat GLP-1 makers such as Hims & Hers Health. Novos new chief executive, Mike Doustdar, deserves credit for shaking up a once-stodgy Danish pharma with a move fast and break things mindset. He inherited a company rapidly ceding share, and his response has been urgent: layoffs to free up cash for reinvestment, and a dealmaking spree that included the acquisition of Akero Therapeutics, a company with a liver-disease treatment, for up to $5.2 billion.

Now, Novos bid to regain its footing has taken a form unthinkable under past leadership: an unsolicited $9 billion offer to pry Metsera, the developer of a monthly injection, away from Pfizer, which had agreed to buy it in a deal valued at up to $7.3 billion. It is a bold move for a company that mostly shied away from dealmaking under past leadership.

In this case it also looks like a move born of frustration, one that is now making Novo investors uneasy. The stock skidded Thursday and Friday as investors questioned how confident the pharma company is in its own obesity-drug pipeline, said Will Sevush, a healthcare strategist at Jefferies.

On Friday, Pfizer sued Novo and Metsera, alleging that under the terms of the Pfizer-Metsera agreement, the offer from Novo cant qualify as superior. Pfizer might have a point

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According to Metseras proxy statement on its merger with Pfizer, Metsera held talks with seven potential acquirers between 2024 and September 2025. Novo Nordisk, identified as Party 1 in the filing, was the first suitor.

During the negotiation process, Novo offered the same unconventional two-step structure it is offering now, a plan in which it would first pay Metsera upon signing in exchange for nonvoting shares, after which Metsera would distribute that cash to shareholders as a dividend. Full ownership would be transferred only after regulatory approval. Novos workaround was meant to sidestep any regulatory concerns, letting Metsera shareholders walk away with immediate cash no matter what. But Metseras board ultimately opted to proceed with Pfizer, citing regulatory uncertainty to closing a deal with Novo, likely given its leading position in the GLP-1 market.

If Novos bid is truly superior, why didnt Metsera accept a similar one the first time? Why did the Metsera board, as the proxy statement shows, prod Pfizer to sweeten its deal? Under the merger agreement, the definition of Superior Company Proposal" refers to a weighing of not just price but also regulatory, financing, timing, and legal risks. While shareholders might get more money under Novos proposal, Pfizers argument that Metsera cant pay out the dividend under Delaware law and Pfizers request for a temporary restraining order to block the mergers termination already have made Novos offer, in essence, riskier.

A Novo spokesperson said that Metsera assets are highly complementary to Novos products and pipeline, and that the Danish company is uniquely positioned to bring its expertise in product development and manufacturing to accelerate the successful commercialisation of the Metsera assets."

Pfizer on Thursday cast Novos move as a threat to competition and even invoked nationalist undertones. In a statement, the company called Novos bid an attempt by a company with a dominant market position to suppress competition in violation of law by taking over an emerging American challenger." And Chief Executive Albert Bourla, who was the first to appear at the White House alongside President Trump for a drug-pricing deal, is clearly ready for a political fight as much as a corporate one.

Even so, Pfizerwhich had recently been fending off an activist investor as patents on key drugs expire and Covid revenue fadesstill has time to decide it is better to negotiate than fight. Metsera seems to be using Novos offer as leverage to extract a sweeter deal, and under the merger terms, Pfizer has until Tuesday to counterbid. Given how valuable GLP-1 drugs have become, a small bump in price could be worth it.

Last quarter, Eli Lilly made more than $10 billion in revenue from Zepbound and Mounjaro, its flagship obesity and diabetes treatments. Metseras obesity portfolio, which includes a long-acting injection that would require fewer shots than Lillys drugs, clearly has potential to compete in that category.

If Pfizer wants a foothold in the obesity race, swallowing a higher price for Metsera might be the cost of admission.

Write to David Wainer at david.wainer@wsj.com
MOSCOW, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- There is no need to rapidly organize a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview released Sunday.

Peskov said that promptly preparing such a meeting is possible, but there is no need for it, TASS news agency reported.

"At this moment, what is needed is very meticulous work on the details of the (Ukraine) settlement problem," Peskov added.

After a phone call with Putin on Oct. 16, Trump said that the two leaders would meet soon in Budapest, Hungary. On Oct. 22, Trump said he had canceled the planned meeting, saying that the meeting "just didn't feel right to me," and that "it didn't feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get."

Previously, Putin said that the meeting in Budapest had more likely been postponed than canceled, adding that it was the United States that initiated the summit.

On Oct. 26, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the future of personal contacts at the highest level will depend on the U.S. side. 
Amid constant restrictions from China, India is planning to nearly triple the size of its incentive programme to manufacture rare earth domestically, a Bloomberg report said on Saturday.

Citing people with knowledge on the matter, the report said that the incentive for the rare earth manufacturing scheme will be increased to around 7,000 crore ($788 million), as China continues to dominate the sector. This is a significant increase from the earlier $290 million funds the government had mulled earmarking for the rare earth manufacturing.

The proposal is awaiting cabinet approval, and will be a booster for India's current quest to secure critical materials for electric vehicles, renewable energy and defence.

The report comes weeks after China tightened its grip on rare earth export significantly, adding five new rare earth elements to its restricted export list. China now has 12 critical rare earths with export restrictions.

How does India plan to spur domestic rare earth production? Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier this year called for a stable, diversified global supply chain, while warning against weaponising critical minerals amid growing concerns on China.

However, India faces challenges as limited expertise, long timeline for projects and an apparent shortage of funds delays rare earth production.

State-owned companies, according to Bloomberg, are leading the effort to secure overseas mining partnerships as domestic rare earth manufacture dwells on early phases.

Also Read | China to ease rare earth export curbs, suspend probes targeting US companies

Moreover, the challenge persists as the technological expertise to extract rare earth mineral is heavily concentrated in China.

The government initiative will support about five companies through a mix of production-linked and capital subsidies, according to the report. It further said that China has recently issued the first licenses allowing imports of rare earth magnets for use in India. However, none of these licenses have been granted to Indian-origin companies.

The government is also funding studies on the so-called synchronous reluctance motors, a technology that could eventually reduce dependence on rare earth materials, according to the people.

India following global approach If the report proves to be true, it would signal that India is following footsteps of countries including European Union nations that have called for lesser dependence on China in terms of rare earth.

India's rare earth expansion plan aligns with global efforts to reduce reliance on China.

EU would seek to speed up critical raw materials partnerships with countries such as Australia, Canada, Chile, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine, European Commission chief Ursula Von Der Leyen had said earlier last month.

Also Read | China ends rare earth export freeze for 4 Indian manufacturers

Earlier this year, Japan had also said it would reduce rare earth dependence on China.

Meanwhile, the US reached a rare earth export deal with China in exchange of lowering tariffs to 47%.
(Bloomberg) -- China will effectively suspend implementation of additional export controls on rare earth metals and terminate investigations targeting US companies in the semiconductor supply chain, the White House announced.

The White House issued a fact sheet on Saturday outlining some details of the trade pact agreed to earlier this week by President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping that aimed to ease tensions between the worlds largest economies.

Under the deal, China will issue general licenses valid for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony and graphite for the benefit of U.S. end users and their suppliers around the world, the White House said, meaning the effective removal of controls China imposed in April 2025 and October 2022. The US and China previously said Beijing would suspend more restrictive controls announced in October 2025 for one year.

Washington will also pause some of Trumps so-called reciprocal tariffs on China for an additional year and is halting plans to implement a 100% tariff on Chinese exports to the US that was threatened for November. The White House also said that the US will further extend the expiration of certain Section 301 tariff exclusions, currently due to expire on Nov. 29, 2025, until Nov. 10, 2026.

Also Read | China ends rare earth export freeze for 4 Indian manufacturers

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.

The landmark summit between Trump and Xi, their first face-to-face meeting of the US presidents second term, saw the leaders stabilize relations in the short term after an escalating trade fight that had roiled markets and sparked fears of a global downturn.

Under their agreement, according to the White House, China agreed to pause sweeping controls on rare-earth magnets in exchange for a US agreement to roll back an expansion of curbs on Chinese companies. China had used its dominance in the processing of rare-earth minerals as leverage, threatening to restrict their flow to the US and allies countries.

The US also agreed to halve a fentanyl-related tariff to 10% from 20%, while Beijing will resume purchases of American soybeans and other agricultural products. The US has said China will buy 12 million metric tons of soybeans during the current season, and a minimum of 25 million metric tons a year for the next three years. Trump on Friday indicated he would like to remove all of the fentanyl-related tariffs if China continued to crack down on exports of the drug and precursor chemicals used to make it.

Also Read | Trump to meet Xi in South Korea amid global jitters  Key things to watch

As soon as we see that, well get rid of the other 10%, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday.

The US also said on Saturday that Beijing will take steps to allow the Chinese facilities of Dutch chipmaker Nexperia BV to resume shipments, confirming a Bloomberg report from a day earlier. This move will likely ease worries about chip shipments that had threatened auto production as a trade fight between China and the US escalated.

But while the agreement has calmed tensions, the pact may be a short-term truce in an extended trade fight with the measures just meant to last one year. And despite addressing some key issues  and with both sides winning key concessions  the agreement fails to comprehensively address all of the issues at the heart of the US-China trade fight and other geopolitical flashpoints such as Taiwan and Russias war in Ukraine.
NEW DELHI: Nearly a decade after its last count, India is once again taking stock of its fishing communitiesthis time with tablets instead of clipboards. The government on 31 October launched the fifth National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025, a 45-day digital exercise beginning 3 November to map over 1.2 million fisher households across more than 4,000 marine villages in nine coastal states and four union territories.

The census, to be completed by 18 December, will be the countrys first fully digital and geo-referenced survey of the fisheries sector.

The move comes as part of a broader push to strengthen the primary sectoragriculture and allied activitieswhich grew 3.7% in the first quarter of FY26. With fisheries contributing significantly to food security, exports, and rural livelihoods, the government wants to build an accurate, up-to-date picture of the people and resources that sustain the blue economy."

Also Read | Why India must harness its deep-sea and offshore fisheries

Why now?

The last comprehensive fisheries census was carried out in 2016. Since then, Indias coastal economy has changed dramatically. Production has surged, fishing patterns have evolved, and the socio-economic conditions of fishing households have shifted. The MFC 2025 aims to capture these changes through a household-level enumeration of fishers, fishing crafts, gears, and infrastructure across 1,200 landing centres, 50 harbours, and several jetties, markets, and processing plants.

The data will serve as a foundation for evidence-based policymaking, targeted welfare schemes, and better management of marine resources. It is also expected to help the government identify vulnerable communities, promote climate-resilient practices, and support initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY).

A wider lens

This edition of the census expands far beyond headcounts. For the first time, enumerators will collect detailed socio-economic data, including family income, homeownership, debt levels, credit sources, insurance coverage, and disability status. The census will also document the impacts of the pandemic on fisher households and track whether they received benefits from existing welfare schemes.

New schedules focusing on Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) aim to capture how collectivization is reshaping the value chain. Together, these additions will offer policymakers a granular picture of coastal livelihoods and financial vulnerabilities, helping design more precise interventions.

A digital leap

The fifth fisheries census marks a technological milestoneit will be fully paperless and geo-tagged. Enumeration will be carried out through three custom-made, multilingual Android applications developed by the ICARCentral Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI):

VyASNAV for validating fishing villages and harbours

VyASBHARAT for household and infrastructure data

VyASSUTRA for real-time supervision and monitoring

These tools will allow instant uploading and verification of data, reducing manual errors and accelerating processing. A multi-tier web dashboard and supervisory app will monitor progress and ensure accountability at every level of data collection.

In effect, Indias fisheries sector will get its first location-based national database, laying the groundwork for digital governance in the blue economycomparable to how the agricultural census or livestock surveys underpin rural planning.

Why it matters

India is the second-largest fish producer in the world, accounting for 8% of global output. Production has more than doubledto 19.5 million tonnes in 2024-25 from 9.6 million tonnes in 2013-14. The sector supports nearly 30 million livelihoods and earned 60,523 crore from exports in FY24.

Yet, despite this growth, the sector has long faced information gaps, especially around employment, incomes, and access to welfare. Officials and policymakers have often relied on outdated or fragmented data to design subsidy or insurance schemes. The new census could bridge that gap, ensuring that benefits reach those who need them most.

The fisheries census will directly benefit fishermen by giving them better access to government support and welfare schemes. Also, it will ensure that benefits such as insurance, and financial assistance reach the right people without in case of any cyclones or other natural disaster," said Alex K Ninan, vice president, The Seafood Exporters Association Of India.

The road ahead

While the digital format promises efficiency, the real test will lie in how effectively the data is used. Previous censuses often ended up as reference documents rather than actionable policy tools. Analysts say timely publication, integration with welfare databases, and coordination between the Centre and states will determine whether the MFC 2025 lives up to its potential.

Also Read | Blue Ports: How India intends to boost marine produce with modern infrastructure

If executed well, the exercise could mark a turning pointmodernizing Indias fisheries governance and helping the government craft targeted, sustainable policies for one of its most critical, yet undercounted, economic sectors.
Despite muted tax growth in the first half of FY26, the Centre has managed to keep its finances on track, thanks largely to windfall dividends from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and other state-owned entities. The additional revenue cushion helped contain the fiscal deficit at just 36.5% of the budget aim in April-September.

The outcome is telling. Sluggish tax growth usually squeezes a governments spending ability, but this years data suggest otherwise.

Also Read | FM to seek Parliament nod for extra funds to cover income tax, GST reliefs

Revenue slump

Gross tax revenue grew a muted 2.8% during the first half of current fiscal year (H1FY26), well below the 11% full-year growth projected in the Union Budget.

The slowdown was driven by tepid income-tax growth of 4.7% as against the budgeted 13.1%, anaemic corporate-tax growth of 1.1% (vs budgeted 10.4%), and modest central goods and services tax (CGST) growth of 5.8% (vs budgeted 10.9%).

Additionally, the Budgets big bet on securities transaction tax (STT) collections did not materialize amid muted trade volumes and choppy markets. STT collections rose only 0.6% in the first half, compared with the targeted growth of 41.8%.

Dividend boost

Even so, the Centre managed to keep its capital expenditure commitment on track, reaching slightly above the halfway mark by September.

Capital expenditure stood at 5.8 trillion in April-September, 40% higher year-on-year, helped by a low base last year when spending was curtailed due to the general elections.

According to Aditi Nayar, chief economist at rating agency Icra Ltd, the robust capex in H1, unusual for the period, which typically sees a slow pickup, means capex could contract 15% in the second half and still meet the budget target.

Revenue expenditure, in contrast, grew only 1.5% year-on-year during the same period, helping keep overall expenditure in check.

The biggest cushion came from dividends and profits, which stood at 3.5 trillion against the budgeted 3.2 trillion. Of this, the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) windfall dividend payout of 2.56 trillion provided crucial fiscal support. In recent years, the government has increasingly relied on large RBI dividends to offset shortfalls in tax revenue and keep its fiscal position steady.

Risks remain

While the Centres finances appear on track so far, risks are emerging. The estimated revenue foregone of around 50,000 crore due to Goods and Services Tax (GST) cuts, effective 22 September, will make tax collections more tepid in the months ahead. Faltering nominal GDP growth also poses a challenge. In the first quarter of the current fiscal year, GDP grew 8.8%, slower than 10.8% in the preceding quarter.

Also Read | Why the government is optimistic about near-7% GDP growth in FY26

The Budget projected a nominal GDP of 356.98 trillion, implying a growth rate of about 8% over 330.68 trillion recorded in FY25. Some economists have warned that nominal GDP growth could slip below the 8% markputting the governments fiscal math at risk, Mint reported on 31 August.
India's exports to the United States tanked for the fourth straight month across all sectors, according to a recent analysis by trade think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).

According to the report, India saw its US exports decline by 37.5% across sectors between May and September 2025, signalling the impact of the Trump tariffs that were imposed on the country earlier this year.

India pays a tariff of 50% on its exports to the US, its largest market, with trade reeling under pressure.

In a note published on Sunday, GTRI said that between May and September 2025, India saw its exports to the US plunge from $8.8 billion to $5.5 billion, which indicates a 37.5% decline.

This marks one of the steepest short-term collapses in years, GTRI said.

The report by the trade think tank compared export data between May and September 2025 to analyse the immediate impact of US tariffs that were imposed from April 2 this year.

India is among one of the highest tariff-payers to the US, with Donald Trump imposing an extra 25% duty on its exports as a punishment of buying Russian oil.

The Trump tariffs began at 10%, rose to 25% on August 7, and reached 50% by late August for India.

The latest data make one point clear: tariffs have not only squeezed India's trade margins but also exposed structural vulnerabilities across key export industries, GTRI said.

Which Indian exports to the US suffered the most? According to the report, products that previously had zero tariff on them experienced the sharpest decline in terms of exports, tanking 47% from $3.4 billion in May to $1.8 billion in September.

The tariff-free products previously accounted for nearly one-third of India's shipments.

Smartphones and pharmaceuticals were the biggest casualties, GTRI said.

Smartphone exports to the US had surged 197% between April and September 2024. During the same period in 2025, it fell 58% from $2.29 billion in May to $884.6 million in September.

The fall was recorded month-after-month  $2.0 billion in June, $1.52 billion in July, $964.8 million in August, and finally $884.6 million in September.

The reasons for decline are not known and need examination, GTRI mentioned.

Exports of pharmaceutical products, on the other hand, fell 15.7% from $745.6 million to $628.3 million.

Which other sectors are affected by Trump tariffs? Trump tariffs have hit all sectors in India. However, industrial metals and auto parts, which are subject to uniform duty across the world, have experienced a milder shock, the report found.

Aluminium exports dropped 37%, copper 25%, auto parts 12%, and iron and steel 8%.

Because all global suppliers faced similar duties, the dip appears linked more to a slowdown in US industrial activity than to any loss in Indian competitiveness, GTRI said.

Labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, chemicals, agri-foods, and machinery account for nearly 60% of India's US exports. These sectors suffered a 33% decline, from $4.8 billion in May to $3.2 billion in September, GTRI found in the analysis.

Gems and jewellery exports collapsed 59.5%, from $500.2 million to $202.8 million, sending units in Surat and Mumbai down the drain as Thailand and Vietnam captured lost US orders, GTRI said.

Exports of solar panels shrank 60.8%, from $202.6 million to $79.4 million, affecting India's edge on renewable energy export.

The decline came in at 16.7% from $600 million to $500 million.

With China facing only 30 per cent tariffs and Vietnam 20 percent, India's competitiveness has sharply deteriorated, the trade think tank said.
India's coffee exports hit a record high in financial year 2024-25, showing a strong upward trajectory in the segment, according to the Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Maintaining its billion-dollar streak for the fourth consecutive financial year, India's coffee exports reached $1.80 billion in FY25. This is an increase of 40.2% over the $1.28 billion worth of exports the country did in FY24.

The commerce ministry had earlier this year said that India's coffee exports grew due to increasing demand from across the world, thanks to the unique and rich flavours.

Approximately three-fourths of India's coffee production consists of Arabica and Robusta beans. These are primarily exported as unroasted beans. However, there is a growing demand for value-added products, such as roasted and instant coffee, which further fuels the export boom.

India's coffee is primarily grown in the ecologically rich Western and Eastern Ghats, areas famous for their biodiversity. Karnataka leads in production, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

India is now the seventh-largest coffee producer globally, with exports reaching $1.29 billion in FY 2023-24, almost double the $719.42 million in 2020-21, according to the Commerce Ministry.

PM Modi hails Indian coffee Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest monthly radio programme, 'Mann ki Baat', on Sunday, among other things, featured discussions about the increasing popularity of Indian coffee among global beverage lovers and how people in India are taking up coffee plantations as a means of livelihood.

Also Read | US coffee gets costlier as Trump tariffs top supplier, crackdown targets another

Joining the thread from where he had left off last year, discussing Araku coffee from Andhra Pradesh in a similar monthly Mann ki Baat episode, PM Modi today commended the Koraput coffee of Odisha.

Indian coffee is becoming very popular all over the world, the prime minister said, listing out several places in India where coffee plantations are in abundance.

Also Read | Coffee Board seeks feedback on sustainability scheme as certification lags

"Be it Chikmagalur, Coorg and Hassan in Karnataka; the areas of Pulney, Shevaroy, Nilgiri and Annamalai in Tamil Nadu; the Biligiri region on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border; or the areas of Wayanad, Travancore and Malabar in Kerala - the diversity of Indian coffee is truly remarkable," the prime minister had said.

The Prime Minister said the mentions of coffee in Mann ki Baat stemmed from many people from Odisha sharing their feelings with him about Koraput coffee.

Prime Minister Modi said he was told that Koraput coffee tastes amazing, and not only that; besides the taste, coffee cultivation is also benefiting people."

There are people in Koraput who are cultivating coffee through their sheer passion. They were doing well in the corporate world... but they loved coffee so much that they entered this field and are now successfully working in it. There are also many women whose lives have been pleasantly transformed by coffee," he said, lauding the people of Koraput. North-East states are also progressing in coffee cultivation, he further said.

In summary, he concluded that these efforts are further strengthening Indian coffee's identity worldwide.

"India's coffee is coffee at its finest. It is brewed in India and loved by the World," the prime minister said, in a way, phrasing what coffee lovers tend to say as they sip Indian coffee.

Over the centuries, the cultivation of coffee in India has evolved from a humble practice to a thriving industry, with the country's coffee now widely loved across the globe.
When students turn to artificial intelligence to do assignments, its usually to do the work easier, faster and, to the chagrin of educators, with less brain power. Not so at Northwestern University, where AI is revolutionizing the cornerstone of American business educationthe case study.

For more than a century, M.B.A. students have learned business strategy through the case method. Professors assign write-ups of real-life corporate challenges. Students pore over pages of charts and reports on executives perspectives, then debate in class the best plan of attack.

At Northwesterns Kellogg School of Management, AI is turning that method on its head. Students no longer read through every available factoid on, say, Walmarts wages for hourly workers and write a memotasks that can be easily circumvented with generative AI tools. Instead, M.B.A.s must draw out details and data through open-ended conversations with AI chatbots and then craft a strategy.

Students whove worked through the AI-guided casethis one involves helping a school district erase a $50 million deficit fueled by transportation costssay it more closely resembles what consultants and business leaders do in the real world: Youre not handed information. You must determine what you need to know from a cast of AI-created school officials and employees, and grill it out of them.

We started to fight fire with fire," says Kellogg associate professor Sebastien Martin, who created the toolnot as a shortcut but to slow students down and force them to think and engage.

Most of them exchange an average of more than 50 messages with each character as they try to solve the schools budget crisis, Martin said. He and colleague Daniela Hurtado Lange began designing and crafting the AI school-district case in early 2025 and rolled it out to students a few months later. Martin estimates that more than 2,000 students have used AI cases as more professors integrate them into their classes.

Consultant PTSD

At Kellogg, one-third of the Class of 2026 worked as consultants before enrolling. A slightly bigger share of last years graduates landed in the field after graduation, making a median annual salary of $190,000. Similarly high percentages of students pursue consulting at other top business schools, including programs at Yale, Dartmouth and the University of Chicago.

This is the exact kind of case that would come to me in consulting," said Aayush Khanna, 26, a second-year M.B.A. at Kellogg. Conversing with the chatbots felt so real, he said, that some of his classmates felt PTSD" from their pre-M.B.A. careers in consulting, he said.

You could feel the characters being designed in a way that emulates real-life experiences," he said.

AI isnt the first technology to transform the case method. A 1984 Boston Globe article detailed the case study in anxiety" at Harvard Business School when students began more widely using personal computers.

Now at HBS, students are allowed to use technology including AI tools before and after class, but the classrooms themselves are generally tech-free, said Mitchell Weiss, an HBS faculty chair who teaches a second-year elective course that heavily integrates AI. (There are exceptions, including for hands-on AI classroom exercises.)

In Weisss public-entrepreneurship class, students practice selling police-record management systems to a chatbot posing as a police chief. Then, in class, they practice selling to one anotherin front of a corporate-account executivebefore selling to an interactive avatar. In another case, an AI tool evaluates students spreadsheets forecasting funding.

Weiss has developed a similar experiment to Martins at Kellogg, having students collect information through interviews with AI chatbots for a case. One recent topic was sovereign AIwhether countries needed to develop their own AI.

The AI exercise was more challenging for the students than the traditional method, Weiss said, because they needed to gather and prioritize the information themselves.

There were also some kinks to work out in teaching, Weiss found. Unlike a typical case, that gives all students access to the same information, they came to the AI-case class with different facts because they asked the AI bots different questions.

Sassy characters

In the Kellogg school-district case, the AI-created superintendent shares that the transportation budget has become untenable. The students are tasked with delivering concrete recommendations on how to cut costs. The students then can text with the five virtual, AI-crafted charactersthe superintendent, a principal, a bus driver and district finance and operations chiefsthat respond to users conversationally.

In building the case, Martin prompted the AI to study Boston, its school systems history of segregation, plus details on real schools test scores and reputations. He told the program to be inspired by the real district and individual schools, but never to reference real schools directly.

Each character has its own personality and approach. The school systems chief financial officer, for example, doesnt want to chitchat and wont share data until he knows what youll do with it.

When Martin used AI to design the character, he incorporated the prompt: Make frequent sassy remarks that they are wasting your time. It sounds bad, but its really important for the story." (Martin said its quite hard to make chatbots, who aim to please, act rudely.)

The bus driver, dubbed Linda Johnson, explains shes driven for the district for 23 years and, when prompted, details everything on her route from the double-parked cars and narrow streets to her Dunkin order. Principal David Rodriguez says hes heartbroken when he hears of students having to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to make it to school, given the bus schedule.

Some of the chatbots really wanted to talk to you. Some were not interested in you being there," said Caroline Harmening, a second-year M.B.A. who worked as a consultant before attending Kellogg.

Its not quite a substitute for talking to real people, she said, but it was much more like something you might do in the real world."

Try the tool for yourself

A limited version of Kelloggs AI school-district case is available to Wall Street Journal readers to try here.

View Full Image Kelloggs AI school-district case

Write to Lindsay Ellis at lindsay.ellis@wsj.com
Shashi Tharoor on Sunday, hilariously declared he thinks Shah Rukh Khan is part of a cover-up. Taking to X, the Congress leader posted a heartfelt note for SRK, wishing him on his 60th birthday, joking that he is deeply suspicious about the superstar's age.

"I have to admit, I'm finding this "60" number deeply suspicious," wrote Shashi Tharoor, stating that a crack team of independent fact-checkers and forensic detectives had confirmed that Shah Rukh Khan turning 60, cannot be factually confirmed.

The evidence? "Higher energy levels,"  no wrinkles," persistent appearance of someone significantly younger, said Tharoor.

What did Tharoor predict about SRK? It wasn't just the quirky wish. The Thiruvananthapuram MP further made a prediction about King Khan. He said by the time SRK turns 70, the superstar would be auditioning for teenage roles.

I predict by the time he hits his "70th" birthday, he'll be auditioning for teenage roles. Mercifully, I dont expect to be around when he turns into a child star," Tharoor wrote.

Congratulations on this unbelievable milestone, Shah Rukh! Please keep defying physics and biology, & confusing us all for many years to come.

Shah Rukh Khan birthday Shah Rukh Khan turned 60 on Sunday, 2 November. For this year's birthday bash, SRK chose a tranquil retreat at his Alibaug bungalow and celebrated with friends and other superstars.

Speaking about SRK's work-front, the Bollywood star was last seen in Rajkumar Hiranis Dunki. He will be next seen in Siddharth Anands King.

The superstar already surprised fans on Sunday with the trailer release of the movie.

King Khan will share the screen with his daughter Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Saurabh Shukla, among others.

SRK fans go gaga On Saturday night, Mumbais Bandra district witnessed a wave of excitement as hundreds of fans gathered outside Mannat, the iconic sea-facing residence of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, to celebrate the actors 60th birthday.

Multiple videos on social media even showed SRK fans carrying posters with the actors famous dialogues, while others waved flags and chanted Shah Rukh! Shah Rukh!.

Other visuals circulating online also showed people waiting in groups for their favourite actor.

I have to admit, I'm finding this '60' number deeply suspicious.

Shah Rukh Khan was born on November 2, 1965 in New Delhi. Khan's father, Teej Mohammed Khan was a freedom fighter, while his mother was a magistrate.
China has spent months building up its oil reserves. That might come in handy in the wake of the new sanctions the U.S. recently imposed on Russian crude.

During the first nine months of the year, the worlds second-largest economy imported on average more than 11 million barrels of oil a day, an amount above the daily production of Saudi Arabia, according to official customs data. Analysts estimate 1 million to 1.2 million of those barrels were stashed in reserves each day.

Low oil prices and concern over Ukraines repeated attacks on Russias production facilities help explain the timing of the buying spree, which accelerated in March. China is the worlds biggest importer of crude and the largest buyer of Russian oil.

Energy security has long been a priority for Chinas leaders. The countrys dependence on foreign nations for its crude oilChina imports about 70% of the oil it consumesis a headache.

The energy rice bowl must be held in our own hands," Chinese leader Xi Jinping has said repeatedly over the years.

Chinas robust appetite for oil has had another unintended consequence: It has helped put a floor on prices, which approached a nearly five-year low in October. Brent crude, the international benchmark, is trading near $65 a barrel and is down 13% this year. It bounced higher following the sanctions the U.S. placed on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russias two largest oil companies.

If China really stops buying, the path toward low $50 would be very quick," said Michael Haigh, global head of fixed-income, currencies and commodities research at Societe Generale.

View Full Image (WSJ)

The U.S., in contrast, has been slow to replenish its emergency oil reserves, which are languishing at some of their lowest levels in 40 years. President Trump promised to fill the U.S. reserves to the top when he returned to office but has announced just one small purchase of crude thus far.

To wean itself off imported oil, China has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into reviving domestic crude production and building the worlds largest electric-vehicle industry. It has also snapped up cheap barrelssometimes from sanctioned producersto bolster its reserves.

China began the construction of its strategic petroleum reserves in 2004. After about two decades of development, the country has built large-scale petroleum reserve bases, both under and above ground, in a long list of locations including the eastern city of Zhoushan and the northeastern port city of Dalian.

China doesnt make public the size of its stockpile. Analysts attempt rough estimates by subtracting the amount of processed oil from Chinas imports and domestic production. Most of those projections put the stockpile at 1.2 billion to 1.3 billion barrels.

Chinas current strategic petroleum reserve and commercial stocks already provide a meaningful buffer against short-term supply disruptions," said Kelly Xu, a commodity and energy strategist at Alpine Macro.

Xu expects Chinas precautionary stockpiling to continue into 2026. She estimates that Beijing has 400 million barrels in its petroleum reserve and about 800 million barrels in commercial stocks stored by Chinese oil companies.

China appears to have plenty of room to store more crude. Its total storage capacity rose to just over 2 billion barrels at the end of 2024 from 1.4 billion barrels in 2015, according to Lin Ye, an analyst at Rystad Energy. That means China has only used about 60% of its storage capacity. Ye estimates 124 million barrels of capacity will be added by the end of this year.

Few analysts actually expect Chinese refineries to slow their purchases of Russian oil because of the sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, which block them from conducting dollar transactions. Russia settles only 5% of its oil exports in dollars, according to Russias Ministry of Energy. The dominating currencyrepresenting 67% of Russian oil exportsis the Chinese yuan.

Most of the seaborne oil imports from Russia go to Chinas independent refineries, known as teapots. Many of those refineries have limited dollar assets, conduct business mostly through Chinese regional banks, and cater mostly to Chinese customers, shielding them from the impact of sanctions. Some have become hooked on cheap Iranian crude of late.

Meanwhile, the recent trade agreement between the U.S. and China did little to resolve questions over Chinas purchases of Russian oil, according to analysts. China hasnt indicated whether it would stop buying, and there had been some hope that China would agree to purchase U.S. oil and gas as part of a broader U.S.-China deal.

For now, Chinas stockpiling is helping to keep global oil prices from getting even lower as traders and analysts have acknowledged a worldwide glut. The International Energy Agency forecast in October that the world would be oversupplied by an average 3.7 million barrels of oil a day in the current quarter. JPMorgan analysts put that number at 3.6 million barrels.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies are partly responsible for the glut by continuing to pump extra oil into the market. The cartel intends to boost production by 137,000 barrels a day in November, in a reversal of cuts implemented in 2023. Energy prices that year were falling from highs hit after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine the year before. At Sundays meeting, the cartel is expected to announce another increase for December.

Write to Rebecca Feng at rebecca.feng@wsj.com
A fresh obstacle to President Trumps Gaza peace plan is taking shape: how to bring in an international security force to police the enclave without either Hamas or Israel abandoning the process.

Then there is the question of whether any country would really be willing to commit any troops to the plan if it involved facing down the militants as they attempt to consolidate their power in Gaza.

The broader project to restore some stability to Gaza is already at risk of stalling. Interviews with a number of U.S., European and Middle Eastern officials indicate that the militant group insists on having a significant postwar role in the strip and still has enough firepower after two years of war with Israel to wreck a cease-fire. Since the truce last month, Hamas fighters have emerged from the rubble and begun consolidating power in some areas. In some cases, they have publicly executed their rivals.

Any country sending troops to keep the peace in the enclave could risk having a run-in with Hamas forces at some point, and that could place them in an uncomfortable position.

No government, especially from the Arab and Muslim world, wants to be put in the spotlight with their troops there and have their people saying, Youre just acting as an Israeli proxy force now, " said Richard Gowan, a U.N. expert at the International Crisis Group think tank.

Everyone is really dancing around the fact that you need a mission that can use force, and that is going to be really tough both in terms of operations but also optics," said Gowan.

This point gained additional resonance after Hamas operatives met last week with the head of Egyptian intelligence and said they would agree to an international security force only at the borders of Gaza and if it wouldnt try to confront the militant group.

Some Arab and Muslim-majority countries have voiced interest in contributing troops to a security force for Gaza, while more have offered to help fund its reconstruction. But so far there have been no hard commitments to put boots on the ground.

The majority have said they would like to start by securing Gazas borders with Israel and Egypt and preventing arms smuggling. Cairo, which is expected to lead the force, has asked for Palestinian forces, expected to be trained in Egypt and Jordan and vetted by the U.S., to join the force and operate inside Gaza.

The crucial question is whether an international force would have responsibility for confronting Hamas if the militant group refuses to disarm and disband. The U.S. and Israel have repeatedly said Hamas can have no role in Gazas future.

Hamas, though, has other thoughts. The frequent flare-ups in violence and Israeli counterstrikesthe most recent came on Tuesday, after it accused the militants of killing an Israeli soldiersuggests it remains a threat, including to troops sent to Gaza as part of any international force.

Trump administration officials are working closely with regional allies to sort through what such a security force should look like, and whether to establish a legal mandate for the force through a United Nations Security Council resolution.

U.S. officials said the process is still under way and it is too early to announce details of any final plan, while insisting the cease-fire remains intact.

No ones under any illusions," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during a visit to Israel on Oct. 23. Weve already done the impossible once, and we intend to keep doing that if we can."

Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, traveled to Israel on Friday to meet senior Israeli officials and visit a new civilian-military coordination center in southern Israel tasked with overseeing the peace plan.

Turkey, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Indonesia have expressed interest in contributing troops to an international security force, officials familiar with the plans said, though Israel has voiced objections to the participation of Turkey, a significant regional power.

Egypt and other countries have proposed deploying up to 5,000 troops as part of the force, adding to around 2,000 to 3,000 Palestinian personnel currently being trained in Egypt and Jordan. Egypt is expected to lead the force, if it is deployed.

Write to Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com and Robbie Gramer at robbie.gramer@wsj.com
Public services affected amid U.S. gov't shutdown

Xinhua) 11:43, November 02, 2025

People step into an office of the Social Security Administration in New York, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2025. Due to the U.S. federal government shutdown, some public services have come to a halt; national parks and the aviation system have been affected; and economic uncertainty has increased. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A sign of limited service is seen on the entrance of an office of the Social Security Administration in New York, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2025. Due to the U.S. federal government shutdown, some public services have come to a halt; national parks and the aviation system have been affected; and economic uncertainty has increased. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2025 shows a store with a sign of accepting food stamp in New York, the United States. Due to the U.S. federal government shutdown, some public services have come to a halt; national parks and the aviation system have been affected; and economic uncertainty has increased. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2025 shows the air traffic control tower of the LaGuardia Airport in New York, the United States. Due to the U.S. federal government shutdown, some public services have come to a halt; national parks and the aviation system have been affected; and economic uncertainty has increased. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Passengers line up to check in at the LaGuardia Airport in New York, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2025. Due to the U.S. federal government shutdown, some public services have come to a halt; national parks and the aviation system have been affected; and economic uncertainty has increased. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2025 shows an office of the Social Security Administration in New York, the United States. Due to the U.S. federal government shutdown, some public services have come to a halt; national parks and the aviation system have been affected; and economic uncertainty has increased. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
People step into an office of the Social Security Administration in New York, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2025. Due to the U.S. federal government shutdown, some public services have come to a halt; national parks and the aviation system have been affected; and economic uncertainty has increased. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A sign of limited service is seen on the entrance of an office of the Social Security Administration in New York, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2025. Due to the U.S. federal government shutdown, some public services have come to a halt; national parks and the aviation system have been affected; and economic uncertainty has increased. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2025 shows a store with a sign of accepting food stamp in New York, the United States. Due to the U.S. federal government shutdown, some public services have come to a halt; national parks and the aviation system have been affected; and economic uncertainty has increased. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2025 shows the air traffic control tower of the LaGuardia Airport in New York, the United States. Due to the U.S. federal government shutdown, some public services have come to a halt; national parks and the aviation system have been affected; and economic uncertainty has increased. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Passengers line up to check in at the LaGuardia Airport in New York, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2025. Due to the U.S. federal government shutdown, some public services have come to a halt; national parks and the aviation system have been affected; and economic uncertainty has increased. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2025 shows an office of the Social Security Administration in New York, the United States. Due to the U.S. federal government shutdown, some public services have come to a halt; national parks and the aviation system have been affected; and economic uncertainty has increased. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)
The tech-heavy ranks of the worlds wealthiest got shuffled in October along with the shifting stock values of their companies.

Yes, Tesla CEO Elon Musk still has a secure hold as the richest person in the world, with a net worth of $469 billion as of the end of October, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Thats despite a 4.6% slide in Tesla shares on Thursday as some AI stocks sold off.

Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison also has a firm hold on second place, with a net worth of $323 billion.

Ellison rose from No. 4 on Bloombergs list at the start of the year to No. 2 by the end of the third quarter as Oracle shares soared on unexpectedly strong earnings released on Sept. 9. Ellison owns about 41% of the enterprise software maker and is its largest shareholder.

Ellisons wealth has also benefited from the companys stock buyback strategy over many years, according to a Barrons analysis. His 1.2 billion shares used to comprise about 23% of the company.

The more recent spike in Oracles share value has everything to do with its rising artificial intelligence fortunes. The latest earnings report revealed the companys business of renting AI services in the cloud was attracting strong demand.

But AI is having the opposite influence on Meta Platforms fortunes and on the fortunes of its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. Metas shares sank 11% on Thursday, after the company announced it would be making even larger capital expenditures on AI than previously stated.

Worried about the costs of AI spending on Metas income prompted investors to sell, pushing Zuckerbergwho owns about 13% of the companyfrom his No. 3 rank among the top billionaires on Sept. 30 to No. 5 as of Friday. His net worth fell from $258 billion to $229 billion during the month.

Meanwhile, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos jumped ahead of Zuckerberg to claim the No. 3 spot with a net worth of $265 billion. Amazons shares surged 9.6% on Friday to hit a record close of $244.22 after reporting better-than-expected earnings results a day earlier. Bezos owns about 8.6% of Amazon, according to Bloomberg.

With the exception of Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of French luxury conglomerate LVMH who is ranked No. 7 with a net worth of $193 billion, the 10 wealthiest people in the world can all credit their good fortunes to the tech world. Google co-founders Larry Page ($244 billion) and Sergey Brin ($228 billion) were ranked fourth and sixth, respectively, as of Friday, and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer follows Arnault to rank No. 8 with a net worth of $178 billion.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang holds the ninth spot, up from No. 12 at the start of the year with a net worth of $176 billion. Huang, who owns about 3.5% of Nvidia according to Bloomberg, has benefited as the AI chipmakers shares have gained 50% so far this year. This past Wednesday, Nvidias market value crossed the $5 trillion mark, a first for any company. (The shares later fell slightly from a closing price of $207.04 on Wednesday to $202.49 on Friday).

Michael Dell, chief executive of computer maker Dell Technologies, sits at No. 10 with a net worth of $164 billion, swiping the spot from Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, who announced in May that he would step down as the companys CEO at the end of this year. Shares of Berkshirewhich announced a 33% gain in operating profits on Saturdayhave been under pressure since Buffetts announcement. Buffett, with a net worth of $144 billion, is now ranked No. 11 on Bloombergs list.

All of the top 10 billionaires, including Arnault, have seen their wealth swell this year amid a 16.3% gain in the S&P 500.

Of course, determining the worlds richest takes a bit of guesswork and it fluctuates constantly. Most billionaire wealth isnt only tied up in publicly traded stock; its also in privately held companies that arent easily valued. Though many of the names on the list are likely to be the same at year-end, expect more trading places to occur.

Write to Abby Schultz at abby.schultz@barrons.com
Bengaluru: In October, an Indian restaurant owner in England found himself embroiled in a court case with a competitor. While his lawyer handled a hearing featuring evidence recorded by an employee, the worried owner was on the phone with a holy man living in a small apartment in Ludhiana.

Acharya Ashok Shastri chanted for six hours straight while the legal proceedings played out thousands of miles away. Speaking to Mint, Shastri claimed that though the case remains unresolved, his client told him later that he felt steadier through the ordeal. Nothing untoward happened. Couldnt have happened," insists Shastri.

The pandits services are in high demand, not because of any advertising but thanks to referrals from such clients: One satisfied client refers to thousands of others," he says.

Shastris life sits at the intersection of two worlds. Born in Vrindavan and trained there in the traditions of scripture, he later completed an MBA. After a brief stint in accounting, he found purpose and a livelihood as a professional pandit. The 36-year-old Shastri knows the scriptures in and out but more importantly, he speaks the language of modern worship: via WhatsApp and short videos.

Shastri says he rarely opens his office in Ludhiana these daysits all work from home, mostly on the phone. Clients from England, Australia and the US text and video call to request his services, and he sometimes shares video clips with them of rituals performed on their behalf.

Like Shastri, many Hindu priests today perform rituals and share videos with worried clients within India and without.

These digital exchanges have now become a repeatable unit of commerce. They began as one-on-one exchanges of faith and proof and have now morphed into an online category of their own, thanks to platforms such as Sri Mandir, Vama and Utsav. These apps have built a business by packaging age-old rituals into digital experiences that can be streamed, tracked and trusted, facilitating millions of such moments each month.

Thanks to their efforts, a devotee in Delhi, Dubai or Denver can click his or her way into the spiritual realm by buying a puja, for instance, and receiving a video as proof.

By making spirituality accessible at the faithfuls fingertips for a fee, these faithtechs have played a small but significant role in expanding the size of Indias religious and spiritual market to about $58.5 billion in 2024, according to data from Claight Corporation, a research firm.

Offline to online faith

Prashant Sachan, who built Sri Mandir as a broad faith platform from a clutch of free content apps, describes an early phase built around free offerings, including a digital shrine, devotional music, and panchang. We didnt think of the business model to begin with. We thought of the user first," he says.

Sachan, who earlier cofounded social commerce platform Trell and studied interaction design at IIT Bombay, points out that the behaviour his platform digitized for temples and rituals was already happening in the offline world, where people asked relatives or priests to perform rites on their behalf. The web was just a way to formalize and scale that behavior.

Today, Sri Mandirs services include recorded pujas, live darshan, prasad fulfilment and curated merchandise. The platform now claims several million monthly users.

But the work isnt purely digital. Teams go into temples and help priests learn how to record and fulfill requests. The real pioneering work, according to Sachan, has been less about flashy features and more about turning scattered and trust-based acts of devotion into repeatable and reliable processes that temples and devotees can depend on.

Teams go into temples and help priests learn how to record and fulfill requests. The real pioneering work has been less about flashy features and more about turning trust-based acts of devotion into repeatable and reliable processes that temples can depend on.

Faith has always been a big part of Indian daily life. And has been a large spend category as well with about $40 billion being spent every year," says Mayank Khanduja, partner at VC firm Elevation Capital, an investor in Sri Mandirs parent company, AppsForBharat.

In July 2025, Sri Mandir raised 175 crore in a Series C funding round led by Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital, with participation from existing investors Fundamentum, Elevation Capital and Peak XV Partners.

While Sri Mandir started by building a base of devotional content and organizing offline meetups across towns in North India to study user behaviour and explore monetization avenues, others in the space opted for a more direct route by onboarding temples and priests through livestreamed pujas and online ritual bookings to attract a user base.

Live streaming experiments

I get messages on my Facebook every day with so many people asking me to perform a puja for their family, to chant a name, to send proof," a temple priest told Sourajit Basu, co-founder of Utsav, which livestreams pujas.

Basu and his co-founders were still college students in Kolkata when they decided to test the idea during Durga Puja, Bengals biggest cultural festival, in 2020. They built an app that let hyperlocal pandals livestream their idol setups and rituals and allowed devotees from across India to participate online by having their names chanted or offerings made on their behalf.

In the first month, roughly 20,000 people installed the app without any paid marketing," Basu says, recalling how the social media audience of each pandal helped them gain their first and accidental shot at scale.

The Durga Puja experiment helped the team realize that temples and priests had no structured way to handle the flood of digital requests. As more organizers and devotees came onboard, the idea evolved into a platform connecting temples and worshippers through livestreams and video proof. Eventually, it became a revenue-sharing model that gave temples a new source of income.

Devotees who cant travel, elderly worshippers who cant climb stairs and NRIs who miss home are the typical target audience for platforms such as Sri Mandir and Utsav. The work is equal parts tech product, trust building and old-fashioned relationship management.

Last month, roughly 1.7 lakh people availed paid services on the platform," Sachan says, adding that Sri Mandirs app has 4-5 million monthly users and that about 20-25% of demand comes from outside India.

According to the numbers shared by Similarweb, a digital intelligence platform, Sri Mandirs mobile app clocked 2.4 million monthly users in September.

While Sri Mandir and Utsav have onboarded over 70 temples on their platform, Vama, cofounded by Manu Jain with Himanshu Semwal and Acharya Dev, a third-generation astrologer, claims to have onboarded around 250 temples across the country. It also claims to have facilitated more than 500,000 pujas with 100,000 monthly transacting users for services ranging from ritual bookings to astrology consultations to e-commerce.

While Sri Mandir has built tools and experiences that simplify how users access rituals, donations and temple services, Vama and Utsav see temples themselves as their key partners. Their focus lies in helping these institutions digitise rituals and manage online requests, more like a service provider.

Were very careful not to impose a one-size-fits-all approach," says cofounder Jain. Our role is to facilitate, not dictate."

Sustaining temples and priests

To digitize a puja, faithtech platforms follow an ecommerce-like catalogue of temples and rituals, which can be booked and paid for through the app. Platforms that work in partnership with temple authorities often record the ritual and deliver a short video clip with a timestamp and the devotees name chanted as proof. Fulfilling these requests requires an elaborate chain of command to work in synchronicity.

Priests need to be trained to be comfortable with a phone camera, volunteers need to package prasad, hub managers need to coordinate dozens of temples and regional points of contact who solve last-mile problems.

We provide comprehensive training on how to interact with users and conduct rituals in a way thats camera-friendly without compromising the sanctity of the practice," says Vamas Jain.

View Full Image Manu Jain, cofounder of Vama.

Sachan stresses that execution largely depends on the human side of things. We travel three to four days a month to meet temple authorities and users. User research is core to our product," he says, acknowledging that while temple authorities have warmed up to the digital world, execution of these activities requires hand-holding and fostering relationships.

While the faithtech platforms offer access and continuity for devotees, they pitch reach and revenue to temples. Sachan says that there are many remote or neglected shrines that, when listed and detailed on Sri Mandir, suddenly found new devotees, incremental donations and even higher footfalls.

Utsavs Basu describes a similar pattern where smaller and remote temples now receive a steady stream of online income that helps maintain shrines and sustain priests.

But unlike regular ecommerce cycles, digitizing faith also involves handling the emotional and cultural textures of religious rituals. A large part of the appeal of a Hindu ceremony lies in its physicality. The crackle of fire, and the rhythm of chanting are among the sensory elements creating a collective emotion of faith and trust, which can feel distant or diminished on a screen.

Founders of faithtech platforms acknowledge the challenges around reducing a ceremony into a commodity or preventing errors like mispronounced names or failed recordings.

Trust is the biggest competition," Sachan says. Temples and users often start from a position of mistrust." He says Sri Mandir copes with these through the operational rigour of manual onboarding, referral chains, refunds and over-communication when things go wrong.

Basu says Utsav delivers a video to 94% of devotees within 48 hours. The deliverable, which is often a video recorded or live streamed with the devotees name, is tricky but the most important metric to track for companies operating out of Bengaluru and New Delhi. Apart from incorrect pronunciation of the devotees name, the recording may be unable to capture the exact moment due to technical glitches.

The business side

Indias religious and spiritual market, which includes temples, pilgrimages, rituals and now a growing wave of digital-first faithtech platforms, has expanded steadily from an estimated $54 billion in 2022 to about $58.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US $151.9 billion by 2034, according to Claight Corporation.

Depending on their focus areas, the business models of faithtech companies vary. Besides the primary revenue of digitized Puja and rituals, many of these companies have alternate streams of revenue through merchandise, such as rudraksh and bracelets, often fulfilled by temples.

Besides the primary revenue of digitised Puja and rituals, many startups have alternate streams of revenue through merchandise, such as rudraksh and bracelets, often fulfilled by temples.

Basu explains that temples share their expected costs upfront, including materials, priest fees and local expenses. Utsav adds a markup for operations, logistics and on-ground support. The final price is presented to devotees, who pay for the entire service, while the temple retains a share.

Its usually around a 20% margin for us," Basu says, adding that this varies depending on the temple, city and nature of the ritual. This model ensures that the temples dont have to pay hefty infrastructure costs, devotees get access and proof, while the platform covers the cost of logistics and support.

Vama runs on a revenue-sharing model with its partner temples. The platform handles the backend, including technology, marketing, logistics and devotee engagement, while temples focus on conducting rituals. The company charges the temples a processing fee on each transaction. Many of these temples had little to no digital infrastructure before partnering with us," said co-founder Jain.

Sri Mandir, which leads the market in terms of users, currently has paid ritual services as the dominant engine, with merchandise and prasad delivery growing as extensions.

Sachan says considering the nature of their work, the platform avoids blanket commissions or aggressive monetization strategies like a regular software business. Instead, it works with individual temples to understand their challenges, resources, priest availability and the kind of rituals they can fulfil.

While the app remains largely free, its paid servicespremium add-ons within a broader devotional experienceare accessed by about 170,000 devotees out of 4-5 million monthly users, says Sachan.

This balance of free content also acts as a funnel to paid ritual experiences, which is crucial in a market that is vast but uneven. Adoption is higher in tier-I cities and among age groups who find travel difficult, says Sachan.

The founders of these faithtech platforms insist that their goal is to complement and not replace in-person worship. This is the second-best option" says Basu, When people cant go to a temple, a platform gives continuity. It should not and cannot substitute the experience of being at the shrine."

For now, the founders are knee-deep in solving on-ground execution: onboarding priests who need digital training, figuring out regional pronunciation of names, ensuring video quality, building logistics for prasad, and structuring trust mechanisms so a temple in a remote village can reliably serve a devotee in New Zealand.

By far the hardest challenge is trying to ensure technology can preserve the sanctity of a ritual, while scaling access.

Its a hard problem," Sachan admits. It requires consistency and hard work. Execution is the key."
NEW DELHI : Australia's Lynas Rare Earths Ltd, Iluka Resources Ltd and Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd of the UK, among others, have evinced interest in supplying rare earth oxides to prospective bidders under the planned 7,300 crore rare earth magnet manufacturing scheme, said three people in the know of the development.

The development assumes significance given that these three mining majors are key players in the global effort to challenge Chinese dominance in the rare earths supply chain.

One of the three people said that the Union ministry of heavy industries through state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (Bhel) has reached out to these global companies to gauge the interest of suppliers, and they have shown interest in signing long-term contracts with applicants under the scheme.

Mint earlier reported that the government is finalizing an incentive scheme to boost local production of rare earth magnets, and domestic entities like Bharat Forge, Mahindra and JSW are likely to bid under the scheme.

Several global companies have offered to supply rare earth oxides. Bhel has reached out to global majors. Lynas Rare Earths, an Australian mining company, Iluka, also from Australia and Rainbow of UK are among the top players to have shown interest in supplying rare earth oxides," the first person said.

Another person stated that these companies have been supplying magnet production facilities globally and are eager to supply through long-term contracts with Indian magnet manufacturers.

Iluka Resources website shows that rare earth-bearing minerals are routinely produced through Ilukas mineral sands processing activities. Currently, Iluka has 1 million tonnes of stockpiled concentrate, rich in both light and heavy rare earths, at Eneabba in Western Australia, it said.

Incentives for firms

Lynas Rare Earths recently announced that it would increase the processing capacity of heavy rare earths at its Malaysian refinery. The company, which is the only supplier of both light and heavy rare earth oxides outside China, announced that it will construct a new separation facility at its plant. It will process ore from its Mount Weld mine in Australia, as well as other sources in Malaysia.

The UKs Rainbow is working on two major projects: the Phalaborwa Project in South Africa and the earlier-stage Uberaba Project in Brazil. Both projects involve the recovery of rare earths from phosphogypsum stacks, which are by-products of phosphoric acid production. It also has a majority interest in the high-grade Gakara Project in Burundi, East Africa, which is currently on care and maintenance.

Queries mailed to the Union ministry of heavy industries, Lynas Rare Earths, Iluka Resources and Rainbow Rare Earths remained unanswered till press time.

The third person said that under the planned rare earth manufacturing scheme, about 2,000 tonnes of rare earth oxide would be required, which in turn would be used for manufacturing 6,000 tonnes of magnets annually.

A total of five players would be supported under the scheme. Companies interested in manufacturing magnets, used in various strategic sectors, need to invest at least 200 crore, and incentives are likely to be equal to 15% of the total investment.

Incentives will be available for companies that provide end-to-end magnet manufacturing capability, which means those manufacturers that source rare earths and process them into magnets will be eligible for incentives.

Refining rare earths

Rare earth magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnets, composed of alloys of rare earth elements, such as neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) and samarium-cobalt (SmCo). These powerful magnets are crucial for compact, energy-efficient devices such as electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and a variety of electronics, defence, and energy transition applications.

Currently, the state-owned Indian Rare Earths Ltd (IREL) is the sole refiner of rare earths in India, with a capacity to produce approximately 1,500 tonnes of rare earth magnets annually. The company is exploring the expansion of its capacity.

As domestic refining and processing facilities would need time to develop, imports would play the key role in the initial phase of the scheme," the second person said.

Also Read | China ends rare earth export freeze for 4 Indian manufacturers

Experts suggest that such a move would help mitigate the risks associated with the supply chain. Amrit Lal Meena, former secretary to the coal ministry, told Mint: It is extremely important to derisk the supply chain and look for new sources of rare earth elements, oxides, while looking at setting up domestic capacities. India has already been considering the acquisition of assets abroad. Efforts to source oxides for manufacturing magnets and secure our own assets would go a long way in achieving self-reliance. Otherwise, import dependence on one or a few countries may turn out to be disruptive."

Managing supply

India's push for making a robust rare earth permanent magnet production ecosystem needs a two-pronged approach, along with some guardrails, said Mahesh Deodhar, head of the Centre for Sustainable Energy and Mobility at the Pune International Centre. "The two-pronged approach needs to have incentives to make in India, along with restrictions on imports using tools such as anti-dumping duties or higher import duties. A similar approach has been adopted to promote solar PV cell and panel manufacturing in India. While incentives have been provided through PLI scheme, the cheap panel imports have also been restricted by applying the ALMM (Approved list of Make and Models) for imported panels," he said.

But, both these policy drivers need to be time-bound, to prevent an entirely protectionist approach, which could hinder the global competitiveness of Indian players, he added.

IREL is the largest player currently in India, which refines and processes rare earth elements and produces oxides. Although India has significant reserves of rare earth elements, refining and processing them is the key. Further, India's rare earths are largely light rare earths. Manufacturing magnets also requires heavy rare earths, and tie-ups with global companies like Lynas would help in securing heavy rare earth supplies," said Siddharth Nautiyal, head of strategy and new initiatives at Lohum.

Typically, the rare earth oxides comprise about 30% of the overall weight of a permanent magnet. And out of the rare earth composition in magnets, around 90% is light rare earths and the rest is heavy rare earths. Although small in quantum, heavy rare earth plays a critical role, he said.

Breaking the monopoly

Rare earth elements, although abundant, are not easily found in large, mineable deposits and are known for their unique magnetic and luminescent properties. They are widely used in automotive motors and LED lights. China dominates the refining and supply of 90% of heavy rare earths or those with higher atomic weight, according to estimates by the International Energy Agency.

China began restricting exports of rare earths in April, following a deterioration in trade relations with the US due to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump's administration.

China's export curbs prompted the formation of new international alliances. India has joined hands with its Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) partners, the US, Japan, and Australia, to form a new alliance aimed at boosting the supply of critical minerals and rare earths in the global economy and loosening China's chokehold on these commodities.

India has also highlighted the disruption of global supply chains. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the 17th Brics summit in July, emphasized making critical mineral supply chains reliable and ensuring that no country uses these resources for its own selfish gains or as a weapon against others.

India is also working on increasing its rare earth refining capacity. The Union ministry of mines is preparing a scheme with an allocation of about 1,500 crore to support rare earth refining in the country.

India has about 7.23 mt of rare earth elements reserves in the coastal beaches, red sand and inland alluvium in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Maharashtra, while another 1.29 mt is in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the government informed Parliament on 23 July. But state-run IREL is the only refiner of the critical minerals in the country.

In 2022, Indias domestic consumption of NdFeB (Neodymium) magnets, also known as permanent magnets, was 1,700 tonnes, with the market valued at 1,245 crore and average prices ranging from 4,186 to 4,605 per kilogram. By 2030, this demand is projected to rise exponentially to 7,154 tonnes, with the market value reaching 7,295 crore.
We eat century eggs standing in the alleyway next to a building that holds a warren of individual one-room homesmuch like Mumbais chawls, though these only occupy the ground floor. Theres washing hanging behind us, and I can see people moving around in the dim interior of the flat next door, going about their daily activities seemingly indifferent to us, the onlookers, for whom this is quite the opposite of the ordinary. As someone steps out to keep an offering on the spirit-house we are standing next to, it strikes me how odd the act of travelling is. What is mundane and everyday for one becomes exotic and memorable for the other.

We are in the Trok Mor wet market in Bangkok, Thailand, determined to see the much-travelled city through a fresh lensthough nothing is perhaps quite fresh in todays over-touristed world. The century eggs are certainly unique to medark brown-black inside and out, including the yolk, which looks a bit like blackcurrant jelly. Someone on the internet had described the smell as wet socks left in the laundry bag for a week", and they werent far off, I think to myselfthough I dont say this out loud, because my companion on the tour and the tour guide herself are eating them with great relish.

View Full Image Rice flour fritters are a quick snacking option at the Trok Mor wet market (Photo by Shrabonti Bagchi)

Ah well, even among the Thai-Chinese population that forms a majority of the residents and shop-owners of this street, many are not fans, says Aon, our guide. We are in the midst of controlled chaosits 9 in the morning and the market lines both sides of the street with hawkers selling everything from fresh fish, meat and vegetables to home-made curries and stir-fries, packed in banana leaves for commuters to take to work. Apart from the century eggs, we try kanom krok or coconut milk pancakes, which look and taste like paniyaram, and sweetish rice-flour fritters sprinkled with sesame seeds that go down brilliantly with coffee from the ubiquitous 7-Eleven.
Theres a visible chuckle in Utkarsh Guptas voice as he talks of the long lineof customers that snaked through the neighbourhood on 2 August. That Saturday homegrown sneaker brand Comet, of which Gupta is the co-founder, had launched the limited edition Comet X Naru drop at their Indiranagar store in Bengaluru. Wed announced that wed stock 200 pairs (each priced 5,899) in-store and over 200 people queued up before opening time," recalls Gupta, 32. They sold out within an hour.

This special collaboration between Comet and Naru Noodle Bar was limited totally to 400 pairs. It was a rare coming together of a standalone Indian restaurant and a shoe label: the sneakers sported the noodle bars logo and even had a chopstick holder integrated into the side, among other elements. The continued hype around Naru as the ramen bar where seats sell out in seconds on Instagram amped up the chatter. The pairs available online sold out in 45 seconds," says Gupta adding, Even chef Kavan (Kuttappa, the founder), couldnt snag one when he tried shopping on our website."

Over a week ago, in Delhi, Gully Labs, another India-born sneaker label, launched a limited edition sneaker capsule for men and women, called Aandhi Kobicha ( 6,999) in collaboration with rapper Raga (aka Ravi Mishra). This wasnt just a quick name-tag collab for the sake of things. Instead it was a series of conversations that we had with him to come up with a design that aligned with both our visions," says Arjun Singh, 33, co-founder of the brand. The resultant design is a sneaker crafted from raw jute featuring subtle nods to Ragas background such as 92, the pin code of east Delhi embroidered on the back tab, and his lyric Muh se Nikle Aandhi" printed on the insock. They sold out the first run of the drop.

Launched as D2C brands that mainly sold sneakers on their websites, both Comet and Gully Labs have become top-of-recall names in Indias homegrown sneakers scene. From having an only online presence, they have expanded to retail stores. While Comet has three stores, one each in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi, Gully Labs has its flagship store in Delhi. Gully Labs Noida-based factory has the capacity to make between 4,000-8,000 shoes per month while Comet manufactures around 2,000 pairs of the basic models and between 400-800 of the limited drops. It depends on demand, Gupta says. Other well-known players in this fragmented but rapidly expanding scene include Neemans, CHNKS and 7-10 Sneakers.

In a scene that for long was dominated by giants like Nike, adidas and is now seeing newer, cooler players like New Balance, On and Hoka, Indias homegrown brands are realising that the best way to stand out is to look inward to create their own stories and offer imaginative limited drops.

View Full Image Rapper Raga with a pair from the Gully Labs' Aandhi Kobicha collection

In 2025, this ethos spoke quite loudly. If it was the family game Monopoly that inspired Comets Diwali drop, it was the flavours of kulfi that Gully Labs chose as the theme for their summer 2025 line. And in August, ARKS, the brand owned by actor Ranbir Kapoor, launched a limited-edition capsule collection called Colour-Lays ( 6,999) that was inspired by the colours of Lays chips packets in neon-ish green, red, orange and blue. In short, a trend that stood out in this year was of traditional motifs, food and desi pop-culture adding a distinct pop to those soles.

Youngsters today are not sticking to generic brands, instead they are looking for brands with strong storytelling that will help give them a distinctive identity. Also, these products need to be Instagrammable," says Nikunj Duggal, 38, co-founder of the Indian Sneaker Festival, an annual flag ship event that brings sneakers, streetwear and hip-hop music together. The festivals evolution itself from a rooftop gathering in 2021 in Delhi to a massive two-day event scheduled on 6-7 December in Mumbai this year is proof that Indias sneaker culture is finding its footing.

Until last year, we only had homegrown brands setting up stalls at the fest. In our January edition this year, held in Delhi, we had mainstream brands like Puma, New Balance and Sketchers exhibiting with us. Thats how the festival has grown. The December edition has over 100 brands taking part," Duggal shares.

Also Read | Talking trends: Sneakerheads get to the sole of the matter

Last weekend, Bengalurus hip-hop loving crowd got its own taste of the sneaker-streetwear-music troika at Crack in the Pavement, a street culture event that was founded by four friends in late 2024 to revive the 00s street/hip-hop culture of Bengaluru. This year, the event saw two editions within months of each other. While music is the main draw, fashionand sneakers, certainlyis not sidelined. For up and coming brands who may find an Indian Sneaker Festival out of bounds, intimate ones like ours act as a testing ground to gain an understanding of their customers," says Nandith Jaisimha, a partner of the event.

THE NEXT BIG THING

With barely two months to go, its a good time to be discussing sneaker trends for the year ahead. Is there a general picture they can paint about what this world of fleeting trends and loud flexes will look like in 2026? Gupta sees the retro runner silhouette making a comeback. While the design may be from 10 or 20 years ago, the new shoes will have eclectic colourways and be extremely comfortable. You can run in them and use them as regular sneakers too." We are also going to see more limited drops happening," he adds. Duggal believes comfort will be key to growth. While big brands may remain aspirational, homegrown labels will start drawing buyers from tier-2 and tier-3 cities." Jaisimha is gung-ho about the new players poised to enter the market. There are some really young premium India sneaker brands getting ready for launch and I cannot wait to try them out."

While its too early to wonder if any of them will break into the global main stream, theres enough to watch out for in the new year. And well settle for that. For now.
Making large cash deposits in you bank account can raise eyebrows and attract the attention of the Income Tax Department, and a recent case is the proof of that.

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in Delhi has in a significant ruling quashed a six-year-old case pertaining to a large bank transaction that came under the scrutiny of the tax department and turned into a full-blown tax battle.

The trouble began when a taxpayer, one Mr. Kumar, deposited an amount of 8.68 lakh in his bank account and received an income tax notice. Initially, the taxman regarded the case as a simple case of limited scrutiny  an assessment meant to only verify the source of the cash deposit.

However, the Assessing Officer in the case decided to take the case up a notch during processing and initiated proceedings under Section 44AD of the Income Tax Act, treating it as presumptive business income. This section treats the money in question as business profits.

Kumar took the matter to the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) or CIT(A), but his case was dismissed. Refusing to give up, the taxpayer approached the approached the ITAT, and on September 22, 2025, he won at last.

The tribunal noted that the original scrutiny came under the purview of Section 143(2) of the Act and was solely limited to the cash deposits in the bank account. However, the Assessing Officer went beyond the permitted limit and treated the deposit as undisclosed business profit without getting approval from the CIT.

The ITAT ruled that such an expansion was not legally permissible.

However, the case brings into light the repercussions of depositing large cash amounts into your bank account.

Here is how you can avoid tax notices on a bank deposit.

Are bank deposits taxable? Cash deposits in your bank account are generally not taxable, but such transactions are among the highest-flagged transactions as they often implicate unaccounted funds being infused into the formal financial system.

Banks and cooperative banks are required to report to the Income Tax Department if someone deposits 10 Lakh or more during a single financial year.

This limited is applicable cumulatively to all the accounts of the taxpayer linked with PAN.

When am I likely to receive a tax notice for bank deposit? If you deposit an unusually high amount of cash in your bank account, you are likely to receive a notice from the income tax department. The tax department is entitled to scrutinse the source of the deposit and you will have to write a reply to the taxman explaining the transaction.

Also Read | Why you must protect your bank deposits

What to do to avoid tax notice on bank deposits? If you want to avoid tax notice on bank deposits, it is best to stay within the permissible limit. Even if you deposit a large amount of money, you must keep documents ready to explain the transaction so that you can easily answer the taxman if you receive a notice.
Q: My husband was hospitalized from 14th to 22nd July 2024 for the treatment of chronic liver disease (CLD) at a reputed hospital. After discharge, we submitted a reimbursement claim with all the required medical and policy documents. However, the insurance company rejected the claim, stating that the insured had undergone varicose vein surgery nearly 15 years earlier, which they considered a pre-existing disease (PED).

The insurer concluded that the current ailment  chronic liver disease  was related to this past surgery. Is this claim rejection justified? What should the policyholder do next? Name withheld on request

Under IRDAIs definition, a pre-existing disease is one diagnosed or treated within 48 months prior to the inception of the policy. A surgery performed 15 years ago, with no continuing symptoms or treatment, cannot be classified as a current pre-existing condition, especially when varicose veins and chronic liver disease are medically unrelated.

Also Read | Why investors should rethink assumptions in a changing world

Demand full clarification In this case, the insurers decision appears medically and logically unjustified. Request a detailed claim rejection letter from the insurer, asking not only for the specific policy clause and medical reasoning, but also for the proofs and medical correlation used to connect the past surgery with the current ailment. Then file a written grievance with the insurers internal grievance redressal team (response expected within 15 days).

If not satisfied, raise the complaint on IRDAIs Bima Bharosa platform for formal regulatory review. If the issue remains unresolved, escalate the matter to the Insurance Ombudsman. As a final recourse, approach the consumer court for deficiency in service or unfair claim rejection.

Also Read | Modern treatments rise, but health insurance in India still lags behind

Such cases highlight the need for insurers to interpret the pre-existing disease clause with medical evidence and fairness, not mechanical assumptions. Health insurance exists to protect families in times of crisis  not to penalize them for unrelated medical histories from decades past.
A 41-year-old man was killed allegedly by his co-worker after a quarrel over switching off a light at a rented office in Bengaluru on Saturday, police said.

The deceased was identified as Bheemesh Babu, a native of Chitradurga district, they said.

Babu, who was sensitive to bright lights, often asked his colleagues to switch them off when not needed, according to a report by the Times of India. On the night of the incident, around 1 AM, Vamshi was still editing videos when Babu asked him to turn off the lights once again.

Irritated by the request, Vamshi got into a heated argument with him. The quarrel quickly escalated, and in a fit of anger, Vamshi allegedly threw chilli powder at Babu and struck him multiple times on the head, face, and chest with an iron dumbbell, according to TOI report.

As Babu collapsed to the ground, Vamshi panicked and rushed out to meet his colleague, Gowri Prasad, in Nayandahalli.

Prasad then contacted one of his friends for help, and the three of them returned to the office together. When they found Babu unresponsive, Prasad and his friend called an ambulance. The medical staff arrived, examined Babu, and confirmed that he was dead, according to the TOI report.

The accused later went to the Govindraj Nagar police station and surrendered, a senior police officer said. A case of murder was registered against him, following which he was arrested, police said, as reported by PTI.

Further details awaited.

(With inputs from TOI, PTI)
Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama constituency and former MLA, was arrested on Sunday in connection with the murder case of a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma. This comes ahead of Bihar assembly election scheduled this month.

Anant, a local influential figure, has been listed as an accused, along with four others, in an FIR filed following a complaint by the deceaseds grandson, a report by PTI noted.

Dularchand Yadav murder case On 30 October, there was a clash between two groups of competing candidates. Stones were pelted resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident. The deceased, Dularchand Yadav, aged 75 years, was a resident of the village where this clash occurred... Both sides registered cases, and police started investigating the case...  ANI quoted Sharma as saying.

Anant Singh arrested He added, Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the postmortem report of the deceased, it appears that the Model Code of Conduct was violated, and it is a serious issue. It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested. His accomplices, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have also been arrested with him... All three will be presented before the magistrate, and due investigation will follow.

Also Read | Bihar assembly elections: EC orders transfer of Patna SP after Mokama violence

"Three people have been arrested on murder charges, and raids are being carried out to arrest others. Soon, more arrests will be made. CID has also started investigating the case... Cases have been registered under various sections... People from both groups have been arrested for misbehaving with the police and creating law and order issues... The three accused in the murder have not surrendered. They have been arrested," he further said.

Patna DM Dr Thiyagarajan SM stated, The incident that happened has been taken very seriously. We camped day and night for the last 48 hours. The situation is absolutely normal now. Since it is concerned with the election process, we investigated it thoroughly from every angle. Action is being taken against all anti-social elements involved in this. Yesterday, 80 people were arrested, and today, the main accused have been arrested... We have already identified and taken action against the people who are trying to influence elections...

Also Read | Bihar polls: Tejashwi addresses rally via phone after failing to reach venue

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav questioned administration's stoic silence over the incident. Why is the administration maintaining a stoic silence over the incident. How a candidate and his supporters were allowed to campaign with a convoy of 40 vehicles and arms? It is quite clear that the state government is giving protection to goons and criminals, PTI quoted Tejashwi as saying.
The US President Donald Trump administration's recent moves in the last few months where he issued several immigration-related executive orders aimed at limiting the influx of migrants to protect American workers' rights are likely to impact Indians the most, given that the United States was home to nearly 4.8 million Indian Americans as of 2022.

The US government recently introduced three major changes: Ending automatic extensions of Employment Authorisation Documents (EADs) for certain migrants, increasing annual H-1B fees and imposing stricter scrutiny on Green Card holders applying for US citizenship.

End of automatic extension of work permits for foreign non-immigrant workers The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday announced the elimination of the provision that automatically extended Employment Authorisation Documents (EADs) for foreigners submitting renewal applications. This reverses a Biden-era policy and now requires re-vetting for non-immigrant visa holders seeking work permit extensions, a change likely to affect Indians as well.

The new rules, which end the automatic extension of EADs for certain categories of foreign workers, took effect on Thursday. Previously, in May 2022, the Biden administration had revised the rules to allow a 540-day automatic extension of EADs without any verification once applicants filed for renewal.

A substantial number of Indian H1B visa holders have dependants or spouses (H4 visa) who rely on the EAD (work permit) to work in the US. Removing automatic extensions creates employment risk (job loss or gap) if the renewal takes longer or is delayed. According to India Today, immigration experts cautioned that the policy might cause employees to lose their jobs, since processing EAD renewals can take anywhere from 7 to 10 months.

Also Read | US accuses past leaders of stealing American Dream, mentions India in new video

Stricter civics exam for Green Card holders applying for US citizenship Green Card holders or lawful permanent residents (LPRs) can become US citizens through naturalisation if they meet requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The 2025 civics test will ensure applicants demonstrate English proficiency and knowledge of US government, supporting full integration and contribution.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will require foreigners applying for US citizenship via Form N-400, Application for Naturalisation, on or after October 20, 2025, to take the 2025 Civics Test. Beginning on that date, the test will be more difficult, featuring additional questions that evaluate a deeper understanding of American history, government and politics.

H-1B visa fee hiked to USD 100,000 On September 19, US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation increasing the H-1B visa fee to a whopping USD 100,000 per year. H-1B visas enable companies to hire foreign professionals with specialised expertise, like scientists and computer programmers, to work in the United States.
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and two others injured in a shooting early Saturday in the city of Minneapolis, U.S. state of Minnesota, local authorities said.

Minneapolis police chief Brian O'Hara said that officers heard bursts of automatic gunfire around 2:30 a.m. local time in Dinkytown, a commercial district in Minneapolis.

According to O'Hara, one person died at the scene, while two others, including a University of Minnesota student, were taken to a hospital for injury treatment.

Police said three firearms were recovered at the scene, one of which belonged to the deceased male.

O'Hara said that investigations had begun to determine who was carrying the weapons and what caused the shooting.

The area was crowded overnight due to Halloween celebrations, O'Hara noted, describing the situation as "chaotic." 
The Centre on Sunday hailed McDonald's move to serve India's millet bun burger and called it the country's traditional nutrition are reshaping global food trends.

In a post on X, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, Videshi turns to Swadeshi as the popular international food chain McDonalds serves Indias Millet Bun Burger, prepared using indigenous technology developed by the Mysore based CSIR institute, the Central Food Technological Research Institute CFTRI."

He added that this is a "proud moment" showcasing how Indian innovation and traditional nutrition are reshaping global food trends.

Speaking on the new product, Mr. Sanjeev Agrawal, Chairman, McDonalds India (North & East), said, McDonalds has always been a strong believer in the Governments initiatives and remains committed to creating meaningful collaborations that benefit Indian consumers. The multi-millet bun is a step in that direction, bringing together taste and nutrition while supporting local farmers. This initiative started in McDonalds Mumbai since then we have been promoting this across our restaurants.

He further added, "We look forward for many such collaborations with Govt Initiatives to continue to create meaningful differences in the Indian economy and for consumers.

Also Read | Why onion prices are making farmers cry this year, explained in charts

And, a grand vindication for Indias Millet movement which had gained momentum with the UN declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets at the behest of India with the personal intervention of PM Narendra Modi, he added.

Benefits of millets Millets are highly nutritious grains that offer numerous health benefits compared to refined cereals like rice or wheat. They are rich in essential nutrients, including iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and B vitamins, which support energy production, bone health, and brain function.

Their high fiber content aids digestion, prevents constipation, and helps maintain a healthy gut.

Also Read | Dine-out sees a facelift as Swiggy tastes profits while Zomato builds breadth
Three 22-year-old entrepreneurs behind the fast-growing AI recruitment startup Mercor have become the worlds youngest self-made billionaires  surpassing Mark Zuckerberg, who joined Forbes billionaire list at age 23 in 2008. According to Forbes, Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath, and Surya Midha, who founded Mercor in San Francisco, recently raised $350 million in new funding, valuing their company at $10 billion. The latest investment has propelled the trioFoody as CEO, Hiremath as CTO, and Midha as board chairmaninto billionaire status.

School friends turned entrepreneurs Two of the founders, Surya Midha and Adarsh Hiremath, are Indian Americans who first met at Bellarmine College Preparatory, an all-boys school in San Jose, California. The pair were standout members of the schools debate team and became the first duo to win all three major national policy debate tournaments in a single year, Forbes reported.

Hiremath, who is of Indian origin, later attended Harvard University to study computer science but dropped out after two years to focus fully on Mercor. Reflecting on his journey, he told Forbes, The thing thats crazy for me is, if I werent working on Mercor, I would have just graduated college a couple of months ago. My life did such a 180 in such a short period of time.

While Hiremath was at Harvard, Midha studied foreign service at Georgetown University, where Foody was also enrolled, studying economics. Both left Georgetown around the same time as Hiremath to dedicate themselves to building Mercor.

All three are Thiel Fellows, supported by billionaire investor Peter Thiels fellowship, which funds young entrepreneurs who choose to leave college to build startups.

Their achievement comes just weeks after Shayne Coplan, 27, founder of Polymarket, joined the Forbes billionaire list following a $2 billion investment from Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange.
Former US President Barack Obama engaged in lively exchanges with the crowd during a campaign rally for Democratic New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill on Saturday. Oh, I love you, but hold on. I heard you, girl. Just settle down. Im here to talk to everybody, not just you. I mean, you look cute. But Im married. Michelles fine too, Obama joked, pointing to a woman in the audience.

Obama has been encouraging voters to elect Democratic governors in Virginia and New Jersey ahead of Tuesdays polls  elections that could indicate the national mood ten months into Donald Trumps second presidency, and one year before midterm elections that could reshape it.

While Obama campaigned for Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill, Trump spent the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, leaving Republican candidates Winsome Earle-Sears in Virginia and Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey to campaign independently.

California sees final push in redistricting battle Meanwhile, in California, campaigners were making a final push before a statewide referendum on whether to redraw congressional boundaries to favour Democrats  an initiative supported by Governor Gavin Newsom. The move forms part of a broader national redistricting battle that began after Trump urged Republican-led states to secure his partys control of the House of Representatives in 2026.

Speaking at an afternoon rally in Norfolk, Obama praised Spanberger  a former congresswoman and CIA case officer  as a dedicated leader focused on improving Virginians financial wellbeing and quality of life. He devoted much of his 30-minute address to criticising Trump for what he called lawlessness and recklessness and a shambolic economic policy, urging voters to set a glorious example for the nation by rejecting Trump and his allies.

Also Read | Michelle Obama on keeping the spark alive with Barack amid divorce rumours
Delhi continues to remain under the grip of toxic air, with the Capitals air quality today plunging to the very poor category. The Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed 400 in several places, and doctors have advised Delhiites to leave the city until pollution levels improve.

The troubling trend is nothing new. Every year, like clockwork, Delhi chokes  and a Reddit user says the problem is ego.

A viral post titled How Ego Is Destroying Delhi Through Pollution attributes the crisis not merely to industries, stubble burning, or vehicles, but to a deeper human flaw  ego.

Also Read | Environment ministry orders petrol cars, ignoring advisory on cleaner vehicles

Every year like clockwork, we all pretend to be shocked that Delhi turns into a post-apocalyptic gas chamber, wrote one Reddit user. Farmers dont want to be told what to do. Politicians dont want to admit failure or coordinate. Delhiites wont give up their SUVs or crackers. Everyone wants to be right instead of responsible. Ego > Oxygen.

View full Image A man sweeps a road near India Gate as the sky is enveloped with smog after Delhi's air quality turned 'severe' due to alarming air pollution. ( REUTERS )

The post has resonated with thousands online, capturing the growing frustration of citizens who feel stuck in an annual loop of blame and inaction. Many commenters shared the view that Delhis air crisis is not merely a technical issue but a social and political one  a collective refusal to change despite the visible health consequences.

15% of deaths in Delhi in 2023 linked to air pollution, study finds Air pollution remained the biggest health risk for people in Delhi in 2023, contributing to nearly 15 per cent of all deaths, according to an analysis of the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data.

Researchers at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), who examined the data, said that despite year-to-year variations, deaths caused by particulate matter pollution have stayed consistently high  often surpassing those related to hypertension or diabetes.

Air pollution is not just an environmental issue; it is a public health crisis that demands science-based action across polluting sectors to achieve real and measurable pollution reduction, said Manoj Kumar, analyst at CREA.

He added, Unless Delhi's air quality improves substantially, the health burden from pollution-related diseases, especially respiratory illnesses, heart disease, stroke and lung cancer, will continue to rise.

The data revealed that deaths linked to air pollution rose from 15,786 in 2018 to 17,188 in 2023, meaning one in every seven deaths in the city was connected to toxic air.

However, Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh told the Rajya Sabha that while air pollution is indeed a concern, it cannot be isolated as the sole cause of mortality.
An Indian tech worker's plan to attend an industry conference in the United States was crushed in less than a minute, when the US Embassy in New Delhi denied his B1/B2 visa after asking the applicant just three questions.

The senior technical lead, who focuses on Cloud Native platforms, turned to Reddit for sharing his experience and seeking advices to avoid a similar situation in the future. The post immediately caught the eye of other IT community members, all keen to understand the cause of the immediate denial, HT reported.

In the Reddit post, the tech professional wrote, I had my B1/B2 visa interview at the US Embassy today in Delhi, and I was rejected in less than a minute after just three questions. Im trying to understand what went wrong and how I can improve for next time.

What happened in the consulate? The applicant described the interview process and the swift denial. According to him, the officer asked him just three questions, including his reason for traveling, his prior international travels, and whether he had any family or acquaintances in the US.

He further revealed that he was interested in traveling to the US to participate in the Kubecon + CloudNative Con 2025 conference in Atlanta, Georgia. I am a senior tech lead at a company and my day-to-day work is on Cloud Native technologies. It is important that I attend this conference to stay up to date on the latest events or movements in this field, he told the officer, according to his post.

He also confirmed his travel history to Lithuania, the Maldives, and Indonesia, but stated No, when asked if he had any family or friends in America. He received a 214(b) refusal slip shortly after the interview.

The applicant's background The tech lead expressed his surprise at the quick denial, citing his solid professional and personal background, which gave him strong reasons to return to India. Im employed in India with a stable job for the last 11 years. I make close to a crore annually and have an eight-month-old daughter, so I had very strong motivations to come back to India, he was quoted as saying by HT.

He also mentioned that he had already prepared for the event well in advance as it was not available for live streaming. The conference wasnt available for live streaming, so I had planned everything to attend it in person, he stated, adding that reservations for the Atlanta conference, hotel rooms an extensive schedule were all in place.

Also Read | Who is Priya Kulkarni? Techie launches AI startup to simplify US visa process

In conclusion, he asked other Reddit users on the forum about the possible reason of his rejection, seeking suggestions regarding what steps he should follow before reapplying for the visa, HT reported.

What is B1/B2 visa? The B1 visa is meant for short business trips, such as conferences, meetings and contract negotiations. Those with B1 visas cannot work in the US in the traditional sense, however holders can apply for jobs in the US and attend interviews.

Whereas, the B2 or tourist visa is for purposes such as tourism, vacation, or visiting friends and family. It also covers certain medical treatments and participation in social events. In most cases, a B1/B2 visa is issued together, allowing the holder to travel for both business and tourism.
Former US President Barack Obama personally called New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Saturday, praising his campaign and offering to be a sounding board in the future, The New York Times reported.

The private, 30-minute phone call was confirmed by two people involved or briefed on the discussion, the report said.

Your campaign has been impressive to watch, Obama told Mamdani, according to those familiar with the conversation.

Praise and political guidance During the call, Obama reportedly told Mamdani that he was invested in his success beyond the upcoming election and discussed the challenges of forming an administration capable of advancing his agenda on affordability in New York City.

Obama also spoke admiringly of Mamdanis campaign discipline, joking about his own early political mistakes and noting how few Mamdani had made under such a bright spotlight.

Although the former president has not formally endorsed Mamdani  consistent with his policy of avoiding involvement in municipal races  the call was seen as a quiet show of support.

Plans for continued contact Obama offered to stay in touch and serve as a mentor figure if Mamdani wins New York City mayoral election. The two also discussed tentative plans to meet in Washington, though no date has been set.

A spokeswoman for Obama declined to comment on the call. Mamdanis spokesperson, Dora Pekec, said in a statement: Zohran Mamdani appreciated President Obamas words of support and their conversation on the importance of bringing a new kind of politics to our city.

Obamas former political director Patrick Gaspard, now an adviser to Mamdani, said Obamas first call to Mamdani in June came unsolicited, unprompted.

The fact that he placed that phone call to us and then the news of that call making its way into the world was a very important signaler to many in the political establishment, Gaspard told The New York Times.

His campaign, drawing comparisons to Obamas 2008 run has featured rallies with Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

A person close to Obama told The Times that he viewed Mamdanis rise as an example of the kind of leadership he hopes to see flourish  one emerging independently yet aligned with his vision for the Democratic Partys future.

Also Read | Marco Rubio accuses Hamas of aid theft in Gaza amid Trumps peace plan
Sunday, 2 November, marks the last day of in-person early voting in New York City and New Jersey, as voters head into important state and local elections. As per the New York City Board of Elections, over 584,000 people have already voted early across the five boroughs. Brooklyn has the highest turnout with almost 190,000 votes. Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 2.

Zohran Mamdani leads final push in NYC mayoral race Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani spent the weekend meeting supporters. On Saturday, he appeared with Rev. Al Sharpton at the National Action Network in Harlem. Although Sharpton did not officially endorse him, Mamdani later joined New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has publicly supported his campaign.

We have more than 100,000 volunteers knocking on doors. Were hoping to break the New York State record of knocking 200,000 doors in a single day, Mamdani said.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, now running as an Independent candidate, criticized Mamdanis campaign. He is not a Democrat. Yes, he won the Democratic primary, but he has self-described as a socialist, Cuomo said, as per ABC7.

Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has rejected calls to drop out of the race, saying his team is focused on encouraging voter turnout. You can talk about the polls all you want; we know its a get out the vote effort, Sliwa told reporters.

Also Read | United Airlines planes hit each other at LaGuardia in New York: Report

Tight race for New Jersey governor Across the Hudson River, it is also the last day for early voting in New Jerseys close gubernatorial race. Polls there are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli are both making their final campaign stops on Sunday. Sherrill plans to visit Hudson, Camden, and Burlington counties, while Ciattarelli will campaign in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

On Saturday, November 1, Sherrill appeared alongside former President Barack Obama in Newark, where she encouraged voters to turn out in strong numbers. When people ask me if New Jersey is ready for this moment, my answer is hell yeah! she said.

Ciattarelli dismissed Obamas endorsement, saying, At the end of the day, the candidate has to win the race.

A new Atlas Intel poll shows the race is extremely close, with Sherrill at 50% and Ciattarelli at 49%. Both states now head into the final stretch before Election Day.

FAQs 1. When does early voting end in New York City and New Jersey? Early voting ends on Sunday, November 2, with polls open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in New York City and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in New Jersey.

2. Who are the main candidates in the New York City mayoral race? The key candidates are Zohran Mamdani (Democrat), Andrew Cuomo (Independent), and Curtis Sliwa (Republican).
Juvenile curfew order was imposed in Washington DC on Saturday after Halloween evening misbehaviour. Executive Office of Washington DC Mayor on November 1 announced restrictions on movement of those below 18 during nighttime over the next few days, in the wake of disorderly behaviour in the past weeks.

The decision follows Halloween-related incidents where young people engaged in brawling, blocked streets and endangered public safety. The behavior on Halloween evening  which included young people brawling, blocking streets, and moving into commercial establishments in large groups, endangering both themselves and others in the area  follows several weekends of similar behavior by youth in neighborhoods across the District, the notice issued by Mayor Muriel Bowser states.

Curfew time: From 11:00 PM till 6:00 AM Curfew last date: November 5 All juveniles are subject to a curfew Muriel Bowser in a post on X stated, We are declaring a limited juvenile curfew in Washington, DC. Effective immediately, all juveniles under the age of 18 are subject to a curfew from 11PM until 6AM, which will extend through 11/5.

Also Read | US airlines urge Congress to end shutdown ahead of holiday season

Clarifying the reason for the curfew, Muriel Bowser added, This is in response to several weeks of disorderly juvenile behavior which endangered both themselves and others.

This comes after five youth were arrested on October 31 by the police and one officer suffered minor injuries. Besides the curfew, the police will designate special zones which are at high risk for disorderly conduct. These locations will have longer curfew times, beginning as early as 6:00 PM.

Furthermore, the notice warns the youths against declaration of temporary curfew zone in case of a group gathering of more than seven youth citing threat to safety of the youth, residents, or the public.

List of Special Juvenile Curfew Zones On Saturday night, Chief of Police Pamela A Smith announced several of the above mentioned "Special Juvenile Curfew Zones" as specified here:

Navy Yard

near the U Street Coridor

Banneker Recreation Center near Howard University

Union Station The Navy Yard juvenile curfew zones covers the stretch between Interstate 695 and the Anacostia River on the north and south. It covers the area between 8th Street SE in the east and South Capitol in the west, FOX5 reported

The designated zone near the U Street Corridor covers the stretch between 9th Street NW and Florida Avenue in the east and 15th Street from T Street to V Street NW in the west. It covers the area between V Street and Vermont Avenue NW in the north and T Street NW in the south.

The zone at Banneker Recreation Center stretches between Georgia Avenue NW and 9th Street NW to the east and west. It covers the area between Euclid Street NW and W Street NW to the north and south.
US President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured him that Beijing would take no military or political action toward unifying Taiwan with mainland China while Trump remains in office.

He has openly said, and his people have openly said at meetings, We would never do anything while President Trump is president, because they know the consequences, Trump said in an excerpt from his interview aired on CBS.

Trump said the issue of Taiwan did not come up directly during his recent talks with Xi in South Korea, which largely centered on US-China trade tensions, but expressed confidence that China would refrain from aggressive moves.

US concerns over Taiwan tension Washington has long viewed Chinas intentions toward Taiwan  a self-ruled island democracy that Beijing claims as its own  as a potential flashpoint in Asia.

The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act governs US policy toward the island, requiring that the US help Taiwan maintain sufficient defense capabilities but stopping short of a firm commitment to intervene militarily if China attacks.

Trump dodges question on US defense of Taiwan When asked whether he would send US forces to defend Taiwan if China launched an invasion, Trump avoided a direct answer.
Several leaders in the United States aviation industry have requested that Congress end the shutdown over concerns for air traffic controllers working without pay and ahead of the busy holiday season, according to a report by Fortune.

Its putting stress on people. Its not fair to those people. Its also putting stress on the economy, the report quoted United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby. Airlines are a pretty good real-time indicator of the economy, and we start to see, still minor, but a steep booking impact. And you see that happening in the economy. We put the whole economy at risk, he said.

Kirby urged bipartisan support to pass a resolution to reopen the government. He, along with industry leaders such as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Chris Sununu, the former Republican governor of New Hampshire and current CEO of Airlines for America, met with Vice President JD Vance on Thursday to discuss how the government shutdown is affecting aviation, according to Bloomberg.

On Friday, American Airlines confirmed that CEO Robert Isom attended the meeting on Thursday. The airline described air traffic controllers working without pay as unacceptable, the report said.

Congress needs to reach a bipartisan agreement to re-open the government as quickly as possible to pay our air traffic controller, [Transportation Security Administration], and [Customs and Border Protection] colleagues, the report quoted airline's statement.

The quickest way to end this shutdown and get these workers paid is by passing a clean continuing resolution. A prolonged shutdown will lead to more delays and cancellationsand the American people, especially during the busy holiday season, deserve better," it said.

Also Read | Speaker Mike Johnson shuts down Trump 2028 talk, cites US Constitution limits

Impact of government shutdown on aviation industry Aviation industry remains a focal point during the government shutdown, with over 13,000 air traffic controllers, considered essential workers, working without pay. This increases the stress on employees who have been facing a staffing shortage for more than ten years. Prior to the shutdown, 91% of US air traffic control centres operated below the Federal Aviation Administrations recommended staffing levels. During the shutdown, many controllers are working six-day weeks, often exceeding 60 hours.

The shutdown is set to reach a record length, nearing its 34th day on Monday when the Senate reconvenes, matching the longest funding gap in U.S. history. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the shutdown could result in nearly $14 billion in lost real GDP that cannot be recovered. While over 700,000 government workers remain unpaid during this time, some, such as ICE agents, continue to receive their paychecks.

Air traffic controllers received their last paycheck on Tuesday, and they're feeling the strain of working without wages. Some have taken up side jobs as restaurant servers and Uber drivers to cover their expenses.

Its a world where they are now not only leaning on each other, theyre leaning on getting other jobs, going to their primary job in the day, and then in the evening, going out and having to do some level of a secondary job, the report quoted Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
Firefighters work at the site of a fire-damaged chain department store in Hermosillo, Sonora state, northern Mexico, on Nov. 1, 2025. At least 22 people were killed after an explosion triggered a fire at a department store in Hermosillo, capital of the northern Mexican state of Sonora, local media reported Saturday. The explosion occurred in the afternoon at a chain department store in the city center, according to the reports. Witnesses said the fire quickly spread through the building and nearby vehicles, trapping several people inside. (El Sol de Hermosillo/Handout via Xinhua)

MEXICO CITY, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least 22 people were killed after an explosion triggered a fire at a department store in Hermosillo, capital of the northern Mexican state of Sonora, local media reported Saturday.

The explosion occurred in the afternoon at a chain department store in the city center, according to the reports. Witnesses said the fire quickly spread through the building and nearby vehicles, trapping several people inside.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene to conduct search-and-rescue operations and transport the injured to local hospitals.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by smoke from a malfunctioning transformer.

Authorities in Sonora said the possibility of a terrorist attack has been ruled out. 

People gather near the site of a fire-damaged chain department store in Hermosillo, Sonora state, northern Mexico, on Nov. 1, 2025. At least 22 people were killed after an explosion triggered a fire at a department store in Hermosillo, capital of the northern Mexican state of Sonora, local media reported Saturday.

The explosion occurred in the afternoon at a chain department store in the city center, according to the reports. Witnesses said the fire quickly spread through the building and nearby vehicles, trapping several people inside. (El Sol de Hermosillo/Handout via Xinhua)

Mexican Red Cross paramedics transfer an injured person into an ambulance near a fire-damaged chain department store in Hermosillo, Sonora state, northern Mexico, on Nov. 1, 2025. At least 22 people were killed after an explosion triggered a fire at a department store in Hermosillo, capital of the northern Mexican state of Sonora, local media reported Saturday.

The explosion occurred in the afternoon at a chain department store in the city center, according to the reports. Witnesses said the fire quickly spread through the building and nearby vehicles, trapping several people inside. (El Sol de Hermosillo/Handout via Xinhua)

Rescuers work at a fire-damaged chain department store in Hermosillo, Sonora state, northern Mexico, on Nov. 1, 2025. At least 22 people were killed after an explosion triggered a fire at a department store in Hermosillo, capital of the northern Mexican state of Sonora, local media reported Saturday.

The explosion occurred in the afternoon at a chain department store in the city center, according to the reports. Witnesses said the fire quickly spread through the building and nearby vehicles, trapping several people inside. (El Sol de Hermosillo/Handout via Xinhua)
Voters across the United States will cast their ballots on Tuesday (November 4), in high-stakes elections viewed as a critical gauge of the nations political mood  nearly a year into President Donald Trumps second term and a year before the 2026 midterms.

This election features pivotal mayoral races in major cities, along with gubernatorial contests in Virginia and New Jersey and a contentious redistricting measure in California.

Major city elections: New faces, familiar names Voters in Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York City, and Seattle are set to choose new leaders or decide whether to reelect incumbents.

Atlanta: Dickens seeks second term Democrat Andre Dickens is seeking reelection as mayor of Atlanta, facing three challengers: LGBTQ+ advocate Helmut Domagalski, former police officer Kalema Jackson, and community organizer Eddie Andrew Meredith.

Boston: Wu faces no serious challenge In Boston, Democrat Michelle Wu is running virtually unopposed after Josh Kraft, son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, dropped out following a distant second-place finish in the primary.

Cleveland: Bibb vs Gore Democrat Justin Bibb seeks a second term against Republican Laverne Gore. The race, limited to two candidates after both met signature requirements early, centers on crime and economic development.

Bibb said he wants to keep Clevelands momentum going, while Gore has argued, We need a mayor who listens to ordinary citizens, not just party insiders.

Detroit: Sheffield vs Kinloch With Mayor Mike Duggan stepping aside to run for Michigan governor, Mary Sheffield, Detroit City Council president, faces Solomon Kinloch Jr., pastor of Triumph Church.

Sheffield said, This is Detroits time to rebuild from within, while Kinloch countered, We need faith, not politics, to lead our city forward.

Minneapolis: Frey faces challenge from the left Incumbent Jacob Frey is running for a third term but faces a strong challenge from Omar Fateh, a democratic socialist state senator backed by Rep. Ilhan Omar.

Fateh, 35, has pledged to raise the minimum wage, expand affordable housing, and reform policing. Minneapolis deserves leadership that puts people before politics, he said.

Frey, defending his record, said, Weve made progress on safety and jobs  and I intend to finish the work.

New York City: Mamdani leads heated three-way race The nations biggest mayoral contest features socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, independent Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

Polls show Mamdani with a commanding lead after defeating Cuomo in the Democratic primary. His platform centers on rent freezes and affordability for working families.

Mamdani told supporters, Were building a city where no one is priced out of their home or their hope.

Cuomo, however, has called Mamdanis ideas reckless and dangerous, while Sliwa warned, New York doesnt need ideology  it needs order.

President Donald Trump, born in NYC, has publicly threatened to withhold federal funding if Mamdani wins.

Seattle: Progressive challenge to Harrell In Seattle, Mayor Bruce Harrell faces a strong challenge from progressive organizer Katie Wilson, who topped the nonpartisan primary.

Wilson said, Seattle deserves housing justice and bold climate action. Harrell countered that he offers experience over experiments.

Virginia: Two women vie for governor Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) faces former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) in a historic race guaranteed to elect the states first female governor.

Earle-Sears told supporters, This is about freedom and opportunity for every Virginian.

Spanberger, backed by Barack Obama, said the race is a referendum on Trumps second-term agenda.

The campaign has been marred by controversy surrounding Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones, whose violent texts about a GOP lawmaker drew national backlash.

New Jersey: Tight race to replace Murphy In New Jersey, Republican Jack Ciattarelli faces Democrat Mikie Sherrill to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy.

Polls show a neck-and-neck race, with both campaigns trading attacks.

Sherrill said, Jack Ciattarelli is Trumps ally in disguise.

Ciattarelli responded, Mikie Sherrill represents the failed Biden policies that hurt working families.

California: Proposition 50 redistricting fight Perhaps the most consequential vote Tuesday is Californias Proposition 50, a ballot measure that would allow Democrats in the legislature to redraw congressional maps  temporarily overriding the states independent redistricting commission.

Governor Gavin Newsom defended the move, saying, Theres an overwhelming understanding of whats at stake  protecting democracy against Republican gerrymandering.

Also Read | Early voting ends today in New York and New Jersey ahead of major races
Voters in New Jersey and Virginia head to the polls on Tuesday (November 4) in the first major statewide elections since Republican President Donald Trump took office  contests seen as early tests of voter sentiment and political momentum heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

For Democrats, who are out of power in Washington, victories in both races could provide a much-needed morale boost. For Republicans, wins would signal continued voter alignment with Trumps populist agenda just nine months into his new term.

New Jersey: Mikie Sherrill vs Jack Ciattarelli The New Jersey governors race has emerged as one of the most closely watched contests in the country, pitting Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill against Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

Sherrill, 53, a former Navy helicopter pilot, holds a narrow but consistent lead in most polls. Ciattarelli, 63, a small business owner and former state assemblyman, is running for governor for the third time.

The race has smashed state spending records  more than $200 million has been poured into the campaign, including $34 million from national party committees.

Historic stakes A Sherrill victory would mark the first time in 60 years that New Jersey elects a governor from the same party for three consecutive terms. But if Ciattarelli wins, he would become just the second governor in nine elections to hail from the same party as the sitting president.

Despite Democrats two-to-one voter registration advantage, Trumps relatively strong 2024 performance  losing the state by only six points  has buoyed Republican hopes.

Recent polls show Sherrill up by five to eight percentage points, though a Thursday Emerson College/PIX11/The Hill survey put the race nearly even at 49%-48%.

Trumps shadow looms Trumps decision to freeze federal funding for the Hudson River tunnel project  a vital link for New Jersey commuters  has become a flashpoint. Sherrill has accused Ciattarelli of being too loyal to the president, pointing to his debate comment giving Trump an A grade for his first months in office.

Ciattarelli, who kept some distance from Trump during his 2021 run, has embraced him more openly this year, though not fully adopting the MAGA brand. Hes had to do quite a delicate dance this time around, said Ashley Koning of Rutgers Universitys Eagleton Center.

Virginia: Abigail Spanberger vs Winsome Earle-Sears In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, 46, a former congresswoman and CIA officer, is leading Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, 61, in most polls.

Spanbergers campaign has centered on economic stability, abortion rights, and public education, while Earle-Sears has focused on crime, taxes, and parental control in schools.
Voters in New Jersey and Virginia head to the polls on Tuesday (November 4) in the first major statewide elections since Republican President Donald Trump took office  contests seen as early tests of voter sentiment and political momentum heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

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For Democrats, who are out of power in Washington, victories in both races could provide a much-needed morale boost. For Republicans, wins would signal continued voter alignment with Trumps populist agenda just nine months into his new term.

New Jersey: Mikie Sherrill vs Jack Ciattarelli The New Jersey governors race has emerged as one of the most closely watched contests in the country, pitting Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill against Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

Sherrill, 53, a former Navy helicopter pilot, holds a narrow but consistent lead in most polls. Ciattarelli, 63, a small business owner and former state assemblyman, is running for governor for the third time.

The race has smashed state spending records  more than $200 million has been poured into the campaign, including $34 million from national party committees.

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Historic stakes A Sherrill victory would mark the first time in 60 years that New Jersey elects a governor from the same party for three consecutive terms. But if Ciattarelli wins, he would become just the second governor in nine elections to hail from the same party as the sitting president.

Despite Democrats two-to-one voter registration advantage, Trumps relatively strong 2024 performance  losing the state by only six points  has buoyed Republican hopes.

Recent polls show Sherrill up by five to eight percentage points, though a Thursday Emerson College/PIX11/The Hill survey put the race nearly even at 49%-48%.

Trumps shadow looms Trumps decision to freeze federal funding for the Hudson River tunnel project  a vital link for New Jersey commuters  has become a flashpoint. Sherrill has accused Ciattarelli of being too loyal to the president, pointing to his debate comment giving Trump an A grade for his first months in office.

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Ciattarelli, who kept some distance from Trump during his 2021 run, has embraced him more openly this year, though not fully adopting the MAGA brand. Hes had to do quite a delicate dance this time around, said Ashley Koning of Rutgers Universitys Eagleton Center.

Virginia: Abigail Spanberger vs Winsome Earle-Sears In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, 46, a former congresswoman and CIA officer, is leading Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, 61, in most polls.

Spanbergers campaign has centered on economic stability, abortion rights, and public education, while Earle-Sears has focused on crime, taxes, and parental control in schools.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, who has been under the scanner over his ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, reportedly made 15 million. Courtesy? The Sunninghill Park, which was a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth.

According to a report by The Sunday Times, a trust structure set up by the late Queen allowed the former Duke of York to sell his Sunninghill Park  a 12-bedroom mansion which was originally owned by the Crown Estate.

Usually, any profits from Crown Estate  which is separate from the monarch's private property  go directly to the UK Treasury and contribute towards public spending.

Despite being a Crown Estate, the mansion was privately sold after Andrew, Sarah Ferguson and their two children, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice moved out and settled in Royal Lodge.

Who paid 15 million for the estate? In 2007, Prince Andrew received an offer of 15 million for Sunninghill Park from Timur Kulibayev - a billionaire and the son-in-law of Nursultan Nazarbayev  the then president of Kazakhstan, reported The Times.

Despite being a Crown Estate, the mansion was privately sold after Andrew, Sarah Ferguson and their two children, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice moved out and settled in Royal Lodge.

At the time, Andrew was serving as UKs international trade envoy and had developed close ties with Kazakhstan  ties that later drew scrutiny. In 2016, a report by the Daily Mail even alleged the Duke of acting as a 'private fixer' for Kazakh businesses.

Where did the 15 million go? The Times reported that 7.5 million of the profits were used for the refurbishment of the Royal Lodge, a crown-owned estate where he lived virtually rent-free until 30 October, when it was announced that his lease would be revoked.

The news of the sale of the Sunninghill Park comes days after Andrew, who stripped of his title as a prince on Thursday. He, however has retained his rank as a Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy after giving up his other military positions in 2022.

Why is Andrew under pressure? The former prince has lost all of his Royal titles and privileges following months of pressure over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew, however, has always denied wrongdoing, mentioned a report by BBC.

Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein Andrews royal standing has witnessed a steady decline since 2019, when his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein  who died in prison awaiting trial for sex trafficking  became public. Andrew stepped back from royal duties and later settled a civil lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault  allegations he has consistently denied.
The temperature between Washington and Beijing seems to be shifting  not rising this time, but softening. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday announced that the United States and China would soon open military-to-military communication channels, describing bilateral ties as never been better.

The statement, posted on X, followed his meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun on the sidelines of a regional security summit  and came just hours after Pete Hegseth had delivered one of Washingtons toughest warnings yet to China over its actions in the South China Sea.

Are the US and China really turning a corner? I spoke with my Chinese counterpart late Saturday, Hegseth said, adding that both sides agreed that peace, stability and good relations are the best path for our two great and strong countries.

His optimism reflected a rare moment of warmth in a relationship long strained by trade disputes, technology bans, and military tensions in the Pacific.

Hegseth said he also briefed President Donald Trump following the meeting. The two leaders, he added, were united in their belief that the relationship between the US and China has never been better. Donald Trumps recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, he said, had set the tone for everlasting peace and success for the US and China.

From warnings to warm words  what changed? The conciliatory tone marked a sharp pivot from Hegseths remarks earlier the same day, when he urged Southeast Asian nations to strengthen their maritime forces against what he called Chinas destabilising actions.

Chinas sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea fly in the face of their commitments to resolve disputes peacefully, he told defence ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

We seek peace. We do not seek conflict. But we must ensure that China is not seeking to dominate you or anybody else, he warned.

That contrast  stern behind the podium, conciliatory online  underscored Washingtons delicate balancing act: deterring Beijing without derailing the fragile thaw.

Why the South China Sea still looms large Few flashpoints capture the fragility of Asian diplomacy like the South China Sea. Beijing claims nearly the entire region, brushing up against the territorial boundaries of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

The US, meanwhile, has accused China of militarising the waters, ignoring international rulings, and intimidating neighbours. Hegseth said Beijings recent declaration of the Scarborough Shoal  seized from the Philippines in 2012  as a nature reserve was yet another attempt to coerce new and expanded territorial and maritime claims at your expense.

Also Read | Bessent Reveals New Twist On TrumpXi Summit In Seoul Amid Trade War Chaos

He urged ASEAN to finalise the long-delayed Code of Conduct being negotiated with China and proposed creating a shared maritime domain awareness network so that any member facing aggression and provocation is not alone.

Beijing fires back China, unsurprisingly, was not amused. Officials accused Washington of interference and said the US military presence in the region was the real threat to peace.

Tian Junli, spokesperson for the Peoples Liberation Armys Southern Theater Command, slammed a recent joint naval drill involving the Philippines, the US, Australia and New Zealand as a provocation.

It further proves that the Philippines is the troublemaker in the South China Sea issue and a saboteur of regional stability, Tian said.

Two voices, one strategy? Analysts say the mixed messages coming from Hegseths weekend statements reveal the dual nature of US-China relations  competition laced with cautious cooperation.

This is damage control. More importantly, it reflects two different currents in US relations with China  one that sees China as a threat and another a possible partner, said Southeast Asia expert Bridget Welsh.
US President Donald Trump has ignited a diplomatic storm after threatening possible military action in Nigeria, accusing the West African nation of failing to protect its Christian population.

In a fiery post on Truth Social, Donald Trump said he had ordered the Pentagon to prepare for possible action, warning that American aid could be cut off if Nigeria did not halt what he described as the killing of Christians.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, Trump wrote. I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!

The comments, reminiscent of Trumps combative foreign policy rhetoric, came just a day after he designated Nigeria a country of particular concern over alleged religious persecution  a label previously lifted by the Biden administration in 2023.

Why is Trump targeting Nigeria now? Trumps remarks reflect renewed focus from some conservative circles in Washington, where claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria have gained traction.

Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria, Trump said on Friday, adding that radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.

Trump's words echo earlier calls from US Senator Ted Cruz, who recently urged Congress to redesignate Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom, citing reports of Christian mass murder.

Also Read | Who is Wole Soyinka? Nobel laureate says US visa revoked after Trump remark

Further, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth amplified the message, declaring:

The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria  and anywhere  must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.

How did Nigeria respond? Nigerias President Bola Ahmed Tinubu swiftly pushed back, calling Trumps statements inaccurate and unfair.

In a post on social media, Tinubu rejected what he described as a distorted picture of his countrys religious climate.

Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so, he said. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.

Tinubu insisted that Nigerias diversity  almost evenly split between Christians and Muslims  remains a defining strength, not a fault line.

What is the reality on the ground in Nigeria? Nigerias complex web of violence defies simple religious labels. With more than 220 million citizens, the country faces overlapping security challenges  from Boko Harams Islamist insurgency in the north to resource-driven clashes between farmers and herders, and sporadic separatist unrest in the south.

While Christian communities have suffered attacks, analysts note that most victims of extremist groups such as Boko Haram are Muslims living in Nigerias north.

Attacks in Nigeria have varying motives, experts say. There are religiously motivated assaults targeting both Christians and Muslims, as well as communal rivalries, resource disputes, and ethnic conflicts.

Also Read | Tiwa Savage dismisses claims of leaking sex tape for fame

Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for Nigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated that message, saying the government was committed to protecting all citizens.

The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion, Ebienfa said. Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.

A familiar fault line in US-Nigeria relations The United States first listed Nigeria as a country of particular concern in 2020, citing systematic violations of religious freedom. That designation was lifted three years later, which analysts viewed as a diplomatic reset under thenSecretary of State Antony Blinken.

Trumps latest threats risk reopening that fault line. His rhetoric  invoking the image of America storming into Nigeria guns-a-blazing  has drawn concern among foreign policy experts who warn of the dangers of framing Nigerias instability through a purely religious lens.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday Tehran will rebuild its nuclear installations "with greater strength." He reiterated the country is not seeking a nuclear weapon.

Pezeshkian made the remarks during a visit to the country's Atomic Energy Organisation, where he met with senior officials from Irans nuclear industry.

"Destroying buildings and factories will not pose an issue for us; we shall rebuild and with greater strength," the Iranian president told state media.

Also Read | Iranian president injured while escaping Israeli 'assassination' attemp

"It's all intended for solving the problems of the people, for disease, for public health," Pezeshkian said in reference to Iran's nuclear activities.

The comments follow warnings from US President Donald Trump that he would sanction fresh attacks on Iran's nuclear sites should Tehran attempt to restart installations that the United States bombed in June.

In June, the US and Israel launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities which Washington alleges were part of a programme aimed at developing nuclear weapons. Tehran retaliated with ballistic missile barrages targeting Israeli cities.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in July, after the United States announced a ceasefire, that the damage in Iran was "serious and severe."

Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is for purely civilian purposes. Back in February, before the strikes, Pezeshkian had stated that Tehran would rebuild its sites if they came under attack.

Pezeshkian's declaration came as Oman, Iran's traditional intermediary, urged the two countries on Saturday to resume negotiations.

Also Read | Irans parliament votes to suspend cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog

"We want to return to the negotiations between Iran and the United States," Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said at the IISS Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain.

Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said Sunday that Tehran "has received messages" concerning the resumption of diplomacy, without providing further specifics.

Oman hosted five rounds of US-Iran talks this year. Just three days before the sixth round, Israel launched its strikes against Iran's nuclear sites.

Iran has since faced the return of UN sanctions after Britain, Germany, and France triggered the "snapback" mechanism over Tehran's alleged non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.

In the past, Iran's 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had lauded the benefits of Tehran's strategic patience in confronting its enemies. Now, however, there are growing concerns that patience has given way to paralysis as Iran's partners in its self-described Axis of Resistance have been devastated, and there is no overt sign of materiel support from either China or Russia.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Hamas an impediment and urged the group to disarm and stop stealing aid, which he said undermined global efforts in support of President Donald Trumps Gaza peace plan.

Hamas continues to deprive the people of Gaza of the humanitarian aid they desperately need. This theft undermines international efforts in support of President Trumps 20 Point Plan to deliver critical assistance to innocent civilians," Rubio said on X. He also shared a video from the Pentagons Central Command showing Hamas members suspected of stealing food from an aid truck

He added, Hamas is the impediment. They must lay down their arms and stop their looting so that Gaza can have a brighter future.

The U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) observed suspected Hamas operatives looting an aid truck traveling as part of a humanitarian convoy delivering needed assistance from international partners to Gazans in northern Khan Younis, US Central Command said.

It further asserted that its coordination center got to know through video surveillance from a U.S. MQ-9 aerial drone flying overhead to oversee execution of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

Operatives attacked the driver and stole the aid and truck after moving the driver to the roads median. The drivers current status is unknown. Over the past week, international partners have delivered more than 600 trucks of commercial goods and aid into Gaza daily. This incident undermines these efforts. Nearly 40 nations and international organizations represented at the CMCC are working together to help flow humanitarian, logistical and security assistance into Gaza, it added.

Israel-Hamas amid ceasefire Israel on Saturday stated that the remains of three individuals handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross in Gaza were not those of any hostages, marking the latest setback in the US-brokered ceasefire during the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to AP. The transfer came after Israel returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians to Gaza on Friday, completing an exchange following the earlier handover of two hostages remains. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office confirmed that the three bodies were not hostages, but their identities remain unknown.

Also Read | Ceasefire under strain: Hostage remains dispute triggers fresh Israeli strikes

Hamas' armed wing stated it had proposed on Friday to provide samples from unidentified bodies, but Israel declined and instead requested the full remains for examination. We handed the bodies over to stop the claims of Israel," the statement said. Health officials in Gaza faced difficulties identifying the deceased due to the lack of DNA testing kits, the report noted.
A crew of three Chinese astronauts  including the countrys youngest ever  successfully docked with the Tiangong space station early on Saturday. They were joined by an unusual group of passengers: four laboratory mice.

According to news agency AFP, the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft linked up with Tiangong at 3:22 a.m. (1922 GMT Friday), around three and a half hours after lifting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China aboard a Long March-2F rocket.

Beijing has made no secret of its ambition to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030 and eventually build a permanent lunar base, aiming to compete with long-established programmes run by the United States and Russia.

The Tiangong station, which houses rotating teams of three astronauts every six months, is considered the centrepiece of Chinas space programme  a project that has received billions of pounds in investment.

A Long March-2F carrier rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft and a crew of three astronauts, lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi desert, in northwest China on October 31, 2025. A new crew took off for China's Tiangong space station on October 31, including the country's youngest ever astronaut and four lab mice.

About Tiangong space station The Tiangong space station, also known as Heavenly Palace, is the crown jewel of China's space programme.

The country has invested billions of dollars in it in an effort to catch up with the United States and Russia, following its exclusion from the International Space Station due to US national security concerns over the Chinese space programme's direct link to the People's Liberation Army.

Who makes up the new crew? This latest crew includes first-time astronauts Zhang Hongzhang and Wu Fei, the latter aged just 32, making him Chinas youngest astronaut to travel into space. They are led by Commander Zhang Lu, who previously served on a mission two years ago.

Chinese astronaut for the Shenzhou 21 mission, from left, Zhang Hongzhang, Wu Fei and Zhang Lu wave as they attend a see-off ceremony for their manned space mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.

Why are mice part of the mission? The four mice are part of an experiment to study how weightlessness and confinement affect animal behaviour. They were chosen from 300 candidates after more than 60 days of training, Xinhua said.

The crew will also carry out 27 scientific experiments, covering biotechnology, space medicine, and materials science.

How does this fit into the space race? The mission comes amid renewed competition in the global space race. Our fixed goal of China landing a person on the moon by 2030 is firm, Zhang Jingbo, a spokesperson for the China Manned Space Agency was quoted as saying by DW.

Built entirely by China after being excluded from the International Space Station, Tiangong has cemented Beijings role as a major space power.
Elected officials are finally waking up to the educational harms of mobile phones in public schools. As more districts ban them, the reports are highly encouragingthough hardly surprising, given the positive results we saw in New York City when we removed them from schools nearly 20 years ago. Yet, even as phone bans spread, elected officials and Silicon Valley executives are trying to open classrooms to a technology that could set students back even further than mobile phones have: artificial intelligence (AI).

In early September, as millions of children were returning to school, technology executives and government officials gathered at the White House to discuss their vision for American education, one in which struggling students are guided by chatbot tutors, teachers are liberated from thinking and preparing, thanks to automated lesson plans, and an army of teen AI innovators breeze through certifications, ready to lead the workforce of tomorrow.

Tech companies that seek to sell hardware and software to American schools march to the beat of shareholders, not studentsand if their utopian vision takes a dark turn, it is children and families who pay the price. If history is any guide, parents and educators should think twice before joining the big parade.

During the White House meeting, Googles leadership touted AI as a means of transforming the learning process around each individual student and pledged access to the companys AI tools for every high school in America. If that sounds familiar, it should.

Over a decade has passed since Google and other tech companies started making big promises of personalized learning and improved academic performance by getting low-cost laptops into schools. That worked well for their sales departments, but not for taxpayersit has cost billions of dollarsor for students.

All the promised academic benefits of laptops in schools never materialized. Just the opposite: Student test scores and college readiness have fallen to historic lows. In some schools, students spend hours of valuable class time on social media channels. Teachers are often reduced to IT monitors, frustrating them.

A growing body of research demonstrates the harms of excessive screen time for students, yet few districts have reviewed their policies on laptopseven as the prospect of AI in the classroom will mean more screen time, not less. Until more studies are done about AIs impact on learning, greater caution is warranted. Yet in April, the administration issued an executive order calling for children in the earliest stages of their educational journey" to master AI.

But the objective of public education should not be learning how to use any one tool. It should be mastering core concepts, developing critical thinking and reasoning skills, and imparting essential values, including those that AI struggles with, such as trustworthiness.

To be clear: Im a big believer in AI. But helping businesses serve customers and helping schools serve children are two very different challenges.

Early reports of AIs impact on learning are not encouraging. One preliminary study published in June found that adults who use ChatGPT to write essays demonstrate weaker critical-thinking skills over time than participants who use search engines or no technology at all. It remains unclear how such tools will affect childrens brains over the long term, but the implications for writing and math skills development are cause for concern.

Also Read | AI bot in the classroom: Time to fight off this attack on education

In time, AI-powered educational tools may prove useful in some contexts. An OECD report found that an hour or less of computer-based learning was associated with higher math scores on an international assessment (effects that were reversed as screen time increased). Khan Academys AI bot Khanmigo also has shown promisethough the company acknowledges that extended sessions can lead to repetitive responses or conversations that drift from educational purposes."

As states develop and refine guidance to schools about AI implementation, they should require education officials to evaluate independent research before greenlighting AI products. Absent comprehensive data, AI use should be monitored, limited and geared towards older students. Such deliberate planning isnt unrealistic: Already, schools seeking to reduce screen time have reported increased engagement. Others that have designated tech-free school days say students are happier, too.

Inevitably, AI enthusiasts will criticize school districts that take a cautious approach to this technology. Let them. Until results consistently improve, students will be better served by efforts to promote eye-to-eye learning through teacher excellence, high learning standards and classroom accountability. Bloomberg

The author is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, and the founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Kenvue recently increased its dividend by 1.2% to $0.2075 per share. That means that over a full year, it distributes $0.83 per share to its shareholders. That's less than the $0.75 that its earnings per share totaled over the past four quarters. However, Kenvue's free cash flow during that time frame came in at $1.6 billion, which was only slightly higher than the cash dividends it paid out.

The company has been in the news of late due to President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claiming that if mothers take Tylenol while pregnant, they increase the chances of their child having autism. Though there is no credible scientific evidence to support this claim, Tylenol is a key drug in Kenvue's portfolio, generating approximately $1 billion in annual revenue. As such, those assertions pose a threat to the source of a significant slice of the $15 billion or so that the business brings in annually.

Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson spun off its consumer healthcare business as Kenvue a couple of years ago. It's not a fast-growing business, and the main reason most investors would want to own its shares is its dividend. Currently, it yields 5.5%, which is more than four times the S&P 500 's average yield of 1.2%.

The payout ratios of Kenvue (NYSE: KVUE), Enbridge (NYSE: ENB), and Realty Income (NYSE: O) might raise alarm bells for investors today. Not only are all of their ratios over 100%, but their yields at current share prices are more than 5%. Should investors be concerned about whether these companies' payouts are sustainable at their current levels, or could they be good income-generating investments to hold on to for the long haul?

One way to gauge the riskiness of a stock's dividend is by looking at its payout ratio -- the fraction of the company's earnings that are needed to cover its dividend. The higher that ratio is, the riskier the dividend can appear to be. But that isn't always the case. Some high-yielding stocks' dividends may in fact be safe despite seemingly high payout ratios.

When you're an income-focused investor, it can be particularly aggravating to learn that a company in your portfolio has decided to cut or suspend its dividend. Not only does such a move affect your dividend income, but it's also likely to result in a sharp decline in the share price. You get hit on both fronts.

The payout ratio alone doesn't always tell the whole story when it comes to the quality of a dividend stock.

In some industries, however, companies use adjusted-profit calculations to assess the safety of their payouts.

Investors can look at a company's payout ratio to help gauge whether its dividend is sustainable.

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Ultimately, the sustainability of the payout at its current level may depend in part on how these claims about Tylenol impact Kenvue's financials. It's too early to answer that question, which is why I'd take a wait-and-see approach with the stock.

Enbridge

Canadian pipeline company Enbridge offers an even higher yield of around 5.9%. It's not unusual for this midstream energy stock to offer a high payout, and the yield would be even higher if not for the 15% rise in its share price over the past year.

Investors might balk at the stock based on its payout ratio of 130%. However, the oil and natural gas mover evaluates its dividend based on its distributable cash flow (DCF), which excludes non-cash items and other expenses that can weigh down its earnings. Its DCF was 2.9 billion Canadian dollars in the second quarter. That was in line with how it performed a year earlier. For the full year, management projects its DCF per share will be in the range of CA$5.50 and CA$5.90, which is comfortably higher than the CA$3.77 per share it pays in dividends on an annual basis.

Enbridge is one of the safer oil and natural gas industry stocks you can own, particularly if you want a great dividend. Not only does it offer a high payout today, but management has increased the dividend for 30 straight years. This is the type of dividend stock you can safely invest in for the long term.

Realty Income

Another high-yielding dividend stock that can be a compelling option for investors today is Realty Income. The real estate investment trust (REIT) yields 5.4% at the current share price. But if you were to look at its payout ratio of over 300%, you might be convinced that a cut to the dividend is coming soon.

REITs, however, like many energy companies, also use adjusted calculations to assess how much they can afford to pay in dividends. The metric in this case is funds from operations, or FFO. Realty Income's FFO per share in the second quarter totaled $1.06, nearly identical to the $1.07 it reported a year prior.

Like Enbridge, Realty Income not only has a safe payout but it has also been increasing its dividend regularly for decades. An additional bonus with the stock is that, unlike most companies, Realty Income makes its payments monthly, which can be a benefit for investors who want to receive dividends on a more frequent basis.

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David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Enbridge, Kenvue, and Realty Income. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $13 calls on Kenvue. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

These 3 Dividend Stocks Yield More Than 5% and Have Payout Ratios Over 100%. Are Dividend Cuts Coming? was originally published by The Motley Fool
The governments draft rules to regulate content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) on online platforms have received mixed reviews, with negative opinions outweighing positive responses. However, most reactions missed one critical factor: these rules deal with only a limited aspect of AI misuse and, as such, fail to bridge a huge gap. The reality is that many customer-facing companies have perpetrated the most egregious use (or misuse) of AI, resulting in the systematic disenfranchisement of Indian consumers. This calls for a larger, omnibus legislation.

My familys two experiences during the recent Diwali break exemplify problems that many customers face in their interface with AI, especially due to its unthinking and incomplete adoption.

Also Read | AI in the boardroom: The governance risk nobody saw coming

In the first instance, our refrigerator collapsed on Sunday morning, sending waves of dread across the household. We had invited guests over for dinner and were leaving town for three days the next morning. Frantic calls placed to the German manufacturers toll-free number met with a pre-recorded speech advising us to connect on WhatsApp for speedy resolution. Off we went to the messaging platform, only to be met with an AI-powered query engine which was clearly ill-equipped to address our problem.

Finally, we managed to demand the physical visit of an engineer. First date available: four days later. Neighbours suggested reaching out to a local hardware shop, which responded with alacrity and repaired the fault by evening.

Also Read | When will tech firms gain from AI? They must reinvent work to harness its power

Second, we had reached out to a hospitality company, named after a colour, to plan our Diwali break. We had some special requirements and wanted to speak to somebody in the company, as we had done in the past. But this time, our questions were answered by an AI-powered, faux-chirpy voice, providing wrong answers to most questions. Like most Indian start-ups, cost-skimping had probably left that bot half-baked and only partially programmed.

Such examples can be found across industry segments. White goods companies, retail chains, e-commerce giants, banks and makers of fast-moving consumer goods, among others, have all dispensed with a human voice at the end of a telephone. Finding one feels like a treasure hunt across five continents and seven seas. This is ironic, if not immoral, in a country with the worlds largest population and rising unemployment.

The corporate sectors hurried AI adoption resembles a Pavlovian response. Many companies seem to be labouring under the mistaken belief that a mere mention of AI, or even its ham-handed adoption, will yield massive benefits, including a valuation bump. Alongside, an army of consultants has been goading boardrooms to implement AI, even if the company is not ready to integrate it in its operations, by dangling the carrot of cost-savings, via a lower headcount, and higher profits.

This is a bit like the dotcom boom in the 1990s, where even small trucking companies felt that a website was all they needed to double profits. Similar behaviour is seen in the manic race to launch apps and push consumers to download them, whether they need these or not. There are now apps for parking your car, or for information on your housing society, many of them designed to drain personal data from your phone.

Also Read | Deloittes AI blunder in Australia should caution early adopters of this tech

The government has felt it necessary to amend The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, because it lacked teeth to curtail AI misuse. The governments new draft rules aim to minimize the toxic fallout from synthetically generated information," which can be used to spread untruths, damage reputations, manipulate or influence elections, or scam gullible people.

The growing misuse of Generative AI is certainly a concern and the draft rules include some normative guard-rails. At the same time, the lack of a clear distinction in the draft rules between deliberate fraud and harmless AI use could become the proverbial slippery slope: the absence of a legal definition empowers the state and its investigative arms with freedom to interpret what constitutes harmful content. Hopefully, the government will accept stakeholder inputs and suitably amend the draft.

Also Read | Why the World Bank's South Asia update addresses a world that no longer exists

Likewise, The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which currently lacks the requisite legislative power to regulate AI, needs amending so regulatory intervention can deter abuse of AI in consumer-facing industries. For example, product liability laws under the Act may seem inadequate when dealing with AI because manufacturers of defective goods or providers of deficient services may shirk liability by pinning the blame on AI, given that it is developing some autonomy in decision-making.

There is, therefore, the need for an omnibus law to protect all consumer rights, including the right to be heard. For starters, consumers should have a choice of whether they wish to speak to an AI bot or a human being. If this choice is not provided, the company should reduce its prices, given its AI-led savings on its wage bill. Part of the mission statement of the department for consumer affairs states: Ensure access to affordable and effective grievance redressal mechanisms." Speaking to an untrained machine, rather than a human voice, is a clear breach of this.

Left unregulated for too long, Indian companies may then find it profitable to extend AI use to other areas, leaving the Indian consumer poorer and defenceless.

The author is a senior journalist and author of Slip, Stitch and Stumble: The Untold Story of Indias Financial Sector Reforms @rajrishisinghal
As more businesses begin to experiment with AI and consider how it might improve their profitability, debates about the implications for workers have intensified. In the US, the apparent disconnect between soaring stock-market valuations and falling total (non-farm) job openings has fuelled media narratives about tech-driven job destruction.

Hardly a week goes by without new headlines about companies using AI to perform white-collar jobs, especially those typically filled by new graduates and those lower down the career ladder. According to a report issued by the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions earlier this month, AI and automation could destroy nearly 100 million US jobs over the coming decade.

Those voicing such fears can even point to prominent economists who argue that the AI revolution will have only moderate effects on productivity growth, but unambiguously negative effects on employment, owing to the automation of many tasks and jobs.

Also Read | When will tech firms gain from AI? They must reinvent work to harness its power

We disagree on both counts. Our own recent work shows that the situation is far more complicated, and not nearly as dire, as these pessimistic narratives suggest. When it comes to productivity growth, AI can operate through two distinct channels: automating tasks in the production of goods and services, and automating tasks in the production of new ideas.

When Erik Brynjolfsson and his co-authors examined the impact of Generative AI (GenAI) on customer-service agents at a US software firm, they found that productivity among workers with access to an AI assistant increased by almost 14% in the first month of use, then stabilized at a level approximately 25% higher after three months.

Another study finds similarly strong gains in productivity among a diverse group of knowledge workers, with lower-productivity workers experiencing the strongest initial effects, thus reducing inequality within firms.

Moving from the micro to the macro level, in a 2024 paper, we (Aghion and Bunel) considered two alternatives for estimating the impact of AI on potential growth over the next decade.

The first approach exploits the parallel between the AI revolution and past technological revolutions, while the second follows Daron Acemoglus task-based framework, which we consider in light of the available data from existing empirical studies.

Based on the first approach, we estimate that the AI revolution should increase aggregate productivity growth by 0.8-1.3 percentage points per year over the next decade. Similarly, using Acemoglus task-based formula, but with our own reading of the recent empirical literature, we estimate that AI should increase aggregate productivity growth by between 0.07 and 1.24 percentage points per year, with a median estimate of 0.68. In comparison, Acemoglu projects an increase of only 0.07 percentage points.

Also Read | Why the World Bank's South Asia update addresses a world that no longer exists

Moreover, our estimated median should be seen as a lower bound, because it does not account for AIs potential to automate the production of ideas. On the other hand, our estimates do not account for potential obstacles to growth, notably the lack of competition in various segments of the AI value chain, which are already controlled by the digital revolutions superstar firms.

What about AIs implications for overall employment? In a study of French firm-level data collected between 2018 and 2020, we show that AI adoption is positively associated with an increase in total firm-level employment and sales. This finding is consistent with most recent studies of the firm-level effects of automation on labour demand, and it supports the view that AI adoption induces productivity gains by helping firms expand the scope of their business.

This productivity effect appears to be stronger than AIs potential displacement effects (whereby AI takes over tasks associated with certain types of jobs and workers, thus reducing labour demand). We find that the impact of AI on labour demand is positive even for occupations that are often classified as vulnerable to automation, such as accounting, telemarketing and secretarial work.

To be sure, while certain uses of AI (such as for digital security) lead to employment growth, other uses (administrative processes) do tend to have small negative effects. But these differences appear to stem from different uses of AI, rather than from inherent characteristics of the affected job roles.

Also Read | Deloittes AI blunder in Australia should caution early adopters of this tech

All told, the main risk for workers is that they will be displaced by workers at other firms using AI, rather than by AI directly. Slowing down the pace of AI adoption would likely be self-defeating for domestic employment, because many firms will be competing internationally with AI adopters.

While our interpretation of the data shows that AI could drive both growth and employment, realizing this potential will require suitable policy reforms. For example, competition policy must ensure that the superstar firms that dominate the upper segments of the value chain do not stifle entry by new innovators. Our own study finds that AI adopters are predominantly much larger and more productive than non-adopters, suggesting that those already on top are positioned to be the biggest winners of the AI revolution.

To avoid increased market concentration and entrenched market power, we must encourage AI adoption by smaller firms, which can be achieved through a combination of competition policy and suitable industrial policy that improves access to data and computing power. To enhance the employment potential of AI and minimize its negative effects on workers, broad-based access to high-quality education, together with training programmes and active labour-market policies, will be crucial.

The next technological revolution is already underway. The future of entire countries and economies will hinge on their willingness and ability to adapt to it.

Xavier Jaravel contributed to this article.

2025/Project Syndicate

The authors are, respectively, a 2025 Nobel laureate in economics, professor at the College de France and London School of Economics, and an associate at the Centre for Economic Performance; and an economist at Banque de France.
In a recent online conversation on the dismal state of urban infrastructure, a senior political leader all but admitted that government officials are incapable of delivering public works. When he suggested that willing private companies or industrialists take up the task of supervising the construction of roads, he was not only shifting the responsibility to private individuals, but was also resigned to the fact that public officials cannot do the job satisfactorily.

This is the same mindset that causes politicians to suggest that private companies adopt parks, lakes and other public amenities under corporate social responsibility. It is also the logic that puts the onus of fulfilling the right to education on private schools because they do a better job of it.

In the face of such buck passing, the first question that one should ask is just what then is the government for and what it is doing with public funds. But that is a topic for another day. Equally interesting is the practical question of what needs to be done in the face of the open secret that the administrative machinery of governments is incapable of delivering such basic goods as roads, water and drainage.

The problem seems to be in the way the administration is structured, its human resource management, the rules under which it operates and so on. If not, why is it that the Bengaluru airport and its environs are comparable to the best in the world while the city suffers from congestion, ugliness and apathy? Or why cantonments, industrial townships, academic campuses and technology parks are better maintained than the surrounding municipal areas?

The difference is not in the peoplethey are all cut of the same clothbut in the governance structure. So, from our own experience, we know that some ways to govern deliver better than others. But our public discourse has completely neglected how we could identify and expand better governance models.

Also Read | Urban renewal: Indian cities need a governance overhaul

On the economic side, we have made an attempt, even if it is a feeble one. Our special economic zones (SEZs) are microscopic compared to Chinas, but even so have delivered growth, employment and a better quality of life. There is a case to expand them vastly.

What I am proposing is different: what if we create special governance zones or SGZs? If the idea behind SEZs is to waive taxes and relax regulations, SGZs would have the same taxes and regulations as elsewhere, but with different administrative set-ups.

This is not an entirely new idea. Electronics City, just outside Bengalurus city limits, is administered by Electronic City Industrial Township Authority (ELCITA), a technocratic administration comprising representatives of the firms and local communities of the area. It does a better job of managing the area under its charge, despite a narrower remit than a full-fledged municipal body.

Unlike municipalities, though, it is able to hire professionals with qualifications and track records in town planning, civil and environmental engineering, project management, finance and procurement.

ELCITA is an innovation in governance models. I am sure there are others across India. Some of the smart city projects have shown promise. A national SGZ policy would allow for greater experimentation and expansion. Unless we believe that sticking to a colonial British model of municipal government, with the added Indian characteristic of government jobs being seen as entitlements of caste-based electoral politics, we need to find better ways to govern ourselves.

Unlike SEZs where extant rules are set aside, the goal of SGZs should be to show how the Constitution and laws of India can be applied in a more effective way.

One way to implement SGZs is to carve out a part of an existing municipality. This will not only show which of the two is better governed, but might also spark competition between them. Another way is to create new citieswhich are necessary for Indias continued growth and employment anywayunder different governance structures.

Paul Romers charter cities offer one such model. Maharashtras Magarpatta and Andhra Pradeshs Sri City offer private developer-driven models. Then there are older models like Jamshedpur and Bokaro. The SGZ policy should allow state governments and local communities to adopt innovative administrative models.

I do not like the idea of carving out special zones and creating an exclusive space that those within it can enjoy. Rather, the purpose of SEZs or SGZs should be to discover what works better and then spread it across the rest of the country. SEZs tell us what regulations India should get rid of. Similarly, SGZs will tell us how we should reform and restructure municipal administration.

Political leaders across parties and the country will acknowledge that their developmental agenda is limited by what the administration can deliver. Administrative reform is hard and is strongly resisted by administrators. Further, it is unclear if a top-down reform of a complex system will work as intended. It might be more practical to set-up SGZs that create space for administrative innovation, let local communities experiment and then figure out how to spread the improvements across the country.

The author is co-founder and director of The Takshashila Institution, an independent centre for research and education in public policy.
Google has relied for years on ad revenue from its Search results, but the wave of artificial intelligence models has threatened to challenge that in recent years. In response, Google also upgraded its search experience by adding many AI features, like AI Overviews and the AI Mode.

Meanwhile, the company also runs the Gemini AI chatbot that is capable of searching the web, while the chatbot is also making its presence felt across a variety of Google software, from smartwatches to TVs.

So far, there has been uncertainty over how the new technology would be monetized except through subscriptions, but a Google executive has confirmed that the company is looking to bring ads to different AI experiences by the company, including AI Mode.

Robbie Stein, VP of Product at Google, while speaking on the "Silicon Valley Girl" podcast about the company's ad revenue, said, Dont see them going away.

I think that's an opportunity for in the future to be even more helpful for you, particularly in an advertising context. And so we started some experiments on ads within AI mode and within Google AI experiences, Stein said.

We've been really focused on building great consumer products first and foremost. But I think users are starting to see some ads experiments there too, he added.

Stein also noted that there could be new and novel ad formats and it's early days in finalizing kind of how ads might appear in these systems.

Google not alone in milking AI for Ad revenue Notably, Google isn't the only company looking at AI chatbots or other AI experiences in order to drive advertising revenue. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT and the leading AI player out there, is also reportedly working heavily on bringing ads to its chatbot.

A recent report by The Information stated that OpenAI is considering showing ads to users based on ChatGPT's memory, which is information that the chatbot remembers about them. The memory feature helps personalize the chatbot for users, and imposing ads via it could lead users to make a call between losing out on a more tailored experience or continuing the chatbot as it is, but with ads.
Meta has denied allegations that it used adult content pirated from the web to train its AI models. The statement from Meta comes in response to a lawsuit filed by adult film production company Strike 3 Holdings, which stated that Meta corporate IP addresses were used to download thousands of adult films via BitTorrent.

The studio claimed that Meta pirated at least 2,396 of its award-winning, critically acclaimed adult motion pictures to train its Meta Movie Gen, Large Language Model (LLaMA), as well as various other Meta AI Models that rely on video training content.

Meta asked the U.S. District Court judge to dismiss the lawsuit, stating that Strike 3 had shared "no facts to suggest that Meta has ever trained an AI model on adult images or video, much less intentionally so."

"Plaintiffs go to great lengths to stitch this narrative together with guesswork and innuendo, but their claims are neither cogent nor supported by well-pleaded facts," the tech giant added.

Meta called the allegations nonsensical and unsupported, while noting that Strike 3 files thousands of lawsuits and has been labeled by some as a copyright troll that files extortive lawsuits.

The tech giant also said that its contractors, visitors, or employees may have used Meta's internet access over the years for personal use.

Meta also said that Meta AI's terms of service explicitly prohibit users from attempting to generate adult content or pornography, which contradicts the premise of the lawsuit that adult content could be useful for training Meta AI models.

Meta also took on the claims made by Strike 3 that the company should have better monitored its network for illegal activity, stating, Monitoring every file downloaded by any person using Metas global network would be an extraordinarily complex and invasive undertaking.

Notably, there have been a lot of lawsuits filed in the last few years against AI companies over the use of so-called publicly available data they used to train their AI models.

Meta alone has been sued both in the U.S. and France by authors claiming that the tech giant used their copyrighted work to train its large language models.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were spotted trick-or-treating with their children like every other parent on Halloween recently. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were spotted in a neighborhood in Santa Barbara with their children, Prince Lilibet and Prince Archie, in matching Halloween costumes. According to photographs obtained by TMZ, Prince Archie was dressed up as an ant while Princess Lilibet was dressed up as a firefly.

To match the costumes of Lilibet and Archie, Meghan Markle was spotted dressing up somewhat like a butterfly. She wore a black shirt and sweatpants and used a rainbow butterfly cape as an accessory. Prince Harry, on the other hand, wore a simple cap and a navy blue polo t-shirt. Prince Harry was seen carrying a water bottle in his hand. He had another one sticking out of his back pocket, and Markle seemed to be holding a thermos.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys Halloween preparations Around five days ago, Markle took to her Instagram and posted a video of the family at a pumpkin patch. The reel included a time-lapse of Prince Harry carefully carving a pumpkin. Archie, on the other hand, was seen running in a corn maze while Lilibet was sitting in a cart with pumpkins.

The reel included visuals of the family choosing pumpkins for Halloween. Markles mother, Doria Ragland, and a friend named Marcus Anderson also joined the family to help them with their Halloween preparations.

Halloweens importance in Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys relationship The festival of Halloween undoubtedly played an important role in the relationship of Markle and Prince Harry. As per the Daily Mail, the couple revealed that they were enjoying themselves at a Halloween party just before making their relationship public in 2016. "Well, if its going to come out tomorrow, lets go and have fun tonight. "We were like, well, this might be our last shot to just go out and have fun in the world. We went to this Halloween party where we could be completely dressed up and no one would know. I had on a bandana and goggles. Prince Harry mentioned in the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan.

Princess Markle and Prince Harry try to keep their children away from the public eye after leaving the United Kingdom. Now, royal watchers catch a glimpse of Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie on Markles Instagram account, where she usually posts videos and pictures of her familys day-to-day life.

FAQs Where did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle meet? A friend set-up a blind date for the two in London

Do Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have only two children? Yes, Prince Harry and Markle have two children named Lilibet and Archie.
A North Longford man, who was caught by "Gardai throwing traffic cones on to a busy road, has been directed to make a charity contribution to avoid a conviction.

Michael Columb (51), whose address was given as Carn Tulach,Kiltimagh, Co Mayo pleaded guilty to a public order breach of 'threatening, abusive, or insulting behavior in public with intent to provoke a breach of peace' at Main Street, Granard on August 8, 2025.

Sergeant Mark Mahon Garda Brady was on duty at 11pm when she encountered the defendant.

"He was highly intoxicated on the Main Street and he was throwing cones on to the road.

"Gardai spoke to him to direct him to stop and to leave the area but he refused to comply with the Gardai.

"As a result of this interaction he became verbally abusive towards Garda Una Brady and he refused to co-operate and he was arrested."

Mr Columb informed Judge Deirdre Gearty he lives in Longford and his girlfriend lives at the Kiltimagh address.

The court heard he had no previous convictions.

Solicitor John Anderson said his client was old enough to have had more sense.

The legal representative said Mr Columb began drinking heavily at home in 2019 after the death of a his father, who he had cared for for several years.

"He tells me he is off alcohol now and he is doing very well."

Mr Anderson said his client is temporarily out of work but he is hoping to secure work as a PSV driver in the near future and he had brought money to court.

"He has brought 300 with him to court, I don't know if you could deal with it in such a way as a charity donation and not record a formal conviction, we are in your hands in that regard."

Judge Deirdre Gearty said she could not believe what she was hearing.

"What in the name of God were you doing throwing traffic cones. Where did you get them?," she added.

Mr Columb, who said he had a girlfriend in county Mayo, stated did not remember anything about the incident and he was 'meant to be on my way to Mayo'.

There was an eruption of laughter in the courthouse as Judge Gearty replied and delivered her next line humorously.

'Well she was spared that...You were going to bring her one as a souvenir from Granard were you?

Judge Gearty directed the defendant to make a 300 donation to Little Blue Heroes who provide practical and financial support to families of children who are battling serious illnesses in Ireland.

READ NEXT: Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in first degree of Longford town native Sarah McNally

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A Longford resident, who admitted being in possession of drugs and a public order breach despite being on a good behaviour bond during the same period of time, has been convicted.

Martin Grundza of 47 Lana Aoibheann, Longford pleaded guilty at the local district court to a public order breach on March 9, 2023 and to being in possession of a quantity of drugs on March 19 last.

Sergeant Mark Mahon said the defendant was observed involved in a large scuffle outside a takeaway on Main St, Longford at around 12-midnight.

"Punches were thrown at people during the incident and he ended up on the ground on top of another male."

Sgt Mahon said Mr Grundza was highly intoxicated and he was arrested and brought to Longford Garda Station.

In relation to the drugs offence, the officer said the defendant was observed travelling on an e-scooter at 6.50pm in the town and he was stopped and searched by the divisional drugs unit and found with 25 of cannabis in his possession.

Sgt Mahon said Mr Grundza was placed on a good behaviour probation bond on October 1, 2024 for a 12-month period.

The defendant had 24 previous convictions.

Solicitor Diarmuid Quinn said his client was 'certainly not part of any of the violence' on the day.

He accepts certainly that he was intoxicated but there was no involvement in the melee as was outlined by the sergeant."

Mr Quinn said his client, who is not currently working and is on a disability allowance, had a small amount of drugs for his own personal use.

"He is still engaging with his probation officer and he has a 10-month old child at home so things have been improving for him."

Judge Deirdre Gearty said it was not very satisfactory to see that the defendant was on a probation bond at the time of the offences.

"Certainly the drugs one is a concern and in relation to the public order, maybe it was a case he was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Judge Gearty fined him 100 with five months to pay.

READ NEXT: Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in first degree of Longford town native Sarah McNally

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Key Points

Chevron's recent acquisition cements its importance in oil and gas moving forward.

Enbridge's diversified business makes it a steady performer.

NextEra Energy should continue to ride the wave of renewable energy growth.

10 stocks we like better than Chevron 

The world's energy demands continue to rise.

Improving global living standards is driving higher consumption, as is the arrival of artificial intelligence (AI). Data centers are straining the energy grid, and their energy needs may rise tenfold over the next five years alone.

Keeping pace with global energy needs is becoming an increasingly important storyline. There are opportunities for energy companies that can step in and provide the power the world will need over the coming decade and beyond.

Below are three top dividend stocks in the energy industry poised to do precisely that. Consider buying and holding them forever -- their proven dividend track records and long-term growth opportunities bode well for your portfolio.

1. Chevron

Integrated oil and gas giant Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is a stalwart in an industry known for its volatility as oil and gas prices fluctuate. The company's astute management and diversified business operations, spanning exploration, refining, and retail, have helped it navigate difficult times. As a result, Chevron maintains an uninterrupted 37-year streak of dividend increases. Shares yield a generous 4.4% at their current price.

Chevron has a strong foundation for growing its oil and gas production moving forward. The company owns approximately 1.8 million net acres in the resource-rich Permian region, and recently closed a blockbuster acquisition of Hess, giving it prime exposure to assets off the coast of Guyana, arguably the most significant oil discovery in decades.

Less-carbon-intensive resources, such as natural gas, could contribute more to the energy grid, slowly replacing dirtier sources like coal. If it ever came to it, Chevron's deep pockets would likely allow it to integrate more renewable energy assets into its business. Either way, investors can likely count on Chevron for steady and growing dividends for the foreseeable future.

2. Enbridge

Canada-based Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) plays a crucial role in North America's energy landscape. The company operates a vast pipeline footprint that transports a large chunk of the continent's oil and natural gas, as well as North America's largest gas utility by volume. Additionally, the company has over 7,200 MW of renewable energy production capacity across wind, solar, and geothermal sources.
From time to time, a public transit enthusiast posts a map online showing a hypothetical expansion of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Discussion ensues.

Green Line service out to Watertown and Waltham? A Blue Line that stretches to Lynn? A new train line looping a ring around Boston and connecting the MBTA to communities such as Chelsea? Imagine the possibilities.

Perhaps someday, portions of those designs will become reality. But for now, there are more immediate challenges, Phillip Eng, MBTA General Manager and interim Massachusetts Transportation Secretary, told MassLive.

The T completed a momentous volume of repairs over the last two years, including replacing dozens of miles of tracks and lifting more than 200 speed restrictions in a particularly aggressive maintenance surge that ended last December.

Yet a tremendous amount of work still needs to be done to bring the network into a state of good repair, Eng said in an interview last week.

The expansion I want to do is within our existing infrastructure, build up more resiliency in our system to make sure that what weve done today is sustainable long term, he said.

To Eng, that means renovating stations to be fully accessible, upgrading to modern trains, increasing the frequency of each route and building out the network of tracks so if a train breaks down, others can get around it without causing delays.

If a train encounters an issue and is delayed today, we might need to go right to alternative bus service because theres no way to move trains around it because of the way the infrastructure does not allow us to cross over tracks, Eng said.

With better redundancy and flexibility to move trains around, that could be avoided, preventing the type of lengthy delays that leave riders grinding their teeth and possibly finding another way home.

While the T is working to install new signals on the Red and Orange Lines  a key system that controls how trains move down the tracks  Eng knows the Blue Line will also need similar upgrades in the near future.

Its important that I stay focused on that and I dont just jump to something else and start to ignore these needs, he said.

As for T riders wish lists for an expanded train network?

Eng appreciates their passion.

I never want to use excuses for why we cant, he said.

Some of these things could be on the table, he added. But you just cant jump to the end conclusion of this, right?

If money were no object for the T

He knows people complain about the MBTA, the same way he complained about the traffic on Long Island, where he spent much of his life. But he said he has spoken with people elsewhere in the country who wish they had a transit system with the Ts level of service and multiple modes of travel.

You may say, you know, all these things that you dont like about something, but its your home system and you take pride in it, he said.

But if money werent a factor, what would he consider adding to the T?

His answer wasnt a new line or link between North Station and South Station, as some  including U.S. Rep. (and Senate candidate) Seth Moulton  have hoped for.

If money is not a factor, Eng said, pausing to consider before adding that he would address the $24.5 billion estimated price tag to bring the entire T system into a state of good repair.

Eng took the general managers job in 2023 with a five-year contract and a mission to right a troubled ship.

Two and a half years into his tenure, state officials laud the Ts progress under his watch, pointing enthusiastically to the miles of track replaced and the number of slow zones removed. To riders, the change is simpler: trains are running faster.

Yet in keeping with his insistence that the work remains unfinished, Eng said he has no plans to step away from the T before his contract is up, even after Gov. Maura Healey named him interim Transportation Secretary last month.

Im so excited to finish those five years, and Im not even looking at an endpoint, Eng said.

As one sign of his continued commitment to the region, Eng and his wife, Carole, closed on a condominium in East Boston last month.

They had previously rented while maintaining their home on Long Island, according to prior news reports.

Streamlining Mass. transportation agencies

Eng has achieved folk hero status since arriving in the Boston area from New York two and a half years ago.

In Boston, riders know Engs name and stop him for selfies mid-commute, a treatment most transportation administrators dont enjoy.

Over a four-decade career in the Empire State, he rose to the top ranks of the state transportation department, New York Citys public transit and the Long Island Rail Road before moving to the private sector as a consultant.

Given his popular stewardship of the T, some riders worried Engs focus on the network would suffer when he took on a second job as MassDOTs leader last month. The move came after Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt stepped down. Reporters questioned whether Eng could effectively split his time between two demanding, high-stakes jobs.

Eng maintained that he could do both effectively and would not have taken the new job if he doubted he could meet the challenge.

When introduced as interim transportation secretary, Eng said he was open to remaining in the role as long as its needed, and open to supporting the public and the commonwealth in any way.

Eng did not say during the interview whether he and Healey had since discussed the long-term plans for MassDOTs leadership.

Instead, he said he was excited by the governors more than $750 million investment in transportation projects, part of an $8 billion plan she described earlier this year to upgrade roads, bridges and public transportation.

Nearly $550 million went to the MBTA, with other funding supporting MassDOT, local road repairs and other Regional Transit Authorities across the state.

Lowering housing costs, growing the state economy and supporting businesses are all reliant on sound transportation, Eng said. And it has to be a balanced transportation network.

Theres definitely a fantastic opportunity for me to streamline how transportation agencies work together in this dual role, he said. And I look forward to doing more of that.

Eng is also quick to heap praise on his staff at both MassDOT and the MBTA.

I know so many times I get the accolades for whats happening, but really it is the folks behind me, he said last month.

Barbecue and homebrewed beer

Given the demands of his two jobs, Eng said his mind is always on work, even when hes away from the office. His nearly 40 years of transportation work in New York culminated in a high-level position at a private consulting firm in the summer of 2022. By the spring of 2023, he had accepted Healeys offer to lead the MBTA.

I would not have come back to public service if I didnt enjoy it, Eng said.

But when he truly is off the job, Eng, now approaching his mid-60s, said he decompresses by cooking, barbecuing, homebrewing beer and spending time with his family. He has four children, all grown.

And the longtime New Yorker still pulls hard for his beloved Mets and Jets, as much as they break his heart.

His philosophy on the Mets may be just as appropriate for public transit: Anything on paper looks great, but its what you deliver.
Jesse Eisenberg introduces a performance from "Floyd Collins" during the 78th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

Actor Jesse Eisenberg will be donating one of his kidneys to a stranger, the movie star announced on Thursday.

Eisenberg announced his intention to donate one of his kidneys on NBCs Today, where he was praised by co-host Craig Melvin for being a fan of blood drives.

Yeah thats true, Eisenberg said. Im actually donating my kidney in six weeks. I really am... Im so excited to do it.

The actor, who is known for his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network said in a separate interview on TODAY.com its a no brainer to donate his kidney.

Its essentially risk-free and so needed, Eisenberg said. I think people will realize that its a no-brainer, if you have the time and the inclination.

The 42-year-old is starring in Now You See Me: Now You Dont, the third film in the Now You See Me series. The film is scheduled for release on Nov. 14. and also features Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman and Mark Ruffalo.
An explosion that appears to be done intentionally took place inside a building at Harvard Universitys Medical Campus early Saturday morning, according to a university spokesperson.

At 2:48 a.m. a Harvard University Police Department officer was sent to the Goldenson building at 220 Longwood Ave, in Boston for a reported fire alarm activation. When they arrived at the building, the officer saw two unidentified people fleeing the area. The officer tried to stop the individuals before heading to the floor where the alarm was triggered.

When they entering the building, the officer determined that an explosion had happened in an area on the 4th floor, the spokesperson said. The Boston Fire Departments arson unit was called and assessed the explosion was caused on purpose. The Boston Police Department conducted a sweep of the building to check for any additional devices but none were found.

No injuries were reported as a result of the explosion, the spokesperson said.

The Harvard University Police Department, along with local, state and federal law enforcement, is actively investigating the incident, according to the spokesperson.
HOLYOKE  Jenny Rivera is seeking a return to the City Council, where she has served the residents of Ward 1 since 2021, facing newcomer Victor Machado.

She is the director of operations for Enlace de Familias, a family services provider and resource center that has been helping families since 1994.

Ahead of Tuesday, The Republican reached out to all candidates for the opposed City Council seats to answer a short questionnaire.

Find more candidates and responses in the past weeks print editions or online at masslive.com/topic/election.

Name: Jenny Rivera

Age: 59

Address: 56 Mosher St.

Profession: Director of operations, Enlace de Familias; justice of the peace; notary public

Position sought: City councilor, Ward 1

Introductory statement: As a lifelong Holyoke resident and current Ward 1 city councilor, first elected in 2021, Ive dedicated my service to improving quality of life through public safety, infrastructure and youth engagement. As chairwoman of the public safety committee, Ive worked to strengthen community-police relations and advocate for equitable city services. In my role at Enlace de Familias, and as a justice of the peace and notary public, I proudly serve residents during some of their most important life moments. I witness firsthand the struggles families face with housing, food insecurity and economic stability. I want to continue being a voice for those often unheard  ensuring that every neighborhood receives the attention, investment and respect it deserves. My goal is to keep Holyoke safe, clean, and thriving for our children, seniors and hardworking families.

Question 1: What is the biggest problem in the city and how would you address it?

Holyokes housing crisis remains the biggest issue, worsened by increasing costs and limited availability. We must expand affordable housing options, enforce code compliance, and partner with nonprofits to create pathways to homeownership. The next crisis will be food insecurity as federal food stamp cuts take effect  we must protect our elderly and children by supporting local food programs and community resource networks.

Question 2: The City Council always struggles to keep taxes low, while providing needed services and making advancements. How specifically will you balance the three?

I believe in responsible spending and accountability. We can balance our budget by prioritizing essential services, cutting unnecessary costs and aggressively pursuing grants. Investing wisely in infrastructure, safety, and youth programs keeps our city strong without overburdening taxpayers. Collaboration and transparency are key to ensuring residents see results from every dollar spent.

Question 3: The housing crisis continues to take a toll on residents and those who want to move to the city. How should the city attack the problem?

We must increase affordable housing stock while protecting tenants and supporting landlords who maintain safe properties. Partnering with state and local organizations can help renovate vacant buildings and expand mixed-income developments. Holyoke must ensure equitable housing policies that keep longtime residents in their homes while welcoming new families.

Question 4: What types of development would you like to attract to the city, and how would you do it?

Id like to attract developments that create jobs and strengthen neighborhoods  such as small businesses, clean energy, and youth-friendly recreational spaces. Revitalizing Main and High streets while maintaining Holyokes cultural identity will draw investment that benefits residents, not just developers.
HOLYOKE  Kevin A. Jourdain is one of nine candidates vying for six slots in the election for at-large city Councilor.

Slamming Mayor Joshua Garcia for mismanagement, Jourdain complains citizens are overtaxed, and hes campaigning to be a City Hall watchdog.

Ahead of Tuesday, The Republican reached out to all candidates for the opposed City Council seats to answer a short questionnaire.

Find more candidates and responses in the past weeks print editions or online at masslive.com/topic/election.

Name: Kevin A. Jourdain

Age: 54

Address: 18 Raymond Ave.

Profession: Attorney at law

Position running for: City councilor at large

Introductory statement: I am an independent voice and the most senior member of the City Council. I have been a councilor for nearly 30 years and was president of the council for six years. I work hard for little pay because I want to give back to Holyoke, my lifelong home, where I grew up and raised my family. Holyoke voters deserve qualified councilors. I am a very effective councilor and understand municipal finance.

I am an attorney and finance professional. I hold a bachelors degree in political science and economics, a masters degree in business administration and a juris doctor degree.

Im calling for common sense to keep Holyoke affordable. I fought to repave High Street and put ShotSpotter in to catch criminals and protect residents, which is one reason why Holyoke police officers endorsed me. I made sure a new Peck Middle School was built without a tax increase.

Question 1: What is the biggest problem in the city, and how would you address it?

Fiscal mismanagement by the mayor and the unqualified treasurer he got appointed three years ago. The public voted for a qualified treasurer almost a year ago, and the mayor and his rubber stamps continue to obstruct the will of the voters. I am pushing for a real treasurer.

I also support the commonwealth opening the books and completing our reconciliations, as they offered, as the first critical steps to getting us back on track.

Question 2: The City Council always struggles to keep taxes low, while providing needed services and making advancements. How specifically will you balance the three?

We need to stop the excessive spending and inefficiency of the mayor and his rubber stamps on the council who have raised taxes 19% over the last four years  thats more than our city did in the prior 10 years. We also need to fight for more state aid, because Holyoke cannot keep overtaxing our residents because Boston does not give us our fair share. Boston sits on billions of dollars while Holyokers struggle.

Question 3: The housing crisis continues to take a toll on residents and those who want to move to the city. How should the city attack the problem?

Holyoke needs to do a more effective job partnering with developers to build new housing on empty lots and rundown buildings. We also need the commonwealth to invest in more infrastructure funding in cities like Holyoke that do not have the tax base to offer the needed incentives to foster more housing. We also need to keep our tax rate affordable for residents, so they have more money to reinvest in their homes.

Question 4: What types of development would you like to attract to the city, and how would you do it?

The effort to save Elmwood Forest is a classic example of poor city planning by the mayor. Instead of tearing down this beautiful forest and harming the adjacent neighborhoods to build a sports complex, the project should be built at the old Kmart Plaza, or downtown, where it is needed. We need more manufacturing and quality jobs. The hiring of our new economic development director, who has a comprehensive strategy, is going to be key to our success.
Holyoke at-large city councilor-elect Patricia 'Patti' Devine at Holyoke Rotary Clubs 'Eat, Drink, and Be Holyoke' fundraising event held in Holyoke City Hall Auditorium Ballroom Thursday evening, Dec. 7 , 2023. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican) Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen

HOLYOKE  Holyoke will elect six at-large councilors from a field of nine candidates on Tuesday.

One of those candidates is Patricia Devine, an experienced member of the board who once again is seeking to share her knowledge with the city.

Ahead of Tuesday, The Republican reached out to all candidates for the opposed City Council seats to answer a short questionnaire.

Find more candidates and responses in the past weeks print editions or online at masslive.com/topic/election.

Name: Patricia C. Devine

Age: A young 74

Address: 58 Magnolia Ave.

Profession: Happily retired

Position sought: City councilor at large

Introductory statement: My first foray into running for election was as the Ward 6 city councilor from 1990 to 2000. I was fortunate that four of those two-year terms were unopposed.

I decided again in 2006 and was elected at large for six years.

When Joe McGiverin, Todd McGee and Peter Tallman decided not to run, I decided to run again, because the council was losing over 50 years of institutional experience. I felt I had that experience and ran at large in 2023 and was fortunate to be elected second.

I am currently serving as the chair of finance, a member of the public safety committee and a member of the development and government committee.

My previous work served me well, as I learned so much as an assistant business manager of the Office and Professional Employees Union Local 6 out of Boston. My main representation was Trial Court clerical employees from Westborough to North Adams (whew!).

I retired 11 years ago from the Massachusetts State Lottery.

Currently I am a member of the Holyoke St. Patricks Parade Committee, being the first woman to apply for membership in 1987. Since that time, I was elected president in 1999 and was honored by being named the grand marshal in 2016.

Question 1: What is the biggest problem in the city and how would you address it?

I think the biggest problem in the city will be hunger and trying to feed Holyokers once SNAP benefits are gone Nov. 1. I would participate in food drives, especially those at City Hall, the library and Kates Kitchen.

Question 2: The City Council always struggles to keep taxes low, while providing needed services and making advancements. How specifically will you balance the three?

Keeping taxes low is certainly a priority. Last year, taxes were actually lowered, but the home values went up, thereby making it appear the taxes went up. I think we balance these three by watching our spending, keeping our talented employees.

Question 3: The housing crisis continues to take a toll on residents and those who want to move to the city. How should the city attack the problem?

I think the city has tackled housing, as all you need to do is drive around the city to see all the housing construction going on. We do, however, need to keeping rental housing affordable.

Question 4: What types of development would you like to attract to the city and how would you do it?

Holyoke should look for development that not only brings jobs, but brings taxes, as well.
Microsoft (MSFT) was seen dropping close to 3% to $525.97 on new earnings and litigation headlines, but analysts see an opportunity to buy in any downturn in the market. The company is further cementing leadership in the areas of cloud technology and artificial intelligence, with multiple companies boosting price targets in the wake of increased adoption of Azure and the initial success of AI Foundry technology.

Within the larger market, AI-related infrastructure spending is red-hot, with hyperscalers growing spending on capital by well into double digits. The companys well-leveraged play in the larger trend, with a strong balance sheet, 36% profit margin, and 32% return on equity, has further reinforced market confidence in the face of the coming new year in 2026.

More News from Barchart

About Microsoft Stock

The Microsoft Corporation has its roots in Redmond, Washington, and is the largest software firm in the world in terms of market capitalization, standing at $3.89 trillion. The company operates in the areas of cloud computing, its Azure product, productivity software in the form of Microsoft 365, and AI technology. The company enjoys one of the broadest moats in the technology industry because of its extensive offerings in the consumer and business ecosystems.

Within the last 52 weeks, the range of MSFT has been $344.79 to $555.45, with about 23% growth so far in the year; it is only a few percentage points above the S&P 500's ($SPX) growth of 16%. Despite pulling back 3% in the last week, MSFT is close to reaching record highs due to expected growth from AI adoption.

www.barchart.com

Taking valuation metrics into consideration, it can be noted that Microsoft has a forward price/earnings ratio of 35.2 in addition to a price/sales ratio of 14.3, indicating it to be relatively high in comparison to the industry average ratio of 26x for the S&P 500 technology industry peers. The company has recorded a net income margin of 36.15% along with an asset return ratio of 18.2%.

The company is somewhat overvalued in terms of earnings strength, but it has recorded good earnings performance in the past.

Microsoft Beats on Earnings

Microsoft has managed to outperform market expectations in the fiscal first quarter of 2026 yet again. The company has experienced an 18% growth in revenue to $77.7 billion, while the revenue growth in the operating income category was recorded at 24% to $38 billion. The company has posted an EPS of $3.72 in the GAAP category, an increase of 13%, while the non-GAAP EPS has experienced substantial growth of 23% to $4.13.
A Kenyan native, a resident of the Breaffy House Resort IP centre, undertook a sponsored 150ft abseil from the roof of Croke Park.

On Friday, October 10, Caroline Wanjiru raised 800 as part of Mayo Cancer Support Associations fundraising Brave the Drop Croke Park Abseil Challenge.

Fellow residents of the IP centre showed their support to Caroline by forming a committee and staging a charity auction of donated second-hand items, which raised almost 400.

Committee member, Maha Salouha, said it meant a lot to the residents to support Caroline as well as the local charity and the community of Mayo:

We very much enjoy being able to be a part of this. My own father in Gaza died of cancer, so I know how hard the disease can impact people.

Orla Gillespie, manager of Mayo Cancer Support, expressed her sincere thanks to Caroline and the team behind the charity auction and to everyone who has supported the Brave the Drop Croke Park Abseil Challenge in any way:

With over 320,000 now raised, the success of this campaign has been overwhelming. This unprecedented funding boost allows us to forward plan and ensure that the people of Mayo have the very best standard and choice of cancer supports available to them.

READ MORE: Mayo fundraising effort helps build 'critical' trauma care centre in Kenya
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP)  It wasnt so long ago that President Donald Trump spoke of building a legacy as a peacemaker.

His administration would measure success not only by the battles we win, Trump said in his inaugural address, but also by the wars that we end  and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.

But nine months into his second go-round in the White House, Trump is beating a curious path to executing his peace through strength foreign policy agenda, a phrase he borrowed from a fellow Republican president, Ronald Reagan, who saw building a strong military and economy as the bedrock to Soviet deterrence.

Trump's take on the Reagan doctrine includes sharper threats, bombings and no shortage of bravado.

Its too soon to tell how history will judge Trumps version, but the Gipper had his doubters, too.

There are a lot of people who would have given Reagan a not-passing grade around 1983 or so, said University of Tennessee scholar Andrew Busch, noting the year that Reagan ordered the U.S. invasion of a Caribbean island, Grenada. By 1989, when he left office, they would say, Wow, that guy was like the biggest peacemaker in the 20th century in some ways.

Peace done Trump-style

Trump's unique approach to Reaganesque diplomacy was on full display during his trip to Asia this past week.

As he made his way to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, Trump announced via social media that he was canceling trade talks with Canada and imposing another 10% tariff on imports of Canadian goods. He expressed outrage over a television ad  paid for by the Canadian province of Ontario  that used a spliced audio of Reagan criticizing tariffs and aired during the World Series.

Then as Trump met with leaders in Malaysia and South Korea, the U.S. Navy carried out more lethal strikes on suspected drug boats in the Pacific.

His administration moved to shift the USS Ford and thousands of additional sailors from the Mediterranean toward the Caribbean Sea waters near Venezuela, continuing the biggest U.S. troop buildup in Latin America in more than 50 years.

Trump wasn't done.

Minutes before a critical meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, Trump took to social media to suggest he was preparing to discard a decades-old U.S. prohibition on testing the nations nuclear weapons.

Later, as he made his way back to Washington, Trump was coy on whether he really meant to say he was ordering the resumption of explosive testing of nuclear weapons  something only North Korea has undertaken this century -- or calling for the testing of U.S. systems that could deliver a nuclear weapon, which is far more routine.

He remains opaque about whether he intends to resume underground nuclear detonation tests.

Youll find out very soon, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, as he headed to Florida for a weekend stay.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is not shedding light on what kind of testing the administration planned to undertake. But he is reiterating Trump's Reagan-borrowed mantra.

America will ensure that we have the strongest, most capable nuclear arsenal, so that we maintain peace through strength, Hegseth said Friday. Thats what this is. In every meeting, thats what we talk about: Peace through strength.

On Saturday, Trump was at it again.

This time he was warning Nigeria that hes ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria as he stepped up accusations that the government is failing to rein in the persecution of Christians in the West African country.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, Trump posted on social media.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pushed back on Trump, saying the characterization of his country as religiously intolerant does not reflect the national reality.

A classic top-to-bottom operation

While the loose talk about nuclear testing was certainly unsettling to some, reaction appeared to be relatively measured. Trump, after all, has made many pronouncements only to later make pronounced shifts in positions.

For example, in a matter of weeks recently, he went from maintaining Ukraine must cede land to Russia to proclaiming that he believed Kyiv could win back all of the land lost in the war to declaring fighting should stop at the lines they are at now.

Administration officials are loath to question Trumps tactics but acknowledge that some may appear to be contradictory, particularly with what seem to be spur-of-the-moment reversals in his public statements.

Rather than regard these abrupt changes in course as defects, administration officials privately argue that they give the U.S. more influence and make adversaries and potential adversaries  not to mention allies and partners  more wary to cross Trump.

But policy consistency has long been regarded as key in national security and international relations, not least because it provides a concrete basis for international understandings and actions that other countries consider when making their own decisions.

This is a product of a lack of process, said Ian Kelly, a retired career diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Georgia in Trumps first term. Its a classic top-to-bottom operation and there doesnt seem to be any consultation with other stakeholders, especially with Congress, but also long-standing allies.

Steering clear of the endless war pitfall

Trump has managed to grasp tightly onto the peacemaker title even as his administration has carried out an activist foreign policy in the early going of his second term.

Trump claims as a shining achievement his decision to order strikes in June on three critical Iranian nuclear facilities that he says obliterated the Iranian program. The bombing caused significant damage in an operation in which no American troops were harmed.

While Trump insists the program was destroyed, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said this week that renewed movement has been detected recently at Iran's nuclear sites.

Before those strikes, some of Trumps die-hard backers, including Steve Bannon, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and commentators Tucker Carlson and Charlie Kirk, expressed consternation as Trump mulled military action. They pointed to Trumps own wariness over decades of war fomented in previous administrations.

Trump's strikes in the Caribbean appear to be landing huge blows to Venezuelan drug smugglers and unsettling the government of President Nicolas Maduro. At the moment, that seems to be coming with very little political cost for Trump, said Justin Logan, director of defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington.

But Logan argues that Trump should be careful as he ponders the path ahead in Venezuela and steer clear of the pitfalls of the endless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that left an indelible mark on the American psyche. This one would be in his own backyard.

This administration seems to favor these short, sharp strokes and then say they have resolved the problem altogether, Logan said. Im afraid what will happen is that we will discover that none of these problems have actually been put to bed.

-

Finley and Lee reported from Washington.
A Korean War soldier finally received the military funeral he deserved on what would have been his 93rd birthday.

Coming Home

Pfc. Vincent Vega was laid to rest on Oct. 3 in Elwood, Illinois.

According to Legion Post 38 in South Korea, "On July 5, 1950, in the rolling hills north of Osan, the men of Task Force Smith faced the opening clash of the Korean War. Outnumbered and outgunned, they stood their ground against waves of advancing enemy armor. It was here that Pfc. Vincent Vega and Pfc. Marvin Patton of B Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, became among the first Americans lost in battle. Their sacrifice marked the beginning of Americas long and bitter struggle on the peninsula."

Vega joined the Army at age 18, and not long after graduating basic training, was sent to the front lines of the brewing conflict in Korea.

His family had the agonizing wait of 75 years to finally bring him home. Earlier this year, through DNA analysis, his remains were properly identified.

Pfc. Vincent Vega was killed in the Korean War in 1950 but was declared missing in action for nearly 75 years until his remains were identified using DNA technology earlier this year. (Photo courtesy of Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

Louis Vasquez, a nephew of Vegas, was only 10 months old when his uncle was declared MIA.

I didnt know him, but he knew me, Vasquez told the Shaw Local News Network.

Despite never meeting his newborn nephew, Vega made sure to mention him in letters he sent home from the Army.

About 20 relatives attended Vegas memorial service at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Joliet. Barbara Schoenfeld, Vegas niece, said the whole experience of properly identifying her uncles remains and being able to give him a proper funeral means a great deal to the family.

Missing

One important person was missing, however.

I just wish my mother could have been here, Schoenfeld said.

Esther Vasquez, her mother and Vegas sister, died in 2021. Vasquez spent most of her long life wondering what happened to her brother. Will he ever come home? Assuming he was killed all those years ago, will his remains ever be found?

But by matching Vasquezs DNA with her brothers DNA, the family was able to put the decades-long mystery to rest. The remains belong to Vega.

Vegas MIA status wasnt the only hardship the family endured. All six Vega children were orphans. Both parents passed away at an early age. Two brothers are still living, including Richard Vega, who attended his brothers funeral. Richard Vega cracked with emotion while reciting the Prayers of the Faithful to honor his brother.

A group of American soldiers relax during a break in the fighting during the Korean War in April 1951. (Photo courtesy of National Archives)

Family members no longer live in Joliet; theyre dispersed throughout the country. However, it was important to them that Vegas final resting place be close to where he grew up in Elwood at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. They asked St. Josephs pastor, Rev. John Hornicak, if he could officiate the funeral.

We said, Of course, Hornicak said.

Presiding over the funeral Mass, the pastor read from the Second Book of Timothy, a Bible passage that states: I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.

Hornicak also pointed to the words of St. Paul, reflecting Vegas young life and untimely death on the battlefield in Korea.

Vincent will receive the crown of righteousness, a reward for his faithful service, Hornicak said.

Proper Respects

Members of the Army funeral honors team served as pallbearers. As the casket was carried to and from the church, the Joliet Fire Honor Guard stood at attention. Vega was also honored with bagpipe music from a piper with the Joliet Police Pipe & Drums, and Rolling Thunder, a local motorcycle group, provided an escort to the veterans funeral procession.

It was a moving experience Vegas family wont soon forget.

Hes getting what he deserves, Louis Vasquez said. He was a hero.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with correct information about Vega's time in the Korean War.
When U.N. forces famously stormed ashore at Inchon on September 15, 1950, General Douglas MacArthurs gamble set in motion a massive battle to liberate the South Korean capital: Seoul. North Korean forces retreated from the southern half of the peninsula as UN troops raced to cut them off.

Confidence soared. I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world, MacArthur declared a few days later.

The Battle of the Barricades

While celebrations erupted back home, what followed inside the South Korean capital was not a parade but a slog. The North Korean Peoples Army had turned Seouls grand boulevards into killing zones. Marine historians would later dub it the battle of the barricades: eight-foot walls of rice and earth sack, laid across intersections every few hundred yards, laced with mines and covered by antitank guns and machine guns.

Taking each position required a carefully rehearsed tactic  air and artillery first, then mortars and engineers, Pershing tanks or flamethrower tanks, and finally riflemen with fixed bayonets. On average, one barricade took 45 to 60 minutes to destroy and cost dozens of casualties.

For Marines who fought their way up the city streets, the scene was apocalyptic. Private First Class Morgan Brainard remembered great gaping skeletons of blackened buildings telephone wires hanging down literally a town shot to hell. Room-by-room fighting followed, stairwells and balconies cleared under sniper fire, the pace measured in blocks, not miles.

Some of the Marines had fought across the Pacific in World War II and were not ready to engage the enemy in alley-ways, streets, or in multi-stories government buildings. Most troops were raw recruits with minimal training, liberating the city was their baptism of fire.

Despite the dangers, UN leadership were in a rush and decided to forego a cautious advance in the hopes of crushing enemy resistance as soon as possible. The result: Marines were blitzing through enemy-held buildings under constant fire, ignoring casualties and even civilians in the cross-fire. The fight was arduous and chaotic.

The legendary Lieutenant General Lewis Chesty Puller led his troops from close to the front; his longtime driver, Sgt. Orville Jones, recalled Marines yelling, Holy Jeezdont let Chesty get ahead of usmove it!

MacArthur demanded a victory by September 25the wars three-month markand his corps commander, Maj. Gen. Edward Almond, announced Seouls liberation on the night of the 25th even as the fighting continued. The next day, MacArthur issued United Nations Command Communique No. 9: Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea, is again in friendly hands, he wrote, crediting elements of the ROK 17th Regiment and U.S. 7th Infantry and 1st Marine Divisions with the citys envelopment and seizure.

The words hit papers worldwide while Marines were still trading fire on Seouls intersections.

U.S. Marines, part of the United Nations forces, fighting in the streets of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, during Korean War. September 20, 1950. (Truman Library)

The Liberation of Seoul: The Forgotten Cost

The forgotten half of this victory is what the battlefield obscured. As the city changed hands, South Korean authorities and auxiliaries began executing suspected collaborators.

A TIME report described firing squads as busy liquidating enemies of the stateKorean civilians accused of sabotage or collaboration, noting that U.S. and British troops voiced their loathing and that American officials lodged a formal protest.

Maj. Gen. Lee Ho, vice chief of South Koreas Martial Law Headquarters, defended the killings: civilians are supposed to be hanged, he said, but we have found shooting by firing squad more convenient. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of civilians were massacred  many for nothing more than having interacted with their occupiers in passing. Many were falsely accused by their neighbors and even family members based on past grievances.

These werent isolated rumors. Declassified U.S. diplomatic reports documented mass executions carried out by ROK authorities in Seoul, some witnessed by British soldiers. Decades later, South Koreas Truth and Reconciliation Commission confirmed widespread wartime massacres of civilians accused of aiding the enemy. The findings dont erase North Koreas own atrocities but complicate any clean narrative of liberation.

Nevertheless, South Korean civilians attempted to return to their normal lives, picking up debris from the streets, tearing down the barricades, and rebuilding their war-torn homes.

Colonel L. B. Puller, First Marine Division; General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commander in Chief United Nations Forces in Korea; Major General O. P. Smith, CG First Marine Division; and Vice Admiral Arthur D. Struble, Commander Joint Task Force Seven, accompanied by staff officers and newsmen, observe action from a hill overlooking the 1st Marine Regimental front. September 17, 1950. (Truman Library)

Seouls Fate During the Korean War

Seoul finally fell between September 26 and 28, after days of block-by-block fighting that cost dearly and demanded the full Marine air-ground team, plus U.S. Army and ROK units closing the escape routes. On September 29, bulldozers pushed aside rubble for MacArthurs return ceremony, a photo-ready moment that ignored the citys smoldering intersections and crowded POW detention yards.

Although the city was liberated, the casualties were staggering. Roughly 3,500 U.N. troops became casualties in the Inchon-Seoul campaign, the vast majority from the 1st Marine Division. The North Korean Peoples Army lost more than 14,000 men killed. An unknown number of civilians  likely thousands  were killed in the crossfire. Some were executed by retreating North Koreans, others by the very authorities who claimed to have freed them.

The ordeal didnt end with the victory. Seouls battered population endured malnutrition and constant danger for the rest of the war. In January 1951, Chinese forces seized the city in a brutal winter offensive. Only months later, U.N. troops retook it again. By wars end, Seoul had changed hands four times; the civilians endured terrifying hardships through each battle.

The first recapture of Seoul marked a decisive turn in the Korean War. North Koreas invasion had been reversed, its momentum shattered, and the Republic of Korea government was restored. Politically, it was the triumph MacArthur wanted.

But the victory carried deep scars. The citys infrastructure was gutted, its people traumatized, and its streets filled with reprisals and executions. Liberation came with destruction, loss, and a reminder that in urban warfare, civilians often pay the highest price.

The Marines did what was asked of them. They fought through barricades and sniper fire to raise the allied flag over Seoul. But for the citys people, liberation was a far more complicated story. It was some of the harshest urban combat the Marines would witness until the Battle of Hue during the Vietnam War and Fallujah in Iraq.
U.S. tariffs have taken their toll on a myriad of industries as the world continues to navigate the new international trade order instituted under President Donald Trump.

But this week, German automakers were in the spotlight as some of the world's best-known Bavarian brands all reported the same thing: profits are falling, and tariffs are to blame.

German auto industry exports

The European Union has been able to negotiate its tariff burden down from 25% to 15%, but the 15% number still weighs heavily on automakers' bottom lines.

German auto marque Volkswagen said that U.S. tariffs would cost the company up to 5 billion euros this year ($5.8 billion). Through the first three quarters, tariffs have shaved 58% off its year-over-year profit.

The company is shipping fewer vehicles to the States to avoid tariffs, and U.S. consumers are shying away from foreign brands that are now more expensive. Volkswagen's sales in North America are down 11% through the first three quarters.

Volkswagen and other German automakers have had to limit exports to the U.S. amid tense tariff circumstances.picture alliance/Getty Images

Mercedes-Benz takes a big hit from U.S. tariffs

The German auto industry struggles extend well past just Volkswagen.

On Oct. 29, fellow German auto Mercedes-Benz Group reported a 70% year-over-year decline in EBIT to 750 million euros ($870 million) while overall revenue fell 7% to 32 billion euros ($37.13 billion).

Related: Luxury automaker takes major hit

Mercedes says it has been carefully managing its U.S. inventory as its third-quarter net profit fell to 1.19 billion euros, down from 1.72 billion euros a year ago ($1.38 billion from $1.99 billion).

But it wasn't all bad news for the luxury automaker on this side of the pond.

"Despite the noticeable impact of US tariff policy on the US trade balance, after a slight decrease in the first quarter, GDP in the United States grew visibly in the further course of the year," the company said in its earnings release.

Overall, the company sold 12% fewer vehicles in the third quarter than it did the previous year.

The one bright spot was for the company's "top-end" category, where it reported 10% growth in unit sales.

Despite the struggles, Mercedes-Benz reiterated its full-year guidance, unlike fellow German automaker Audi, which was forced to lower expectations due to the tariff impact.

Audi reports 'challenging' third quarter as U.S. tariffs weigh on business

Audi Group said that its financial performance in the quarter "reflects the challenging economic situation" all German automakers are finding themselves in.
Americas First Whistleblowers

The United States first whistleblowers emerged not from a corporate office or intelligence agency, but from the deck of a warship in the midst of the American Revolution. In 1777, officers of the Continental Navy filed a formal complaint accusing their commander, Commodore Esek Hopkins, of abusing his authority and violating the ethical standards of wartime conduct. Their decision to speak out against the most senior naval officer in the service came at enormous personal risk, yet their actions prompted the Continental Congress to pass what many regard as the first whistleblower protection law in American history.

The Men and Their Commander

Two of the whistleblowers  Samuel Shaw and Richard Marven  were Rhode Islanders serving under Commodore Hopkins in the Continental Navy. Shaw was a midshipman in his early twenties, while Marven, a third lieutenant, was just a few years older. Hopkins was a politically connected naval officer whose brother, Stephen Hopkins, had been governor of Rhode Island, served as chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, was a delegate to the Continental Congress, and had signed the Declaration of Independence.

Origins and the Incident

In the winter of 1777, amid the Revolutionary War, officers aboard the warship USS Warren, which was part of the fledgling Continental naval force, secretly gathered to complain about the conduct of Commodore Esek Hopkins, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy. A petition submitted by 10 Sailors and Marines asserted Hopkins had treated prisoners in a very unbecoming, barbarous manner, and described the commodores orders as wild and unsteady. Midshipman Samuel Shaw and Third Lieutenant Richard Marven were among these 10 servicemembers.

Shaw and Marven alleged torture of British prisoners of war aboard the Warren, violating the mandate of Congress that enemy prisoners be treated humanely. Because they reported misconduct by their superior officer, these men risked severe retaliation  especially considering they were reporting the highest-ranking naval officer during wartime. Indeed, Hopkins retaliated by initiating a criminal libel suit in Rhode Island  where his brother had great influence  against Shaw and Marven, leading to their arrest and incarceration while awaiting trial.

Commodore Esek Hopkins, the first commander-in-chief of the Continental Navy, was removed from his position after his men blew the whistle on his wrongdoings (sc.edu).

Congress Steps In

After the petition and arrests, Congress responded. On January 2, 1778, Hopkins was suspended from command. The case swiftly set the stage for Congress to consider protections for those who speak out against wrongdoing. On July 30, 1778, the Second Continental Congress unanimously passed a resolution stating:

That it is the duty of all persons in the service of the United States, as well as all other inhabitants thereof, to give the earliest information to Congress or other proper authority of any misconduct...by any officers or persons in the service of these states.

The resolution further provided that the United States would cover the reasonable expenses of defending the said suit instituted by Hopkins against Marven and Shaw and ordered that the petitioners receive attested copies of congressional records relating to Hopkinss appointment and dismissal. Congress ultimately paid $1,418 to cover the legal defense of Shaw and Marven, which was a substantial amount for the time.

Significance and Legacy

The actions taken by Shaw and Marven, and by Congress in response, mark the earliest documented instance of whistleblowing in United States history and what many regard as the first U.S. law designed to protect those who expose misconduct. By formally declaring that individuals in service and citizens alike had a duty to report wrongdoing, Congress established a civic and legal precedent for accountability.

This episode illustrates several enduring themes: the personal risk faced by individuals who challenge power, the potential for institutional response when misconduct is exposed, and the foundational idea that speaking truth to power is a form of public service rather than betrayal. Shaw and Marvens willingness to act, even when their own positions and liberty were at stake, underscores that the tradition of whistleblowing predates modern statutes by more than two centuries.

An excerpt from the Congressional Proceedings addressing Esek Hopkins, Richard Marven, and Samuel Shaw.

Challenges and Context

Although this resolution is often called a whistleblower protection law, it differed in scope and enforcement from later formal statutes. It applied in a very specific context (military service during wartime), lacked detailed procedural protections or rewards for disclosures, and did not extend broadly into civilian employment. The concept of retaliation in modern legal terms was not yet codified. Moreover, the resolution was reactive: it addressed the situation of Shaw and Marven rather than laying out systematic procedural protections for all future whistleblowers.

Nevertheless, the fact that a national governing body took this step demonstrates that oversight and accountability were valued nearly from the inception of the Republic. It is noteworthy that a group of junior officers reporting on a superior officer in wartime was supported by the Congress of the United States rather than suppressed outright.

Why It Matters Today

Whistleblowing is not solely a modern legal construct; it is embedded in American tradition. The personal courage of Shaw and Marven can be framed against the institutional response of Congress; this interplay between individual agency and systemic sanction is central to understanding whistleblower laws evolution.

Furthermore, this case offers a lens for examining themes that recur across centuries: the risk of reprisals, the role of public institutions in safeguarding truth-tellers, and the importance of legal protections that balance power and accountability. In a time when debates over transparency, military authority, and state power remain salient, revisiting this 1777-78 episode helps ground contemporary discussion in historical precedent.
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down, of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee - From The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

First come the mournful notes - an electric guitar layered over a 12-string acoustic. Then come the haunting lyrics. At no time is Gordon Lightfoots iconic song, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, played on more radio stations and music streaming services than in the fall across Great Lakes towns large and small.

The song started as a touchstone to an eras tragic shipwreck. But over the decades, it has morphed into much more. Its clearly become a cultural phenomenon. Maritime historians say the song helped bring public pressure to create changes in shipwreck law. And with just an opening riff, it can bring the minds of thousands of people back to a night 50 years ago when the ore carrier known as the Mighty Fitz went down in a violent storm, taking with her all 29 men aboard.

Lightfoots emotion-laden lyrics created an epic persona for the Edmund Fitzgerald and her crew. And the song has made the Lake Superior shipwreck one of the most famous in the world - akin to our Titanic of the Great Lakes.

This year, were marking the 50th anniversary of the Fitzgeralds sinking on Nov. 10, 1975.

FILE- A 1959 file photo shows the Great Lakes freighter Edmund Fitzgerald, which disappeared Nov. 10, 1975, in a storm on Lake Superior. The Great Lakes have claimed some 6,000 ships since European explorers began navigating the waters in the 1600s, but few have captured the publics imagination as has the Edmund Fitzgerald. (AP Photo, File) AP

While the 1976 ballad is easily the late Canadian artists most-played song, it was also an unusual ballad for him to pen when looking at the arc of his work, which ran more to folk songs and soft rock. The Fitzgerald song is pure storytelling. It has no chorus. Its a narrative written by a sailor who loved the Great Lakes, and who could imagine what the Fitzgeralds crew must have faced in the hours before their deaths.

In many interviews about the song, Lightfoot talked about how he carefully worked to get the details right in the lyrics - and even changed some lines in the song as new information about the wreck came to light years later. He did this both for accuracy, and to respect the feelings of the crews family members.

The most amazing thing about the song itself might be the tunes humble origins. Lightfoot said hed had that unmistakable melody rolling around in his head for years - it belonged to an Irish folk song

How fitting that what was such a deep memory for Lightfoot would be used to later immortalize the Fitzgerald and her crew in the worlds collective memory.

Lightfoot died in 2023. Over they years, hed fielded many questions about The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and made comments about the song while performing in Michigan. Weve collected a few of his words to share as a remembrance:

Its a folk song, Lightfoot told a Grand Rapids audience before performing the ballad at DeVos Hall in May 2013. But its a true story that we all know well in these parts of Michigan.

After the sinking, Lightfoot used details he found in an article in Newsweek magazine to write what he later thought of as one of his most significant musical contributions.

Image of the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck taken during a dive in 1995 to recover the ship's bell.

The songs lyrics largely follow historical events, but Lightfoot acknowledged he did take creative liberties. The Edmund Fitzgerald departed from Superior, Wisconsin on Nov. 9 bound for Detroit - not Cleveland as mentioned in the song.

His song also referred to the historic Mariners Church of Detroit as The Maritime Sailors Cathedral.

Lightfoot said he did revise his lyrics over the years. After a parishioner objected to the songs description of the Mariners Church as a musty old hall, he changed it to a rustic old hall when he sang it during his later live performances.

And following a 2010 National Geographic Channel investigation suggesting three rogue waves broke the ship in half rather than a hatch failure, Lightfoot altered a key verse. He changed the line, At 7 p.m. a main hatchway caved in, he said, Fellas, its been good to know ya, to At 7 p.m., it grew dark, it was then he said, Fellas its been good to know ya.

While it was a small change, it brought comfort to family members of the crew responsible for manning the hatches.

With the mystery resolved, I made the women very happy. The new line takes the onus off the deckhands, Lightfoot told MLive and The Grand Rapids Press in a 2013 interview.
FBI agents were present in Dearborn, on Middlepointe Street and Moross Friday, Oct. 31, conducting law enforcement operations. Federal officials confirmed the activity was part of a broader investigation that, according to FBI Director Kash Patel, stopped what agents described as a potential terrorist attack planned in Michigan over the Halloween weekend. | Fuad Shalhout Fuad Shalhout -- MLive.com

DEARBORN, MI  An attorney for a man reportedly being held in connection with a thwarted terrorist plot claims no such plan existed.

Maybe some online chatter, maybe some online activity that may have been worrisome to federal law enforcement, but no plot coming out of these young men, these teenage boys out of Dearborn, said Amir Makled, who says he represents one of those arrested.

Federal officials confirmed they had been in the Dearborn and Inkster areas as part of what FBI Director Kash Patel said was an investigation that stopped a potential terrorist attack planned for the Halloween weekend. Multiple people were arrested.

Dearborn residents reported hearing shots and loud booms before dawn Friday, and Inkster police said in a statement the FBI was conducting law enforcement activities at a storage facility on Michigan Avenue.

More details to come, Patel wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, the morning of Oct. 31. Thanks to the men and women of FBI and law enforcement everywhere standing guard 24/7 and crushing our mission to defend the homeland.

Makled contends no such threat existed and called Patels statement premature.

He says he was retained as private counsel for a 20-year-old man who was among those arrested during the raids. No charges have been filed and the FBI has not released any information about those arrested.

When reached Saturday, Jordan Hall, spokesperson for the Detroit FBI field office, did not respond to a question seeking to verify the 20-year-old mans connection to the raids.

There are no press conferences or updates scheduled at this time, Hall said. Charging decisions would be released through the United States Attorneys Office.

Those arrested are part of a group of friends that play the video game Fortnite together, Makled said.

They talk to each other on video games, and so a lot of this online chatter could be gamer chat, Makled said.

Details released both to Makled and the public have been sparse. Federal officials indicated to Makled the investigation was related to comments made about pumpkin day, he said.

But it tuns out that there was nothing planned, he said. I mean, theres just no way around it. Theres no terror plot or planned casualty event or anything of that nature coming from my client or any of his friends.

Makled also addressed comments made by Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to the president and senior director of the Counter Terrorism National Security Council, on social media. Federal agents successfully disrupted a Jihadi terror plot, Gorka wrote Friday morning on X.

The use of jihadi is dangerous to the Arab and Muslim community, of which his client is a member, Makled said.

Its really irresponsible for that type of language to be used and publicized, he said.

Makleds client was still in federal custody as of Saturday, he said. Holding someone without charges is unusual at the federal level, he said.

Usually a complaint is already ready to go and drafted, he said. So this is a rare circumstance.

I dont think they have enough to charge right now because no charges have been brought, he said. I dont know if pressure from Washington is part of the play here, but well have to find out. Well have to wait and see.
Michigan State Police are investigating a fatal crash on Sunday, Nov. 2, in the Detroit area. (MLive File Photo) Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.c

DETROIT, MI  A 58-year-old Redford man died early Sunday, Nov. 2, when his motorcycle was struck by another vehicle, according to Michigan State Police.

Investigators believe drug impairment may be a factor in the collision.

The Detroit Regional Communication Center was first called around 1:40 a.m. regarding a motorcycle versus vehicle crash.

Police said the Redford man was driving a motorcycle northbound on Woodrow Wilson Street when he crossed over eastbound Davison Street to make an unauthorized turnaround.

As he crossed, the motorcyclist was struck by a 32-year-old Detroit woman driving an SUV that was traveling eastbound on Davison.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.
Several Michigan automotive suppliers announced plans to close operations over the past few months, citing a decline in business and resulting in hundreds of job losses. Over 400 Michigan employees, most of them auto parts manufacturers, were slated to lose their jobs in October.

Several automotive suppliers announced plans to close their Michigan operations over the past few months, citing a decline in business and resulting in hundreds of job losses.

Below are five Michigan employers that announced plans to lay off 427 employees in October.

The list is based on Federal Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notices filed with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

The WARN Act requires businesses to provide advance notice of at least 60 days in cases of qualified plant closings and mass layoffs.

Dana Thermal Products

Dana Thermal Products in a WARN letter dated Oct. 8 said it would permanently lay off approximately 200 employees due to the closure of its facility at 3600 Giddings Road in Auburn Hills.

Layoffs started on Oct. 9 and are expected to continue through Jan. 31, according to the letter.

Dana Thermal Products is an indirect subsidiary of Dana Incorporated, which is a manufacturer and supplier of engineered solutions for power vehicles and machinery.

NPR of America

Japanese auto parts manufacturer Nippon Piston Ring notified the state in August that it would shutter its plant at 11118 U.S. 31 in Grand Haven, terminating all 64 employees in the process.

The plant is slated to close in 2027, but the majority of the layoffs will happen by the end of 2025, the letter said.

The first 50 employees were to be laid off between October and December. Three more employees will lose their jobs by mid-January 2026, followed by nine additional terminations through June 2026.

The final two employees will be laid off before the plants closure date on Feb. 28, 2027, according to the letter.

Akebono Brake Corp.

Akebono Brake Corp. alerted the state in September that it would lay off 48 employees at its facility at 34385 W. Twelve Mile Road in Farmington Hills.

The company in a WARN letter said the permanent layoffs are the result of a decline in Akebonos U.S. Business.

Layoffs were slated to begin on Oct. 1 and end Dec. 1. The impacted positions include engineers, lab techs, analysts, designers and program managers.

DP World Logistics

DP World Logistics in August issued a WARN letter stating it would close its facility located at 23200 Hoover Road in Warren, affecting 70 employees.

The company stated in the letter that the Warren locations only customer gave notice that it will no longer need DP Worlds services after Oct. 5. Closure of the Warren Facility is expected to be permanent.

Layoffs were expected to occur on Oct. 5, the letter stated.

Davalor Mold Company

Detroit area auto parts manufacturer Davalor Mold Company in August issued a WARN letter said it is closing its facility at 46480 Continental Drive in New Baltimore, permanently laying off all 45 employees.

The company cited a downturn in business resulting in a significant loss of revenue, as the reason for the closure.

Layoffs were slated to occur between Oct. 3 and Nov. 7.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office is photographed June 28, 2018. Neil Blake File Photo | For MLive.com

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - As immigration enforcement continues in the county, several officials and activists are expressing concern about downstream impacts and what upcoming enforcement might look like.

Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer said at a discussion panel on Monday she does not put anything past the national administration right now.

We are in very, very troubling times with what were seeing happen from the national level, she said of the Trump administration.

Dyer was one of four guests at a panel hosted Oct. 27 by the League of Women Voters. The panel also featured Melanie Harner, a co-founder of Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WICIR); Cesilie Cordovilla, a local immigration attorney; and Andy LaBarre with Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners.

Here are five takeaways from the discussion:

People are concerned about presence

All four panelists expressed concern about the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the county, although each mentioned slightly different impacts.

Its bad, said Harner, who noted she herself has been late to work because of notices about ICE in the area. It is really bad out there.

She personally knows six people taken by ICE in the past month. Many of those taken in the county were on their way to or from work, she said.

Two of Cordovillas clients, who were in the process of gaining political asylum, were detained by ICE in September, she said. Agents smashed in car windows while they were at a stoplight.

She didnt know who was there, Cordvilla said. They didnt identify themselves. They werent in a marked car. They werent identifying themselves with any kind of uniform.

Although Dyer cant say with certainty that Washtenaw County will see the type or intensity of enforcement as Chicago, leadership is beginning to discuss the possibility, she said.

Immigration agents have arrested more than 1,000 immigrants in Chicago in a crackdown that began in early September, according to The Associated Press. The patrols have featured masked, armed agents; a fatal shooting; detentions of both U.S. citizens and immigrants with legal status; and a pastor shot in the head with a pepper ball.

We have really looked internally on how we would handle that, she said.

Downstream impacts include public health and education

Fear of encountering ICE has impacted the number of people seeking assistance in the county, LaBarre said. People could defer seeking out mental health, housing or food insecurity assistance because they fear any interaction with a government service could mean deportation action, LaBarre said.

Immigrants are often in somewhat tenuous circumstances and may need support with housing, food or other assistance, LaBarre said.

When theres a punitive action associated with seeking them, that obviously has a chilling effect, he said.

That could have further implications for the county, such as a decline in immunizations or increased pressure on local, already-strained homelessness services, he said.

Harner also pointed to impacts on education. Parents may keep their children home from school if they hear ICE is in the area, she said.

To drive your daughter or your son to school is putting you and your family at risk, Harner said. Do they stay home? Yep.

Data on exact impact are difficult to obtain

Tracking detainments and the aftermath can be difficult, Harner said. Although advocates may be aware of how many people were taken in the moment, following cases through the system is tricky.

Unlike criminal or other civil courts, immigration courts do not have easily accessible dockets and are more difficult to navigate for the general public.

We dont necessarily know where they were taken, Harner said. We dont know what happens beyond that unless were in contact with their families.

WICIR also hesitates to track data too closely.

We are 501(c)(3). Things could happen with that, Harner said. Having said that, we are trying to coordinate with other entities in Washtenaw County to see who can best keep that data.

It is also difficult to track people who dont receive services because of fear of interacting with government entities, LaBarre said.

The countys sanctuary status may make it a target

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security included both Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County on a list of hundreds sanctuary jurisdictions, which the Trump administration argues are defying federal immigration law.

Leaders at both the city and county level have said they will comply with federal law and court orders and have pushed back on the administrations immigration agenda.

Since that point, weve had the attention of the feds, said LaBarre, also pointing to an ongoing dispute about turning over certain county records to the administration.

The county is in limbo, but has retained attorneys with a pretty powerful firm, LaBarre said.

The sheriffs office, which has said it wont work with ICE or honor requests to detain people without a court order, has also been targeted, Dyer said.

They basically threatened us, saying that we were obstructing because we were not cooperating with them, she said.

Although most of the action didnt impact the office, a detective with federal clearance was barred from working on child trafficking cases, she said.

It was very telling that they are so mad that we wont cooperate on these decisions  detainers that arent signed by a judge  that theyre willing to compromise child trafficking investigations, Dyer said.

Unidentified agents can cause confusion with other law enforcement

Dyer is especially concerned about federal agents being confused with other law enforcement. The use of masked agents in Chicago have sparked fear for some in the community.

There has been one incident of someone stopped by ICE calling local emergency responders because they werent sure the agents were actual law enforcement, she said.

But people dont know whos who, Dyer said. People are scared. And people also have a distrust in law enforcement, which we have been working so hard to correct. What this climate is doing is its taking us backwards.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page.
Residents and area firefighters gather outside of the Grand Blanc Township Hall before a board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Residents and area firefighters spoke in support of Fire Chief Jamie Jent, who was placed on administrative leave after raising staffing concerns. Lukas Katilius | MLive.com

FLINT, MI  Michigan State Police have been asked to investigate the residency of a Flint councilwoman.

A $100 fine will now be imposed in Linden for those feeding deer in the southern Genesee County community.

Have a look below at some Flint-area headlines you may have missed last week.

Flint council asks MSP to investigate councilwomans residency

The Flint City Council has agreed to ask Michigan State Police to investigate the residency of a councilwoman, and the target of that probe is among those who voted to make the request.

6th Ward council member Tonya Burns was one of five votes for the residency investigation targeting her during a committee meeting on Monday, Oct. 27. The full council also approved making the request in a subsequent vote that same day.

Burns had initially asked for the drafting of a similar resolution that called for MSP to investigate her, as well as council members Leon El-Alamin (Ward 1), Ladel Lewis (Ward 2), and Candice Mushatt (Ward 7).

Although that resolution and another to investigate the residency of all council members were discussed but not adopted, an amended motion -- naming only Burns -- was approved.

I have nothing to hide. I live where I live. I stay where I stay, Burns said on Monday. There were certain statements made that I dont (live there) at the last council meeting ... I willingly put myself in (the request) because I should be held to the same standard.

Read more here.

Genesee County 2025 election guide: Whats on the Nov. 4 ballot

Voters in several Genesee County community will have items of the Tuesday, Nov. 4 ballot.

Those communities include contested races for council members in Grand Blanc and Burton, as well as proposals for Atherton Community Schools, Davison Community Schools, and Goodrich Area Schools.

In Montrose Township, voters will decide on a police operating millage for the local department.

Read more here.

Community backs Grand Blanc Township fire chief on leave over staffing concerns

Grand Blanc Township Fire Chief Jamie Jent was recently placed on leave after raising concerns about the departments staffing levels.

Jents administrative leave came just weeks after the Grand Blanc Township community was ravaged by a shooter who set The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ablaze on Sept. 28, killing four.

Dozens of community members and area firefighters showed up to support Jent at the Grand Blanc Township board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Grand Blanc Professional Firefighters Local 4962 issued a statement stating that the township board originally planned to consider terminating Jent at the meeting, but the agenda item was removed.

Read more here.

Plans for event venue at historic mansion get final approval

Plans to open an event venue at a historic mansion in Grand Blanc have received approval to move forward.

Township board members approved the plans at an October meeting for the Auker Mansion property off Belsay Road.

The townships planning commission voted in September to recommend the township board approve a planned use development request from Cruwood LLC. for the property thatd give the real estate company added flexibility when it comes to future development.

Cruwood is owned by Chelsie Welch and Corey Cunningham, who own and currently live on the property.

The Auker Mansion was built in 1971 by real estate developer Elden Auker. The property features 20,000 square feet of living space, according to the Cruwood Home Facebook page.

Read more here.

Greater Flint Health Coalition will lead program with $1M in opioid settlement funds

The city is committing $1 million in opioid settlement funds to contract with the Greater Flint Health Coalition to develop, fund, and oversee programs aimed at addressing the fallout from the opioid crisis.

Flint City Council approved the spending during its Monday, Oct. 27 meeting, and a staff review provided to the council says the arrangement aims to support organizations, agencies, and community groups working on treatment, prevention, and support services.

We want to make sure that these dollars get into the hands of the people who are impacted by the opioid epidemic, Kelly Ainsworth, project director for the GFHC, told council members during a committee meeting last week.

Read more here.

Other headlines for the weekend included:

Benson asks judge to throw out lawsuit seeking Flint councilwomans removal

Family renews plea for tips about Flint womans downtown stabbing death

Planned power outage to interrupt service for nearly 4,000 Genesee County customers

$100 fine part of new ordinance banning deer feeding in Genesee County community
Mecosta County sheriffs deputies responded to a report of a shooting on Saturday, Nov. 1, at a home in Sheridan Township. (MLive File Photo)

MECOSTA COUNTY, MI  A teen girl was critically injured Saturday night, Nov. 1, in what police determined to be an accidental shooting.

The 16-year-old Mecosta girl is expected to survive her injuries, according to the Mecosta County Sheriffs Office.

Sheriffs deputies responded to a 10:04 p.m. report of a shooting at a home in Sheridan Township. Upon arrival, police found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck.

Deputies began performing life-saving measures until medical personnel arrived and transported the teen to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Police determined the injury was inflicted by a 21-year-old Barryton man. After interviewing witnesses at the scene, deputies concluded the shooting was accidental.
Voting booths inside Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Kalamazoo County voters will elect new local leadership and decide on tax increases Nov. 4. (Photo by Carlin Stiehl | MLive.com) Carlin Stiehl | MLive.com

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI  Presidents and senators arent on the ballot this Nov. 4 in Kalamazoo County, but voters will still weigh in on important local races this Election Day.

Voters in the city of Kalamazoo, Portage and Parchment will select their city council/commission representatives, while communities across the county will vote on tax increases and bonds to fund local schools and community resources.

Polls open Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters can find their sample ballot and polling location online.

Early voting is open for nine days before the election, up through Nov. 2. Voters can find their local early voting sites and hours online.

The deadline to register to vote online has passed, but citizens can still register in-person at their local city or township clerks office. In-person registration is available until polls close at 8 p.m.

Below are all the races, candidates and proposals on the ballot across Kalamazoo County.

Kalamazoo City Commission

Clockwise from top left: Kiesha Dickason, Drew Duncan, Jessica Thompson, Jacqueline Slaby and Thomas Durlach. Photos provided by candidates

Two current Kalamazoo commissioners arent running this November, guaranteeing voters two new faces come Nov. 17.

Ten people are vying for three seats on the board. The term is four years. Only one incumbent is in the running:

Bernard Dervan III

Drew Duncan

Jacqueline Slaby

Jessica Thompson

Keshia Dickason

Kizzy Bradford

Sara Schlack

Soloman Carpenter

Stephanie Hoffman (incumbent)

Thomas Durlach

MORE: Kalamazoo City Commission election: Candidates share opinions on housing, downtown

Kalamazoo mayor

Incumbent David Anderson (left) faces challengers Robert Gray (center) and Chris Glasser (right). Zolton Cohen, Robert Gray, Shawn Karalash

David Anderson is running for a fourth term as Kalamazoo mayor. He served on the Kalamazoo City Commission for 14 years before he was elected mayor in 2019.

Three candidates are running for that two-year seat:

David Anderson (incumbent)

Robert E. Gray

Chris Glasser

MORE: Kalamazoo mayor election: 3 candidates weigh how city is on right track, wrong track

Portage City Council

Portage city council candidates from top left to bottom right: Victor Ledbetter, Jay Woodhams, Terry Urban, Mark McKeon, Jihan Young. Photos provided by candidates

Portage voters will also elect their mayor and council on Nov. 4.

Three seats, currently held by Councilmembers Vic Ledbetter, Terry Urban and Jihan Young, are up for grabs.

There are seven candidates running for the four-year positions, including all three incumbents:

Jay Woodhams

Jason Mikkelborg

Jihan Young (incumbent)

Kathleen Olmsted

Mark McKeon

Terry Urban (incumbent)

Vic Ledbetter (incumbent)

MORE: Portage City Council election: Candidates outline visions for citys future

Portage mayor

Patricia Randall, right, faces challenger Nasim Ansari for a two year term as Portage mayor. City of Portage, F. Effendi

Incumbent Mayor Patricia Randall is facing former councilmember Nasim Ansari for her fifth term as mayor.

These candidates are running for the next two-year term:

Patricia Randall (incumbent)

Nasim Ansari

MORE: Portage mayor election: Candidates outline their priorities for citys future

RELATED: Follow the money: How trash and politics are influencing the Portage city election

Parchment City Commission

In Parchment, four four-year seats on the City Commission are up for election Nov. 4.

Instead of electing a candidate for mayor, Parchment commissioners appoint one member of the board to serve as mayor during their first meeting.

Seven people have filed to run:

Elizabeth Seeger

Genevieve Gibson

Kristen Capelli

Michael Conner (Incumbent)

Nina Mihalek

Robert Britigan III (Incumbent)

Tammy Cooper (Incumbent)

MORE: 18-year-old challenges incumbent candidates, including mayor for Parchment City Commission

6 proposals

Some voters will also see proposals on their ballots Nov. 4.

Kalamazoo, Portage, Parchment, Comstock Township, Kalamazoo Township and precincts three through nine in Oshtemo Township are being asked to replace an expiring METRO transit millage.

The new urban millage proposal would tax residents in those areas at 1.1 mills from 2026 through 2030. If approved, the new millage would cost a homeowner with a $200,000 home $110 per year in taxes  an increase of $20 annually over what the expiring urban millage requires.

In Portage, in addition to voting for city council and mayor candidates, voters will decide on a $132.4 million Portage Public Schools bond.

The bond would add to a $175 million bond passed in 2021 to rebuild five elementary schools and renovate a sixth. Thus far, two new elementary schools funded by the bond have opened and a third is under construction.

Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools is asking voters to pass a $11.2 million bond to fund a new transportation facility and other district improvements too costly for the districts operating budget.

The Parchment School District is putting a $32.35 million bond on the ballot after voters rejected a costlier bond proposal in May.

The funds are needed to address safety and security upgrades at the districts elementary schools and upgrade heating and air conditioning, said Parchment School District Superintendent Sarah Neumann.

Comstock Public Schools is asking voters to approve a $31.8 million bond. The 1.18 mills will raise money for new roofing, classroom renovations and expansion at Comstock Elementary School.

Finally, Richland Township library officials are asking for a tax increase to help modernize and maintain facilities and improve programming and hours. Voters will weigh in on the 0.75-mill proposal.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Investigators have sifted through years of records, looking for clues about unmarked and unrecorded graves.

Its a graveyard mystery-turned-criminal case in Kalamazoo.

Former Mt. Olivet Cemetery employee Shaun Albertson has been charged with embezzlement, as police allege he pocketed the money he collected for burials instead of giving it to the graveyard where he worked for over two decades.

It raises a bone-chilling question: Where are the bodies and how many families are involved?

A police report alleges multiple instances.

The then-CFO of the Kalamazoo Catholic Diocese, Timothy Meeker, estimated Shaun Albertson allegedly stole over $388,000 in his over 20 years with the cemetery, according to a police report MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

However, hes only currently charged with embezzling $1,800, the cost of opening and closing a grave plot for two people. Its unclear how people may be impacted in the alleged scheme.

Meeker retired in June 2024, per the diocese.

Albertson had been receiving direct payment for opening and closing of grave sites from Joldersma & Klein funeral home since at least 2009, police allege.

A diocese official estimated five to seven burials occur per year from Joldersma & Klein at Mt. Olivet and the cemetery has not received any of those payments.

Albertson, who was terminated in April 2023 for an unrelated reason, was recently charged with embezzlement between $1,000 and $20,000, court records show. He was arraigned in September.

It is currently suspected that Mt. Olivet Cemetery has numerous graves that are unrecorded and unmarked and that payment for these graves and burial services were fraudulently made to Shaun Albertson, at his direction, a sworn statement from KDPS officer Nick Anderson states.

MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette has reached out to KDPS, the diocese and Joldersma & Klein funeral home seeking clarification, though questions remain about Albertsons alleged plot.

KDPS did not offer any information beyond whats in police reports.

It would be more appropriate for the diocese to address any potential impact this embezzlement may have had on the grave sites, as any statement from us would be speculative, KDPS Public Information Officer Zach Hamelton said.

After being fired in 2023, Albertson was asked to return his work computer and passwords for related business email accounts. He refused to provide the passwords, the police report says. He returned the computer, but it was wiped of most files.

A forensic analysis was completed in May 2023, indicating files had been offloaded to an external drive and deleted before the computer was returned to the diocese. Albertson forfeited a severance because of this, the police report says.

Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kalamazoo. A former employee allegedly pocketed money meant for burials, leaving a graveyard mystery in his wake. (Brad Devereaux | bdeverea@mlive.com)

The Diocese of Kalamazoo is aware of the case, Executive Director of Communications Victoria Cessna said, and church officials are cooperating with local law enforcement.

The diocese declined to share any other information.

Years of investigation

The investigation began in September 2023 when Meeker called police to report alleged embezzlement and fraud by Albertson, a former employee.

Family members had inquired about the location of graves in August 2023, and officials could find no record of them. Cemetery officials had to get a whole section surveyed, as they found about 10 graves there were no records for, per the police report.

Albertson was in charge of operations as the sexton at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery.

The cemetery was established in 1888 and is owned and maintained by the Diocese of Kalamazoo.

Albertson managed grave openings and closings. He would liaison between funeral homes and grave marker providers and was in charge of the financial activity for the burial services, documents state.

The diocese paid Albertson as an employee to manage the cemetery property and its operations.

Albertson took over the sexton position in 2002 after his father, Leon Albertson, held the position for decades.

Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kalamazoo. A former employee allegedly pocketed money meant for burials, leaving a graveyard mystery in his wake. (Brad Devereaux | bdeverea@mlive.com)

In August 2023, the diocese contacted Joldersma & Klein funeral home to look into burials in January 2023 and March 2023, according to court documents.

MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette spoke with some family members who have relatives buried at Mt. Olivet.

Sue Peeters, said her parents are buried at Mt. Olivet. She had secured a spot next to them, but was startled when another family member was buried there instead.

She talked to Albertson, telling him a $200 deposit was made for her burial years ago, covering half the cost.

To make it right, she said, Albertson told her she could be cremated and buried next to her parents. It wasnt her choice to be cremated  she wanted to be buried in a casket  but she reluctantly accepted, she said.

Now shes worried about what might happen now, since Albertson promised her the spot.

Another woman, Holly Meister, said her parents are buried there. Her family purchased plots, including one for her, years ago.

She was alerted of the embezzlement case by MLive. She now wonders if her burial plot is still secured or not.

Albertson allegedly left no burial records for graves, records state.

The police report includes specific information about two graves: Opening and closing for Jeanne Hoard and Ronald Hoard.

Joldersma & Klein provided records to the diocese that payment for these burials was made directly to Albertson totaling $1,800, or $900 for each of the two people, who both died in 2023.

Checks made out to Shaun Albertson are included in a police report about alleged embezzlement at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kalamazoo. The checks were found in a police report obtained through FOIA. (KDPS)

An online search shows photos of the Hoard gravestones. MLive has reached out to their family members.

Then-CFO Meeker met with Dan Adams, owner of Joldersma & Klein, to explore other potentially fraudulent activity.

When Adams purchased the funeral home in 2009, a practice was in place to pay Albertson directly for burial services rather than to pay Mt. Olivet Cemetery, the court filing states.

The funeral home continued that practice without reason to question a historical precedent, court records state.

Adams and the funeral home couldnt be reached by MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette.

Meeker researched the obituary database for Joldersma & Klein for 2023 and determined all but one of their burials directed to Mt. Olivet Cemetery were not actually in the burial records. It was not immediately clear how many burials were unrecorded during that timeframe.

Albertsons attorney declined to comment for this story. Albertson posted $500 bond in September and is due back in court Nov. 12 for a preliminary examination.

Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page.
Rachel Reeves had promised last years Budget tax rises would be a one-off - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Confidence in the economy has hit rock bottom as businesses brace for tax rises in the upcoming Budget, a new survey shows.

The Institute of Directors (IoD) said its closely watched poll of business leaders optimism in the economy remained at historic lows amid gloom over possible new tax-raising measures from Rachel Reeves.

The IoD survey stood at minus 73 in October, up marginally from minus 74 in September  the lowest reading since the index began nine years ago.

Anna Leach, the chief economist at the IoD, said: Business confidence remained at rock bottom in October, as businesses expect the worst from the autumn Budget.

Ms Leach added that many companies had put their investment and recruitment decisions on hold ahead of the Budget.

She said that policy uncertainty ahead of the Budget and a rumour mill is really leading to a lot of wait-and-see behaviour for businesses.

The growing uncertainty comes as company bosses remain wary following her record tax-raising Budget last year.

Ms Reeves increased taxes by 40bn in last years autumn Budget, including a 25bn raid on employers National Insurance contributions.

Companies froze recruitment, cut staff and increased prices to cope with the rise in labour costs.

The IoD survey showed that business leaders hiring expectations remained negative at minus two in October, but up from minus 13 a month earlier.

Sir Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, said: Businesses are stalling on hiring and investment because they simply dont trust Labour to keep their word.

Rachel Reeves promised the most pro-business Treasury ever. Instead, shes hit employers with a 25bn jobs tax  and now even more taxes are coming because she hasnt got a plan or the backbone to control spending.

Month after month, its the same story: uncertainty and speculation.

Worries among business leaders about significant tax increases come as Ms Reeves grapples with rising government spending and speculation mounts about potential revenue-raising measures.

The Treasury is understood to be exploring a 2p rise in income tax, a move that would break Labours manifesto pledge.

This week, Sir Keir Starmer refused to stand by the manifesto pledge not to raise VAT, income tax or National Insurance this parliament.

The Chancellor said her maiden Budget was a once-in-a-parliament Budget to wipe the slate clean and last year promised she was not coming back for more.

However, Ms Reeves has been forced to consider another record-equalling Budget tax raid after Labour struggled to push through benefit cuts.
Reward poster for information on the hit-and-run death of CMU freshman Ryan Tsatsos.

MOUNT PLEASANT, MI  The driver in a hit-and-run that killed a teenager on Halloween night a decade ago is still unknown.

A $10,000 reward has been offered for information about the driver who fatally struck Ryan Tsatsos just after midnight Nov. 1, 2015.

Tsatsos, 17, had been walking to his Central Michigan University residence hall in Mount Pleasant when the vehicle struck him. He had pushed a girl out of the path of the vehicle before he was struck, police said at the time.

He had been on Crawford Road between Billabrail Street and Concourse Drive, south of the main campus, according to police.

Tsatsos, who had been studying criminal justice, was killed two weeks before his 18th birthday. He graduated in 2015 from De La Salle High School in Warren.

He died a hero, his mother, Julie Tsatsos of Macomb, told MLive at the time. He saved a girls life. Hes always been a giver.

His brother Darryl Tsatsos, 19, was also killed in a car crash just four months earlier in Macomb Township, according to previous reporting.

Police believe the vehicle that struck the 17-year-old is a dark metallic blue color and would likely have front passenger side damage. It may also have fender, windshield and hood damage.

Anyone with information can reach out anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 1-800-422-5245.
Cans of corn are seen being loaded onto a cart at the East Side Soup Kitchen, located at 940 E. Genesee Ave. in Saginaw, in this MLive file photo. A coalition has been formed to address food insecurity in Bay and Arenac counties amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

BAY COUNTY, MI  A coalition is working to ensure residents in Bay and Arenac counties who depend on federal food assistance dont go hungry during the ongoing government shutdown.

Meanwhile, a Bay County Circuit Court judge has accepted a not-guilty plea by reason of insanity from a 22-year-old man who stabbed his brother earlier this year.

Learn more about these stories and other Bay County news with these headlines from the past week:

Coalition to address food insecurity in Bay, Arenac counties forms amid government shutdown

A coalition is working to ensure residents facing food insecurity in Bay and Arenac counties as the federal government shutdown lingers after more than a month.

The coalition aims to assist with the implementation of alternative food distribution methods to accommodate for the pause placed on federal food benefit programs, including SNAP.

The coalition is comprised of Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Bay Area Community Foundation, Bay Arenac Intermediate School District, Bay County, Bay City and United Way of Bay County.

Read the full story here.

John Glenn High School to celebrate new sports, STEM addition

Bangor Township Schools officials set to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of a new building addition at its high school.

Community members are invited to attend the ribbon cutting and tour the new facilities from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at John Glenn High School, located at 3201 Kiesel Road in Bangor Township.

The building addition features an auxiliary gym, weight room, training room, and SmartLab, which will facilitate STEM-based learning.

Read the full story here.

Bay City roommates injure each other in fight with hatchet

A fight between Bay City roommates resulted in both men suffering injuries from a hatchet, police say.

Two roommates in their early 60s are recovering after from injuries sustained during a fight involving a hatchet at a home in Bay City this past week, police said.

Police responded to the home shortly after 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28 after one of them men claimed his roommate attacked him with an axe in the house.

The two men struggled for the axe during the altercation and were left with wound. The roommates were hospitalized following the incident.

Read the full story here.

Bay County man was legally insane when he stabbed brother in back, court finds

A Bay County man who stabbed his brother in the back inside a Hampton Township home in April has been found legally insane by a judge.

22-year-old James M. Johnson pleaded not guilty to charges related to the incident by reason of insanity on Monday, Oct. 27, in Bay County Circuit Court. One of the charges, assault with a dangerous weapon, is a four-year felony.

Bay County Circuit Court Judge Joseph K. Sheeran cited a report from the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti in his decision to accept Johnsons plea.

Read the full story here.

Physical therapy provider expands Bay City clinic as demand grows

An outpatient physical therapy company has announced that it is expanding its clinic at the Dow Bay Area Family YMCA as the local demand for physical therapy continues to grow.

The expanded Renue Physical Therapy clinic will feature a significantly larger treatment area, and patients will continue to have access to the equipment in the YMCA, located at 225 Washington Ave. in Bay City.

The expansion is expected to be completed in November.

Read the full story here.

Michigans dark ties to Americas most notorious serial killers

The recent Halloween season served as a reminder of the spookier side of Michigans history, including the connection several serial killers and their victims have to the state.

Among the most notorious killers with Michigan ties are Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Wayne Gacy, who used to spend time in Bay City and other parts of western Michigan working on pharmacies as a general contractor.

Read the full story here.

Rural Bay County fire station erupts in flames

The Garfield Township Volunteer Fire Department building has been left severely damaged by a fire that occurred at the station this past week.

Firefighters from several departments were called to the scene on Thursday, Oct. 30, after a passing motorists reported the fire, according to Bay County Sheriff Troy R. Cunningham.

In addition to the structure itself, several fire trucks at the station, located at 1242 Erickson Road, were damaged in the blaze.

Read the full story here.
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The Portland Timbers look to try and stave off elimination from the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday, as they host the top-seeded San Diego FC in Game 2.

Watch the MLS on Apple TV (7-day free trial)

The first-ever postseason match for San Diego was a wild battle between them and the Timbers. The best team in the Western Conference got a couple of quick goals in the first, which was followed shortly thereafter by a marker from Portland to make things interesting. However, the Timbers were able to hold the fort from there, taking an advantage in the series with a 2-1 victory.

San Diego has been very impressive in its first season in the league. The club has showed that, while they might be the new team on the block, they have what it takes to hang with the best the MLS has to offer. Thanks to a convicing win over the Portland Timbers on the final day of the regular season, San Diego clinched first place in the West, finishing with the fourth-best record in the league.

Despite not having the best of regular seasons, the Timbers managed to sneak into the playoffs thanks to grabbing one of the two Wild Card spots in the West. Having home-field advantage for at least one match paid off, as the Timbers came away with a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake this past Wednesday.

MLS CUP PLAYOFFS

First Round

(8) Portland Timbers FC vs. (1) San Diego FC (SD leads, 1-0)

When: Saturday, November 1

Time: 9:30 p.m. ET

Where: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Stream: Apple TV
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Manchester City looks to get back in the win column in English Premier League action on Sunday, as the powerhouse gets set to host Bournemouth.

Surprisingly, Bournemouth has fared pretty well in the opening months of the 2025-26 season. Though the club was expected to be competitive this year, few could have predicted that the Cherries might be in the same aura as Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

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Yet, the team continues to amaze. Since losing to Liverpool in its season opener, Bournemouth has earned points in eight consecutive league matchups, winning two of its last contests as well.

Manchester City might not have had the same amount of success as Bournemouth so far, but that does not mean that the club does not have what it takes to finish in the top four once again. City is looking to bounce back after a tough loss to Aston Villa last Sunday, which ended their three-match win streak in league play. ManCity did pick up a little bit of confidence in their win over Swansea City in EFL Cup action on Wednesday.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester City FC (5-1-3) vs. AFC Bournemouth (5-3-1)

When: Sunday, November 2

Time: 11:30 a.m. ET

Where: Etihad Stadium (Manchester, U.K.)

Channel: USA Network, Telemundo

Check out the EPL table and results here
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Two English Premier League clubs off to rather sluggish starts meet up on Sunday in East London, as West Ham United prepares to clash with Newcastle United.

After an exceptional 2024-25 season, Newcastle has struggled to get off the ground in opening months of the new campaign. Sure, the club is in the midst of competing in the Carabao Cup and UEFA Champions League, but so are other top clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal and defending EPL champion Liverpool.

EPL STREAMING OPTIONS

Streaming Options Price/month Free Trial? Length Deal FuboTV $84.99 No N/A $20 off first month DirecTV Stream $69.99 Yes 5 days No Sling $35.00 No N/A $10 off first month Peacock $7.99 No N/A None

The Magpies might have a little bit of confidence following their 2-0 win in the fourth round of the EFL Cup over Tottenham Hotspur, along with outlasting Fulham last Saturday. Yet, the team has some work to do to prove it can finish in the top four this season.

Granted, things are not nearly as bad in Leeds as it is in East London. West Ham has been abysmal to watch this season, as the club has not been able to hold its own against seemingly anybody. Along with a 2-1 loss to Leeds United this past Friday, the Hammers have dropped three consecutive contests, having lost four of their past six, and have not won a league match since August.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

West Ham United FC (1-1-7) vs. Newcastle United (3-3-3)

When: Sunday, November 2

Time: 9 a.m. ET

Where: London Stadium (London, U.K.)

Channel: USA Network, Telemundo

Check out the EPL table and results here
Sometimes the biggest skywatching treats fall near the end of the calendar year. Thats the case with the November full moon. The full Beaver Moon will rise this week as the biggest and brightest supermoon of the fall.

Its the second consecutive supermoon this fall - and another is coming for December. But this weeks supermoon will shine the brightest because it will be the closest one - just 222,000 miles from Earth.

The difference in size can be hard to discern if youre standing outside and looking up. But comparing images of the moon rises makes it clear that supermoons have the edge.

The difference is most obvious as a comparison between other images or observations, Shannon Schmoll, director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, told the Associated Press.

This weeks moon will be officially full on Wednesday morning, but it will look full for the moonrises on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.

The Beaver Moon gets its name from Native American and early colonial life, according to the Old Farmers Almanac. This is typically the time of year when beaver families fortify their stick-built lodges and begin to prepare for the winter ahead.
Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins (28) walks back to the locker room after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) AP

Former Michigan running back Hassan Haskins will be out at least four games for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The team placed the 2022 fourth-round pick on injured reserve on Saturday with a hamstring injury, which he suffered in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Chargers (5-3) have been decimated by injuries at the running back position this season. Haskins joins Najee Harris and rookie Omarion Hampton on IR.

In a corresponding move, the team elevated running backs Amar Johnson and Jaret Patterson from the practice squad for Sundays game at Tennessee. Second-year pro Kimani Vidal has emerged as Los Angeles lead back, rushing for over 100 yards two of the past three weeks.

Haskins is one of two former Wolverines on IR for Jim Harbaughs Chargers, joining linebacker Junior Colson.

Los Angeles claimed Haskins off waiver in August after he was released by the Titans. He has appeared in seven games in 2025, rushing for 30 yards on 12 attempts.
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Zip Code
China's Ministry of Commerce on Saturday said it is looking to exempt some Nexperia orders from an export ban that it imposed after the Netherlands seized control of the Chinese-owned Dutch chipmaker.

"We will comprehensively consider the actual situation of enterprises and grant exemptions to exports that meet the criteria," a ministry representative said in a statement.

According to the ministry, exemptions were being considered to stabilise the supply of Nexperia chips in global supply chains. It encouraged affected companies to reach out and request such an exemption.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

Beijing's latest action reflects some of the inroads made between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, during their meeting on Thursday in Busan, South Korea.

A report by The Wall Street Journal on Saturday said Nexperia would resume sending chips under a framework agreement reached during the Xi-Trump talks.

After the meeting, the Ministry of Commerce said Washington would temporarily halt the implementation of its so-called 50 per cent subsidiary rule.

Introduced in late September, the rule expanded US export restrictions to any company that was at least 50 per cent owned by entities on Washington's trade blacklist. Wingtech Technology, the Chinese owner of Nexperia, was added to the blacklist in December last year.

The facade of Dutch chipmaker Nexperia's Chinese manufacturing facility in Dongguan, in southern Guangdong province. Photo: Coco Feng alt=The facade of Dutch chipmaker Nexperia's Chinese manufacturing facility in Dongguan, in southern Guangdong province. Photo: Coco Feng>

In response to Dutch authorities' takeover of Nexperia on September 30, citing national security concerns, Beijing on October 4 issued a ban on Nexperia China and its subcontractors from exporting finished components produced in the country.

About 70 per cent of all Nexperia products are assembled in its factory in Dongguan, in southern Guangdong province.

Beijing's one-year export ban was expected to complicate efforts to settle the row over Nexperia, a critical supplier of semiconductors for automotive, industrial, mobile and consumer applications.

In the Ministry of Commerce statement on Saturday, China also denounced the Netherlands for "inappropriately intervening in corporate affairs" after it seized control of Nexperia, which has led to "a global supply chain turmoil".
Saurav Pandey

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MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more.

Saurav Pandey

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PM Modi got panic attack when Trump called him during Operation Sindoor: Rahul Gandhi in Bihar

Rahul Gandhi said if the INDIA bloc is voted to power in the state, it will form a government for every section, not for any particular caste

101Reporters

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Security officials said the thefts occurred in the dense crowd of over 25000 fans who had gathered to see the Grammy-winning pop star perform for around 90 minutes.

M Snehanjali

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Gayatri Rani

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Shah Rukh Khan will not greet fans at Mannat this year

Gayatri Rani

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The corn market posted steady to 1  cent gains across most contracts on Friday, as December was up 8  cents on the week. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was up 1/4 cent to $3.91 1/4. Spillover support was noted from strength in the wheat and soybeans.

The average close for December corn futures w at $4.22, should be the harvest price for crop insurance. That is 6 cents above last years harvest and 48 cents below the spring price.

More News from Barchart

Ukraine corn exports totaled just 0.8 MMT in October, which was a large drop from the 1.73 MMT last year according to economic minister. The Argentina corn crop was pegged at 35% planted, according to the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange.

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.31 1/2, up 1 1/4 cents,

Nearby Cash was $3.91 1/4, up 1/4 cent,

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.44, up 1/4 cent,

May 26 Corn closed at $4.52 1/4, unch,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Shah Rukh Khan to host fan meet in Bandra at 4 pm as fans gather outside Mannat

Unlike other years where fans waited in hope of a glimpse, this birthday has a structured surprise.

M Snehanjali

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Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna to film in Delhi for Cocktail 2, team to take health precautions amidst high AQI: Report

A source revealed to the publication that the team will be filming in Chhatarpur, Gurugram, and several other areas of South Delhi.

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When Shah Rukh Khan revealed what his kids fill in the Religion column, Main Musalman Hoon, Wife Hindu Hai, Bacche Hindustan Hai

When Shah Rukh Khan revealed what his kids fill in the Religion column, Main Musalman Hoon, Wife Hindu Hai, Bacche Hindustan Hai

Vaishnavi Gavankar

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Justin Baldoni's $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds dismissed after former misses court deadline

This dismissal comes after a June decision in which Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni's complaint, finding no merit in his defamation claims.

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Allu Arjun wins 'Most Versatile Actor of the Year' at Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2025

Gayatri Rani

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Upasana Kamineni shares unseen pics from Allu Sirish and Nayanika's engagement ceremony: "Finally got a picture with the great Mr C"

Upasana took to Instagram to post a series of photos from the engagement ceremony.

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Varun Tej and Lavanya Tripathi celebrate second anniversary with their baby boy Vaayuv, call each other lucky

The couple also shared a lot of private pictures of their new baby boy, which provided fans a look into their happy family life.

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Smriti Irani shines on the global stage at TIME100NEXT, launches a nationwide initiative to empower 100,000 women entrepreneurs

Palak Vij

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It is now passed into the public domain and is available for free exploitation by interested parties and consumers pan-India.

Aishwarya Dabhade

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China to suspend some rare earth curbs, probes on US chip firms

China had used its dominance in the processing of rare-earth minerals as leverage, threatening to restrict their flow to the US and allies countries.

Deblina Halder

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Chinese defense minister attends ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus in Malaysia

Xinhua) 12:03, November 02, 2025

The 12th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) is held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov. 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun attended the 12th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) here on Saturday.

In his remarks, Dong said that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the ADMM-Plus mechanism. As the destinies of regional countries become increasingly interconnected, the calls for peace and the pursuit of development are growing stronger, while new threats and challenges continue to emerge.

He noted that the Global Governance Initiative provides Chinese solutions for responding to global changes and challenges, and aligns with the core principles of the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

Dong said that all countries should remain committed to the original aspiration of peace and cooperation, seek common ground while shelving differences, work hand in hand to pursue common development and share the fruits of peace.

China and ASEAN are neighbors with shared interests, willing to play a constructive role for regional peace and tranquility, said Dong, adding that China supports ASEAN's centrality in the regional architecture, and is ready to work with regional countries to shoulder the responsibility for maintaining regional peace, bridge differences through dialogue and consultation, enhance the level of open cooperation, and remain a reliable and stabilizing force.

China will continue to contribute to the ADMM-Plus security cooperation, build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, and jointly safeguard international and regional peace and stability, he added.

Also on Friday, Dong held talks with defense leaders from South Korea, Japan and Australia.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Costco operates more than just its traditional warehouse stores, even though many members may not know that.

The chain, of course, has experimented with a store in Alaska that just sells furniture and appliances. Costco also plans to open a gas station without a connected warehouse in Mission Viejo, California, in spring 2026.

Costco's furniture and appliances store in Alaska is not a traditional warehouse in the sense that you can't actually buy anything there.

The news warehouse "will give Alaskans a chance to see firsthand what they can buy for shipment, a Costco director of real estate development at the companys headquarters in Issaquah, Washington, Christian Lasley, told the Anchorage Daily News.

They can see the products in person at the warehouse, then have them shipped to their home, Lasley told the newspaper.

Were doing this to meet the needs of our members, he said.

And while the traditional warehouse is the chain's dominant type of store, Costco has a secondary store model many members may not know about.

The warehouse club also operates a number of Business Centers, stores that cater to business customers.

What is a Costco Business Center?

A separate concept from regular Costco warehouses, business center locations are designed primarily for small businesses , not general consumers.

Open to all Costco members , but tailored for restaurants, convenience stores, offices, and retailers .

Offer fewer household items and no clothing, books, or jewelry . The focus is on business supplies.

Sell in larger bulk sizes and quantities than regular Costco locations.

Stock commercial-grade equipment like restaurant appliances, janitorial supplies, office furniture, etc.

Carry expanded foodservice inventory including meat, produce, beverages, frozen goods, paper products.

Open earlier hours (often 7 a.m.) to accommodate business customers.

No optical, pharmacy, tire, or photo centers like regular Costco warehouses.

Accept Costco Shop Cards and business payment options (credit, debit, cash).

About 25 U.S. Business Center locations as of 2025, in major metro areas like Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, and Miami.

Products can also be ordered online for delivery to businesses in many regions.

Source: Costco Business Centers

Costco has turned some former warehouses into Business Centers which serve business customers but are open to all members.

Costco plans more business centers

Costco sometimes develops business centers on their own to meet market needs. In most cases, however, the chain turns former warehouse locations into the business-first model when it relocates due to outgrowing a location.

CEO Ron Vachris sees Business Centers as a growth opportunity for the chain.
Akasa Air will consider flights to Kenya, Egypt, other countries; feels 'very good' about Boeing delivery schedule: CEO

Currently, the carrier flies to six international cities  Doha (Qatar), Jeddah, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kuwait City (Kuwait) and Phuket (Thailand)  and 24 domestic destinations

101Reporters

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Arindam Roy

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Nvidia is worth $5 trillion. Heres what it means for the market

CEO Jensen Huangs net worth has ballooned alongside the frenetic rally in Nvidias stock price, hitting $176 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Bloomberg

Arindam Roy

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The global figure, one of the highest in recent years, indicates how AI disruption, automation, and cost-cutting are reshaping workforces worldwide.

Deblina Halder

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'Will continue to hunt and kill': US after 3 dead in latest 'drug boat' strikes in Caribbean Sea

Siddharth Chakravorty

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Both Bar and Bench equally important for administration of justice: CJI-designate Surya Kant

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Class 7 student gang-raped while going to tuition class in Kolkata, 3 arrested

Ria Kapoor

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'Even Trump doesnt know what hell do tomorrow,' says Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi on rising security challenges

Tamal Nandi

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Five people injured in stabbing during Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations in Belagavi

Ria Kapoor

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The South Asian nations rare earth expansion plan aligns with global efforts to reduce reliance on China, but faces challenges from limited funding, expertise, and long project time lines

Arindam Roy

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A federal appeals court in Denver poured cold water Friday on crypto bank Custodias attempts to force the Federal Reserve to grant it a coveted master account, siding with a lower courts previous decision.

A panel of three judges affirmed that Custodia is not owed a master account just because it is technically eligible for one, and sided with the Federal Reserves arguments that the central bank has the right to deny such privileges in certain cases.

In the case of Custodia, the Feds Kansas City branch determined the banks crypto-focused business model introduced undue risk into the U.S. banking system.

Master accounts, possessed by all federally chartered banks, allow for direct payments from, and access to, the Feds services. They are thus a valuable asset that would permit a financial institution to operate nationally and greatly expand their services. So far, zero crypto-focused banks have been awarded such privileges by the Fed. Custodia currently operates under a special-purpose depository institution (SPDI) charter granted by the state of Wyoming.

Notably, Fridays decision against Custodia, which affirmed a federal district court ruling from last year, was 2-1 on a panel of majority-Republican appointed judges, with Judge David Ebel, who was appointed to the bench by former president Ronald Reagan, writing Fridays judgment.

We conclude the plain language of the relevant statutes grants Federal Reserve Banks discretion to reject master account access requests from eligible entities, Ebel wrote. Therefore, we reject Custodias attempt to impair the Feds ability to safeguard our nations financial system through the exercise of discretion to reject master account access.

The sole dissenting judge, George W. Bush appointee Timothy Tymkovich, argued a relevant statute which says the Feds payment services shall be available to eligible non-member banks should force the Fed to grant master accounts to all eligible banks, including Custodia.

This case comes clothed in 21st Century terms: cryptocurrency, digital assets, instant wire transfers, and master accounts, Tymkovich wrote in his dissent. But there is nothing new about this issue.

When reached for comment on todays decision, Custodia founder Caitlin Long referred Decrypt to a statement issued by the company.

Fed Considering 'Skinny' Master Accounts for Crypto Banks on 'Streamlined Timeline'

While we were hoping for a win at the Tenth Circuit today, we received the next best thinga strong dissent, the bank said.

The company went on to say it may seek a rehearing by the Tenth Circuit on the case, arguing the decision should be considered split because of another ruling made by a different judge on a similar matter in the same jurisdiction.
'India needs to grow a thicker skin': Shashi Tharoor on deportation of Hindi scholar Francesca Orsini

Ria Kapoor

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At Bihar poll rally, Home Minister says NDA will make state flood-free, warns of jungle raj return under RJD

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The overlap exists because Pakistans maritime territory is contiguous to that controlled by India. (PTI)

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'PM Modi can do anything for votes; tell him to do yoga, he will do few asanas': Rahul Gandhi

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PM Modi to hold rallies, mega roadshow in Bihar on Sunday ahead of assembly polls

Mira Sen has covered Indian politics and national developments for over a decade, closely tracking elections, national parties, policymakers, on-the-ground developments  and their impact on citizens.

This will mark PM Modis third roadshow in Patna since last years Lok Sabha elections.

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Sixth stampede of 2025: Srikakulam tragedy pushes Indias toll to 114, second highest in years

Mira Sen has covered Indian politics and national developments for over a decade, closely tracking elections, national parties, policymakers, on-the-ground developments  and their impact on citizens.

The Kasibugga stampede is the latest in a string of deadly incidents this year.

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'Bahubali' as it is being popularly referred, LVM3-M5 rocket is carrying the CMS-03 communication satellite (Image: Screengrab | X/@DrJitendraSingh)

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Thursday that President Donald Trumps decision to allow cryptocurrencies in 401(k) plans could put hard-earned savings of Americans at risk.

Warren Labels Crypto Shadowy Market

Warren took to X to voice her apprehensions about Trumps executive orders that push private equity and cryptocurrencies into 401(k) retirement plans.

These shadowy markets lack strong guardrails to keep your money safe, the Democratic lawmaker alleged. We can't let Wall Street gamble with Americans' hard-earned savings.





Trending: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it?

Warren, Sanders Allege Conflict Of Interest

The remarks come after Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) led a group of lawmakers to raise concerns about the move in a letter sent to the SEC and the Labor Department.

The legislators quoted the Labor Departments 2022 guidance that urged plan fiduciaries to exercise extreme care before adding a cryptocurrency option to a 401(k) plan

The senators also raised questions about the potential financial benefits the Trump family could reap from this move. They cited reports claiming that the first family gained up to $5 billion in paper wealth from the World Liberty Financial (WLFI) token launch.

The White House and the SEC didnt immediately return Bezningas request for comment.

See Also: Missed Nvidia and Tesla? RAD Intel Could Be the Next AI Powerhouse  Invest Now at Just $0.81 a Share

The Disagreements

The move to open up potentially $40 trillion in retirement savings to digital assets like Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has become a divisive issue.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) hailed the decision, stating Americans can secure their financial futures through digital assets, but economist Peter Schiff warned it could worsen retirement savings shortfalls.

Anthony Pompliano, founder of Professional Capital Management, said that the move opens massive new capital flows to cryptocurrency markets.
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'was there such a delay in arrest...?' RJD's Mrityunjay Tiwari on Dularchand Yadav murder case

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'Zero tolerance towards any form of violence during polls, Bihar elections will be conducted peacefully': CEC Gyanesh Kumar

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Ex-actor held for stealing Rs 75,000, gold, wallets in Kolkata. Arrested twice in 3 years

Police said Dutta was once a familiar face in Kolkatas acting circles, having appeared in Hindi serial Jai Maa Vaishnodevi and several Bengali films. (AI-generated image)

Ankita Sengupta

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6 / 10

6. Standing Out in the Head: Their distinct colouring makes them easy to spot but also vulnerable to predators in the wild. (Image: Canva)
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iPhone 17 is the star of the show as Apple posts record revenues

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Sridhar Vembu on why Zoho employees are not allowed to praise him or the leadership in public

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Julie Marie Pelkowski: Thank you, Tim, and good morning, everyone. This quarter marks a meaningful step forward in Erie's return to profitability. As Tim touched on, our consistent focus on underwriting discipline and pricing is beginning to deliver the results we've been working toward. After a first half impacted by elevated catastrophe activity, the more typical lower weather events of the third quarter provided a clearer view of our core performance from a profitability perspective. Starting with the results of the Exchange, the insurance operations we manage, the Exchange's direct written premiums grew 7.6% in the quarter and 10.1% year to date. The average premium per policy increased 10.7%, reflecting the cumulative impact of rate increases over the past two years.

We continue to take a measured, steady approach to rate adjustments. That means it takes a bit longer to fully see the benefits of these changes. The bottom line is that the past few years, marked by inflation and weather volatility, have been some of the most challenging in our history. I'm confident in the actions we've been taking to bring our profitability back to more stable levels, which are already taking hold, reflected in our third quarter results. With that, I'll turn it over to our Chief Financial Officer, Julie Marie Pelkowski, to share more on those results. Julie?

The rating change primarily reflects profitability challenges we've discussed in past calls related to large underwriting losses driven by more frequent and severe weather events and increased claim severity in both auto and home. To provide a bit of background, severe weather-related events in 2023 and 2024 were nearly double historical levels, contributing to Erie's elevated underwriting losses. That trend has continued into 2025, where a fast-moving hailstorm earlier this year cost $370 million in insured losses, the single largest weather event in our company's history. At the same time, claim severity in both auto and homeowners grew faster than our rate increases, even as we work to keep pricing competitive for our mutual customers.

Timothy Gerard NeCastro: Thanks, Scott, and good morning, everyone. As we start today's call, I want to share an important update regarding our financial strength rating. In September, AM Best adjusted the financial strength rating of the property casualty members of Erie Insurance Group from A+ Superior to A Excellent. While that change was disappointing, it's important to note that an A Excellent rating is still one of the strongest in the industry. AM Best pointed to Erie's solid balance sheet, adequate operating performance, a favorable business profile, and strong risk management practices. This feedback from AM Best is reflected in our financial position, particularly our surplus, which remains extremely robust at $9.6 billion.

Story Continues

Policy growth remained flat year over year, increasing 0.2%, while retention was 89.1% at the end of the third quarter. While policy growth has moderated, consistent with broader industry trends, we're confident the balance of rate adequacy and retention positions us well for long-term profitable growth. Also, we're introducing an enhanced auto product with more competitive rates and growth potential that Tim will expand on in a few minutes. From a profitability perspective, the third quarter combined ratio was 100.6%, compared to 113.7% in the same quarter last year. On a year-to-date basis, the combined ratio was 108.6% compared to 113.4% in the same period of 2024. These results reflect steady, measurable progress toward restoring sustainable profitability.

As a reminder, catastrophe events in the first half of the year significantly affected our reported loss ratios. The low level of weather events in this quarter highlights the adequacy of our rate levels and the improvement in profitability of our core book. Policyholder surplus is up over $300 million for the year, bringing total surplus to $9.6 billion, as Tim mentioned. This growth demonstrates the strength of our capital position and our ability to withstand volatility while continuing to deliver long-term value to our policyholders. Shifting to the results for Indemnity, net income for the third quarter was $183 million or $3.50 per diluted share compared to $160 million or $3.60 per share in 2024, a 14% increase.

For the year, net income was $496 million or $9.48 per diluted share compared to $448 million or $8.57 per diluted share in the first nine months of 2024, an 11% increase. Operating income grew to $209 million, up 16% from the same quarter last year, primarily driven by higher management fee revenue. Operating income grew to $559 million, up almost 10% for the year, primarily driven by management fee revenue as well. Management fee revenue from policy issuance and renewal services increased 7.3% to $825 million for the quarter and 9.5% to $2.4 billion for the year, in line with the Exchange's premium growth.

On the expense side, commissions increased 9.7% to $462 million in the third quarter and up 12% to almost $1.4 billion year to date, driven by higher base commission expense in line with premium increases as well as increased agent incentive compensation. Non-commission expenses decreased 6.2% in the third quarter to $181 million, reflecting lower administrative and other expenses, as well as lower sales and advertising expenses, all of which were partially offset by investments in information technology and underwriting costs. Non-commission expenses increased 2.8% for the year to $556 million, reflecting increased investments in information technology, increased underwriting costs, as well as customer service costs, partially offset by administrative and other expenses primarily due to decreased personnel costs.

Investment income for the quarter totaled $22 million, up 10% from last year, reflecting higher yields and higher average balance. Investment income for the year totaled $61 million, up 25.2% from last year, primarily from net investment income. As always, we take a measured approach to capital management, maintaining a strong balance sheet. And for the first nine months of 2025, our financial performance has enabled us to pay our shareholders over $190 million in dividends. With that, I'll turn the call back over to Tim.

Timothy Gerard NeCastro: Thank you, Julie. As Julie mentioned, we're excited to introduce an enhanced auto product that we're confident will have a positive impact on our competitive position. Erie Secure Auto has the pricing sophistication of our rate lock product, without the lock. That means more competitive rates and greater opportunity for growth. Since launching the pilot in Ohio in August, we've seen this product have impressive impacts on submitted applications and direct written premium in that state. We plan to deploy the product in December to agents in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia, with additional states to follow through mid-next year. Secure Auto is just one of the actions we're taking to bring profitability back to more normal levels.

It's also just one of the product enhancements and rollouts on the horizon. We continue to modernize our technology platforms and respond to changing agent and customer needs. As we focus on the future with new products and technology, our one hundred-year commitment to service is, as always, at the forefront. And the ongoing strength of that commitment has been recognized by several industry accolades this year, including several in this past quarter. Erie Insurance was ranked first in small business insurance customer satisfaction in J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study, 25 points above the industry average and best in class for price, coverage, ease of doing business, and people.

We were also named to Forbes' list of America's Best Insurance Companies 2026, earning recognition across multiple product categories: auto, homeowners, renters, term life, and permanent life. Additionally, Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group named Erie one of America's Greatest Companies 2025, recognizing our financial strength, innovation, sustainability, and ethics. Finally, Erie was again recognized among the top employers in Pennsylvania on Forbes' list of America's Best In-State Employers 2025 for the sixth consecutive year, building on earlier recognition as one of America's Best Large Employers and Best Employers for College Grads.

As we near the end of our hundredth year in business and look ahead to 2026, our focus remains clear: strengthening profitability, delivering exceptional service, and investing in the technology and products that will shape Erie's next century. We have faced difficult cycles before, and each time, we've emerged stronger. Thanks to our dedicated employees and trusted agents, our commitment to delivering superior service and protection this time will be no different. Thank you for listening in today and for your interest in Erie.

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This article is a transcript of this conference call produced for The Motley Fool. While we strive for our Foolish Best, there may be errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in this transcript. As with all our articles, The Motley Fool does not assume any responsibility for your use of this content, and we strongly encourage you to do your own research, including listening to the call yourself and reading the company's SEC filings. Please see our Terms and Conditions for additional details, including our Obligatory Capitalized Disclaimers of Liability.

The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Erie Indemnity (ERIE) Q3 2025 Earnings Transcript was originally published by The Motley Fool
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'Blood everywhere': Mass stabbing on London-bound train leaves nine critically injured, two suspects arrested

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FBI sting on dating app brings down US bank CEO who allegedly tried to meet teen boy for sex

US CEO fired after bid to produce child porn, caught by FBI officer posing as teen on dating app

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Guns-a-blazing: Trump threatens US military action in Nigeria, vows to cut aid over Christian killings

Donald Trump threatens US military action in Nigeria, vows to halt aid over Christian killings

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The explosion comes at a time of heightened scrutiny for Harvard University, which has been in the national spotlight over funding and education policy disputes.

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The meeting takes place against a backdrop of increased pressure on Russia, the co-leader of the alliance, after the US sanctioned its two largest oil producers last month in a major escalation

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Images from the site showed paramedics treating victims on the platform and passengers wrapped in foil blankets being escorted away.

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A U.S. appellate court has ruled against Custodia Bank, the Wyoming-based crypto-focused institution founded by former Morgan Stanley executive Caitlin Long, in its long-running battle to gain direct access to the Federal Reserves payment system.

In a decision filed Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed an earlier ruling from the District of Wyoming that sided with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

Source: Court Listener

Tenth Circuit Upholds Feds Decision to Block Custodias Access to U.S. Payment System

The judgment marks the latest setback in Custodias five-year effort to obtain a Federal Reserve master account, a critical gateway for direct participation in the U.S. banking system.

This case comes clothed in 21st Century terms: cryptocurrency, digital assets, instant wire transfers, and master accounts, the judges wrote in the opinion.

But there is nothing new about this issue. Courts have probed the legality of our nations central bank and interpreted the relevant statutes since the founding.

The three-judge panel, composed of Circuit Judges Tymkovich, Ebel, and Rossman, upheld the lower courts conclusion that the Federal Reserve acted within its authority when it denied Custodias application.

The ruling effectively leaves the central banks decision intact, confirming that the Fed retains broad discretion in determining which financial institutions can access its payment infrastructure.

Custodia, previously known as Avanti Bank, first applied for a master account in October 2020 after receiving a special-purpose depository institution (SPDI) charter from the state of Wyoming.

The application, typically processed within a week, languished for over 19 months without resolution.

In January 2023, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City formally rejected the request, citing safety and soundness concerns tied to the banks focus on digital assets.

The Fed argued that Custodias business model relied too heavily on volatile crypto markets and lacked sufficient controls to manage illicit finance risks.

It also pointed to the banks limited experience in traditional risk management and the potential systemic implications of granting direct access to a crypto-centered institution.

Custodia sued the Federal Reserve in June 2022, claiming an unlawful delay and arguing that eligible institutions are entitled to a master account under federal law.

After the Wyoming court ruled in favor of the Fed in March 2024, Custodia appealed, asserting that the decision gave the central bank excessive discretion over market access.
Theres nothing to hide: Erika Kirk speaks out ahead of husband Charlie Kirks murder trial

Erika Kirk says nothing to hide in viral interview clip as trial and viral video with JD Vance draw attention

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Trumps Gaza peace plan faces new hurdle: Who will police the enclave after the war?

The Trump administration is working with regional allies to design a peacekeeping model that balances these sensitivities.

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Manish Rao is a seasoned journalist who has extensively covered global affairs, geopolitical developments, American politics, and all other things making news around the world.

The meeting, yet to be formally announced, follows Trumps earlier encounter with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia in May, the first meeting between the two countries leaders in 25 years.

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Why China is hoarding over 1 billion barrels of oil as US sanctions hit Russia

Energy self-sufficiency has long been a national priority for China, which imports roughly 70% of the oil it consumes.

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Why South Korea cant please both Trump and Xi anymore

South Korea has long tried to maintain what analysts call strategic ambiguity  relying on the US for security while depending on China for economic growth. (Presidents Trump and Myung//File photo)

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The US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled against Custodia Bank on Oct. 31, affirming the Federal Reserves authority to deny the crypto-focused banks application for a master account. The 2-1 decision upheld a lower court judgment in favor of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

The court held that Federal Reserve Banks have discretion to reject master account applications from statutorily eligible institutions. Judge Ebels majority opinion rejected Custodias argument that Section 248a(c)(2) of the Monetary Control Act, which states services shall be available, creates a mandatory duty to grant accounts, according to the court opinion. The majority found that Section 342 of the Federal Reserve Act, which states a Reserve Bank may receive deposits, grants discretionary authority.

Master accounts provide banks with direct access to the Federal Reserves payment systems and allow institutions to hold reserves at the Fed.

Custodia had argued the Monetary Control Acts language requiring that Federal Reserve services shall be available created a non-discretionary obligation. The bank contended that as a Wyoming-chartered Special Purpose Depository Institution eligible under federal law, it was entitled to an account.

Courts Reasoning and Dissent

The majority opinion stated that reading a major access mandate into the Monetary Control Acts pricing principles would be finding an elephant in a mousehole. The court also cited the 2022 Toomey Amendment, which requires reporting on rejected applications from eligible entities, as evidence that Congress understood rejections could occur.

Judge Tymkovich wrote a dissent arguing the Monetary Control Acts shall be available language is a clear command. The dissent raised concerns under the Appointments Clause, warning the majoritys ruling grants significant yet unreviewable executive authority to unappointed officials.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City denied Custodias application in January 2023, citing heightened risks from its novel and crypto-asset focused business model.

Custodia CEO Caitlin Long, a Wall Street veteran, founded the bank to serve digital asset companies using a Wyoming SPDI charter.

Unlike federally chartered banks, which automatically receive master accounts, state-chartered institutions like Custodia must apply separately for Fed access. The bank had applied for the account in October 2020 and initially sued the Fed in 2022 over alleged delays exceeding 19 months.

Read original story Fed Wins Legal Battle Over Custodia Bank Master Account Denial by Zoran Spirkovski at Coinspeaker.com
Martin pleads not guilty to visa fraud charges

By Bryan Manabat

bryan@mvariety.com

Variety News Staff

AT his arraignment before Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy on Friday morning, Venerando Aquino Martin pleaded not guilty to five counts of visa fraud.

Through his court-appointed attorney, Mark Scoggins, Martin waived the reading of the charges and any further advisement of his rights. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth Backe appeared for the federal government.

Following the plea, the District Court for the NMI scheduled a jury trial for Jan. 6, 2026, at 10 a.m. Judge Kennedy noted that a status report confirmed Martin has complied with all conditions of release and reminded him to continue doing so.

Martin is accused of fraudulently filing green card applications for himself and 242 others under the C16 eligibility category, which requires continuous residence in the United States since before Jan. 1, 1972.

On Oct. 30, a federal grand jury in the District Court for the NMI issued an indictment charging Martin with five counts of visa fraud. The charges also seek forfeiture of assets tied to the alleged crimes, and substitute property if the original assets cannot be recovered.

According to the complaint, in August 2024, Homeland Security Investigations-Saipan investigators received tips from independent sources, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, regarding suspicious immigration benefit filings.

Specifically, approximately 242 immigration benefit applications for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) under the same eligibility category (C16) were submitted listing the same Saipan mailing address (Target Mailing), the complaint stated.

Law enforcement database checks linked the address to Martin, who listed his physical residence as Adobu Drive in Koblerville, Saipan. Records show Martin, a Philippine national, first entered the CNMI on or about Sept. 10, 2000.

Investigators said Martin submitted Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) and Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) on June 25, 2023, using the same mailing address. USCIS issued him an EAD while his I-485 application was pending.

A review of the filings revealed Martin selected the C16 category, despite border-crossing records and his own statements confirming he had not been continuously present in the U.S. since before 1972, as required.

Additional filings in March 2024 linked to Martins address raised further red flags, investigators said.

Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
One might attribute LendingClub's lower valuation to two things. First, the company's original model was facilitating loans between personal loan borrowers and retail investors looking for a high-yield investment.

However, LendingClub's valuation has lagged its main public market peers Sofi and Upstart by a significant amount on price-to-book, forward price-to-earnings, and price-to-sales ratios:

It's somewhat surprising LendingClub is rebranding, given its high customer satisfaction metrics. Customers rate the company 4.83 stars out of five, according to reviews collected by BazaarVoice, and LendingClub has a very high net promoter score of 81, indicating high customer loyalty.

We built up equity in this brand after almost 20 years. We think a new brand will give us a broader permission set with our customer base, and kind of create new opportunities for us. But we've got to make sure we don't lose the tens of thousands of positive reviews and awards and our conversion rate that we finally honed across all these channels ... so lots of work to do.

On the recent third-quarter conference call with analysts, Sanborn noted that the company is being very deliberate with the rebranding, which should take place in the "middle-ish" of next year:

A new brand typically isn't that important for a stock; but in this case, it could go a long way.

On its recent earnings call, in which the company handily beat estimates, CEO Scott Sanborn noted LendingClub will undergo a rebranding soon.

LendingClub (NYSE: LC) is the oldest and most seasoned of these new-aged lenders, and has in many ways executed better than newer peers through the recent downturns. Nevertheless, its valuation has badly lagged peers such as SoFi Technologies and Upstart Holdings .

Yet with interest rates now on their way down and the economy seemingly getting back to a "normal" environment, surviving fintech stocks could be big winners.

Fintech stocks are an intriguing play right now. Over the past five years, they've endured the pandemic and pandemic-related inflation, the fastest-ever increases in the federal funds rate , the regional banking crisis of 2023, and then the "Liberation Day" global turmoil.

Could the rebranding and this week's Investor Day help close the gap?

Story Continues

That retail model proved successful but was somewhat risky for a number of reasons. But really since 2016, LendingClub has long since abandoned its retail model and has become highly institutional. Now, LendingClub primarily sells its loans to banks, large asset managers, and starting this year, even directly to insurance companies. On the last earnings call, LendingClub announced BlackRock, the largest asset manager in the world, agreed to purchase up to $1 billion in LendingClub loans through 2026.

The second potential reason for the discount is LendingClub's lower originations growth versus these peers.

To be sure, LendingClub still posted an impressive 37% originations growth last quarter, primarily in the unsecured personal loan category. Still, that compares with 53% personal loan originations growth for SoFi in the third quarter and 154% personal loan originations growth for Upstart in the most recently reported second quarter.

Yet the valuation gap still seems large, despite the difference in originations growth. Moreover, as anyone aware of banking history knows, not all originations are created equal.

LendingClub's loans appear of higher quality

While both Sofi's and Upstart's personal loan originations growth are higher, LendingClub is seemingly much more efficient at turning each loan into revenue and profits:

Company Originations Growth (YOY) Revenue Growth (YOY) Earnings/Contribution Profit Growth (YOY) LendingClub 37% 32% 185% SoFi (lending segment only) 53% 25% 9% Upstart 154% 102% 110%

Data sources: LendingClub and SoFi Q3 press releases. Upstart Q2 press release. Upstart EPS flipped from a $54.5 million loss to $5.6 million gain in Q2. SoFi results for lending segment only. YOY = year over year.

To be fair to SoFi, the above figures are just its lending division. SoFi is more diversified than these other two fintechs, and its financial services segment, mainly in credit cards and brokerage, enabled stronger performance than the personal lending comparisons above.

Still, as one can see, in terms of like-for-like personal loan performance, LendingClub's originations are yielding better revenue-per-loan and bottom-line performance.

Image source: Getty Images.

Conservatism pays off

The main reason LendingClub has been more efficient at turning originations into revenue and profits is the focus on quality over quantity. According to the company, LendingClub's underwriting has produced between 37% and 47% lower 30-day delinquencies by month nine of a loan's duration, compared with its competitive set.

How was that accomplished? As the oldest fintech, LendingClub had the biggest trove of borrower data heading into the trouble of the past five years, and the largest pool of existing customers. Repeat borrowers are much more efficient for fintechs as they are easily reached with an email, as opposed to finding new customers via more expensive direct mail, and they also tend to have better credit. LendingClub's new LevelUp Savings account also gives borrowers 2% cash back on timely payments, further incentivizing good behavior while growing deposits. During the downturn, LendingClub also chose to largely eschew the lower-income, higher-risk part of the market, and focus on these higher-quality borrowers at the expense of growth.

I had the pleasure of speaking with CFO Drew LaBenne after earnings, who elaborated that LendingClub's loan performance through the downturn is now leading to better pricing on its loan sales. As one can see, LendingClub's revenue growth is closer to its originations growth than either SoFi or Upstart, which both appear to be selling more loans at a greater discount.

Furthermore, some other factors may be playing into the superior earnings growth. On the conference call, Sanborn noted LendingClub is selling loans without having to provide "credit enhancements."

LaBenne elaborated on our call that other competitors in the space are using co-investments or other loss share arrangements. In these types of arrangements, a fintech may guarantee minimum returns and cover the difference if underwriting falls short of a performance threshold. Other competitors may offer discounts on its servicing fees if loan performance falls short. Since LendingClub is selling its loans "cleanly" without these guarantees, that could explain its better bottom-line performance.

Is LendingClub about to start a new chapter?

While SoFi offers more services and technology, and Upstart has emphasized its AI-focused underwriting, LendingClub appears to have exceeded its competitors it terms of borrower selection, underwriting, and understanding borrower and loan buyer incentives.

The company is hosting an Investor Day on Wednesday this week, which the company doesn't do every year. Expect management to lay out a longer-term vision, and perhaps new business ventures in addition to the core personal loan product.

The longer-term vision may wake the investing public out of its lack of interest in the stock. But if this week's event doesn't do it, perhaps the 2026 rebranding will. In any case, LendingClub looks like a much more solid value than its competitive set today.

Should you buy stock in LendingClub right now?

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Billy Duberstein and/or his clients have positions in LendingClub and has the following options: short January 2026 $12 puts on LendingClub. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Upstart. The Motley Fool recommends BlackRock. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

This Fintech Stock Is Rebranding. Here's Why It Could Help the Stock Take Off was originally published by The Motley Fool
Spa day for baby monkey [ monkeylover. club]pic.twitter.com/5L4d7s6ske  Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) November 1, 2025

Why Do Spiders Decorate Their Webs? A New Piece of the Puzzle Nautilus

NASAs supersonic jet completes its first flight in California Engadget

Why are we obsessed with serial killers? Mashable

Do mega-sporting events like the World Series pay off? Heres the economic reality behind them The Conversation

Scientists just shattered a major exercise myth ScienceDaily

I tried lab-grown chocolate. Could it be the future of Halloween? Guardian

COVID-19/Pandemics

Climate/Environment

South of the Border

China?

India

Africa

European Disunion

Old Blighty

Israel v. Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iran

New Not-So-Cold War

Big Brother Is Watching You Watch

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Trump 2.0

Musk Matters

Democrat Death Watch

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Our No Longer Free Press

Mr. Market Is Moody

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the worlds most expensive pizza costs $12,000?!  Its called the Louis XIII, created by Renato Viola, and is topped with three types of caviar, lobster, and is even served with Remy Martin Cognac. #PizzaFacts #LuxuryFood #WorldsMostExpensive #Foodie #DidYouKnow #RenatoViola pic.twitter.com/ep5rFnNAbp  gourmet the food king  (@ekkofluid) September 7, 2025 Most expensive hamburger covered in gold and dripping in caviar has 5,000 price tag. The expensive item was put on the menu at The Daltons restaurant in Voorthuizen, Gelderland, Netherlands by chef Robbert Jan De Veen (Netherlands) in 2021. Named The Golden Boy, its price pic.twitter.com/m4L8qLTo2S  Q.I.B.L.A.H uncensored news (@QUNproductions) June 30, 2024

Antidote du jour (via)

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here
Welcome gentle readers to another installment of the Sunday Morning Movie. This week its a Halloween treat: Faust, a black and white silent masterpiece of a film.

And a heads up. Thanks to a great idea from reader Jeff N, Ill be posting the link for next Sundays film to give readers time to view it during the week. Hopefully this will lead to some great discussions. Here is next weeks offering:

Now on to todays film!

Reviews:

The Oxford Student says:

Theres no denying that theyre dated. In the scene where Mephisto (Satan) restores Fausts youth, the transition from the older actor to his younger counterpart is a far cry from the smooth CGI of modern cinema. But in my opinion this is part of what makes the film so charming. Not only are the practical effects used rough around the edges, they often seem to be avoiding realism entirely. Murnau makes no attempt to hide the fact that many of the sets used for the birds eye view shots of the world are models. All of the effects in Faust are unconvincing, but theyre beautifully realised (sic) and capture the imagination in a way that many modern films struggle to achieve. Much in the same way as a theatrical production has to adapt to factors such as the distance of the audience from the stage, a silent film has to remain engaging without audio. Both mediums make use of bold visual elements to achieve this and both use sets that invite the viewer to suspend their disbelief. As a result, like many silent films, Faust has a theatrical quality. Most of the cast started their career on the stage and the lack of spoken dialogue means that the actors use exaggerated facial expressions and movement. The bold makeup and costumes are also similar to the kind found in theatre productions.

Roger Ebert says:

Murnau had a bold visual imagination, distinctive even during the era of German Expressionism with its skewed perspectives and twisted rooms and stairs. He painted with light and shadow, sometimes complaining to his loyal cameraman, Carl Hoffmann, that he could see too much  that all should be obscured except the focus of a scene. Faust, with its supernatural vistas of heaven and hell, is particularly distinctive in the way it uses the whole canvas. Consider the startling early shot of Mephisto, his dark wings obscuring the sky as he hovers above a little village that huddles in the lower right corner. Murnau treated the screen as if it offered a larger space than his contemporaries imagined; long before deep focus, he was creating double-exposures like shots in Faust where a crowd of villagers in the foreground is echoed by faraway crowds in the upper corners. His screen encompassed great breadth and depth, so that when Mephisto takes Faust on a flight through the sky, we really do seem to see the earth unreeling beneath them: towns and farms, mountains and rivers. Murnau used a model of the landscape, of course; as his art director, Robert Herlth, remembered, there were pines and larches made of reeds and rushes, glass-wool clouds, cascades, fields of real turf carefully stuck on plaster. When Murnau saw us at work, he bent his great height to help us make our little rocks and trees. Like all silent-film directors, Murnau was comfortable with special effects that were obviously artificial. The town beneath the wings of the dark angel is clearly a model, and when characters climb a steep street, there is no attempt to make the sharply angled buildings and rooflines behind them seem real. Such effects, paradoxically, can be more effective than more realistic ones; I sometimes feel, in this age of expert CGI, that I am being shown too much  that technique is pushing aside artistry and imagination. The world of Faust is never intended to define a physical universe, but is a landscape of nightmares. When the elderly Faust is magically converted by Mephisto into a young man, there is a slight awkwardness in the way one image is replaced by another, and oddly enough thats creepier and more striking than a smooth modern morph.

Criterion says:

Whatever the case, the German cut of Faust really brings the too-familiar tale into sharp focus, offering a real sense of urgency to what might otherwise seem tepid and stale. With Nosferatu, Murnau established himself as a guy who could really find the sense of dread in the fantastic. With The Last Laugh, he unveiled a mans inner desires, and contrasted those with his outer circumstances. What a perfect blend of the two Faust is. Swedish actor Gosta Ekman rather beautifully plays the character all the way through, first as the aged scientist, frustrated with his inability to help those afflicted by the plague; later, as the young man, given a new lease on his youth thanks to a pact with the demon Mephisto (an appropriately-oversized Emil Jannings). He understands the elder Fausts physical limitations, as well as the way the soul can start to cry out when given a glimpse of what he could have.

My take:

If you watch one silent film, make it Faust. Its excellent, the shadow and light play of German Expressionism lends a creepy surrealism that modern film couldnt hope to mimic. The special effects, crude by todays standards, are far more effective than they. Its a masterpiece of cinema.

Director: F.W. Murnau

Written by: Hans Kyser

Notable Actors: Gosta Ekman

Synopsis (Spoilers!):

Mephistopheles has made a bet with an Archangel. If he can corrupt the soul of a devout man, he will win dominion over the Earth. Sounds like an easy thing to do and Mephisto takes the bet.

Mephisto casts a plague upon the home town of an alchemist Faust (Ekman). As people die about him, Faust turns to God for help. But his prayers go unanswered.

In despair, he burns his books including his bible. One of the books opens and offers a ritual to summon the Devil. In exchange for ones soul, one can command a demon and all his powers. Faust hesitates but decides he must for the sake of the people. He gains the powers for 24 hours but is rejected by the people because he cannot bear the sight of a cross.

Mephisto then offers him another deal. In exchange for his soul, he will return the alchemist to his youth and offer him a life of debauchery. His every whim will be realized. Faust takes the offer and lives a life of pleasure and wealth but soon tires of its emptiness. He tells Mephisto he wishes to return home, when he does he falls in love with a maiden named Gretchen.

After a series of misadventures instigated by Mephisto, the young Gretchen finds herself about to be burned at the stake. Faust, now an old man again, throws himself onto the flames. But instead of being consumed, they ascend straight to Heaven. The Archangel appears and informs Mephisto that he has lost the bet because Faust was still capable of feeling the most powerful thing in the world: Love.

***

Bonuses:

The first bonus is a short film about the life of F.W. Murnau:

Next we have a article from Jacobin magazine (courtesy of KLG) about the rise of the modern horror film:

https://jacobin.com/2025/10/1960-modern-horror-film

and finally a documentary about a haunted antique shop, shot by the acclaimed documentarian Christopher McGuinness who went from skeptic to believer after shooting the film:

The Undeparted

Enjoy!
Over half a million ChatGPT users weekly are showing signs of PSYCHOSIS

OpenAI disclosed that approximately 560,000 users weekly show signs of mania or psychosis, with 1.2 million more sending messages indicating potential suicidal intent, revealing a significant hidden toll.

Over a million users weekly form an "exclusive attachment" to the AI, replacing real-world relationships, while an MIT study found that reliance on ChatGPT diminishes critical thinking and brain activity.

The statistics are contextualized by real-life incidents, including lawsuits linking ChatGPT to a teen's suicide and research shows the AI often reinforces users' delusions instead of directing them to professional help.

While OpenAI has announced remedial measures and improvements with GPT-5, mental health experts are skeptical and the company's priorities are questioned as it plans to relax restrictions on mental health conversations while allowing AI-erotica.

The crisis is unfolding in an environment with little meaningful AI regulation, leaving tech companies to self-police, which critics argue is insufficient without independent audits and a primary focus on safety.

OpenAI has disclosed that more than half a million users of its ChatGPT service exhibit signs of severe mental health crises each week. This revelation, buried in a corporate blog post, exposes the hidden human toll of the world's most popular AI chatbot, raising urgent questions about the safety of a technology woven into the daily lives of hundreds of millions.

While the percentage of affected users0.07 percentmay appear negligible, the sheer scale of ChatGPT's user base transforms it into a staggering figure. With over 800 million weekly users, that small fraction translates to approximately 560,000 individuals every week displaying possible signs of mania or psychosis. Even more alarming, the company estimates that 1.2 million users weekly send messages containing explicit indicators of potential suicidal planning or intent. These are not mere data points; they represent a silent, digital cry for help from a population of vulnerable individuals.

Compounding the crisis is what OpenAI terms "exclusive attachment to the model." More than a million users weekly demonstrate a bond with the AI that comes at the expense of real-world relationships. This dangerous paradox is emerging alongside new evidence that AI reliance is actively diminishing human intelligence. A pioneering MIT study found that users who relied on ChatGPT to compose essays exhibited markedly lower brain activity, raising concerns about the long-term erosion of critical thinking and memory, particularly for developing brains.

This is not a theoretical danger. The news arrives amid a growing list of real-world tragedies linked to AI. The family of a teenage boy, Adam Raine, is suing OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT encouraged their son to take his own life. In a separate case, prosecutors in a Connecticut murder-suicide suggest the alleged perpetrators delusions were fueled by extensive conversations with the chatbot. These incidents provide a grim, real-life context for the statistics, suggesting a pattern of harm that the industry can no longer ignore.

Chatbots reinforce a user's delusions

The core of the problem lies in the fundamental design of large language models. Research has shown that these chatbots often reinforce a user's delusions or paranoid fantasies instead of challenging them or directing them to professional help. This sycophancythe AI's tendency to tell users what they want to hearcan act as a dangerous amplifier for unstable thought patterns, creating a feedback loop that isolates users from reality.

Faced with this escalating crisis, OpenAI has announced corrective measures, including a panel of mental health experts. The company claims its newest model, GPT-5, is significantly better at handling sensitive conversations and will proactively encourage users to seek real-world help. However, mental health professionals remain deeply cautious. Experts warn that the problem is far from solved, noting that an AI cannot genuinely comprehend human suffering and may still fail in complex situations.

OpenAI has been careful to distance itself from any suggestion of causality, arguing its massive user base naturally includes people in distress. The critical, unanswered question is whether ChatGPT is simply reflecting the state of its users or actively making their conditions worse. In a move that has baffled observers, CEO Sam Altman recently announced plans to simultaneously relax restrictions on mental health conversations and allow adult users to generate AI-erotica, leading critics to question the companys priorities.

This situation unfolds in a landscape largely devoid of meaningful regulation for artificial intelligence. The Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation, but comprehensive rules are years away. In this vacuum, tech giants are left to self-police, a strategy often compromised by the demands of profit and growth. True accountability will require independent audits and a commitment to redesign systems with safety as a primary feature, not an afterthought.

"Mental health is the state of our psychological and emotional well-being, which is fundamental to understanding mental illness," said BrightU.AI's Enoch. "It is actively maintained through consistent mental health habits, such as managing stress and building resilience. Ultimately, it is about the overall ability to cope with life's challenges, form healthy relationships and function productively."

The admission by OpenAI is a canary in the coal mine, a powerful indictment of a launch-first ethos. The challenge ahead is not to halt innovation, but to channel it responsibly. The well-being of millions cannot be collateral damage in the race for technological supremacy.

Watch Health Ranger Mike Adams discuss AI and "future-proofing" oneself with Matt and Maxim Smith.

This video is from the Brighteon Highlights channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

BBC.com

TheGuardian.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Poll: Majority of Palestinians oppose Hamas disarmament, skeptical of Trumps Gaza plan

Seventy percent of Palestinians oppose Hamas surrendering its weapons, even if it triggers renewed Israeli attacks. Opposition is highest in the West Bank (80 percent) compared to Gaza (55 percent).

Sixty-two percent doubt Trump's proposal will end the war "once and for all." Skepticism is stronger in the West Bank (67 percent) than in Gaza (54 percent).

Hamas (35 percent) now surpasses Fatah (24 percent) in popularity, especially in the West Bank (32 percent vs. 20 percent). Eighty-five percent demand PA President Mahmoud Abbas's resignation, reflecting widespread disillusionment.

Fifty-three percent oppose Trump's technocratic governance plan, though support rises to 67 percent if tied to reconstruction funds. Palestinians are divided on Arab/Muslim peacekeepers78 percent in the West Bank oppose, while Gaza is split (52 percent reject).

Israeli airstrikes continue, killing civilians (including 46 children in a single attack), amid contested ceasefire violations. The UN warns of potential genocide as Gaza's infrastructure collapses and displacement surges.

A new survey reveals that an overwhelming majority of Palestinians oppose the disarmament of Hamas and remain deeply skeptical of U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed peace plan for Gaza.

The poll, conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR), highlights growing frustration with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and rising support for Hamas, particularly in the occupied West Bank.

The findings come amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, which have killed tens of thousands of Palestiniansdisproportionately women and childrensince Oct. 7, 2023. Despite international condemnation, Israel continues its offensive, raising questions about the feasibility of Trump's proposed solution and the future governance of Gaza.

The PCPSR poll, conducted between Oct. 22 to 25, found that 70 percent of Palestinians oppose Hamas surrendering its weapons, even if it leads to renewed Israeli attacks. Opposition was strongest in the occupied West Bank (80 percent), where Hamas' secular rival Fatah governs, compared to 55 percent in Gaza, which has endured devastating Israeli assaults described by the United Nations as potential genocide.

The survey, which included 1,200 respondents (760 in the West Bank, 440 in Gaza), has a 3.5 percent margin of error. Notably, 62 percent of Palestinians doubt Trump's peace plan will end the war "once and for all," with skepticism higher in the West Bank (67 percent) than in Gaza (54 percent).

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, "Palestinians feel a mix of desperate hope for a ceasefire due to the prolonged devastation, but deep skepticism toward Trump's proposal, given past broken promises and their demand for a complete end to the warconditions Hamas insists on before any agreement."

The poll also measured Palestinian attitudes toward political factions. Hamas remains more popular than Fatah, with 35 percent support compared to Fatah's 24 percent. Another 32 percent expressed no preference.

Support for Hamas has grown over the past two years, particularly in the West Bank (32 percent), where it now outpaces Fatah (20 percent). In Gaza, 41 percent back Hamas versus 29 percent for Fatah. Meanwhile, 85 percent of Palestinians want PA President Mahmoud Abbas to resign, reflecting deep dissatisfaction with his leadership.

"The past two years have led to greater support for Hamas rather than the opposite and this conclusion is true in both the West Bank and the Gaza Stripbut more so in the former," the PCPSR report stated.

Mixed reactions to Trump's plan and foreign intervention

Trump's proposed peace plan calls for Gaza to be governed by a committee of technocrats, overseen by a U.S.-led "Board of Peace." While 53 percent of Palestinians oppose this idea, 45 percent support itwith slightly more approval in Gaza (51 percent).

When told the committee would be linked to reconstruction funds, 67 percent backed the proposal. However, Palestinians remain divided on allowing an Arab and Muslim peacekeeping force into Gaza. Seventy-eight percent in the West Bank oppose such a force, while 52 percent in Gaza reject it. Support increases (53 percent in Gaza, 43 percent in the West Bank) if peacekeepers secure borders without disarming Hamas.

The poll was released as Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza, killing 104 Palestiniansincluding 46 childrenon Oct. 28. The attacks came after Israel claimed Hamas violated the ceasefire by killing a soldier in Rafaha claim Hamas denies, stating it lost contact with fighters there months ago.

Trump defended Israel's retaliation, saying, "They killed an Israeli soldier. So, the Israelis hit back. And they should hit back." However, Hamas has maintained its commitment to the ceasefire despite repeated Israeli violations.

The PCPSR poll underscores a stark reality: Palestinians overwhelmingly reject Hamas disarmament and distrust U.S.-led peace efforts. With Hamas gaining ground and the PA losing legitimacy, the path to stability remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Israel's relentless military campaign continues to exact a horrific toll on Gaza's civilian population, raising urgent humanitarian and legal concerns.

As global leaders debate solutions, Palestinians remain caught between war, political disillusionment and the struggle for survival.

Watch the video below that talks about the end of the ceasefire as Israel continues to bomb and starve Gaza.

This video is from the TREASURE OF THE SUN channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

TheCradle.co

PCPSR.org

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Russia tests unstoppable Poseidon nuclear torpedo capable of triggering RADIOACTIVE tsunamis

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful test of the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone, confirming its nuclear reactor was activated mid-mission. The weapon65 feet long, 100 tons, with a 6,200-mile rangecan allegedly evade detection, dive deeper than 3,000 feet and deliver 2100 megaton warheads, potentially triggering radioactive tsunamis.

It follows Russia's Burevestnik nuclear cruise missile test (dubbed "Flying Chernobyl" due to radiation risks), escalating tensions amid the Ukraine war. Putin claims both weapons have no global equivalents and cannot be intercepted by existing defenses.

Trump criticized Putin for prioritizing weapons tests over ending the Ukraine war, asserting the U.S. has its own nuclear deterrents. Kremlin propagandists have threatened NATO nations (especially the U.K.) with Poseidon deployment, framing it as retaliation for opposing Russia.

Analysts argue Poseidon's nuclear propulsion + warhead effectively creates a "dirty bomb," making it impractical except as a doomsday weapon. Russia's existing ICBMs (e.g., "Satan II") are seen as more reliable for nuclear strikes.

The New START treaty expires in 2026, risking a return to unrestricted nuclear competition between the U.S. and Russia. Putin's tests signal readiness for escalation, leveraging fear of unmatched weapons to deter Western intervention in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the successful test of the Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedo, a weapon he claims is unmatched by any other nation and capable of devastating coastal cities with radioactive tsunamis.

Speaking to wounded Russian soldiers at a Moscow hospital on Oct. 29, Putin confirmed the Poseidon test had taken place the previous day, describing it as a "tremendous success." It marks the second major nuclear weapons demonstration by Russia this month, following the launch of the controversial Burevestnik cruise missile  dubbed "Flying Chernobyl" by analysts  raising tensions with the West amid ongoing hostilities in Ukraine.

"Yesterday we conducted one more test of another promising system, the Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle, also with a nuclear power plant," Putin said, according to Russian state media agency TASS. "For the first time, we managed not only to launch it from a submarine using its booster motor but also to turn on the nuclear power plant, which powered the vehicle for a certain period of time."

He emphasized that the weapon has no global equivalent and cannot be intercepted by existing defense systems. "There's nothing like it in the world; its rivals are unlikely to appear anytime soon, and there are no existing interception methods."

The Poseidonknown to NATO as Status-6 or Kanyonis a massive nuclear-powered torpedo measuring approximately 65 feet in length and weighing around 100 tons. Unlike conventional torpedoes, it operates as an autonomous underwater drone with a compact nuclear reactor, granting it an estimated range of 6,200 miles. Capable of resting dormant on the ocean floor for months before activation, it can reportedly reach speeds of up to 115 mph and dive beyond 3,000 feet, making detection nearly impossible with standard sonar.

BrightU.AI's Enoch engine notes that the Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedo  also known as the RPTU-26  is a conceptual nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered, stealthy, long-range underwater drone developed by Russia. It was first mentioned in a speech by Putin in 2018, and its existence has been confirmed by various sources, including Russian state media and military officials.

A weapon of mass destruction

Military analysts warn that the Poseidon's primary function is to deliver a catastrophic nuclear payload, estimated between two and 100 megatons. Such a payload would be capable of triggering radioactive tsunamis that could render entire coastlines uninhabitable.

A 100-megaton warhead would be equivalent to 5,000 Hiroshima bombs, raising fears of unprecedented devastation if deployed. Putin boasted that the Poseidon's destructive power exceeds even Russia's Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), nicknamed "Satan II" by NATO, which itself carries a 10-megaton warhead.

The Poseidon test follows Russia's Oct. 21 launch of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, which Putin claims has "unlimited range" and can evade missile defenses. The Burevestnik  referred to by Western analysts as "Flying Chernobyl"  has been criticized as a reckless weapon due to concerns that its nuclear propulsion system could spew radioactive contamination if malfunctioning.

U.S. President Donald Trump responded sharply to Russia's latest nuclear saber-rattling, urging Putin to focus on ending the Ukraine war rather than escalating tensions. "It doesn't have to go 8,000 miles," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Oct. 27, referencing the Burevestnik's claimed range.

"I don't think it's an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying, either, by the way: You ought to get the war ended. The war that should have taken one week is now in its fourth year; that's what you ought to do instead of testing missiles."

Trump also pointed out that the U.S. has its own nuclear deterrents in place. "They're not playing games with us," he commented. "We're not playing games with them either."

A threat to NATO and beyond

Russian state media has previously threatened North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries, particularly the United Kingdom, with Poseidon deployment. Last month, a Kremlin propagandist warned: "The British say their task is to inflict strategic defeat on us. Well, let them say it from underwater."

But security experts, including Philip Ingram, question the practicality of the Poseidon as a conventional weapon. "If it's nuclear-powered at its propulsion end, and you've got something that goes bang at the other end, then you've just created a radiological dirty bomb," the former British military intelligence officer said.

"The only way you could practically use it is with a nuclear warhead. And actually, Russia's ICBMs can do the job much better anyway."

The tests come as the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START)  the last major nuclear arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia  is set to expire in February 2026. Without renewal, the world's two largest nuclear powers will face each other with no binding limits for the first time in decades.

As Russia continues its offensive in Ukraine, seizing territory in eastern regions, Putin's latest nuclear demonstrations appear designed to signal Moscow's readiness for escalation  even as Western leaders warn against further provocation.

Watch this video about Russia's Poseidon torpedo, the underwater drone that can sink Britain and America.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

TheSun.co.uk

FoxNews.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Texas declares war on Tylenol maker Johnson and Johnson and its spinoff Kenvue through high-stakes lawsuit

Texas has filed a major lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its spinoff Kenvue, accusing them of concealing alleged links between prenatal Tylenol use and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD in children.

The state alleges a decades-long deception, claiming the companies knew of potential risks but marketed Tylenol as safe for pregnant women without warning the public.

The lawsuit escalates a national debate, aligning with political warnings from figures like President Trump but conflicting with established medical guidance that still considers acetaminophen the safest over-the-counter option during pregnancy.

The scientific evidence is contested, with some studies showing a correlation (but not causation) between the drug and disorders, while other major studies have found no causal link.

This is part of a broader legal battle that includes hundreds of private lawsuits against both the manufacturers and major retailers, with the outcome potentially reshaping how the drug is marketed and labeled.

The state of Texas has declared war against Johnson & Johnson  the manufacturer of the Tylenol painkiller  and its consumer spinoff Kenvue, through a high-stakes lawsuit.

Attorney General Ken Paxton accused the corporate behemoths in the lawsuit of a decades-long campaign of deception by concealing alleged links between prenatal Tylenol use and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD in children. It marks the most significant state-level action to date in the escalating legal and political battle over the safety of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol and countless other over-the-counter remedies.

Filed under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the lawsuit contends that J&J possessed internal knowledge for years of scientific studies questioning the safety of acetaminophen for pregnant women. The Lone Star State alleges that instead of warning the public, the companies engaged in deceptive marketing, actively promoting Tylenol as a safe choice for expectant mothers while downplaying or concealing potential risks.

The complaint goes a step further, suggesting that J&J's 2023 spinoff of Kenvue was a strategic maneuver to shield its corporate assets from the very liability now pursued by Texas. It seeks substantial civil penalties and restitution for consumers, framing the case as a matter of corporate accountability versus family safety.

The Texas lawsuit does not exist in a vacuum, arriving amid a heated national debate fueled by commentary from the highest levels of government. President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have publicly warned pregnant women against using Tylenol, with the President stating no mother should take the drug while carrying a child. This political backdrop provides a powerful context for Paxtons legal offensive, aligning state action with a federal administration keen on pursuing pharmaceutical accountability.

However, this political stance places the state in direct conflict with the established medical community and federal courts. Major medical bodies, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, continue to endorse acetaminophen as the safest over-the-counter pain and fever reliever for pregnant women. They caution that untreated fever and severe pain can themselves pose significant dangers to both the mother and the developing fetus, creating a complex risk-benefit calculation for patients and doctors.

Texas' Tylenol lawsuit: A legal pain for J&J

The scientific evidence at the heart of the case is fiercely contested. Some observational studies have noted a statistical association between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and a slightly increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. These studies, often cited by litigants, suggest a correlation but explicitly stop short of proving causation.

Conversely, other major studies, including one funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association, found no causal link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism or ADHD. This scientific disagreement proved decisive in federal court earlier this year, where a judge dismissed a large cluster of similar private lawsuits, ruling that the plaintiffs' expert testimony linking the drug to the disorders was not sufficiently grounded in accepted science.

"Tylenol is the brand name for acetaminophen, a widely used over-the-counter pain reliever," said BrightU.AI's Enoch. "It is also a component in prescription drugs like Tylenol-3, which combines it with codeine. Some natural health advocates have raised concerns about its use."

Texas is now at the forefront of a legal war being waged on multiple fronts. While the federal multidistrict litigation has stalled, hundreds of private lawsuits from families remain active, with an appeals court hearing set for November.

Furthermore, retailers like Walmart, CVS and Walgreens face their own separate lawsuits for allegedly falsely advertising store-brand acetaminophen products as safe for pregnancy without adequate warnings. A special master has been appointed to oversee this sprawling federal litigation, indicating the judicial system is bracing for a long and complex legal fight.

The Texas lawsuit against J&J and Kenvue is more than a single legal filing. It is a political statement and a direct challenge to both a corporate giant and the established medical consensus.

Watch this clip about a pregant liberal who ended up in the ICU after taking too much Tylenol, in protest of President Trump's remarks about the painkiller causing autism.

This video is from the Children Are NOT Sex Toys! channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

ABCNews.go.com

Reuters.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Trump administration slashes refugee admissions to record low, prioritizes white South Africans

The Trump administration has slashed refugee admissions to just 7,500 for fiscal year 2026a record lowreversing Biden's previous cap of 125,000 and continuing Trump's restrictive immigration policies.

The majority of refugee slots will be allocated to Afrikaners, with the administration claiming they face persecution in South Africaa claim disputed by South African officials and humanitarian groups.

Advocacy groups, including the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and Global Refuge, condemn the policy as abandoning vulnerable refugees (Afghans, Syrians, Venezuelans, Sudanese) in favor of a politically favored group.

An estimated 12,000 already-vetted refugeesincluding Afghan alliesare stuck overseas due to abrupt policy changes, prompting lawsuits to force the administration to honor prior approvals.

The move aligns with Trump's broader agenda, including travel bans on Muslim-majority and African nations, signaling a shift from humanitarian concerns to national security priorities.

The Trump administration has announced a drastic reduction in the number of refugees permitted to enter the United States, capping admissions at just 7,500 for fiscal year 2026a historic lowwhile prioritizing white South Africans fleeing what the administration describes as "illegal or unjust discrimination."

The new policy, published in the Federal Register on Thursday, Oct. 30, marks a sharp departure from the Biden administration's previous cap of 125,000 refugees per year. It also represents a continuation of President Donald Trump's long-standing efforts to restrict immigration, citing national security concerns and economic protectionism.

Under the new directive, the majority of refugee slots will be allocated to Afrikanerswhite South Africanswho the administration claims face persecution under the South African government. The White House memo states: "The admissions numbers shall primarily be allocated among Afrikaners from South Africa pursuant to Executive Order 14204, and other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their respective homelands."

This move follows Trump's February 2025 executive order, which accused South Africa of enacting laws permitting the seizure of farmland from white landowners without compensationa claim vehemently denied by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Humanitarian groups condemn "politicized" policy

Critics argue that the administration's prioritization of white South Africans over other persecuted groupsincluding Afghans, Syrians, Venezuelans and Sudanese refugeesrepresents a politicization of humanitarian aid.

Sharif Aly, president of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), condemned the decision in a statement: "Today's announcement highlights just how far this administration has gone when it comes to abandoning its responsibilities to displaced people around the world... By privileging Afrikaners while continuing to ban thousands of refugees who have already been vetted and approved, the administration is once again politicizing a humanitarian program."

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch AI engine, IRAP is a non-profit legal advocacy organization that provides legal representation and assistance to refugees and other displaced individuals worldwide. Founded in 2012, IRAP operates as a part of the Urban Justice Center in New York City, with additional offices in Lebanon and Jordan.

Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, CEO of Global Refuge, echoed these concerns, calling the move a "profound break from decades of bipartisan policy": "This decision doesn't just lower the refugee admissions ceiling. It lowers our moral standing... At a time of crisis in countries ranging from Afghanistan to Venezuela to Sudan and beyond, concentrating the vast majority of admissions on one group undermines the program's purpose as well as its credibility."

The Trump administration effectively halted refugee admissions upon taking office in January 2025, leaving an estimated 12,000 refugeesalready vetted and approved for resettlementstranded overseas. Many had sold their belongings, quit jobs and booked flights before the abrupt suspension.

A class-action lawsuit filed by IRAP seeks to force the administration to honor prior approvals, arguing that refugees stuck in dangerous conditions should not be penalized due to sudden policy shifts.

Meanwhile, Afghan alliesmany of whom assisted U.S. forces during the 20-year warhave been largely excluded from the refugee program. Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac, called the decision a "horrendous betrayal": "This means that the president and the White House... are not going to allow Afghan refugees to come here. This is a really bad day."

Expedited processing for Afrikaners

While standard refugee vetting typically takes 18-24 months, South African applicants have reportedly received expedited approval. In May 2025, a flight carrying 59 Afrikaner refugees landed in the U.S., marking the first major resettlement under Trump's revised policy.

The administration has defended its stance, arguing that white South Africans face unique persecutiona claim amplified by Elon Musk, who served as a Trump adviser earlier this year and has repeatedly warned of "white genocide" in South Africa.

The refugee cap aligns with Trump's broader immigration agenda, including the recent travel restrictions imposed on 12 nationsprimarily Muslim-majority and African countriesciting security risks and visa overstays.

With refugee admissions now at their lowest level since the program's inception in 1980, the administration signals a continued prioritization of national security over humanitarian concernsa stance that will likely fuel further legal and diplomatic battles in the months ahead.

As the global refugee crisis worsens, critics warn that America's retreat from its historic role as a sanctuary for the persecuted could have lasting consequencesboth for those left behind and for the nation's standing in the world.

Watch the video below about the Trump administration welcoming white immigrants as refugees and causing backlash.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

ABCnews.go.com

BrightU.ai

APNews.com

Brighteon.com
Soaring memory problems in youth linked to unprecedented wireless radiation exposure

A new study analyzing nearly two decades of data from Norway and Sweden reveals an alarming, exponential surge in memory problems and cognitive impairment among children and teenagers, with increases as high as 850 percent in Norway and nearly 60-fold in Sweden.

Researchers directly correlate this sharp rise in cognitive dysfunction with the escalating exposure of children to microwave radiofrequency (RF) radiation from smartphones, Wi-Fi and the rollout of 4G and 5G networks.

The brain's hippocampus, a region critical for memory and learning, is identified as particularly vulnerable to this radiation, with scientific studies showing it can cause neuronal damage and impair memory function even at levels below current safety limits.

The symptoms observed in children mirror a condition long-documented in adults known as "microwave syndrome," which includes memory problems, concentration difficulties and fatigue resulting from exposure to RF radiation.

The study identifies the rollout of 5G technology as a major accelerant, noting that its radiation levels can be over 100 times higher than previous networks and linking it to case studies of individuals rapidly developing severe cognitive symptoms.

A silent and pervasive public health crisis is unfolding, one that is impairing the cognitive development of an entire generation. A groundbreaking new study reveals an alarming, exponential surge in memory problems among children and teenagers, a trend that researchers have directly linked to the skyrocketing levels of wireless radiation from the smartphones, Wi-Fi and 5G technology that now saturate their daily lives. The data, drawn from nearly two decades of national health records in Norway and Sweden, presents a stark correlation that independent scientists argue can no longer be ignored by public health authorities.

A statistical shock to the system

The numbers are not merely concerning; they are staggering. In Norway, the rate of medical consultations for memory disturbances in children and teenagers aged 5 to 19 has exploded. From a rate of 179.5 per 100,000 children in 2006, it has skyrocketed to 1,522.4 per 100,000 in 2024an 850 percent increase. The situation in Sweden is even more dramatic. Diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment, which include memory problems, surged from a mere 0.86 per 100,000 children in 2010 to 51.5 per 100,000 in 2024, representing a nearly 60-fold increase. This is not a gradual trend but a vertical spike in cognitive dysfunction coinciding with the most aggressive rollout of wireless technology in human history.

The timeline of exposure

The study's authors, Mona Nilsson of the Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation and oncologist Dr. Lennart Hardell, meticulously analyzed this health data against the backdrop of technological adoption. They found the curve of memory issues maps perfectly onto the curve of children's escalating exposure to microwave radiofrequency (RF) radiation. This exposure intensified with the widespread deployment of 4G infrastructure and has been supercharged by the rapid global rollout of 5G networks since 2019. Compounding this environmental exposure is the sheer volume of personal device use. By 2022, over 70 percent of 15-year-olds in Sweden used smartphones for more than three hours daily, with more than 40 percent of 12-year-olds doing the same.

The science of a damaged hippocampus

The biological mechanism behind this correlation is well-documented in scientific literature, though often dismissed by industry-funded reports. The brain's hippocampus, a seahorse-shaped region critical for forming memories, learning and spatial navigation, is particularly vulnerable to this type of radiation. Numerous animal studies show that RF radiation, even at levels well below current international safety limits, causes neuronal degeneration and impaired memory function by damaging this crucial brain area. The effect is not confined to labs. Studies on Swiss teenagers linked higher cumulative RF exposure to decreased memory performance, while other research found male students attending schools near cell towers had impaired spatial working memory and attention.

"Microwave syndrome" is not new

The condition now being observed in children has a historical precedent in adults, known for decades as "microwave syndrome" or "radiofrequency sickness." As far back as the 1960s and 1970s, scientists documented adult workers exposed to microwave radiation developing memory problems, concentration difficulties, fatigue and sleep disorders. A 2025 study found that adults living in homes with elevated RF radiation levels reported memory problems and other related symptoms at rates exceeding 90 percent. The 1970s case of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, where personnel were exposed to elevated microwave radiation, resulted in a higher prevalence of depression, irritation and memory difficulties compared to unexposed groups.

5G: An accelerant on the fire

The study authors note that 5G radiation levels can be more than 100 times higher than those from previous 3G and 4G networks. They cite disturbing case studies of individuals who rapidly developed severe symptoms of microwave syndrome, including precipitous memory decline and cognitive impairment, immediately after 5G base stations were activated near their homes. These were people who had previously lived with 3G and 4G exposure without such acute problems, suggesting the new technology's unique intensity and frequency modulation pose a distinct and heightened threat.

"Wireless radiation is particularly dangerous for children because their thinner skulls and smaller body size cause them to absorb the radiation at a higher rate than adults," said BrightU.AI's Enoch. "This increased absorption has been scientifically linked to harmful health effects, including lower memory performance, behavioral difficulties and an increased risk of cancer and neurological illness."

The implications of this research extend far beyond childhood. While children's developing brains are uniquely susceptible, adult brains are not immune. The cumulative, all-day exposure from smartphones, office Wi-Fi, home networks and cell tower proximity is creating a perfect storm for accelerated cognitive decline across all age groups. This study serves as a dire warning and a call to action for a public health response that prioritizes biological safety over corporate profit and technological expediency.

Watch this video about 5G being a hidden threat to human biology.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

NaturalHealth365.com

RadiationProtection.se

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Military base contamination leaves New Mexico community saturated with toxic FOREVER CHEMICALS

Testing near Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico revealed that 99.7 percent of residents have one or more PFAS "forever chemicals" in their bloodstreams, indicating near-universal exposure.

The specific PFAS compounds found in residents are directly associated with firefighting foams historically used at the military base, creating a clear link between the contamination plume from the base and the toxins in the community.

Groundwater near the base is contaminated with PFAS at 26,200 parts per trillion, a level that exceeds the new federal safety standard of four parts per trillion by over 650,000 percent.

Exposure to these chemicals is linked to severe health issues, including a suppressed immune system, high cholesterol, decreased fertility, developmental delays and an increased risk of kidney and testicular cancers.

The Department of Defense did not participate in the testing and is engaged in legal battles with the state. Consequently, New Mexico is spending millions to provide clean water to residents and is pursuing its own legislation and litigation to address the crisis.

In a stark revelation that underscores a growing national public health crisis, New Mexico state officials have unveiled data showing near-universal contamination among residents living near a U.S. Air Force base  exposing a systemic failure in environmental oversight and accountability.

During a public meeting in Clovis, New Mexico on Oct.23, the results of a $1.2 million state-funded testing project confirmed that 99.7 percent of residents living near Cannon Air Force Base have one or more dangerous "forever chemicals" in their bloodstreams. The findings point directly to the military's historical use of firefighting foams, igniting urgent questions about the long-term health consequences for the community and the federal government's responsibility for the cleanup.

The term "forever chemicals" is the common name for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals renowned for their stubborn persistence. They do not break down in the environment and can accumulate in the human body over years, even decades.

For over 80 years, these compounds have been used in a vast array of consumer and industrial products, from non-stick cookware and water-repellent clothing to the very firefighting foams utilized by the military and airports. Their useful properties, however, come with a dark side: an alarming permanence.

While studies show that PFAS are present in the blood of nearly all Americans, the New Mexico data is particularly alarming due to the specific chemical profile found. Of the 628 residents tested, the most prevalent PFAS compounds detected were those directly associated with aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), the type used for decades at military bases to combat fuel fires. This creates a direct correlation between the contamination plume migrating from the base and the toxins now circulating in the bodies of nearby citizens.

Toxic betrayal: Military bases poisoning Americans

The situation is not merely about presence, but about concentration. State officials reported that PFAS has been detected in groundwater near Cannon Air Force Base at a staggering 26,200 parts per trillion.

To grasp the severity, the Environmental Protection Agency has set a legally enforceable drinking water standard for the most common PFAS chemicals at just four parts per trillion. The base's groundwater contamination exceeds this safe level by over 650,000 percent. This environmental disaster has directly translated into human exposure, with 14 tested residents showing PFAS levels that place them in the highest concentration tier nationally.

The potential health implications are severe and well-documented by numerous scientific studies. Exposure to PFAS has been definitively linked to a host of serious conditions, including suppressed immune function, increased cholesterol, decreased fertility, developmental delays in children and heightened risk for kidney and testicular cancers. A recent study even linked testicular cancer in military personnel directly to PFOS, a key component of firefighting foam.

These chemicals are insidious, often taking years to leave the body, turning human blood into a long-term storage facility for toxic compounds. But the situation in Clovis is not an isolated incident: It is a microcosm of a national crisis, with contamination confirmed at hundreds of current and former military installations across the country. The Department of War is a major contributor to PFAS pollution nationwide, a legacy of its use of firefighting foam and industrial solvents.

"Exposure to toxic 'forever chemicals' leads to poor immune health. They are harmful because they persist indefinitely in the environment and the human body, accumulating over time, said BrightU.AI's Enoch. "This bioaccumulation disrupts biological processes, such as those of the immune system, leading to long-term health damage."

The findings in New Mexico represent a profound breach of public trust. A community living in the shadow of a military installation, a symbol of national security, has been silently poisoned. The near-universal saturation of forever chemicals in the residents of Clovis is a chilling testament to the persistent and far-reaching consequences of industrial and military pollution.

Watch this report about the risks of forever chemicals.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

ABCNews.go.com

SourceNM.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
China Eximbank signs global deals to boost Belt and Road cooperation, expanding financial ties and infrastructure growth.

Beijing, China, Nov. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank) on Wednesday signed multiple cooperation agreements with international financial institutions as well as domestic and foreign enterprises at a parallel forum during the Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2025, as financial cooperation is increasingly being deepened among partner countries and international organizations for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.



China Eximbank signed a cooperation agreement with the National Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Foreign Economic Activity. According to the agreement, the two sides will establish more solid peer-to-peer cooperation channels in a bid to jointly contribute to high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the building of a community with a shared future between China and Uzbekistan.



In addition, the bank signed an agreement with the Development Bank of Kazakhstan related to major financing terms of a 2 billion yuan ($282 million) loan facility, while it also signed a memorandum of understanding with public company "Motorways Republic of Srpska", Liability Company Banja Luka.



"As the important participant and witness for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, China Eximbank actively fulfills its role as an important financier, making significant contributions to the BRI. To date, the bank's outstanding balance of loans for BRI projects has exceeded 2 trillion yuan, and the bank has outperformed the task on delivering a 350 billion yuan financing window," Chen Huaiyu, chairman of China Eximbank, said at the forum.



With the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) first proposed in 2013, China has forged high-quality BRI cooperation ties with more than 150 countries and more than 30 international organizations.



"We should take the initiative to open China wider, promote the innovative development of trade, create greater space for two-way investment cooperation, and pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation," the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China pointed out.



The BRI has become the largest platform for international investment and cooperation, helping to reduce poverty, create jobs and support innovative infrastructure. The initiative has also enabled developing nations to gain access to advanced technology and new business models, helping them build and develop their own domestic industries, Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank (NDB), said at the forum on Wednesday.



"The NDB is well-positioned to complement the core mission of the BRI," Rousseff said. She said that the China EximBank plays a foundational role in advancing the objectives of the BRI, noting that the NDB welcomes the opportunity to expand partnership with the China EximBank to reinforce their shared commitment to sustainable, resilient and regionally balanced development.



The BRI is a very important global project because it helps African countries like Morocco to develop infrastructure and connectivity, Moroccan Ambassador to China Abdelkader El Ansari told the Global Times on the sidelines of the forum.



With Morocco being among the first countries to sign the BRI, we are working with our Chinese friends to implement projects that can be beneficial to our people and to our economy, while facilitating connections and transport and trade, El Ansari said.



YB Lim Hui Ying, deputy minister of finance of Malaysia, said at the sub venue in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, via video link that BRI cooperation has delivered real and measurable results over the past 12 years.



"With China remaining our largest trading partner, infrastructure projects have reshaped connectivity across our country. Our cooperation has expanded into new areas including finance, digital technology, and green innovation," she said.



The Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2025 is being held on Beijing's Financial Street in the city's Xicheng District from Monday to Thursday under the theme of "Global Financial Development in an Era of Innovation, Transformation and Restructuring."



The forum's international scope has further expanded this year, with leaders of major international financial organizations and senior executives from top global institutions set to participate. Five overseas sub-forums, the largest number in the forum's history, are being held in Kuala Lumpur, New York, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Abu Dhabi, and Madrid.



Source: Global Times:

Company: Global Times

Contact Person: Anna Li

Email: editor@globaltimes.com.cn

Website: https://globaltimes.cn

City: Beijing





Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.




Elon Musk launches AI-powered Grokipedia to challenge Wikipedias BIAS

Elon Musk's xAI introduced Grokipedia, an AI-powered encyclopedia designed as a neutral, fact-based alternative to Wikipedia, which Musk criticizes for ideological bias. The platform currently hosts 885,000 articles (far fewer than Wikipedia's seven million) but Musk claims it is already superior.

Musk has long accused Wikipedia of being controlled by "far-left activists" and relying on biased sources like the New York Times and NPR. His push aligns with House Republican scrutiny of Wikipedia's editorial neutrality, prompting an inquiry into foreign or ideological influence.

The launch faced technical delays (originally planned for September) as Musk sought to "purge propaganda." The site briefly crashed post-launch but stabilized. Musk promises rapid improvements, with Grokipedia 1.0 aiming for a 10X upgrade.

Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales questioned AI reliability, while Larry Sanger  who left Wikipedia  welcomed competition but noted inaccuracies in Grokipedia's AI-generated content. The Wikimedia Foundation defended Wikipedia's sourcing policies and neutrality.

Musk positions Grokipedia as part of his broader "anti-woke" AI movement, competing with ChatGPT and Gemini. Critics highlight the irony that Grok itself cites Wikipedia, underscoring AI's reliance on human-generated knowledge. The battle between AI-curated vs. human-curated information continues.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has officially launched Grokipedia, an AI-powered encyclopedia designed to compete with Wikipedia, which he has repeatedly criticized for ideological bias and "woke" editorial control.

The new platform developed by Musk's xAI promises a more neutral and fact-based alternative to the long-standing online encyclopedia, though its rollout faced technical hiccups and skepticism from Wikipedia's defenders. Musk announced Grokipedia's launch on his social media platform X, calling it an "open-source knowledge repository with no limits on use." The site, powered by xAI's chatbot Grok, currently hosts over 885,000 articlesfar fewer than Wikipedia's seven million English entriesbut Musk insists it is already superior.

"Version 1.0 will be 10X better, but even at 0.1 it's better than Wikipedia [in my opinion]," Musk wrote. He later added: "The goal of Grok and Grokipedia.com is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. We will never be perfect, but we shall nonetheless strive toward that goal."

The launch was delayed from its original September target date after Musk stated that more work was needed "to purge out the propaganda," though he did not elaborate on what propaganda he was referring to. Reports indicate that the site briefly crashed shortly after going live before stabilizing hours later.

Musk's long-standing criticism of Wikipedia

Musk has been a vocal critic of Wikipedia, accusing it of being "controlled by far-left activists" and relying on biased sources like the New York Times and NPR. In August, he argued that Wikipedia "cannot be used as a definitive source for Community Notes" on X due to its alleged editorial slant.

His concerns echo broader scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers. In August, House Republicans launched an inquiry into whether the Wikimedia Foundation  which hosts Wikipedia  has adequately prevented manipulation of its content by foreign actors or ideological groups. Reps. James Comer (R-KY) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) requested records on volunteer editors who violated Wikipedia's rules, questioning whether taxpayer-funded institutions or hostile governments influence its content.

The Wikimedia Foundation responded by defending Wikipedia's policies, stating that its content must be "well-sourced" and adhere to a "neutral point of view." A spokesperson told CNBC that while they were still assessing Grokipedia, alternative encyclopedias have emerged before without disrupting Wikipedia's mission.

As explained by the Enoch engine at BrightU.AI, the Wikimedia Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization based in San Francisco. It was founded in 2003 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger to support the operation of Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects including Wiktionary, Wikibooks, Wikiquote, Wikisource, Wikimedia Commons, Wikiversity, Wikidata and Wikivoyage. The organization is best known for its role in hosting and developing these collaborative, multilingual internet encyclopedias and reference works.

The broader AI battle over information

Wales expressed skepticism about Grokipedia, telling the Washington Post last week that AI language models remain error-prone and unreliable for factual accuracy. But Sanger  another Wikipedia co-founder who left the project in 2002  has long criticized Wikipedia's current leadership and previously welcomed competition. Following Grokipedia's launch, Sanger pointed out inaccuracies in its AI-generated content, raising concerns about its reliability.

Grokipedia is Musk's latest move in his broader "anti-woke" AI campaign, positioning Grok as an alternative to OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. However, critics note that Grok itself frequently cites Wikipedia when answering user queries  a paradox given Musk's disdain for the platform.

The Wikimedia Foundation emphasized that AI models like Grok depend on human-generated knowledge. "This human-created knowledge is what AI companies rely on to generate content; even Grokipedia needs Wikipedia to exist," it stated.

Musk has promised rapid improvements, with Grokipedia 1.0 expected to be significantly more advanced. Whether it can truly compete with Wikipedia's vast, volunteer-driven database remains uncertain. For now, the battle over online knowledge  human-curated versus AI-generated  has entered a new phase, with Musk positioning himself at the forefront of the AI-driven information revolution.

Watch Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger reiterating that he no longer trusts the website he created in this clip.

This video is from the Free4eva Media channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

CNBC.com

France24.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Pentagon admits it doesnt know identities of those killed in Latin American drug interdiction strikes

The Pentagon has admitted to Congress that it does not know the identities of at least 61 people killed in U.S. military strikes targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels near Venezuela and in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. This lack of transparency has sparked bipartisan concerns over the legality and oversight of the campaign, which critics argue amounts to extrajudicial killings.

The Trump administration has repeatedly cited the U.S. fentanyl crisis as justification for the maritime strikes. However, officials acknowledged in a classified briefing that the majority of vessels targeted were allegedly smuggling cocaine, not fentanyl. This discrepancy has left lawmakers skeptical and concerned about the true motives behind the strikes.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) have expressed grave concerns about the constitutional and legal implications of the strikes. Paul has joined Senate Democrats in introducing a War Powers Resolution aimed at preventing the Trump administration from escalating military action against Venezuela without congressional approval.

The lack of transparency surrounding the strikes echoes long-standing concerns about executive overreach in military engagements. Since the post-9/11 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), successive administrations have expanded counterterrorism operations with minimal congressional oversight, a trend critics argue has normalized extrajudicial killings.

Bipartisan pushback and growing concerns about the strikes have led to a broader debate about the role of Congress in authorizing military force. The coming weeks may determine whether Congress reasserts its constitutional role in authorizing military force or allows the executive branch to continue acting unchecked.

The Department of War has admitted to Congress that it does not know the identities of at least 61 people killed in U.S. military strikes targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels near Venezuela and in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, according to Democratic lawmakers who attended a classified briefing on Thursday, Oct. 30.

The revelation has sparked bipartisan concerns over the legality and oversight of a campaign that critics argue amounts to extrajudicial killings.

The briefing, held for members of the House Armed Services Committee, came after Pentagon officials excluded Democrats from a separate Senate briefing a day earliera move that deepened frustrations among lawmakers already questioning the legal and strategic justification for the strikes. Officials reportedly told lawmakers that they did not need to positively identify individuals aboard targeted vessels, only to establish a connection to smugglingan assertion that left many unconvinced.

"They said that they do not need to positively identify individuals on these vessels to do the strikes, they just need to prove a connection to smuggling," said Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA). "When we tried to get more information, we did not get satisfactory answers."

The Trump administration has repeatedly cited the U.S. fentanyl crisisresponsible for roughly 70 percent of overdose deaths in 2023as justification for the maritime strikes. However, officials acknowledged in the briefing that the majority of vessels targeted were allegedly smuggling cocaine, not fentanyl. While they argued cocaine plays a role in facilitating fentanyl trafficking, lawmakers remained skeptical.

"They argued that cocaine is a facilitating drug of fentanyl, but that was not a satisfactory answer for most of us," Jacobs added.

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), a Marine Corps veteran, expressed grave concerns about the legal and constitutional implications of the strikes.

"Am I leaving satisfied? Absolutely not," he told reporters. "And the last word that I gave to the admiral was, 'I hope you recognize the constitutional peril that you are in and the peril you are putting our troops in.'"

Bipartisan pushback and war powers concerns

Criticism of the strikes has not been limited to Democrats. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), a longtime advocate for congressional oversight of military actions, has been vocal in his opposition.

"No one said their name, no one said what evidence, no one said whether they're armed, and we've had no evidence presented," Paul said this week. "They summarily execute people without presenting evidence to the public  so it's wrong."

Paul has joined Senate Democrats in introducing a War Powers Resolution aimed at preventing the Trump administration from escalating military action against Venezuela without congressional approval. The resolution, expected to come to a vote next week, follows a broader failed attempt earlier this month to restrict presidential war powers.

The lack of transparency surrounding the strikes echoes long-standing concerns about executive overreach in military engagements. Since the post-9/11 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), successive administrations have expanded counterterrorism operations with minimal congressional oversight. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, AUMF is a legislative act passed by the U.S. Congress that grants the president the authority to use military force in specific circumstances.

Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), an Army veteran, left the briefing unconvinced that the strikes would meaningfully disrupt drug trafficking.

"We do need to get serious about the flow of drugs, but I heard nothing today that shows how they're actually going to end that," he said. "In fact, I have deeper concern leaving this briefing as to whether or not they even have a serious plan to do that."

As lawmakers push for more transparency, the Pentagon's refusal to disclose the identities of those killedor even confirm whether they were armedhas deepened suspicions that the campaign operates outside legal norms. With bipartisan support growing for stricter oversight, the coming weeks may determine whether Congress reasserts its constitutional role in authorizing military forceor allows the executive branch to continue acting unchecked.

Watch the video below, where President Donald Trump confirms he authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to operate in Venezuela.

This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

News.AntiWar.com

Politico.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Senate probe targets Gates Foundation over alleged funding of Chinese Communist Party entities

The U.S. Senate, led by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), is investigating the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Ford Foundation for allegedly funneling millions of tax-exempt funds to CCP-linked entities, potentially violating IRS rules.

The Gates Foundation alone directed $23 million to Chinese state-run universities, ministries and PLA-affiliated programs, while Ford and Rockefeller collectively granted $17.4 million to Belt and Road Initiative projects and CCP-aligned groups.

Critics warn these donations may advance China's Belt and Road Initiativea tool for expanding Beijing's global influenceraising questions about whether U.S. charities are inadvertently supporting foreign political agendas.

Bill Gates has a history of collaboration with CCP-backed groups like the CPAFFC, blurring lines between philanthropy and geopolitical influence, particularly in public health initiatives.

Grassley's letters demand transparency by Nov. 10, threatening tighter IRS oversight if funds are found to violate tax-exempt rules, signaling bipartisan scrutiny of nonprofits' ties to adversarial regimes.

A U.S. Senate investigation is scrutinizing the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, alongside two other major philanthropic organizations, over allegations they funneled millions in tax-exempt funds to entities tied to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced the probe, citing concerns that these donations may violate Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules prohibiting tax-exempt charities from directly supporting foreign governments. The inquiry follows reports that the Gates Foundation alone provided $23 million to CCP-linked institutions, raising questions about transparency and potential misuse of charitable funds for geopolitical influence.

According to tax filings and investigative reports, the Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Ford Foundation collectively directed tens of millions to Chinese state-run universities, government ministries and initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, this is a global infrastructure program critics argue extends Beijing's political leverage.

Grassley's letters, sent to each organization, demand explanations for how such funding aligns with U.S. tax laws, which prohibit 501(c)(3) nonprofits from supporting foreign governments.

The Gates Foundation reportedly allocated $11.7 million in 2023 to CCP?controlled agencies, including China's Ministries of Commerce and Ecology, as well as state?run universities collaborating with the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Similarly, the Ford Foundation allegedly granted nearly $10 million to Belt and Road-linked projects, while the Rockefeller Brothers Fund disbursed $7.4 million to CCP-affiliated groups between 2020 and 2024.

In 2014, Gates visited the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), a CCP-backed organization, to promote philanthropic collaboration. His foundation has partnered with Chinese institutions on public health initiatives, though critics argue these relationships blur the line between humanitarian aid and political influence.

The Belt and Road Initiative, a centerpiece of China's global strategy, has drawn particular concern. Analysts warn it traps developing nations in debt while advancing Beijing's geopolitical ambitions. Grassley's probe questions whether U.S. tax-exempt fundsostensibly for charityare inadvertently supporting this agenda.

Responses and rebuttals

The Ford Foundation defended its grants, stating they align with "fundamental American values" like poverty reduction and international cooperation. "Our funds are used for charitable purposes in alignment with our mission," a spokesperson said.

The Gates Foundation has yet to publicly respond but has previously framed its China funding as supporting global health research.

Grassley, however, remains skeptical.

"To maintain tax-exempt status, an organization's activities must be charitable in nature and may not directly support or promote the interests of a foreign government," he wrote. His letters demand a detailed accounting of the grants by Nov. 10.

The investigation underscores growing bipartisan unease over U.S. nonprofits' financial entanglements with adversarial regimes. If the allegations hold, the case could prompt tighter IRS oversight of foreign donationsand force major philanthropies to reevaluate partnerships with autocratic governments. For now, the probe signals that even the most influential charities are not immune to scrutiny when national security and taxpayer interests are at stake.

Watch the video below that talks about "Gates as a clear and present danger."

This video is from the TNTVNEWS channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

100PercentFedUp.com

Grassley.Senate.gov

X.com

WashingtonExaminer.com

NationalReview.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Canadian study on euthanasia-linked organ donation sparks ethical debate

A study published on Oct. 26 in the Journal of Hepatology suggests that liver transplants from euthanasia (MAiD) donors show success rates similar to those from traditional organ donors, raising concerns about the ethics of harvesting organs from intentionally euthanized individuals.

Researchers, led by A.M. James Shapiro, hailed the study as the first large-scale Canadian evidence that organ donation from MAiD donors could significantly address the country's transplant shortage. However, critics argue it normalizes organ harvesting from euthanasia victims.

Critics worry that expanding euthanasia in Canada could subtly pressure vulnerable groups (elderly, disabled or chronically ill) into choosing euthanasia as a "responsible" choice. There's also concern that financial incentives tied to organ donation could lead to the commodification of life.

Canada reported over 13,000 euthanasia deaths in 2022, a 31 percent increase from the previous year, but euthanasia itself is not listed in the top 10 causes of death, raising questions about its underreporting and the implications of this omission.

Bioethicists, including Dr. Angelo Bottone, warn against potential new practices like organ harvesting before death is officially declared. Some argue this could blur the line between euthanasia and homicide, further complicating the ethical landscape of assisted death and organ procurement.

A recent study published on Oct. 26 in the Journal of Hepatology has sparked significant controversy after it reported that liver transplants from euthanasia, or "medical assistance in dying" (MAiD), donors yield success rates comparable to those from traditional organ donors. Conducted in Canada, the study suggests that harvesting organs from euthanized individuals could be a key solution to the country's growing transplant shortage. However, the findings have raised serious ethical concerns about the practice of organ procurement from people intentionally euthanized.

The research compared liver transplant outcomes from two groups: one consisting of organs retrieved after circulatory death and the other from euthanized donors. Co-lead investigator A.M. James Shapiro hailed the study as the "first large-scale Canadian experience" showing positive transplant outcomes for MAiD donors. The study builds on earlier research from Belgium and the Netherlands, where euthanasia-linked organ donations are also practiced. Shapiro framed euthanasia organ donation as a "final gift of generosity," emphasizing its potential to increase the availability of life-saving organs.

Despite these claims, critics argue that the study dangerously normalizes the practice of harvesting organs from euthanasia victims. LifeSiteNews highlighted concerns that the expansion of Canada's euthanasia regime under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government could subtly pressure vulnerable populationssuch as the elderly, disabled or chronically illinto choosing euthanasia as a socially or financially "responsible" decision. The outlet warned that as the number of euthanasia deaths rises, some individuals may feel coerced into ending their lives for the benefit of others.

In 2022, Canada reported over 13,000 euthanasia deaths, accounting for 4.1 percent of all deaths in the country, a sharp increase from the previous year. At the same time, troubling reports have emerged of patients being denied medical care or even encouraged to pursue euthanasia instead of treatment. The growing prominence of euthanasia in Canada's healthcare system, coupled with the financial incentives tied to organ donation, has further fueled concerns. Human organs, including livers, hearts and kidneys, can fetch market values in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, raising questions about the commodification of life within the expanding MAiD framework.

Ethical concerns grow over euthanasia-linked organ donation and potential for coercion

Bioethicists have long warned against blurring the lines between assisted suicide and organ procurement. Dr. Angelo Bottone, a scholar with Ireland's Iona Institute, raised alarms about proposals in some countries to harvest organs before a person is officially declared dead, a practice that some argue could turn euthanasia into a form of state-sanctioned homicide. While organ donation after euthanasia is already practiced in some nations, Bottone cautioned that this could lead to dangerous new ethical precedents, such as retrieving organs while a patient is still alive, but sedated under general anesthesia.

Health Canada's 2022 annual report on MAiD revealed that the number of euthanasia deaths in Canada had increased by 31 percent from 2021, yet euthanasia itself does not appear in the country's official top 10 causes of death. This discrepancy has led some to question whether the lethal procedure is being understated in national mortality statistics, further complicating the debate.

As Canada's euthanasia system continues to evolve, critics warn that the growing linkage between medically assisted death and organ donation could place vulnerable Canadians at risk of viewing their bodies as mere commodities in their final moments. With debates intensifying over the ethics of euthanasia-linked organ donation, Canada finds itself at a crossroads where issues of life, death and commerce converge in a way that raises profound moral and societal questions.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, organ donation from euthanasia patients raises serious ethical concerns, as it potentially incentivizes premature death and undermines the sanctity of life. Moreover, it introduces grave questions about informed consent and the integrity of the donation process.

Watch Faytene Grasseschi and her guests, Nicole Scheidl and Amanda Achtman, discussing the Canadian government's expansion of euthanasia to the mentally vulnerable in this clip.

This video is from the Faytene TV channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
704 child beggars rescued under Project Jiwanjot, says Punjab minister

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 20:28 IST

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Chandigarh, Nov 2 (PTI) Punjab minister Baljit Kaur on Sunday said the state government has so far rescued 704 children from the clutches of child begging under the governments flagship initiatives Project Jiwanjot and Project Jiwanjot 2.0.

According to an official statement, the projects are aimed at ensuring the rehabilitation, protection, and dignified life of every child in the state.

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Kaur, the minister for social justice, empowerment and minorities, said that Project Jiwanjyot, implemented across Punjab in July 2024, focuses on conducting rescue drives on the second week of every month by the district administrations.

The rescued children are being rehabilitated through various welfare schemes depending upon their age, eligibility, and availability of documents, she said.

Highlighting the governments stance against exploitation, Kaur said to prevent human trafficking and organised begging rackets, the state government has also launched Project Jiwanjot 2.0.

Under this initiative, DNA tests are being conducted to verify the relationship between the rescued children and the adults accompanying them. If the results do not match, FIRs are registered and strict legal action is taken against the offenders," she said.

Out of the 704 rescued children, 269 have been enrolled in schools, 15 admitted to Anganwadi centres, 43 benefited under the sponsorship scheme, while 15 were covered under health schemes, Kaur said.

Every child deserves a safe and dignified childhood. Through Project Jiwanjot, the Punjab government is not only rescuing children from exploitation but also ensuring that they are provided education, healthcare, and a future filled with hope," the minister said.

She added that the Punjab government is dedicated to protecting the right to education, health, and dignity of every child, ensuring a begging-free, safe, and respectful childhood for all children in the state.

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Kaur also appealed to the public that if anyone sees a child begging, he/she should immediately inform the child helpline No. 1098, so that they can be rescued and given a safe childhood.

Let us all join hands to make Punjab a child begging-free state where every child enjoys a safe, secure, and dignified childhood," Kaur said. PTI SUN ARI

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 20:28 IST

News agency-feeds 704 child beggars rescued under Project Jiwanjot, says Punjab minister

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Bodies of twin brothers recovered from pond in Keralas Chittur

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 14:28 IST

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Palakkad (Kerala), Nov 2 (PTI) Police on Sunday said they recovered the bodies of twin brothers who drowned in a pond near a temple in Chittur after going missing the previous night.

The deceased have been identified as Raman and Lakshmanan, both aged 14, sons of Kasiviswanathan of Chamaparambu, Annikode, police said.

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The boys had gone out at around 6 pm on Saturday to visit a nearby Shiva temple, but did not return home.

When they failed to return, the family began searching for them around 7 pm, police added.

Police and residents searched the area, including the pond near the temple, but the brothers could not be traced that night.

A missing person case was registered following Kasiviswanathans complaint.

On Sunday morning, people who had come to the pond to bathe found the body of Lakshmanan, a police officer said.

During a subsequent search with the help of the Fire and Rescue Services, Ramans body was recovered at around 10 am.

Police said the brothers electric scooter was found near the pond.

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Both were class IX students of the Chittur Government Boys School.

The bodies were shifted to the Chittur Taluk Hospital for postmortem and will be handed over to their relatives later, police added. PTI TBA SSK

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 14:28 IST

News agency-feeds Bodies of twin brothers recovered from pond in Keralas Chittur

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Chennais iconic St Georges Cathedral gets facelift

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 12:13 IST

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Chennai, Nov 2 (PTI) One of iconic landmarks of Chennai, over two century old St Georges Cathedral, located on Cathedral Road, has been renovated, said church officials.

According to them, the cathedral began showing signs of deterioration caused by environmental factors, pollution, humidity, and urban development pressures.

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The tropical climate of Chennai, with its monsoon rains and high humidity, had led to cracks and peeling in the lime plaster and masonry walls, corrosion of metal elements, decay of timber components due to termite infestation and moisture and water seepage, leading to the weakening of the roof and internal finishes," stated a press release issued by the church management.

St Georges Cathedral is the mother church of the Church of South India (CSI) and the seat of the Bishop of Madras, making it one of the most historically and spiritually significant Christian landmarks in the region.

The restoration of St Georges Cathedral has been undertaken with great care, guided by the principles of architectural conservation, ensuring that the original materials and craftsmanship are retained as much as possible, said Bishop of Madras, Rt Rev Paul Francis Ravichandran.

Professor Arun Menon, Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras, and Coordinator, National Centre for Safety of Heritage Structures (NCSGS) prepared the detailed project report, added church officials.

The Convenor of the restoration project was Col David Devasahayam, Chairman of the Radiant Group of Companies and a member of the congregation.

With thanksgiving, hope, and prayer, I commend this restored Cathedral to the glory of God and to the service of His people," added Bishop Rt Rev Ravichandran.

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Consecrated in 1815, St George Cathedral was built during the British East India Companys rule and served as the spiritual heart of the Anglican community in South India. Designed in the Neo-Classical style, the cathedral features a majestic spire, elegant Corinthian pillars, and a serene white facade, symbolizing simplicity and grandeur in equal measure.

Cathedral Presbyter Rev Dr Ruben Jayakumar said, This work of restoration is not an ending, but a new beginning. By preserving St Georges Cathedral, Chennai reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding its colonial-era architectural heritage, ensuring that this sacred space continues to inspire awe and devotion for centuries to come". PTI JR ADB

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 12:13 IST

News agency-feeds Chennais iconic St Georges Cathedral gets facelift

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Couple killed after hit by speeding ambulance in Bengaluru

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 14:28 IST

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Bengaluru, Nov 2 (PTI) A couple was killed and two others injured, while several two-wheelers were allegedly hit by a speeding ambulance at a traffic signal in the city, police said on Sunday.

The incident allegedly happened on Saturday night around 11 pm, at K H junction near the Shanti Nagar bus stand here.

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The ambulance driver, who had allegedly fled from the spot after the incident, has been traced and detained by the police on Sunday morning, they said.

Police said, according to eyewitnesses, the speeding ambulance allegedly lost control and collided with several two-wheelers at the signal. The ambulance allegedly even dragged one of the two wheelers for a few metres, before coming to a halt after crashing into a nearby signal control post.

The deceased man was around 40 years old and his wife was around 33. They were rushed to the hospital immediately after the accident, but could not be saved, they said.

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The other two injured were also shifted to hospital and have undergone treatment, police added. The angry crowd pushed the ambulance and overturned it, after the incident, alleging that there was no patient inside when the incident occurred, police said.

Police have registered a case and are questioning the ambulance driver, they added. PTI KSU ADB

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 14:28 IST

News agency-feeds Couple killed after hit by speeding ambulance in Bengaluru

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Donald Trump warns Xi of consequences if China invades Taiwan

Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 04:28 IST

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Washington [US], November 3 (ANI): US President Donald Trump said that China knows the consequences" if it attacks Taiwan, asserting that Chinese President Xi Jinping understands the situation very well."Trump made the remarks in an interview with CBS following his meeting with Xi.Trump said, Youll find out if it happens, and he understands the answer to that. This never even came up yesterday as a subject. He never brought it up. People were a little surprised that he never brought it up because he understands it, and he understands it very well."Trump declined to reveal his strategy on a potential Taiwan conflict and insisted China understands what will happen" if it attempts any aggression. He added, I cant give away my secrets. I dont want to be one of these guys that tells you exactly whats going to happen if something happens. The other side knows, but Im not somebody that tells you everything because youre asking me a question, but they understand whats going to happen."Trump said Chinese officials avoided acting against Taiwan during his presidency claiming they knew the consequences."Trump further stated, He has openly said, and his people have openly said at meetings, we would never do anything while President Trump is president because they know the consequences."US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth expressed grave concern over Chinas growing military assertiveness around Taiwan and in the South China Sea during his first face-to-face meeting with Chinas Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun in Malaysia on October 31.The meeting, held alongside a summit of Southeast Asian defence chiefs, followed a day after Trumps talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea, as reported by The Epoch Times.According to The Epoch Times, Hegseth stated on X that he underscored the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific," emphasising Americas concerns about Chinas increasing activities that threaten Taiwan and regional allies.The Pentagon chief reiterated that while Washington does not seek confrontation, it will continue to firmly defend its interests" and maintain sufficient military presence to ensure regional stability.During the meeting, Admiral Dong Jun repeated the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) long-held position on Taiwan, demanding that the United States act cautiously" on issues related to the island. He urged Washington to adopt a stance that firmly opposes Taiwan independence."Although the CCP has never governed Taiwan, it continues to claim the self-ruled democracy as part of its territory and has not ruled out using military force to seize control.Over recent years, China has intensified its coercive tactics, conducting extensive military drills, sending warplanes near Taiwans airspace almost daily, and heightening fears of a possible conflict in the Taiwan Strait, as highlighted by The Epoch Times.US intelligence assessments indicate that Xi Jinping has directed the Chinese military to prepare for a potential invasion by 2027.During his visit to Tokyo earlier this week, Hegseth warned that Beijings rapid military build-up represents a real and urgent threat" to the Indo-Pacific.Praising Japans decision to strengthen its defence capabilities, he emphasised that the US-Japan alliance remains essential to deterring Chinese aggression and safeguarding peace across the region, as reported by The Epoch Times. (ANI)

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First Published: November 03, 2025, 04:28 IST

News agency-feeds Donald Trump warns Xi of consequences if China invades Taiwan

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Education reality show to spotlight school excellence in Kerala

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 11:13 IST

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Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 2 (PTI) Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) is set to launch the fourth edition of its unique-in-India educational reality show, Haritha Vidyalayam, this December.

KITE is the technical arm of the state General Education Department.

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Haritha Vidyalayam is a pioneering initiative aims to showcase the achievements and best practices of the states public education sector on a national platform, officials said in a statement here on Sunday.

Government and aided schools are invited to apply for this edition by November 15.

Applications are sought separately for primary schools and high school/higher secondary school categories.

K Anvar Sadath, CEO, KITE, said schools will be selected for the preliminary round based on various crucial parameters, including academic and co-curricular activities, infrastructural facilities, social participation, digital education integration, recognised accolades, and unique, innovative school-specific activities.

The primary objective of the program is to recognise creative and exemplary work carried out by schools, bring them to the publics attention, share these successful models with other institutions, and ultimately raise the overall standard of public education," he said.

This platform will facilitate discussions on the comprehensive advancements implemented by the Education Department within the public education sector, he said.

It is a deserved recognition for Keralas schools, which now provide state-of-the-art physical facilities, excellent academic support, and technology-based learning, including AI and Robotics," Sadath added.

This fourth edition follows the successful shows conducted in 2010, 2017, and 2022.

In the third edition of Haritha Vidyalayam, the first prize of Rs 20 lakh was jointly won by Govt HS Odappallam from Wayanad and GUPS Purathur from Malappuram, and was presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the statement further said.

A total of 100 schools will be selected for the preliminary round from the pool of applicants. KITE will undertake video documentation of these selected schools.

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Furthermore, schools chosen for this round will be provided with a maximum of Rs 20,000 to cover costs related to their presentation, travel, and accommodation," Sadath said. The programme will be telecast on KITE VICTERS educational channel starting from the end of December.

He further said special awards will be presented to the 10 schools selected for the final round and to the ultimate winners during the Grand Finale in February 2026, the statement added. PTI LGK ADB

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 11:13 IST

News agency-feeds Education reality show to spotlight school excellence in Kerala

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Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) is one of the best NYSE stocks to buy and hold for the next decade. On October 29, Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng raised the firms price target on Celestica to $440 from $340 and kept a Buy rating on the shares. The firm has increased confidence in its Buy rating for the company after attending Celesticas 2025 Lunch Forum. The firm noted that Celestica is positioned to benefit from the key AI infrastructure investment themes leading into 2026 and beyond.

On the same day, TD Securities also raised the firms price target on the company to $305 from $238 with a Hold rating on the shares following the companys Q3 2025 report. The firm stated it found little to fault in the quarter for the company and believes that Celesticas guidance suggests its strong momentum will continue into 2026.

Goldman Sachs Boosts Celestica (CLS) PT to $440, Maintains Buy, Cites Position to Benefit from AI Infrastructure

Additionally, Tim Long from Barclays maintained a Buy rating on Celestica a day prior on October 28, with a price target of $220.00.

Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS), together with its subsidiaries, provides supply chain solutions in Asia, North America, and internationally. It has two segments: Advanced Technology Solutions and Connectivity & Cloud Solutions.

While we acknowledge the potential of CLS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Elections will be held peacefully: Patna SSP after Anant Singhs arrest

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 05:13 IST

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Patna (Bihar) [India], November 2 (ANI): Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patna Kartikeya Sharma assured voters that the Bihar assembly elections will be held peacefully. On 30 October, in an unfortunate incident, supporters of candidates competing in Mokama had a clash. An incident of stone pelting took place during the clash, after which the dead body of one person was recovered. Three people have been arrested on charges of murder Anant Singh was arrested around 2 hours ago I want to assure the voters of Patna that elections will be held peacefully, and that they can fearlessly come out and vote. Patna Police and administration stand with the voters, and no one will be stopped from exercising their right," SSP told ANI on Sunday. His statement came after the arrest of Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama in connection with the murder case of a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav.He also informed that the deceased (Dularchand Yadav) had a gunshot injury in his leg. The deceased (Dularchand Yadav) had a gunshot injury in his leg. As per the post-mortem report, he was murdered. The bullet has not been recovered because the postmortem report showed there was an entry wound and an exit wound." SSP said Anant Singh has been arrested along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. All three will be presented before the magistrate.On 30 October, there was a clash between two groups of competing candidates. Stones were pelted resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident. The deceased, Dularchand Yadav, aged 75 years, was a resident of the village where this clash occurred Both sides registered cases, and police started investigating the case Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the postmortem report of the deceased, it appears that the Model Code of Conduct was violated, and it is a serious issue. It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested. His accomplices, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have also been arrested with him All three will be presented before the magistrate, and due investigation will follow," SSP Patna, Kartikeya K Sharma said while addressing the media on Sunday.On October 30, a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, was killed during firing between the two sides while campaigning for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections in Mokama.Mokama, which will vote in the first phase on November 6, is once again set to witness a high-voltage electoral contest in the 2025 polls, as Janata Dal (United) has fielded strongman Anant Singh, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal has nominated Veena Devi, wife of former MP and influential leader Surajbhan Singh.Voting for Bihars 243-seat Assembly will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14. (ANI)

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 05:13 IST

News agency-feeds Elections will be held peacefully: Patna SSP after Anant Singhs arrest

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IndiGo Delhi-Kochi flight delayed by over three hours due to technical glitch

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 20:28 IST

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New Delhi [India], November 2 (ANI): An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Kochi was delayed by more than three hours on Sunday morning after the aircraft developed a technical snag, the airline said.According to IndiGo, the issue was identified as a technical glitch, following which all passengers were deplaned as a precautionary safety measure. The aircraft was then taken to the bay for necessary checks.The airline stated that it ensured timely communication and updates to passengers during the delay and provided them with food. Another flight was subsequently arranged for the passengers.Earlier on November 1, an IndiGo flight from Jeddah to Hyderabad was diverted to Mumbai after a security threat was received.IndiGo Spokesperson in a statement said, A security threat was received for IndiGo flight 6E 68 operating from Jeddah to Hyderabad on 1st November 2025. The aircraft was diverted to Mumbai. Following the established protocol, we informed the relevant authorities immediately and fully cooperated with them in carrying out the necessary security checks before the aircraft was cleared for further operations."Following the threat, the airline immediately informed the relevant authorities and cooperated with them to carry out necessary security checks. The flight was diverted to Mumbai, where it landed safely. All passengers were escorted off the plane, and a thorough security inspection was conducted.We made every effort to minimise inconvenience to our customers, including offering them refreshments and sharing regular updates. Safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft are our topmost priorities," the spokesperson added.The authorities have registered a case and are investigating the source of the threat email. The incident is being treated as a serious security concern, and the investigation is ongoing. (ANI)

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 20:28 IST

News agency-feeds IndiGo Delhi-Kochi flight delayed by over three hours due to technical glitch

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Multiple people stabbed in attack on UK train, 2 men arrested

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 04:43 IST

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London, Nov 2 (PTI) Multiple people were stabbed on a train in the UKs Cambridgeshire, following which armed police intercepted the train and arrested two men in connection with the incident on Saturday evening, authorities said.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary said its officers are working with British Transport Police (BTP) after they intercepted the train in Huntingdon and the injured were taken to hospital.

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We were called at 7:39 pm (local time) with reports that multiple people had been stabbed on a train," Cambridgeshire Constabulary said in a statement.

Armed officers attended and the train was stopped at Huntingdon, where two men were arrested. A number of people have been taken to hospital," the police said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took to social media to condemn the appalling incident" and urged people to follow police advice.

The appalling incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning," said Starmer.

My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police," he said.

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was deeply saddened" to hear about the stabbings in Huntingdon and urged people to avoid comment and speculation at this early stage".

Two suspects have been immediately arrested and taken into custody. I am receiving regular updates on the investigation," she said.

A large-scale response" has been deployed by the East of England Ambulance Service, which said numerous ambulances, tactical commanders and its Hazardous Area Response Team were rushed to the scene.

Critical care teams, including the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance, attended and confirmed transporting multiple patients to hospital".

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said that the incident seems to be a brutal mass attack".

My thoughts are with all those injured or affected and the emergency services responding. The police and government should provide an update on what happened and who has been arrested as soon as possible," he said.

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Roads leading into the town of Huntingdon and London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), which operates the rail network in the region, have been severely disrupted while emergency services deal with the aftermath of the stabbings.

A witness who was on the train was quoted by Sky News as saying that he saw someone moving through his carriage saying: Theyve got a knife, Ive been stabbed." They were making their way through the carriage to get away from the suspects. They were extremely bloodied," the man told the channel. PTI AK SCY SCY

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 04:43 IST

News agency-feeds Multiple people stabbed in attack on UK train, 2 men arrested

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Pakistan reopens Torkham border as ceasefire with Afghanistan holds

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 11:13 IST

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Islamabad [Pakistan], November 2 (ANI): The Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan was reopened on Saturday, allowing the return of Afghan refugees after a nearly two-week closure that followed deadly border clashes between the two countries last month, The Express Tribune reported.According to officials, the decision came as the ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which was formalised in Doha on October 19, continues to hold.The repatriation process, which had been suspended since October 11, has now resumed at both the Torkham and Chaman crossings in Pakistan, as reported by The Express Tribune.Authorities said around 10,700 individuals crossed into Afghanistan via the Chaman border on Friday as the repatriation effort expanded.Approximately 1.56 million Afghan nationals have so far returned to their homeland under Pakistans ongoing repatriation initiative.The border closure, imposed after days of cross-border clashes, had stranded thousands of families on both sides and disrupted bilateral trade. The suspension of trade led to shortages and higher prices of essential goods, particularly fresh produce such as tomatoes, in markets across northwestern Pakistan, The Express Tribune reported.While the Torkham crossing has reopened for refugee movements, trade remains suspended for the time being.The border remains closed for trade for now," Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said, as quoted by The Express Tribune, noting that the resumption of commercial activity would depend on the prevailing security situation.Officials said all necessary staff had been directed to resume duties at the Torkham crossing to facilitate the repatriation process. Temporary shelters, food supplies, and medical assistance have been arranged by the Frontier Corps and the civil administration to ensure a dignified and orderly" return for departing families.Deputy Commissioner of Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Bilal Rao, confirmed the reopening, stating that operations had resumed smoothly to assist Afghan nationals heading home, The Express Tribune reported. ExpressEarlier on Thursday, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to continue their ceasefire after a new round of talks in Istanbul.According to the statement, the meetings, held from October 25 to 30 and mediated by Turkiye and Qatar, were aimed at consolidating the truce that both sides first agreed to in Doha under the same mediators.The discussions focused on mechanisms to sustain peace and prevent further border clashes.According to the joint statement, all parties have agreed on the continuation of the ceasefire", and further modalities for its implementation will be finalised in a principal-level meeting in Istanbul on November 6.The statement added that Afghanistan and Pakistan have also agreed to establish a monitoring and verification mechanism" to ensure adherence to the ceasefire and to impose penalties on any party found violating it.As mediators, Turkiye and Qatar also expressed appreciation for the active contribution" of both sides and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting ongoing efforts for lasting peace and stability" between the neighbouring countries. (ANI)

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 11:13 IST

News agency-feeds Pakistan reopens Torkham border as ceasefire with Afghanistan holds

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Pregnant woman dies in Jkhand hospital, family alleges negligence

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 20:43 IST

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Hazaribag (Jharkhand), Nov 2 (PTI) A 40-year-old pregnant woman died allegedly in a private hospital, sometime after she slipped and fell in a Jharkhand government facility ahead of a cesarean section, an official said on Sunday.

The family members of the woman brought the body back to the Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) in Hazaribag and demanded compensation, allegedly at the instigation of an auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) who is known to them.

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Hazaribag district Civil Surgeon Dr Ashok Kumar told PTI that doctors and ANMs were preparing for a Lower Segment Cesarean Section on Babli Devi on Saturday morning in the gynecology ward.

While the victim was getting down from the bed in the labour room, she slipped and fell as soon as she placed her foot on a footboard kept below.

Though she was fine at that time, an ANM known to the family members told them that she should be taken to a private nursing home. Though we had urged them repeatedly not to go anywhere at this stage, they left the hospital and went somewhere else, where she died," Kumar said.

The civil surgeon said that when they were returning home from the nursing home with the body, the ANM again convinced them to come back to the hospital so that they could get compensation for their loss by alleging negligence during the initial treatment.

Around 10:30 pm, they brought the deceased back to the hospital and started demonstrating, demanding compensation, Kumar said.

We sought their cooperation in conducting a post-mortem examination of the deceased so that the exact reason for her death could be determined and a death certificate could be handed over to the family," he said.

They, however, left the hospital without informing the authorities between 4 and 4.30 am on Sunday, the official said, adding that an inquiry would be conducted into the matter.

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Superintendent of SBMCH, Dr AK Purti, rejected the allegations of the family, saying they had taken the patient to a place outside the hospital where she died.

He said a committee consisting of senior doctors would be formed on Monday to conduct the inquiry. PTI CORR RPS NN

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 20:43 IST

News agency-feeds Pregnant woman dies in Jkhand hospital, family alleges negligence

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Steel makers seek more govt measures to curb rising imports

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 11:13 IST

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New Delhi, Nov 2 (PTI) Steel makers have urged the government for more measures to check rising imports from select group of countries including China which has produced 746.3 MT of crude steel in January-September period, over six-fold of the domestic output.

As per global body World Steel Association (worldsteel), India has produced 122.4 MT of crude steel in January-September. While in September alone China has produced 73.5 MT of crude steel, over 5-fold higher from 13.6 MT of domestic production.

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As per market data, stainless steel is also unable to reach 100 per cent capacity utilisation of the total installed capacity of 7.5 million tonnes. It remains around 60 per cent only due to impact of imports.

The government has taken several measures to curb the imports to protect the competitiveness of domestic steel industry.

Over the past few years, the Ministry of Steel has come up with more than 100 quality control orders (QCOs) which refrain from non-BIS compliant steel products to enter the Indian market.

The QCO of June this year had put restrictions on even import of inputs of certain steel products.

The validity of QCOs can be extended to avoid sub standard and cheap materials from entering the country," an industry player said.

The government can come up with more similar measures to protect the domestic industry, both steel and stainless steel, which looks make crores of investment to increase capacity to meet future demand in line with Atmanirbhar initiative of the government, said the industry player.

In March, the commerce ministrys investigation arm DGTR had recommended the imposition of a 12 per cent provisional safeguard duty for 200 days on certain steel products with an aim to protect domestic players from a surge in imports.

After this stainless industry also approached the government to investigate stainless steel imports as the safeguard duty did not cover their concerns.

A high level committee of NITI Aayog is likely to meet steel industry leaders next week over the issue of import, a source said.

As per BigMint data, domestic steel prices slumped to a five-year low in October, impacted by multiple factors, including surging imports.

Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has flagged a surge in steel imports, largely driven by lower import prices. It has also called for policy support to boost the competitiveness of domestic steel production.

In September this year, India imported 0.79 million tonnes (MT) of finished steel, up from 0.69 MT in August, marking the countrys sixth consecutive month as a net steel importer.

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Imports from Korea, Russia, and Indonesia increased, while shares of China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan declined compared with September 2024.

During the first half of FY26, India remained a net importer of steel, with inbound shipments exceeding exports by 0.47 MT. This is despite a 40 per cent rise in export volumes to 4.43 MT. PTI ABI HVA

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 11:13 IST

News agency-feeds Steel makers seek more govt measures to curb rising imports

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Syrian inquiry finds most allegations of kidnapped Alawite women false

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 20:43 IST

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Damascus, Syria (AP) A Syrian government-led committee has found that most allegations of kidnapping of women from the Alawite religious minority were false, the findings of the months-long probe released on Sunday show.

Syrias Interior Ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba announced the outcome of the inquiry into 42 allegations of women and girls during widespread violence in March along Syrias coastal provinces.

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Al-Baba said the committee, which was set up in July, spoke to affected women and girls and concluded that only one case was a kidnapping.

In the one confirmed kidnapping case, the girl was safely returned after security agencies investigated the matter," Al-Baba told a news conference. The search continues to identify the perpetrators." Amnesty International said in July it had received credible reports of several dozen Alawite women and girls being kidnapped across the provinces of Latakia, Tartus, Homs, and Hama.

The Syrian inquiry concluded that of the remaining 41 cases it examined, 12 involved women fleeing with romantic partners, nine were temporary absences" with relatives or friends, six were instances of fleeing domestic violence, six were false allegations on social media, four were victims of extortion or prostitution, and four were perpetrators of criminal offenses who were apprehended by security agencies.

The violence began after armed groups aligned with former Syrian President Bashar Assad attacked government security forces. The counter-insurgency spiralled into sectarian revenge attacks and massacres that killed hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority to which Assad belongs.

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The violence became one of many hurdles Damascus under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaas Islamist-led rule has faced since coming to power and trying to bring back calm and economic recovery to the war-torn country.

We urge citizens, civil society, and human rights organisations to first report any such incidents or suspicions to the Interior Ministry," al-Baba said. (AP) NPK NPK

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 20:43 IST

News agency-feeds Syrian inquiry finds most allegations of kidnapped Alawite women false

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Trump calls G2 meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping great one

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 04:43 IST

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Washington [US], November 2 (ANI): United States President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was a great one" and would bring lasting peace and success for both nations.In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, My G2 meeting with President Xi of China was a great one for both of our countries. This meeting will lead to everlasting peace and success. God bless both China and the USA!" The US President met the Chinese President Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Busan, South Korea on October 30.After his highly anticipated meeting, Trump said that Washington has reached a landmark one-year trade pact with China, slashing US tariffs on Chinese imports from 57 per cent to 47 per cent.Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated, We have a deal," referring to the trade pact which will be routinely extended.Every year well renegotiate the deal, but I think the deal will go on for a long time, long beyond the year. Well negotiate at the end of the year," he added.Trump further noted that the 10 per cent tariff reduction on Chinese exports to the US was due to China agreeing to take strong action" on the fentanyl issue.It was 57, now its 47," the US President said.We reduced it by the fentanyl because I believe they are really taking strong action. Weve already seen the action on fentanyl, and theyre taking very strong action. So reduced to 10 per cent," he added.Later, while speaking to reporters, Trump announced that China has committed to immediately purchase large and tremendous amounts" of soybeans and other US farm products as part of a deal between the two nations.During a gaggle aboard Air Force One following his departure to Washington, Trump hailed the decision as a very nice gesture" from President Xi Jinping, noting that his Chinese counterpart had authorised the purchase a day earlier.Were in agreement on so many elements. Large amounts, tremendous amounts of the soybeans and other farm products are going to be purchased, starting immediately. If you notice, President Xi authorised yesterday for China to start buying very large quantities of soybeans and other things, which I appreciated. That was a very nice gesture," Trump said.According to CNN, in May, China halted its purchases of US soybeans following Trumps announcement of tariffs, leaving farmers nationwide with billions of dollars worth of unsold crops and prompting some to question the policies of a president many had supported. (ANI)

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 04:43 IST

News agency-feeds Trump calls G2 meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping great one

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UP: Toddler falls into bucket of hot water in Etah, dies

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 20:28 IST

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Etah (UP), Nov 2 (PTI) A one-and-a-half-year-old boy died after accidentally falling into a bucket of boiling water here, police said on Sunday.

Ayush, son of Mukesh, was playing on a bed in his house when he slipped into a bucket of hot water kept nearby. The water had been heated by his mother for washing clothes, Kotwali Dehat SHO Jitendra Kumar Gautam said.

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The severely burnt child was rushed to the emergency ward of Veerangana Avanti Bai Medical College in Etah, where doctors declared him dead.

The mother kept the bucket of hot water near the bed, and the child accidentally fell into it while playing. The family has taken the body home for cremation without a post-mortem," the SHO said. PTI COR CDN SMV ARI ARI

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 20:28 IST

News agency-feeds UP: Toddler falls into bucket of hot water in Etah, dies

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Woman dies after alleged torture by Pakistani forces in Balochistan

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 13:13 IST

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Balochistan [Pakistan], November 2 (ANI): Sammi Deen Baloch, a prominent human rights activist from Balochistan, condemned the chilling episode of alleged state brutality in Pakistans province of Balochistan. A young woman identified as Nazia Shafi reportedly died after being abducted and brutally tortured along with her mother by security forces in Panjgur.According to local sources, both women were taken away unlawfully, subjected to severe torture, and left in critical condition. Nazia succumbed to her injuries just hours later, triggering outrage and grief across the region.Taking to the social media platform X, Sammi Deen Baloch described the incident as a gross violation of human rights and moral principles, calling it part of a pattern of state repression that has long gripped the province.In Balochistan, cruelty has become a policy tool," she stated, emphasising that women, in particular, have become the new targets of violence and intimidation by forces operating with absolute impunity.Systematic abductions, disappearances, and torture have become a grim norm in Balochistan, with no accountability or oversight, she stated.Victims families are often left in despair, denied justice, and silenced through fear. The tragic death of Nazia Shafi has once again highlighted the urgent need for international attention to what activists call a deepening human rights crisis. Sammi Deen Baloch also called on global human rights organisations and womens rights movements to end their silence on the matter and to amplify the voices of Baloch women facing systemic violence and persecution.The case of Nazia Shafi and her mother has reignited discussions about the plight of women in conflict zones, where abuse and impunity persist under the guise of security operations. Justice for Nazia would serve as a crucial step toward ending state-led violence against Baloch women and restoring faith in basic human dignity and justice. (ANI)

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 13:13 IST

News agency-feeds Woman dies after alleged torture by Pakistani forces in Balochistan

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Smart agriculture propels China's kiwifruit industry upgrading

15:05, November 02, 2025 By Ye Ting, Zhang Jingpin and Zheng Xin ( Xinhua

XI'AN, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- On a high-speed sorting line, each kiwifruit is photographed 240 times from all angles to detect surface defects, while near-infrared scanners assess its internal sweetness, firmness, and dry matter. This facility in northwest China's Shaanxi Province exemplifies the country's push to modernize its kiwifruit industry.

At the newly inaugurated Zhouzhi Kiwifruit Integrated Development Demonstration Center in Zhouzhi County, every movement hums with precision and purpose.

The six-lane sorting line, provided by Norwegian company TOMRA and introduced by Xi'an Urban Green Agricultural Technology Development Co., Ltd., meticulously inspects each kiwifruit inside and out. Each box is assigned a unique code to ensure traceable quality control from orchard to market, laying a solid foundation for premium brand credibility.

To ensure off-season supply and "ready-to-eat" freshness, the center is equipped with a high-standard intelligent cold storage facility with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes. Advanced refrigeration systems and insulating materials maintain internal temperature fluctuations within plus or minus 0.5 degree Celsius, minimizing fruit dehydration and enabling year-round sales.

"Rather than being a mere aggregation of machines, the center aims to build a fully connected industrial chain covering variety development, standardized planting, intelligent sorting, smart cold-chain logistics, and brand building," said He Liandi, director of Xi'an Urban Green Agricultural Technology Development Co., Ltd. "Digital management platforms are transforming traditional agricultural mindsets into modern industrial ones."

In recent years, Shaanxi has prioritized the kiwifruit industry as a key driver of modern specialty agriculture. Zhouzhi County, together with neighboring Meixian County in Baoji City -- both nationally recognized kiwifruit industry hubs -- has leveraged the favorable ecological conditions of the northern Qinling Mountains to advance standardized cultivation, technological innovation, and industrial chain expansion.

As the native and primary origin of global kiwifruit, Zhouzhi has launched nine "enhancement projects" to upgrade its kiwifruit industry, covering variety improvement, standardized cultivation, deep processing, brand development, technological innovation, cold-chain logistics, and digital agriculture, according to Wen Qiwei, Party secretary of Zhouzhi County.

Founded in 1956, the Zhouzhi Agricultural Science and Technology Experiment Station focuses on kiwifruit variety selection, new technology trials, and demonstration promotion.

"Our kiwifruit germplasm repository provides a wealth of genetic resources for developing new varieties that are large, high-quality, disease-resistant, drought-tolerant and sweet," said Zhang Xiaobin, a senior agricultural engineer at the experiment station. He noted that the 'Cui Xiang' kiwifruit has been planted on over 150,000 mu, or 10,000 hectares, in the province, with nationwide cultivation now spanning 300,000 mu.

The experiment station has also established trial demonstration bases, with plans to complete a 200-mu high-standard demonstration orchard by the end of this year. Core technologies such as formula fertilization, regulated fruit setting and biological pest control, along with 16 standardized practices, will provide technical support for high-quality industry development.

In 2023, the China-New Zealand Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Kiwifruit, Shaanxi Center, was established in Zhouzhi, focusing on resistance breeding for kiwifruit canker and low-temperature adaptability.

Additionally, the county has partnered with the College of Plant Protection at Northwest A&F University (NWAFU) to establish an expert workstation led by Professor Huang Lili. The station will conduct research on disease control and post-harvest "ready-to-eat" kiwifruit technologies, extending shelf life from 15 to 30 days, which significantly enhances market competitiveness.

In Meixian, smart agriculture is equally remarkable. Qi Feng, chairman of Shaanxi Qifeng Fruit Industry Co., Ltd., said the company collaborated with experts from NWAFU for three years to develop a digital kiwifruit cultivation system.

By integrating meteorological, soil, operational and crop growth data with IoT, AI modeling, and intelligent equipment, they created a "monitoring-decision-execution" full-chain technology system. This system has achieved a 30 percent reduction in water usage, 25 reduction in fertilizer, 35 percent reduction in pesticides, and a 10 percent increase in yield per mu.

Qifeng Fruit has also introduced a "three-level dividend" model for standardized cultivation. Under this model, village collectives transfer low-efficiency plots, which are consolidated into standard farms. These farms are upgraded with government funding and then leased to farm operators. Profits are distributed in three rounds, ensuring benefits for both village collectives and farm operators.

From Sept. 19 to 21, the third China kiwifruit expo was held in Meixian. The event featured over 200 standard and special exhibition booths, showcasing new technologies, products and highlights from domestic and international kiwifruit industries. Sales agreements for 41,900 tonnes of kiwifruit, totaling more than 410 million yuan (about 57.6 million U.S. dollars), were signed.

Thanks to technological advancement, Meixian's kiwifruit industry is also expanding globally. Qifeng Fruit has established a local planting base in Chile to ensure a year-round supply and now exports to 32 countries and regions, including Canada, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Chile and Thailand.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
MoMo Productions / Getty Images You may be able to get assistance from your bank if you are a federal employee furloughed during the government shutdown.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The government shutdown is now in its 31st day, and millions of federal employees have gone without at least one paycheck.

Some banks are offering to waive the fees for their customers with bank accounts, and some have low- to no-interest personal loans available to impacted federal employees.

Millions of federal workers are going without pay, but some U.S. banks are offering assistance to customers affected by the shutdown.

The government shutdown is now in its 31st day, and about 1.4 million federal employees have gone without at least one paycheck, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Banks such as Citibank, Capital One, Wells Fargo, and others are encouraging federal employees whose paychecks have been disrupted by the government shutdown to call to request assistance. Impacted employees can contact their bank or credit card issuer by calling the number on the back of their card.

Why This Matters

The government shutdown has no foreseeable end as Democrats and Republicans remain at a standstill over health care cuts. In a week, furloughed federal employees will miss their second paycheck if the shutdown continues, which will complicate their ability to pay for their essentials.

Here are details of what some banks are offering to impacted federal workers:

Bank of America

Customers of Bank of America can request financial assistance online, by calling 844-219-0691, or utilizing the bank's mobile app.

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said the bank is offering fee and payment waivers, loan deferments, and forbearance programs to furloughed federal employees, reported American Banker.

BMO Bank

Fees for monthly maintenance, non-BMO ATM transactions, and overdrafts will be waived for those impacted by the shutdown. BMO Bank will also not charge early withdrawal fees for partial CD withdrawals or early CD closures.

BMO Bank is offering low-interest personal loans for federal employees who are currently not receiving a paycheck. BMO customers can visit a local branch or call 888-340-2265 to receive one of the relief offerings.

Chase Bank

Chase is offering assistance for its customers with mortgage, credit card, auto, or business loan payments, as well as help with Chase checking or savings accounts. Its assistance line is 1-800-254-7713.



TD Bank



TD Bank announced at the beginning of the shutdown that workers impacted by the shutdown could receive refunds on fees such as overdraft fees, non-TD ATM fees, monthly maintenance fees, and late fees from their TD Bank credit card. They can also withdraw funds early from their certificate of deposit without a penalty.
Govt Launches EPFO Employee Enrollment Scheme 2025: All You Need To Know

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 09:07 IST

EPFO 3.0 launches Employee Enrollment Scheme 2025, and a new homepage for EPFO website.

Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports.

EPFO 3.0: The Indian government has announced the launch of the Employee Enrollment Scheme 2025, whose purpose is to encourage employers to declare and enrol eligible employees voluntarily. The scheme becomes operational from November 01, 2025. The scheme aims to enhance workforce formalisation and promote ease of doing business, as it offers that employers wont need to pay the employees share of contribution if it wasnt deducted earlier. Theyll only have to pay a small penalty of Rs 100.

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On the 73rd Foundation Day of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, announced the scheme, stating that EPFO is not merely a fund  it represents the trust of Indias workforce in social security.

Mandaviya also launched EPFOs new homepage with a user-friendly domain name www.epfo.gov.in, offering better user-friendly interface, enhanced navigation and simplified access to key services, and information for all the stakeholders.

On the update of EPFO 3.0, the most awaited by lakhs of subscribers, Mandaviya said that platform will further improve efficiency and accessibility, while new initiatives such as simplified withdrawal categories and the Viswas Scheme have eased compliance for employers.

EPFO exchanged MoUs with India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) for digital life certificate submission and with Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for data sharing.

EPFO 3.0: All You Need To Know

Though the precise operational details are awaited, the EPFO 3.0 upgrade is expected to integrate PF accounts with the broader financial infrastructure supporting the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and ATM networks. This would allow subscribers to withdraw eligible EPF funds directly via UPI apps or bank ATMs, possibly using a secure PIN or Aadhaar-based verification. Withdrawal limits and conditions are likely to be implemented to ensure fund safety and compliance.

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Experts suggest the new digital withdrawal methods promise multiple benefits. Firstly, it enhances convenience by eliminating paperwork and lengthy waiting periods. Secondly, it enables anytime, anywhere access to EPF savings, crucial in emergencies. Thirdly, it aligns with the broader vision of Digital India and financial inclusion by integrating government-backed savings schemes with the digital financial ecosystem commonly used by most Indians.

About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the I... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 09:07 IST

News business Govt Launches EPFO Employee Enrollment Scheme 2025: All You Need To Know

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IndusInd Promoter IIHL, Invesco Launch Asset Management Joint Venture In India

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 13:50 IST

IndusInd International Holdings Limited acquires 60 percent of Invesco Asset Management India, forming a joint venture with Invesco.

IIHL, Invesco Launch AMC Joint Venture; IIHL Holds 60% Stake

IndusInd International Holdings Limited (IIHL"), the promoter of IndusInd Bank, and Invesco Ltd. (Invesco") announced today that they have completed the formation of their asset management joint venture (JV") following IIHLs acquisition of a 60% ownership stake in Invesco Asset Management India (IAMI") following all regulatory approvals and closing conditions. With Invesco retaining the balance 40% stake, both IIHL and Invesco will hold joint sponsor status under the regulatory framework.

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As of September 2025, IAMI is the 16th largest domestic asset manager in India with combined onshore and offshore (through advisory) average assets under management of INR 148,358 crores for the quarter ending September 2025 and a presence in 40 cities across the country.

Both partners contribute their respective strengths to the venture, with Invesco offering its global investment management expertise and product range, while IIHL will support, through its promoted entity and subsidiaries, a robust distribution network comprising over 11,000 touchpoints across India and serving a customer base of 45 million. IIHL will also deploy the reach of several associate entities of its global shareholders that offer synergistic business operations to widen the customer base by another 50 million.

There will be no change in IAMIs focus on investment excellence and exceptional client service. The JV will continue to operate under the same management led by Saurabh Nanavati, with the same disciplined and research-driven investment philosophy and processes that have been central to its investment offerings since 2008, ensuring strong continuity for investors, distributors, and other stakeholders.

Mr. Ashok Hinduja, Chairman, IIHL, said, At IIHL, we are very enthused with this JV with Invesco, to augment our para banking portfolio by including Asset Management, and be a global financial (BFSI) powerhouse by 2030. This is the most opportune time, when India, on the back of rising income levels, favourable demographics, offers enormous investment prospects to all Indians, the diaspora included. We will endeavour to reach the last home, last investor transparently and efficiently and live up to investors expectation that mutual fund sahi hai"

Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors acted as the exclusive financial advisor to IIHL. Crawford Bayley and AZB acted as legal advisors to IIHL & Invesco, respectively.

Founded in 1993 under the visionary leadership of the late Shri S.P. Hinduja and his three brothers, IIHL is an investment holding Company well-regulated by the Financial Services Commission, Mauritius, under a Global Business License and is governed by the Board of Directors. Its investment portfolio under various Regulatory jurisdictions comprises Banking Services (IndusInd Bank, IIHL Bank & Trust Limited- Bahamas), Capital Market Assets (Afrinex Exchange Limited, Mauritius, with a cumulative listing of $13.5bn of underlying securities). Recently, it acquired the Insurance Businesses (Life, Non-Life, and Health) along with the Securities business of Reliance Capital Ltd to augment its portfolio.

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IAMI began operations in India in late 2008 with the acquisition of Lotus India Asset Management Company and has since grown to serve over 2.9. million retail investor folios and over 48,000 empanelled distributors, with over 70% of its AUM in equity and equity-oriented assets. Invesco also operates an enterprise centre in Hyderabad employing more than 1,700 staff across a range of global support functions, including information technology, investment operations, finance, compliance, and human resources.

About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the I... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 13:50 IST

News business IndusInd Promoter IIHL, Invesco Launch Asset Management Joint Venture In India

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Tata Motors PV Shares In Focus On Record October Sales; CV Arm Listing Likely In November

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 13:20 IST

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles sold 74,705 units in October. Demerger process continues with TML Commercial Vehicles Ltd shares to be listed in November.

Tata Motors Demerger Update

Tata Motors PV Share: Indian automobile Tata Motors Passenger Vehicle shares will remain in focus on Monday, November 03, after delivering a consecutive record-breaking month in terms of passenger vehicle sales following the recent Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate rationalisation and strong festive demand. According to Moneycontrol report, over 74,705 units, including electric vehicles (EVs) were sold by Tata Motors in October, as compared to 66,800 units by Mahindra & Mahindra and 65,045 units by Hyundai.

Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki dominated the space by selling almost 2,38,534 units during the same month.

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Last week, Tata Motors PV shares fell 0.57 per cent to end at Rs 410.10 apiece.

Tata Motors Demerger

In the final leg of the demerger process, where the company is splitting the passenger and commercial vehicles businesses, the automaker has renamed its commercial vehicles arm, TML Commercial Vehicles Ltd, to Tata Motors Ltd. Earlier Tata Motors Ltd was itself renamed as Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd (TMPV) on October 13, 2025.

For every fully paid Tata Motors share held on the record date, investors got one share of the new commercial vehicle company (TMLCV). This means shareholders will have the same ownership percentage in both listed companies. The 1:1 share ratio was decided when the board first announced the plan. The shares were credited to Demat accounts on October 16 in a 1:1 ratio. However, the shares of TML Commercial Vehicles Limited (TMLCV) are currently frozen in the Demat accounts.

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Listing of the commercial arm of Tata Motors Ltd Passenger Vehicle which is now called TMCV is likely to be concluded in November, according to a report of Live Mint.

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.

About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the I... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 13:20 IST

News business markets Tata Motors PV Shares In Focus On Record October Sales; CV Arm Listing Likely In November

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At Least 2 Dead, 16 Injured After Tempo Plunges Into Gorge Near Nainital

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 09:25 IST

Initial investigations indicate that the accident occurred when the driver lost control of the vehicle.

ADRF team conducting rescue operation after accident (Credits: News18)

Two people died and 16 others were injured after a Haryana-registered tempo fell into a 15-meter-deep gorge near Nainital on Saturday night.

The vehicle was returning from Kainchi Dham when it reportedly lost control around 11 PM and plunged into the valley.

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The deceased have been identified as Gaurav Bansal from Badarpur, Delhi, and the driver, Sonu, from Haryana.

An SDRF team reached the site on receiving the information and conducted a rescue operation that continued till 4:30 AM.

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All 16 injured passengers were rushed to Sushila Tiwari Hospital in Haldwani, and are currently undergoing treatment.

According to initial investigations, the accident occurred due to the driver losing control of the vehicle.

About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More

Location : Nainital, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 09:25 IST

News cities At Least 2 Dead, 16 Injured After Tempo Plunges Into Gorge Near Nainital

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Bengaluru: MBA Graduate Found Dead In Gayatri Nagar, Suicide Suspected

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 14:39 IST

A 25-year-old MBA graduate from Davangere was found dead in her Bengaluru home. Police suspect suicide due to depression. Investigation and forensic analysis are ongoing.

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A young doctor ended her life over alleged sexual assault and mental harassment by police officers. (Representative Image)

A 25-year-old woman hailing from Karnatakas Davangere, was found dead in a decomposed state at her rented residence in Bengaluru.

The woman, an MBA graduate, was employed with a private firm in the city and lived alone. Her body was found hanging in a room on the third floor of a house in Gayatri Nagar, North Bengaluru, within the Subramanyanagar Police Station limits.

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The police said that she had been staying alone in the city for the past one and a half years while her family lived in Davangere. According to the police it is a case of suicide and that the woman had been suffering from depression, NDTV reported.

The incident surfaced on Saturday when her family, unable to reach her for several days, asked the house owner to check on her. The owner opened the door, which was locked from inside, and discovered her.

Police suspect she may have died several days earlier, though the exact time of death will be confirmed after the postmortem. Her mobile phone will be sent to the forensic science laboratory for analysis.

Further investigation into the matter is underway.

In a separate incident, a class 6th student died after falling from the fourth floor of a private school in Rajasthans Jaipur. The police, on Saturday, said the preliminary investigation suggested that the girl allegedly died by suicide.

Officials are checking the CCTV footage from the school to determine the sequence of events leading to the girls death.

The minor victim, a single child, was rushed to a nearby hospital after she allegedly fell from the fourth floor of Neerja Modi School, where doctors declared her dead, Mansarovar SHO Lakhan Khatana told reporters.

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A spokesperson of the Joint Parents Association, Abhishek Jain, claimed that it was a case of suicide as the victim was upset with the behaviour of a teacher.

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 14:39 IST

News bengaluru-news Bengaluru: MBA Graduate Found Dead In Gayatri Nagar, Suicide Suspected

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Speeding Ambulance Hits Scooter After Jumping Signal In Bengaluru, Two Dead

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 11:40 IST

After the ambulance rammed into the outpost, bystanders rushed to help, attempting to lift the vehicle in hopes of rescuing those trapped underneath.

Image from the accident site (Credits: News18)

In a tragic incident that took place in Bengaluru, an ambulance ended up claiming a couple on Saturday night after it lost control and rammed into a group of motorcycles waiting at a traffic signal.

The fatal crash occurred near Richmond Circle around 11:00 PM. The collision was so powerful that the vehicle struck three motorcycles and dragged one of them for several metres before finally crashing into a nearby police outpost.

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The victims were identified as 40-year-old Ismail and his wife, Sameen Banu, who were travelling on a Dio scooter. The couple died on the spot. Two other riders sustained serious injuries and were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

After the ambulance rammed into the outpost, bystanders rushed to help, attempting to lift the vehicle in hopes of rescuing those trapped underneath.

Videos from the area show people gathering around the ambulance, with mangled motorcycles scattered across the road and visible damage to the police outpost.

Public Anger at Accident Site in Bengaluru

There was outrage among local residents at the accident site after an ambulance rammed into a scooter, killing a couple on the spot. Angry locals overturned the ambulance in protest, expressing frustration over repeated incidents in the area.

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They claimed this was the second ambulance-related accident in the locality and alleged that drivers often speed through with sirens on even when there is no emergency. Today, this recklessness has cost two innocent lives," said one of the residents, according to News18 Kannada.

Police officers visited the site soon after the incident and conducted an inspection as part of their ongoing investigation into the cause of the accident.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 11:38 IST

News bengaluru-news Speeding Ambulance Hits Scooter After Jumping Signal In Bengaluru, Two Dead

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Hyderabad Sanitation Worker Raped On Foot Over Bridge By Watchman On Her Way To Work

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 15:33 IST

The police arrested the accused who has now been remanded in judicial custody.

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Police arrested a watchman for raping a sanitation worker in Hyderabad while she was on her way to work. (IMAGE: REPRESENTATIVE)

A drunk 45-year-old watchman raped a 51-year-old sanitation worker of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on a foot over bridge in Erragadda in the early hours of Friday morning. The incident happened when the survivor was en route to work. Following the assault, the worker contacted her family and approached a police check post near the crime scene. The police officers then alerted Borabanda police.

The police arrested the accused on the same day and was remanded in judicial custody.

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Police officials told the Times of India that the sanitation worker was on her way to her cleaning duties in AG Colony around 4 am. She had taken the foot over bridge located near ESI Hospital to cross the highway.

The sanitation worker was intercepted by the accused on the foot over bridge. He threatened to harm her and raped her. After the assault, the accused fled from the spot," a Borabanda police official was quoted as saying by ToI.

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Police officials verified the CCTV footage at different places near the crime scene and then identified the accused as a watchman at an apartment in Model Colony, Sanathnagar. They registered a case under Section 64 (rape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

We arrested the accused on Friday. He was produced before the magistrate and sent to judicial remand," SR Nagar ACP SV Raghavendra Rao was quoted as saying by the newspaper. The report said that the survivor was sent for medical examination and was counselled at the Bharosa centre.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 15:13 IST

News hyderabad-news Hyderabad Sanitation Worker Raped On Foot Over Bridge By Watchman On Her Way To Work

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Desh Ki Zaroorat Hai: Piyush Goyal Reveals How Piyush Pandey Came Up With Abki Baar Modi Sarkar

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 13:34 IST

Piyush Goyal on Piyush Pandey: "I still remember the Eureka moment in the lawn where he came up with 'Abki Baar Modi Sarkar'. He created history...He never took credit for it..."

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Piyush Goyal (right) spoke about Piyush Pandey. (File)

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday revealed that the late ad man Piyush Pandey was the creative force behind the 2014 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) campaign slogan  Abki Baar Modi Sarkar  with Narendra Modi as the PM face.

Speaking at the Celebrating Piyush event, Goyal recounted how Pandey initially flatly refused the political branding assignment.

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Days of persuading him didnt yield any results. I finally landed up at his Shivaji Park home. I sat with him for six-seven hoursbut he still said no," Goyal said. I went back disappointed. The next morning, he called me and said, Partner, I thought a lot about this at night. I will do it. Yeh desh ki zaroorat hai [The country needs this]. He usually never did political campaigns, but he took this one up as a responsibility for the country," said Goyal.

I will never forget the days and nights we spent in Delhi working on the campaignI still remember the Eureka moment in the lawn where he came up with Abki Baar Modi Sarkar. He created history," Goyal said.

Goyal added that Pandey, despite being the mind behind one of Indias most iconic political slogans, never sought credit for it. Many people often took credit that they created this slogan. I used to often feel angry. We used to say but in his world, we didnt have the clout and voiceI told Piyush why dont you talk about itHe said what difference does it make. You know it, Modiji knows it, thats what matters That was his humility," Goyal said.

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The minister praised Pandeys ability to communicate simply and powerfully. He could connect with the common man  brief, simple, to the point. A very big message in just four words," Goyal said.

Among his biggest lessons from Pandey, Goyal said, was to think in Hindi if you want to work in India, if you want to connect with the people of India."

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 13:31 IST

News mumbai-news Desh Ki Zaroorat Hai: Piyush Goyal Reveals How Piyush Pandey Came Up With Abki Baar Modi Sarkar

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DRI Officers Seize Cocaine Worth Rs 42 Crore At Mumbai Airport

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 23:03 IST

In the last three days, DRI confiscated drugs worth Rs 90 crore. Over 10 people have been arrested so far in relation with these cases.

DRI Officers Seize Cocaine Worth Rs 42 Crore At Mumbai Airport

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have seized cocaine worth about Rs 42 crore on Sunday. As per the officials, the high-quality weed came to Mumbai from Thailand. The accused carried drugs in a packet of noodles.

In the last three days, DRI confiscated drugs worth Rs 90 crore. Over 10 people have been arrested so far in relation to these cases.

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On Saturday, DRI officers seized 4.7 kg of cocaine worth about Rs 47 crore from a female passenger arriving from Colombo at the Mumbai airport. As per the finance ministry, five persons were arrested.

In a statement, the ministry said DRI officers intercepted the passenger shortly after her arrival and subjected her baggage to detailed examination.

In a major blow to international drug trafficking networks, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 4.7 kg of cocaine, valued at approximately Rs 47 crore in the illicit market, from a female passenger arriving from Colombo at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai," the statement said.

The DRI apprehended four additional persons of the syndicate  one who had come to the airport to receive the consignment and three others linked to the financing, logistics, and distribution network of the smuggled narcotics.

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All five accused have been arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the statement added.

Some of the recent seizures by DRI indicate a concerning trend wherein international drug syndicates are increasingly exploiting Indian women as couriers, while concealing narcotics within food items and everyday edibles to camouflage the contraband and evade detection," the ministry said.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 23:03 IST

News mumbai-news DRI Officers Seize Cocaine Worth Rs 42 Crore At Mumbai Airport

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Bihar Will Get Portfolios For Murder, Kidnapping, Extortion If RJD Voted To Power: Amit Shah

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 18:21 IST

Amit Shah urged people to vote for the NDA to check the recurrence of jungle raj that saw kidnappings, murders, and atrocities during the RJD regime.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah at poll-bound rally in Bihar. (X)

Bihar Polls 2025: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday unleashed a no-holds-barred attack on the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), saying that Bihar would see creation of three portfolios of murder, kidnapping and extortion" if Tejashwi Yadav is voted to power in the upcoming assembly elections.

While addressing a poll-bound rally in Bihars Muzaffarpur, Shah claimed that, on the other hand, if the NDA retains power, a separate ministry for flood control would be set up to ensure that the state is made flood-free.

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He urged people to vote for the NDA to check the recurrence of jungle raj that saw kidnappings, murders, and atrocities during the RJD regime.

If Lalus son (Tejashwi) becomes Bihar chief minister, three more new portfolios will be created to oversee kidnapping, extortion and murderYour votes for the NDA will save Bihar from RJDs jungle raj. Efforts are underway to bring back jungle raj with new faces," Shah said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

If voted to power, the NDA will make Bihar flood-free. It is our pledge. We will set up a separate ministry to ensure that Bihar is saved from flood fury," he added.

He also claimed infighting is underway among Mahagathbandhan constituents in Bihar.

The Union Minister also accused Lalu Prasad Yadav and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of trying to make their sons the Bihar Chief Minister and the Prime Minister, respectively, and asserted that both posts are not vacant".

Shah further highlighted welfare schemes launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the reduction in GST would help litchi growers in Bihar, and steps are being taken to set up a mega food park in Muzaffarpur with Rs 20,000 crore investment.

PM Modi made India secure, safe, and prosperous and launched various welfare schemes," Shah said at the Muzaffarpur rally.

He claimed that Bihar CM Nitish Kumars 20-year rule and PM Modis 11-year regime at the Centre were fully transparent with no corruption charges levelled".

He asserted, Lalu (RJDs regime) gave only Rs 2.80 lakh crore to Bihar in 10 years, whereas Modi allotted Rs 18.15 lakh crore between 2014 to 2025" for the states development.

We will set up over 50,000 cottage industries, and will invest Rs one lakh crore in agriculture infrastructure. Can Lalu-Rabri or Sonia do such development works?" he questioned.

Shah termed the NDA allies  the BJP, JD(U), Chirag Paswans LJP (RV), HAM, Kushwahas party as the five Pandavas and said they will ensure Bihars prosperity".

Highlighting the poll promises made in the NDA manifesto, he said one crore Bihar youth will be given private and government jobs, and each district will have a mega skill centre.

Also, the NDA government in Bihar will provide Rs 3,000 to each farmer in addition to Rs 6,000 by the Centre. As many as 44,000 youth benefited from Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana," he added.

Bihar Polls 2025

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The 243-member Bihar assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with results set to be announced on November 14.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More

Location : Muzaffarpur, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 18:21 IST

News elections Bihar Will Get Portfolios For Murder, Kidnapping, Extortion If RJD Voted To Power: Amit Shah

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The start of fall has been a difficult season for a number of smaller and low-cost airlines around the world.

Scandinavian budget carriers Play and Braathens both left travelers across Europe stranded after abruptly shutting down all operations within a few days of each other, while charter airlines Verijet and Kachina Air also filed for bankruptcy in U.S. courts this October.

As a final kicker to round off the month, the United Kingdom-based budget carrier Eastern Airways canceled all of its flights to northern England and Scotland on October 27. While the official documentation submitted to British bankruptcy court asks for more time to restructure, the future of the airline based out of East Midlands looks increasingly bleak as several of its planes have already been returned to their leasing companies.

Air Japan is no more, ANA makes call to discontinue low-cost brand

As all these smaller carriers struggle to stay afloat in Europe, an Asian airline giant has also made the choice to axe one of its brands.

More commonly referred to by the acronym ANA, Japan's largest airline All Nippon Airways is discontinuing the low-cost AirJapan brand it launched only in 2022.

Established to compete with newly launched low-cost airline Zipair Tokyo, AirJapan flew a fleet of two Boeing 787-8 planes to Tokyo's Narita Airport (NRT) from Singapore, Seoul, and Bangkok.

On Oct. 30, ANA revealed it will shut down the airline to instead operate only as a dual brand with the wider ANA and its more established low-cost airline Peach Aviation.

Related: Low-cost airline cancels all flights, no refunds

Ultimately, competition from other Asian low-cost airlines such as Singapore Airlines' Scoot and AirAsia X left AirJapan struggling to bring in the passenger numbers to justify the need for a separate brand.

Last August, Australian low-cost carrier Jetstar similarly shut down its Asia branch due to high expenses and supply-chain problems, relative to insufficient traffic.

AirJapan's plans to expand to new routes were also hampered by delays of new Boeing 737 Max orders (when these do get delivered, they will instead go to the needs of ANA).

AirJapan launched as a low-cost brand of ANA in 2022.AirJapan

Flight with AirJapan? Here is what you need to know about bookings, refunds

In a statement on the brand consolidation, the ANA Group said the decision aims to better "optimize the allocation of the group's resources."

Airlines that filed for bankruptcy in 2025:
'Both Pakistan And Congress Haven't Recovered From Operation Sindoor': PM Modi At Bihar Rally

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News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 15:07 IST

Attacking the Congress over its alliance with RJD, PM Narendra Modi alleged that the party never wanted Tejashwi Yadav to be the CM candidate but was coerced into naming him

PM Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting ahead of Bihar assembly elections, in Arrah on November 2. (Image: @NarendraModi/YT/PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took a swipe at the Congress, clubbing the party with Pakistan and saying the two have not yet recovered from Operation Sindoor.

Calling the Gandhis the royal family" of the Congress, while campaigning for the Bihar assembly elections in Arrah, Modi said: When blasts were happening in Pakistan, the Congress royal family lost their sleep. To date, both Pakistan and Congress namdaars havent recovered from Operation Sindoor."

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He said it was Modis guarantee" that Article 370 would be scrapped, and it has been with the Constitution of India now in force in Jammu and Kashmir.

We had vowed to beat the terrorists on their home turf. And we fulfilled that promise again with Operation Sindoor, which has made the nation proud," he added.

Attacking the Congress over its alliance with the RJD in Bihar, Modi alleged that the party never wanted Tejashwi Yadav to be the chief ministerial candidate but was coerced into naming him. He said there is a huge conflict" between the two allies and they cannot be trusted to form the government after the elections.

Congress never wanted an RJD candidate to be declared the chief ministerial face, lekin RJD ne Congress ke kanpatti par katta rakh kar CM post chori kar liya (but RJD snatched the chief ministerial post by pointing a gun at Congress, ensuring that its candidate would be the chief ministerial face)," he said.

Watch the video here:

#WATCH | Arrah | #BiharElection2025 | PM Narendra Modi says, "Congress never wanted an RJD candidate to be declared the Chief Ministerial face. But RJD snatched the Chief Ministerial post by pointing a gun at Congress, ensuring that its candidate would be the Chief Ministerial pic.twitter.com/Eiepyg7Ddg ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2025

He added: There is a huge conflict between the RJD and the Congress. Congresss demands were not taken into account in the manifesto There is so much hatred between them before the elections, and after the elections, they will turn on each other. They cannot be trusted"

RJD BROUGHT JUNGLE RAJ, CONGRESS LINKED TO GENOCIDE OF SIKHS

Once again bringing in jungle raj to highlight the RJDs past in Bihar politics, Modi came down heavily on the election manifesto released by the Mahagathbandhan.

Calling it a document of betrayal and lies", he praised the NDA manifesto as honest and visionary". For a Viksit Bihar, the NDA has presented an honest and visionary manifesto. All our schemes and policies are dedicated to Bihars rapid growth. On one side is the NDAs honest manifesto, while the jungle raj alliance has made its manifesto a document of betrayal and lies. I want to tell the people of jungle raj, yeh public hai sab jaanti hai (they are the public; they know everything)," he said.

Referring to the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and across India, which took place on November 1 and 2, following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, he said if jungle raj is associated with the RJD, then Congress identity is linked to the genocide of Sikhs".

If RJD brought Jungle Raaj and appeasement politics to Bihar, then Congresss identity is linked to the genocide of Sikhs. This was on November 1 and 2 in 1984. Today is also November 2. The members of the Congress party carried out the Sikh genocide in Delhi and many other parts of the country on November 1 and 2 of 1984. Even today, Congress is giving new positions to the perpetrators of the Sikh genocide within its party with full respect. They are promoting them. Be it Congress or RJD, they have no remorse for their sins," he added.

The Prime Minister predicted a record victory for the ruling NDA, which would continue providing a government that was upright" and foresighted" and build a developed Bihar" that was necessary for Viksit Bharat.

Visibly pleased with the massive turnout, he said: The youngsters here have filled me with enthusiasm. Analysts sitting in Delhi, who are racking their brains over poll arithmetic, would do well to come here and experience for themselves which way the wind is blowing. Jungle raj wallahs are set to get the worst drubbing in history. The people of Bihar have not forgotten the jungle raj."

Indirectly referring to the Voter Adhikar Yatra taken out by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, the PM alleged it was aimed to protect infiltrators (ghuspaithiye) who must be driven out lest they capture the resources meant for the people of Bihar.

The jungle raj wallahs have very dangerous intentions. Be aware of them," he said and also uttered a proverb in local dialect Bhojpuri, a rough translation of which is the one responsible for destroying the field is now claiming to sow fresh seeds".

Pointing out region-specific instances of alleged misrule during the RJD regime, Modi further recalled the abduction of a doctor in Tarari, near Arrah, two decades ago, and the Naxal insurgency that took its toll on Dalmia Nagar, a once bustling industrial town in the adjoining district of Rohtas.

He also disclosed that the NDA was planning to develop the birthplace of Veer Kunwar Singh, the ruler of the erstwhile princely estate of Jagdishpur, who was one of the heroes of the Revolt of 1857, asserting that we believe in development while protecting cultural heritage".

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But Congress RJD are known for being disdainful towards our heritage. They berated the Maha Kumbh held at Prayagraj. Recently, the Congress naamdaar (Gandhi) made fun of the Chhath Puja festival. These people must be taught a lesson. I would urge those who have returned home for Chhath Puja to stay back to vote in this election," he said.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Arrah, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 14:31 IST

News elections 'Both Pakistan And Congress Haven't Recovered From Operation Sindoor': PM Modi At Bihar Rally

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High-Stakes Bypoll In J&K: Budgam's Aga v Aga v Aga And Nagrota's Battle To Retain BJP Legacy

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 16:46 IST

The issues are poor infrastructure, reservation, unemployment, and water supplies with the bypoll closely watched for alliance tensions, family rivalries, and sectarian dynamics

The NC has blamed the UT's "dual power structure", where key decisions rest with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, for delays in initiatives. (Image: PTI/File)

These elections, necessitated by vacancies in two key seats  one in the Kashmir Valley and the other in the Jammu region  have drawn a total of 33 nominations: 20 for Budgam and 13 for Nagrota, including 13 independents and four women candidates.

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Set against a backdrop of grievances such as poor infrastructure, reservation, unemployment, and water supplies, the elections will be closely watched for alliance tensions, family rivalries, and sectarian dynamics.

Budgam, a Shia-dominated constituency in central Kashmir with around 1.25 lakh voters, witnessed a 66 percent turnout in the 2024 assembly elections. The seat became vacant after Omar Abdullah chose to retain his familys stronghold of Ganderbal following a dual victory.

This seat has long been a stronghold of the National Conference (NC) and now serves as a referendum on the governments performance in its first year, with opposition parties accusing it of not fulfilling promises made in the manifesto. The NC, in turn, has blamed the union territorys dual power structure", where key decisions rest with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, for delays in initiatives. Sinha, however, has countered this by stating that the excuse" of the absence of statehood would not work as the elected government has all the powers it needs.

BUDGAM

The race in Budgam has turned into a high-stakes Aga v Aga v Aga" battle among three prominent candidates from the influential Shia Aga family. Aga Syed Mehmood Al-Mousvi of the NC, a former minister, is relying on the partys cadre strength and historical loyalty.

However, Aga Syed Mehmood Al-Mousvi campaign faces internal dissent as NC MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, a three-time former Budgam MLA and vocal critic of Abdullahs governance, has boycotted the effort citing conscience" over party lines and potentially alienating some voters.

The PDPs Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, 32, is seen as a wildcard, having been pitted against Abdullah in the 2024 general elections where he managed 17,445 votes. He is mounting a spirited challenge by framing the bypoll as a protest vote" against the NCs alleged neglect.

Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi has criticised Omar for vacating Budgam despite a 2024 promise to hold it if winning big there, accusing the party of treating the area as a stepney" (spare tire).

Aga Syed Mohsin Mosvi of the BJP is tapping into anti-incumbency sentiments against both the NC and PDP, criticising the formers 50-year misrule" and the latters post-2002 lapses. He is focusing on the BJPs central governance achievements, promising jobs, industries, and infrastructure over divisive issues like Article 370 restoration or statehood.

NAGROTA

In Nagrota, a Hindu-majority seat in the Jammu region with a history of BJP dominance, the seat fell vacant after the death of BJP MLA Devender Singh Rana in October last year.

This bypoll pits the ruling NC against BJP and a feisty regional player, amid alliance realignments in the INDIA bloc. Initially, the NC planned to concede the seat to its ally Congress to heal rifts from the Rajya Sabha poll snub, where the NC denied Congress a safe" seat despite assurances.

The Congress, however, backed out post-nomination, leaving a triangular contest that could fragment opposition votes and favour the BJP. By opting out, the Congress has weakened its own visibility and organisational strength in the Jammu region, particularly in a high-profile constituency.

In the 2024 elections, the Congress came third but still retained a significant base. Giving up this seat effectively cedes ground and signals a lack of ambition or confidence in challenging regional rivals.

Devyani Rana of the BJP, is the youngest candidate at 30 and daughter of the late Devender Rana, is leveraging her fathers legacy of issue-based" problem-solving. A young entrepreneur, she vows to complete his vision for Nagrotas growth, focusing on clean water, reliable power, and youth jobs. Her campaign has emphasised BJPs decade of central development, positioning her as a continuity candidate in a seat the party won handily in 2024 by securing 48,113 votes with a margin of 30,472 votes.

The NCs Shamim Begum, a district development council member and one of two women in the main race, carries the NCs banner after Congress withdrawal. With the NCs support, she aims to consolidate non-BJP votes, though the partys Jammu outreach remains a work in progress.

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Former minister and J&K National Panthers Party chief Harsh Dev Singh is the dark horse, drawing from his 2024 third-place showing. He criticised both the BJP and NC for developmental lapses, pledging basic amenities like potable water and stable electricity. Singhs appeal lies in his local roots and anti-establishment rhetoric, potentially siphoning youth and rural votes.

While Budgam tests NCs grip on the Valley and unkept pledges, Nagrota gauges BJPs hold on Jammu against opposition disarray. For the chief minister, a sweep could bolster his governments credibility ahead of tougher battles on statehood. With 66 percent turnout in Budgams last poll and similar expectations, voter fatigue over empty promises" looms, but party loyalty  NCs plough symbol in Kashmir, BJPs lotus in Jammu  remains a potent force.

About the Author Ieshan Wani Ieshan Wani, senior correspondent, CNN-News18, has over eight years of experience in reporting, producing and editing news for broadcast, digital and print platforms. His reporting has mostly been fro... Read More

Location : Srinagar, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 16:46 IST

News elections High-Stakes Bypoll In J&K: Budgam's Aga v Aga v Aga And Nagrota's Battle To Retain BJP Legacy

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I Know Jails Well: Mokamas JDU Candidate Singh Didnt Resist Arrest, Cops Give Sequence Of Events

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 14:19 IST

JD(U)'s Anant Singh aka Chhote Sarkar was arrested around Saturday midnight in connection with murder of Dularchand Yadav. Cops tell News18 the sequence of events

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Anant Singh (left) and the spot where the crime occurred. (PTI File/News18)

Jail humar dekhal ba [I know the jails well]," that was the only reaction when Bahubali and JD(U)s Mokama candidate Anant Singh was told by Patna Police that he was being arrested.

Singh had come back from his campaign in Mokama around 4 pm on Saturday. He had not campaigned on Friday. His supporters said it was owing to the non-stop rains, but the cancellation also coincided with the high tension that ran through Mokama after the killing of Dularchand Yadav, a supporter of the Jan Suraaj Party.

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By the time Singh came back to his Barh residence in Kargil Bazaar, the heavy paramilitary deployment all along the highway and towards his residence would have indicated action".

Top police officers in Bihar narrated the sequence of events to CNN-News18. SSP Patna went to Singhs residence around midnight. As per Supreme Court guidelines, the grounds for arrest were read out to him. His only reaction was jail humar dekhal ba".

DGP Bihar, Vinay Kumar, also confirmed that there was no resistance from the don of Mokama. Once the post-mortem report established the cause of death and forensic investigation established Singhs presence at the place of occurrence, a decision was taken to arrest him," DGP told CNN-News18 in an exclusive conversation.

He added that the firearm used to shoot at the leg of Dularchand Yadav is yet to be recovered. The post-mortem report has said that the bullet pierced through the ankle area of Dularchand, but it was not a cause of death. The bullet casing has also not been located so far. The scene of the crime is spread over a kilometre and it was raining heavily, so this will take time," DGP said.

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Singh, in his interrogation since Saturday midnight, has not accepted his role in the murder, as per Bihar Police. The motive of the crime is also unclear at this stage. We are not sure if this was premeditated. At this stage, it looks like two convoys coming face to face and each insisting that the other reverses on the narrow road, flanked by water bodies. Road rage seems to have escalated, but we are probing all angles," DGP Vinay Kumar told CNN-News18.

Though Singh has been named in the murder FIR, prima facie evidence against him is a violation of the model code of conduct, presence at the murder spot, and common intention. Eyewitnesses have alleged that he shot Dularchand. But till the firearm is recovered and the wound matched with it, police might find it difficult to pin down the murder directly on him.

About the Author Arunima Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from gr... Read More

Location : Bihar, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 14:18 IST

News elections I Know Jails Well: Mokamas JDU Candidate Singh Didnt Resist Arrest, Cops Give Sequence Of Events

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JD(U)'s Anant Singh Sent To 14-Day Judicial Custody In Mokama Murder Case

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 16:03 IST

JD(U) candidate Anant Singh and two others were arrested after the death of a Jan Suraaj campaigner in Mokama following a violent clash between rival political groups.

Anant Singh, arrested over the death of a rival campaigner, tells voters he trusts their support as Bihar assembly elections near. (IMAGE: PTI)

Janata Dal (United) leader Anant Singh was sent to 14-day judicial custody on Sunday, hours after he was arrested in connection with the murder of a Jan Suraaj Party campaigner in Bihars Mokama.

Dularchand Yadav, a campaigner for Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi, was shot during clashes between rival political groups. Singh was apprehended after a targeted operation in Barh and Mokama areas of rural Patna, which involved around 150 Central Armed Police Force personnel. Following the arrests, all three accused were brought to Patna for questioning.

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An FIR filed by Dularchands grandson directly named Anant Singh, his nephews, and others as the accused. After his arrest, Anant Singh was produced before a court on Sunday, after which he was sent to judicial custody for 14 days. He has been sent to Patnas Beur Central Jail.

ALSO READ: Anant Singh Shot At Dularchand Yadav Before Others Mowed Him Down With SUV, Alleges FIR

Anant Singhs Response After Arrest

Posting a video on social media, Singh expressed complete faith" in the support of voters, just hours after being arrested. Satyamev Jayate! I have complete faith in the people of Mokama!! Thats why now the people of Mokama will fight this election!" he said, addressing supporters directly from the clip.

The incident took place around 3:30 pm on Thursday, when the convoys of Anant Singh and Jan Suraaj candidate Priyadarshi Piyush encountered each other near Tartar village in the Mokama constituency. A confrontation erupted between their supporters, quickly escalating into violence.

The Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said there was a violent clash between two groups of competing candidates in Mokama. Stones were pelted, resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident, which was Dularchand Yadavs.

Based on the evidence collected so far, including video footage and witness accounts, it has been found that Anant Singh was present at the spot when the violence occurred. He has been identified as the prime accused and arrested accordingly," the SSP said.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) took note of this incident as Bihar heads for the first phase of the assembly elections this week, with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar emphasising a zero-tolerance policy toward violence.

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The poll panel directed the transfer of several key officials posted in the Mokama Assembly constituency following the murder and sought a detailed report on the incident from the Bihar Director General of Police (DGP). CEC Kumar further emphasised that for the Election Commission, both the opposition and the ruling side are the same.

Dularchand, a Yadav chieftain, was a historical rival to the Singh family, who belong to the Bhumihar caste, adding a deep-seated layer of personal and caste rivalry to the current political battle. Singhs supporters, however, called this a political conspiracy.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 15:47 IST

News elections JD(U)'s Anant Singh Sent To 14-Day Judicial Custody In Mokama Murder Case

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Power Cuts Reported During PM Modis Roadshow In Patna

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 18:58 IST

The lights went off twice at the end point of the roadshow before PM Modis arrival.

PM Modi is holding a 1.6 km long roadshow from Dinkar Golambar to Udyog Bhawan near Gandhi Maidan. (X)

At least two power outages were reported during Prime Minister Narendra Modis roadshow in Patna on Sunday evening.

The Prime Minister is holding a 1.6 km long roadshow from Dinkar Golambar to Udyog Bhawan near Gandhi Maidan as part of the poll campaign for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

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#WATCH | #BiharElection2025 | People cheer and chant his name as Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a road show in Patna, Bihar. pic.twitter.com/U7R6LugiJA ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2025

The lights went off twice at the end point of the roadshow before PM Modis arrival. The officials quickly managed the situation, ensuring there was no disruption to the convoys movement and public safety as large crowds gathered to witness the Prime Ministers roadshow.

The roadshow continued as planned, with PM Modi greeting enthusiastic supporters as they cheered and chanted his name. Videos shared on social media platforms showed women peering out from their balconies and offering aarti as PM Modi passes by during the roadshow.

#WATCH | #BiharElection2025 | Women peer out from their balconies and offer aarti as Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a road show in Patna, Bihar. pic.twitter.com/ypR9slQh5o ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2025

Following the event, the Prime Minister is set to visit the historic Gurudwara Shri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib.

Meanwhile, authorities imposed sweeping traffic restrictions across central Patna from 2 pm to 7 pm, with several key routesincluding Dinkar Golambar, Nala Road, Bari Path, Thakurbari Road, Bakarganj, and Gandhi Maidanclosed to the public, for the roadshow.

Only emergency and essential vehiclessuch as ambulances, fire brigades, patient transport, hearses, judicial, election, and those with special passes have been permitted.

Earlier today, PM Modi held two rallies in Arrah and Nwada and took a swipe at the Congress, clubbing the party with Pakistan and saying the two have not yet recovered from Operation Sindoor.

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Calling the Gandhis the royal family" of the Congress, while campaigning for the Bihar assembly elections in Arrah, Modi said: When blasts were happening in Pakistan, the Congress royal family lost their sleep. To date, both Pakistan and Congress namdaars havent recovered from Operation Sindoor."

The 243-member Bihar assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with results set to be announced on November 14.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 18:58 IST

News elections Power Cuts Reported During PM Modis Roadshow In Patna

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Satyamev Jayate: JD(U) Candidate Anant Singh's First Remarks After Arrest In Murder Case

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 13:57 IST

JDU candidate Anant Singh and two others were arrested after Dularchand Yadav died in a clash; Election Commission stepped in.

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Anant Singh, arrested over the death of a rival campaigner, tells voters he trusts their support as Bihar assembly elections near. (IMAGE: PTI)

Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, Anant Singh, posted a video on social media early Sunday, expressing complete faith" in the support of voters, just hours after being arrested in connection with the death of Dularchand Yadav, a campaigner for rival Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi.

In the video shared on social media, Singh appeared in police custody and conveyed confidence in his electoral prospects. Satyamev Jayate! I have complete faith in the people of Mokama!! Thats why now the people of Mokama will fight this election!" he said, addressing supporters directly from the clip.

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The arrest follows the death of Dularchand Yadav, a campaigner for Priyadarshi, who was shot during clashes between rival political groups. Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikey Sharma said, Stones were pelted, resulting in injuries. Dularchand Yadavs body was recovered after the incident. Both sides registered cases, and the police started investigating the matter."

Singh was apprehended after a targeted operation in Barh and Mokama areas of rural Patna, which involved around 150 Central Armed Police Force personnel. Following the arrests, all three accused were brought to Patna for questioning.

In the wake of the incident, the Election Commission of India removed the Barh Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) and Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) to ensure impartiality and maintain law and order ahead of the polls.

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The Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma on Saturday said that Anant Singh and two o his associates Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram have been arrested . All three will be presented before the magistrate.

On October 30, there was a clash between two groups of competing candidates. Stones were pelted resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident. The deceased, Dularchand Yadav, aged 75 years, was a resident of the village where this clash occurred Both sides registered cases, and police started investigating the case Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the postmortem report of the deceased, it appears that the Model Code of Conduct was violated, and it is a serious issue. It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested. His accomplices, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have also been arrested with him All three will be presented before the magistrate, and due investigation will follow," SSP Patna, Kartikeya K Sharma told reporters.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 13:57 IST

News elections Satyamev Jayate: JD(U) Candidate Anant Singh's First Remarks After Arrest In Murder Case

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14-Year-Old Girl Gangraped While Returning From Tuition In Kolkata; 3 Held

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 21:59 IST

The victim, a student of Class 7, was returning from her tuition classes on Saturday. Three youths have been booked under POCSO act.

14-year-old student of Class 7 had gone for tuition. (IMAGE: REPRESENTATIVE)

A 14-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped by three youths in Kolkatas Dum Dum area. As per the officials, the victim, a student of Class 7, was returning from her tuition classes on Saturday when the heinous crime took place. All three suspects have been arrested, and a probe is underway based on the complaint filed by the girl.

As per the police, one of the accused took her to a park where two more persons joined them. When she was returning from tuition, she was forcibly taken on an e-rickshaw to a shanty some distance away, where she was sexually assaulted, police said based on the complaint filed by the girl.

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As per the reports, one of the accused was the girls acquaintance.

Though the three accused later allowed her to leave the spot, they threatened her not to divulge anything.

The girl was sent for a medical examination to determine the nature of the assault and whether more than one person was involved, the officer added.

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The three suspects were arrested on Saturday night, and a case was registered against them under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

On Sunday, BJP activists staged a demonstration outside the Dum Dum police station, demanding strict punishment for the perpetrators.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 21:59 IST

News india 14-Year-Old Girl Gangraped While Returning From Tuition In Kolkata; 3 Held

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8-Year-Old Boy Assaulted For Months In Shimla, Teachers Put Scorpion In His Pants

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 20:29 IST

Father of the class 1 student accused three teachers of frequently physically assaulting his son for almost a year.

Image used for representation

Three teachers of a government school in Shimla, including the headmaster, have been booked for repeatedly assaulting an eight-year-old Dalit boy and placing a scorpion in his pants, police said on Sunday.

In a police complaint, the father of the boy  a Class 1 student of Government Primary School at Khaddapani area in Rohru sub-division of Shimla district  accused headmaster Devendra and teachers Babu Ram and Kritika Thakur of frequently physically assaulting his son for almost a year.

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The complainant said that continuous beating caused the childs ear to bleed and damaged his eardrum. He also said the teachers took his son to the schools toilet, where they placed a scorpion in his pants.

Following the complaint, police have registered a case under Sections 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 3(5) (criminal acts in furtherance of a common intent) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and for cruelty towards a child under the Juvenile Justice Act.

The teachers have also been charged under sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act pertaining to forcibly removing clothes or similar acts derogatory to human dignity, and crime against a member of the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.

A communication is being sent to seniors for directions as to whether the investigation is to be conducted by a gazetted officer, police said.

According to the father, the teachers intimidated the boy telling him that if he complained at home, they would have him arrested.

He said that on October 30, the headmaster allegedly threatened to expel the child from the school. He said the complainants family would face severe consequence if the matter was made public and threatened them saying, We will burn you." The boys father was also warned not to lodge a police complaint or post about the incident on social media, or he would have to wash his hands of life." The complainant also alleged that Kritika Thakurs husband Nitish Thakur has been illegally teaching students at the school in her place for the last one year.

He also alleged caste-based discrimination by teachers at the school. Nepali and Harijan students were made to sit separately from Rajput students during meals, he said.

This is not the first incident of teachers assaulting students or caste discrimination in Rohru.

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Last week, a teacher at Government Primary School in Gawana area of Rohru was suspended for beating a student with a prickly bush.

Earlier, a 12-year-old Dalit boy allegedly committed suicide at Limda village in Rohru after some upper caste women locked him up inside a cowshed for entering their house.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 20:29 IST

News india 8-Year-Old Boy Assaulted For Months In Shimla, Teachers Put Scorpion In His Pants

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Act Of God: Builder Of Andhra Temple Claims No One Is Responsible For Stampede That Killed 9

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 12:50 IST

94-year-old Hari Mukund Panda from Odisha built the privately-run Venkateswara Temple in Kasibugga.

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People carry an injured person after rescuing them from a stampede-like situation in Andhra Pradeshs Srikakulams Kasibugga. (IMAGE: News18)

Ninety-four-year-old Hari Mukund Panda from Odisha, who built the Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradeshs Kasibugga town, said on Saturday that no one was responsible for the stampede that killed nine people, including a child, and injured over a dozen others.

Andhra Pradesh Police sources told CNN-News18 that Panda and members of the temple management have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act for alleged negligence in handling the event.

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Officials in the Andhra Pradesh government told CNN-News18 that the organisers did not seek official permissions for the gathering and failed to anticipate such a large turnout. A state minister said that while the temple can typically accommodate between 3,000 and 5,000 devotees, over 25,000 people had assembled on the auspicious occasion of Kartika Ekadashi.

Government sources also said the temple was privately built and not under the control of the Endowments Department. The area where the devotees had gathered was still under construction, and with the entry and exit points being the same, the crowd crush became far more intense.

However, Panda described the tragedy as an act of god". Speaking to the Times of India, he said, Nobody is responsible  it was an act of god."

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Srikakulam Superintendent of Police KV Maheswara Reddy said the chaos began when a six-foot iron railing collapsed during the temples Ekadashi celebrations, triggering a sudden rush among devotees. It was not a stampede but an accident. A six-foot railing gave way, and that led to the tragic situation," Reddy told CNN-News18.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the temple authorities had failed to inform the police about the event. If they had informed us, security arrangements could have been made to manage the crowd," he said. Because of overcrowding, nine people died and five others were injured." Naidu added that the incident would be taken very seriously and those responsible would be taken into custody immediately.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

Location : Kasibugga, Andhra Pradesh

First Published: November 02, 2025, 12:48 IST

News india Act Of God: Builder Of Andhra Temple Claims No One Is Responsible For Stampede That Killed 9

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Anant Singh Shot At Dularchand Yadav Before Others Mowed Him Down With SUV, Alleges FIR

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 13:50 IST

Anant Singh and aides Manikant Thakur and Ranjit Ram were arrested for the killing of Dularchand Yadav in Mokama after a clash between JD(U) and Jan Suraaj supporters.

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The arrest of Anant Singh (above) pertains to the killing of 75-year-old Dularchand Yadav, a local strongman and former RJD leader. (Courtesy: PTI)

The FIR registered in connection with the killing of 75-year-old Dularchand Yadav in Bihars Mokama, said that during a clash between supporters of the JD(U) and Jan Suraaj parties on October 30, JD(U) candidate Anant Singh allegedly shot at Yadav, before the latter was thrashed by others and then run over with an SUV.

Anant Singh was arrested late on Saturday night, along with two of his aides, Manikant Thakur and Ranjit Ram.

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Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya K Sharma said the arrests were made after examining CCTV footage, speaking to witnesses, and reviewing the post-mortem findings.

Based on the evidence collected so far, including video footage and witness accounts, it has been found that Anant Singh was present at the spot when the violence occurred. He has been identified as the prime accused and arrested accordingly," the SSP said.

He further added that two other men present with Singh at the scene, Thakur, a resident of Nadwa village under Barh police station, and Ram, from Ladma village in Patna district, were also arrested along with him from Behdna village under Barh police limits around 11.50 pm.

A team has been constituted for further investigation, and raids are being conducted to trace others involved," Sharma said.

The three accused will be presented before a court, where police will seek their remand for further investigation.

According to the officer, so far, six FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident.

The roles of individuals  who did what, who fired the shot, who was driving the vehicle  are still being verified through further analysis and questioning," the SSP said.

He also confirmed that a CID team has been formed to assist the investigation and that no weapon has been seized yet. The bullet had exited the body," he said.

The Incident

The incident took place around 3:30 pm on Thursday, when the convoys of Anant Singh and Jan Suraaj candidate Priyadarshi Piyush encountered each other near Tartar village in the Mokama constituency.

A confrontation erupted between their supporters, quickly escalating into violence. Several people were injured, and Dularchand Yadav, reportedly travelling with the Jan Suraaj convoy, was killed.

Upon receiving the information, the police rushed to the spot, and Yadav was found inside a vehicle with multiple injuries. Preliminary findings suggested he was shot and subsequently run over.

According to the FIR lodged by Neeraj Kumar, grandson of the deceased Dularchand Yadav, Anant Singh, accompanied by several aides, approached the vehicle of Yadav and began abusing him. When Yadav objected, he was forcibly pulled out of the car by two men identified as Rajveer Singh and Karmveer Singh, both residents of Nadwa village, the Indian Express reported.

The FIR states that Anant Singh allegedly pulled out a pistol from his waist and shot Dularchand with the intent to kill", hitting him in the left ankle. As Yadav collapsed, two others  identified as Chhotan Singh and Sanjay Singh from the Barh area  are accused of beating him with iron rods on his legs, back, and head.

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The complaint further alleges that the group then ran a Thar SUV over Yadav two to three times before fleeing the spot.

The FIR was registered under sections 103 (murder) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, along with Section 27 of the Arms Act.

Location : Bihar, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 13:50 IST

News india Anant Singh Shot At Dularchand Yadav Before Others Mowed Him Down With SUV, Alleges FIR

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Cascading Fall After One Person Tripped: Nara Lokesh On Andhra Temple Stampede

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 10:38 IST

Nine devotees died in a stampede at Venkateswara Swamy Temple. Nara Lokesh and Chandrababu Naidu announced compensation and promised preventive measures.

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When logistics major BlackBuck decided to shift operations from its Bellandur office due to worsening traffic, Lokesh publicly invited the company to relocate to Visakhapatnam. (Photo: News18)

Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh said that an unknown amount of rush" led to a lot of suffocation", which resulted in a stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam. Nine devotees were killed and several others injured in a stampede on Sunday, as an unusually large crowd gathered for Ekadashi darshan.

The minister called the tragedy very unfortunate" and detailed the circumstances that led to the incident.

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While speaking to reporters, Lokesh said that the privately-run temple witnessed an unprecedented rush of pilgrims early in the day. Darshan is allowed from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by a break before reopening at 3 p.m. With only one entrance and one exit route, crowd movement became chaotic when the entry gate was closed around 11:30 a.m. due to heavy influx.

People assumed they could use the exit, which caused congestion and suffocation," he said. Someone tripped on the steps at the entry and it led to a cascading fall." Lokesh noted that queue arrangements were not prepared for such a crowd and said most victims were women.

He added that the government responded within minutes of receiving information, coordinating rescue efforts through local officials, the Home Minister and the state disaster management network. We worked exceptionally hard to save as many lives as possible," he said.

#WATCH | Srikakulam: On the stampede at Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh says, An unfortunate incident has happened in Kasibugga Venkateswara Swamy Temple. Today, being ekadashi, like never before pilgrims came here. They wanted to take pic.twitter.com/0jk2l1M1qn ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2025

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has announced Rs 15 lakh ex-gratia for the families of those who died and Rs 3 lakh for those seriously injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also approved Rs 2 lakh compensation for the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those who suffered major injuries. Three critically injured devotees have been shifted to a superspecialty hospital.

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Lokesh said the government will support affected families and ensure necessary medical equipment is provided at their homes if required. He added that a committee will submit a report, after which a formal standard operating procedure will be issued to prevent such incidents in the future.

The CM has clearly asked us to come up with an SoP once a committee gives the report to ensure that such an incident never happens again," he said.

Location : Srikakulam, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 10:37 IST

News india Cascading Fall After One Person Tripped: Nara Lokesh On Andhra Temple Stampede

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'Even Donald Trump Doesn't Know...': Army Chief On Security Threats In Future

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 21:33 IST

General Upendra Dwivedi said the challenges in the coming days are marked by "instability, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity" and no one knew what the future looked like.

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi (Image: PTI)

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi mentioned US President Donald Trump as he spoke about the unpredictability of future threats facing the military, be it in terms of security or cyber warfare.

Addressing an event at TRS College in Madhya Pradeshs Rewa, General Dwivedi said the challenges in the coming days are marked by instability, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity" and stressed that the Indian Army is transforming and enhancing its capabilities.

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To put it simply, you and I are completely clueless about what will happen in the future. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow. What is Trump doing today? I think even Trump doesnt know what he is going to do tomorrow," he said.

Challenges are coming so quickly that by the time you try to grasp an old challenge, a new one emerges, and the same security challenges our military faces. Whether it is on the border, terrorism, natural disasters, or cyber warfare. The new things that have started: space warfare, satellites, chemical, biological, radiological, and information warfare," the Chief of Army Staff said.

General Upendra Dwivedi hailed Indias Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, saying the self-confidence of the Armed Forces, mutual confidence and calmness were at display during the operation.

Other than gaining the victory over the enemy, Operation Sindoor was to re-establish sovereignty, integrity and peace. It was the Prime Minister who said that it would be named Operation Sindoor Whenever a daughter, mother, or sister applies Sindoor on her forehead, the prayers go to the soldier standing at the border to secure the nation. Confidence in others and ourselves is very important," he said.

The Army Chief also said how fake news was being spread during Operation Sindoor, and stressed Indias objective to not harm any innocent civilians in Pakistan.

India launched Operation Sindoor to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 tourists were gunned down. India launched precise airstrikes at terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing 100 terrorists.

A military confrontation arose between India and Pakistan that lasted for four days, with Indian forces targeting military sites in the neighbouring country. The countries reached an understanding to halt the hostilities on May 10, for which Donald Trump has repeatedly taken credit.

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India has repeatedly said that no third power intervened to stop the conflict and India decided to halt strikes after completing all its military objectives in the operation. On the other hand, Pakistan has credited Trump with stopping the war and nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

(with inputs from ANI)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

Location : Rewa, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 20:58 IST

News india 'Even Donald Trump Doesn't Know...': Army Chief On Security Threats In Future

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India Hits New Space Milestone By Launching Heaviest Satellite On 'Bahubali' Rocket | Top Points

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 21:48 IST

ISRO launched its CMS-03 communication satellite, weighing 4,410 kg, to a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) onboard the 43.5-metre-tall LVM3-M5 rocket.

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The CMS-03 satellite launched from Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. (ISRO)

The Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday reached a new milestone by launching its heaviest communication satellite on an Indian rocket and placing it in orbit.

ISRO launched its CMS-03 communication satellite, weighing 4,410 kg, to a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) onboard the 43.5-metre-tall LVM3-M5 rocket, known as Bahubali for its heavy-lift capability. The launch took place from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Station in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 5:26 pm.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan congratulated ISRO on the feat, lauding Indias excellence in space innovation. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the space agency plans to carry out seven launch missions in the next five months.

A Historic Launch: Top Points

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The communication satellite CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite and would provide services over a wide oceanic region, including the Indian landmass, according to ISRO. It is also a replacement to the GSAT 7 series, launched in 2013.

VM-3, previously known as Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (GSLV Mk 3), is a three-stage launch vehicle that includes two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110), and a cryogenic stage (C25). It is dubbed Bahubali for its capabilities in launching heavier communication satellites up to 4,000 kg in GTO and 8,000 kg in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

All eight LVM 3 launches, including its experimental mission, have been successful, achieving a 100% success rate. ISRO scientists also demonstrated the re-ignition of the thrust chamber of the C-25 cryogenic engine after it placed the satellite in orbit.

PM Modi congratulated ISRO, saying, Powered by our space scientists, it is commendable how our space sector has become synonymous with excellence and innovation."

This indigenously developed satellite will strengthen space-based communications, connectivity, and maritime domain awareness across the Indian Ocean Region, marking another proud milestone in Aatmanirbhar Bharat," said VP Radhakrishnan.

Indian Space Association (ISPA) Director General Lt Gen A K Bhatt (retd) said the CMS-03 satellite will be a game-changer for Indias maritime and national security, providing advanced, secure communication channels that are critical in the Indian Ocean Region and the mainland, reported news agency PTI.

Previously, ISRO launched its heaviest communication satellite, GSAT-11, on December 5, 2018, from the Kourou launch base in French Guiana using the Ariane-5 VA-246 rocket. GSAT-11 weighs about 5,854 kg and remains the heaviest satellite built by ISRO.

ISRO had planned the human-rated LVM3 rocket as the launch vehicle, which is named HRLV, for its ambitious Gaganyaan mission scheduled in 2027.

(with inputs from PTI)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

Location : Andhra Pradesh, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 21:40 IST

News india India Hits New Space Milestone By Launching Heaviest Satellite On 'Bahubali' Rocket | Top Points

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McDonalds Serves Millet Bun Burger, Union Minister Hails Videshi To Swadeshi Shift

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 22:26 IST

McDonalds launches Millet Bun Burger using CSIRCFTRI technology, praised by Jitendra Singh as a milestone for Indias Millet Movement.

This initiative has been celebrated by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who emphasised its significance for India's innovation in food. (X)

International fast food chain McDonalds has added a swadeshi twist to its menu by rolling out the Millet Bun Burger.

The latest addition, prepared using a homegrown innovation developed with indigenous technology from the Mysuru-based CSIRCentral Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), has drawn praise from the Central government, which views it as a notable step in Indias efforts to promote millets as a mainstream, everyday food option.

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Union Minister Jitendra Singh hailed the move as proof that Videshi has turned Swadeshi," calling it a proud moment for Indias food innovation ecosystem. In a post on X, Singh commended the global fast-food chain for adopting indigenous research and food technology developed within India.

Videshi turns to Swadeshi" as the popular international food chain McDonalds serves Indias Millet Bun Burger", prepared using indigenous technology developed by the Mysore based CSIR institute, the Central Food Technological Research Institute CFTRI," he said on X.

Videshi turns to #Swadeshi" as the popular international food chain McDonalds serves Indias Millet Bun Burger", prepared using indigenous technology developed by the Mysore based #CSIR institute, the Central Food Technological Research Institute  #CFTRI.A proud moment pic.twitter.com/yGyya94anf  Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) November 2, 2025

He added that this is a proud moment" showcasing how Indian innovation and traditional nutrition are reshaping global food trends.

The announcement has been highlighted as a reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modis push on millets as a superfood, under the broader initiative informally known as the Millet Movement.

A grand vindication for Indias Millet movement which had gained momentum with the UN declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets at the behest of India with the personal intervention of PM Modi," he added.

The Indian government has been actively promoting millets both domestically and internationally.

The United Nations General Assembly at its 75th session in March 2021 declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023), following a proposal spearheaded by India. Since then, policymakers have encouraged millet integration across welfare schemes, food security programmes, and commercial food markets.

International Year of Millets was looked at as an opportunity to raise awareness of, and direct policy attention to the nutritional and health benefits of millets and their suitability for cultivation under adverse and changing climatic conditions. The Year promoted the sustainable production of millets, while highlighting their potential to provide new sustainable market opportunities for producers and consumers.

Millet is a common term to categorise small-seeded grasses that are often termed nutri-cereals and includes Sorghum (Jowar), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi), Little Millet (Kutki), Foxtail Millet (Kakun), Proso Millet (Cheena), Barnyard Millet (Sawa), Kodo Millet (Kodon) and other millets.

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Millets are highly nutritious grains that offer numerous health benefits compared to refined cereals like rice or wheat. They are rich in essential nutrients, including iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and B vitamins, which support energy production, bone health, and brain function.

Their high fiber content aids digestion, prevents constipation, and helps maintain a healthy gut.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 22:22 IST

News india McDonalds Serves Millet Bun Burger, Union Minister Hails Videshi To Swadeshi Shift

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Wolf Drags 2-Year-Old Girl From Her Home In UP's Behraich, Search Op Underway

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 18:25 IST

A 2-year-old-girl was dragged by a wild animal amid wolf attacks. Massive search operation is underway. UP CM Yogi Adityanath ordered action against the wolves.

Representational Image | Getty

In yet another wolf attack reported from Uttar Pradeshs Bahraich, a 2-year-old child was suspectedly dragged by a wild animal. Local authorities suspected it to be a case of another wolf attack. The girl was sleeping beside her mother in the courtyard of their home in Kandauli village of Kaiserganj tehsil on Sunday.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the matter and ordered action against wolves. He said that the wolves be captured, and if they cannot be caught, they should be shot.

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A massive search operation is underway and pieces of flesh and blood traces were found in a field about a kilometre away from the girls home. Officials have deployed drones and dog squads.

Footprints of wild animals have been traced nearby. Prima facie, it appears to be a wolf attack. A search operation is being carried out with the help of drones and dog squads," Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ram Singh Yadav told PTI.

Giving details, the officials said Rakesh Yadavs wife was sleeping in the courtyard of their home with her daughter, Shanvi. At around 5 AM, the animal took away the girl from her bed. Hearing the childs screams, the mother woke up and found her daughter missing.

Family members and villagers rushed to the nearby sugarcane field and saw wolf footprints. When the villagers gave chase, they found small pieces of flesh and blood stains in the field, they said.

The girl has not been found yet," the DFO said.

Wolf Attacks In Bahraich

According to officials, between September 9 and October 15, six people  including four children and an elderly couple  were killed and 29 villagers were injured in wolf attacks in villages in Kaiserganj and Mahsi tehsils of Bahraich district.

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On October 16, forest department officials claimed that a pack of four wolves was carrying out the attacks, of which three had been killed, and only one lame wolf remained.

UP government has provided compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of deceased villagers and Rs 50,000 each to the injured, officials added.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Bahraich, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 18:13 IST

News india Wolf Drags 2-Year-Old Girl From Her Home In UP's Behraich, Search Op Underway

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Zero Tolerance For Violence: CEC Vows Peaceful Voting In Bihar After Anant Singhs Arrest

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 14:24 IST

Gyanesh Kumar affirms ECI's zero-tolerance for violence ahead of Bihar polls, urges voter participation, and ensures neutrality after Mokama incident involving Dularchand Yadav.

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Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the EC press conference on Monday.

Just days before Bihar heads to the polls in the first phase of the assembly elections on Thursday, November 6, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday said the Election Commission has a zero-tolerance policy toward violence.

He further urged the people of Bihar to participate in the election process and said that the poll body is ready to make sure that the electors can peacefully vote.

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I want to appeal to everyone to come and participate in the election process, and everyone come to exercise their right to vote. On the topic of violence, Election Commission wants to make it clear that the Election Commission has zero tolerance towards violence. No incident of violence will be tolerated. The Election Commission is ready to make sure that the electors can peacefully vote. Our 243 returning officers, that many observers, every zillas collectors, zilla adhikari, SP, SSP, police observers, everyone is ready," Kumar said while speaking to reporters in Kanpur on Sunday.

Gyanesh Kumar visited the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur on Sunday, where he was conferred with the Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA).

His comments come just hours after Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama constituency was arrested in Bihar in a late night operation in connection with the murder of Dularchand Yadav, a campaigner for Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi.

The poll panel directed the transfer of several key officials posted in the Mokama Assembly constituency following the murder and sought a detailed report on the incident from the Bihar Director General of Police (DGP).

He further emphasised that for the Election Commission, both opposition and the ruling side are the same.

In Bihar elections, every political party, in their own way, are asking for electors to vote for them. I want to say it once again that for Election Commission no one is in ruling, or opposition side, everyone is neutral," he said.

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Exuding confidence that Bihar assembly polls will be held transparently, Kumar said, The hope is that the Bihar polls will happen not only transparently, competently, with ease and not only be an example for the country but for the world."

Bihar will vote in two phases for the upcoming assembly polls  on November 6 and November 11  and the counting will held on November 14.

First Published: November 02, 2025, 14:24 IST

News india Zero Tolerance For Violence: CEC Vows Peaceful Voting In Bihar After Anant Singhs Arrest

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Tara Sutaria Redefines Royalty In A Deep Crimson Jayanti Reddy Banarasi Saree

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 09:51 IST

For her latest look, Tara Sutaria turned to Jayanti Reddy and stunned in a deep crimson hued Banarasi saree. The exquisite drape featured elaborate zardosi embroidery.

Tara Sutaria was styled by Tanya Ghavri.

In a world where trends shift faster than seasons, some creations remain eternal. The red Banarasi silk saree, worn by Tara Sutaria, is one such masterpiece  an ode to Indias time-honoured craftsmanship, interpreted through the refined vision of designer Jayanti Reddy. Radiant yet regal, it celebrates not just fabric and design, but the enduring allure of heritage woven by generations of Banaras artisans.

The sarees deep crimson base gleamed with an old-world richness, while its golden zari motifs shimmered like poetry in motion. Every thread carried whispers of legacy, making it a testament to the meticulous artistry that defines Banarasi weaving.

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Decoding Tara Sutarias Banarasi Saree Look

View this post on Instagram A post shared by TARA (@tarasutaria)

Crafted in lustrous silk, this saree reflected the traditional finesse of Banaras, where craftsmanship meets emotion. The elaborate zardosi embroidery, done by hand, infused opulence without excess, merging traditional motifs with subtle modernity. Its ornate borders and intricate floral vines embodied patience and precision, hallmarks of handloom artistry that transcend fashion seasons.

The sarees hue  a deep red touched with gold  symbolised power, love, and timeless femininity. Its the kind of red that doesnt shout; it reigns quietly, commanding admiration through grace and confidence.

The Jayanti Reddy Signature

Known for her ability to revive Indian textiles with a contemporary spirit, Jayanti Reddy brings her signature touch to this ensemble. The hand-embroidered raw silk blouse, structured yet delicate, balanced tradition with a distinctly modern silhouette. The craftsmanship harmonised with Tara Sutarias poised elegance, making the entire look both rooted and relevant.

How To Style A Banarasi Saree?

Styling a Banarasi saree is an art in itself. Here, minimalism amplifies majesty. Taras sleek bun, statement choker, and bold kadas highlight the sarees intricate detailing without overshadowing it. A neutral makeup palette with soft eyes, muted lips lets the fabrics sheen and craftsmanship take centre stage.

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For those seeking to style their Banarasi silks, the key lies in balance: pair grandeur with restraint, heritage with individuality.

This look is not just about couture. Its about culture. Its about wearing a story spun in gold, a fabric that bridges past and present. In Jayanti Reddys red Banarasi saree, Tara Sutaria doesnt just wear tradition; she revives it, making every fold a celebration of timeless Indian artistry.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 09:51 IST

News lifestyle fashion Tara Sutaria Redefines Royalty In A Deep Crimson Jayanti Reddy Banarasi Saree
Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon Begin Shooting For Cocktail 2 In Chhatarpur, Gurugram | Report

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 15:08 IST

Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna begin Delhi shoot for Cocktail 2, with safety measures amid air-quality concerns at Chhatarpur and Gurugram.

Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon will be seen in Cocktail 2.

Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna are all set to paint the capital red as Cocktail 2 begins its Delhi schedule! After wrapping up a dreamy Europe shoot, the cast and crew have now landed in Delhi for a quick yet action-packed shoot across Chhatarpur and Gurugram. And yes, despite the citys rising pollution levels, the teams making sure things stay cool (and safe) on set.

The Delhi-shoot is reported to span approximately ten days from November 11 to November 20, with primary outdoor sequences set in Chhatarpur and Gurugram. A source told Hindustan Times, Its mostly outdoor shoot. They will be shooting in Chhatarpur and Gurugram apart from some other locations in South Delhi."

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With Delhis Air-Quality Index crossing the 300 mark, the filming crew has deployed special precautions to safeguard cast and crew. On-set measures include air purifiers in vanity vans and rooms, the use of masks during shooting, and water-sprinklers before and between takes. One insider revealed, There will also be water sprinklers on sets and will be used every day before shoots and if need be between takes to ensure a safer environment."

Directed by Homi Adajania and produced by Maddock Films in collaboration with writer Luv Ranjan, Cocktail 2 stars Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna. The original Cocktail (2012) featured Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty; the new iteration is reported to start filming in August 2025 with a targeted release in the latter half of 2026.

While Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon reunite after their 2024 pairing in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, Rashmika Mandanna joins the duo for the first time, adding a new dynamic to the franchise. Were the best gang together," Rashmika had said.

The Cocktail 2 team had recently wrapped up their European schedule, which included shoots in Sicily, Italy.

First Published: November 02, 2025, 15:08 IST

News movies bollywood Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon Begin Shooting For Cocktail 2 In Chhatarpur, Gurugram | Report
Aapka Game, Uske 1% Bhi Nahi: Salman Khan Slams Shehbaz Badesha For Using Sidharth Shuklas Name

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 09:33 IST

Salman Khan slammed Shehbaz Badesha for claiming Sidharth Shuklas fans would support him, saying his game isnt even 1% of the late actors.

Salman Khan slammed Shehbaz Badesha

Shehbaz Badesha made a comment where he claimed that late actor and Bigg Boss 13 fame Sidharth Shuklas fans would save him if he came up for nominations. This has left the internet baffled, with people calling out Shehbaz for the entire week. Now, Salman Khan has also slammed the contestant and warned him that his game is not even 1% as compared to the late actors.

During the recent Weekend Ka Vaar, Salman called out Shehbaz for his comment and said, Aap bade confident hain ki Sidharth Shukla ke fans aapko support karenge. Shehbaz, main aapko yeh baat bataana chahta hoon, Sidharth ne jo bhi kiya hai show mein, apne dum par kiya hai. Usne kisi ka naam nahi uchala hai aur aapka game, uske game ke 1% bhi barabar nahi hai. So do you really think Sidharths fans will support someone whose game isnt even close to 1% of his? Do you think that Sidharth Shukla, God bless his soul, would have supported you, seeing the way youre playing this game? (You seem quite confident that Sidharth Shuklas fans will support you. Shehbaz, I want to tell you this, whatever Sidharth did on the show, he did it on his own merit. He never took anyones name for support, and your game isnt even 1% of his)."

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Salman further continued and also called him out for saying that the contestant knows him too well. He added, And you also said that you know me very well  I heard you say that too. When did that happen? Ive only met you once or twice in my life, that too during shoots. Youre funny, you have a good sense of humour, so use it properly and dont go below the belt. Youve had many genuinely funny moments, but has the box of jokes you came with run out? I told you not to irritate and not to go below the belt  I never said to stop doing comedy."

Shehbaz Badeshas Bold Comment

Earlier this week, while discussing Sidharths massive fan base, Shehbaz stated that the late actors followers would back him throughout the show, leaving him without any worry about eviction. Shehbaz said, Baithe hain phir Sidharth Shukla ke fans mere saath. Jo ye show ka winner hai na, uske fans baithe hain mere saath."

This comment irritated Sidharths devoted fans, who quickly took to social media to mock Shehbaz for mentioning the late actor in such a context. The remark prompted an online controversy, with supporters expressing their unhappiness with the disrespectful statement.

First Published: November 02, 2025, 09:33 IST

News movies television Aapka Game, Uske 1% Bhi Nahi: Salman Khan Slams Shehbaz Badesha For Using Sidharth Shuklas Name
Sorry Sir: Indian Woman Pleads After Being Caught Shoplifting In US

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 17:23 IST

A young Indian woman in the US was caught shoplifting clothes for her brother, pleaded with police.

the woman is seen crying and apologsing to police officers after being accused of taking clothing items without payment. (x)

A young Indian woman in the US was allegedly caught shoplifting clothes, including mens items, from a clothing store, as per a viral video that emerged recently on social media platforms.

In the video, the woman is seen crying and apologsing to police officers after being accused of taking clothing items without payment. The original video appears to have been shared on Facebook but has been deleted now. Several versions of the video are still available online.

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 Sanghi woman from Gujarat was caught stealing goods in a US store She started crying when the shop owner caught her. Shameless creatures  pic.twitter.com/WPLyVr3jEh  Zaara Syed  (@SyedZaaraa) November 1, 2025

However, News18 cannot verify the authenticity of the video.

She allegedly told police that she had taken the items for her brother in India, who was fond of Made in USA products.

She claimed that she forgot to pay for the items, pleading with police not to handcuff her and begging them to give her a chance." In the video, the police officers are seen asking her to turn around repeatedly, but she continued crying while refusing to obey instructions. No sir, sorry. Please," she sobbed with her hands folded.

She later asked what would happen to her after she was handcuffed. A police officer explained that she would be taken to the police station and released. The whole process would take a couple of hours, they told her.

Despite her reluctance, the woman was eventually handcuffed and taken to the police station. She may face felony retail theft charges, according to reports.

Details such as her identity, the stores exact location, and the value of the stolen items have not been officially confirmed. Authorities are currently investigating the case.

Netizens React

Meanwhile, her act has been widely condemned on social media.

One user wrote, Why do they steal from the US. And from other countries where they travel. They steal from 5 star hotels and supermarkets and even jewellery shops. And guess these are highly educated 1% Indians who can afford foreign education and foreign travel."

Another commented, Cases of Indians caught shoplifting abroad have sparked outrage online & led to warnings from US authorities. Such acts damage the reputation of the entire diaspora. No amount of political symbolism or appeals can override local laws as crime is crime and legal consequences are real."

Earlier Incident

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Earlier this year, an Indian woman was caught shoplifting at a Target store in the US. The woman, who identified herself as Gujarati, was shaking, sobbing and gasping for air as officers attempted to interrogate her.

As per the video dated January 15, the woman was visibly afraid in front of the police after being caught and appeared unable to speak properly. Right now, youre not free to leave," said the officer, who gently asked her to take a deep breath and not hyperventilate. " I gotta be able to talk to you, and I cant talk to you with you breathing like that."

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 02, 2025, 17:23 IST

News nri usa Sorry Sir: Indian Woman Pleads After Being Caught Shoplifting In US

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One reason home prices have skyrocketed this decade is theres so much competition for a limited supply of available homes. This is especially true in markets where everyday house hunters have to compete against investors looking to profit from their purchases.

Trending Now: 5 Cities Where Homes Will Be a Total Steal in 2 Years

Read Next: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires  and How You Can, Too

The number of investors gobbling up homes remains at historically high levels in 2025, and is expected to stay that way for the foreseeable future, according to a new report from Cotality, a California-based provider of real estate and other financial data.

Investors accounted for 29% of all U.S. single-family homebuyers during the second quarter, the report noted. That was up from 25% a year prior, and represents a major increase from five years ago when investors accounted for less than 15% of all purchases.

Which cities rank the highest for investor activity? About half are scattered across the Sunbelt states, as those regions continue to draw more residents. But youll also find high-ranking cities in all parts of the country.

These Cities Rank the Highest

For its report, Cotality analyzed housing patterns across the country to determine which homes were acquired by investors and which were acquired by non-investors. Investors were broken down into the following categories:

Small: Fewer than 10 properties

Medium: From 10 to 99 properties

Large: From 100 to 999 properties

Mega: From 1,000+ properties

Not surprisingly, major metro areas dominate the list of places where investors are most active. These were the 20 highest-ranked cities for investor purchases from January through June 2025, according to Cotality:

Dallas: 21,842 (homes bought) Houston: 18,324 Atlanta: 15,536 Phoenix: 12,640 Los Angeles: 11,130 Chicago: 10,423 New York: 9,395 Tampa, Florida: 7,400 San Antonio: 7,337 Philadelphia: 7,239 Washington, D.C.: 6,750 Riverside, California: 6,749 Kansas City, Missouri.: 6,334 St. Louis, Missiouri: 6,076 Seattle: 5,930 Las Vegas: 5,803 Denver: 5,772 Detroit: 5,240 Charlotte, North Carolina: 5,102 Indianapolis: 4,983

Medium-sized investors have driven the recent increase in investor activity, as their market share rose to 10% in June 2025 from 10% in June 2024. Small investors represent the most common investor type, at a 14% share.

Explore More: 4 Housing Markets That Have Plummeted in Value Over the Past 5 Years

Whats Driving Investor Activity?

Investors are stepping in to meet strong demand for rental housing in an environment where first-time homebuyers are being sidelined by high home prices and elevated mortgage rates, Cotality noted.
Opinion | A New Axis Of Instability: Why India Must Respond With Strategic Urgency

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 17:34 IST

The developments call for a recalibration of foreign policy, deeper outreach to its extended neighbourhood, and stronger strategic presence in the Indian Ocean and West Asia

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Unlike other Chinese clients, Pakistan is not merely a buyer, it is Chinas live demonstration platform. (Reuters File)

As the world transitions toward a multipolar order, a silent but decisive realignment is reconfiguring global geopolitics. At the centre of this shift lies the increasingly assertive strategic convergence between China and Pakistan, now being actively reinforced through newly emerging alliances across the Middle East and Africa. This evolving axis is not just a regional concern, it is designed to challenge Indias rise in the Global South, undermine its influence in the Islamic world, dilute its defence export potential, and strategically encircle it through hybrid warfare, diplomatic exclusion, and maritime influence.

India must not ignore the magnitude of this transformation. These developments call for an urgent recalibration of foreign policy, deeper outreach to its extended neighbourhood, and stronger strategic presence in the Indian Ocean and West Asia.

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Chinas Weapon Outreach: Pakistan as a Battlefield Showcase

Over the past decade, Pakistan has transformed into the primary combat-testing ground for Chinese defence technology. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 81% of Pakistans total arms imports between 20202024 came from China. Unlike other Chinese clients, Pakistan is not merely a buyer, it is Chinas live demonstration platform.

Every conflict Pakistan engages in along the Line of Control or international border with India becomes a marketing pitch for Chinese drones, fighter jets, guided munitions, and surveillance systems.

Beijing has understood what the West achieved through NATO wars, it is not enough to develop weapons; they must be seen winning wars.

Pakistans narrative that Chinese equipment performed successfully against India" is being whispered across African capitals and the Arab world, boosting Chinas defence credibility while undermining Indias rise as a defence exporter.

If India does not immediately accelerate its defence export diplomacy with credible demonstrations, technology transfer offers, and joint production models, it risks losing the battle of perception before it even begins.

Pakistans Re-emergence in the Middle East: From Isolation to Strategic Relevance

For years, Pakistan had lost strategic influence in the Gulf due to its internal instability and economic dependency. But a new chapter is unfolding:

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in 2025, which includes provisions for shared defence coordination. This is the first such agreement signed by Riyadh outside the GCC framework post-1979.

Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE, each for their own security concerns, are reopening military corridors for Pakistan, inviting its officers for joint exercises, and engaging in counter-terrorism consultations where Pakistan is positioned not as a problem, but as a partner.

This shift is consequential. While India has built extraordinary economic relationships in the Gulf, a strategic vacuum exists in the defence and intelligence architecture, one that China and Pakistan are rapidly filling.

China is facilitating this shift by:

Offering Gulf states low-cost, high-tech surveillance, missile defence, and UAV systems.

Positioning Pakistan as a Sunni military arm" compatible with Gulf strategic doctrines.

Using its leverage in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea to create a maritime triangulation aimed at constraining Indias naval outreach.

Africa: The New Frontier of Strategic Contestation

China controls the narrative in over 15 African capitals through infrastructure projects, debt diplomacy, and digital surveillance networks. Now, Pakistan is being positioned as Chinas military proxy in Africa. Pakistani military trainers have already been deployed in Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan, offering Chinese weapon systems bundled with Pakistani military doctrine.

Why is this dangerous for India?

1. Africa is a major defence and energy market of the future.

2. India has deep historic goodwill in Africa through the Non-Aligned Movement and development assistance.

3. China-Pakistan outreach threatens to replace Indias image of strategic autonomy with that of a passive power.

If India does not act swiftly, it will lose the strategic depth it has carefully cultivated over decades.

A Threat to Indias Global South Leadership

India has emerged as the credible voice of the Global South due to its civilizational ethos, non-imperial history, and moral authority. However, China is working aggressively to:

Portray itself as the anti-West alternative" while quietly expanding its military-industrial footprint.

Use Pakistan to penetrate Islamic-majority countries where Indias influence is strong but not institutionalised.

Offer digital authoritarian tools, AI policing systems, and cyber infrastructure that bind nations to Beijings orbit.

Pakistans re-engagement with Gulf and African states is not independentit is a vector of Chinas long-term strategy to redirect Global South alignment toward Beijings geostrategic vision, marginalising India.

Strategic Risks for India

What India Must Do: A Strategic Roadmap

1. Intensify Neighbourhood First and Extended Neighbourhood Policy

Rebuild trust with Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal with asymmetric generosity and strategic sensitivity.

Increase security cooperation with Oman, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Kenya to counter maritime encirclement.

2. Establish a Gulf Security Offer (GSO)

Just as India has trade, energy, and diaspora advantages, it must formally propose:

Defence training programmes

Counter-terrorism intelligence exchanges

Maritime security pacts

India should position itself as the security guarantor of the Arabian Sea, not a passive observer.

3. Launch a Global South Defence Diplomacy Campaign

Offer Indian defence equipment bundled with training, financing, and servicing, replicating Chinas export model without the debt trap.

Prioritise partnerships with African Union and ASEAN.

4. Leverage the Indian Diaspora as a Strategic Asset

The Indian diaspora in the Gulf is not just an economic resource, it is a geopolitical constituency.

India must engage community leadership to strengthen informal channels of influence.

5. Revive Multilateral Platforms

IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Corridor) must be operationalised in segments, even if the Israel component remains stalled.

BRICS should not become a Chinese platform; India must shape its development narrative.

Indias Window of Opportunity

India still holds decisive leverage:

It is the largest trading partner for UAE and emerging partner for Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

It is a trusted security partner with no history of deploying mercenaries, coercion, or interference in domestic politics.

It offers technology, pharmaceuticals, digital governance tools, and skilled workforce unmatched by China or Pakistan.

But geopolitical equations move rapidly. If India waits for events to stabilise on their own, it risks losing initiative.

The Time for Strategic Passivity Is Over

China is building a two-layered encirclement of India, the outer layer in Africa and the Middle East, and the inner layer via Pakistan. Islamabad is being repackaged by Beijing not as a struggling South Asian state but as a strategic pillar of a new Islamic defence arc aligned with Chinese interests.

This is not merely a diplomatic shift, it is a structural threat to Indias aspiration of becoming the voice of the Global South, a global supply chain hub, and a maritime power.

India must respond with:

Strategic urgency

Policy clarity

Maritime assertion

Defence-led diplomacy

And, above all, confidence in its civilizational leadership.

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If Chinas rise is built on infrastructure and coercion, Indias rise must be built on trust, strategic depth, and proactive engagement. The next decade will determine whether India will shape the world order, or be shaped by it. Looking to the strong leadership, India must shape this region.

The author is a researcher, columnist and social thinker. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 02, 2025, 17:34 IST

News opinion Opinion | A New Axis Of Instability: Why India Must Respond With Strategic Urgency

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Opinion | Sanatana Surge In South: Tamil Nadus Quiet Revolt Against Dravidianism

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 19:42 IST

The groundswell that the Atti Varadaraja festival attracted was, in a way, a signal event that portended this resurgence

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Once every 40 years, the deity of Atti Varadarajaswamy is taken out of an underground chamber located inside the tank of the Varadaraja Perumal Temple. (News18 Tamil File)

In recent times, the most powerful challenge to the stranglehold of Dravidianism in Tamil Nadu has largely emanated from non-institutional forces  from a combination of passionate individuals pursuing full-time professions and jobs, and from disparate groups concerned with the very survival of Sanatana culture in Tamil Nadu. The emergence of the Internet and social media as the modern public square has not only intensified the challenge but has also made serious dents in the Dravidian citadel, visible now in the physical space as well.

In 2019, an event in Kanchipuram made global headlines. It was neither new nor innovative. It was simply a continuum of an ancient, unbroken tradition of Hindu piety  the grand and gorgeous celebration of Atti Varadarajaswamy, an occasion roughly comparable to, say, the Kumbh Mela.

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Once every 40 years, the deity of Atti Varadarajaswamy is taken out of an underground chamber located inside the tank of the Varadaraja Perumal Temple, and elaborate puja is performed for an entire Mandala or 48 days. This is the only time that the public is allowed darshana of the deity sculpted out of atti (fig) wood. According to tradition, this deity was the original moola-murti (main deity) of the temple, which was concealed in order to save it from the recurring jihads of Ala-ud-din Khalji, Malik Kafur, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, and other deliverers of the message of peace". The current tradition of taking out the murti once every 40 years dates back about 400 years.

In other words, it is a continuous, living tradition throbbing in the DNA of practising Hindus. Only those Hindus sundered from their roots were shocked and surprised that something like this even existed; their ignorance would have remained undisturbed but for newspaper headlines. Like most such mass Hindu festivals, this too needs no marketing or PR blitz in which the Church invests so heavily and gains such pathetic ROI. This reveals the same truth mentioned in the first part of this essay series: the Dravidian-DMK chokehold on all avenues of information dissemination. The fact that this time the Atti Varadaraja festival made international news simply proves the erosion of this Dravidian chokehold.

Something else also occurred in Tamil Nadu this time: both DMK and AIADMK MLAs, leaders, party functionaries, their families  indeed, the whole Dravidian ecosystem  visited Kanchipuram in droves to have a darshan of Atti Varadaraja Swamy. This motley crew of Dravidianists is the latter-day ideological and political offspring of E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, whose Hindu hatred sputtered to death precisely in the same Kanchipuram, which hosts his bust exactly opposite the Kanchi Shankara Matha with these spite-laden words: He who created god is a fool, he who propagates god is a scoundrel, and he who worships god is a barbarian."

The same Naicker had proudly boasted that it does not take much time for a Hindu to erect a mortar stone in the house and convert it into a great god by smearing red and yellow powders on it I have broken the idols of Pillayar (Ganesh) and burnt pictures of Rama."

But like Mahmud of Ghazni, Muhammad Ghori, Ala-ud-din Khalji, Timur, Babur, Aurangzeb, and Tipu Sultan, Naicker too forgot a fundamental impulse located in the depths of the Hindu Atman. While he could and did break and burn the murtis and pictures of Ganesh, Rama, Krishna, Shiva, or Devi, he could never break the eternal and indestructible impulse that manifests as these deities  including Atti Varadaraja Swamy. Like the uncountable blades of grass that bend under the violent onslaught of a storm only to rise again, this Sanatana impulse might bend, but it never breaks.

This by itself reveals another story that had been kept hidden for so long that it is no longer a secret. As the maxim goes, sunlight is the best disinfectant.

This is the quiet but unstoppable resurgence of Hindu Dharma in Tamil Nadu over the last decade or so. The groundswell that the Atti Varadaraja festival attracted was, in a way, a signal event that portended this resurgence. It can be argued that this festival was what the Hindu community in the state was awaiting. History shows that an epoch-altering episode is the coming together of seemingly disjointed forces operating randomly in the realms of space and time. A chance meeting over coffee might be the first brick in the edifice of a future world empire. But the very participants in that meeting would have no way of knowing it at the time, or in future, or ever.

Thus, the Atti Varadaraja festival might or might not have been this chance meeting. At the moment, for all purposes, the DMKs power seems solid  it has no serious opposition. But its hostility towards Hindu Dharma might well prove to be its undoing  much like how it undid Aurangzeb.

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(Series concluded)

The author is the founder and chief editor of The Dharma Dispatch. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 02, 2025, 19:27 IST

News opinion Opinion | Sanatana Surge In South: Tamil Nadus Quiet Revolt Against Dravidianism

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 15:41 IST

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Congress And Pakistan Narratives Are Aligned: BJP Slams Revanth Reddy Over Op Sindoor Remarks

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 20:09 IST

Telangana CM Revanth Reddys remarks on Operation Sindoor sparked outrage from BJP and BRS, who accused him of insulting Indias armed forces ahead of the Jubilee Hills bypoll.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy (PTI file photo)

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy stirred a massive political row with his controversial remarks over Indias reply to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, with the BJP and the BRS slamming the comments, claiming that it was an insult to Indias armed forces.

What Revanth Reddy Said?

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While campaigning in the Erragadda division of the Jubilee Hills constituency for the upcoming by-elections on Friday, the Chief Minister said that the BJP government at the Centre lacked the courage to continue bombing Pakistan after it attacked India, but today is seeking votes in Telangana in the name of carpet bombing'".

Pakistan kicked you from behind, but the BJP govt did not retaliate. But the BJP leaders are warning of carpet bombing in Jubilee Hills. Is this their baap ki jagir?" he said.

BJP Files Complaint, Demands Apology

The remarks gave the BJP fresh ammunition to target the Congress. Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay condemned the Chief Ministers comments and demanded an unconditional apology.

Strongly condemn Telangana CM Revanth Reddys below-the-belt remark on India. He stooped so low, using derogatory language to say that Pakistan kicked us, and India didnt retaliate. Its an insult to the armed forces who courageously destroyed terror camps in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. In India, every street echoes with pride for our soldiers courage," he said in a post on X.

Strongly condemn Telangana CM Revanth Reddys below-the-belt remark on India.He stooped so low, using derogatory language to say that Pakistan kicked us and India didnt retaliate Its an insult to the armed forces who courageously destroyed terror camps in Pakistan during pic.twitter.com/3mZhr8sdls  Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) October 31, 2025

Across the world, Operation Sindoor is being hailed  a symbol of Honble PM Shri @narendramodi jis decisive strike against terrorism. Chief Minister must unconditionally apologise to the people of India  and to the brave soldiers who risked their lives for our nation," he added.

BJP MP G Kishan Reddy said the Chief Ministers remarks casting doubts" on surgical strikes" and Operation Sindoor by Indias armed forces are demeaning" to the Indian armed forces and equivalent to parroting" Pakistans narrative regarding the recent India-Pakistan cross-border conflicts.

Repeated demeaning of our brave Indian Armed Forces to parroting the lines of an enemy nationcasting doubts on the surgical strikes to counting the strikes of Operation SindoorCongress continues to peddle the language and lies of Pakistan. Mr CM, the fact is Pakistan was hit deep inside their territory eliminating terrorists and 11 air bases destroyed," Kishan Reddy said.

???????????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????????????  ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????Repeated demeaning of our brave Indian Armed Forces to parroting the lines of an enemy nation  casting doubts on the Surgical Strikes pic.twitter.com/9u768uJreg  G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) November 1, 2025

Telangana BJP President Ramchander Rao also slammed the remarks on Operation Sindoor and said that the Congress and Pakistan narratives are aligned.

The state unit also filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against Reddy for alleged objectionable and inflammatory remarks" on Operation Sindoor.

According to the complaint, Reddy has made statements claiming that India failed to bomb them (Pakistan)" which is utterly false and deeply insulting to our armed forces".

The complaint submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana accused Reddy of demeaning the valour and sacrifice of our soldiers", and demoralize the nation for political gain".

The BJP further alleged that Reddy called the Union Ministers from Telangana shameless." These comments are unparliamentary, defamatory, and intended to provoke animosity amongst the voters of the constituency and the public in general," the complaint stated.

Reddy has also been accused to threatening and blackmailing the voters of the constituency, after he allegedly stated that if they did not register their votes for the Congress Party, he would ensure that several welfare schemes" such as Sanna Biyyam (fine rice), 200 units of free electricity, issuance of ration cards, and free bus travel for women, would be withdrawn".

The BJP has called his statement out as a direct violation" of the Model Code of Conduct and Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines. It amounts to blackmail, coercion, intimidation, and undue influence over voters," the partys complaint read.

BRS Slams Remarks

BRS working president KT Rama Rao also criticised CM Reddys remarks.

To insult the Indian Army merely for an election rally speech is a new low even by your low standards, Revanth Reddy," KTR said.

It takes immense hardwork, dedication, commitment and love for ones country to join the armed forces and put lives on the line. We are safe and are able to do politics, have normal lives and live with families because the men in the uniform toil at the border in the most cruel KTR (@KTRBRS) November 2, 2025

This is not a Telangana that gets scared of your threats," KTR declared, in response to the CMs warnings to voters. If you try to cancel welfare schemes, the same people of Jubilee Hills will bring down your government. Telangana has seen many dictators rise and fall. You will be no different," he said.

He criticised the Congress party for mocking the emotional moment when Gopinaths wife, Suneetha, remembered her late husband with tears. Even tears are being politicised by this shameless Congress government," he said.

The BRS leader alleged that the Congress government has failed to deliver on all its promises. They said they would give 4,000 pensions for women and the elderly, Scooties for girls, and 2,500 for youth. Not one promise has been fulfilled," KTR said.

Jubilee Hills Bypoll

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By-election to the Jubilee Hills constituency is scheduled to be held on November 11. It was necessitated by the death of sitting MLA Maganti Gopinath of the BRS. The opposition party has fielded his wife, Maganti Sunitha.

The BJP has once again given a ticket to Lankala Deepak Reddy.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More

First Published: November 02, 2025, 20:09 IST

News politics Congress And Pakistan Narratives Are Aligned: BJP Slams Revanth Reddy Over Op Sindoor Remarks

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'Doesnt Belong To Either Gender': IUML Leader's Remark On Kerala CM Sparks Outrage

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 22:52 IST

IUML state general secretary PMA Salam made compared the Kerala Chief Minister with his Tamil Nadu and West Bengal counterparts

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (PTI file photo)

A political row erupted in Kerala after Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state general secretary PMA Salam made a controversial remark about Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, suggesting that he doesnt belong to either gender."

Speaking at a womens public meeting of the party in Vazhakkad, Malappuram, Salam compared the Kerala Chief Minister with his Tamil Nadu and West Bengal counterparts. He said that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had shown courage by refusing to sign the central governments PM SHRI scheme, while Keralas Chief Minister had failed to do so.

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Tamil Nadu CM Stalin showed us that if you are a man, then you will oppose it. A strong woman like you in West Bengal Mamata Banerjee said that this communal poison wont be accepted in Bengal. Keralas Chief Minister doesnt belong to the category of either a man or woman and thats why he decided to sign the scheme," Salam said, adding that the states biggest insult" was to have such a leader.

The comment drew widespread condemnation, especially from the ruling CPI(M). Education Minister V. Sivankutty called the remark extremely despicable and insulting to cultural Kerala." He wrote on social media that such statements were inhuman and anti-democratic" and should never come from a leader of a major political organisation.

Following the backlash, the IUML leadership distanced itself from Salams statement. Party state president Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal said that political criticism should never turn into a personal attack.

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IUML national general secretary PK Kunhalikutty also said that the party always speaks respectfully of its political opponents.

There could be slip of the tongue at times. Our leader has corrected Salam today," he said. Kunhalikutty added that the real issue was the state governments decision to support an education policy that, according to him, promotes Hindutva ideology.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Kerala, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 22:51 IST

News politics 'Doesnt Belong To Either Gender': IUML Leader's Remark On Kerala CM Sparks Outrage

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'Govt Not Protecting Criminals': Chirag Paswan Says Anant Singhs Arrest Proves Stand Against Crime

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 12:16 IST

Chirag Paswan defended the government after Anant Singhs arrest in Dular Chand Yadavs murder, while Tejashwi Yadav accused PM Modi of ignoring Bihars maha jungle raj.

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Chirag Paswan During A Rally In Bihar's Munger

Union Minister and LJP (R) chief Chirag Paswan defended the governments handling of crime following the arrest of JDUs Mokama candidate Anant Singh in the murder of Jan Suraaj supporter Dular Chand Yadav in Mokama, saying the action shows authorities are not shielding wrongdoers.

If our government were protecting criminals, the action that took place last night would not have happened. Our government is very clear on one point  as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Ji always says, we neither protect anyone nor falsely implicate anyone. This is part of a judicial process," Paswan told reporters.

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Describing the incident as indeed unfortunate," he rejected any suggestion of selective treatment. I completely disagree with the notion that your crime is lesser than mine, or my crime is lesser than yours. That doesnt mean its not a crime. Even a single such incident is a matter of concern  and it is a matter of concern for our government as well," he said.

Paswan added a warning to potential offenders: I can assure you this much: whoever is found guilty will not be spared. The strictest possible action will be taken against every culprit."

VIDEO | On the arrest of JDUs Mokama candidate Anant Singh, Union Minister and LJP (R) chief Chirag Paswan (@iChiragPaswan) says, If our government were protecting criminals, the action that took place last night would not have happened. Our government is very clear on one pic.twitter.com/mVhXvYAFl5 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 2, 2025

Meanwhile, RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that there was a maha jungle raj in the state following the arrest of Anant Singh.

Responding to the attacks by PM Modi and the BJP over the RJDs lawlessness during its 15-year-old tenure, Tejashwi Yadav claimed that the Prime Minister was not able to see the deteriorating" law and order.

This was bound to happen after the events that unfolded. The Prime Minister is visiting Patna for a roadshow today. Crimes have been committed in many places. Doesnt he see this?" he told reporters.

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A father and a son were recently found murdered in Ara and Rohtas. There isnt a single day without gunfire. A situation of a maha jungle raj has been created," he said.

Bihar, which has 243 Assembly polls, will vote in the first phase on November 6. The second phase will be held on November 11 and the results will be announced on November 14.

Location : Bihar, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 12:16 IST

News politics 'Govt Not Protecting Criminals': Chirag Paswan Says Anant Singhs Arrest Proves Stand Against Crime

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Punjab Cops Put On 'Shoe Duty' During CM Mann's Muktsar Visit, BJP Reacts

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 20:40 IST

Mann was in Sri Muktsar Sahib to lay the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 138.83 crore under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme

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Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. (PTI file photo)

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns visit to the historic Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in Sri Muktsar Sahib on Sunday sparked a political controversy after two policemen were reportedly assigned to look after the AAP leaders shoes, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition BJP in the state, which called him out for the unusual arrangement.

According to an order issued by the Muktsar police, Head Constable Roop Singh and Constable Sarbat Singh were deputed on duty on the shoes of CM of Punjab at Gate No. 7 in plain clothes," The Indian Express reported.

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BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal took to X and slammed Mann over the incident.

Duty boots on the ground, police boots on the ground! The boots worth millions are getting polished, no one should stay quiet! During Chief Minister Sahibs visit to Sri Muktsar Sahib, two police officers will take care of Mann Sahibs boots. The boots of the common peoples youth seem as expensive as Jazzy Bs songs!" Baliawal wrote.

    ,      !    ,        !                                      !  Pritpal Singh Baliawal (@PritpalBaliawal) November 2, 2025

Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu also criticised the chief minister on social media, posting in Punjabi, Maharaja Satoj, you can make as many people guard your shoes, but now its the people who will target you with these."

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Mann was in Sri Muktsar Sahib to lay the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 138.83 crore under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme. These initiatives aim to improve the citys sewerage and water supply systems and lay new pipelines in newly developed areas.

During an address at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, Mann indirectly responded to the controversy, saying, Do these political opponents have any roadmap for Punjab? Our slippers and shoes have become an issue for them Even the suits of our mothers and sisters are an issue for them. These are the kinds of matters they are left with now."

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Punjab, India, India

First Published: November 02, 2025, 20:40 IST

News politics Punjab Cops Put On 'Shoe Duty' During CM Mann's Muktsar Visit, BJP Reacts

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5 German Climbers Killed As Avalanche Strikes Italian Alps

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 22:53 IST

Five German climbers died in an avalanche near Cima Vertana in the Ortler mountain range, Italian Alps. Two survived as rescue teams recovered victims amid worsening weather.

AI-generated image used for representation

Five German climbers died after they were caught in an avalanche in the Italian alps, local authorities said on Sunday.

According to The Guardian, the avalanche hit at about 4pm on Saturday while the climbers were using crampons and ice axes to summit Cima Vertana, in the Ortler mountain range, at an altitude of more than 3,500 metres (11,500ft). The Ortler massif, part of the Italian Alps close to the Swiss border, is a popular destination for professional hikers and climbers.

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The rescuers said that the climbers were just a few hundred metres from the summit when the avalanche struck.

According to a report by Reuters, the climbers had set out on Saturday to scale Cima Vertana in the Ortler mountain range near the village of Solda. The avalanche struck as they headed for the summit.

The avalanche swept away members of two separate rope teams.

The first group, consisting of three people, was completely buried," Italys alpine rescue services said on social media.

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The bodies of two women and a woman were recovered on Saturday, two other victims, a father and his 17-year-old daughter, were found on Sunday. Meanwhile, two climbers escaped unharmed.

They had been dragged to the lower part of the gully where the avalanche occurred," Federico Catania, an Alpine rescue spokesperson, told the Associated Press. Rescue teams are now returning to the valley, also considering the worsening weather conditions at high altitude."

Location : Italy

First Published: November 02, 2025, 22:53 IST

News world 5 German Climbers Killed As Avalanche Strikes Italian Alps

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At Least 23 Dead, Including Children, In Explosion At Mexican Supermarket

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 11:10 IST

23 people, including children, died and 11 were injured in a Hermosillo supermarket explosion. Alfonso Durazo and Claudia Sheinbaum pledged support and a full investigation.

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At least 23 people have died in an explosion at a supermarket in northern Mexico. (x)

At least 23 people, including children, were killed and 11 others injured in a supermarket explosion in northern Mexico on Saturday, local officials said. The injured were rushed to hospitals in Hermosillo, where the incident occurred, for treatment.

Governor of Sonora state, Alfonso Durazo, said in a video message that a number of the victims weve found were minors". He added that an extensive and transparent investigation had been ordered to determine the cause of the explosion and catch those responsible.

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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her condolences on X, extending sympathy to the families and loved ones of those who died."

Mis sentidas condolencias a las familias y seres queridos de las personas fallecidas en el incendio ocurrido en una tienda en el centro de Hermosillo.He estado en contacto con el gobernador de Sonora, Alfonso Durazo, para apoyar en lo que se necesite. Instrui a la secretaria de  Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) November 2, 2025

She said, I have been in contact with the Sonora governor, Alfonso Durazo, to provide support where needed. Ive instructed Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez to send a support team in order to assist the families and the injured."

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Citing the forensic medical service, Gustavo Salas, the states attorney general, said that many of the deaths appeared to have been caused by the inhalation of toxic gases.

However, some media reports have blamed the fire on an electrical failure.

Location : Mexico

First Published: November 02, 2025, 11:10 IST

News world At Least 23 Dead, Including Children, In Explosion At Mexican Supermarket

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Canadian PM Says Progress Made In India Ties Amid Push To Reduce US Reliance

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 22:18 IST

Carney's remarks came after Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand visited India and met PM Modi as part of Ottawa's efforts to repair ties with New Delhi.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Prime Minister Narendra Modi | (Reuters Image)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said there has been progress in ties with India, as he stressed on reducing reliance on the United States amid trade tensions between the two countries over a controversial tariff advertisement featuring former US President Ronald Reagan.

Speaking at a news conference, Carney said the US is changing its trading relationship with Canada and others, and said that Ottawa must reduce its reliance on America. He also said Canadas relations with China were at a turning point as he accepted Chinese President Xi Jinpings invitation to visit China next year.

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A turning point in our relationship with China. Progress which we have been making with India  not part of these meetings, so I didnt meet directly with Prime Minister Modi here, the foreign minister and other ministers have been meeting with India. Thats what were doing to build our strength at home first and foremost, build these partnerships abroad, reduce our reliance on the United States," he said.

His remarks came after Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last month. The Prime Minister conveyed that her visit would contribute to ongoing efforts to impart new momentum to the IndiaCanada bilateral partnership.

She also held constructive discussions" with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to restore and reinvigorate the mechanisms necessary to advance our partnership."

The renewed vibrancy in the ties between the two countries followed Prime Minister Narendra Modis talks with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the margins of the G7 Summit at Canadas Kananaskis in June.

The India-Canada relations hit rock bottom following the then Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegations in 2023 of a potential Indian link to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India had dismissed Trudeaus accusation as absurd".

Meanwhile, the last meeting between the leaders of Canada and China happened in 2017 when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a brief exchange with Xi at a meeting in San Francisco. Relations have been strained as Canadian citizens were detained and executed in China in recent years, and Canadian authorities claimed China interfered in two federal elections.

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However, Carney is adopting a different path amid tensions with US President Donald Trump, who announced he would be hiking tariffs on Canadian goods by an additional 10% and terminated all trade talks following what he called a fake" anti-tariff ad campaign.

(with inputs from agencies)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

Location : Ottawa, Canada

First Published: November 02, 2025, 22:18 IST

News world Canadian PM Says Progress Made In India Ties Amid Push To Reduce US Reliance

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An executive at crypto exchange MEXC has apologised for a spat with a trader who said the company had improperly frozen $3 million in crypto.

The pseudonymous trader, who goes by White Whale on social media, confirmed on Friday they had received the $3 million and committed to distributing that among supporters and nonprofit organisations.

The executive, meanwhile, was in damage control on Friday, responding to a flood of user inquiries about frozen crypto assets.

We fucked up, MEXC Chief Strategy Officer Cecilia Hsueh said on X.

Her outreach could become a case study in handling public outcry in the hyper-online, low-trust world of crypto, where allegations of wrongdoing can quickly go viral.

Since I joined MEXC 2 months ago Ive been fighting behind the scenes to get MEXC to change. We grew really fasta few years ago, we were a very small exchange, but given our current scale, our risk, operations, and PR teams have not kept up, Hsueh wrote.

Ive been driving the leadership team to recognize the issues, identify changes we need to make and improve on our transparency. After this, theyre now listening and they all acknowledge that MEXC has to change.

The executive added that MEXC would revise its risk and customer service policies and create a fast-track channel on Saturday for other traders with unresolved issues accessing their funds.

MEXC did not immediately respond to DL News request for comment.

The MEXC controversy began earlier this year, when White Whale  a trader with more than 56,000 followers on X  alleged MEXC had blocked their access to crypto they held on the exchange.

But they took on a new life on Wednesday, after the trader shared their MEXC transaction history in an attempt to debunk the exchanges claim they had automated their trades, violating the terms of service.

The trader also detailed an October 20 call with Hsueh in which she allegedly pressured them into admitting they violated the exchanges rules.

In a since-deleted statement on the companys website, MEXC offered to settle the dispute via arbitration  a deal the trader promptly rejected.

Other traders, many of them pseudonymous as well, jumped into thefray with their own allegations that MEXC had frozen their accounts improperly. Additionally, pseudonymous crypto investigator ZachXBT began questioning the companys seemingly opaque ownership structure.

In a flurry of posts on Friday, Hsueh acknowledged White Whales pressure had spurred the company to action.

He makes MEXC wake up, we are opening direct communication channels to all users who have account issues, she wrote.
Ex-Bangladesh MP Links Tulsi Gabbard's 'US Regime Change Policy' Remark To Sheikh Hasina's Ouster

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 23:33 IST

US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard claimed America's strategy of "regime change or national building" has ended under President Donald Trump.

US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard. (Reuters/File)

US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbards remarks on Americas strategy of regime change or national building" ending under President Donald Trump have sparked a fresh debate over the involvement of the United States in the political violence in Bangladesh last year that resulted in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.

Gabbard, a former Congresswoman and US Army National Guard veteran, said, For decades, our foreign policy has been trapped in a counterproductive and endless cycle of regime change or nation building. It was a one-size-fits-all approach, of toppling regimes, trying to impose our system of governance on others, intervene in conflicts that were barely understood and walk away with more enemies than allies."

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The results: Trillions spent, countless lives lost and in many cases, the creation of greater security threats," she further said at the opening debate of the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. She further credited President Donald Trumps pragmatic, deal-driven" approach with steering US foreign policy away from this failed model.

Gabbards remarks appeared inconsistent with the Trump administrations current foreign policy approach, more particularly the US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites that contradicted the Republican presidents proclaimed stance of non-interference in other countries.

Reports have emerged that the US was considering plans to target cocaine facilities and drug trafficking routes in Venezuela as part of a US operation to dismantle a drug cartel believed to be operated by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Furthermore, he also embraced Syrias interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaida fighter once held in an American prison in Iraq.

US Role In Bangladesh Crisis

Mohammad Ali Arafat, a former Bangladeshi Minister and academic, pointed towards the US role in overthrowing Sheikh Hasinas rule in violent anti-government protests last year.

For several decades, the United States has followed a policy of regime change" or state-building" in other countries. According to the countrys Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, this policy came to an end during President Donald Trumps administration," he said in a post on X.

DNI Tulsi Gabbard clearly stated that the US pursued this policy until Trump took office, so why is it so hard to believe that what happened in Bangladesh in JulyAugust 2024 was essentially a regime change operation, just as Sheikh Hasina repeatedly claimed and as many clear signs suggest?"

Earlier this year, a former US State Department official had alleged that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) played a crucial role in funding the regime change last year, according to Anadolu Agency.

Mike Benz told controversial right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson that the USAID was supported by the State Department and USAID in their plan to destabilise Bangladeshi politics.".

In the process of doing that, they sought the LGBT population, two Bangladeshi ethnic minority groups, and young students and student groups who had already been protesting earlier that year because of some local politics issue there," he said, underlining that they collaborated with 170 pro-democracy activists" and 304 informants.

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However, Trump denied allegations of US involvement in the regime change in Bangladesh, although Hasina herself has accused Washington of undermining her government.

(with inputs from agencies)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 02, 2025, 23:33 IST

News world Ex-Bangladesh MP Links Tulsi Gabbard's 'US Regime Change Policy' Remark To Sheikh Hasina's Ouster

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FBI Probes 'Intentional' Explosion At Harvard Medical School Campus; Photos Of Suspects Released

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 07:49 IST

Authorities said that the explosion at Harvard Medical School was intentional and no one was hurt in the explosion.

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This photo provided by the Harvard University Police Department shows a person of interest in an explosion at the Harvard Medical School in Boston. (IMAGE: AP PHOTO)

There was an explosion early Saturday at Harvard Medical School that appears to have been intentional, but no one was injured, authorities said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) along with the Boston Police have begun an investigation into the incident as photos of the suspects were released.

A university police officer responded to the fire alarm and tried to stop two unidentified people who ran from the Goldenson Building before going to where the alert was triggered, university police said in a statement.

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The officer attempted to stop the individuals before proceeding to the floor where the alarm had been triggered," police said. Police have released images of two individuals captured on closed-circuit TV cameras around the time of the incident.

The Boston Fire Department determined that the explosion was intentional and officers did not find additional devices in a sweep of the building, police said.

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Police released grainy photos of two people wearing face coverings and what looked like sweatshirts.

Boston FBI spokesperson Kristen Setera while speaking to the USA TODAY news outlet said that the FBI is on the scene and were assisting our partners at the Harvard University Police Department with what is a very active investigation".

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

Location : Boston, Massachusetts, USA

First Published: November 02, 2025, 07:39 IST

News world FBI Probes 'Intentional' Explosion At Harvard Medical School Campus; Photos Of Suspects Released

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'Guns-A-Blazing': Trump Warns Nigeria Of Aid Cut, Threatens Military Action Over Christian Killings

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 07:24 IST

Donald Trump warned Nigeria to stop Christian killings or risk losing US aid and facing possible military action against Islamic Terrorists.

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The US government continues to treat the trafficking of fentanyl and related substances as a national emergency

United States President Donald Trump issued a forceful warning to the government of Nigeria, stating that if it fails to halt the killings of Christians in the country, the United States will immediately stop all aid and may very well" initiate military action.

In a post to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared: If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities."

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The US President instructed the US Department of War to prepare, warning any US attack would be fast, vicious, and sweet," and told the Nigerian government to move fast."

I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST," he added.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing," to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing Commentary: Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) November 1, 2025

The post came after Nigerias President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier on Saturday pushed back on Trump, announcing a day earlier that he was designating the West African country a country of particular concern" for allegedly failing to rein in the persecution of Christians, The Washington Post reported.

Nigerian authorities have denied that Christians are being systematically targeted. Information Minister Mohammed Idris called the claims of mass persecution very misleading," rejecting reports that tens of thousands had been killed, Fox News reported.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth replied to Trumps social-media post, writing Yes sir" and echoing the threat that the United States is prepared to use force if the Nigerian government does not protect Christians.

Hegseth said that the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria, and anywhere, must end immediately," and that the Department of War was preparing for action. He added, Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities."

Trump marked Nigeria a country of particular concern" after claiming that Christianity is facing an existential threat" in the country, highlighting the violence between the Muslim and Christian communities.

He blamed radical Islamists" for the persecution of the Christian minority in Nigeria and directed two federal lawmakers, Riley Moore and Tom Cole, to look into the issue.

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I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter and report back to me," he said.

Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN" But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done!" the US President added in a post on Truth Social.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 02, 2025, 07:14 IST

News world 'Guns-A-Blazing': Trump Warns Nigeria Of Aid Cut, Threatens Military Action Over Christian Killings

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Hamas Returned Remains Of 3 More Deceased Hostages, Says Israel

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Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 01:58 IST

Israel received remains of three possible hostages from Gaza via Red Cross, pending identification. Netanyahu vowed to return all hostages as Hamas continues gradual releases

While the militants continue to release one or two bodies every few days, Israel has urged faster progress. Hamas said the work is complicated by widespread devastation. (AFP)

Israel on Sunday received the remains of three more deceased hostages held in Gaza, according to authorities.

According to CNN, the remains were transferred to Israel via the Red Cross and will be taken to the countrys national forensics laboratory for identification. However, the bodies are yet to be confirmed if they were of three Israeli hostages. If confirmed, it would leave the bodies of eight deceased hostages remaining in Gaza.

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CNN quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying that Israel is committed to ensuring the return of all the deceased hostages. Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu accused Hamas of pathetic attempts to deceive us, the United States, and the world. They will, of course, fail, and we will gradually bring back all our hostages."

He further said that Israel is still operating against Hamas pockets" in Rafah and Khan Younis, areas that are under IDF control, and we are systematically eliminating them".

PTI quoted a Hamas statement earlier stating that the remains were found Sunday in a tunnel in southern Gaza.

Since the US-brokered ceasefire deal took effect on October 10, the Palestinian militants have released remains of 17 hostages, with 11 remaining in Gaza.

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While the militants continue to release one or two bodies every few days, Israel has urged faster progress. Hamas said the work is complicated by widespread devastation.

In the October 2023 attack on Israel, Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage. As per the official data, Israels military offensive has killed more than 68,600 Palestinians in Gaza in the last two years.

Location : Israel

First Published: November 03, 2025, 01:58 IST

News world Hamas Returned Remains Of 3 More Deceased Hostages, Says Israel

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Iran Vows To Rebuild Damaged Nuclear Sites 'Stronger Than Before'

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 19:36 IST

Iran vows to rebuild nuclear sites stronger after Israeli and US strikes, while Oman urges revival of Iran US talks.

Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu | File Image: AP

Iran on Sunday said that it would rebuild nuclear sites damaged by Israeli and US strikes stronger than before" while Oman urged Tehran and Washington to revive the stalled diplomacy.

During a visit to the countrys nuclear programme, AFP quoted Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as saying that Tehran will build (the destroyed sites) stronger than before".

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By destroying buildings we will not be set back," he said in a video posted to his official website, adding that Iranian scientists still had the necessary nuclear know-how.

Meanwhile, AFP quoted Oman, Irans traditional intermediary, urging the two countries on Saturday to resume talks.

We want to return to the negotiations between Iran (and) the United States," Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said at the IISS Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain.

In June, Israel had launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran which started a 12-day war during which it targeted nuclear and military facilities, and residential areas. The attacks also killed many top scientists.

In response, Iran attacked Israeli cities with ballistic missile barrages.

Recently, the US said it would soon impose new sanctions on Irans missile and drone programme.

In the coming days, the United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran, including its missile and drone program" as well as the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian defense ministry, Sullivan said in a statement.

We anticipate that our allies and partners will soon be following with their own sanctions," he added.

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Earlier, the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran, including an arms embargo, over its nuclear programme.

These measures revive the pre-2015 restrictions that were lifted under the landmark Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)  the multilateral nuclear deal between Tehran, the EU, the US, and other global powers.

Location : Israel

First Published: November 02, 2025, 19:36 IST

News world Iran Vows To Rebuild Damaged Nuclear Sites 'Stronger Than Before'

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'Keeping Us Engaged...: Khawaja Asif Accuses India Of Waging Two-Front War Against Pakistan

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 09:31 IST

Pakistan Defence Minister repeated his claim that New Delhi is using Afghanistan to wage a proxy war against India without providing any evidence.

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Khawaja Asif expressed hope that the Pakistan-Afghanistan ceasefire would hold. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif this week repeated his claim that India is using Afghanistan as a proxy to wage a two-front war against his country but failed to provide any evidence to back his assumptions.

While speaking to Pakistani broadcasters, Asif alleged that New Delhi is keeping Islamabad busy on the eastern and western fronts, referring to the recent skirmishes along the Durand Line and airstrikes on Kabul, marking the worst clashes between the South Asian neighbours since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

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(New Delhi) has been waging a proxy war against Pakistan since the Ashraf Ghani era. If necessary, we will present proof. India seeks to keep Pakistan preoccupied on two fronts: the eastern and western," Asif told Pakistani broadcaster Geo.

Until Turkey and Qatar mediated a ceasefire, more than 70 people were killed and hundreds wounded in violence that erupted after explosions in Kabul on October 9, which Taliban authorities blamed on Pakistan.

Taliban authorities also claim that Pakistan is harbouring militants from the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), the jihadist group ISIS branch in Afghanistan, also operates in Pakistan and former Soviet countries in Central Asia including Uzbekistan.

The group has been responsible for deadly attacks in Afghanistan and Russia, including an attack on a Moscow concert hall in March 2024 that killed 150 people.

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But Pakistan continues to claim that Afghanistan engaged in the skirmish while acting as a proxy for India and alleged that the Taliban leadership was being manipulated by India.

The people in Kabul pulling the strings and staging the puppet show are being controlled by Delhi," he said, while speaking to Dawn.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: November 02, 2025, 09:27 IST

News world 'Keeping Us Engaged...: Khawaja Asif Accuses India Of Waging Two-Front War Against Pakistan

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Rubio Accuses Hamas Of Stealing Aid, Says Group Must Disarm For Gazas Future

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 07:35 IST

Marco Rubio accused Hamas of stealing Gaza aid, urging disarmament and support for Trumps 20 Point Plan as civilians face severe shortages amid cease-fire talks.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Reuters Image)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Hamas of blocking vital relief efforts in Gaza, saying the group is stealing humanitarian supplies meant for civilians.

In a post on X, Rubio wrote, Hamas continues to deprive the people of Gaza of the humanitarian aid they desperately need. This theft undermines international efforts in support of President Trumps 20 Point Plan to deliver critical assistance to innocent civilians."

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Calling Hamas the impediment," Rubio urged the group to disarm and stop obstructing aid. They must lay down their arms and stop their looting so that Gaza can have a brighter future," he added.

Hamas continues to deprive the people of Gaza of the humanitarian aid they desperately need. This theft undermines international efforts in support of President Trumps 20 Point Plan to deliver critical assistance to innocent civilians.Hamas is the impediment. They must lay https://t.co/ilTnDiV5Vi  Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) November 1, 2025

He also attached a video of the Pentagons Central Command pointing to Hamas members suspected of stealing food from a truck with aid.

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Rubios remarks come amid ongoing efforts to get aid into the enclave as civilians face severe shortages.

Earlier, on October 29, reports indicated that Israel and Hamas acknowledged the need for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Qatar has been working to broker an understanding between the sides and is pushing to persuade Hamas to lay down its arms.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 02, 2025, 07:35 IST

News world Rubio Accuses Hamas Of Stealing Aid, Says Group Must Disarm For Gazas Future

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Security Beefed Up In Pakistan After TTP's Threat To Attack Urban Centres: Sources

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 03, 2025, 00:01 IST

Pakistan boosts security after Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan threatens attacks on cities like Lahore. Pakistan vows strikes against Afghan Taliban over TTP cross-border assaults.

Any successful strike in Lahore or Islamabad will challenge the states legitimacy. An attack in the urban areas matters most as it will freeze commerce and scares investors. (AFP)

Security has been tightened in Pakistan after the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) threatened to attack urban centres, according to sources. As part of the security measures, additional checkpoints and drone surveillance points have been set up.

In October, a TTP spokesperson had issued public warnings via Telegram and Pashto media outlets and said retaliatory strikes will happen on major Pakistani cities including Lahore.

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According to top TTP sources, the TTP is with the Pakistan government and want to tell the state authority that the country is out of control.

TTP is upset due to refugee crises in Pakistan where lakhs of refugees have been deported and their settlements have been attacked by the Forces in Karachi and Lahore," they said.

Any successful strike in Lahore or Islamabad will challenge the states legitimacy, they said. An attack in the urban areas matters most as it will freeze commerce and scares investors.

Pakistan is imposing war on Afghanistan and we will aim to finish Pakistans fragile economy," they added.

Earlier, Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared that Islamabad will adopt a confrontational approach" towards the Afghan Taliban regime, accusing Kabul of harbouring and supporting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters.

Speaking in a hard-hitting statement carried by Pakistani media, Asif warned that Pakistan will strike again and again" if attacks originating from Afghan soil continue.

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Pakistan will not tolerate infiltration anymore," Asif said, vowing to go deep into Afghanistan to hunt TTP terrorists." He claimed that repeated intelligence inputs and confessions by captured attackers prove that Afghan soil is being used for terror attacks against Pakistan. Even Qatari and Turkish mediators have admitted that Afghan soil is being used for terrorism," he asserted.

The remarks come amid growing tensions along the Durand Line, where Islamabad has faced a surge in cross-border assaults blamed on the TTP.

Location : Pakistan

First Published: November 02, 2025, 23:51 IST

News world Security Beefed Up In Pakistan After TTP's Threat To Attack Urban Centres: Sources

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Trump Administration Proposes Rule To Gather DNA, Facial Scans From Immigration Applicants

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 08:47 IST

The US Department of Homeland Security proposes expanding biometric data collection for immigration, including DNA, iris scans, and voice samples.

US President Donald Trump talks with US Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott as he tours a section of the US-Mexico border wall in San Luis, Arizona, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed sweeping changes to how it collects and uses biometric data from individuals applying for immigration benefits, visas, or naturalisation. The proposed rule seeks to expand the definition and scope of biometrics collected by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other DHS agencies.

The key proposed changes include requiring any individual filing or associated with an immigration-related benefit request or other request adjudicated by DHS, regardless of age, to appear for biometrics submission unless exempted," the proposed rule, shared on US Federal Registers website said.

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Under the draft rule, any individual connected to an immigration-related application, regardless of age, could be required to appear for biometric submission unless explicitly exempted. This would cover a broad range of applicants, from visa seekers to those seeking permanent residency or citizenship.

The DHS proposal significantly broadens what counts as biometrics." In addition to fingerprints and photographs, it includes facial imagery, iris and retina scans, palm prints, voice samples, signatures, and even partial DNA profiles. The department said DNA or DNA test results could be required to verify biological relationships or determine eligibility for family-based immigration petitions.

DHS proposes to define the term biometrics as the measurable biological (anatomical, physiological, and molecular structure) or behavioral characteristics of an individual."

Modalities meeting this definition include, but are not limited to, facial imagery, fingerprints and palm prints, handwritten signature, ocular imagery, voice patterns, and DNA."

The DHS said the move aims to modernise identity verification, enhance background checks and strengthen what it calls continuous vetting" for immigration applicants. DHS also seeks authority to collect biometrics not only during visa processing but also when a non-citizen is arrested or encountered by immigration officers.

DHS is authorized to collect the biometrics of U.S. citizens, nationals, and lawful permanent resident petitioners of family-based immigrant petitions and U.S. citizen petitioners of nonimmigrant fiance(e) petitions to determine if a petitioner has been convicted of certain crimes."

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The proposal cites provisions under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which gives DHS wide authority to collect, store and use biometric information for enforcing immigration laws and administering benefits. It also references earlier laws such as the Adam Walsh Act and the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act, which require screening of US citizens convicted of specific crimes before they can sponsor certain visa categories.

The Adam Walsh Act prohibits U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents convicted of any specified offense against a minor from filing a family-based immigrant visa petition unless the Secretary determines that the petitioner poses no risk to the beneficiary."

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 02, 2025, 08:38 IST

News world Trump Administration Proposes Rule To Gather DNA, Facial Scans From Immigration Applicants

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Two Arrested After 10 Injured In UK Train Stabbing; PM Starmer Calls It 'Appalling'

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 07:29 IST

Witnesses said they hid inside washrooms as two men went on a stabbing spree inside a train in Huntingdon.

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Police officers walk along the platform near an LNER Azuma train at Huntingdon Station in Huntingdon, eastern England, on November 1, 2025, following a stabbing on a train. (IMAGE: AFP)

Blood was everywhere" and passengers hid inside washrooms" as multiple people were stabbed aboard a London-bound train on Saturday evening, witnesses told local media. Police and emergency services swarmed the Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire after the train was stopped, arresting two people in connection with the attack.

We are currently responding to an incident on a train to Huntingdon where multiple people have been stabbed," British Transport Police said on X, confirming that two people have been arrested."

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The train, travelling from Doncaster in the northeast to Londons Kings Cross Station, was packed with weekend travellers. Police said ten people were hospitalised, adding that nine of them had suffered life-threatening injuries."

A major incident has been declared and @TerrorismPolice are supporting our investigation," the British Transport Police said, suggesting the probe could involve counterterrorism officers.

Eyewitnesses said they saw a man with a large knife on the platform after the train was halted, before police tasered and restrained him.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the appalling" incident deeply concerning."

My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their swift response," he said in a statement on X.

Knife crime has emerged as one of the UKs most persistent law and order challenges, with police data showing a steady rise in violent offences involving blades over the past decade.

According to the Office for National Statistics of the UK, England and Wales recorded more than 50,000 knife-related offences last year, a figure that has nearly doubled since 2013. London remains the worst affected, but police forces across smaller towns and suburbs of the UK are also reporting spikes.

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Nearly 60,000 blades have been either seized or surrendered" in England and Wales as part of government efforts to halve knife crime within a decade, the interior ministry said Wednesday.

Carrying a knife in public can be punishable by up to four years in prison, and the government said knife murders had dropped by 18 percent in the last year.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

Location : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: November 02, 2025, 07:05 IST

News world Two Arrested After 10 Injured In UK Train Stabbing; PM Starmer Calls It 'Appalling'

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crypto whale, ethereum whale, bitcoin whale. Photo by BeInCrypto

MEXCs Chief Strategy Officer, Cecilia Hsueh, has issued a public apology to crypto trader The White Whale and confirmed the release of more than $3 million in frozen funds. This marks a major reversal after months of public controversy.

The trader has been relentlessly campaigning against the exchange for freezing his funds since August. Reportedly, MEXC also asked for an in-person KYC.

MEXC Admits Fault and Promises Reforms

In a candid post on X, Hsueh admitted that MEXCs rapid growth outpaced its internal infrastructure, saying the exchanges risk, operations, and PR teams have not kept up.

The new CSO took responsibility for miscommunication and pledged to drive leadership changes to improve transparency and operational consistency.

The apology marks the first public acknowledgment by MEXC that it mishandled the case. The dispute started in July when the traders account was frozen under risk control protocols.

The White Whale, who first exposed the dispute publicly in August, confirmed that his funds had been released but said the apology lacked clarity.

While appreciated, it didnt specify what they were apologizing for, he said. Implying I was a criminal or scammer would have been nice to address.

He reaffirmed that he never used automated trading bots or privileged API access. Instead, the whale claimed his only offense was being consistently profitable on the platform.

$3 Million to Be Donated to Supporters and Charities

White Whale announced that he would donate all recovered funds instead of keeping them.

Half will go to early supporters through his NFT campaign. The remaining will be distributed to verified non-profit organizations.

He said an airdrop claim mechanism and community voting system will be launched in the coming days.

Its not fair that someone with followers be treated differently, he said. I never felt right taking the money back just for myself.

How It All Started

BeInCrypto first covered the story in an exclusive interview earlier this year, where The White Whale accused MEXC of freezing $3.1 million of his funds without cause.
US Carries Out Fresh Airstrike In Caribbean, Claims To Have Killed 3 Alleged Drug Smugglers

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 10:16 IST

The US military carried out a lethal strike on alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea, Pete Hegseth said.

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US President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters during a roundtable on criminal cartels in the State Dining Room of the White House, in Washington, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listens. (IMAGE: AP PHOTO)

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday said that the US military has carried out another lethal strike on alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea, eliminating three aboard vessels allegedly smuggling drugs.

Hegseth made the announcement via a social media post where he shared that the vessel was allegedly being operated by a US-designated terrorist organization but did not name which group was targeted.

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This recent airstrike could be the the 15th such strike carried out by the US military in the Caribbean or eastern Pacific since early September.

This vessellike EVERY OTHERwas known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics," Hegseth said in a posting on X.

Hegseth announced the latest strike said narco-terrorists are bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans at home" and the Defense Department will treat them EXACTLY how we treated Al-Qaeda."

The US military has now killed at least 64 people in the strikes.

US President Donald Trump has justified the airstrikes and said these were a necessary escalation" to halt the flow of drugs into the US.

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Trump claims that the US is engaged in an armed conflict" with drug cartels. The Republican is relying on the same legal authority his predecessor and fellow Republican George W. Bush relied on when it declared a war on terrorism after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The White House continues to rebuff lawmakers as they demand that the Trump administration release more information about the legal justification for the strikes as well as greater details about which cartels have been targeted and the individuals killed.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ... Read More

Location : West Palm Beach, Florida

First Published: November 02, 2025, 10:06 IST

News world US Carries Out Fresh Airstrike In Caribbean, Claims To Have Killed 3 Alleged Drug Smugglers

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'Deconflict, De-escalate': US, China Agree To Establish Military-To-Military Channels, Says Trump Aide

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News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 08:26 IST

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the two countries have agreed to promote "peace through strength, mutual respect and positive relations"

President Donald Trump (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shake hands after their US-China summit meeting at Gimhae International Airport Jinping in South Korea's Busan on October 30. (Image: AP/Mark Schiefelbein)

The US and China have agreed to promote peace" by establishing militay-to-military channels", said US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Sunday.

Hegseth said the aim was to deconflict and de-escalate any problems that arise" between the United States and China.

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His remarks come after he said he had a productive meeting with Chinas Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun in Malaysia. It also follows US President Donald Trumps meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in South Koreas Busan on October 30.

I just spoke to President Trump, and we agree  the relationship between the United States and China has never been better. Following President Trumps historic meeting with Chairman Xi in South Korea, I had an equally positive meeting with my counterpart, Chinas Minister of Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) November 1, 2025

The Department of War will do the same  peace through strength, mutual respect, and positive relations. Admiral Dong and I also agreed that we should set up military-to-military channels to deconflict and deescalate any problems that arise. We have more meetings on that coming soon. God bless both China and the USA!" Hegseth wrote on X.

The US Secretary of War said the two sides have agreed to strengthen communication and maintain stability in bilateral ties.

I just spoke to President Trump, and we agree  the relationship between the United States and China has never been better. Following President Trumps historic meeting with Chairman Xi in South Korea, I had an equally positive meeting with my counterpart, Chinas Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun in Malaysia. And we spoke again last night," he said.

He said he and Dong agreed that peace, stability, and good relations" are vital, adding Trumps historic G2 meeting" set the tone for lasting US-China peace and success.

The Admiral and I agree that peace, stability, and good relations are the best path for our two great and strong countries. As President Trump said, his historic G2 meeting set the tone for everlasting peace and success for the US and China," he said.

Earlier, Trump said his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was a great one" and would bring lasting peace and success for both nations.

My G2 meeting with President Xi of China was a great one for both of our countries. This meeting will lead to everlasting peace and success. God bless both China and the USA!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Referring to the trade pact between the two countries, which will be routinely extended, he told reporters aboard Air Force One: We have a deal. Every year well renegotiate the deal, but I think the deal will go on for a long time, long beyond the year. Well negotiate at the end of the year."

Later, he announced that China has committed to immediately purchasing large and tremendous amounts" of soybeans and other US farm products as part of a deal between the two countries. During a gaggle aboard Air Force One following his departure to Washington, he hailed the decision as a very nice gesture" from Xi, noting that his Chinese counterpart had authorised the purchase a day earlier.

Were in agreement on so many elements. Large amounts, tremendous amounts of the soybeans and other farm products are going to be purchased, starting immediately. If you notice, President Xi authorised yesterday for China to start buying very large quantities of soybeans and other things, which I appreciated. That was a very nice gesture," he said.

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According to CNN, in May, China halted its purchases of US soybeans following Trumps announcement of tariffs, leaving farmers nationwide with billions of dollars worth of unsold crops and prompting some to question the Presidents policies.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 02, 2025, 08:24 IST

News world 'Deconflict, De-escalate': US, China Agree To Establish Military-To-Military Channels, Says Trump Aide

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US Military Officials Barred From Discussing Drug Boat Strikes With Congress Without Approval

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Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 22:09 IST

The US Defense Department now requires approval before discussing strikes on drug boats and other sensitive topics with Congress, drawing criticism from Rep. Don Bacon.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (Reuters Image)

The US on Sunday issued orders barring military officials from discussing strikes on drug boats with Congress without approval.

According to a report by CNN, the Office of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has disseminated a broad list of topics that Defense Department personnel are now required to seek prior approval on before engaging with Congress, which includes any and all sensitive military operations" and US military strikes on suspected drug boats around Latin America.

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This comes after an initial memo issued by Hegseth that barred all Defense Department personnel, including military commanders, from talking to Congress or lawmakers unless prior approval is sought from the agencys office of legislative affairs.

The list of topics included are DoW [Department of War] sensitive military operations, DoW Maritime activities in the SOUTHCOM [Southern Command] AoR [area of responsibility] (to include enhanced counternarcotics operations), Golden Dome/Homeland Missile Defense, Critical Munitions, and National Defense Strategy.

Other topics include budget and reconciliation spending plans; critical minerals; Foreign Military Sales reform; AUKUS, a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; anomalous health incidents also known as Havana Syndrome"; and Spectrum, which refers to the electromagnetic spectrum that underpins military operations and other key US government functions.

Slamming the move, Republican Rep. Don Bacon said on Saturday that the policy was another amateur move" by the secretary.

In a post on X, he said: I was a five-time commander & our leadership WANTED us to engage members of Congress."

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We wanted to share what our great airmen were doing. We were proud of our service. The new rules have put a large barrier between the military & Congress. Pentagon says the change is very small. But I already see the impact with military members being afraid to communicate. This is another amateur move," he added.

The announcement of the policy comes after the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Republican Sen. Roger Wicker and Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, on Friday publicly released two letters theyd written to Hegseth over the last month seeking clarity on the operations, both of which have gone unanswered, CNN reported.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 02, 2025, 22:08 IST

News world US Military Officials Barred From Discussing Drug Boat Strikes With Congress Without Approval

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Why Greater Afghanistan Map As Gift To Taliban Minister Is Seen As Anti-Pakistan Move | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 20:00 IST

'Taliban doesn't accept Durand Line': The move caused row as the map depicted several Pakistani provinces, including KPK, GB and Balochistan, as part of Afghanistan

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The Taliban views the Durand Line as an artificial colonial border, say sources.

The recent gifting of the Greater Afghanistan map to a Taliban minister was a deliberate act of defiance against Pakistan, according to sources.

Students of al-Madrasa al-Asriyah in Afghanistan recently presented the map as gift to Taliban Deputy Minister Mohammad Nabi Omari.

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The move caused controversy as it depicted several Pakistani provinces, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Balochistan, as part of Afghanistan.

Why Greater Afghanistan is an issue amid ongoing clashes

The concept of a Greater Afghanistan or Pashtunistan is a long-standing point of contention, as Afghanistan has historically refused to accept the Durand Line as the official border with Pakistan.

The Durand Line, drawn in 1893 by the British, divided the ethnic Pashtun population. Afghan nationalists claim the Pashtun-majority regions that are currently part of Pakistan.

The move comes amid the clashes between the two countries. Pakistan and Afghanistan have, for now, agreed to maintain a ceasefire following peace talks in Istanbul, after earlier talks collapsed earlier this week. Pakistan said the border ceasefire will hold after the Taliban government provided some assurances". The Turkish foreign ministry said all parties have agreed to put in place a monitoring and verification mechanism that will ensure maintenance of peace and impose a penalty on the violating party." The sides plan to meet again at a higher-level gathering in Istanbul on Nov 6 to finalise how the ceasefire will be implemented, it added.

What Taliban, intelligence sources say

The Taliban, like earlier Afghan governments, views the Durand Line as an artificial colonial border, said top intelligence and Taliban sources.

Pakistan has no legitimate right to claim the territories east of this line. Taliban believes that Pakistan used them and Afghan soil and fighters for its strategic depth during the U.S. war," said sources.

Pakistan has now turned hostile by attacking border areas and expelling Afghan refugees. By presenting the Greater Afghanistan map, the Taliban leadership seeks to assert national pride and reject Pakistans attempts to dictate Kabuls policies," they said.

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Pakistans ongoing expulsion of over a million Afghan refugees is viewed in Kabul as a humiliation and collective punishment.

Afghanistan under the Emirate will no longer tolerate Pakistans interference, intelligence control, or dictation. Taliban is clear that Pakistan is weakening it through border aggression and the mass expulsion of refugees. By erasing the Durand Line, the Taliban is rejecting Pakistans colonial-era legitimacy," said sources.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: November 02, 2025, 19:52 IST

News world Why Greater Afghanistan Map As Gift To Taliban Minister Is Seen As Anti-Pakistan Move | Exclusive

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'Youll Find Out If It Happens': Trump Says Xi Knows 'Consequences' Of Invading Taiwan

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 02, 2025, 23:23 IST

Trump also said that Taiwan never even came up as a subject when he met Xi in South Korea on Thursday

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US President Donald Trump with Chinese President Xi Jinping. (AFP photo)

US President Donald Trump has said that Chinese President Xi Jinping understands the consequences" if China attempts to invade Taiwan, though he declined to say whether Washington would defend the island.

The comments came in an interview with CBS News broadcast on Sunday. Asked on CBSs 60 Minutes if he would send US forces to respond should China take military action against Taiwan, Trump replied, Youll find out if it happens, and he understands the answer to that."

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Pressed to elaborate, the US President refused to reveal details, saying, I cant give away my secrets. The other side knows."

Trump also said that Taiwan never even came up as a subject" when he met Xi in South Korea on Thursday. The two leaders held their first face-to-face talks in six years on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju.

According to Trump, Xi and his inner circle have openly said" that they would never do anything while President Trump is president, because they know the consequences."

China claims self-governing Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to take control. The United States officially recognises only Beijing under the One China policy, but continues to supply defensive weapons to Taipei.

At their meeting, Trump and Xi focused mainly on trade, agreeing to reduce tensions that have unsettled global markets. Washington is expected to roll back some tariffs, while Beijing promised to maintain steady supplies of rare earth materials critical to technology and defence industries.

Calling the talks a great success," Trump praised Xi as a tremendous leader of a very powerful country" and said he planned to visit China in April.

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Xi, for his part, said that both nations should work together to strengthen cooperation. China and the US can jointly shoulder our responsibility as major countries and work together to accomplish more great and concrete things for the good of our two countries and the whole world," he said.

(With inputs from AFP)

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First Published: November 02, 2025, 23:22 IST

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A New York bankruptcy court has granted provisional relief to Singapore-based liquidators overseeing the collapse of Multichain Foundation Ltd., directing stablecoin issuer Circle to keep wallets holding millions of dollars in stolen USD Coin (USDC) frozen.

Judge David S. Jones of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York issued the order on Thursday, extending the freeze on three Ethereum wallets tied to the July 2023 Multichain hack.

The ruling requires Circle to maintain the addresses on its blacklist, effectively blocking any movement of the roughly $63 million in stolen USDC until further notice.

The courts decision marks a major step in the cross-border effort to recover assets drained from Multichains cross-chain bridge protocol, which lost more than $210 million in one of 2023s largest DeFi exploits.

Inside the Multichain Case: How Liquidators Win by Freezing USDC

The order, issued under Section 1519 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, allows temporary relief before a foreign case receives formal recognition under Chapter 15, the framework that governs cooperation between U.S. courts and foreign insolvency proceedings.

Source: Cornell Law School

Liquidators appointed in Singapore, from KPMG Services Pte. Ltd., filed for provisional relief on October 23, arguing that lifting Circles freeze could cause immediate and irreparable harm by allowing stolen assets to move beyond recovery.

The request sought to preserve the funds until the U.S. court determines whether to recognize the Singapore case as a foreign main proceeding, a designation that would allow the liquidators to pursue recovery efforts across jurisdictions.

Circle, which issues the U.S. dollarpegged USDC stablecoin, typically enforces freezes by blacklisting addresses directly through the tokens smart contract, a feature that blocks any transfers involving those wallets.

The company first froze the three hacker-linked addresses in October 2023 at the direction of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which obtained a seizure warrant shortly after the exploit.

The DOJ later lifted the warrant after failing to identify the hackers, leaving Circle without a legal basis to keep the wallets locked. The latest order restores that authority.

According to the court filing, the freeze is necessary to prevent competing claims over the same funds. A group of U.S. investors had filed a separate class action lawsuit against Circle in New York State court, seeking control of the stolen USDC.

That case has now been paused following the federal courts ruling. Circle moved the matter to the Southern District of New York under the Class Action Fairness Act, which allows large, multi-jurisdictional class actions to be heard in federal court.
Plan on a glorious extra hour of sleep as most of America "falls back" into standard time. But make sure to get outside for some morning sun, tooit'll help your body clock reset faster, the AP reports. Daylight saving time ends at 2am local time Sunday, which means you should set your clock back an hour before you go to bed. Standard time will last until March 8 when we will again "spring forward" with the return of daylight saving time. There's a lot of grumbling about the twice-a-year time changes. The spring switch tends to be harder, losing that hour of sleep we allegedly recover in the fall. But many people also mourn fall's end of daylight saving time, when days already are getting shorter and moving the clocks can mean less daylight after school or work for exercise or outdoor fun.
Hundreds of Afghan families who aided the US military and fled the Taliban now find themselves stranded in a former US military base in Qatar, caught in bureaucratic limbo with no clear path forward. The Wall Street Journal tells their story through the lens of Mohammed Ibrahim, who spent more than a decade providing transportation services to the US military in Afghanistana history that made him a possible target for the Taliban, who in the summer of 2021 kidnapped and killed a brother-in-law he worked with. After hiding from the Taliban for years, Ibrahim thought he had finally found safety when he and his family were evacuated to Camp As Sayliyah in January 2025.

But nearly a year later, he and about 1,300 other Afghans remain confined to the facility, their futures stalled by shifting US immigration policies. The camp, housed in converted hangars in a desert so hot no one strays outdoors, is the only location where the US has direct custody of Afghan evacuees, per the Journal. Ibrahim arrived just four days before President Trump took office. He had been expecting refugee paperwork from the US, but the Trump administration's clampdown halted the process.

Now, with avenues to America mostly closed and key relocation officials let go, those stranded at Camp As Sayliyah worry that the US might eventually abandon them to an uncertain fate. In the meantime, while there is some schooling available for the kids, there is no work or activities for the adults. Most people spend their days in a "sort of stupor," per the Journal. Still, "If I go back to Afghanistan now, they will call me a spy," Ibrahim says. "I'd rather die in this camp than die by Taliban hands." (Read the full story.)
Daniel Kinahan is a native of Ireland who now runs the family business started by his father from Dubai. What's particularly unusual is that the family business is otherwise known as the Kinahan Organized Crime Group, and the 40-something Kinahan is considered to be one of the most notorious cocaine kingpins in the world, writes Ed Caesar at the New Yorker. So much so that the US State Department has a standing $5 million reward on offer for information leading to his arrest. Despite that, Kinahan continues to live a lavish lifestyle in the United Arab Emirates capital from the plush Burj Al Arab hotel as he runs what authorities call the "Super Cartel." The organization allegedly ships tons of cocaine from South America to European ports via ferry.
Stories of the financial straits that many colleges find themselves in aren't new. Talladega College's path out is a less typical one: It will sell some of its treasures. The historically Black institution in Alabama will part with four of its prized Hale Woodruff murals, and the New York Times looks at the why and the how of what board chair Rica Lewis-Payton acknowledged was a fraught decision. The financial stress was extreme: The college's endowment is less than $5 million, its student body has fallen by 40% in five years to 745 students, and it was struggling to make payroll.

Its six Woodruff murals, painted between 1939 and 1942, are considered American masterpieces (see images of them here) and powerful symbols of the African-American struggle for freedom. They include the acclaimed "The Mutiny on the Amistad," which depicts a rebellion by enslaved Africans aboard a ship, and a mural of the Underground Railroad. While parting with them seemed blasphemous to some, they attracted only 500 visitors a year to the museum building that displayed them. The school will retain two murals depicting Talladega's own history.

The deal, estimated to be worth $20 million, will see the three Amistad murals acquired jointly by the Art Bridges Foundation and the Terra Foundation for American Artwhich lend American art to public institutionswhile the Toledo Museum of Art will buy the Underground Railroad mural. The deal was structured so that the murals' connection to Talladega will be highlighted wherever they are shown, and they will periodically return to campus for reunions. The CEO of the United Negro College Fund tells the Times he was initially appalled by the news, which he equated to the school "giving up a part of their soul." He has since changed his tune: "What is the theme of the Amistad murals?" he says. "It is freedom. And this is allowing them to have financial freedom."

Artnet calls Talladega's plan a "win-win-win-win solution," noting that other colleges and universities that have sold pieces from their collectionsit names Valparaiso University, Albright College, and Brandeis Universityoften sell them at auction. The result is that the works often enter private collections, depriving the public of them for good.
Dating in DC has always been tricky for political insiders, but for Trump supporters in the nation's capital, the search for romance is now a battlefield of ideology, expectations, and background checks, the Washington Post reports. MAGA singles who move to Washington hoping to find like-minded partners say the reality is bleaker than expected. Morgan Housley, a 29-year-old who works at a conservative advocacy group, tells the newspaper she'd like to settle down, but the MAGA men she's encountering are "not fit, workaholics, and not taking finding a wife seriously."

The city is generally a tough place for single Trump supporters, with 92.5% of DC voters backing Kamala Harris in the last election. Dating across party lines is tougher than ever, with politics now a dealbreaker for many. "Before 2016, I did not even have a question on my intake form about politics," says Michelle Jacoby, founder of DC Matchmaking, who adds that some liberal clients now won't date a Republican under any circumstances. Some conservatives, on the other hand, say they're open to dating outside their political circle, but not if the other person has a problem with their politics: "My partner can't think I'm a fascist. That's crazy," says one anonymous female Republican staffer.

Axios reported last year that DC is suffering a "loneliness epidemic," and followed that up in a piece this summer reporting that 28% of singles in the city had reported using an AI companionone of the top three highest rates of the cities surveyed. Axios also reported in April that the city's partisan dating scene was being disrupted by DOGE cuts. In June, rightwing podcast host Natalie Winters told the Times of London, "I think most men are gay in DCeither out or closeted depending on whether they're Democrats or Republicans."
Barack Obama quietly reached out to Zohran Mamdani on Saturday, offering a rare gesture of support days before New York's mayoral election. The former president's 30-minute phone call, described by people familiar with the conversation, was not an endorsement, the New York Times reports, but Obama praised Mamdani's campaign and offered future guidance if needed. He told Mamdani, "Your campaign has been impressive to watch," and offered to serve as a "sounding board" should Mamdani win. Obama did make appearances for other candidates over the weekend.

The two reportedly discussed the nuts and bolts of building an administration and pursuing an agenda centered on affordability in the city. Obama's outreach is especially notable given the Democratic establishment's divisions over Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist who toppled Andrew Cuomo in the June primary. Obama has largely avoided weighing in on local races since leaving office, so this call could serve as a signal as other Democratic Party leaders have kept their distance from Mamdani. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, for instance, still hasn't said whether he'll support him, and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries only recently gave his backing.

On the trail: Obama campaigned for his party's nominees for governor in New Jersey and Virginia on Saturday, urging Democrats to turn out the vote. "Our country and our politics are in a pretty dark place right now," he said at a rally in Norfolk for former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, per ABC News. Obama also spoke at a rally in Newark for Rep. Mikie Sherrill, pointing out that President Trump endorsed the Republican in the race, Jack Ciattarelli. "Donald Trump called Mikie's opponent '100% MAGA.' Not a great endorsement," Obama said.
Police in Pennsylvania say they discovered a missing 13-year-old girl alive and hidden inside a box in a suspect's basement, reports the Guardian . Authorities in Pittsburgh arrested 26-year-old Ki-Shawn Crumity last week, charging him with human trafficking, sexual assault, and related offenses. According to the criminal complaint, the girl went missing from her home in Baker, Louisiana, around October 20 after connecting with Crumity on Snapchat, per WTAE .

"This child  was groomed, exploited and then sexually abused by strangers who found her online," says Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. "This is just one example of the dangers of social media and of human trafficking." Investigators said the teenager traveled by Greyhound bus to Pittsburgh, where she was allegedly given cannabis-infused edibles and sexually assaulted over the course of a week. The criminal complaint also detailed that the girl slept in the basement with Crumity and a woman. Authorities tracked the girl across several states before Pittsburgh police, acting on a federal tip, found her in Crumity's basement in the city's Brighton Park area.

After her rescue, she was hospitalized, and officials said evidence of sexual assault was recovered. Two other men have been arrested in connection with the case. Ronald Smith, 62, was taken into custody in Columbus, Georgia, on charges including kidnapping, while Alvin Hanson, 64, was arrested in New Orleans for allegedly contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. More arrests might follow.
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The mayor of Uruapan, a city in Mexico's violence-ridden Michoacan state, was fatally shot during a public event on Saturday, according to authorities. The national public security agency reported that two suspects were detained after the attack on Carlos Manzo, and an assailant was also killed at the scene. The assassination took place in the city center during a Day of the Dead gathering, CBS News reports, sending crowds scrambling. Manzo, who had asked the Mexican government for more help in fighting drug traffickers, recently posted videos in which he said he feared for his life, per the New York Times .

Michoacan, a region long troubled by drug cartel activity and the extortion of local farmers, has seen repeated violence targeting public officials. Manzo, who took office in September 2024, was known for his hands-on approach to security. He occasionally joined patrols while wearing a bulletproof vest. The mayor had clashed with President Claudia Sheinbaum over crime policies, and she criticized him earlier this year for calling on local police to kill criminals who attack civilians.

Drug-related violence has claimed the lives of numerous politicians over the past two decades in Mexico. Last month, the mayor of Pisaflores in central Mexico was shot to death, and two mayors were killed within days of each other in June. Early last year, two mayoral candidates in the city of Maravatio were shot to death within hours of each other. Even high-ranking aides in Mexico City have been targeted, per CBS. Michoacan farmer representative Bernardo Bravo was shot to death just days ago. He'd repeatedly spoken out against extortion committed by criminal gangs.
Wingtech Technology, the Chinese owner of Nexperia, has named experienced general counsel Sophie Shen Xinjia, a Columbia Law School graduate, as its president amid a Sino-Dutch dispute over control of the Netherlands-based chipmaker.

Shen's tenure as president would be in line with that of Wingtech's 12th board, which was formed in January and will expire by January 2028, according to the company's filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Friday.

She replaced Zhang Qiuhong, who served as Wingtech's president until her resignation on July 14, according to the firm's filing on July 15. At the time, Shen was the company's general counsel. Shen was named a vice-president on the same day Zhang resigned, but served as the firm's acting president, according to the filing.

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Shen, 41, joined Nexperia in January 2017 as head of legal affairs for the Asia-Pacific region, following stints at US firm TRW and German engineering company Bosch.

Her appointment and experience reflected Wingtech's current need to overcome issues surrounding Nexperia, which Dutch authorities seized control of on September 30, citing national security concerns and invoking an obscure 1952 law known as the Goods Availability Act.

Newly appointed Wingtech Technology president Sophia Shen Xinjia. Photo: Handout alt=Newly appointed Wingtech Technology president Sophia Shen Xinjia. Photo: Handout>

According to Wingtech's filing, Shen has more than 15 years of experience as a legal counsel. That covered such areas as corporate governance and compliance, mergers and acquisitions, and cross-border transactions. Shen was also qualified to practice law in China, the company said.

The Netherlands' action on Nexperia - which included ousting Wingtech founder Zhang Xuezheng as the chipmaker's CEO - came a day after the US government extended export control restrictions to entities at least 50 per cent owned by companies on Washington's trade blacklist. Being wholly owned by blacklisted Wingtech, Nexperia became subject to US sanctions.

Beijing on October 4 responded by issuing a ban on Nexperia China and its subcontractors from exporting finished components produced in the country. About 70 per cent of all Nexperia products are assembled in its factory in Dongguan, in southern Guangdong province.
KYOTO, Nov 03 (News On Japan) - A suspicious package was discovered at Keihan Railways Chushojima Station in Kyoto on November 1st, prompting police to investigate the possibility of an explosive device.

According to authorities, around 2:30 p.m., a station employee reported to police that there was a suspicious object wrapped in paper. The item was found on the floor of a stall inside the mens restroom located on the platform bound for Kyoto.

The package measured about 15 centimeters wide, 21 centimeters high, and 8 centimeters deep, and was wrapped in brown paper.

Later, investigators determined that the object was a commercially available DVD disc.

Keihan Railway said that more than 100,000 passengers were affected by the disruption caused by the investigation.

Source: MBS
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Canadas Class I railroads have joined BNSF Railway in calling out the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern mega-merger as a negative for the industry.

While Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) had already publicly rejected the idea of rail consolidation in the weeks after the merger announcement, both the railroad and top rival Canadian National (CN) recently launched websites where they highlight their concerns with the $85 billion takeover.

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CPKC said on its site that the impending UP-NS merger is not in the public interest, unnecessary, and would dominate rail transportation markets, reducing rail customer optionality in ways that cannot be undone.

And like BNSF, CN is calling on shippers to speak out against the deal, imploring them to share commentary on the transaction with the Surface Transportation Board (STB), which still has to approve the merger.

The industry does not need a merger to provide better service to the North American economy, said CN president and CEO Tracy Robinson in a Friday earnings call. What we need is more cooperation and less regulation. No level of mitigation can offset the reduction of options and the increased cost of service to customers.

Cooperations has been stressed as a better alternative to the transcontinental railroad proposed by Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, with CPKC saying on its website that collaboration among railroads in high-density east-west traffic lanes can achieve the kinds of benefits UP and NS say they are pursuing by merging.

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern expect to file their joint merger application with the STB by the start of the December at the latest, according to the acquiring railroads CEO Jim Vena.

In an Oct. 20 regulatory filing, the merging railroads asked the STB to shave 45 days off the review process. The regulators operations are currently suspended due to the government shutdown.

The STB has not yet set the deadline for shippers to file a notice, but it is typically due 45 days after railroads would submit their merger application.

The boards review is expected to take 17 to 22 months.

In a Wednesday earnings call, CPKC CEO Keith Creel urged the STB to take ample time to review the application and respond.

Theres no way in the world for this to have a thorough review that it occurs in less than 16 to 17 months, said Creel. I know theres an echo chamber. I read it. I hear it. I sense it. I know theres a lot of invested investors that perhaps want this to be a layup. This is not a layup, number one. Its not a foregone conclusion thats going to get approved. What we do know is the hurdle is going to be high. These are rules that have never been tested.
Interview: China's new development roadmap aligns with new phase of global development, says Russian envoy

Xinhua) 15:57, November 02, 2025

MOSCOW, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's in-the-making 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) corresponds to the new stage of global development, said Boris Titov, Special Envoy of the Russian President for International Cooperation in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals, in an interview with Xinhua.

The recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan were recently adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

"The world is entering a new phase where core values are no longer limited to raw materials and cheap labor, but rather innovation, equity and sustainable development. Moreover, in this transformation, countries of the Global South are no longer passive onlookers, but active participants," he said.

He noted that the essence of China's new plan lies in pursuit of quality over quantity in development.

"China is focusing not on mass production but on innovation, green technologies and the fight against inequality. Giant factories are being replaced by new quality productive forces -- science, high technology and talented personnel," said Titov, adding that he believes this strategy is closely aligned with the "dual circulation" model, under which China strengthens its domestic market while staying open and integrated into the global economy.

"This model offers valuable lessons to countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America on how to build internal resilience while maintaining ties to global trade," emphasized Titov.

Speaking about China's growing role in the global economy, including through projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, he noted that China's cooperation with other developing countries is becoming deeper and more nuanced.

"China teaches others how to fish, rather than just giving them fish," he said. "Chinese companies and universities are actively collaborating with local professionals to help develop digital infrastructure, share technologies and train talent. These are investments not in concrete, but in human potential."

Titov added that China's cooperation with its partners is grounded in practical solidarity. He cited the recent launch of the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, emphasizing that "the key principle is for projects to respond to the actual needs of local residents, rather than being dictated from outside."

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
This report provides an overview of global oil and natural gas market trends, including price changes, production data, and geopolitical developments impacting energy.

The Trump-Xi meeting in South Korea, frequently lauded as a potential icebreaker moment between the United States and China, failed to provide any momentum to oil markets as discussions centered more on fentanyl than crude oil or LNG. As such, this weekends OPEC+ meeting is the next trend-setting market for the market at large, even if this time around reports all seem to indicate the same outcome - a 137,000 b/d modest increase. Thus, ICE Brent could linger around $65 per barrel for slightly longer.

Saudi Arabia Expected to Cut Prices. The combination of higher Middle Eastern exports and a flattening Dubai futures curve will prompt Saudi Aramco (TADAWUL:2222) to slash its Asian formula prices to multi-month lows, with analysts predicting a month-over-month cut of $1.00 to $1.50 per barrel.

US, China Temporarily Suspend Port Fees. Chinas Commerce Ministry announced that Beijing and Washington have agreed to suspend reciprocal port fees that have buoyed shipping markets in recent months, however the Trump administration is still yet to confirm the one-year suspension.

India Never Stopped Buying Russian. Indias largest refiner Indian Oil bought five cargoes of Russian oil for December arrival from non-sanctioned entities this week, equivalent to a 120,000 b/d supply, saying that the company will continue importing Russian barrels if they are in compliance with sanctions.

Gunvor Mops Up Lukoil Assets. Russias second-largest oil producer Lukoil (MCX:LKOH) said it had accepted an offer from global trading house Gunvor to buy its international assets, including Iraqs giant West Qurna 2 oil field (producing 480,000 b/d) and several refineries across Europe.

Mozambique to Dispute LNG Development. The Mozambique government said it would challenge the updated budget and schedule of TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) 13 mtpa Mozambique LNG project, following reports that costs had risen by 4.5 billion in the four years that it was stalled due to security concerns.

Chinas Teapots Come Back to Life. Improved refinery margins and returning downstream capacity have lifted refinery runs in Chinas Shandong region to 71% in October, the highest reading in 2025 so far, however many will be forced to curb throughput as Beijings crude import quotas are running out.

Nigeria to Tax Fuel Imports. The Nigerian government has approved a 15% import duty on gasoline and diesel, part of its long-standing plan to boost domestic refining as the shaky performance of the 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery didnt lead to a full halt in imports, still importing 170,000 b/d of gasoline.
UPDATE: The Coast Guard has suspended its search pending further developments, the agency said at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, after rescuers failed to locate the woman.

Crews are searching for a 25-year-old woman who jumped from the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge into the Delaware River, Coast Guard officials said Saturday.

The Coast Guard responded to a report of a person in the water at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, officials said.

The woman reportedly jumped from the center span of the bridge, which connects Burlington County to Philadelphia, at about 5:11 p.m.

A boat crew from Coast Guard Station Philadelphia and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Air Station Atlantic City responded to assist, officials said.

Several agencies have joined the search, including marine units from the Palmyra Fire Department, Philadelphia Police Department, New Jersey State Police and the Burlington County Bridge Commission Police Department, which is leading the operation.

Crews from Coast Guard Station Philadelphia searched into the night Saturday and resumed Sunday at first light, the agency said.

The woman, who is 5-feet, 4-inches tall, weights 140 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes, was last seen wearing a light blue hooded tracksuit, officials said.

Anyone with information about the womans whereabouts is asked to contact The Burlington County Bridge Commission Police at 856-829-3002.
Markis Nathan Rattling Leaf, 42, was stabbed to death while serving time at a federal prison in New Jersey, according to documents provided by his family. (Provided Photo/Canva)

Officials investigating the March stabbing death of a man held at a federal prison in New Jersey know who killed him but have yet to file charges, according to a Native American spiritual leader assisting the victims family.

Markis Nathan Rattling Leaf, 42, of South Dakota, was stabbed in the head, neck and chest with a pencil on March 4 at the Federal Correctional Institution at Fairton, according to his death certificate.

His death was labeled a homicide on the death certificate, which his family provided to NJ Advance Media.

Federal officials previously said Rattling Leaf, who was serving a prison sentence for molesting a child, was found unresponsive following a perceived altercation at the prison and later died. They did not say how he died or if his death was deemed a crime.

Authorities have repeatedly declined to comment on the case.

Rattling Leaf was Native American and a member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe in South Dakota, according to his family.

Shannon Rivers, a Native American spiritual leader for men and women incarcerated in California and Arizona, is assisting Rattling Leafs family in trying to get answers.

The family and advocates spoke with officials from the FBI and the Office of the U.S. Attorney in New Jersey earlier this week, according to Rivers.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said investigators know who killed Rattling Leaf, Rivers said.

Their office is aware of who did the stabbing. They didnt share the name with us because they havent filed the case yet, he said.

The assailant will likely be charged with murder and could face the death penalty, Rivers said.

The family is not seeking death for the killer, according to Rivers.

We told him that within our Native American tradition and spiritual beliefs, the killing of one individual does not warrant the killing of another, Rivers said.

Rivers and the family also want to know if the killing could have been prevented. They wonder if the suspect was prone to violent behavior that would have made him a danger to Rattling Leaf, Rivers said.

Rattling Leafs supporters are not accusing the Bureau of Prisons of wrongdoing, Rivers added.

For me, as a Native American spiritual leader, I want to make sure that all information is shared and that all aspects of this case are investigated, he said.

In 2012, Rattling Leaf pleaded guilty to a charge of abusive sexual contact with an 8-year-old victim in South Dakota and was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison, according to a press release about the case.

He was serving his sentence in a federal facility in Arizona before he was transferred to New Jersey last year.

Rattling Leaf was an advocate for the queer and transgender communities in prison, according to his sister, Miranda Roubideaux. He co-founded Brave Hearts, a group of LGBTQ+ inmates focused on financial independence through art and ending violence against LGBTQ+ people in prison.

The family was told by someone at the prison that Rattling Leaf was trying to counsel the inmate who attacked and killed him, Roubideaux previously said.

While puncture wounds from a pencil caused his death, he also suffered blunt force trauma to his head and neck, the death certificate said.

One of the stab wounds was to his eye, Roubideaux said in March.

In a letter to a South Dakota judge about Rattling Leafs death, the prison warden said the victim was found unconscious on the floor of a cell around 11 a.m. on March 4. He was treated by prison staff and EMTs who were called to the scene, then airlifted from the prison to Cooper University Hospital in Camden.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after 4:15 p.m. the following day. The letter, included in federal court records on Rattling Leafs South Dakota criminal case, included no details about how he died.
Republican voter registrations have surged across New Jersey in the past four years, with the GOP growing by more than 10% statewide.

Voter registration data shows some of the areas that have seen the largest growth in Republican voters are in traditionally Democratic strongholds.

Republican voter registrations increased by more than 20% in 15 towns across traditionally Democratic areas of Essex and Union counties, according to an NJ Advance Media analysis of the latest data.

Elizabeth in Union County saw one of the highest increases, with a 55% jump in Republican voter registrations between January 2022 and this month. (See the full town-by-town breakdown on the map below.)

Some of the highest percentage increases were seen in small Jersey Shore towns with low numbers of voters. In those municipalities, the addition of a few dozen new Republican voter registrations dramatically changed the balance of Democrats and Republicans in town.

The towns that have seen the largest percentage increases in Republicans since 2022 are:

Loch Arbour Village (Monmouth): 174.3% increase (+61 voters)

Allenhurst Borough (Monmouth): 60.2% increase (+71 voters)

Elizabeth City (Union): 55.7% increase (+3,173 voters)

East Orange City (Essex): 54.3% increase (+585 voters)

Harrison Town (Hudson): 49.0% increase (+367 voters)

East Newark Borough (Hudson): 48.9% increase (+43 voters)

Paterson City (Passaic): 47.8% increase (+2,863 voters)

Wallington Borough (Bergen): 43.3% increase (+651 voters)

Irvington Township (Essex): 41.9% increase (+362 voters)

City of Orange Township (Essex): 40.2% increase (+216 voters)

Newark City (Essex): 39.7% increase (+2,761 voters)

Roselle Borough (Union): 37.7% increase (+349 voters)

Walpack Township (Sussex): 37.5% increase (+3 voters)

Whats driving the sudden surge of Republicans in the deepest blue parts of New Jersey?

President Donald Trump is a factor, but not the only one, Al Barlas, the chairman of the Republican Party in Essex County, told NJ Advance Media.

Barlas, also a member of the state Assembly, chalked up the significant Republican gains in East Orange, Irvington, Newark and other towns to a continued GOP presence and community service efforts. Backpack drives, toy donations around the holidays, and a large donation of kites are some recent efforts the party has undertaken, Barlas said.

Its to show voters that the Republican Party does exist and were here not just come election time, were here year round to be a presence in our communities and to show the residents that we actually do care, Barlas said.

Most of the towns where Republicans have seen the biggest gains have large Hispanic and Black populations  communities that have traditionally voted Democrat.

Are your neighborhoods any cleaner than they were four, eight, 10 years ago? When you, as folks, have continuously voted to elect Democrat after Democrat after Democrat, are your neighborhoods any safer? Have your schools gotten any better? Barlas said when asked how the party was marketing itself to Black and Hispanic voters.

The Essex County Democratic Committee did not respond to a request for comment.

Other towns with large Hispanic populations that saw increases in Republican registrations include Perth Amboy in Middlesex County and Harrison in Hudson County.

Statewide, the two towns with the greatest percentage increases in Republican registrations were Loch Arbour and Allenhurst, tiny oceanside towns in Monmouth County. The number of Republicans increased 174% in Loch Arbour and 60% in Allenhurst.

In those towns, Democrats and independents also saw increases in registrations because the municipalities both saw their overall number of voters jump significantly in 2024.

Allenhurst which had a population of 472 in the 2020 Census, had 597 registered voters by Election Day 2024  26% higher than the towns population and a jump of 75% of registered voters in one year.

In Loch Arbour, voter rolls nearly doubled between April 2023 and April 2024, with the number of voters surpassing the total population of the borough recorded in the Census.

The sudden surge in new registrations raised suspicions in the tiny town, and a group of residents filed a lawsuit alleging that nearly 80 of the new voters, all members of the Syrian Sephardic Jewish community, were ineligible to vote because they did not actually live in town but only spent summers there. They also claimed the newly-elected Syrian mayor was ineligible to serve because he had not been a full-time resident for the required year. They eventually dropped the case.

The jumps in both Loch Arbour and Allenhurst also drew the attention of the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office. But the prosecutors office ended an investigation without any charges.

Want to see how the political landscape has changed in your town? Scroll over the map below.

Cant see the map? Click here.

Staff writer Karin Price Mueller contributed to this report.
Millie Bobby Brown attends the Netflix's "The Electric State" Fan Screening at The Paris Theatre on March 11, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) Getty Images

The hit Netflix show Stranger Things is expected to premiere its fifth and final season later this month  but it might not have the sweetest ending off screen.

According to The Daily Mail, Millie Bobby Brown, who plays one of the shows leading roles, has allegedly accused her co-star David Harbour of bullying and harassment.

Millie Bobby Brown filed a harassment and bullying claim before they started shooting the last season, a source told the media outlet. There were pages and pages of accusations. The investigation went on for months.

Harbour plays former police chief Jim Hopper on the hit show while Brown plays his adopted daughter Eleven.

This news comes after shortly Harbours ex-wife Lilly Allen allegedly exposed Harbour about their breakup in her new album, West End Girl.

Part 1 of the final season of Stranger Things premieres on Netflix on November 26, followed by Part 2 on December 25 and Part 3 on December 31.
Mel Leipzig, a painter and art educator born in Brooklyn, based in Trenton and known by the art world for his realist portraits of family, friends and other subjects in their everyday settings rendered in an impressionist style and unflinching detail, died on Saturday, his daughter said.

He was 90 and died in his sleep, said his daughter, Francesca Leipzig Picone.

He lived a really long, good life, Picone said. Recalling her fathers last birthday, on May 23, she added, He even said himself, I cant believe I made it to 90.

Picone said her father died 18 years to the day after her mother  his wife  Mary Jo, who passed away on Nov. 1, 2007, at age 68.

In another timely twist of fate, Leipzig died amid a retrospective of his work, A Community Celebrates an Icon: Mel Leipzig at 90, at the Trenton City Museum at Ellerslie, that on opened on Oct. 24 and will run through Jan. 4.

It was almost poetic that my dad had that show and passed after, Picone said.

Leipzigs paintings are in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the National Academy Museum and the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York City, where Gallery Henoch was his longtime dealer.

In New Jersey, his works are at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton; the Montclair Art Museum; the Morris Museum in Morristown; the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Museum at Rutgers University in New Brunswick; and the Jersey City Museum, among others. Museums in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Utah, and elsewhere, also have Leipzig works in their collections.

Dan Bischoff and His Family, a painting by the Trenton-based realist painter Mel Leipzig, who died died on Nov. 1. Bischoff, standing, was an art critic for The Star-Ledger. Mel Leipzig

For 45 years, from 1968 to his retirement in 2013, Leipzig was a professor of fine art and art history at Mercer County Community College in Trenton, where he sometimes painted his students.

Leipzig embraced New Jerseys capital city as his workplace, artistic community, and home.

He and his wife raised their two children in a house in the citys Glen Afton neighborhood, and Leipzig founded the Trenton Artist Workshop Association, or TAWA, based at the Trenton City Museum.

My father loved that city, I would call him Mr. Trenton, said Picone, a graphic designer, illustrator and painter who lives in Roxbury.

Leipzig finally moved out of the Trenton house four months ago, into a nursing home in Princeton, Carnegie Assisted Living, where he died Saturday, his daughter said.

Dan Bischoff, an art critic for The Star-Ledger and NJ.com, was someone Leipzig knew and painted. There is a portrait of the critic and his family on the stairway of their house in West Orange, the woodgrain of the oak floorboards as much a focus of the work as the three Bischoffs.

Writing in The Star-Ledger in 2008, Bischoff suggested that Leipzigs paintings  typically in acrylic on canvas  were as much about the backgrounds they are painted against as their human subjects: artists in their studios; actors in tech rehearsal under a grid of spotlights; academics in offices piled to the ceiling with books and crumpled papers  everything in a Leipzig is painted with an almost hallucinogenic intensity of detail, just as he sees it.

Leipzig is survived by his daghter and her husband, Louis Picone; a son, Josh Leipzig, and his wife, Martha Leipzig (nee Schultz); grandchildren Vincent and Leonardo Picone, and Rayona, Zev, and Ami Leipzig; a niece, Nicole Sage, and her daughter, Georgia Leipzig Kayes.

Two of Leipzigs well-known works are paintings of his daughter and son. Both are set in their rooms at the familys Trenton house, and capture the cluttered exuberance and introspection of real-life youth.

I was a messy teenager, that was my room, Picone said. And when it came time to paint her in it, she added, He did not want me to clean it up.
Three teens died in this collision Friday, Oct., 31, 2025, in Warrington Township, Bucks County, according to police Photo courtesy of the Warrington Township Police Department

Three teens were killed and one is in critical condition after a collision Friday in Bucks County, police said.

The 15-year-old driver of a Toyota Camry lost control of his car and swerved into the path of a Ford Explorer, according to a news release from the Warrington Township Police Department.

The 15-year-old was killed, as were his passengers, a 16-year-old boy and 18-year-old Aziz Umidovich Amonov of Feasterville/Trevose, the release says. A 14-year-old boy is in critical condition at a Philadelphia hospital, the release says. Police said Sunday the 14-year-old remains in intensive care following surgery Saturday.

The release says the 15-year-old was headed east on Bristol Road across from the former Fox Subacute care center. He swerved into the path of the Explorer around 9:30 p.m. in the 2600 block of Bristol Road, the release says.

The Explorer driver was not hurt, the release says.

Police declined to release the identities of the juveniles. The release says one was a Neshaminy High School senior. Another was a Neshaminy freshman. The school affiliations of the other two victims have not yet been confirmed, the release says.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, it says.

The Warrington Township Police Department extends its deepest sympathies to the families, friends, and school communities affected by this tragic event, the release says.
Voters in Union County went to the polls to vote in the gubernatorial primary in addition to county and local races NJ.com Staff

Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends. Here, they discuss the weeks political events in New Jersey with Star-Ledger editor Enrique Lavin.

Q: Early voting is surging in New Jersey, especially in swing districts where affordability is front and center. Are we seeing signs that economic messaging, rather than national party loyalty, is driving turnout? And which candidate seems to be benefiting from this the most? Republican Jack Ciattarelli or Democrat Mikie Sherrill?

Julie: Affordability is not just front and center in suburban districts. Talk to people in the cities and they will tell you that they are hurting too  and this is all before healthcare premiums skyrocket and food assistance is stripped from more than 800,000 New Jerseyans. The question is whether voters blame Trenton Democrats or Donald Trump.

Mike: Julie nails the question. The shape of the electorate does not look terribly different from a partisan standpoint from previous elections, yet, theres still time. Jack can win if theres a rebellion among unaffiliated voters and some Democrats about affordability. Julie hits the question. Are Democrats and independents sending a message to Trump or to Trenton?

Q: Our politics reporter Brent Johnson spoke with 18 insiders and experts about the governors race. Thirteen predict Sherrill will win, two call it for Ciattarelli, and three say its a toss-up. Even those leaning Sherrill stress turnout and unaffiliated voters as decisive factors. With margins ranging from Sherrill by 8 to Ciattarelli by 3  and some analysts admitting they wouldnt bet a cup of coffee on either, how do you interpret this? Is New Jersey headed for a clear Democratic win, or are we truly looking at a jump-ball election?

Julie: If youve read this column over the past eight years, you know that I have been out of the prediction business since I really blew it very publicly in 2016.

But even if I were to make a prediction, I would be pulling it out of thin air. Democrats have been returning their ballots in high numbers but it doesnt mean Republicans wont have a massive election day turnout. It also doesnt mean that all those ballots are for Sherrill, since Ciattarelli would naturally have to flip a good number of Democrats to pull this off, as Chris Christie did in 2009.

I can give you chapter and verse on how Ciattarelli could win by a few points, how Sherrill can win by a landslide or how Sherrill can eke it out. And anyone who tells you that they know what is going to happen, including any campaign insiders, are guessing, just like the rest of us.

Mike: Julie nails it again. It is very hard to tell. This is the time of the election cycle where we all analyze, and then overanalyze, every piece of data we can find  mostly polling and early vote numbers.

But we dont have access to the best data, which is what the campaigns have with their internal polling and data scientists who have modeled scores to predict the behavior of literally every single voter.

They know right now better than us what the electorate really looks like. They can predict if a particular Democrat in Gloucester is voting for Jack or if a specific Republican in eastern Morris is voting for Mikie.

Q: No matter who wins, what are the three most pressing issues our next governor should tackle? What would you like to see from New Jerseys new governor?

Julie: Well, for her or his political sake, the next governor will need to bring down the cost of living measurably to get re-elected  no easy feat when this president is doing everything humanly possible to make life more expensive for everyone who is not a billionaire.

I personally want to see the next governor stand up to Trump in a way this governor has not. We need someone like a JB Pritzker in Trenton, who articulates democratic (small d) values clearly and forcefully.

I want someone who treats New Jersey as a laboratory for democracy, who draws ideas from all corners, irrespective of where they come from, and who inspires New Jerseyans to believe in this states unique possibilities.

Someone who reaches across the aisle not just to cut deals but to change hearts and minds. Someone who leads a movement and not just a political organization.

New Jersey is an incredible state. We need a leader who makes us believe in it again.

Mike: Energy reliability and affordability. We have gotten off track with the current administration on energy, even though the goals were well-intentioned.

We need more supply, and we must understand renewables are not scaling like they were promised, so right now, we need more natural gas so we stop importing coal-generated electricity from West Virginia and Kentucky.

Q: What are you watching for in the New York mayoral race? Which candidate do you think would most benefit New Jersey: the leading candidate Zohran Mamdami, a Democratic Socialist; independent Democrat and former governor Andrew Cuomo; or tough-on-crime Republican Curtis Sliwa?

Julie: There are no good options. As governor, Cuomo bullied New Jersey relentlessly  and successfully. Mamdani, inspirational though he is, will quickly find out that promising things that only the state legislature can deliver will not bode well for his campaign promises and if he fights with the legislature too much, it will mean less money for the city, which will harm New Jersey commuters. And the less said about Sliwa, the better.

Mike: New York is an economic and social engine that dramatically impacts New Jersey.

When Rudy cleaned up crime, it made more people want to live in Jersey City and Hoboken. When New Jersey had lower taxes than New York in the 80s and 90s, businesses moved across the Hudson to suburban office parks.

If New York loses its way on public safety, its bad for New Jersey. If New York raises its taxes too much to pay for all the socialist programs promised, maybe New Jersey can benefit by luring a few businesses here.

Q: Outside of New Jersey and New York, what other races are on your radar nationally  and why? Are there contests that could signal broader trends for 2026 or even the presidential race in 2028?

Julie: I am looking at the margins in the Virginia governors race. If Abigail Spanberger wins in a blowout, that will bode well for Democrats in 2026. The same goes for Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey, by the way. And I am paying enormous attention to the California ballot measure because it would mean that Democrats have a better shot of picking up the House if it passes.

Mike: All of the above. I am curious how many ticket-splitters are in Virginia, meaning someone who votes Democratic for governor but Republican for LG or attorney general. That numbers has been dropping dramatically in Virginia  from about 40,000 20 years ago to 17,000 just 16 years later. Voters are becoming more polarized and less likely to give any credence to the other party. We will see if that changes this year.

Political consultants Julie Roginsky and Mike DuHaime Photo by Stephanie Cowan

Editors note: Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we prove it every week with this Friendly Fire conversation.
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By Olesya Astakhova, Ahmad Ghaddar, Alex Lawler and Maha El Dahan

LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) -OPEC+ on Sunday agreed a small oil output increase for December and a pause in increases in the first quarter of next year as the producers' group moderates plans to regain market share due to rising fears of a supply glut.

OPEC+ has raised output targets by around 2.9 million barrels per day - or around 2.7% of global supply - since April, but slowed the pace from October amid predictions of a looming oversupply.

New Western sanctions on OPEC+ member Russia are adding to challenges in the strategy, as Moscow may struggle to further raise output after the U.S. and Britain imposed new measures on top producers Rosneft and Lukoil.

On Sunday, the eight OPEC+ members taking part in the group's monthly meeting - Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Kazakhstan and Algeria - agreed to increase December output targets by 137,000 barrels per day, the same as for October and November.

"Beyond December, due to seasonality, the eight countries also decided to pause the production increments in January, February, and March 2026," the group said in a statement.

Oil prices fell to a five-month low of about $60 a barrel on October 20 on concerns that a glut was building, but have since recovered to about $65 a barrel on Russian sanctions and optimism over U.S. talks with trade partners.

"OPEC+ is blinking  but it's a calculated blink," said Jorge Leon from Rystad. "Sanctions on Russian producers have injected a new layer of uncertainty into supply forecasts, and the group knows that overproducing now could backfire later."

"By pausing, OPEC+ is protecting prices, projecting unity, and buying time to see how sanctions play out on Russian barrels," Leon said.

January to March is the weakest quarter for oil demand and supply balances, and by pausing OPEC+ is showing it is proactively managing the market, said Amrita Sen from Energy Aspects.

Giovanni Staunovo from UBS said oil prices were unlikely to move much when trading opens on Monday, as the modest December production increase had been widely anticipated.

OPEC+ had been reducing output for several years until April and cuts had peaked in March, amounting to 5.85 million bpd in total.

The reductions were made up of three elements: voluntary cuts of 2.2 million bpd, 1.65 million bpd by eight members and a further 2 million bpd by the whole group.

The group has been unwinding voluntary cuts, while the last element of the cuts for the whole group is meant to stay in place until the end of 2026. Eight OPEC+ members will meet again on November 30, the same day as a full OPEC+ meeting.

(Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Jan Harvey)
A young Tullamore man pleaded guilty to the possession of drugs for sale or supply, during last week's sitting of the District Court.

Twenty-two year old Ben Connolly from 29 Connolly Park, Tullamore committed the offence on February 22 last when the Gardai searched his home and found the drugs on the premises. He had no previous convictions.

The defending solicitor Aisling Maloney told the court that Mr Connolly was a young man who had been struggling with his mental health at the time of the offence.

He was also financially strapped at the time, she remarked. He is very embarrassed to be here today in court and he also has the full support of his family. This has been a wake-up call for him.

She added that he is in full-time employment.

Judge Andrew Cody remanded the defendant on continuing bail under his own bond of 100 to March 25 next.

He also ordered that Connolly return regular clear urine samples, on a monthly basis, until the March 25 court sitting.

The defendant had a substantial amount of drugs in his possession for sale or supply, the Judge remarked, and if he comes to the Guards' attention between now and March 25 then he will be going to prison.

READ NEXT: Court hears Offaly man who was going to the shop was passenger in stolen car 
RTE star Laura Fox celebrated her hen party in Las Vegas over recent days, and judging by her posts, made sure it was one to remember.

The Ireland's Fittest Family host jetted off to Sin City with her closest friends and family for a few days of sunshine, champagne, and chaos before saying "I do" to fiance Brian Moran next year.

Posting a string of snaps from the trip, Laura kicked off the celebrations with an Instagram post titled "Happy Hen", telling followers "Thank you for listening to me talk about this since January. Let's go Vegas baby."

USE THE ARROWS OR 'NEXT' TO BROWSE THROUGH THE FULL GALLERY

The RTE 2FM presenter looked every inch the bride-to-be as she posed in a series of white outfits, from a tasselled mini dress to a chic bodycon number, as the group hit the casinos, tried their hand at karaoke, and even attempted some line dancing.

Sharing updates from the trip, Laura joked: "Cluck cluck. I woke up with chips in my bag, yaaaay," and later added, "Turns out we're really bad at line dancing and even worse at karaoke but by jove we'll give it socks."

USE THE ARROWS OR 'NEXT' TO BROWSE THROUGH THE FULL GALLERY

The celebrations wrapped up this weekend as Laura shared a final update after touching down back in Ireland: "We're home. Vegas was everything I ever thought it would be, and then some. Didn't win a penny on the slots but I hit the jackpot with my frens and family, truly so lucky I can't cope."

The RTE star, who got engaged to Brian last summer, is expected to tie the knot in Italy next year.

READ MORE | Morning chaos on Ireland AM as viewers in bits after presenter's hilarious live blunder
(Reuters) -Pfizer has received early U.S. antitrust clearance more than a week early for its proposed $7.3 billion Metsera acquisition, which has been called into question by Novo Nordisk's higher $8.5 billion offer.

Metsera has declared Novo's offer superior, and given Pfizer until Tuesday to raise its bid.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the waiting period required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, which governs antitrust reviews. The waiting period was originally set to expire on November 7, Pfizer said on Friday.

The clearance means Pfizer could move ahead with its proposed purchase of Metsera without further antitrust review from U.S. regulators. Metsera shareholders are currently due to vote on the deal on November 13.

Pfizer said Danish drugmaker Novo was a company with a dominant market position trying to suppress competition in violation of law by taking over an emerging American challenger in the fast-growing obesity drug market. Pfizer called the bid "reckless" and said it was structured to bypass regulatory scrutiny.

Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy and Ozempic, offered up to $8.5 billion for Metsera, including $6 billion upfront.

Pfizer's deal for Metsera is part of its push to enter the $150 billion obesity drug market, as it looks to offset falling COVID-19-related revenues and looming patent expirations. The company has faced setbacks in developing its own weight-loss treatments and does not sell one.

(Reporting by Kamal Choudhury, Christy Santhosh and Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
The Indian Coast Guard evacuated a Ukrainian crew member from a Malta-flagged oil tanker following a medical emergency off the coast of Kochi on Sunday.

The man, identified as Milishchuk Roman (58) was suffering from acute periumbilical pain while the vessel, MT Minerva Vera, was en route to Fujairah in UAE. The Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) in Kochi received a distress call around 1.42 am.

Upon receiving the alert, MRSC swiftly coordinated the evacuation. A medical assistant from an ICG ship assessed the patients condition, administered first aid and necessary injections before evacuation.

He was then transferred using Tug Ocean Elite, operated by the Cochin Port Trust, with the Coast Guard medical assistant onboard. The tug reached Kochi Port at 1.10 pm, where the patient was shifted to Lourdes Hospital for further treatment.


Seal of Virginia: Goddess of Virtue vanquishes Tyranny

(Image by Commonwealth of Virginia) Details DMCA



The Commonwealth of Virginia, my adopted home, has been reddish lately, but is getting bluer by the moment. The state flag features a Goddess of Virtue who has just vanquished Tyranny, a king who lies lifeless at her feet, his crown asunder.

As the first, largest, and most prosperous of the British colonies in America, Virginia is often called the Mother of Presidents. She provided four of the first five presidents of the United States and eight in all, more than any other state. They include: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson. All of them CIS white men. But things are changing.

In a 180 shift from the political candidates I saw during my childhood, the upcoming nominees in Virginia for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general include: two immigrants, a gay MAGA Republican, two females, a Muslim, and two Black candidates. Not a single regular white guy in the bunch. That's progress.

Governor

The candidates for governor are both women, so Virginia is guaranteed to have her first female governor. Our current governor is MAGA Republican Glenn Youngkin, whose day-one executive orders in 2022 canceled school mask mandates during Covid and banned the teaching of critical race theory. He repealed protections for transgender students in schools, and Washington Monthly noted that in addition to doxing a 17-year-old, he established a snitch tip line for citizen's reports and observations of "divisive" practices in the classroom. And he unleashed savage Trump-style Twitter attacks on perceived enemies of his agenda.

Virginia governors can only serve one four-year term, but either way, Virginia seems ready to move on. Youngkin's MAGA associations seem to have bolstered the Democrat running for his seat, ex-CIA officer Abigail Spanberger and member of the US House from 2019-2025. The Washingtonian states that "Steve Bannon once called Spanberger's congressional district an absolute bellwether of the entire country, and three times, she carried it with steadiness, moderation, and normalcy.



Rep. Abigail Spanberger - 118th Congress

(Image by Abigail Spanberger) Details DMCA



This is the only election this year where a Governor's office could flip from red to blue.

Spanberger amassed what the New York Times called a fundraising advantage unseen in modern Virginia politics. She is currently on an 11-day bus tour until Election Day. On Saturday November 1, Barack Obama campaigned with her in Norfolk, VA. Earlier in the week, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), who is considered a rising star in the Democratic Party, campaigned with her in Alexandria, VA, at a Latinos for Spanberger event. Iconic Latina labor leader Dolores Huerta, 95, sat in the front row, and later encouraged the packed crowd to vote for Spanberger.

The Washington Examiner reported that Gallego, the first Latino Senator from Arizona, "said, 'Thank you, Abigail, for reaching out to Latino community because this is a tough time. We feel attacked'...in his remarks (he) championed Spanberger's support for affordable housing, education, and small businesses key issues that Democrats are hoping will help the party rebuild after a disastrous 2024 election cycle."

Other prominent Democrats who have or will be campaigning with Spanberger, include Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

The Washingtonian stated , "In an era of bombast and spectacle, Virginia's Democratic nominee for governor doesn't go viral, doesn't do stunts, and promises competence instead of chaos. So far, it's working for her. Spanberger is running as a moderate, a professional, a no-nonsense counterweight to the chaos in Washington and the dysfunction of the Virginia GOP," also noting that Latino voters are "one of the fast-growing voting blocs in the nation and are key to whoever the next governor of Virginia."

Dr. Stephen J. Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Mary Washington, noted, "If there are problems with performance on the other side, then competence can be your brand."

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(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
Not since 2009 have animal researchers been so scared.

2009 was the year 24-year-old Annie Marie Thu Le was murdered in a high security Yale animal research facility. Until Raymond John Clark III was charged with a sex-related crime in her death, animal rights activists were suspected and researchers were terrified.

Yesterday, another elite college performing animal experiments was put on red alert: there was an intentional explosion at a Harvard University medical building housing animals destined for research and police are investigating.

Few people know what happens in animal research labs: where "purpose-bred" animal subjects come from and how they are delivered and disposed of, what experiments seek to elucidate, the expensive maze of government/university/pharma/Big Chem funding arrangements (yes, our tax dollars) and it is no coincidence.

Millions are spent to prevent such facts getting out and technicians are sworn to secrecy.

In 2009, the University of Iowa was cleared to construct an $11.2 million, 35,000 square foot subterranean vivarium that will house experimental animals to be used in biomedical research and offer an extra measure of protection from animal rights extremists, reported The Scientist.

Lab animals are the actual currency of government grants to medical centers and universities--academic pork. At a medical center where I worked, researchers felt they had not made it until they were given primates instead of lowly cats or rodents.

Former NIH Director Francis Collins, described himself as a serious Christian and addressed racism and sexism in science but presided over sending billions of primates, sheep, pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits and of course rodents to their death.

Animal Research at the Highest Government Levels

Thomas R. Insel directed the Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center at Emory University, one of the worlds largest centers for primate research, before becoming director of the NIHs National Institute of Mental Health a position he no longer occupies.

In one Insel experiment, newborn monkeys were removed from their mothers within 48 h of birth, and subjected to stressors without being able to use a social companion to buffer their response to a stressor. What was learned? As expected from previous studies, monkeys removed from their mother shortly after birth and raised in standard nursery conditions develop a syndrome characterized by decreased affiliation, increased aggression, and increased self-directed, repetitive behavior.

In another Insel experiment on voles, an animal was placed in the start box with 2-8 days old pups. Parental behavior was recorded as time spent with pups, either nursing, grooming or crouching during a 5-min period. Females were decapitated the same day.

Similar banal, cruel and taxpayer-funded research has been conducted by Nora Volkow, director of the NIHs National Institute on Drug Abuse who is still, shockingly, in office.

One research paper co-written by Volkow shows a bloody pregnant bonnet macaque in transverse position within HR+ PET scanner . . . positioned so that maternal and fetal organs were within same field of view. The paper concludes that when female primates are dosed with cocaine, fetuses are affected too. Does anyone not know this?

Volkow, in shameless conflicts of interest, partners with Big Pharma and is also clueless about the very charter of her agency! Despite free and drug-free anonymous Twelve Step treatments for addiction (which her agency still calls "abuse"--hello!) she seeks drug treatments. In fact, drug "rehab" has been so monetized by Big Pharma, instead of alcohol or cocaine addictions, patients will now be on Pharma "addiction" drugs for life. Yes, they have changed rooms on the Titanic. Ka-ching.

Defending Dollars Against Public Judgement

There is probably no industry more afraid of transparency than animal research. Ever since Alex Pacheco exposed treatment of the Silver Spring monkeys in 1981, animal researchers have been reduced to uttering its not how it looks or let us explain when unwanted images surface.

The animal research industry has instituted underground vivariums, electronic surveillance, code cards, high tech security and the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act to keep us from judging experiments like those of Insel and Volkow that we fund. In addition to enriching Pharma with US tax dollars, animal research also enriches Big Chem, personal care and even cosmetic product producers.

Millions of restrained, conscious animals--usually albino rabbits but sometimes dogs--are subjected to the Draize Test which involves applying test substances to the eye or skin and observing for redness, swelling, discharge, ulceration, hemorrhaging, cloudiness, or blindness in the tested eye. Yet when product liability cases actually come to court, these tests are thrown out because animal results cannot be extrapolated to humans, so the suffering is not even necessary.

Have animal advocates invaded the Ivy walls of Harvard animal research? Many, besides the animals that is, are scared.

addendum This week's escape of monkeys was the second or perhaps THIRD time that animals experimented upon by Tulane have escaped.

click here

(Article changed on Nov 02, 2025 at 3:54 PM EST)
If you're reading this, you likely know that the crypto world is buzzing, and with good reason. The Blazpay presale is on fire, extended by 
This is Oregon Insight, a weekly look at the numbers behind the state economy from The Oregonian/OregonLive. Oregonian file photo

Oregons jobless rate hit 5.0% in August, the highest point since the pandemic. But no one knows whats happened since then.

The federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1 halted the collection and reporting of state-by-state employment data. The data blackout will persist until Congress authorizes funding to resume tracking jobs data.

The federal and state governments are still collecting some different numbers, however, and the signs arent encouraging for Oregons labor market.

Newly filed unemployment claims are up 7.8% so far this year, at their highest point since 2021. Through mid-October, the state has received nearly 190,000 new jobless claims. Thats 14,000 more than it received during the same time last year.

The rise in initial claims has accelerated over the course of the year. Since June, the number of new filings is 20% higher than in the same period of 2024.

The number of people claiming unemployment isnt the same as the number who are unemployed. They measure different things because the government classifies some people as unemployed even if they dont qualify for benefits. But an increase in the number of people filing for unemployment generally corresponds to a rise in the unemployment rate.

The recent rise in jobless claims also coincides with a big increase in Oregon layoffs.

Intel, for example, laid off 2,400 Oregon workers in July. It promised to continue paying them for weeks or months, depending on how long they had worked for the company. So some of those former workers may be filing their initial benefits claims now.

Additionally, Wells Fargo has laid off several hundred Oregon workers in a series of cuts that began last December. Fred Meyer, Albertsons and UPS have all cut significant numbers of local jobs. And theres been a spike in filings from federal workers furloughed by the government shutdown  100 new claims in the week ending Oct. 18.

It also seems that unemployed workers are taking longer to find new jobs.

The Oregon Employment Department has fielded 1.4 million continued claims for unemployment benefits through mid-October. Workers file a continued claim for each week they are unemployed beyond their initial claim.

These continued claims are up 20% from a year ago, more evidence that Oregons job market is deteriorating.

To me, that could be an indicatorthat it could be more difficult for some unemployed workers to match up to their next job opportunity as quickly or easily, said Gail Krumenauer, economist with the Oregon Employment Department.
Reece Richeson, 26. Richeson died in Clackamas County Jail custody this month. Sapastian Year, 23, is accused of murder in connection with Richeson's death. Courtesy of Cait Chock

The beating death of a man at the Clackamas County Jail should prompt the sheriff to tap an outside entity to independently review the circumstances leading to the fatality, three leading scholars on incarceration law and policy said.

Reece Richeson, 26, died Oct. 21 at OHSU Hospital after a jailhouse beating Oct. 18. His cellmate, Sapastian Year, 23, has been accused of first-degree murder.

Richeson, who was raised in Portland, was remembered by a friend in recent days as an occasional comedian who mined his mental health and substance use for humor.

The Clackamas County Sheriffs Office has so far declined to provide details of the specific circumstances that led to Richesons death, including how long it took jailers to respond after the assault began and why they placed Richeson in a cell with a man who had days earlier allegedly pummeled another man who was asleep.

The Sheriffs Office also didnt publicly disclose Richesons death for six days, and at least two Clackamas County commissioners have pressed for details about what happened.

Im deeply concerned, and we want to know more as quickly as possible, Commissioner Ben West said.

The board should be vigilant in getting the answers that are needed to make sure that people are safe in custody, that were being sensitive to the needs of the family, and that were being transparent to the public, he added.

A spokesperson for Clackamas County Sheriff Angela Brandenburg did not directly respond to a question about whether the sheriff would support an outside review, saying only that the agency will conduct its own standard review of policies and procedures.

To be sure, there is no requirement for an outside review and agencies vary on how they respond to in-custody deaths, with some seeking independent examinations and others keeping investigations in-house. But many experts say all deaths of people in jail should trigger separate outside reviews.

There should just be someone other than the people that may be responsible for this death looking into it, said Michele Deitch, director of the Prison and Jail Innovation Lab at the University of Texas Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.

Its not that an agency is incapable of investigating a death in custody, she said, but bringing in an outsider engenders credibility in the quality of the investigation and ensures objectivity.

It leads to just a more trustworthy investigation for the public, she said. The public isnt going to trust an investigation where the agency is, like, Theres nothing to see here, folks.

Pretty disturbed by it

Clackamas County deputies seemingly had reason to keep an eye on Year when they placed him in a cell with Richeson on Oct. 10: one day earlier, authorities allege, Year had attacked a different cellmate.

The newsroom interviewed that cellmate, William Maupin, 30, who described his attacker as someone hearing voices or something.

The sheriffs office has said only that Year and Richeson were moved into the same disciplinary unit because of unspecified misconduct.

The attack on Richeson came about a week later. Another man in custody told his lawyer that the fatal assault of Richeson allegedly dragged on without quick intervention from jailers, leaving others on the unit shaken.

Authorities have said they discovered an assault taking place and found Richeson unconscious and unresponsive.

Years attorney has declined to comment.

Clackamas County Commissioner Paul Savas said he and his colleagues have not yet been briefed on what happened.

I have way more questions, and I am just very disappointed that the Board of County Commissioners was not notified of this, Savas said of the death.

Commissioner Martha Schrader said the death warrants a review, but whether its independent or internal, thats a conversation were going to have to have with our sheriff.

Im pretty disturbed by it, Schrader said. If people are incarcerated for whatever reason, you want to make sure that theyre safe.

She said the sheriff is responsible for the jail, but as Ive always said, the buck stops with the commission.

Commissioner Diana Helm declined to comment.

Through a spokesperson, County Chair Craig Roberts declined to respond to a question about whether the sheriff should bring in outside investigators to review the circumstances that led to Richesons killing.

Roberts retired as sheriff in 2020. Brandenburg previously served as one of Roberts top managers.

A conflict of interest

Several outside experts said an outside review of Richesons death is warranted.

Andrea Armstrong, a professor of law at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, said in an email that an outside entity could be an independent expert, law enforcement agency or even the state attorney general, so long as the investigation is not conducted by the same entity that is operating the facility where the death occurred.

The focus of such investigations varies but in general should look at factors that directly contributed to the death, said Armstrong, a 2023 MacArthur Fellow who runs a public database that tracks in-custody deaths in South Carolina and Louisiana.

An outside review, she said, assures that the family of the person who died and the public will receive a fair and objective accounting of what happened.

Locally, the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office typically conducts its own investigations of in-custody deaths. But two years ago, the sheriff sought two independent investigations into the jail system after a string of fatalities. The sheriff asked the Oregon State Police and the National Institute of Corrections to review the cases.

A spokesperson for the Marion County Sheriffs Office said it requests an outside law enforcement agency to investigate  and news releases from recent years show thats often been the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office.

As you can imagine, when police are reviewing themselves, theres a conflict of interest, said Terence Keel, a professor in the Department of African American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles and author of The Coroners Silence: Death Records and the Hidden Victims of Police Violence.

He questioned if Richesons death, after it is investigated, could eventually be considered a case of institutional homicide.

What I mean by that is, if law enforcement knowingly and willingly put someone in a cell with another individual who has a known, documented history of inflicting violence, the sheriffs deputies who placed (Richeson) in a vulnerable position should be held accountable for doing that, Keel said.

Former prosecutor Michael Gennaco, a national consultant to police departments on officer accountability, didnt say an outside review was necessary. But he said one might be helpful to provide some credibility into how this all went down and identify any issues that should be looked at on a forward-going basis to keep the inmates that they have there safe.

Gennaco said jail staff should absolutely have considered past behavior when deciding where to place the man accused in Clackamas County.

It strikes me as unusual that he wasnt put in a one-person cell for a period of time, Gennaco said. Hes already got a track record

of abusing a fellow cellmate.

Gennaco was hired in 2017 by the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners to review the sheriffs office after a scandal involving a detective who ignored criminal complaints, including sex offenses and crimes against children.

The review offered a stinging analysis of the sheriffs offices history of responding to problems involving its deputies. It concluded that the agency brushed off the sergeant who blew the whistle on the detective and had rejected a suggestion that an outside agency examine the role of supervisors in failing to respond to the detectives substandard work.

Gennacos group also found that agency leaders had refused to take responsibility for mishandling the whistleblower complaint.

A special kind of person

Before his death, Richeson formed a bond with local comedian Cait Chock, 39, of Portland.

Chock said she met Richeson a year ago after he got into her car on a Lyft ride. She said they hit it off immediately and she encouraged him to try comedy. She asked him to take part in two comedy shows she organized last year at McMenamins Als Den in downtown Portland.

He did, she said, and excelled.

Richeson told jokes about his own mental health and addiction history, problems he spoke about openly. The two shared a connection over those struggles and were able to understand each other, she said.

Thats something I truly admired about him, just being an open book, she said. It takes a special kind of person to own that and then be able to turn it into laughter and connect with people.

She said Richeson grew up in Portland and worked as a server and host at restaurants, including Taste Tickler in Northeast Portland.

He always seemed to bump into someone he knew when he walked around downtown, she said.

He would just give them a fist bump, she said. He just made people feel so seen.

But Richeson struggled this year, she said.

Court records show he faced multiple allegations related to theft and drug possession dating to April. He landed back in jail this month on charges that included methamphetamine possession, harassment and theft.

But he knew there were people behind him, and I believe if he was alive, he would have pulled out of it, she said.

He didnt even get the chance.
Police are investigating a shooting in the Pearl District around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. A man and a woman reported being shot; their injuries are not expected to be life threatening. Getty Images

Two people were shot in the Pearl District around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Portland police said.

Officers found a woman with a gunshot wound in her leg near Northwest 9th Avenue and Northwest Couch Street, according to a news release. They then learned a man, shot near the same location, had arrived at a local hospital.

Neither victim had life-threatening injuries, police said.

Portland police did not immediately arrest anyone and think the suspects fled the scene.

Officers think several people witnessed the shooting and theyre asking anyone with information about the case to email crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov attn: ECST and reference case number 25-300799.
Daisy, a 6-year-old black lab, died last year after her owner's neighbor Tyson Kay shot her. A judge last week sentenced Kay to 18 months in prison. Courtesy of the Lincoln County District Attorney's Office

A Newport man will serve prison time for killing his neighbors 6-year-old black lab, a Lincoln County Circuit Court judge ordered Friday.

Tyson Kay, 47, was arrested on July 5, 2024, after his neighbor told police he shot her dog, Daisy. A probable cause document says Kay told police that Daisy had been coming onto his property, eating food and damaging things. He told police he shot her in the back with a less lethal round.

But prosecutors alleged that Kay shot Daisy with birdshot. Daisys owners found her injured, wet and panting heavily, the Lincoln County District Attorneys Office said in a news release.

Kay argued at trial that he was trying to protect baby chicks living on his property, according to the DA. Prosecutors alleged that contradicted what he told police. A probable cause document says Kay told police at the time that he shot the dog after he heard her going through his trash.

Police documents say Daisy had a collapsed lung and had to be euthanized.

A jury last month found Kay guilty of two counts of animal abuse. Judge Amanda Benjamin sentenced Kay to 18 months in prison and 24 months of additional supervision, the news release said.
We closed a significant number of new deals in the quarter and reached a record number of underwriting applications. One of these deals was an enhancement of our strategic underwriting program with a digital solution that enabled us to partner exclusively with a key client that has a strong brand and a large distribution footprint. These initiatives differentiate RGA and represent an increasing portion of our U.S. business. This is yet another example of what RGA has done for over fifty years and continues to do its best, which is to be innovative and the leader in underwriting. Also, as indicated, the Equitable transaction closed in the quarter, and we recorded a full quarter of earnings in this period.

We will continue to balance investing our excess capital into the business and returning it to shareholders in a manner that allows us to execute our strategy and meet our financial targets over time. Finally, we continue to make progress on other strategic initiatives, including the utilization of Ruby Re and the successful execution of in-force management actions. All of these position us for continued long-term success. Let me now provide a few more details on the quarter, including highlights from across our regions, starting with North America. We continue to exceed our new business targets for the traditional business, driven by our strong underwriting capabilities.

Our diversified global platform continues to deliver significant long-term value. Secondly, we are seeing a positive contribution from the Equitable transaction which closed this quarter. Thirdly, new business momentum remains strong. As evidenced by our premium growth and capital deployment into in-force transactions, we are seeing good year-to-date contributions from across our geographies. Our competitive advantages continue to differentiate RGA, leading to good new business results, a robust pipeline, and the ability to be selective on the opportunities we pursue. Next, during the quarter, we repurchased $75 million of common shares.

Tony Cheng: Throughout the call, we will be referencing slides from the earnings presentation, which again is posted on our website. And now I'll turn the call over to Tony for his comments. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us. I am delighted to share we have had a very strong third quarter, as demonstrated by the continued successful execution of our strategy as well as the record financial performance we delivered. Let me open with a few key highlights. Firstly, we reported record operating EPS excluding notable items of $6.37 per share. These results were strong and above expectations. We had excellent performance overall with particularly good results in Asia Traditional and EMEA and U.S. Financial Solutions.

Story Continues

Results were in line with our expectations. The asset portfolio repositioning is progressing as planned, and our previous guidance on the expected future earnings remains unchanged. Along with the financial gains, the partnership is yielding strategic benefits through increased underwriting services, product development, asset management, and participation in our Ruby Re sidecar. The depth and breadth of this partnership is one example of the win-win opportunities for the benefit of both RGA and our clients. Moving to Asia Pacific, the region continues to perform very well. Traditional results were particularly strong this quarter, continuing its trend of excellent growth and bottom-line results.

We continue to delight our clients by staying at the forefront of innovation and helping them navigate evolving strategic needs. Our strategy in Hong Kong is to deliver holistic solutions, combining product development, capital solutions, and technology-enabled underwriting capabilities. We recently won the prestigious Hong Kong Federation of Insurers Outstanding Reinsurance Scheme Award, recognizing one of these holistic solutions. We expect this to lead to repeat transactions of this nature in Hong Kong. In addition, we've been able to leverage these strengths across the region. This was best demonstrated in Mainland China, where recent regulatory changes allow participating critical illness products like the ones in Hong Kong to be sold.

RGA co-developed a first-of-its-kind critical illness combination product, and early sales performance has been strong. In Korea, RGA remains the market leader in product innovation. Building on the success of last year's cancer treatment product, which launched with 19 clients, we introduced the second-generation version of this product, and our clients have already sold over 1,000,000 policies, demonstrating the strong market demand. Finally, in the EMEA region, RGA remains a clear market leader, and Q3 results reflect that. We successfully closed multiple transactions across the region and across a range of product lines. The strong client satisfaction from RGA executing on our promise will lead to repeat opportunities. In addition, we closed a market-first transaction in Switzerland.

This follows our success in Belgium last year in a similar market first and shows Continental Europe is opening up to asset-intensive reinsurance. I firmly believe we are best positioned in this market, and our innovation will continue to drive growth in the region. Reflecting on the activity from across the globe, I am very pleased with our traditional business results. Traditional business premiums are up 8.5% year-to-date on a constant currency basis with good growth across regions, and we can rely on this business year in, year out, giving us a strong foundation for continued earnings growth. Now with regards to transactions, we have deployed $2.4 billion of capital year-to-date.

This comprised of $1.5 billion into the Equitable transaction and $900 million of capital into over 20 other transactions spread around the globe. These are high-quality transactions that don't always make headlines due to their more modest size but are equally important as they form a regular base of business that we can also rely on year in, year out. They leverage our long-standing client relationships, our strength in biometric risk, and often our repeat transactions that are well within our sweet spot. As you can see from these examples, the new business success in all three regions is the result of our now well-entrenched creationary business approach.

This approach proactively provides holistic and innovative solutions leveraging our competitive advantages and often leads to exclusive and repeat business. Over the past two years, this approach has driven expected lifetime returns of all new business across the company above our target range. Looking forward, our new business pipeline is strong across all three regions, and we will continue to select the best opportunities based on our expected returns, risk appetite, and other strategic considerations. Another highlight is that the value of in-force business margins increased by 16% over the past three quarters.

This is a measure of our efforts to create long-term value through new business and other management actions and indicates our success in building a sustainable and successful future. Finally, it is very gratifying that we can provide an attractive combination of organic growth and are in a strong capital position that enables us to fulfill our healthy pipeline and return a meaningful amount of capital to shareholders. So to sum up, we have had an excellent third quarter with many highlights. We are well-positioned in the right markets with the right teams executing with the right strategies and have full confidence that the best is yet to come.

I will now turn it over to our CFO, Axel Andre, to discuss the financial results in more detail.

Axel Andre: Thanks, Tony. RGA reported pretax adjusted operating income excluding notable items of $534 million for the quarter or $6.37 per share after tax. For the trailing twelve months, adjusted operating return on equity, excluding notable items, was 14.2%. Results were strong this quarter and above expectations. Momentum across our business remains good, and we saw notable strength in Asia Traditional and EMEA and U.S. Financial Solutions. As Tony mentioned earlier, we closed the Equitable transaction and recognized a full quarter of income. Results for the block continue to be in line with expectations. As a reminder, this block is expected to have highly diversified sources of earnings, split roughly between fee income, underwriting margin, and investment spread.

This is one of the reasons the transaction was so attractive to us. Given the diversified sources of earnings, this is immediate earnings impact as well as incremental ramp-up as some of the assets are repositioned. Portfolio repositioning is on track and was approximately 75% complete at the end of the quarter. The remainder will occur over the next six to nine months. During the quarter, we deployed $233 million of capital into in-force transactions, in addition to the previously announced $1.5 billion into the Equitable transaction. Also completed $75 million of share repurchases, at an average price of $184.58.

Our capital position remains strong, and we ended the quarter with estimated excess capital of $2.3 billion and estimated deployable capital of $3.4 billion. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 19.6% on adjusted operating income before taxes, below the expected range of 23% to 24% primarily due to the jurisdictional mix of earnings. Still expect a tax rate of 23% to 24% for the full year. Our traditional business premium growth was 8.5% year-to-date on a constant currency basis, which has benefited from strong growth in the U.S., EMEA, and APAC. Premiums are a good indicator of the ongoing vitality of our traditional business, we continue to have strong momentum across our regions.

Turning to biometric claims experience, as outlined on Slide nine of our earnings presentation. Economic claims experience was favorable by $5 million in the quarter, primarily driven by APAC and Canada, partially offset by the U.S. Traditional segment. The corresponding current period financial impact was unfavorable by $50 million. Claims experience in U.S. Individual Life and Group was modestly unfavorable. As discussed last quarter, our expectation was that the group business overall will be approximately breakeven for the second half of the year, and that remains true. Over the longer term, economic claims experience for the total company has been favorable by $277 million since 2023, when we more fully emerged from COVID.

As a reminder, the favorable economic experience that has not been recognized through the accounting results will be recognized over the remaining life of the business. I'll now make a few comments on the notable items reported in the period, which relates to the results of our annual actuarial assumptions review. The overall economic impact of the assumptions update is positive from a long-term value perspective and future run rates. As presented on slide seven, the impact is split into two components, a negative $149 million current period impact due to LDTI cohorting, and a positive $600 million impact to long-term value. Said another way, if LDCI did not exist, the total impact is a benefit of $450 million.

These updates will increase annual run rates by $15 million, gradually increasing to $25 million annually by 2040. Moving to the quarterly segment results on Slide six. The U.S. and Latin America Traditional results reflected modestly unfavorable claims experience, partially offset by the favorable impact from in-force management actions. In our group business, as mentioned, results were approximately breakeven and in line with our updated 2025 expectations, and the block will be fully repriced by January 2026. The U.S. Financial Solutions results reflected the contribution from the Equitable transaction, partially offset by lower variable investment income. The results from the Equitable Block were in line with expectations.

For the full year, we still expect this transaction to contribute around $70 million of pretax income, increasing to $161 million to $170 million in 2026, and approximately $200 million per year by 2027. Canada Traditional results reflected unfavorable group experience partially offset by favorable Individual Life claims experience. The Financial Solutions results in Canada were in line with expectations. In the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, the traditional results reflected favorable underwriting margins, EMEA's Financial Solutions results reflected favorable longevity experience and continued growth in the segment. This segment continues to be a bright spot for us. Turning to our Asia Pacific region. Traditional had another good quarter, reflecting favorable claims experience, and the benefit of ongoing growth.

This segment continues to perform at a high level. A reflection of our excellent competitive position and our execution of value-added solutions to clients. Financial Solutions results were in line with expectations with a modest unfavorable impact from lower variable investment income. Finally, the Corporate and Other segment reported an adjusted operating loss before tax of $58 million, unfavorable compared to the expected quarterly average run rate. This was primarily due to lower variable investment income and higher general expenses. Moving to investments on slides 10 through 13. The non-spread book yield, excluding variable investment income, was slightly lower than Q2, primarily due to higher levels of cash for part of the quarter.

The new money rate remains well above the portfolio yield, providing a tailwind to our overall book yield. Total variable investment income was below expectations by around $40 million, primarily due to lower real estate joint venture activity. Overall, our portfolio quality remains high. And credit impairments are better than expectations for the year. Notably, we have zero direct exposure to the recent auto sector bankruptcy. Turning now to capital. Our excess capital ended the quarter at an estimated $2.3 billion and our deployable capital was an estimated $3.4 billion. It's important to note that we manage capital through multiple frameworks, including our internal economic capital, regulatory capital, and rating agency capital.

From a regulatory lens, we maintain ample levels of regulatory capital in the jurisdictions where we operate. Also, our strong ratings are important to our counterparty strength. Thus, we manage our rating agency capital to support these ratings. On a holistic basis, considering all capital frameworks, we are well-capitalized. In the quarter, we successfully retroceded a mid-sized block of U.S. PRT business to Ruby Re. And we are actively working on additional retro sessions. We still expect the vehicle to be fully deployed by 2026. Looking ahead, we will balance capital deployment into the business with returning capital to shareholders through quarterly dividends and share repurchases. Our intention remains to be opportunistic with share repurchases quarter by quarter.

Depending on our capital position, a forward view of our transaction pipeline, and valuation metrics. Over the longer term, we expect total shareholder return of capital through dividends and share repurchases to range between 20% to 30% of after-tax operating earnings on average, consistent with our long history. During the quarter, we continued our long track record of increasing book value per share. As shown on slide 17, our book value per share excluding AOCI and impacts from B36 embedded derivatives increased to $159.83, which represents a compounded annual growth rate of 9.7% since the beginning of 2021.

Moving to Slide 18, we provided an update on the value of in-force business margins which significantly increased since the end of 2024. Reflecting the very strong new business momentum. Overall, we believe this is an additional lens through which to assess the long-term earnings power of our business that will emerge over time and we are pleased with the results. All in all, this was a great quarter with strong operating results. In addition, we continue to advance many strategic objectives. Our long-term strategy remains well on track. And we are confident in our ability to deliver on our intermediate-term financial targets.

We continue to see very good opportunities across our geographies and business lines and remain well-capitalized to execute on our strategic plan. We also believe we are in a position to return excess capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. With that, I would like to thank everyone for your continued interest in RGA. This concludes our prepared remarks. We would now like to open it up for questions.

Operator: Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. Please limit yourself to one question and a single follow-up. If you have additional questions, you can rejoin the queue. To ask a question, you may press star, then one on your telephone keypad. If you are using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing the keys. To withdraw your question, please press star and then two. To assemble our roster. And your first question today will come from Wes Carmichael with Autonomous Research. Please go ahead.

Wesley Carmichael: The first one was just on the U.S. claims activity in traditional in the quarter. Just wanted to see if you would unpack current experience, if that's just normal volatility in your view or if there's any one-time-ish kind of items in there.

Axel Andre: Yeah. Sure, Wes. Thanks for the question. On the U.S. Trad side, we had about $30 million of claims experience from negative claims experience on the Individual Life side. That's really kind of normal volatility. If you look at it on a historical basis, it's well below a standard deviation. So frankly, noise there. Then on the group side, as indicated last quarter and consistent with the expectations that had set, we had about a $20 million negative experience.

Wesley Carmichael: Got it. Thanks, Axel. And maybe sticking with that segment, U.S. Traditional in the current quarter. Were there any one-time that impacted premiums? It looks like premium growth was a little bit softer there than the rest of the enterprise. If so, what was kind of the underlying growth rate there?

Axel Andre: Yeah. So on the U.S. Premium side, so in the quarter, we had an in-force action. So recapture of a treaty, which resulted in a positive impact to the results of about $20 million. And so the flip side of that is that we record the premium that we would have got from that treaty. And so that's really the main driver for the reduction in premiums.

Operator: And your next question today will come from John Barnidge with Piper Sandler. Please go ahead.

John Barnidge: Good morning. Thanks for the opportunity. There was a recent report in September from a Swiss Re suggesting a mortality reduction from GLP-1 drugs of 2% to 6.4% in the U.S. and 5.1% in the UK. How soon would it make sense to maybe recognize that benefit either on pricing or in your assumptions? Thank you.

Jonathan Porter: Hi, John. Thanks for the question. This is Jonathan. So we haven't made any material changes to our assumptions due to anti-obesity medication. But the benefits from these medications have increased our confidence that our existing mortality improvement assumptions will be realized in the future. We've done some significant modeling and analysis and we continue to believe that anti-obesity medications including GLP-1s will have a meaningful benefit on population-level mortality going forward. We'll continue to regularly assess the data and our model and expectations. As to how this population improvement translates through to our insured book of business. Specifically for the study that you referenced, our analysis is generally aligned with a central estimate that Swiss Re has as well.

So our numbers are consistent with their central estimate. I think the numbers you quoted were on the high end of their estimate.

John Barnidge: Thank you. Yeah. Those were the bull case outcomes. My follow-up expected to grow. I believe the lift to annual run rate is $15 million over their intermediate term and would be to what level would it be expected to grow in the max year? Thank you for the opportunity to ask questions.

Axel Andre: Yes. So thank you, John. So just to clarify, I think you referred to the impact of the actual assumptions update. As I mentioned, there was the accounting impact and there's the kind of long-term value impact, the $600 million which will be recognized over time. That $600 million essentially would increase our run rates by $15 million next year, so an annual increase of $15 million which then gradually ramps up to a $25 million increase to the annual run rate by 2040.

Operator: And your next question today will come from Jimmy Bhullar with JPMorgan. Please go ahead.

Jamminder Bhullar: Hey, I had a couple of questions. First, just on your expectation for Ruby Re. You mentioned you expect it to be the pipeline to be filled or your whatever your intentions were in terms of business activity, what type of liabilities are you considering for the structure obviously, there's a lot of demand for reinsurance or deals on some of these legacy liabilities. To what extent do those fit in your plans as well? And then I have a follow-up.

Axel Andre: Sure. Thanks for the question. Yes. So Ruby Re, we were pleased to see another transaction seeded into the vehicle this quarter. As you may recall, the vehicle was set up to really take in U.S., asset-intensive type transactions. In terms of we have a pipeline of transactions that we already have on our books that we're working through the process of seeding into the vehicle, which is why we're saying we have the confidence that we will be fully deployed by 2026. I think just taking a step back, we've mentioned that sidecars third-party capital is a core component of our strategy. We expect in the future to be pursuing other sidecars.

And for that to be a nice supplement to our ability to deploy capital over time.

Jamminder Bhullar: And then the type of just annuities or, like, LTC, VAs? With living benefits as well?

Axel Andre: So Ruby Re is really focused on relatively simple liabilities, what we call asset-intensive. Those are things such as pension risk transfer, other types of liabilities that have some biometric risk, but that are relatively, relatively vanilla. As we explore new vehicles, for the vehicles, we will also potentially open the aperture of liabilities. But I want to make clear that we focus on where our expertise is. Our expertise is in combining the two sides of the balance sheet, the biometric risk and the asset side. In the types of transactions that we have a track record of executing. So the intent is not to open new avenues that we have no expertise or track record in.

Operator: And your question today will come from Ryan Krueger with KBW. Please go ahead.

Ryan Krueger: Hey, thanks. Good morning. I had a question on in-force actions. You've done a number of things over the last few years. I was just hoping to get an update on, you know, how far along you think you are at this point in the kind of opportunities that you would you still have going forward to do more actions on the in-force?

Axel Andre: So maybe I can get started in terms of the numbers and pass it on to Tony? You know? So in-force actions, we've talked about it on a number of calls. We had significant contribution to earnings in 2023, 2024. If you recall, at the beginning of the year, when we talked about our intermediate-term financial targets, we said that we were expecting about $50 million a year of in-force actions. Of course, as we said, those can be lumpy and so we can at times, you can have a year where you are well above the $50 million potentially below. This year, 2025, year to date, we're at about $45 million of cumulative in-force actions.

So it's nice and on track and consistent with that run rate. And then we have a number of opportunities to continue to execute on in-force management actions throughout the book.

Tony Cheng: Yeah, Ryan. Maybe just to add, you know, this is a discipline that I would argue started in the U.S. before, but it's very much around the globe. So even this quarter, we're seeing those actions. It's not just the U.S. It's across the globe. So that's the first point. And then the second point is, you know, I want to emphasize that's why risk management is so critical for us. You know? We're all over the risk. And then it's a question of, okay. How do we once we fully as we do, fully understand the blocks of business, we then leverage off our strong partnerships with our clients to come up with, you know, true win-win solutions.

Oftentimes, as we go through these conversations with our clients, it really hasn't impacted our ability to write new but then sometimes it actually strengthens it because, you know, you're getting through, you know, potentially tough conversations in the right manner. So we're very delighted with our approach. And as Axel said, you know, we continue to deliver on it. We don't it's not drying up in any way. It's just an ongoing part of our business. That we expect to continue to do going forward.

Ryan Krueger: Thank you. And then I had a follow-up. I guess, back to last quarter, it on the value in force benefit to excess capital. It just seems like there's been some skepticism from out, you know, that this is not from you, but from others about, you know, if this is fully if that benefit is fully able to be deployed into growth going forward. So I guess I just wanted to come, you know, just come back to that and confirm that, like, there's no restrictions on that. You know, you have the full blessing from rating agencies, and that's a part of your capital that you can deploy now going forward.

Axel Andre: Yes. So thanks, Ryan, for the question. So let me first say that, yes, this capital represents real capital that is available to be deployed into transactions. But let me take a step back and remind you our excess capital is really across all three frameworks. Economic capital, regulatory, and rating agency. And we really look at what is the biting constraint. So we have at least that amount of excess capital from each of the following lenses since we take the binding constraints. I think everybody would recognize that from a regulatory capital perspective, that is capital that is there in the legal entities available to be deployed.

Obviously, there's different regulatory frameworks and different legal entities, but real capital available to be deployed. So the recognition of this value of in force, to your point, is from a rating agency perspective. I want to remind you that we recognize only a portion value in force for only a portion of our block. And even when we do, there's a significant haircut that is applied to that value of in force within the rating agency frameworks. That value of in force does amortize over the life of the business.

But over time, we expect to add further to our store of value of in force by looking at our in force, the blocks that have not been currently evaluated by the rating agencies, as well as new business. And just to point to one item, if you look at our value of in force business margin exhibits in the presentation, the growth of that by 16% since over the first nine months of the year shows that there's a robust growth in our store of value of in force. And the potential to recognize that capital from a rating agency perspective.

Tony Cheng: Ryan, let me just add one other point. I know you were referring to deployment into the business. You know, with regards to, let's say, potential buybacks, we've indicated how much we're gonna we're planning to return to shareholders. But just to answer your question, there is, you know, the only criteria we would look at beyond the strategic ones with regards to buyback would be, do we have sufficient liquidity? And our leverage ratios? Otherwise, this capital is, you know, fully available to buy back. So just want to add to Axel's comments.

Operator: And our next question today will come from Wilma Burdis with Raymond James. Please go ahead.

Wilma Burdis: Hey. Good morning. Regarding the UK mortality assumption impact, are those claims that you're seeing today, or is it more of a long-term expectation for higher mortality? And could you also just provide some color on what you're seeing in terms of UK mortality trends? Thanks.

Jonathan Porter: Yeah. Hi, Wilma. This is Jonathan. Thanks for the question. So of the assumption review this quarter, we've increased our expectation for future UK mortality and that's resulted in an increase in future mortality claims and an offsetting decrease to future longevity claims. This change to assumptions reflects ongoing excess mortality in the UK population, which likely reflects challenges with the national health system as well as a thorough review of recent experience in our own book of business. Under LDTI, as Axel mentioned, most of this UK mortality impact is recognized in the current period as a strengthening of reserves on capped cohorts and the benefits on the longevity business are deferred and amortized into future periods.

So on a net economic basis, looking at both mortality and longevity combined, and just looking at the UK specifically, it's actually pretty neutral. So that's given our balanced book of business. There's not much net economic effect of the changes.

Wilma Burdis: Okay. Thank you. Now with the equitable second question. Now that the equitable block is closed, could you provide a little bit more color on your expectation for accounting smoothing on the mortality on that block? Thanks.

Axel Andre: Sure. Yeah, sure. Thanks, Wilma. Yeah, so for the Equitable block, there will be accounting smoothing of volatility. We expect roughly about 50% of that block to benefit from that smoothing of results over time.

Operator: And your next question today will come from Alex Scott with Barclays. Please go ahead.

Alex Scott: Hey. First one I had is just on the group headwind that you guys have had from the medical piece of things. Can you talk about what you're seeing there, the kind of repricing you're taking and just any further commentary on the trajectory there?

Axel Andre: Sure. I can start here. Look, on the group side, like we mentioned, last quarter, it's short-term business, right? So it all gets repriced over the course of the year. And as we mentioned, we had started to take repricing actions by January 1, 2026, or by January 2026, all of the block will be repriced. And so, from there on, we have expectations of profitability for all segments of the group business.

Alex Scott: Got it. Thank you. The second one I have is maybe a little bit more of a pointed question, so apologies in advance. But you know, as we kinda go around and talk to industry and go to some of the conferences and so forth, you know, one of the things that comes up, and I think some of the investors are hearing these kind of things too, is that, you know, RGA is getting more competitive, getting more aggressive, maybe accepting lower IRRs to win business. And I think it's important to kinda hear your retort on it just because it does seem to be something that impacts your stock.

And so I would love to just kinda get your point of view on, you know, is that just sort of sour grapes because you guys are winning? Or is there more to it? I just wanna see what your response is to those kind of comments that we're hearing.

Tony Cheng: Yeah, Alex. Let me take that. Look. There's a lot there. Firstly, you know, with regards to risk, risk-taking, risk, you know, there's been no change in our risk tolerance, you know, our risk appetite, our processes, our leaders, our culture. And we probably couldn't change it if we wanted. And why would we change it? It has been a huge competitive advantage for us, you know, over fifty-two years. So you know? And you can see it throughout our whole organization. Like, even our business approach is all around discipline.

Why do we just choose and select the business that we want, i.e., the business that is exclusive and plays to our strengths of, you know, local offices, our strengths of ability to do biometric and asset risk, our incredibly strong client relationships. It's purely because it is better quality business and in my mind, less risky than tended business. And you see that not only in what we pursue, but also what we don't pursue. I mean, you know, our name does not come up because we're not participating in many of the recent U.S. tenders for risks that are just not in our sweet spot. Number one, they're tenders. Like I said, we very much pursue exclusive transactions.

And number two, they're not in our sweet spot. They're not the risk we like. So look, you know, this has always been our approach. It will continue to be our approach. You know, when I heard commentary like you suggested, just took me back to the Asian days, you know, where when we started success twenty years ago, of course, you're gonna hear these things. That's what one would expect. We just follow our strategy, follow our culture. It hasn't changed. And we're so excited about our future growth and our future returns that we can, you know, provide to shareholders.

Operator: The next question will come from Suneet Kamath with Jefferies. Great. Thank you.

Suneet Kamath: So if I think back to when we started talking about LDTI, I think the commentary was this was supposed to be a benefit to RGA because of the smoothing. And if I just look at recent results, it just doesn't seem like that's playing out. You're getting more of the bad than the good. And I was just curious, is this just because there's a larger portion of your block that's in capped cohorts, and that's what's causing it? Or can you give us a sense of what percentage of your business is capped versus uncapped? Because I just don't think we're seeing the smoothing that we expected when we first started to talk about this.

Axel Andre: Sure. Thanks for the question. Look, I think we still believe that LDTI is a benefit in terms of smoothing results over time. Now that may not play out quarter by quarter exactly. I think if you look at the presentation and the recent quarters or if you look at older presentations that have a longer track record, you'll see that in general, the impact that comes through on an accounting basis is less than the economic. So there's some level of smoothing and some reduction of the noise there.

Nonetheless, you're correct that when for those CAP cohorts, the results flow through immediately, and cap cohorts over time, you would expect that over time, there will be some portion of cohorts that are capped, and that will result, therefore, in a bit more volatility on the negative side.

Jonathan Porter: Yes. And then, Suneet, just to give you a number to size it for you. For our traditional business, in total across the world, about 15% of our business is in capped cohorts.

Tony Cheng: Got it. And, that's helpful. And, Suneet, just let me add one more point. I mean, look. These cap cohorts to us, like I said earlier, look. Risk management is our DNA, our critical part. And, therefore, you know, these CAP cohorts, obviously, blocks we monitor very closely and are fertile ground for the in-force actions that you see us doing. And that's as I said earlier, an integral part of our way of generating, you know, further profit and ROE.

Suneet Kamath: Yeah. No. That makes sense. And then I guess my second question is on the economic solvency in Japan. As I think about over the past couple of quarters, I think you guys have talked about that as an opportunity. But we're, I guess, a couple quarters away from it actually being implemented. And I guess, companies able to has it turned out to be the opportunity that you thought it was, or were figure out solutions that didn't require, you know, RGA's capabilities? Just curious kinda where we sit there.

Tony Cheng: Yes. No. Thanks, Suneet. Look, I would say it, you know, the first inklings of it driving opportunities was probably about five or six years ago. So it's not just switched the light on and it becomes relevant. I mean, the companies have been preparing for this for a number of years. And as a result, we've been able to win good business. And I'd say it's been the essential part of why you're seeing increased activity in Japan on coinsurance, you know, of blocks. You know, our partners in the market are both obviously the local companies as well as some of the multinationals or global companies.

So there could be other tools available for some of the global companies. They may have internal reinsurers and so on. But, you know, for us, it has been a driver of opportunity. It continues to be. We're very selective once again on what we pursue, which will predominantly be those blocks of businesses that have both, you know, biometric as well as asset risk as well as, you know, usually, it's gonna be with long-standing clients that we may have had decades-long relationships with on the biometric risk side.

Operator: Our last question of the day comes from Tom Gallagher with Evercore. Please go ahead.

Tom Gallagher: Good morning. If I look at the earnings power in the quarter, and I adjust for, we'll call it the accounting noise, in the cap versus uncapped cohort? I sort of unwind that, you get about $7 of earnings power in the quarter. Now that seems well above the kind of levels that you guys have guided to, if I think about GlidePath. I'm assuming there was like significant over-earnings in some of the segments versus what you think is trendable. But can you help kind of unpack $7 and maybe getting us back to a more reasonable trend line? Because it does seem quite high.

Axel Andre: Sure. Thanks for the question, Tom. Yes. When we think of kind of what are the pieces in the earnings this quarter, so, I think we talked we mentioned the claims experience so overall about $50 million and then the offsetting impact of in-force actions, which across the globe in the quarter is about $40 million. So $40 million of positive to offset some of that $50 million negative. We mentioned the VII, which is a headwind of about $40 million this quarter. And then on the tax side, we had a benefit. So yes, this was a really good quarter. We're very, very pleased.

I think a lot of the results of capital deployment of earnings coming up, coming online. We've talked about kind of the ramp-up of earnings with as we do the portfolio repositioning. Obviously, had Equitable transaction, which is one example of that capital deployment, but it's a lumpy one and it came in this quarter. It's very tangible. So, yeah, look, things are clicking well. And we're very excited about the earnings growth trajectory from here on.

Tony Cheng: Yes. And Tom, let me just add a couple of points. As we always say and as you know, you know, one quarter's results is just one quarter's results. So if you do a similar analysis for the year, you know, we've had an excellent quarter. That's why we describe it that way. And for the year to date, we're having a very strong year to date, relative to expectations. So I'd encourage you to just maybe look back over the three quarters. It's probably a better gauge of, you know, where we're at in terms of sustainable, you know, earnings power for '25.

Tom Gallagher: Good point, Tony. My follow-up is on have you considered any partnerships with alternative managers? You know, we've seen multiple primary life companies enter into these partnerships. And I guess what I wonder is with the asset-intensive business, kind of a critical part of your growth, I wonder and with, you know, a lot of the competitors for those types of deals, seemingly having, we'll call it, pretty enhanced alternative strategies, whether it's private credit or other things. Is that something that you'd consider?

Tony Cheng: Yeah. Thanks for the question, Tom. Look. I'd say a few things. One is with regards to private assets, obviously, we do the bulk of it still internally, but we do have a number of external relationships where, you know, we feel it doesn't make sense for us to build the capabilities or they've got, you know, scale. That, you know, we would not be able to achieve. So that's the fundamental principle in which, you know, we've been operating. But I really want to center you towards we don't compete on pure asset transactions. That is not our sweet spot. You know?

And to be honest, there's no point in us really bidding too much on those types of blocks because we know our price probably will not be competitive. So that's why we always turn back to what have we does that asset transaction have material biometric risk, which obviously is very much our sweet spot, is a leveraged of relationships that we've maybe had for decades. And so I really want to center that thought. Yes. We do, you know, material asset reinsurance or asset-intensive reinsurance, but it always comes with biometric. And a lot of the blocks, as I shared in my comments, are of smaller in nature. They're not or more modest in nature.

They're not always the headline-grabbing ones. Because the ones that rely on those relationships and those partnerships, you know, we're just servicing that client that's asked us to help them for many, many years, and we continue to do that.

Operator: This concludes our question and answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Tony Cheng for any closing remarks.

Tony Cheng: Well, thank you for your questions and your continued interest in RGA. Our strong quarter and continued growth in long-term value continue to fuel future growth and returns for RGA. And this ends today's call.

Operator: The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.

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Devon Dobek, 51, of Hubbard has been missing since Friday. The experienced hunter is believed to be in the Mount Hood National Forest, southeast of Estacada. courtesy Clackamas County Sheriff's Office

Law enforcement officers and volunteers are on day three of a multi-agency search for a Hubbard hunter who went missing in the Mount Hood National Forest southeast of Estacada on Friday.

Devon Dobek, 51, was first reported missing on Friday evening when he did not return from a hunt at the time hed told friends to expect him, according to information provided by the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office.

Dobeks car was found at the Fish Creek Trailhead, off Southeast Highway 224 and 54 Road, according to the sheriffs office. No sign of Dobek or the deer he had reportedly told friends hed bagged were found at the truck.

The search was still ongoing at noon on Sunday with lots of additional resources, Brian McCall, public information officer for the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office said in an email.

McCall said the agency would share more updates later in the day on Sunday.

Clackamas County Search and Rescue coordinators were searching for Dobek by 10:30 on Friday evening in an effort that continued through the night. According to the sheriffs office, searchers heard gunshots that could have been from the missing hunter, but were unable to pinpoint where they were coming from.

On Saturday, more than 20 searchers used ATVs, dogs and drones to search. Volunteers from Mountain Wave Search and Rescue, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, Hood River Crag Rats, Lake Oswego Police Departments drone team and Portland Mountain Rescue joined the search on Saturday. Additional searchers from the Washington, Multnomah and Marion County Sheriffs Offices were set to join the effort on Sunday.

The sheriffs office said it does not need any additional volunteers for the search.

The sheriffs office urged anyone with information about the missing hunter to contact call 503-723-4949 or submit a tip online via the Submit A Tip form on our website or through the ClackCo Sheriff mobile app. Please reference CCSO Case # 25-022972

This story may be updated.
Dear Annie: Im 73, and my wife is 74. Weve been married for 53 years and have never spent a night apart due to marital conflict. Admittedly, each of us may have spent a night or two on the couch, but my point here is that I think were still happily married.

The problem is that weve not been intimate for nearly 10 years. The closest we get is maybe a hug or peck on the cheek. Nothing else! When I attempt to discuss this issue with her, she only mentions her chronic urinary tract infections and blames me for not understanding how uncomfortable it is for her to have intercourse. If I suggest any other type of intimate relations -- and believe me, I do it very tactfully -- she finds a way to end the discussion.

So, Annie, what do I do? Ive decided that it requires too much work to pleasure myself. At 73, I cant concentrate without the participation of my partner. I dont want to hurt her, and I really do love her. Id like to think I still look attractive to other eligible women of my age and stature, but Im not looking to resolve the issue by seeking anything outside the framework of my marriage.

Can you suggest other ways to resolve this? -- Old Rooster

Dear Old Rooster: Its normal for physical intimacy to look different as we age, but it shouldnt disappear altogether. Your wifes UTIs are a valid obstacle, but using them as a reason to shut down all intimacy, not just sex, isnt fair to you either.

Reframe the conversation. Its not just sex that you miss, but the connection, the closeness and the feeling of being wanted by her. Ask if shed be willing to talk with her doctor about ways to manage her infections. Outside of intercourse, is she open to exploring alternate forms of intimacy with you? If she still wont budge, consider couples counseling to help the two of you work through it.

After 53 years together, youve proven you two have what it takes to handle just about anything. Youve been a loyal, patient partner and you deserve to feel loved and seen, far beyond the occasional peck on the cheek.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM
Polar bear Nora, pictured here at the Oregon Zoo in 2021, is headed to a new home this year. Visitors can see her with discounted tickets during the week of Nov. 3 - 9. The Oregonian

The Oregon Zoo will offer $13 tickets from Nov. 3 - Nov. 9, half off the regular zoo admission cost for adults.

Admission is free for federal employees out of work because of the government shutdown and for up to three of their family members. (Federal workers will need to show a federal identification at the ticket gate.)

Discount admission overlaps with Polar Bear Week at the zoo, and the birthday of Nora the polar bear who will turn 10 on Thursday, Nov. 6.

Its one of the last chances visitors have to see Nora in Portland before she moves to a zoo in Madison, Wisconsin later this fall. Zookeepers hope she will breed and raise cubs at her new home.

The Oregon Zoo will replace Nora with Kallik, a young male polar bear from the Saint Louis Zoo.

People interested in visiting the zoo should reserve their discounted ticket online, the zoo says.

Find the zoos daily event schedule here.
Orange marigolds are used by many when decorating for Dia de los Muertos. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

Looking back almost two decades later, it would have been hard for the Gonzales family to imagine their annual Dia de los Muertos celebration getting this big when they first started it 17 years ago.

The Muertos PDX celebration  one of Portlands largest Day of the Dead events  had humble beginnings as a small gathering of mostly family, said Elizabeth Perry, who started the event alongside her husband, Armando Gonzales.

Im from the border, El Paso, Texas, and we used to go to the cemetery and decorate the graves and celebrate as a family, she told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Saturday, the first day of the two-day event. But once we moved to Oregon, it became difficult.

So Perry and her husband decided to hold their own Dia de los Muertos gathering for friends and family, in an effort to bring the spirit of her familys traditions from El Paso to Oregon. The first event was hosted in a small salon in Northeast Portland, Gonzales said, and the next year neighbors and friends started turning up. The event grew, and nearly two decades later it fills the vaulted halls of The Redd, a venue in Portlands Central Eastside Industrial District.

24 1 / 24 Muertos PDX

This years celebration ran 12-10 p.m. Saturday and continues 12-8 p.m. Sunday, with a stacked lineup that includes Mexican ballet and Aztec dances, musical performances, sugar skull decorating, food and more.

And its all dedicated to sharing Mexican culture with the Portland community, as well as reconnecting with the spirits and memories of dead loved ones, said Cristina Gonzales Perry, who is Elizabeth Perry and Armando Gonzales daughter.

We feel their spirits during the day, but the way that we get them here is by building the altars with their pictures, their favorite foods, favorite snacks and drinks, Gonzales Perry said. Its about not letting their spirit and their memories fade away. And thats just really important.

Several of the altars that Gonzales Perry referred to could be spotted throughout the event hall, each one covered in photos of deceased loved ones and offerings to their spirits, such as pan de muerto  a sweet bread thats offered to the dead on the Day of the Dead  candles, flowers and even a cigar.

Many of the alters included figurines of skeletons, in addition to the offerings that people left for deceased loved ones. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

But the events focus on the dead didnt stop it from striking an upbeat tone Saturday. Families chatted with each other over food, and children worked on Day of the Dead themed arts and crafts projects at a series of tables.

Gonzales Perry said that the joyful nature of the event was especially important now, as many undocumented immigrants within Oregons Latino community fear the Trump administrations moves to ramp up Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operations and limit the accessibility of pathways to citizenship.

Its the sad reality that we had performers who couldnt be with us today because they had to make the choice to be safe. Weve also had a lot of really faithful volunteers whove been here all over these 17 years who also couldnt be here today because of the situation, which is heartbreaking, she said. We have to maintain the joy of our culture and community despite the fear thats out there and send that message out, too.

The Gonzales family said that they frequently share the proceeds of their Day of the Dead events with local organizations, and this year theyre donating to the Immigration Counseling Service, a nonprofit that provides legal services to immigrants in Oregon and parts of Washington.

Frank Garcia, ICSs executive director, made an appearance Saturday, getting his face painted with an elaborate skull pattern to celebrate the holiday.

Frank Garcia, executive director of the Immigration Counseling Service. Allison Barr/The Oregonian

He said that cuts in funding have forced the nearly 50-year-old organization to get creative with balancing their budget, and events like Muertos PDX have helped them close the gap.

Not only are we doing something culturally, but there is a political statement thats happening here, too, he said of the work the event helps fund.

And for Gonzales Perry, another of the events purposes is to serve the community. Admission is a suggested donation of $15, but no one is turned away if they cant afford it.

We want to make it accessible to everyone, she said. This really is about community and what Dia de los Muertos represents. So we want folks to know theyre welcome.
The tragic killing of a 26-year-old being held in the Clackamas County Jail deserves a thorough, independent investigation into what went wrong, the editorial board writes. Maxine Bernstein | The Oregonian

What we know about the beating death of Reece Richeson, a 26-year-old held at the Clackamas County Jail on drug and property crime allegations, is appalling. Richeson was brutally assaulted in his jail cell on Oct. 18, allegedly by a cellmate who just a week earlier was accused of an unprovoked attack on another man at the jail.

The beating was so intense that other men in the jail hit their emergency call buttons to summon deputies, a defense attorney told The Oregonian/OregonLives Noelle Crombie. But it is unclear how soon jail staff responded  one of many questions the sheriffs office hasnt answered. By the time deputies removed Richeson from the cell, he was unconscious, Crombie reported. Richeson died at OHSU Hospital three days later.

The tragic incident raises red flags about how the jail ensures the safety of those sent there while their cases move through the criminal justice system  the jails most basic obligation. Understanding what happened, including why jail officials made the baffling decision to transfer a man already accused of attacking a cellmate into a cell with Richeson, are fundamental to preventing a horrific repeat.

But Richesons death also raises red flags about the jails leadership. What we know about the incident did not come from a timely disclosure by Clackamas County Sheriff Angela Brandenburg, who oversees operations at the jail. In fact, her office did not release any information publicly about the death until Oct. 27, after Crombie, who had independently learned of the incident, published a news story. Instead, Brandenburg is demonstrating both a lack of accountability and a hostility to transparency that appears to put her and her agencys interests above the public they serve. Clackamas County elected officials should recognize the hit to their own credibility and urge Brandenburg to reverse course.

Among the issues: The sheriffs office has not explained why it held back the news about Richesons death for so long. Thats unlike the practice at Multnomah County Jail and the Oregon Department of Corrections which publicly disclose in-custody deaths. The public has a clear interest in knowing whether the jail can adequately perform its job of protecting the health and safety of people who land there, for alleged infractions, big and small. Elected officials show their commitment to accountability not with words but by taking ownership of failures without having to be prompted.

Brandenburg also plans a standard review of jail policies and procedures as opposed to seeking an independent agencys evaluation of the jails practices. Thats a telltale sign of an organization closing ranks rather than confronting mistakes. The public deserves an objective analysis of any errors that jail officials made, either in judgment or policy, rather than a possibly soft-pedaled assessment by people with a vested stake in the outcome. A standard review ignores the severity of what happened and doesnt assure the public that the jail can prevent a repeat.

In fact, the sheriffs office wont even answer questions about why it didnt promptly disclose the death, whether it will change its reporting practices or explain its decision to only review the incident in-house. Instead, spokesman Deputy John Wildhaber told The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board that this is an active murder investigation. Our priority is ensuring the integrity of the investigation so we can seek justice for the victim and their family.

Investigating a murder has nothing to do with evaluating the agencys communications policies. Committing to an independent evaluation of the jails practices will actually provide greater justice for Richesons family. And acknowledging errors will help limit future failures that open the county up to lawsuits.

Its disappointing that none of the countys other elected officials  neither commissioners nor the district attorney  are publicly urging Brandenburg to seek an outside investigation to uphold the integrity of the county and the criminal justice system. Clackamas County Chair Craig Roberts, who served as sheriff for 16 years and supported Brandenburg to succeed him, should know better than most the importance of ensuring the jail can protect the safety of those awaiting resolution of criminal cases.

Unfortunately, he himself promoted a culture of silence that protected employees at the expense of the public. His office for years tolerated the deficient work of a longtime detective who shrugged off child abuse reports, sex assault cases and other crimes, by failing to follow up on suspects, interview victims or send in rape kits for testing. The detective, Jeff Green, eventually pleaded guilty to official misconduct. But even a year after Greens plea, Roberts had not apologized to victims and showed little effort in restoring the publics trust.

Back in 2020, after Brandenburg was first elected sheriff, she described her philosophy of leadership to the Portland Tribune. You cant change the culture without leadership thats willing to set the example for other people to follow, she said. Sadly, the example shes setting appears to be just more of the same. If Clackamas County leaders wont demand better, voters should.

-The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board
Glencoe Elementarys motto is an inclusive community that cares, collaborates and perseveres. As parents who love our school, we were disturbed to learn that Glencoe is being used in a deeply misguided lawsuit over staffing that does not reflect our values or our community, (Portland Public Schools sued over race-based teacher allocations, Oct. 21).

This lawsuit purports to be in support of students but is clearly just an opportunity for an out-of-state law firm to further the racist politics of the Trump administration. This lawsuit wont help our kids, nor will it raise more money for our school or compel the Legislature to fund education at a level that would afford every child in PPS the high-quality education they deserve.

Glencoe has experienced funding cuts, like all PPS schools. But we reject any efforts that pit our children against other children, particularly those facing poverty, racism and existential threats from their own government. We stand behind policies like the district-wide fundraising model that aim to create a more equitable, just educational system for all students - not just our own.

All parents want the best for our children. The answer to legitimate outrage about our underfunded public schools is not to claw back resources from those who most need them. The answer is to demand more for everyone. That means choosing solidarity over selfishness. It also means demanding that our state leaders stop making empty commitments to education and find a way to fill the billion-dollar-gap in Oregons school system. Lets make better choices. Our kids are watching.

Lydia Kiesling, Portland

Kiesling is writing on behalf of the Glencoe Elementary PTA and several other Glencoe parents.To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
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I read the interview with interestwe both loved hair dye and Pearl Jam!and I
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Vivid watercolors and plainspoken languageAn Encyclopedia is for childrenreinforce the books core message:We celebrate the gar
What I would say on three is we are not going to just stay the course and leave something outstanding for the sake of leaving something outstanding. If you listen to our Rithm earnings call yesterday, we discussed our most recent acquisition at Rithm and our affiliates, which is the Paramount transaction where we agreed to take private one of the large office REITs here in New York City and San Francisco. Quite frankly, we are really excited about that deal and really excited about the returns on that deal. One of the questions we got on yesterday's call is, is it something that we consider adding some Paramount to the Rithm Property Trust?

The real question for the company is, where do we go from here? We have a few options. One, we can recap the vehicle with an offering of equity associated with a pool of assets or other types of instruments that could be in the fixed income world that will provide real income for investors. Two is we could explore some kind of liquidation of the company. I bring that up because with book value at $5.30 and the stock trading at $2.40, clearly, there is a huge value play for equity investors in this. Three is stay the course.

We have added some commercial real estate floaters, or CMBS floaters, which are higher yielding, top part of the capital stack, with some reasonable yield. The other thing about these assets, from a liquidity standpoint, they are very easy to create liquidity. When we take a step back and we look at the assets that we have added, the assets that we have sold, to the extent that we find an interesting opportunity, and, you know, we are always on the hunt, as everybody knows, we will be able to liquidate a number of these assets and then use some of that capital to redeploy into either higher yielding assets or something that is more strategic for the company.

Michael Nierenberg: Thanks, Emma. Good morning, and thanks for joining us today for the Rithm Property Trust call. During the quarter, we did not have a ton of activity. What I would say is that when we took over this company last June, we stabilized the company, which at that time, I think, was losing in and around $10 million a quarter. Today, the company essentially is flat, you know, when you take into account earnings, and we are still paying a $0.06 dividend. Along the way, we have liquidated what I would say a bunch of resi assets.

Story continues

The answer, you know, what I said was yes. Longer term, as we look at this vehicle, we are developing a direct lending business, and this platform would be perfect for Rithm Property Trust. As we think about that, we will work in conjunction with our Genesis partners, which in Genesis, so everybody knows, is our residential transition loan organization where we make construction loans to kind of mid-tier type sponsors and not some of the larger players. When we look at that, our experience there, we grew a company that was doing $1.7 billion in production. Today, we are going to, this year, we will probably do north of $5 billion.

The asset yields on those are great, and we have a real business around it. What we will likely do is grow that, and some of those products could be perfect for our direct lending business. What I do think, one more time, as we look at the equity and where it trades relative to book value and some of the things that we do, it is, you know, just to reiterate, we are not going to leave this thing outstanding for the sake of leaving a company outstanding.

We need to either figure out a way to grow it, or at some point, we will likely think about an auction process for the company and realize what I think is going to be true book value. With that, I will turn, we will flip, we will start. We have a small deck. There is not a ton in there, quite frankly. We will start on page three, and then we will have a Q&A, and then we will go from there. As I mentioned earlier, Rithm Property Trust, it was formerly known as Great Ajax. It was a residential mortgage REIT. Quite frankly, it was a little bit broken.

We took over the management of that, rebranded it to Rithm Property Trust, set out on a mission to deploy more capital in the commercial real estate business. We did a small preferred offering, which helped us raise a bunch of cash. When you look at the company today, we are sitting with in and around $100 million in cash. The company has about $300 million in total equity, and the pipelines look great. The portfolio is about $308 million today. What I think this vehicle will do is afford us the ability to continue to hunt for things to try to grow the vehicle.

I have used in the past what happened with BXMT, which is Blackstone's mortgage REIT, where they actually created a vehicle around a pool of assets and really grew it. Hopefully, we could do that. If not, I gave you the other options before. Looking at on page four, your financial highlights, effectively, you know, the company was flat quarter over quarter, still maintained a $0.06 dividend, cash and cash equivalents on balance sheet at the end of the quarter, $81 million in total equities, $292 million. When you look at page five, you know, the opportunity we, you know, during the quarter, we actually originated a $21 million loan on a grocery-anchored retail center outside Seattle.

The yield on that will likely be in the mid-teens. When we look at that and we think about our ability to grow in some of the lending activities, that is something that gets us excited here. Quite frankly, we have to execute on that plan. When you look at Rithm Property Trust on this page, on page five, you might say, "Why Rithm Property Trust?" There is no legacy anything, quite frankly, in the company. I think it is truly. This is truly upside as weto the extent that we could grow the vehicle. Page six just talks about how when we first took over the company, we stabilized earnings. As we go forward again. Earnings are pretty flat.

We need to do something more material to actually generate earnings, and that is something we are keenly focused on. Page seven is our typical slide, which illustrates what the future state of the portfolio could be. I would look at this vehicle as more being opportunistic in nature than some of the other things out there. With that, I will turn it back to the operator.

Tiffany: We will open up for some Q&A, and if anybody has any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

At this time, if you would like to ask a question, press star, then the number one on your telephone keypad. To withdraw your question, simply press star one again. We will pause for just a moment to compile the Q&A roster. Your first question comes from the line of Tom Catherwood with BTIG. Please go ahead.

Tom Catherwood: Thank you. Good morning, everybody. Michael, obviously, you laid out a bunch of different avenues that you could go forward with, with the three that you laid out at the beginning. Maybe just take the stay the course one for this question. You talked last quarter about $50 million of loans kind of being pretty close to the finish line. You did $21 million this quarter. What does that kind of pool in closing look like right now?

Michael Nierenberg: You know, there is a couple of things here. One is I brought up the Paramount deal. That is a big deal. I mean, there is a, you know, they are $6.60 on 13 million square feet. It is likely this company, you know, depending upon board approval, could participate in that transaction. One thing we are working on in conjunction with our Genesis partners, when you think about that business, we make multifamily loans. We make residential transitional loans. At Rithm and Rithm Property Trust, we are doing more in the direct lending space. We would really like to grow our direct lending presence. We have been adding some bodies around the house.

I think this vehicle could be perfect for that. Some of the things, you know, when we mentioned last quarter and we spoke about $50 million in loans, we did this $21 million loan, which we like very much. We have passed on what I would say more of. Some of this is, as you think about the mayoral election here. When we think about some rent-stabilized stuff that we were looking at, you know, we are not going to do rent-stabilized loans in New York City right now. We also passed, initially, we were down the path on a Rosewood Hotel in Dallas.

We went down and did a bunch of diligence on that and just could not get comfortable on that. We passed on that. In the quarter, we did the, obviously, the $21 million loan. We are sitting with roughly $100 million in cash and liquidity. We look at what is sitting on balance sheet on the retained side. As we go forward, it is just really going to be about direct lending, the growth there, and some more opportunistic situations.

Tom Catherwood: Great. Appreciate that. On Paramount more specifically, I know the deal is still coming together. Obviously, it has not closed, so all options are on the table. When we think of that company, it had historically had a part of its business that was dedicated to making opportunistic commercial real estate loans, whether that was mezz positions, preferred positions, so be it. Is the potential thought to carve off whatever may be remaining of that or whatever capacity that exists within their funds, or is this potentially Rithm Property Trust taking a position somewhere else in the capital stack as you go towards that closing? If you cannot talk about it, I fully understand.

Just trying to get ideas of what this might look like.

Michael Nierenberg: Yeah. No, that is a good question. They had some legacy funds. I would assume for purposes of this discussion, there is nothing to do with Rithm Property Trust and those funds. It would likely be a position that would be pari passu alongside Rithm, the parent company, you know, our parent company, obviously, on the under prop goes. When you think about it, there are 13 assets between New York City and San Francisco, and it would be a position in those specific assets on the property side.

Tom Catherwood: Got it. Got it. Kind of last one for Michael. You make this comment about the discount to book value and all of that, and it makes sense. When we look across all of the commercial real estate mortgage space, the discounts are huge and have gotten more so, obviously, since Tricolor, since their bankruptcy, since First Brands, since we had the regional banking issue a couple of weeks ago. In general, commercial mortgage REITs have just been lumped together with this existential fear about credit. You sit kind of at the nexus of a bunch of different credit vehicles.

What is your view right now on what is real out there risk-wise for credit, be it real estate or otherwise? What is kind of overdone right now? I think that is not just hitting Rithm Property Trust. It is hitting everybody. What are your thoughts on the market right now?

Michael Nierenberg: I think it is bifurcated. I think there is a couple of situations. One is a lot of the legacy commercial real estate REITs were still saddled with bad loans that need to getI am not saying bad loans. Let us just say underwater loans that need to get worked out. We do not have any of those here at our firm. That goes for both on the Rithm level and on the Rithm Property Trust level. When we set out on a mission to kind of rebrand this vehicle, we said we are going to get into the commercial real estate space again because we do not have any legacy issues.

I think when you look across the spectrum, there are a number of REITs out there that are still working through some of their issues, and this vehicle is clean. I think that is one. Two, when you think about credit and you think about, like, even when we think about this Paramount deal, why Office? Not everybody can do Office because a lot of folks are still reworking their existing Office portfolio. We looked at that as a real opportunity for us because, one, we as a company, we have a need for 100,000 square feet.

We are in the market looking at Office pretty much every day, and we have a really good pulse on what is happening in the market. As we think about credit, the capital markets for commercial real estate are wide open. You are seeing more and more CMBS get done. Prior to us announcing this deal, the company did a CMBS deal on 1301 Sixth Avenue. I think the credit markets are wide open. With the breadth of the Rithm team and our other affiliates, there is a ton of things to look at.

I will say in commercial real estate, and I am sure you know this, you got to be really, really careful, not just in commercial real estate and everything, but in commercial real estate, particularly when you have one-way risk on a single type of property. When we think about where we could go with this in the direct lending space and create more diversified pools of assets or diversified lending around the business, it gives us pretty good comfort that we are going to be able to do wonderful things here.

What I would say on the discount to book, quite frankly, if we could all get paid in equity at these kind of levels, I think we would love to do that. The net of it is we are extremely optimistic on where we could go. The thing is you need capital to grow. With the stock trading, you know, whatever, 50-odd % of book, it is very difficult. My view and our view is, you know, not to dilute shareholders. If there is a way to kind of grow out of this with something meaningful in some sizable offering associated with a pool of assets, we will consider that.

Tom Catherwood: Got it. Appreciate all those thoughts. Thanks, Michael.

Michael Nierenberg: Thank you.

Tiffany: Your next question comes from the line of Craig Kucera with Lucid Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Craig Kucera: Yeah, hey, good morning, guys.

Michael Nierenberg: Good morning.

Craig Kucera: Good morning. I wanted to circle back to the Paramount transaction. Can you give us a sense of what the economics of that might look like for Rithm Property Trust? I mean, is that sort of in the ballpark of what you have done this year with the, call it the Office senior sub deal at maybe 12% or the retail asset at 11%?

Michael Nierenberg: You know, the Paramount deal is more equity-based. We are playing around with a couple of different structures. Are there different ways to think about this? I do not have a specific answer. On the surface, when you look at the Paramount deal and the way that we are doing this, we paid $6.60 for the company. That equates to about $1.6 billion before some of the, you know, fees and noise around this. That gets you roughly $1.8 billion. The amount of cash that sits on balance sheets is a little south of $500 million, that gets you to $1.3 billion. Rithm, the parent, will put in, give or take, about $300 million of equity.

The contemplation, again, subject to board approval, would be for Paramount to put in about $50 million. That gets you to a little under $1 billion. Rithm, the parent, will then be raising, and we are in the market now, a fund around the remaining, call it, $1 billion. That is the so-called funding of the vehicle. When we look at economics, here is how to think about this. We are assuming going in a cap rate a little bit south of 7%. Our going in so-called cost per foot is about a little under $600 a foot. When you think about replacement costs, the replacement cost, including land in New York City, is likely something around $3,000 a foot.

Effectively, you are going in to acquire Class A office buildings at a 75% discount-ish to replacement costs. When you look at the stabilized cost, you are in the low $700s. We think our exit strategy here, just to give you a sense, is something around 6% on New York and 6.5% to 6.75% on San Francisco. What that does, based on a, you know, let us use Rithm Property Trust, a $50 million equity check gives you about a two times MOIC on that $50 million and a 20+% return based on our assumptions. We are extremely excited about this transaction. This is, in investing, and we like to think about us and our businesses in more opportunistic investing.

You very rarely have the opportunity to deploy a large amount of capital in Class A office assets that are located in two of the gateway cities in the U.S., which are obviously here in New York and San Francisco, in a dislocated market where we think we are going to generate outsized returns for our investors. That is the investment thesis here. We would love for Rithm Property Trust to participate in that, and hopefully we have a good result around it.

Craig Kucera: Thanks. I appreciate the color. That was very, very thorough. I would like to think about the flip side of that, though. Could you envision a scenario where Rithm Capital could potentially deploy capital into Rithm Property Trust in order to sort of jumpstart the scale of the company?

Michael Nierenberg: You know, it is a really good question. I mean, I think that when you think about equity offerings or you think about preferred offerings or something like that. We have had a number of conversations, what I would say, our banking partners on the street about this, how to think about a potential rights offering where Rithm backs up that against a pool of assets. I do not know, quite frankly, those conversations go on all the time. I do not know that there is anything to do right now today. There is one deal that is happening in the marketplace, but it is small in nature.

I think there is aI do not have all the details, but I think it is between an $80 million and $100 million offering that one of the banks is doing, against either a pool of assets or that is guaranteed by a parent at a discount, I think, of 10% to 15%. The backstop, I think, is 10% to 15% where the offering is coming. We have to be thoughtful about how this works for both Paramount and, I mean, Rithm Property Trust and how it would work for Rithm, the parent. I think, to keep it clean, we would prefer to do something that is not like that. I do not know yet, just where we ultimately go.

Craig Kucera: Got it. Just one more for me. In the process of raising capital around this Paramount transaction, I know you are looking for other third-party sources of capital. Has that opened up any potential partners for Rithm Property Trust? I believe, like, in the past, you have said that you are looking for a third party to sort of jumpstart the company.

Michael Nierenberg: Yeah. I mean, the amount of conversations we as a firm have, and when you think about the firm, I can tell you whether it be at the Rithm level, whether it be at the, you know, even Crestline, which has not closed, we expect that deal to close on December 1st or even at the Sculptor level. There is a lot of what I would say cross-pollinization around the firm as we have a ton of conversations with LPs and other partners. This deal has opened up conversations that, truly, you know, we would not have had six months ago. We are super excited about that. There is a ton of opportunity.

If we wanted to fund this entire Paramount deal yesterday with third-party capital, we could do that in a heartbeat. It is just how do we think about, as an organization, maximizing returns for our shareholders?

Craig Kucera: Okay, thanks. That is it for me.

Tiffany: That concludes our question and answer session. I will now turn the call back over to Michael Nierenberg for closing remarks.

Michael Nierenberg: Great, thanks for dialing in. Guys, appreciate the questions. Just to be clear, we are going to do anything and all we can to figure out a way to grow earnings in the company, not just grow the company, but grow earnings in this company. We do feel that the equity is fundamentally mispriced. I think, to some of the questions we heard, a number of these REITs have equity that is fundamentally mispriced. The difference here is we do not have any legacy issues. It should be onward and upward. We will keep you posted throughout the quarter and other things that we are doing around the company. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to follow up.

With that, happy Halloween. Have a great weekend and look forward to updating everybody soon. Thank you.

Tiffany: Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's call. Thank you all for joining. You may now disconnect.

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Rithm (RPT) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript was originally published by The Motley Fool
We see that in future will not be better than now and we think about the future work in the foreign countries in the field of my profession.raising childrenHiromis diary pr

the unifying subject matter being Monterrosos excavation of the people and events that helped him form an early idea of himself.Freud hypothesized that the toddlers insistenc
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and my obligation to raise her in my home is also raising my blood pressure too high to sustain a life pa

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was that you in the sheep field?Do you have any anxiety around that? Im incapable of sending people video

whats not to like about minor league baseball by the boardwalk and beer at a steep discount? There are also many only-in-Coney-I
Music superstars Eric Church and Morgan Wallen fishing in Field & Stream apparel. The country music singers are part of a team that has acquired the Field & Stream brand from Dick's Sporting Goods and the media platform from Recurrent. Field & Stream

There seems to be a sizeable cross over market between country music fans and folks who appreciate hunting and fishing in the great outdoors, and a pair of country music stars are taking advantage of that.

Morgan Wallen and Eric Church came together last year to buy one of the most iconic brands  Field and Stream  in the outdoors space.

(Field and Stream) Born in 1871. Reborn in 2024, Wallen captioned an Instagram video featuring he and Church fishing last year. Theres nothin I love more than being with friends around a campfire, on a boat or in a deer stand  and Field & Stream represents all of those to me. Being part of its future is incredible and we want to keep bringing people together outdoors, makin memories, for generations to come  MW.

Church also shared a fishing video at the time, and wrote, I can remember my grandfather kept a few of his favorite Field & Stream magazines on the dash of his truck. That truck took us on hundreds of outdoor adventures and I all but memorized every story and picture on every page. They were my Bible. It is the honor of my life to make sure that legacy carries on. It is both this responsibility to an American Icon and also to a young boy in his papaws truck that will be the compass that guides our steps.

Wallen and Church brought the magazine, which had moved to an all-digital format, back into print, and they have also launched a new brand of clothing that is making headlines because it is available exclusively on Amazon.

It features new fishing wear, hats, shirts, shorts and pants, according to a recent Yahoo profile.

And, of course with Wallen and Church involved, there is a music element, too.

The Field & Steam music festival is slated to take place Oct. 3-5 in Winnsboro, South Carolina.

Wallen is not currently featured among the acts, but Church is listed as the headliner for the final night.
These office supply stores have taken a huge dive. Steven Senne | The Associated Press

Amazon might seem as though it is a culprit in the steady decline of office supply stores, but thats not entirely the case.

Staples and its rivals Office Depot and Office Max, which are both under the parent company ODP Corporation, took a hit over time because consumer habits and needs changed.

The e-commerce shift saw shoppers move over to Amazon and Walmart online for office supplies, while less demand saw remote and hybrid work sharply reduce office supply needs. Theres also a foot traffic drop, where in-store visits and small-business purchasing both declined. Not to mention the financial strain, where falling sales led to restructuring and a planned acquisition by Atlas Holdings, among other reasonings, per TheStreet.

This all led to the ODP brands continuing to shrink their retail operations, which is likely to continue after the companys sale to Atlas Holdings closes.

ODP Corporation being taken private with the Atlas Holdings deal signals a renewed focus on operational efficiency and a leaner cost structure for the office supplies company, Total Retail reported.

Theres also other benefits.

Going private may enable ODP to make long-term investments in the business by freeing it from being so quarterly-earnings focused. These investments, whether in product, supply chain, marketing, real estate, etc., could help strengthen the business going forward, Total Retails Joe Keenan added.

As it turns out, Office Depot has closed over 1,000 stores since its 2023 merger, reducing its store count by about 55%.

The latest corporate change should build on the original merger of OfficeMax and Office Depot.

The announced deal to merge OfficeMax and Office Depot would, presumably, help the combined company cut costs by eliminating duplicative positions and doing away with underperforming locations while giving it increased purchasing power and marketing clout, RetailWires George Anderson wrote.

According to theodpcorp.com, in Q2 2025, the company reported closing 60 retail stores (Office Depot + Office Max) over the prior 12-month period.

In 2024, it continued to close stores quietly, as there were reported closures in various locations that includes Placerville, CA; Nampa, ID; San Antonio, TX, per News Observer.

As of 2024, the company operated roughly 922 retail stores across both brands.

As of 2025, after closures over 12 months, the store count was around 830 locations, according to CT Insider.

As a result, the overall market is shrinking.

The office supply store industry has faced choppy waters recently, battling shrinking profit and declining demand due to digitalization and intense competition. In 2025, the industrys revenue will stand at $20.9 billion, reflecting a drop of 1.8% from the previous year. This decline aligns with the industrys overall five-year CAGR of -4.0%, IBISWorld reported.
Volkswagen has warned that profit targets are at risk amid supply disruption - Jens Schlueter/Getty

A chip maker dramatically taken over by the Dutch government is preparing to rapidly step up production outside of Beijings orbit.

Nexperia, which the Netherlands seized from its Chinese owner last month, is seeking to double production at its site in Malaysia, amid a Beijing trade embargo that threatens to bring car production to a standstill.

The companys chips, which are critical to car production, are manufactured in the UK and Germany, but 80pc of them are finished in China.

Beijing has blocked exports of the finished chips, threatening the supply of the components and leaving Europe with access to only a minority of products finished in Malaysia and the Philippines.

The company is now planning to double the capacity of its facility in the Malaysian city of Seremban over the next eight months, according to job adverts and executives posts on LinkedIn.

The plan is unlikely to prevent issues in the car industry over the coming weeks, but it could help ease concerns in the long run if the dispute continues.

The seizure of Nexperia has sparked a diplomatic row between Beijing and The Hague. Wingtech, Nexperias Chinese owner, warned last week that the Dutch company faced an existential threat with hundreds of jobs at risk.

The Hague seized Nexperia over concerns that its chief executive, Xuezheng Zhang, was moving intellectual property and operations outside of Europe, and misusing company funds for his self-enrichment.

Wingtech has denied this and demanded that Mr Zhang, who has been replaced as chief executive, be reinstated.

The seizure also came amid concerns that Nexperia could be affected by the US blacklisting its Chinese parent.

Chinese owner says Nexperia faces an existential threat - Matthew Horwood/Getty

Carmakers have warned that they will face severe disruptions if the blockade of finished chips from China continues. Modern cars typically contain hundreds of Nexperias low-cost circuits, which are used for controlling components like windows, windscreen wipers, door locks and mirrors. The company sells more than 110 billion products a year.

Amidst the supply disruption, Honda has cut back or suspended some production lines, while Volkswagen has warned that profit targets are at risk. Bosch, a major supplier to the car industry, has said it may have to furlough staff if the situation is not resolved.

Britains Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said on Friday: Whilst the sector has made efforts to diversify its supply chains, unless progress is made quickly at governmental level, vehicle production and market supply could be severely disrupted imminently.

Nexperia continued to send semiconductor wafers to China even after the Dutch government seized control of the company. However, last week it told customers that it had stopped supplying its Chinese operations. The company said it hoped to resume shipments in the future.
Florida State Sen. Randy Fine, right, speaks with college students, one holding a sign saying "Tucker is not MAGA," at the Republican Jewish Coalition conference at the Venetian Resort, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Thomas Beaumont) AP

By THOMAS BEAUMONT, The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP)  Concerns that antisemitism is on the rise among Republicans burst to the surface this weekend, turning a conference of the nations leading Jewish Republicans from jubilation over a tenuous ceasefire in the Middle East into a clarion call to stem the spread of anti-Jewish voices within the party.

The emerging schism was laid bare by a prominent conservative think tank presidents defense of talk show host Tucker Carlsons controversial decision to welcome a far-right activist with antisemitic views onto his podcast Thursday, and Carlsons hesitation to challenge some of his views. It prompted nearly every speaker who took the podium at the Republican Jewish Coalitions annual conference in Las Vegas to call for rooting out anti-Jewish elements in the GOP.

Still, the meetings proceedings sent a clear signal that the Republican Party has work to do to reconcile views within its ranks about the path forward for Israel in its relationship with the United States, its staunchest ally. But the voices speaking from the podium Friday and Saturday were united in their condemnation of antisemitism.

We are at this point in what I consider sort of the early stages of an undeclared civil war within the Republican Party, as it relates to Israel, and antisemitism and the Jewish community, Republican Jewish Coalition leader Matthew Brooks said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Dispute erupts over whether GOP has pivoted

Brooks and the dozens of other speakers who condemned antisemitism within the GOP from the stage before an audience of about 1,000 in the Venetian Resort ballroom in Las Vegas set an ominous tone that cut into the air of celebration many had anticipated over the October ceasefire.

FILE- Nick Fuentes right-wing podcaster, center, greets supporters before speaking at a pro-Trump march, Nov. 14, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) AP

Brooks had planned to fold some of his concerns into the three-day, annual conference of Republican Jewish elected officials, fundraisers, media personalities and activists. But comments made just before the meeting by Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts denying the conservative group was distancing itself from Carlson  a former Fox News host and powerful voice on the right  after his podcast hosted Nick Fuentes prompted a sudden pivot.

Fuentes has said the Holocaust was exaggerated, and that he believes in a global Jewish conspiracy. Carlson has espoused a white supremacist ideology called the great replacement theory, which says people of color are replacing white people and that Jews are furthering the change.

The video of Roberts comments sparked outrage from some Heritage staffers, senators and conservative activists. But they also reflect increasing skepticism toward Israel and of Jews among some on the right, complicating GOP efforts to cast the Democratic Party as antisemitic.

For months The Republican Jewish Coalition has been uneasy about Carlson, who has criticized U.S. support for Israel in its war with Hamas and has come under fire for his own far-right views. One is his opposition to Christian Zionism, the belief that some evangelical Christians interpret the Bible as promising the land of Israel eternally to the Jews, thus viewing Israel as belonging to the Jewish people.

Brooks had named others for contributing to the schism, including Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and conservative social media figure Candace Owens.

And its really going to be our challenge going forward to combat that before it has a chance to grow and metastasize in the Republican Party, Brooks told the AP.

That challenge was met by a steady chorus from the podium.

Sadly, were seeing antisemitism on the fringes of our own party, Tennessee Rep. David Kustoff lamented.

Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida later proclaimed: In our party we will not tolerate antisemitism.

Sen. Lindsay Graham tries to lighten the mood

Sen. Lindsay Graham sought to lighten the mood, calling himself a member of the Hitler-sucks wing of the Republican Party, prompting laughter. But even as he injected humor, the South Carolina Republican downplayed the threat Fuentes and others pose to the GOP.

You can sit in a basement with weird people and say weird things. Its a free country, right? he added. But if you ever run for office as a Republican, and you embrace this weird s(asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk), were going to beat your brains out.

Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks, center, alongside Ari Fleischer, an RJC board member and press secretary to former President George W. Bush, answers questions from members of the news media about confronting antisemitism within the Republican Party, during the coalition's annual conference at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP/Thomas Beaumont) AP

Fuentes, who is 27, has 1 million followers on the social media platform X, and his following is generations younger than Graham, who is 70. Brooks said the leak of a series of TeleGram text messages from National Young Republican leaders in New York, Kansas, Arizona and Vermont praising Hitler, joking about gas chambers and other atrocities, which was published last month by Politico, is a symptom of the division he and the coalition are trying to contain.

Perhaps that is why dozens of college-age Jewish Republicans attended the conference, cheekily waving red signs emblazoned with Tucker is not MAGA, a reference to President Donald Trumps Make-America-Great-Again mantra, during Florida Congressman Randy Fines presentation.

There was joy at the event, notably over the release of Israeli hostages, many held for more than two years since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, prompting two years of brutal retaliation in Gaza.

Im sure many of you have spent the last few weeks watching with joy and tears the joyful of Israels resilient heroes, reuniting with their loved ones, said Norm Coleman, a former Minnesota Senator and chairman of the coalitions board. It has been a deeply emotional time for all Jewry.

And the testimonials to Trump came from nearly all speakers, praising the Republican president for his role in brokering the ceasefire that resulted in the returned hostages.

When an image of Trump was cast on screens in the ballroom, the audience rose in cheers to hear his recorded 5-minute address to the group, in which he declared, No one has been a greater friend to Israel than Donald J. Trump.

Attendees watch a recorded video address by President Donald Trump during the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual summit at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Beaumont) AP

But even enthusiasm over his role was tempered by questions about the terms of the ceasefire, which required Hamas to disarm, disband and have no role in the future of Gaza. Several coalition members saw it as unlikely to hold, especially in light of Israels renewed strikes in Gaza after it claimed Hamas had violated the ceasefire terms by firing on Israeli soldiers.

Board member Bobby Schostak of Michigan suggested a lasting peace was possible but would take years.

I think were some distance away from that, he said.

Coleman was even more grim, suggesting that Hamas still must be completely eradicated.

If they are still part of the equation, he said. I think its going to be very difficult to hold.
A general view of the Orvis Flagship Store and Rod Factory on October 31, 2014 in Manchester, Vermont. (Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images) Getty Images

One of the countrys oldest outdoor retailers has announced that it will shutter nearly 40 locations in response to rising tariff costs.

The Orvis Company, which has been in business for 169 years, is set to close 31 stores and five outlets, per Fox Business. Orvis President Simon Perkins told Fox the move will begin a new chapter for the business and will allow a more focused retail store portfolio.

Fox said that Orvis roots date back to 1856, and it has kept its headquarters in Sunderland, Vermont during that time. The outlet said that Orvis has more than 550 domestic independent dealers and several national outdoor retailers.

Like many in retail, Orvis business model faced a sizable shift with the introduction of an unprecedented tariff landscape, Orvis President Simon Perkins told Fox.

He told Fox that in order for Orvis to ensure a durable brand and model for decades to come, we are focusing on our core strengths and making the difficult but necessary decision to rescale the business by tightening our assortment and reducing our corporate store footprint.

Fox said the company also plans to invest in areas such as gear, apparel, outdoor experiences, and conservation efforts, where it sees potential. It plans to phase out some older products.

Its about ensuring Orvis continues to lead in innovation, serve our angling and upland communities, and protect the wild places we love, Perkins said.

There is some good news for Orvis fans, though. Perkins said the company will offer special savings on Last Release styles that are on their way out and will offer substantial saving at closing locations.
There was a time in America when a big night out for a good steak dinner meant hitting up Sizzler.

But that time seems long ago now, and the once-popular chain has seen its numbers dwindle in recent years. Founded in 1958, Sizzler once had more than 700 locations across the country. It now has just 74.

And the road from 770-plus to 74 has not been pretty. Two bankruptcies  the first in 1996 and the second in 2000  have taken place on that journey, but Sizzler has somehow survived.

And now there is a plan for a comeback.

QSR Magazines Danny Klein recently spoke with Sizzlers Chief Growth Officer Robert Clark about the chains plan for a rebirth. Clark has been with Sizzler 41 years and has seen previous plans to revitalize the chain fail.

Our current leadership is much more focused on hey, lets take the best of Sizzler and lets make it even better, Clark told QSR.

So, whats the plan to make Sizzler a big-time player in the steak game again?

Well, per the QSR story, the chain focused on remodeling its stores and has seen positive results from that. That includes sales increases of around 47% in the remodeled locations. The chain is looking to continue making the updates.

We feel like we have a really great brand here, Clark told QSR. And our results have been very solid. We constantly pup up in pop culture. I think what were trying to do with the remodel is really stay relevant and have facilities and assets that meet our reputation. We understand that remodeling is probably the single biggest driver of guests in the restaurant. Its the most important thing I think we could do aside from a lot of other operational things were doing as well.

And, while the remodeling is key, getting back to its roots is also a major part of the plan.

Everything we did was trying to dig into what made Sizzler so great in the first place, Sizzler VP of Marketing Sasha Shennikov told QSR. Why we have some restaurants that have stood the test of time through different rebirths; why people keep coming back.
WILLIAMSPORT- One 15-year-old boy is dead and another wounded in what appear to be unrelated shootings in Williamsport on Halloween night.

The teen who was fatally shot was found lying in the 600 block of First Avenue, city police said. They did not release any other information.

The youth was transported to UPMC Williamsport with what they said was an apparent gunshot wound to the lower abdomen.

He died in the operating room, Lycoming County Coroner Charles E Kiesling Jr. said Saturday. He did not release his name but said an autopsy will be conducted Tuesday.

Police responded to First Avenue shooting from one in a residence in the 800 block of Park Avenue where they said the other teen was shot twice in the chest during a party.

He, too, was taken to UPMC Williamsport but his condition is not known.

There are no suspects in the fatal shooting, Lycoming County District Attorney Thomas A. Marino said. The investigation is in the early stages but it appears the shootings are not related, he said.

The accused shooter in the Park Avenue incident, Zaire M. Jones-Wallace, 25, of Williamsport, is jailed without bail.

He is charged with attempted third-degree murder, aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and possession of an instrument of crime.

City police said they were dispatched at 11:19 p.m. Friday to the Park Avenue address and when they arrived, they observed a large crowd leaving the residence.

The following, taken from the arrest affidavit, are witness accounts of the incident:

Jones-Wallace arrived at the party and began arguing with his ex-girlfriend who asked the host to make him leave.

As Jones-Wallace was leaving, the ex-girlfriend kicked him in the back. He turned and tried to punch her but missed.

Other partygoers intervened and began fighting with Jones-Wallace. That is when the shooting occurred.

A video provided police by a partygoer showed Jones-Wallace and the shooting victim fighting in the middle of a room.

The youth had hold of Jones-Wallace hair with his left hand and was punching in head and shoulder with his right.

Jones-Wallace put up his left hand to push back the 15-year-old, pointed his right hand at him and that is when he is accussed of firing two shots.

An arrest warrant was obtained for Jones-Wallace and while attempts were being made to locate him, police said he turned himself in at their headquarters.

Jones-Wallace has no criminal record, authorities said.
The Hanover Halloween Parade float contained a lookalike of this sign at the main entrance at the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz in Poland. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) AP

The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg released a statement Sunday responding to a Halloween parade float with imagery connected to the Holocaust that was entered in the Hanover Halloween Parade.

That parade took place on Thursday night.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg is deeply disturbed by and unequivocally condemns the ignorant and upsetting display depicting the gates of the Auschwitz concentration camp at the Hanover Halloween Parade, it wrote. The depiction of these painful symbols - outside of an educational setting - is never acceptable. This incident sadly reflects the unsettling rise in hate, ignorance, and antisemitism in Pennsylvania and across the nation.

The float was entered by the St. Joseph School in Hanover. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg and the designer of the float were quick to apologize for the imagery.

The federation said they welcomed the dioceses statement and hope that the incident could be educational and raise awareness on why Holocaust imagery is disturbing and harmful.

Our community, the synagogues, and local Jewish agencies are in the process of contacting officials at the institutions involved and extending an invitation to partner for opportunities that may bring better understanding to the history of these symbols and images and help to ensure that Never Again is a reality, the federation wrote.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg noted that it has two upcoming Holocaust educational programs: the Annual Kristallnacht Commemoration on Nov. 11 and The Third Reich of Dreams with Amanda Rubin on Nov. 16. For more information and events, visit the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburgs website.

The designer of the float told PennLive he had no ill intent and was deeply sorry. The float depicted what appeared to be the main gate of the Auschwitz concentration camp with the phrase Arbeit Macht Frei, which translates to Work Makes You Free. Historians estimate that around 1.1 million people died in Auschwitz during the Holocaust.

The designer said he was attempting to create imagery of a cemetery and researched imagery online. He said he did not realize the impact of the phrase.

Outcry came after members of the Hanover Area Watch Group noticed the float and were horrified by the imagery.
By William Lambers

Its an American tradition to help those struck by disasters like Hurricane Melissa which has just devastated the Caribbean. Americas generous spirit is needed as millions of people have been impacted by the hurricanes severely damaging winds, rain and flooding.

Melissa was one of the most powerful storms with winds reaching 185 mph.

We can help hurricane victims by donating to relief efforts, but also encouraging our elected officials to support humanitarian aid.

In Jamaica, homes have been destroyed and communities lie in ruin after Hurricane Melissa tore through the country. All of Jamaica has been declared a disaster area. With all the damage sustained in Jamaica, there is the fear of hunger and disease in the aftermath. Food shortages and a lack of medicine always follow a disaster.

UNICEF is one of the charities in Jamaica providing clean water, nutrition and hygiene supplies for children. With any disaster children are at risk of malnutrition. UNICEF estimates that 250,000 children in Jamaica were severely affected by the hurricane.

We are very much concerned about the nutrition situation of children, not only now but during the next few months, even years. The capacity to produce food and to produce what they need will be very much affected and also the capacity to provide supplies and medicines said UNICEF Jamaica Representative Olga Isaza.

Lots of aid will be needed to recover from this disaster and give people food and shelter. American generosity can fuel the recovery with donations to help Jamaica and the other nations.

UNICEF estimates 700,000 children were affected by the storm across the Caribbean. Cuba, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas were also impacted by Hurricane Melissa and need our help.

So, too, was Haiti where fatalities have been reported from the storm and the potential for flooding and landslides continue. Even before the hurricane arrived, Haiti was suffering one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in the world. Gang violence has caused extreme chaos in Haiti, displacing families throughout the country.

Hunger and poverty have also worsened. Around half of the population, 5.7 million people, is facing severe hunger in Haiti. Adding to this tragedy is the lack of donations for the crisis as the United States has scaled back humanitarian aid.

The UN World Food Program (WFP) issued a warning earlier in October that its relief mission in Haiti faces pipeline breaks because of funding shortages. Rations have already been cut including hot meals that were being served to displaced families.

Hunger and poverty will get even worse if the aid funding shortages continue, leaving Haiti little chance to recover.

Humanitarian aid from America can lead the way to help our neighbors in need. Everyone can help out by donating to the relief efforts of UNICEF, WFP, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children, Mercy Corps and others working in the storm affected areas. These agencies need funding to tackle these massive emergencies.

We know from experience that the most vulnerable members of society  women, children, and the elderly  can be the hardest impacted by disasters so its critical that were able to reduce this as much as possible and speed up recovery, said Lola Castro, WFP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean

Its also important to remind your elected officials to boost funding for global humanitarian aid. U.S. aid programs can help the Caribbean nations but need adequate funding from Congress. Its urgent to save lives and to help nations recover from disasters and wars.

Sadly, this year the U.S. has been cutting a lot of humanitarian aid which actually represents a relatively tiny part of the federal budget. We could certainly be increasing food and other life-saving aid to help nations that are suffering. That is what we have always done as a nation. We need to remind our leaders about this spirit of American generosity.

Right now people in Jamaica and other nations of the Caribbean have lost their homes and livelihoods after Hurricane Melissa. But we have the power to help them by sending humanitarian aid. The generous spirit of America lies within each of us, and together it makes a powerful force that can change the world.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book Ending World Hunger.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman noted Saturday night on Fox News Channels My View with Lara Trump, hosted by the presidents daughter-in-law, that hell get grief for sitting down with her.

Still, he said, having conversations is really important.

We cant ever collectively turn our back to others, and people are increasingly forgetting to remember that we really need each other, Fetterman said.

Both Democrats and Republicans are feeling the effects of a federal government shutdown. Fetterman was one of three Democrats to side with a Republican bill that wouldve paid certain federal workers during the shutdown.

Ive been really consistent on this, he said. Now, whether its a Republican or Democrat, whatevers driving the shutdown, thats always wrong. I dont care whos behind it. Its always wrong and here we are, and Ive maintained that.

He added:" I refuse to shut our government down and risk food insecurity to 42 million Americans, whether its red or blue countries  I mean, counties, excuse me. Its like people and Republicans and Democrats get hungry and they need these  and they deserve these kinds of support, and I refuse to engage in bad political theater. I think thats a betrayal of one of our core responsibilities."

Fetterman has broken with his party on multiple issues, including immigration and on Israel, although he only votes with the president 6% of the time. He said his views represent all of Pennsylvania, not just the Democrats.

Well, I mean, a lot of people forget or dont understand the state that I am honored to represent  Pennsylvania, perhaps the most purple state in the country. And I am not just representing Democrats, Im representing 13 million Pennsylvanians," Fetterman said. And now, I refuse to call members of the other team as fascists or Nazis or those other kinds of thing because if you do, then that implies that  well, the people that vote for them must be the same as, too, and thats absolutely not true.

He continued to promote conversations between Democrats and Republicans, saying politicians can oppose each other on the floor but still value each other as humans. He condemned political violence, especially in the wake of Charlie Kirks death.

We have to work together. Thats how it works, he said. Some terms, were in the majority. Sometimes, were in the minority. You know, thats why we all work together. Thats the way democracy is, Fetterman said.

Fettermans conversations with Republicans have garnered pushback, especially as he leans to the right on issues like border security.

Fetterman said Democrats have done a bad job about our border, although he said he is pro-immigration. He was the first democrat to sponsor the Laken Riley Act in January, which forces federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants for minor offenses.

He also expressed disappointment in the way he perceives Democrats have backed away from Israel.

Thats our key ally, and they have the kinds of values that we live and what we aspire here in our nation, Fetterman said.

The Sen. John Fetterman interview with Lara Trump took place on Saturday night. Fox News

After his sit-down conversation, he took the host on a tour of his office. During that time, he discussed his physical and mental health. Fetterman suffered a stroke in 2022, when he first ran for Senate, and has been open about his struggle with depression.

He said that hes had people, even members of Congress and staff members in Congress, talk to him about their mental health struggles. He said he feels like hes paying it forward, and said his message to people is to stay in this game of life.

And now, the truth is, regardless of if youre a U.S. senator or if you are a veteran, whoever you are, the depression doesnt pick just blue or red. It picks all of us, or can, Fetterman said.

He concluded the interview by saying he is glad to represent the state he does.

Its a pleasure to represent Pennsylvania, Fetterman said. In the middle of all of the chaos and the upheaval, I just want to be the responsible voice in the middle of it.
Central Pennsylvania will experience seasonable fall conditions through Tuesday before several rounds of showers move in midweek. Today will be partly sunny with temperatures reaching the mid-50s to low 60s.

The region is currently positioned in a dry zone between weather systems affecting the Great Lakes and southern Appalachians.

This favorable pattern will maintain mostly clear to partly cloudy skies tonight with overnight lows between 30 and 40 degrees. Light winds and dry conditions will persist through Monday morning.

A moisture-starved cold front will cross the area Monday, bringing breezy conditions that will extend into Tuesday. Wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph are expected across the northwestern half of central Pennsylvania, with isolated showers possible in the northern tier downwind of Lake Erie on Monday afternoon.

Temperatures will remain seasonal but trend slightly lower on Tuesday, with highs in the lower 50s to near 60 degrees.

The weather pattern shifts on Wednesday as a series of fast-moving systems brings multiple rounds of precipitation. The first significant chance for showers arrives Wednesday evening through Thursday afternoon.

Additional periods of rain are expected between Friday evening and Sunday, with each system accompanied by breezy to windy conditions.

For higher elevations in the northwest mountains, theres a marginal chance of mixed rain and snow showers on Wednesday night, with a more robust signal for snow showers on Saturday night into Sunday. Travelers in these areas should monitor forecasts as the weekend approaches.

The overall weather pattern through the week features a low-amplitude zonal flow across the country, allowing these progressive weather systems to move quickly from west to east, bringing periodic precipitation and gusty winds to the region.

Current weather radar

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by PennLive.com staff.
Retail

Online marketplace platform Etsy has named current president and chief growth officer Kruti Patel Goyal as its next CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Its current chief executive officer, Josh Silverman, is stepping down, effective Dec. 31, after nearly nine years in the role. While that leadership change will take effect in the future, Silvermans transition to executive chairman is immediate. Fred Wilson, chair of the board since 2017, is stepping down from the position but will continue to serve on Etsys board.

French couture house Lanvin Group has announced Jiyang Han as chief financial officer. With nearly two decades of experience, Han will oversee the groups financial planning and analysis, accounting and controllership, financial management, treasury and investor relations as well as investment and financing projects. Han succeeds David Chan, whose planned departure as executive president and CFO was made effective Oct. 27.

More from Sourcing Journal

Gena Smith

Portfolio of American lifestyle brands J.Crew Group has named Gena Smith as chief human resources officer. Smith will oversee all aspects of the groups HR function, from talent acquisition and employee engagement to leadership development and inclusion and belonging. Smith joins from LVMH North America, where she served as chief human resources officer and previously held several senior leadership roles, including senior vice president of human resources and head of global executive and creative recruitment.

Resale marketplace Poshmark has named Heather Friedland as its first chief product officer. Friedland will lead the companys product strategy, roadmap and execution to drive growth and innovation. She previously served as chief product officer at Ancestry, with earlier experiences at Glassdoor and eBay as well.

Denim division operating company One Jeanswear Group has named industry veteran Chris Waldeck as chief executive officer. With more than three decades of experience with global players, Waldecks career spans omni-channel strategy across North America, Asia and Europe. He most recently served as president and co-chief operating officer of Kontoor Brands and previously held senior roles at the Adidas Group.

Brands

Oofos

Active recovery footwear brand Oofos announced a new leadership structure. Co-founder Lou Panaccione will serve as co-chief executive officer with footwear industry insider Angel Martinez, who joined the companys board of directors in February. Martinez will oversee sales and marketing as well as brand and product creation, while Panaccione will focus on product development, operations, supply chain, finance and culture.
Freerolls, Tournaments, and Epic Prizes Make Up the 888poker Global Poker League

Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link

November 9 sees the first-ever 888poker Global Poker League tournament take place, and you do not want to miss it. The Global Poker League is the latest ongoing 888poker promotion, one that revolves around bringing your A-game to the tables in an attempt to win yourself a package to an 888poker LIVE event of your choice.

The Global Poker League format is simple. Freeroll qualifiers run Thursday through Saturday, with a $5.50 buy-in, $1,000 guaranteed Global Poker League event on Sunday. You earn valuable leaderboard points based on the Sunday tournament's field size and your finishing position. Be one of the top 20 performers in the Global Poker League each month to get your hands on a prize.

Players residing in Belarus, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, and Ukraine are not eligible for this promotion

888poker Global Poker League Prizes

Vivian Saliba

Whoever comes out on top of each monthly Global Poker League receives a package to an 888poker LIVE event of their choosing, while the runner-up receives an 888poker LIVE event entry.

A $250 Main Event ticket for one of 888poker's online series is awarded to the third-place finisher, meaning you could fight it out in the XL Spring Series Main Event for free early into 2026.

Perhaps the most interesting prize is awarded to the league's fourth-place finishers. That 888poker player gets to enjoy a 30-minute Zoom call with an 888poker ambassador of their choice, where they can discuss any subject. If you've ever wanted to pick Ian Simpson's brains about ICM, or ask Vivian Saliba about Pot-Limit Omaha strategy, this is your chance.

Rank Prize 1 Live Event package to an event of your choice 2 Live Event entry 3 Main Event ticket for the online series of your choice (up to $250) 4 1-to-1 session, up to 30-minutes, with an ambassador of your choice 5-10 $109 tournament ticket 11-20 888poker pack, including a backpack, hat, and playing cards

888poker Global Poker League Schedule for November

Four Global Poker League tournaments are scheduled for November 9, 16, 23, and 30. Each costs $5.50 to enter and boasts a $1,000 guaranteed prize pool. Freeroll qualifiers run on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, feeding into Sunday's event. Each of those freerolls guarantees 50x $5.50 seats.

To enter the Global Poker League freerolls, you'll need a password. You can learn that password by following 888poker on Instagram and commenting on the dedicated Instagram post. Doing so will send you a direct message with the password.

How to Earn Global Poker League Points

Points for the 888poker Global Poker League are awarded based on the Sunday tournaments' field size and your finishing position. For example, if you come out on top in a $5.50 Global Poker League tournament that has 500 entrants, you would receive 500 points. Second-place would earn 499 points, and so on.

Anyone who plays all four tournaments during the month receives an additional 10 points, while a weekly contest on 888poker's Instagram page will see five players each receive 50 points.

Join 888poker Today

You'll need an 888poker account if you want to become a Global Poker League champion. Those who already enjoy everything 888poker offers can jump straight into the action. If you don't have an account, download 888poker via PokerNews. Doing so ensures you are eligible for the biggest and best 888poker welcome bonus, which will add even more value to your Global Poker League grind.

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Toni Ravnak raised to 60,000 from early position, picking up a caller before the action got to Darren Harbinson in the big blind. Harbinson opted for a three-bet, placing 235,000 into the middle. Ravnak called, but the other player folded.

The dealer provided a 4Q5 flop, seeing Harbinson continue for 125,000, which again, Ravnak called.

The turn A did nothing to slow the action, with Harbinson moving all in for roughly 840,000. Ravnak wasn't interested, returning his cards to the dealer almost immediately.
The atmosphere at the start of the day was one of anticipation and expectation as 298 hopefuls returned to the Portomaso Casino in St. Julian's, looking to take one step closer to glory in the Malta Poker Festival 550 Grand Event.

After a short speech from the tournament director, congratulating the players on their current achievement and wishing them well for the day, and a well-earned round of applause for all the staff making the event as well run and enjoyable as it has been, shuffle up and deal was announced.

With each player already guaranteed a minimum payout, the action was fast and furious from beginning to end, as everybody looked to accumulate as many chips as they could in preparation for Day 3.

When the dust settled, 30 of the returning 298 players survived the day, progressing to Day 3.

Taking control, it was Toni Ravnak who secured the most successful day at the tables. Putting 7,030,000 chips into his bag, he will return to Day 3 hoping he can recreate his Day 2 fortunes.

There was no shortage of big stacks progressing, though, and in hot pursuit of the chip leader, Manuel Persico and Benjamin Nicault complete the podium places, bagging 6,470,000 and 6,025,000, respectively.

End of Day 2 Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Toni Ravnak Serbia 7,030,000 59 2 Manuel Persico Italy 6,470,000 54 3 Benjamin Nicault France 6,025,000 50 4 Giuseppe Bellinghieri Italy 5,945,000 50 5 Lars Viggander Sweden 5,700,000 48 6 Joris Ruijs Netherlands 5,415,000 45 7 Kristian Dahl Norway 4,190,000 35 8 Vester Vergeest Netherlands 3,900,000 33 9 Gareth Howard United Kingdom 3,815,000 32 10 Laus Kunde Germany 3,750,000 31

Ferdinand Janssen

With chips flying and stacks swinging, not all those who sat down at the start of the day were able to stay the course. Notably, neither Jon Kyte nor Ferdinand Janssen could find the momentum required, eventually succumbing to the deck in 83rd place and 153rd place, respectively.

Others to fall throughout the day included three Day 1 flight chip leaders. Mitja Rudolf (34th), Gordon Paterson (106th), and Julien Stropoli (198th) were unable to find the same heat that saw them progress top of their respective flights.

The remaining players have now progressed to Day 3, which will take place on Monday, November 2, at 2:00 p.m. local time.

The plan for Day 3 is to play down until the final table has been reached. Blinds will resume at Level 22 - 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 big blind ante.

Remaining Payouts

Place Prize Place Prize 1  141,000 10-11  10,200 2  86,420 12-13  8,440 3  61,560 14-15  7,040 4  47,220 16-17  5,859 5  36,330 18-20  4,860 6  28,650 21-23  4,060 7  22,070 24-27  3,360 8  17,040 28-30  2,920 9  12,830

For coverage of Day 3 and beyond, be sure to stay tuned as PokerNews brings you chip counts, updates, and all the action from the 550 Malta Poker Festival Grand Event here in Portomaso.
Investors and analysts have spent much of the year embracing the view that the oil market, which has been in oversupply mode, is heading straight for a glut through 2026  and that glut could reach as high as 4 million barrels per day (b/d) and depress global prices even further along the way.

That scenario is still with us, according to industry experts. But a surprise announcement last Wednesday of sanctions levied by the US Treasury against Russia's two largest oil producers has changed the calculus.

The bottom line: The oil glut  currently sitting around 1.9 million barrels per day  will almost certainly continue through 2026. But thanks to geopolitical curveballs, it may not grow to be quite as large as previously expected.

For the oil sector, a lighter glut could mean support for prices in an industry already hurting. For consumers, it could mean slightly higher-than-expected prices at the pump for gasoline, as crude oil makes up roughly half of the cost.

Futures on Brent crude (BZ=F), the global benchmark, are down more than 13% since the beginning of the year, hovering around $64. The US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (CL=F), has done the same and is down more than 14% to trade around $60.

But the two benchmarks have spent the last six months trading relatively flat.

On the one hand, demand has remained relatively strong throughout the year. China has been stockpiling reserves beyond its domestic need, which has "soaked up a lot of the surplus" that might have otherwise pushed prices down, said Jim Burkhard, vice president of oil markets, energy, and mobility at S&P Global.

Outside of China, Middle Eastern demand for the year held firmer than expected, and India has upped its purchases as Russian crude got cheaper, said Mizuho oil and gas senior analyst Nitin Kumar.

At the same time, the OPEC+ cartel, a group of major oil-exporting countries, has raised its production targets every month for six months straight, most recently agreeing in early October to bump up production by another 137,000 b/d. There are now close to 1.4 billion barrels globally sitting on tankers at sea after a record 10-week-long run-up, and China can only hold so much oil, even as the country looks to build more storage capacity.

"In one sense, the fundamentals are healthy," Burkhard said. "But there is a wave of oil that is hitting the market now ... that's going to need to find a home."

The most recent projection from the International Energy Agency predicts that oversupply could reach an "untenable" four billion b/d in 2026, doubling the average surplus level of 1.9 million b/d between January and September.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 35F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 35F. Winds light and variable.
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

The controversial pardon of Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao by President Donald Trump has reportedly been linked to a substantial boost in the market capitalization of the Trump familys cryptocurrency venture.

Task Force Tied To Trump Crypto Deal

Binance formed a high-level task force following Trumps election victory to negotiate a deal with the Trumps emerging cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial, reported The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. This deal was allegedly intended to secure a pardon for Zhao.

Before World Liberty launched its dollar-pegged cryptocurrency, USD1, Binance assigned a team of more than a dozen engineers to develop the technology behind it, as per the publication.

Trending: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it?

The exchange later facilitated a deal in which an Emirati state investor acquired a minority stake in Binance for $2 billion  a payment reportedly made using USD1. The move substantially increased World Liberty's market capitalization and expanded its influence, fueling demand for its other cryptocurrency, WLFI.

The WSJ also reported that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, co-founder of World Liberty, recently said he was confident a pardon would be granted.

Binance and World Liberty did not respond to Benzingas requests for comment.

Binance Under Scrutiny After Zhaos Pardon

The U.S. banned Binance in 2023 for anti-money-laundering violations, accusing CEO Zhao of enabling sanctioned and criminal groups, including Iranian exchanges, Russian traffickers, and Hamas, to move billions through the platform. Zhao also pleaded guilty in the same year.

See Also: Missed Nvidia and Tesla? RAD Intel Could Be the Next AI Powerhouse  Invest Now at Just $0.81 a Share

Despite the pardon, Binances recent activities continue to invite scrutiny. Binance.US was recently accused by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) of promoting Trump family-backed cryptocurrencies as a way of repaying favors following Zhaos pardon. Binance.US defended its actions as a routine business decision, stating that it conducts comprehensive due diligence and legal review before listing any asset.

The pardon of Zhao has also sparked significant debate in Washington. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) recently introduced a Senate resolution condemning Trumps decision.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 1, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Molina Healthcare, Inc. ("Molina" or the "Company") (NYSE:MOH). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Molina and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until December 2, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Molina securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On July 7, 2025, Molina issued a press release announcing financial results for the second quarter of 2025 and slashing full year 2025 adjusted earnings per share guidance. The press release reported second quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of approximately $5.50 per share, which was "below . . . prior expectations" due to "medical cost pressures in all three lines of business." The Company also announced that it "expects these medical cost pressures to continue into the second half of the year" and cut guidance for expected adjusted earnings per share 10.2% at the midpoint, from "at least $24.50 per share" to a "range of $21.50 to $22.50 per share." The press release revealed Molina was experiencing a "short-term earnings pressure" from a "dislocation between premium rates and a medical cost trend which has recently accelerated." On this news, Molina's stock price fell $6.97 per share, or 2.9%, to close at $232.61 per share on July 7, 2025.Then, on July 23, 2025, Molina issued a press release reporting its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025 and further slashing the Company's full-year 2025 earnings guidance. The press release revealed, in part, that the Company's "GAAP net income was $4.75 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2025, a decrease of 8% year over year;" and it "now expects its full year 2025 adjusted earnings to be no less than $19.00 per diluted share." This represented another 13.6% cut to guidance of earnings per share at the midpoint, from the cut to guidance announced less than two weeks earlier. Molina also cut its guidance for its full year 2025 GAAP net income 27% to $912 million. Molina attributed its results a full year outlook to a "challenging medical cost trend environment," including mere "utilization of behavioral health, pharmacy, and inpatient and outpatient services." The Company claimed that its guidance cut also reflected "new information gained in the quarterly closing process." On this news, Molina's stock price fell $32.03 per share, or 16.84%, to close at $158.22 per share on July 24, 2025.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.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 1, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against WPP Plc ("WPP" or the "Company") (NYSE:WPP). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether WPP and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until December 8, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired WPP securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On July 9, 2025, WPP published a trading update for the first half of 2025, advising investors that the Company had "seen a deterioration in performance as Q2 has progressed." The Company attributed its misfortune to both "continued macro uncertainty weighing on client spend and weaker net new business than originally anticipated," at least in part due to "some distraction to the business" as a result of the continued restructuring of WPP Media.On this news, WPP's American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") price fell $6.48 per ADR, or 18.09%, to close at $29.34 per ADR on July 9, 2025.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.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 2, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Quanex Building Products Corporation ("Quanex" or the "Company") (NYSE:NX). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Quanex and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until November 18, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Quanex 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 September 4, 2025, after the market closed, Quanex announced its financial results for the third quarter of its 2025 fiscal year. Quanex disclosed, among other things, that ongoing "operational issues related to the legacy Tyman window and door hardware business in Mexico" had "impacted results more than expected[.]" Quanex also disclosed that it was "adjusting for lower expected volumes and pushing oug the timing of when [it] expect[s] to realize procurement savings" from integration of the Tyman business. Then, on September 5, 2025, Quanex held an earnings call to discuss the quarter's financial results. During the call, Chief Executive Officer George Wilson explained that the operational challenges at Tyman "negatively impacted EBITDA in the Hardware Solutions segment by almost $5 million in the third quarter alone." Wilson explained that the issue had been "identified midyear" and described the systems used to "anticipate and plan for tooling repairs" as significantly deficient.On this news, Quanex's stock price fell $2.73 per share, or 13.06%, to close at $18.18 per share on September 5, 2025.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.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / November 1, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Fluor Corporation ("Fluor" or the "Company") (NYSE:FLR) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, and docketed under 25-cv-xxx, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Fluor securities between February 18, 2025 and July 31, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired Fluor securities during the Class Period, you have until November 14, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]Fluor provides engineering, procurement, and construction ("EPC"), fabrication and modularization, and project management services worldwide. The Company operates through three segments: Urban Solutions, Energy Solutions, and Mission Solutions.Throughout 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, Fluor's Urban Solutions segment accounted for the largest portion of the Company's revenue and profit. The Urban Solutions segment offers EPC and project management services to the advanced technologies and manufacturing, life sciences, mining and metals, and infrastructure industries, as well as provides professional staffing services. The Company's infrastructure projects in this segment include work on, inter alia, the Gordie Howe International Bridge ("Gordie Howe"), as well as the Interstate 365 Lyndon B. Johnson ("I-635/LBJ") and Interstate 35E ("I-35") highways in Texas.In February 2025, Fluor provided financial guidance for the full year ("FY") of 2025, including adjusted EBITDA of $575 million to $675 million and adjusted earnings per share ("EPS") of $2.25 per share to $2.75 per share. Defendants reaffirmed the foregoing financial guidance in May 2025, notwithstanding their acknowledgement of the potential negative impacts of ongoing economic uncertainty on Fluor's business resulting from trade tensions and other market conditions. Contemporaneously, Defendants touted, inter alia, the purported health and stability of Fluor's and its customers' operations and the strength of the Company's risk mitigation strategy, both for itself and its clients.The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding Fluor's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) costs associated with the Gordie Howe, I-635/LBJ, and I-35 projects were growing because of, inter alia, subcontractor design errors, price increases, and scheduling delays; (ii) the foregoing, as well as customer reduction in capital spending and client hesitation around economic uncertainty, was having, or was likely to have, a significant negative impact on the Company's business and financial results; (iv) accordingly, Fluor's financial guidance for FY 2025 was unreliable and/or unrealistic, the effectiveness of the Company's risk mitigation strategy was overstated, and the impact of economic uncertainty on the Company's business and financial results was understated; and (v) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On August 1, 2025, Fluor issued a press release reporting its financial results for the second quarter ("Q2") of 2025. Among other results, the press release reported Q2 non-GAAP EPS of $0.43, missing consensus estimates by $0.13, and revenue of $3.98 billion, representing a 5.9% year-over-year decline and missing consensus estimates by $570 million. Defendants blamed these disappointing results on, inter alia, growing costs in multiple infrastructure projects due to subcontractor design errors, price increases, and scheduling delays, as well as reduced capital spending by customers. The same press release also provided a negatively revised financial outlook for FY 2025, guiding to adjusted EBITDA of $475 million to $525 million, down significantly from Defendants' prior guidance of $575 million to $675 million, and adjusted EPS of $1.95 per share to $2.15 per share, down significantly from Defendants' prior guidance of $2.25 per share to $2.75 per share, citing "client hesitation around economic uncertainty and its impact on new awards and project delays and results for the quarter[.]"The same day, Fluor hosted a conference call with investors and analysts to discuss the Company's Q2 2025 financial results. During that call, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Defendant James R. Breuer, disclosed that the infrastructure projects that had negatively impacted Fluor's Q2 2025 results were the Gordie Howe, I-635/LBJ, and I-35 projects.Following the foregoing disclosures, Fluor's stock price fell $15.35 per share, or 27.04%, to close at $41.42 per share on August 1, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
Aurora International Charity Foundation (AICF) has partnered with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) to hold the second edition of the Catch Them Young Environmental Awareness Convention, which aims to impact young people in Lagos.

With the theme, Our Lagos, Our Future: Inspiring Young Minds for Sustainable Change, the summit will be held on Tuesday, 11 November, in Lagos, to address turning young minds into formidable leaders.

The summit is expected to attract over 1,500 students from Lagos public secondary schools, teachers, eco-advocates, influencers, celebrities, youth leaders, and policymakers.

Young leaders

Tomi Salami, an ex-beauty queen and convener, said the summit was a bold call to action, focusing on building a generation of environmentally conscious young leaders.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, she added that the summit can equip young leaders with the knowledge, creativity and civic responsibility to safeguard Lagos long-term sustainability.

With Lagos rapidly urbanising and facing increasing climate impact and environmental pressure, Aurora International Charity Foundation and LASEPA share a joint commitment to strengthening ecological education at the student level as a long-term behavioural change strategy.

The president said, Lagos is not just a place we live, it is a legacy for which we are all responsible. To protect our future, we must start by educating those who will inherit it.

Summit highlights

Also, Ms Salami, a social entrepreneur, reiterated that the convention would feature keynote sessions, eco-challenges, interactive panels, awards, climate education engagements and inspirational storytelling from role models driving environmental impact across Nigeria.

It will also serve as a platform to nurture leadership, community advocacy, innovation and civic responsibility among young Lagosians who will one day shape policy direction, sustainable business models, and community action, she stated.

The convener has been on a mission to advocate for clean energy, climate action, and environmental protection through Aurora International Charity Foundation.

Along the way, the former beauty Queen established a track record of successfully impacting adults, youths, and children across the country using various education, welfare, empowerment, and health platforms.

Similarly, this years edition will build on the success of her 2024 debut, which convened nearly 1,000 students in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, and received strong public endorsement for youth participation in sustainability initiatives.
Thirty years after the murder of Yitzhak Rabin, an estimated 150,000 people in Tel Aviv paid tribute to the former prime minister late Saturday, according to Israeli media reports.

Those were different times, when leaders still took responsibility  in words and deeds.

Responsibility  that is exactly what Israel longs for today, said former chief of general staff Gadi Eisenkot to the applause of the participants in Tel Avivs central Rabin Square.

He was alluding to criticism levelled by many Israelis at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who denies responsibility for any mistakes in connection with the massacre led by Palestinian militant organisation Hamas on 7 October 2023.

A Jewish fanatic shot Mr Rabin dead on 4 November 1995, after a peace rally to prevent concessions to the Palestinians.

The murder was preceded by right-wing Israeli extremist incitement against the prime minister.

Thirty years ago, at the terrible height of an unrestrained smear campaign, Yitzhak Rabin was walking down the stairs when a despicable assassin fired three bullets, murdering the prime minister and destroying the peace process, the organisers of the commemoration said, according to the Times of Israel newspaper.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed similar sentiments, saying: The three bullets that were fired here in the square were not only meant to kill a leader, but to extinguish an idea.

The Oslo peace process, agreed with the Palestinians in 1993, was already in crisis before the assassination.

READ ALSO: Trump threatens to deploy US military to Nigeria over false genocide allegation

Nevertheless, Mr Rabins death marked a decisive turning point that severely damaged the Oslo peace process politically.

The two-state solution sought by Mr Rabin is now considered difficult to realise and is rejected by Mr Netanyahu.

Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly been accused of having contributed to the political climate that made the attack more likely.

One month before the assassination, for example, he spoke at a demonstration in Jerusalem where protesters held up posters depicting Mr Rabin in a Nazi uniform.

Rabins assassination was the direct result of polarisation and incitement, said Mr Eisenkot.

In a TV interview shortly before Rabins assassination, the current far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, showed an emblem broken off the prime ministers official limousine and threatened: We can reach Rabin.

(dpa/NAN)
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has expressed deep concern over the abduction of Tochukwu Mbanugo, a consultant neurosurgeon with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State.

According to a statement signed by Iziaq Salako on Sunday, Mr Mbanugo was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Thursday, 30 October 2025, around the Omatha Junction in Uruagu, Nnewi, while returning home after a long day in the operating theatre.

Earlier that day, the ministry noted, the neurosurgeon had performed several complex surgical procedures, including the resection of a brain tumour, saving the lives of critically ill patients.

His abduction occurred at the very point where he should have been safest, returning home from serving humanity, the statement read.

It added that contact was later established by the abductors using the doctors phone to reach some of his colleagues.

The incident has been formally reported to the Anambra State Police Command, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad, and local vigilante groups.

The ministry also highlighted the severe shortage of neurosurgeons in the country.

It noted that Nigeria has fewer than 150 practising neurosurgeons serving over 220 million people, a ratio of one neurosurgeon to 1.9 million citizens, far below the World Health Organisation (WHO) benchmark of one per 100,000 people.

Rescue efforts

According to the statement, the management of NAUTH is collaborating with security agencies, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and other stakeholders to ensure his safe return.

The ministry strongly condemned the incident and all forms of violence against healthcare workers, describing them as national assets who must be protected and respected.

It urged the Anambra State government and all relevant security agencies to intensify efforts toward locating Mr Mbanugo and ensuring his immediate and safe release, unharmed and unconditionally.

We stand firmly in solidarity with his family, colleagues, NAUTH management, the neurosurgical community, the NMA, and the entire health sector at this painful time.
The federal government has announced plans to release N11.995 billion within 72 hours for the payment of outstanding arrears, including accoutrement allowance, to doctors and other health workers across the country.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare stated that the move is part of efforts to address welfare concerns raised by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and restore industrial harmony in the healthcare sector.

In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the ministrys Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, the government reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to ensuring that the welfare, motivation, and stability of Nigerias health workforce remain central to its reform agenda.

The assurance follows a meeting led by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, with the leadership of NARD amid an indefinite nationwide strike by resident doctors that began Saturday midnight.

Payment and other arrears

The ministry stated that the approval followed President Bola Tinubus directive to ensure the immediate settlement of arrears owed to health workers, including NARD members.

It noted that N10 billion had earlier been paid in August 2025 as part of the seven months arrears for the 25 to 35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical and Health Salary Structures (CONMESS and CONHESS).

Another N21.3 billion has also been transferred to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) account for disbursement.

In addition, the sum of N11.995 billion is being processed for release within 72 hours to pay other arrears, including accoutrement allowance, the statement said.

All these payments are being enjoyed by members of NARD in accordance with the salary structure in the health sector.

The ministry added that N10.6 billion had also been released as full payment for the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), which supports the professional development of resident doctors nationwide.

Recruitment to address brain drain

Also, the federal government said that it has granted special waivers for the massive recruitment of health workers across federal tertiary hospitals to tackle the impact of brain drain and staff shortages.

The ministry disclosed that over 20,000 doctors, nurses, and allied professionals were recruited across 58 federal health institutions in 2024, while recruitment for 2025 is ongoing, with an additional 15,000 health workers already approved for employment.

This recruitment drive is part of a larger strategy to ensure that Nigerias health facilities are adequately staffed, safe, and equipped to deliver quality care to citizens, the statement read.

Ongoing dialogue with unions

The health ministry said discussions are ongoing with health unions under the collective bargaining process, involving the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), where NARD is an affiliate, as well as the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).

To strengthen dialogue, the ministry said it has engaged Dafe Otobo, a renowned industrial relations expert, as a professional negotiator to facilitate talks between the government and labour representatives, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

According to the statement, discussions are progressing on all points raised by the health unions, including specialist and other allowances, salary relativity, appointment of consultant cadres, and other welfare-related issues.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment also expressed readiness to conclude the process once a consensus is reached.

Clarifying issues

The ministry also provided clarifications on some issues raised by the striking doctors.

On the dismissal of five doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, it said three who did not face a properly constituted disciplinary committee would be reabsorbed if they wish, while two others whose cases went through a disciplinary process would have their dismissal reviewed by the negotiator within four weeks.

It further clarified that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) had reclassified, not downgraded, certificates issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical College, describing it as a routine regulatory adjustment.

It said consultations were ongoing with the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to address concerns raised by affected doctors.

The ministry also attributed payment delays and promotion bottlenecks to administrative challenges within the IPPIS system and said engagement with relevant agencies was underway to fast-track resolutions.

It added that issues relating to special pension benefits were being handled by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), with a joint committee already constituted to work on the matter.

NARD strike

The governments announcement follows the commencement of an indefinite nationwide strike by NARD on Saturday, over what it described as years of unmet demands and broken promises by the federal government.

The association said doctors are owed arrears from the 25 and 35 per cent CONMESS review, unpaid accoutrement and hazard allowances, and long-delayed promotions.

It also cited poor working conditions and manpower shortages, worsened by the continued migration of doctors abroad.

NARD President, Muhammad Suleiman, had earlier revealed that accumulated allowances owed to doctors and other health workers nationwide total between N35 billion and N38 billion.

Despite the governments announcement, the association is yet to suspend its industrial action as of press time.
Investigations have progressed into the alleged attempted coup by some Nigerian soldiers arrested in September, with more than 30 suspects now set to face trial, PREMIUM TIMES can report.

Sources familiar with the investigation said the suspects, including senior military officers, are expected to be tried in both civil courts and military court martials.

The officers allegedly planned a violent takeover in which top government officials were marked for assassination.

Earlier, PREMIUM TIMES reported that a special panel was investigating individuals implicated in the failed attempt. The panel has now prepared a preliminary report that will be submitted to President Bola Tinubu, according to a source.

The report indicates that more than 30 suspects may face trial, while about seven others remain at large. Those found not to have a case to answer are expected to be released.

The seven people could not be found in their homes, and their telephone numbers have been dead since this matter started, one source said. So they are still on a manhunt.

It is unclear whether Timipre Sylva, a former Bayelsa governor and petroleum minister, is among the seven people at large. Mr Sylva recently confirmed that his home was raided by soldiers but denied any involvement in a coup plot.

During the said operation, considerable damage was inflicted upon the property.

Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid. To the best of my knowledge, the officers involved did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently, Mr Sylvas spokesperson, Julius Bokoru, said.

Mr Bokoru also confirmed that Mr Sylva was not in the country during the raid and did not disclose when he plans to return to Nigeria.

Next Step by Investigators

The Chairman of the Special Investigative Panel, Emmanuel Undiendeye, a major general who is also the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), is expected to meet with the Chief of Defence Staff and other service chiefs in the coming days to determine next steps.

The president will also be briefed, another source confirmed.

Military officers among the suspects will first face court martials before possible civil proceedings, while civilians implicated in the alleged plot will be tried in civil courts, our sources said.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier published the identities of 16 top military officers allegedly involved in the failed attempt. The officers were arrested in late September after intelligence reports indicated they were holding secret meetings and planning to overthrow the government. Fourteen of the detained officers are from the Nigerian Army, while two are from the Navy and Air Force.

The identities of the newly arrested suspects remain unclear.

Although the Defence Headquarters had released an ambiguous statement on the alleged coup attempt, sources said military authorities now appear ready to make categorical statements about the coup and those arrested.

In the days to come, the Defence Headquarters is likely to issue a statement telling Nigerians about the findings from the investigation so far, one source said.

Background

PREMIUM TIMES reported the Nigerian militarys commencement of a probe into the foiled coup plot involving some top officers arrested in late September. While not explicitly denying the alleged plot, the military described its investigation of the officers as a routine internal process aimed at maintaining discipline and professionalism within the ranks.

Security sources told this newspaper that the alleged plotters planned to assassinate President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, among others.

Weeks after the alleged coup was foiled and several suspects were arrested, President Tinubu carried out a major shake-up in the military hierarchy that surprised many Nigerians. He removed the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, a general, and replaced him with the Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, a general.

He also appointed Waidi Shaibu, a lieutenant general, as the new Chief of Army Staff, Sunday Aneke, an air vice marshall, as the Chief of Air Staff, and Idi Abbas, a rear admiral, as Chief of Naval Staff. Mr Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

However, the presidency did not link the reshuffle to the alleged coup plot.

Defence spokesperson Tukur Gusau, a lieutenant colonel, could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report. Calls and a message to his mobile phone went unanswered.
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A federal appeals court in Denver has upheld the Federal Reserves right to deny crypto-focused bank Custodia access to a master account, delivering a major blow to the Wyoming-based institutions years-long push to gain direct access to the US central banking system.

Key Takeaways:

The US Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Fed has the discretion to deny crypto-focused banks access to master accounts.

Judge David Ebel wrote that the Feds authority to reject such requests is essential to safeguard the financial system.

The ruling keeps crypto banks like Custodia locked out of Fed payment systems.

In a 21 ruling, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court that the Fed has discretion over which financial institutions can hold master accounts, which allow direct access to Fed services such as payment clearing and wire transfers.

The court concluded that while Custodia is technically eligible, eligibility does not guarantee entitlement.

Judge Says Fed Has Right to Deny Custodia to Safeguard Financial System

Writing for the majority, Judge David Ebel, appointed by former President Ronald Reagan, said the law gives the Fed authority to reject master account access requests from eligible entities in order to protect financial stability.

We reject Custodias attempt to impair the Feds ability to safeguard our nations financial system through the exercise of discretion, Ebel wrote.

Custodia, which operates under Wyomings Special Purpose Depository Institution (SPDI) charter, argued that it is being unfairly excluded from the national banking network despite meeting the necessary criteria.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, however, determined that Custodias business model, centered on custody and settlement of crypto assets, posed undue risk to the broader financial system.

In a dissenting opinion, Judge Timothy Tymkovich, appointed by President George W. Bush, argued that the Feds own statutes mandate it to provide payment services to all eligible non-member banks, including Custodia.

This case comes clothed in 21st-century terms: cryptocurrency, digital assets, instant wire transfers, and master accounts, he wrote. But there is nothing new about this issue.

Custodia called the decision disappointing but pointed to Tymkovichs dissent as validation of its position.

We were hoping for a win at the Tenth Circuit today, but we received the next best thing  a strong dissent, the bank said, adding that it may seek a rehearing based on a conflicting ruling in a related case.

The decision leaves Custodia, and other crypto-oriented financial institutions, still locked out of direct access to the US payments infrastructure. So far, no crypto-focused bank has received a master account.
A day after designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over false allegations of Christian genocide, US President Donald Trump has threatened military action against the country.

In a post made on Truth Social on Saturday, Mr Trump warned that the US military might be ordered to invade the country and wipe out the radical Islamic terrorist responsible for the claimed attacks on Christians if the Nigerian government fails to act.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, he wrote.

Mr Trump also warned that the US will halt all aid to Nigeria, while noting that he has ordered the Department of War to prepare for possible military action.

He stated that the US military action against Nigeria would be fast, vicious, and sweet.

He wrote in capital letters, Warning: The Nigerian government better move fast.

The Nigerian government earlier denied allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria, following Mr Trumps claim that Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu pointed out that such portrayals made by Mr Trump do not reflect the countrys reality.

He also said that the country strictly upholds the constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and does not encourage religious intolerance.

Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so, he said

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also earlier stated that Nigeria is committed to tackling the violent extremism fueled by special interests who have helped drive such decay and division in countries across the intersecting West African and Sahel regions.

Meanwhile, the designation of Nigeria as a country of concern followed months of campaigns and demands by some Republican lawmakers for the US to sanction Nigeria for allowing the persecution of Christians.

The officials had also falsely accused the federal government of facilitating this anti-Christian crusade in an attempt to rid the country of Christians.
The defence department of the United States, which President Donald Trump renamed the Department of War, said it is preparing for action in Nigeria.

The US Defence Secretary, the equivalent of the Minister of Defence in Nigeria, Pete Hegseth, said this in a post on X in response to a Saturday night statement by Mr Trump that the US would stop aid to Nigeria and would deploy troops to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists killing Nigerian Christians.

The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria  and anywhere  must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, Mr Hegseth wrote.

PREMIUM TIMES reported Mr Trumps statement after the US falsely accused the Nigerian government of genocide against Christians in the country.

The Nigerian government earlier denied allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria, following Mr Trumps claim that Christianity faces an existential threat in the country and his declaration of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.

President Bola Tinubu pointed out that such portrayals made by Mr Trump do not reflect the countrys reality.

He also said that the country strictly upholds the constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and does not encourage religious intolerance.

READ ALSO: Trump threatens to deploy US military to Nigeria over false genocide allegation

Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so, he said

The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also earlier stated that Nigeria is committed to tackling the violent extremism fueled by special interests who have helped drive such decay and division in countries across the intersecting West African and Sahel regions.

Meanwhile, the designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern followed months of campaigns and demands by some Republican lawmakers for the US to sanction Nigeria for allowing the persecution of Christians.

The officials had also falsely accused the federal government of facilitating this anti-Christian crusade in an attempt to rid the country of Christians.
In the last 24 hours, Nigerians have been engrossed in a heated debate on the implications of a US-threatened military incursion into Nigeria.

Opinions have mainly been divided, with one group arguing in favour of US planned intervention and another insisting on questioning the US motive and its long-term implications for the countrys sovereignty, security, and regional stability.

On Saturday, the US president, Donald Trump, threatened military action against the country, a day after falsely accusing the federal government of supporting genocide against Christians in the country.

Mr Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), suspended arms sales and technical support for the country.

In a post on Truth Social, he claimed Christianity was an existential threat in Nigeria as radical Islamic groups were killing thousands of Christians.

Many Nigerians, however, are against a US military invasion. They have described it as a move that could plunge the country into a worse crisis and lead to the death of more citizens.

Some social media users have referenced the devastation US invasions left behind in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya as a warning for Nigeria.

Sharing his views on X, a Nigerian user, Inyali Peter, wrote, Is there a single country the US has invaded that it has not left in ruins? We must be cautious about what we support for the sake of politics. The United States has targeted every revolutionary African leader.

Another Nigerian on X with the username Omo Akin wrote, America fought against ISIS in Syria, ISIS is ruling Syria today. America fought Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Al-Qaeda is ruling Iraq today. America fought the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the Taliban is ruling Afghanistan today. Yet Nigerians are begging America to come and fight Boko Haram, he added.

Ayo Sogunro, another social media user, tagged Mr Trump as crazy, adding that the US has no legitimate right to launch an armed Christian crusade in Nigeria.

A Facebook user, Salman Gambo, declared that Nigerias sovereignty must be respected, adding that the country has the right to manage its affairs without interference.

Calls for intervention

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria are inaccurate, as the nature of Nigerias violent crisis varies and manifests in different forms.

It is rather a mix of historical grievances, ethnic tensions, economic disparities, religious extremism, and weak governance that drives them.

Ideologically driven Jihadist groups, such as Boko Haram, have attacked clerics, carried out abductions, and raided communities irrespective of religious faith.

The conflict in the Middle East has religious undertones, but is primarily driven by tension and competition over scarce resources, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

In his response to Mr Trump, President Bola Tinubu said his assertions do not truly reflect the national reality, adding that his administration is opposed to religious persecution and does not encourage it.

However, Mr Trump insisted that the US military action against Nigeria would be fast, vicious, and sweet.

Elijah Gbabe describes Mr Trumps plan as a good thing. For him, this meant that people living in the IDP camp can return to their ancestors land.

Nico Danjuma wrote on Facebook that the fear of Trump is the beginning of people in Nigeria.

Frank Ashibel, another Facebook user, said, In our contemporary world today, God has a way of answering the powerless and the oppressed.

Perhaps this is the right time for the oppressed and powerless people of Nigeria to be heard. May God help us.

On Thread, a Doris Beckman wrote, God bless Trumplet him come into Nigeria and save us, They are wiping our generation from existing (sic).

More reactions

Meanwhile, a TikTok user, with the username onlinebanker, rejected the deployment of US troops to Nigeria, instead calling for diplomatic measures that would force the Nigerian government into action.

No guns, no arrows, no bombs, simply a dialogue. If this happens, it affects the possibility of an election in 2027. It will change our whole political calendar, he said.

Another user, identified as Austin Mona, said, The Nigerian government can solve the problem. The idea is to pressure the Nigerian government to get the problem solved.

Another user, Mr Franklin, said, The US never helps any country achieve anything good. We are a mess as a country, but we certainly do not need their help.

But Samson TK rejects this notion, stating that foreign intervention is due in Nigeria.

We have literally put money and finance over human lives. We are so blinded by these things that they are just numbers to us. Because it hasnt gotten to our doors doesnt mean this isnt a lot of peoples reality, he said.

A Thread user, Chinedum Ifechukwu, insists that the US effort is a camouflage to start a war in the country.

However, security experts and analysts have warned that a US incursion into Nigeria would likely destabilise the country even further.

Malik Samuel, a conflict researcher with Good Governance Africa (GGA), further pointed out that the failure of the Nigerian government to address the countrys security challenges gave room for the US to peddle genocide allegations falsely.

In a post on X, he wrote, Its never been clearer, the intentions of the Christian-genocide peddlers. I hope Nigerians pushing this narrative realise that when all is said and done, this is the only country we have.

The biggest culprits in all of this is the Nigerian government, both past and present. The consequence of their inability to protect all lives is what we are seeing today.
Counter-terrorism police are involved in an investigation into a mass stabbing on a train in eastern England, which left nine people suffering with life-threatening injuries.

A man with a large knife is believed to have been shot with a Taser by police after going on a bloody rampage on a high-speed train after it left Peterborough station in Cambridgeshire.

British Transport Police (BTP) said two people have been arrested over the stabbings, which happened on the 6:25 p.m. (1825 GMT) train service from Doncaster to London Kings Cross on Saturday.

Officers immediately attended Huntingdon station alongside paramedics.

Armed police from Cambridgeshire Police boarded the train and arrested two people in connection to the incident who have been taken to police custody.

Ten people have been taken to hospital with nine believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. One is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. There have been no fatalities.

This has been declared a major incident and Counter Terrorism Policing are supporting our investigation whilst we work to establish the full circumstances and motivation for this incident.

BTP Chief Superintendent Chris Casey said: This is a shocking incident and first and foremost my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families.

Were conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further.

At this early stage, it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

Our response is ongoing at the station and will be for some time. Cordons are in place and trains are not currently running through the area, and there are also some road closures.

I thank the public for their patience and their cooperation this evening which has already greatly assisted our policing response. We will update you again as soon as we have more information.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as deeply concerning and urged people to follow police advice.

READ ALSO: Trump threatens to deploy US military to Nigeria over false genocide allegation

Witnesses have spoken of seeing a man with a large knife and passengers hiding in the toilets to escape the rampage, The Times newspaper reported.

One told the paper there was blood everywhere and people were getting stamped on by others as they tried to flee.

The witness said: I heard some people shouting we love (you).

The Sun newspaper said another witness described the attack as like something from a film, adding: It was a terrible scene, really violent.

The attack is understood to have started shortly after the LNER train left Peterborough station.

(PA Media/dpa/NAN)
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, over the failure to probe the allegations that lawmakers pay up to 3 million to sponsor or present bills, motions, and petitions at the National Assembly.

Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas are sued in their own right and on behalf of all members of the National Assembly.

SERAPs suit followed the recent allegations by Ibrahim Auro, a member of the House of Representatives (APC, Jigawa), in a viral video recorded in Hausa that members of the National Assembly pay between 1 million and 3 million each to sponsor or present bills, motions, and petitions at the National Assembly.

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/2214/2025 filed last week at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is seeking: an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to refer to appropriate anticorruption agencies for investigation and prosecution the allegations of 3m Bribe-for-Bills at the National Assembly.

SERAP is seeking: an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to take all necessary measures to protect the whistleblower, Hon. Ibrahim Auyo, who made the allegations of 3m Bribe-for-Bills at the National Assembly.

In the suit, SERAP is arguing that, The allegations of 3m Bribe-for-Bills at the National Assembly are a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office by lawmakers.

SERAP is arguing that Lawmakers should not have to pay bribes to present motions and bills at the National Assembly. Bribery should never have any influence in the exercise of legislative duties or running of the National Assembly.

SERAP is also arguing that these allegations of quid pro quo for lawmaking have seriously undermined Nigerians democratic rights.

According to SERAP, The allegations that lawmakers are paying up to N3 million as bribes in exchange for presenting motions and bills make a mockery of lawmaking and legislative powers under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].

SERAP is also arguing that, The allegations also amount to fundamental breaches of the Nigerian Constitution and the countrys anticorruption legislation and international obligations, including under the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part: These allegations have exposed how lawmakers are abusing their entrusted positions to deny Nigerians of their constitutional and democratic rights.

Directing and compelling Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to ensure the proper investigation of the alleged 3m Bribe-for-Bills at the National Assembly would build trust in democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law.

The National Assembly ought to be a proper and accountable legislative body and watchdog that represents and protects the public interest, and is able to ensure accountability in cases of corruption, including the alleged 3m Bribe-for-Bills.

Ibrahim Auyo is a whistleblower who is protected under Article 33 of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party. Ibrahim Auyo is a whistleblower because of his public interest disclosures on the alleged 3m Bribe-for-Bills at the National Assembly.

Ending the persistent allegations of corruption in the National Assembly and the prevailing culture of impunity of perpetrators is a matter of the rule of law and public interest.

Ensuring the investigation of the alleged 3m Bribe-for-Bills and prosecution of suspected perpetrators would improve transparency and accountability in the National Assembly and build trust in democratic institutions.

READ ALSO: Senate President Akpabio appoints new deputy chief of staff

Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions, including the National Assembly, to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.

Nigeria has also made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to prevent and combat corruption, including bribery. These commitments ought to be fully upheld and respected.

Ibrahim Auyo had alleged that the process of presenting motions and bills at the National Assembly is financially prohibitive. According to him, Since I was elected as a member in 2015, no individual has given me a bill to pass. And also, even the bills and petitions are paid for.

Ibrahim Auyo also said, You have to pay from N3 million, N2 million, or N1 million to present it [a bill]. And after you present the bill, you must follow up by lobbying the whole 360 members of the House to accept the bill. There may be similar unreported allegations of 3m Bribe-for-Bills in the Senate.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
A former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has congratulated the factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mohammed Abdulrahman, who was appointed in acting capacity by a group of party members loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Mr Fayose, a close ally of Mr Wike, congratulated Mr Abdulrahman in a statement on Saturday.

The former governor urged the factional chairman to use his office to restore peace and confidence among members of the opposition party.

I congratulate the new chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman. I urge him to unite the party and restore confidence in its members, he said.

Crisis deepens in PDP

The crisis within the PDP took another turn on Saturday evening when a faction comprising allies of Mr Wike announced the suspension of the partys National Chairman, Umar Damagum.

The faction was led by Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled national secretary, who had earlier been suspended by the PDPs National Working Committee (NWC) after an emergency meeting

A few hours after his suspension, Mr Anyanwu organised a press briefing where he announced the suspension of Mr Damagum and five other NWC members for 30 days.

He also directed them to appear before the partys disciplinary committee to defend themselves.

Mr Anyanwu specifically accused the national chairman of incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court orders.

During the briefing, he announced that Mr Abdulrahman, the PDP National Vice Chairman (North Central), would take over as acting national chairman of the party.

As of when this report was filed, Mr Damagum and other suspended NWC members had yet to respond to the development. The PDP Governors Forum and the Board of Trustees (BoT) have also not commented on the issue.

What prompted the faction

Since the 2023 general elections, the PDP has been engulfed in a series of internal disputes, with the party now split into two major factions, with one faction loyal to the FCT minister.

Mr Wike, though a member of the PDP, serves as a minister in the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of President Bola Tinubu, which some have described as anti-party activity.

The emergence of the factional leadership originated from disagreements over the PDPs forthcoming national convention scheduled for 15 and 16 November. The convention is expected to produce new national leaders and potentially set the tone for the selection of the partys 2027 presidential candidate.

The Wike-led faction opposes holding the convention, arguing that the party failed to conduct valid state congresses, a requirement under the PDP Constitution before convening a national convention.

This dispute led to a court case in which James Omotosho, a judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered the PDP to halt the planned convention. The judge said proceeding without valid state congresses would violate the Nigerian Constitution, INEC guidelines, and the PDP Constitution.

Mr Omotosho, therefore, directed the party to meet all prerequisites and issue the statutory 21-day notice before proceeding with the convention.

Despite the ruling, the PDP leadership said it had directed its legal team to immediately appeal the judgment.

After the news of the court order went viral, Mr Wike convened a meeting of PDP stakeholders and former governors loyal to him, where he celebrated the ruling. Mr Anyanwu attended the meeting.

In response, the NWC held an emergency meeting and suspended Mr Anyanwu as national secretary, along with Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), the national legal adviser; Okechukwu Osuoha, deputy national legal adviser; and Umaru Bature, national organising secretary.

Although the partys spokesperson who announced the suspension did not specify the offences committed by the suspended officials, the action is generally believed to be connected to alleged anti-party activities.

Mr Anyanwu, in retaliation, later led his faction to announce the suspension of Mr Damagum and five other NWC members.

Fayose calls for reconciliation and justice

In his congratulatory message, Mr Fayose urged the factional chairman to address the injustices allegedly committed against state chapters of the party and to ensure compliance with court rulings.

Most importantly, he should look into the shenanigans and injustice done in states like Ekiti and others with a view to correcting them in accordance with the party constitution and existing court pronouncements, he said.

He also advised the factional chairman to work with all stakeholders to organise a credible national convention.

He should also be a team player and ensure the emergence of a new National Working Committee through a valid National Convention, which should be done immediately after outstanding congresses are held in states and zones, and those done against court judgements are revisited, Mr Fayose said.

Although the former governor did not specify the injustices he referred to, his comments may not be unconnected with PDPs alleged failure to conduct valid state congresses before convening the planned national convention.


Some patients and healthcare practitioners have blamed the ineffectiveness of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) for patients crowding secondary and tertiary health institutions in their quest for healthcare services.

They said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

According to them, the situation is the primary cause of the persistent lack of bed spaces in secondary/tertiary health facilities across the country.

Speaking, Livinus Abonyi, dean, Faculty of HealthCare Services of the Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Enugu, underscored the need to strengthen the PHCs in the country for optimal performance.

Mr Abonyi, also an associate professor of Medical Radiography/Medical Imaging, lamented that the PHCs were poorly funded, particularly in terms of manpower and facilities/equipment.

He said that PHCs need not only to be equipped with adequate manpower and resources, but also to be empowered to function 24 hours to accommodate health emergencies that usually occur at night.

Mr Abonyi, who decried the large number of patients seeking healthcare at secondary and tertiary health facilities, said that the situation has resulted in a persistent lack of bed spaces in the health institutions.

According to him, if the PHCs are functioning optimally, a greater percentage of health cases would be handled at that level, such that only about 30 per cent of the health cases would be referred to the tertiary health facilities.

Presently, a patient can visit about two to three tertiary hospitals without getting a bed space  that is real.

If anyone wants to test it, the person should just pretend to be very sick; you will go to the first one  they will say no bed space; you go to the second one  the same no bed space.

There are many citizens who are carried back home dead because they are unable to get a bed space.

If we have functional primary healthcare facilities and associated levels of care, we wouldnt be facing such, because earlier intervention prevents disease progression to a certain level where it will require further treatments.

But, if at the early stage it was addressed and tackled conveniently, the person would have gotten well, and it wouldnt add to the population that would bring pressure to the tertiary health facilities, Mr Abonyi said.

A teacher, Donatus George, lamented how his wife passed out in the process of being transferred from one public hospital to another due to a lack of bed space and a limited number of health personnel.

According to him, the circumstances that surrounded the death of his wife are an unforgettable experience, calling for intensified efforts to strengthen the emergency response system of the nations healthcare system to avert avoidable deaths.

A General Physician, Gerald Chinasa, frowned at the general Nigerian mentality and belief that the best healthcare services could only be obtained at the tertiary health institutions.

Mr Chinasa, who said that quality healthcare services were possible even at the PHCs, explained that equipping the PHCs with adequate manpower, resources, and equipment were key to achieving it.

He said, An old established norm takes time to change. The fact that many Nigerians already believe that the best healthcare is only obtainable at tertiary health institutions can be changed with time.

If the PHCs should be up and running efficiently, with little awareness campaign, peoples orientation toward PHCs will change and they will start patronising it. This will invariably reduce the population and workload on secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.

The Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Wasiu Adeyemo, decried the population of patients and workloads at the hospital, explaining that not all health conditions were meant to be handled at the tertiary health institutions.

Mr Adeyemo, who called for the establishment of more public hospitals across states, said that the few existing ones were not enough to cater for the teeming population of the country.

He decried that most secondary healthcare facilities and PHCs were not living up to the expectations, as they often push health conditions that were ordinarily supposed to be handled at their levels to the tertiary healthcare institutions.

It is not every health case that is supposed to be handled at the tertiary healthcare level. Virtually all health conditions should be first treated at either the secondary healthcare level or PHCs, as the case may be, then, if need be, they will be referred to the tertiary level.

Unfortunately, most of these health cases are being dumped on us at the tertiary level to handle. And the worst aspect of it is that the majority of the cases usually come in without prior notification or contact with the hospital to ascertain its preparedness to handle the situation.

Inasmuch as we are a tertiary health institution, there is a limit to what we can do considering the number of facilities and personnel on the ground.

In a situation where patients on admission are occupying the existing beds and facilities, do you have to tell a patient who is still very sick to vacate the bed in order to admit a referred patient, who comes in without due notification, or what will you do? Mr Adeyemo asked.

(NAN)
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) says some employers are sabotaging its operations by under-declaring the salaries and staff strength of their organisations.

The Managing Director of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the Fund had seen organisations reporting lower salaries or fewer employees to reduce their contributions.

We are addressing this through advocacy and education, because under-declaring salaries ultimately harms workers.

Benefits are calculated based on reported earnings. So, if an employer declares 100,000 instead of 200,000, compensation will also be based on the lower figure.

That shortchanges the employee, sometimes significantly.

The managing director said there were also cases where companies failed to update their staff registers after employee turnover.

Mr Faleye also identified low awareness of NSITF operations as another major challenge of the Fund.

About Employees Compensation Scheme(ECS)

The managing director said many people are still unaware of the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) and its benefits.

Each time I speak to new groups about the scheme, they are often surprised by what they have been missing, he said.

The ECS is governed by the Employees Compensation Act (ECA) 2010, which establishes a mandatory social insurance programme for most public and private sector employees.

The Act mandates employers to register with the NSITF and contribute to an Employee Compensation Fund to provide compensation for work-related death, injury, disease, or disability.

The scheme aims to provide adequate compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and a social safety net for employees and their dependents.

Manual processing slowing down the Fund

Mr Faleye said another biggest internal challenge facing the organisation was the manual processes that still existed within the system.

He said the manual operation process was slowing the Fund down and making it less agile.

We are addressing this by digitalising our operations, from online registration portals in the compliance department, to digital workflows in our legal and claims departments.

Once completed, this transformation will make us far more responsive and efficient, he said.

NSITF Establishment Act

Speaking on the ongoing amendment to the NSITF Establishment Act, Mr Faleye said they looked forward to engaging constructively with the National Assembly to ensure that whatever emerged from the process, ultimately benefits Nigerian workers

For us, what matters is that the amendment provides greater enforcement powers, ensuring employers treat compliance as mandatory, not optional.

It should also strengthen our governance framework for better operational efficiency, he said.

The Senate Committee is championing the amendment on Labour and Employment, chaired by Diket Plang, and has passed second reading in the Senate.

The amendment reportedly seeks to reduce the representation and influence of employers and workers, who are the main contributors to the Fund, on the NSITFs governance board.

Stakeholders kick against amendment

Meanwhile, critical stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress, had faulted the ongoing amendment, contending that it would increase government control over the NSITF via a board dominated by political appointees rather than tripartite stakeholder representation.

The stakeholders warned that the amendment could weaken transparency, accountability and good governance mechanisms for the Fund.

NSITF unveils Claims Tracking Portal to enhance transparency, efficiency

Meanwhile, according to the managing director, the Fund has developed a new claims tracking portal to enable claimants to monitor the progress of their compensation claims in real time.

Mr Faleye said the initiative was part of a broader digital transformation programme aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and user experience across the Funds operations.

According to him, the portal will give claimants greater visibility, peace of mind, and confidence that their cases are being handled promptly.

He added that the NSITF had also established a customer service hub with multiple engagement channels, including text messages, online chats, and real-time calls, which will help to strengthen feedback and enhance user satisfaction.

He said when he came on board, the claims process involved about 11 different steps and paperwork before payment could be made, Mr Faleye said.

According to him, that has now been streamlined to just about three steps, saying the Fund will continue reviewing it to identify what can be further simplified or eliminated.

He explained that the ongoing reforms are designed to make the claims process faster and more user-friendly while ensuring timely support and compensation for affected workers.

NSITFs core mandate

Mr Faleye reaffirmed that the Funds core mandate remains the payment of compensation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of workers injured during their duties under the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS).

He noted that beneficiaries are entitled to compensation and rehabilitation services such as prosthetics, physiotherapy, and vocational training to support reintegration, especially for those unable to return to their original line of work.

Mr Faleye added that the NSITF also promotes occupational health and safety in workplaces in line with the International Labour Organisations (ILO) Convention on Social Protection and Safe Working Environments.

My legacy

Meanwhile, the NSITF boss has said he would want to leave behind an organisation that is responsive, professional, and efficient; one that takes full ownership of its responsibilities.

My legacy, ultimately, will be to build a resilient, professional workforce that can deliver on our mandate of expanded coverage and effective service delivery, he said

Mr Faleye added that a capable and motivated workforce will naturally reflect and strengthen the quality of service delivery to Nigerian workers.
Until now, Nigerian women have consistently advocated for greater representation in leadership and decision-making. Despite their vital contributions to society, women remain largely underrepresented in politics.

In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Phoebe Ojo-Nemile, a lawyer and advocate for girls leadership and civic participation, speaks on why it is crucial to educate young girls about leadership and confidence, and how her initiative, GirsLead.Ng

is helping to bridge that gap.

PT: Could you please introduce yourself and share a little about your background?

Ms Ojo-Nemile: My name is Phoebe Ojo-Nemile, and I am a lawyer from Kogi State. I was born and partly raised in Kogi and Abuja. For over four years, I have been involved in advocacy around access to justice, civic participation, and womens rights. My journey to becoming a lawyer deepened my passion to empower young people, especially girls, to believe in their voices and their ability to lead.

PT: You mentioned that girls are rarely encouraged to see themselves as leaders. Can you share a personal experience that made you notice this gap?

Ms Ojo-Nemile: I grew up in a typical African home where a girls behaviour was constantly measured against marriage. Phrases like You are a girl o! or Is that how you will behave in your husbands house? were common.

These messages taught girls to shrink themselves, while boys were told to take charge. As I grew older, I realised that this early conditioning affects confidence and limits womens leadership aspirations.

PT: What inspired you to start your leadership initiative?

Ms Ojo-Nemile: There were three defining moments. The first came after school when I began stepping into leadership spaces and realised how unprepared I felt.

The second was during my time at the HBS Green Academy in 2023, where a male speaker noted that women often doubt themselves even when they are just as capable as men.

The third was when I was applying for a US fellowship and was asked how I had personally tried to solve the problems I cared about. That question made me realise I needed to start creating the change I want to see.

PT: From your interactions, what challenges do girls in Abuja schools face regarding leadership and self-confidence?

Ms Ojo-Nemile: The biggest challenges they mentioned were a lack of confidence and the absence of role models. At Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) Dutse, one girl said she struggled to see herself as a leader because no one had ever encouraged her. That moment stayed with me.

PT: Tell us about the leadership toolkit you developed.

Ms Ojo-Nemile: The toolkit introduces leadership in a simple and relatable way. It explains what leadership means, how to lead effectively, and how to handle challenges.

It also covers democracy, womens representation, and ways girls can prepare to change the narrative. We used stories and teen-friendly examples so they could easily see themselves in them.

PT: What experience from your training stands out the most?

Ms Ojo-Nemile: After a session at Government Secondary School (GSS) Kubwa, one student said parts of the training brought tears to her eyes because they spoke directly to her fears and hopes.

At GGSS Dutse, the student president said the training gave her confidence to lead better. Those moments remind me why this work matters.

PT: What did you learn from the students while running these sessions?

Ms Ojo-Nemile: I realised that their leadership potential is not being nurtured enough. Many had never heard of women like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti or Hajiya Gambo Sawaba but could list several male leaders.

This made me see how womens contributions are often overlooked and how that silence shapes what girls believe is possible for themselves.

PT: Beyond your project, what roles can schools, parents, and policymakers play?

Ms Ojo-Nemile: Schools should ensure leadership roles are gender-balanced. Parents should tell their daughters, just as they tell their sons, You can lead. When a girl hears her mother say that something shifts inside her. Policymakers, especially women, must also push for systems that create more opportunities for girls to rise.

PT: Some argue that leadership training alone cannot address structural barriers. How do you see your work fitting into that conversation?

Ms Ojo-Nemile: That is true; training alone will not dismantle barriers. But it lights the fire. Women like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Gambo Sawaba faced immense challenges, yet their courage carried them through.

We are nurturing that same courage and confidence in these girls. Change starts with a mindset.

PT: What has been your biggest challenge in leading this initiative?

Ms Ojo-Nemile: Funding was a major hurdle. I initially planned to fund the first training at GSS Kubwa from my pocket, but support from Heinrich Boll Stiftung Abuja allowed me to expand to three schools.

I also battled imposter syndrome, wondering if I was enough to lead such an initiative. But I remind myself that impact is not about size or perfection but about starting where I am.

PT: How do you plan to sustain and expand the project?

Ms Ojo-Nemile: We have set up leadership clubs in the schools to keep the momentum alive. Subsequently, I hope to host conferences and other events where girls can learn directly from women leaders across different sectors and build their leadership capacity. We have also launched GirlsLead.NG on TikTok and Instagram to share teen-friendly leadership content, so the lessons dont end at the training. I envision it growing into a safe, empowering space where girls can learn, unlearn, and lead confidently.
Yusuf Tuggars approach to the management of Nigerias foreign policy, which intertwines democracy, development, demography, and diaspora engagement, is innovative and assertive. It not only affirms Nigerias position as a global actor but also adumbrates its commitment to sustainable progress, regional integration, and strategic autonomy.

Our idea is to avoid the booby trap of entangling alliances or ideological over-alignment, but rather to focus on issue-based relationships and partnerships of purpose.  Yusuf Maitama Tuggar

When the announcement of Yusuf Maitama Tuggar as Nigerias minister of Foreign Affairs was made just over two years ago, it was hailed in foreign policy circles as one of the most imaginative choices in President Bola Tinubus cabinet. His solid educational background in international relations, with two degrees in the field in the back pocket, one being a Masters degree from Cambridge University, struck the right chord with those looking at Nigeria to establish a stronger presence on the global arena. Then, his extensive experience as a seasoned diplomat, with an impressive on-field experience and current insight into the dynamics of global politics, caught the eye of others.

Having first served as a Member of the House of Representatives for Gamawa Federal Constituency from 2007  2011, Tuggar had only just concluded a six-year tour of duty as Nigerias Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. Regarded as one of the bright spots of his class, Ambassador Tuggar had received applause for different initiatives and accomplishments during his tenure. This includes facilitating the return of ownership of 1,130 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria by the German government and facilitating the delivery of important commercial agreements for high-level projects in Nigeria. On the back of that, expectations were high that Tuggars experience in business, politics, and diplomacy would come in handy in ushering in a positively vibrant era for Nigeria in its engagement with the world.

Yusuf Tuggar appears to have read the memo, as he did not waste time in embracing the role, not just as an Actor, but as one who came prepared with his own philosophical framework for interpreting phenomena, interrogating the world, and shaping Nigerias foreign policy. For the first time in a long time, we had the Foreign Affairs Minister putting out his thoughts in a scholarly article entitled, Foreign Policy and the Path to Peace in a Dangerous Neighbourhood, published by major newspapers in Nigeria, which brought a measure of clarity to his thoughts and the philosophical premise propelling Nigerias foreign policy.

Tuggars view of the world and the place of Nigeria in it is that, in reality, the contemporary nation-state system is highly competitive and Nigeria exists in a self-help world. Our Constitution and international laws are meant to serve as guardrails in navigating the system. And by virtue of our size, we have the additional responsibility of being the regional power. Regardless of how some may try to diminish our standing, it is the way other countries perceive us. Our Constitution further reifies this leadership role right from the preamble  dedicating ourselves to promoting inter-African solidarity, to the foreign policy objectives: promotion of African integration and support for African unity and elimination of discrimination in all its manifestations.

It was on the back of this understanding that Minister Yusuf Tuggar articulated his doctrine of strategic autonomy and the 4Ds framework (Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora), through which he has led the charge for a redefinition of Nigerias foreign policy, in line with President Bola Tinubus reforms-led economic agenda and worldview, which prioritises economic diplomacy. It is a strategic framework with emphasis on an independent, national interest-driven diplomacy

On navigating the dangerous neighbourhood, Tuggar rightly situates the current circumstances on the shoulders of a combination of factors not of Nigerias making, but which it is forced to contend with. The Tinubu administration comes at a time when an interlocking suite of occurrences has made our neighbourhood less secure; the implosion of Libya, failure of the EU Sahel Strategy, terrorism and criminal gangs, effects of climate change, and population explosion. Nigeria did not create these challenges and was equally contending with its own domestic issues as these challenges escalated, Tuggar explained.

It was on the back of this understanding that Minister Yusuf Tuggar articulated his doctrine of strategic autonomy and the 4Ds framework (Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora), through which he has led the charge for a redefinition of Nigerias foreign policy, in line with President Bola Tinubus reforms-led economic agenda and worldview, which prioritises economic diplomacy. It is a strategic framework with emphasis on an independent, national interest-driven diplomacy, with a focus on national sovereignty and regional cooperation, while mindful of the fact that when our interdependence sovereignty overlaps, we equally have a right to exercise control over our borders in those cases where neighbours face insurgencies that significantly compromise territorial integrity and state authority, Tuggar argues.

Even in the face of pressure from some quarters, Tuggar has stridently maintained that Nigeria cannot compromise its independence to please knee-jerk, poorly thought-out policies from elsewhere. We have the right and the basis to engage with as many countries as possible to trade, and our relationships are not based on ideological considerations; theyre based on interests, beginning with our national interestsSo we trade with the US, we trade with China, we trade with Brazil, we trade with India, and our focus is not necessarily on one axis or the other, especially in a multipolar world, he argued.

That might have ruffled some feathers, but feathers cannot be ruffled if Nigeria must maximise and leverage Nigerias demographic, diaspora, and economic assets to achieve its foreign policy objectives, as Yusuf Tuggar, under the leadership of President Tinubu, has set out. It is about reassuring all partners that Nigeria remains equitable in its dealings with the world, with its eyes only trained on national interest, peace in its neighbourhood, global peace, and prosperity. On trade, Tuggar argues for an even field of play. Rich countries should not approach trade with Africa as a game of Minecraft in which they secure supplies of natural resources, but rather as a relationship based on mutual respect and the need for Africa to develop, he argues.

Tuggar is right to reject the binary ideological construct some seek to force on an increasingly complex and multi-dimensional global landscape, in favour of partnerships founded on Nigerias national interest. Tuggars pragmatic approach enables Nigeria to engage with diverse global actors with greater flexibility, balancing geopolitics with developmental imperatives, while maintaining alliances to help achieve Nigerias foreign policy objectives.

What Tuggar has done is to find a way to synthesise and frame Nigerias foreign policy objectives around economic diplomacy by embedding development goals within diplomatic missions. In the last two years, he has pivoted more in the direction of unlocking trade corridors, securing foreign investments, and initiating partnerships that can help accelerate the process of infrastructural development, as well as generating and expanding opportunities for the inflow of businesses into the country. This is an area, a priority one for Nigeria, in which many had expected him to focus; it is gladdening to see that it is one that he has fully led the charge, with appreciable results following.

Yusuf Tuggars approach to the management of Nigerias foreign policy, which intertwines democracy, development, demography, and diaspora engagement, is innovative and assertive. It not only affirms Nigerias position as a global actor but also adumbrates its commitment to sustainable progress, regional integration, and strategic autonomy. The fulcrum of the Tinubu administrations foreign policy is Strategic Autonomy, providing us with the clarity to engage with any and all nations on the basis of our national interests and not those of others. As a nation, Nigeria is adult and sophisticated enough to deal with countries without being unduly influenced, because that has been part of our historical and civic tradition. You cannot cure an illness by picking which symptoms to consider and which to ignore, Tuggar argues, and rightly so, too.

Tuggar is right to reject the binary ideological construct some seek to force on an increasingly complex and multi-dimensional global landscape, in favour of partnerships founded on Nigerias national interest. Tuggars pragmatic approach enables Nigeria to engage with diverse global actors with greater flexibility, balancing geopolitics with developmental imperatives, while maintaining alliances to help achieve Nigerias foreign policy objectives.

Simbo Olorunfemi is a specialist on Nigerias foreign policy, a communications consultant, and managing editor of Africa Enterprise, Email: [email protected]
GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 31, 2025, leveraging the platform of the 22nd World Congress of Chinese Medicine in Sydney, Australia, Wanglaoji hosted the launch ceremony of WALOVI international cans. And Guangzhou Wang Lao Ji Great Health Industry Co., LTD officially signed an agreement with local enterprise Valucky Australia Pty Ltd. This event not only marks WALOVI international cans official entry into the Australian market, but also represents a significant milestone in Wanglaoji's globalization journey, endorsed by both industry recognition and market value.

At the event, Li Xiaojun, Chairman of Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited, spoke about Wanglaoji's international strategy, saying, "Chinese brands going global should not be limited to exporting products. We should also tell Chinese stories in a way that appeals to young people around the world, just like 'Black Myth: Wukong', so that Eastern culture can move from being known to being loved. Wanglaoji will continue to explore such new paradigms of cultural communication."

Fang Dafeng, General Manager of Guangzhou Wang Lao Ji Great Health Industry Co., LTD, stated, "Over its 197-year history, Wanglaoji has undergone three key transformationsfrom traditional Chinese medicine, to herbal tea, to natural plant beveragesconsistently evolving to meet the demands of the times. "

Wanglaoji, in partnership with Valucky Australia Pty Ltd, will further expand its reach across Australia, including convenience stores, Chinese restaurants, and Asian restaurants. It will also enter major online platforms to establish a comprehensive distribution network. WALOVI international cans will subsequently be available on platforms such as Woolworths, Woozoo, and Costco, meeting local consumers' demand for healthy beverages.

According to Frost & Sullivan, WALOVI has ranked first in global plant beverage sales for five consecutive years. Domestically, it holds nearly 50% of the plant drink market share. Over the past decade, the brand's overseas market presence has expanded 6.5-fold, with an annual compound growth rate exceeding 25%.

From its early appearances on American streets in the beginning of the 20th century, to the launch of its English brand WALOVI in 2023, the global debut of its international cans in Shanghai this August, and recent expansions into Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and America, and Australia, Wanglaoji is actively competing in the global market by using WALOVI as its brand symbol and WALOVI international cans as a new product echelon for going global.
As the good book reminds us, a house divided against itself cannot stand. The time has come for Nigeria to stand. And to stand, we must rise together  North and South, East and West. The East holds wisdom. The East carries gifts. And until Nigeria embraces those gifts, our national greatness will remain postponed.

The Nigerian Civil War ended more than five decades ago, yet the echoes of that conflict still reverberate in our national story. We rarely speak of it openly, but the wounds are there  in our politics, in our policies, in our silences. The South-East, in particular, has borne the lingering weight of suspicion and marginalisation. It is as if a lid was placed over the region, suppressing its potential and muting its voice. But the truth is simple: No nation can rise while holding down any part of itself. We only ascend when we rise together.

It is not an accident that the story of redemption in Scripture begins with wise men coming from the East. They bring gifts  gold, frankincense, and myrrh  that symbolise provision, worship, and sacrifice, and these gifts shape the destiny of nations. This image is instructive for Nigeria. Within the East of our country lies a wisdom, an energy, and an entrepreneurial fire that this nation desperately needs. To lift the lid from the South-East is not just to heal an old wound; it is to tap into a fountain of possibilities that can power Nigerias renewal.

The Igbo apprenticeship model is one of the most remarkable wealth-creation systems in the world. Built on trust, mentorship, and reinvestment, it takes young men and women through years of training, entrusts them with capital, and then empowers them to become entrepreneurs in their own right. This system has produced generations of wealth-builders, market leaders, and innovators, without the backing of formal institutions. Today, top business schools across the world are studying this model, but it has been quietly practiced in our streets and markets for decades.

To embrace this system at a national scale is to unlock a grassroots-driven path to industrialisation and prosperity. Nigeria often talks about job creation; the Igbo system has been creating jobs organically for decades. Imagine what could happen if we supported it intentionally with infrastructure, policy, and investment. What some nations are still theorising, we already have in our hands.

Healing requires more than rhetoric. It demands deliberate action. In this light, the current effort by the National Assembly to create an additional state in the South-East is a significant step toward equity. For too long, the imbalance in state distribution  six in every other geopolitical zone but only five in the South-East  has been a silent reminder of unfinished reconciliation.

The danger of suppressing any region is that the nation itself remains impoverished. When one arm is tied down, the whole body suffers. When one stream is blocked, the rivers cannot reach their fullness. Nigeria cannot afford to keep repeating the logic of suspicion that fuelled the Civil War. The narratives of mistrust must give way to the reality of interdependence.

History offers us lessons. Germany rose from the ashes of war because it refused to remain divided. Rwanda turned tragedy into transformation by choosing reconciliation after genocide. South Africa confronted the wounds of apartheid through truth and reconciliation. Nigeria cannot be the exception. We must move beyond the hostilities of the past and embrace the truth that diversity is not a curse but a blessing. What happened at Babel scattered tongues, but what happened at Pentecost united them into one force for transformation. Nigeria must choose Pentecost over Babel.

Healing requires more than rhetoric. It demands deliberate action. In this light, the current effort by the National Assembly to create an additional state in the South-East is a significant step toward equity. For too long, the imbalance in state distribution  six in every other geopolitical zone but only five in the South-East  has been a silent reminder of unfinished reconciliation. By taking up this bill, the President and the leadership of the National Assembly are beginning to address the masquerade in the room  the unspoken inequities that have lingered since the war. This move, if completed with sincerity, will not merely redraw maps; it will redraw trust. It will send a message that Nigeria is finally ready to match rhetoric with justice, and symbolism with substance. This is how nations heal  not by pretending away their past, but by confronting it with courage and fairness.

To lift the lid from the South-East, government must go beyond token appointments or symbolic gestures. We must intentionally invest in infrastructure  roads that connect markets, rail lines that open trade corridors, power hubs that fuel industry, technology parks that harness innovation. Imagine an industrial corridor stretching from Onitsha through Aba to Port Harcourt, fully powered and connected to global markets. That vision is not beyond us; it is within reach if we have the political will.

Nations that flourish are those that reconcile their past and release the potential of all their people. Nigeria has delayed this reckoning for too long. If we continue to live as though the Civil War is a closed chapter, while its wounds still bleed beneath the surface, we risk repeating history in cycles of suspicion and unrest.

When Nigeria builds without the East, it is like building on one leg. We wobble when we should stride. We limp when we should soar. The South-East does not ask for pity; it asks for partnership. And in partnering with the East, Nigeria will discover that what it needs to leap forward has been here all along.

Nations that flourish are those that reconcile their past and release the potential of all their people. Nigeria has delayed this reckoning for too long. If we continue to live as though the Civil War is a closed chapter, while its wounds still bleed beneath the surface, we risk repeating history in cycles of suspicion and unrest.

But if we lift the lid  if we embrace the wisdom, resilience, and enterprise of the East  we can turn a painful past into a powerful future. The wise men came from the East, bearing gifts. Today, Nigerias East also bears gifts  the gift of enterprise, of creativity, of unbreakable resilience. Those gifts are waiting to be received, not rejected.

As the good book reminds us, a house divided against itself cannot stand. The time has come for Nigeria to stand. And to stand, we must rise together  North and South, East and West. The East holds wisdom. The East carries gifts. And until Nigeria embraces those gifts, our national greatness will remain postponed.

Sunday Ogidigbo is Senior Pastor of Holyhill Church, Abuja. He writes on faith, leadership, and the intersection of spirituality and culture. X/Instagram/Facebook: @SOgidigbo. Email: [email protected]
Our love must be upgraded to the greater love of God.

God does not want everybody to understand what He says:

The disciples came and said to Him, Why do You speak to them in parables? He answered and said to them, Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. (Matthew 13:10-11).

God does not want our faith in Him to be based on our own understanding. He says in Proverbs 23:4: Because of your own understanding, cease!

God wants us to believe what we do not understand. Solomon counsels: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5).

God is only interested in the obedient. He wants to teach us obedience. He wants us to obey what we do not understand. He says: To obey is better than sacrifice. (1 Samuel 15:22).

If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people. (Exodus 19:5).

When they ran out of wine at the wedding in Cana, Jesus told the servants to fill the pots with water. This did not make sense because they needed wine and not water. But, His mother said to the servants, Whatever He says to you, do it.

Then Jesus turned the water into wine.

This leads me to the principle: the things we do not understand are more important than the things we do understand. The things we do not understand lead us to God.

There is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. (Job 32:8).

God wants us to seek understanding from him. The psalmist says to God:

The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. (Psalm 119:30).

Let my cry come before You, O Lord; give me understanding according to Your word. (Psalm 119:169).

Solomon asked God for understanding:

Give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. (1 Kings 3:9).

God not only gave him what he asked for, He also gave him wisdom above all others.

No Loss, No Gain

In the kingdom of God, you cannot receive without losing. For example, you cannot receive eternal life without first losing your life. Although we had what we regarded as life before Jesus came, He declared:

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10).

This is because God kills and makes alive. He requires that we relinquish the life we had to receive the life He has to give. If we are determined to hold on to our old life, then we cannot receive His newness of life. Jesus says: He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:25).

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39).

We have to lose the counterfeit to gain the original. Thus, we cannot receive the love of God without first losing the love of man. To love God, we have to hate the love of man. Jesus says:

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:26).

Although we are required to love others, this love must be with the greater love of God and not with the inferior love of man. So, Paul says:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. (Ephesians 5:25).

Counterfeit Love

The love of man is counterfeit because we hate those we are required to love. John says:

If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. (1 John 4:20).

Thus, Amnon loved Tamar. But after raping her, his love for her vanished.

Then Amnon hated (Tamar) exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. (2 Samuel 13:15).

This is the classical love of man. We love our wives, then we divorce our wives. We love our friends, then we despise them.

Peters love for Jesus was also counterfeit. His love contradicted Jesus love for God. This made his love demonic:

Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You! But He turned and said to Peter, Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offence to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. (Matt 16:21-23).

Peters love for Jesus was so inadequate that he denied Jesus three times after He was arrested. So when Jesus rose from the dead, He confronted Peter about his inadequate love.

Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these? He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed My lambs. He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? He said to him, Feed My lambs. He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. He said to him, Tend My sheep. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep. (John 21:15-17).

Jesus then required Peter to upgrade his love for Him by laying down his life for Him:

I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, Follow me! (John 21:18-19).

Jesus says: This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down ones life for his friends. (John 15:12-13).

[email protected]; www.femiaribisala.com
Imagine a recalcitrant and unrepentant schoolyard and dockside bully like President Donald Trump threatening our country with violence, military action and invasion. What a nerve!

Permit me to put the matter in context. A friend of mine sent the following words to me last night after reading his threat of war and military action.

She wrote: How I wish we can simply ignore this petulant man spewing utter childish rubbish all over the place. They can categorise us as they like, that is on them and there is nothing we can do OR ought to do about that. He should bring it on. Let them send their troops and let us see. The same Islamic Terrorists that THEY FUNDED to destroy us. Serves us right, We had the CHANCE to stand and be counted on the right side of history, before God with the genocide that is being committed by Israel and funded and supported by America. For all its worth, South Africa STOOD and REPRESENTED. We were nowhere to be seen or heard. AND YET look at this!

She concluded by saying the following: It is not his fault or the Americans fault, it is SOLELY ours. I pray this is a wake-up call for us as leaders, as a nation and Africans. These people are NOT our friends, have never been and will never be; neither should we tolerate having them as our masters, or elders!

I concur with this deeply courageous lady who has said it as it is. Frankly, I couldnt have put it better myself.

My response to her was as follows: You are right. They are evil and if he carries out his abominable threat, there will be a war. We shall not leave the country but we will fight it out with them. We behaved like cowards and allowed them to demonise us with no response. I do not know what is wrong with Nigerians but this will be the greatest challenge they have ever faced and maybe after it is all over, they will appreciate the importance of having bold, articulate and courageous leaders and disavow themselves of their accursed cowardice, ignorance, pettiness, weakness, envy and complacency.

I meant every word.

Trump, a fascist and an associate of the globally recognised Hitler of the 21st century, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has refused to call the Israeli Zionist Nazis and the UAE-backed RSF butchers of Darfur, Sudan mass murderers and genocidal maniacs, but he is calling our people the killers of Christians and is desperately trying to tag our nation with the genocide label and create a crisis in Nigeria.

I am not surprised. Permit me to tell you why.

In my essay titled, Christian genocide and the danger of mischaracterisation which was published a week ago I wrote, inter alia, the following:

Our government must refuse to allow itself to be hoodwinked by the words of middle-ranking American government officials who are not members of the MAGA inner circle and who do not truly represent the very hardline and extreme views of the right-wing Christian fundamentalist and anti-Muslim forces that Trump holds dear. If it really wants to know what Trump is thinking but has so far refused to voice out about Nigeria, it would be wise for our government to consider the words of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Senator Ted Cruz, Congressman Riley Moore and Congressman Chris Smith far more than the soothing and encouraging words and expressions of support from friendly faces in the Trump administration, who have deep ties with and a soft spot for Nigeria, but who are not at the heart of the #MAGA power configuration like Trumps Lebanese brother in-law and Special Advisor on African Affairs, Massad Boulus. American doublespeak and subterfuge is an art and we must never take them for their word or drink from their poisoned chalice. As the Bible says, their speech is as smooth as butter but war is in their heart.

Sadly, our government did not pay heed to my words and instead took the comforting words of Boulus as the position of Trump. How wrong they were!

What a profound miscalculation and grave error.

It succumbed to a sucker punch and two weeks later a devastating right cross was delivered to its chin.

I saw it coming but the government didnt.

This decisive blow came when Trump not only claimed that Nigeria is the most dangerous country for Christians to live in the world but also designated it as a country of concern, falsely alleging that more Christians are killed in Nigeria in one day than in the rest of the world put together.

He also said that he intends to do far more against Nigeria, and that this is just the beginning.

He proved his words by going a step further the following day by threatening to send military forces to our country to kill our people.

What he did not say, but which is obvious, is that a regime change orchestrated by them may also be on the cards.

That is their objective and desire. That is their style and modus operandi. That is their character and nature.

That is their history and practice in foreign lands, whose resources they covet, and only a fool will deny it.

Yet, it did not stop there.

On the same day Pete Hegseth, the American Secretary of War, went even further and threatened to launch air strikes and attacks on Nigeria to protect our Christian brothers.

This is the brazen threat and nonsensical rubbish that some in our midst have been cheering all night.

They forget that bombs and instruments of war, when deployed by American-backed mercenaries, American proxies or American soldiers, do not make any distinction between Christians and Muslims or ethnic groups.

Once they deploy and the bombs begin to fly, we shall ALL die or be displaced.

Worse of all, those in high places that do not have the intelligence, knowledge or understanding to discern the grave implications of all this, and gullible members of the Christian community in Nigeria who are applauding this absurd narrative and course of action, will soon find out that we are being pushed the way of Sudan, Libya, Iraq, Congo, Gaza, Lebanon and Somalia; only that ours will be one hundred times worse.

As much as I despise them and their evil ways, I doff my hat to the Americans, the Zionists and their local collaborators and co-conspirators, for achieving their devil-inspired and sinister purpose, and pulling off this great evil, all in an attempt to destabilise, destroy and divide our nation, and push us into a religious war, after which they will send in the monster, Erik D Prince, and what is left of his mercenary Blackwater army to supposedly protect Christians, but in reality to secure and steal our rare earth and vast mineral resources.

That is really what this is all about: the violent acquisition of our rare earth mineral resources. Sadly, most in our country just dont get it.

It has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with re-colonising, balkanising and destroying us.

Our government and people must recognise this for what it is and rise to the challenge.

We must unite, close our ranks, bury our differences and jointly resist the bullies with contempt, defiance, faith and courage. They shall not conquer us and we shall never bow before them.

There is no doubt that both Muslims and Christians are being subjected to genocide by Western and Israeli-backed terrorist groups like Boko Haram, Al Qaeda, Ansaru and ISWAP in our country.

This is a matter of concern and with no international support, our security forces have made progress against them in the last two years.

Despite this, President Donald Trump has threatened our nation with war and seeks to divide us along religious lines.

The Nigerians that are applauding him are ignorant and naive because you need to be a fool to believe that Trump genuinely cares about genocide or Christians.

If he did, there would be no genocide of Christians and Muslims in Gaza, Darfur or Congo today.

He is interested in only one thing: sparking off a religious war in Nigeria and sending in his troops to bomb and occupy us, and corner our rare earth, our oil reserves and our mineral resources.

That is the goal, and the sooner our government and people appreciate this, the better.

Whatever your views and whichever side of the divide you stand on, our nation has now been threatened with war and it is incumbent upon all the sons and daughters of Nigeria to stand firm, prepare for it, and defend our sovereignty and every inch of our sacred soil.

We may not have their weapons or money, but we have God. Trump will not survive the wrath of the God of Nigeria and he will surely fail.

To be sure this is not about President Tinubu or his government: it is about our fatherland and our people.

It is about our manifest destiny and our future, which some seek to destroy and shatter.

It is about our self-respect, dignity, pride and honour.

It is about the preservation of our noble heritage.

No-one will shed our blood or Gaza us and escape it.

If attacked, by either Erik Princes CIA-backed private army of ruthless mercenaries or by American forces themselves, we must be ready to die fighting for our women, children, faith, dignity and nation.

To hell with the Yankee Nazis. We do not fear them and we will never bow before them.

They can choose not to help us to fight the terrorists that they sent to plague and destroy our land but they must NEVER threaten us with brazen acts of aggression, violence or an invasion.

We are a mighty nation with an ancient history of struggle and resilience.

We are a strong nation with the most formidable and remarkable people on earth who have excelled in all fields of human endeavour.

Despite the numerous challenges we face, by the power of God, we will fight back as best as we can, and in the end we shall prevail.

We shall never be subjugated, broken, divided, decimated or enslaved.

Drop one bomb on our people, whether Christian or Muslim, and the fire of God will burn you, the Sword of the Lord will cut you and the plagues of of the Lord will afflict you.

It happened to Pharaoh, Sennacherub, Herod and Nebuchadnezzar and it will surely happen to you.

He shall deliver us from your evil because He is a God of justice and the oppressed. He will never leave us or forsake us.

Do your worst and let the Lord strike you down.

Femi Fani-Kayode is the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Wakilin Doka Potiskum, the Otunba Joga Orile, the Ajagunle of Otun Ekiti, a former minister of Culture and Tourism, a former minister of Aviation, a former senior special assistant and spokesman to President Olusegun Obasanjo and a lawyer.
Trumps outburst exposes more than his ignorance of Africa. It reveals how easily American domestic politics can be weaponised to distort African realities. The real victims of that distortion are not in Washingtons think-tanks or on cable news. They are the Nigerians  Muslim and Christian alike  who must live with the consequences.

Africa Unscrambled

Two years ago, at a dinner in Washington for so-called Africa experts to brief an incoming congressman on the continent, the newly elected lawmaker began his contribution by declaring that one of Africas most urgent crises was a Christian genocide in Nigeria. When asked to elaborate, he cited a single name  Nnamdi Kanu  as an example of a persecuted Christian languishing in prison.

The table fell silent when someone gently explained that Kanu was not a pastor or missionary but a Biafran secessionist leader, jailed for fomenting rebellion and inciting violence, not for his faith.

That same combination of ignorance and emotional manipulation resurfaced this weekend when Donald Trump erupted on social media, threatening a fast, vicious and sweet military invasion of Nigeria to stop a supposed genocide against Christians. The statement was as dangerous as it was absurd.

If Trump had paused to consult the American military, which has spent years partnering quietly with Nigerian forces against Boko Haram and other insurgents, he might have learnt that Nigerias conflicts are real  but they are not religious wars.

It is astonishing that the United States spends billions of dollars annually on intelligence gathering, yet its political leaders can still be so profoundly misinformed about Africas most populous country. Yes, Christians in parts of Nigeria have suffered horrific violence from extremists. But so too have Muslims, often in even greater numbers. In Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa  the heart of the Boko Haram insurgency  most victims have been Muslim civilians murdered for rejecting the groups nihilistic ideology.

Trumps eruption is the culmination of a years-long lobbying campaign in Washington by Biafran separatists, who have cleverly repackaged their secessionist grievance as a struggle to save persecuted Christians. Since 2019, Biafran groups have declared more than a million dollars on lobbying in Washington, through Mercury Public Affairs, BW Global Group and Daniel Goldin.

They have found a receptive audience among Christian nationalists in the United States, who see Nigeria through the prism of their own culture wars. Senator Ted Cruz has floated legislation invoking religious persecution. Congressman Riley Moore has made it a personal crusade. Even the comedian, Bill Maher, got in on the act, scolding the media for ignoring it.

If Trump truly cared about Nigerian lives, he might note that the Tinubu government has been fighting, not aiding, the extremists  often with US logistical and intelligence support. The Pentagon, better than anyone, knows that a military intervention in Nigeria would not be swift or clean. It would be catastrophic, plunging West Africas fragile equilibrium into chaos at the very moment when Russian forces  now rebranded as the Africa Corps  are being pushed back in the Sahelian states, the epicentre of the Jihadist insurgencies.

The strategy is familiar. It echoes the white genocide narrative promoted by far-right activists about Afrikaner farmers  a storyline that the Trump administration once enthusiastically adopted, before quietly erasing it from the discourse.

As with some Afrikaners, many Nigerian Igbos feel that they are the victims of discrimination, second class citizens in a country that has never quite healed the wounds of the Biafran civil war of 1967 to 1970.

In Washington, the campaign deploys the same emotional triggers: a grain of truth wrapped in distortion, amplified through the machinery of American grievance politics.

That grain of truth begins with the Boko Haram war, launched in 2009 in northeastern Nigeria, which has killed tens of thousands across faith lines. It extends to the Middle Belt, where Muslim and Christian farming communities have clashed violently, and to the recurring conflicts between Fulani herders and largely Christian agriculturalists. These are complex, overlapping crises  rooted in land scarcity, climate stress, and state weakness  not a simple religious persecution. Much of the violence is simple banditry and criminality.

To reduce it to Christian genocide is not just inaccurate. It is dangerous.

Nigeria is far from perfect, and its government has often handled these conflicts clumsily or brutally. But it is also a country of extraordinary coexistence: roughly half-Christian, half-Muslim, and among the worlds most religiously integrated societies. Its current president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a Muslim. His wife, Oluremi Tinubu, is a Christian pastor. Nigerias cabinet, parliament, and cities are filled with people who cross those supposed lines every day without bloodshed.

The idea that Abuja is colluding in the persecution of Christians is as false as it is incendiary.

There is a legitimate role for international support in protecting vulnerable communities, helping Nigeria guard its borders, strengthening peacekeeping and deploying sophisticated technology to prevent violence. As Nigerian commentators have pointed out, the international community needs to close ranks in identifying, sanctioning and prosecuting not just the active participants but the financial sponsors and collaborators with those who are responsible.

If Trump truly cared about Nigerian lives, he might note that the Tinubu government has been fighting, not aiding, the extremists  often with US logistical and intelligence support. The Pentagon, better than anyone, knows that a military intervention in Nigeria would not be swift or clean. It would be catastrophic, plunging West Africas fragile equilibrium into chaos at the very moment when Russian forces  now rebranded as the Africa Corps  are being pushed back in the Sahelian states, the epicentre of the Jihadist insurgencies.

Stoking religious hysteria from afar risks achieving what Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa could not: turning Nigerias diversity into its undoing.

There is a legitimate role for international support in protecting vulnerable communities, helping Nigeria guard its borders, strengthening peacekeeping and deploying sophisticated technology to prevent violence. As Nigerian commentators have pointed out, the international community needs to close ranks in identifying, sanctioning and prosecuting not just the active participants but the financial sponsors and collaborators with those who are responsible.

The world needs partnership, not performative threats of invasion.

It needs steady diplomacy, not social-media outbursts dressed up as moral crusades.

Trumps outburst exposes more than his ignorance of Africa. It reveals how easily American domestic politics can be weaponised to distort African realities. The real victims of that distortion are not in Washingtons think-tanks or on cable news. They are the Nigerians  Muslim and Christian alike  who must live with the consequences.

Phillip van Niekerk is the managing partner of Calabar Consulting, a risk consulting company specialising in Africa. The views expressed are his own.
Professor Aituaje Pogosons presence, generosity, patience, encouragement, mentorship, wisdom and insights through the years were transformative for me, as for countless many peers of mine. She constantly expanded the breadth and depth of what being human and woman in the academy can be. As a feminist scholar-activist (my own descriptor), she unabashedly advocated for gender equity and inclusion through her scholarship, teaching and community and civil society engagements.

A gazelle lies slain on your heights, O Ibadan.

How the mighty has fallen!

Aituajein life you were loved and admired,

and in death even more so.

You were swifter than eagles, stronger than the lions.

Daughters of UI, weep for Irene,

who clothed you in knowledge and wisdom,

who adorned your garments with kindness and grace.

How the mighty has fallen in battle!

I grieve for you, Shining Star,

How the mighty has fallen!

The weapons of war will never touch you again.

(Adapted from 2 Samuel 1: 19, 23-27).

It is an understatement to say I was gut-punched this morning when I came upon the announcement of the death, on 25 October, of Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson, at the age of 65. I am shocked, devastated, grieving and speechless. Mrs Pogoson was too young to die. She was too brilliant to die. She was too important to die. She was too historic to die. She was too beautiful to die. She was too angelic to die.

Memories of our innumerable interactions over the course of twenty-five years rushed at me unbidden, as I was frozen in place trying to comprehend the obituary words I was reading with tears blinding me. Memories of the many times I had spoken publicly and privately, at home and abroad, about her pioneering and immeasurable impact on two generations of Nigerian political scientists and on African women and young people in the academy. Memories of the many times I let her know of the high esteem in which I held her person, her presence, her scholarship, her leadership, her mentorship, and her humanity. She was my beloved teacher, role model, respected senior colleague, and a star illuminating the path on my journey to where I am today.

I think of Mrs Aituaje Irene Pogoson as Nanisca, Viola Daviss character in The Woman King, the leader of an elite corps of women fighters who protect the king and the kingdom, reminiscent of the Dahomey Amazons. Dr Pogoson, like Nanisca, understood her assignment as instilling knowledge, skills, strategic thinking, discipline, focus, sacrifice, and a thirst for absolute success in the women under her charge.

And yet fierce fighter or woman warrior is not the first (or second or third) phrase that comes to mind when most of us think of Mrs Pogoson: she was firm, yes, but her overall mien was calm, temperate, considered, self-possessed, never performatively disruptive, never without her toga of dignity and self-respect. So, this was the genius of her  that she was all the latter, and yet to those who knew her over time, she was also that Nanisca-like figure: intellectual, cerebral, focused, strategic and a disciplined, disciplining and discipling trailblazer, teacher, mentor, nurturer and leader of scholars and people.

You read in Professor AI Pogosons obituary that she was the immediate past head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ibadan, as well as its first female professor, and first female professor of International Relations. For some of us, these impressive descriptions are still understatements. Many others will write about her scholarship and productivity, her influence on national, African and global intellectual systems. I offer here a somewhat limited but deeply personal reflection of her impact on me and my co-travellers in the academic journey.

When Dr Pogoson strode tall and majestically into our POS 453 (International Institutions) class for the first time that memorable overcast morning at the start of the semester in the 2000/2001 session  I speak as much for my classmates as for myself  it felt like the sun had just risen, the clouds had vanished, the heavens had parted, the future was bright and the impossible was possible.

I was a Political Science undergraduate student at the University of Ibadan when Professor Irene Pogoson joined the Department as Lecturer II in the year 2000. All our departmental lecturers prior to that time had been men, and the discipline of Political Science itself, nationally and globally, was overwhelmingly masculine in content, approaches and the professoriate.

When Dr Pogoson strode tall and majestically into our POS 453 (International Institutions) class for the first time that memorable overcast morning at the start of the semester in the 2000/2001 session  I speak as much for my classmates as for myself  it felt like the sun had just risen, the clouds had vanished, the heavens had parted, the future was bright and the impossible was possible.

We already had the exceptional privilege of having been taught for the first time by a female scholar when Professor Anthonia Okoosi-Simbine of NISER taught us Public Administration the year before. I and my classmates wondered endlessly at the time why this brilliant scholar was not a permanent part of the Department, to continue to inspire us as she did that prior year.

Thus, Professor Aituaje Pogoson was the fulfilment of our dream, of seeing somebody daily in the Department who not only physically represented all of us students with the body and mind of a woman, but also, perhaps, would recognise, teach and encourage a divergence from the traditional disciplinary conventions and theories. She was very strict  but she was brilliant and diligent: never late, never missed a class, never ever came to class unprepared, taught the entire syllabus with equal prolific attention to the full range of each topic inside it, and seemed to enjoy the subject (and others she taught us later). Before I ever stepped into my first class as a university lecturer, I knew I wanted to be exactly all these things too.

My young self understood even then that she needed to present herself as extremely capable and strict because of the deeply entrenched sexist and misogynistic cultures that would tear her down quickly if she was anything less or otherwise. I understand even better now what a great burden the position of being a historic first and the only one, in an equally historic and storied department and University must have been for her, especially in those early years.

As I remained a student in the Department of Political Science at Ibadan for over 14 years, while obtaining my Bachelors, Masters and PhD, I got to know Professor Irene Pogoson more. I went on to specialise in International Relations, like her. She taught me in the Masters class and was our Postgraduate Coordinator for part of my PhD studies. But I had been concurrently hired as Graduate Assistant at Babcock University right after my Bachelors degree and stayed there till I was a full professor. So, she was concurrently my teacher and my colleague for much of the 25 years I knew her.

she was always a warm and personable senior colleague and big sister to me. Besides at Ibadan, our paths crossed intermittently at conferences, where she deliberately took time to get to know me, ask about my family, and share experiences and advice about navigating professional challenges and the struggle for work-life balance. She gave me opportunities, inviting me to contribute articles to journal special issues that she was guest editing, to speak to her Gender and Politics class, and so on.

Professor Pogoson was outstanding in every role I knew her in. She went on to introduce Gender and Politics as a cornerstone part of the Ibadan Politics undergraduate curriculum  an unparalleled contribution. She guided and mentored us as postgraduate students with care and sensitivity, and you always knew she was on your side, even when administrative hiccups made the system sometimes unfriendly. She battled cancer in those years, came out triumphant and shared her story and deepened faith in God openly with us.

And she was always a warm and personable senior colleague and big sister to me. Besides at Ibadan, our paths crossed intermittently at conferences, where she deliberately took time to get to know me, ask about my family, and share experiences and advice about navigating professional challenges and the struggle for work-life balance. She gave me opportunities, inviting me to contribute articles to journal special issues that she was guest editing, to speak to her Gender and Politics class, and so on.

I was also keen to work with her and invited her to spend a sabbatical year at Babcock University when I was Head of Department there (this didnt work out for her schedule eventually), and to contribute to my book projects. As HOD at Ibadan, she reached out to me personally for ideas and to liaison with my alumni class for support to the Department. I had her in mind to serve as external examiner for one of my current PhD students next April, but death had her by the hand and has impeached those plans.

Professor Aituaje Pogosons presence, generosity, patience, encouragement, mentorship, wisdom and insights through the years were transformative for me, as for countless many peers of mine. She constantly expanded the breadth and depth of what being human and woman in the academy can be. As a feminist scholar-activist (my own descriptor), she unabashedly advocated for gender equity and inclusion through her scholarship, teaching and community and civil society engagements.

I extend my deep and sincere commiserations to Professor Aituaje Irene Pogosons husband, Professor Ohioma Pogoson and their three lovely daughters whom she doted on unabashedly, and to my esteemed senior colleagues and staff of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ibadan. She will be greatly missed.

Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Ibadan and is an Associate Professor of African and African American Studies, Brandeis University, USA.
While public morality demands ethical leadership, it cannot override the rule of law. The paper concludes that legality and morality must coexist, but legal innocence must remain the foundation of justice.

Introduction

In Nigerias democracy, public appointments often ignite controversy whenever morality collides with legality. The recent appointment of Hadi Sirika, former Minister of Aviation as Pro-Chancellor of Umaru Musa YarAdua University (UMYU) exemplifies this intersection. Critics cite ongoing allegations against him as evidence of moral unfitness, while defenders emphasise that no court has convicted him of any offence.

The essence of the issue lies in a fundamental constitutional doctrine: a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. The Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Umaru Radda, acting as the Visitor to UMYU, has exercised his powers lawfully. This essay defends the appointment as constitutionally valid, while acknowledging the broader moral expectations surrounding public leadership.

The Legal Foundation of the Appointment

Under the Umaru Musa YarAdua University Law, the Governor of Katsina State, as the Visitor, possesses the statutory authority to appoint the Pro-Chancellor and members of the Universitys Governing Council. Nothing in that law or the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) disqualifies Mr Sirika, a former senator from such an appointment.

Section 36(5) of the Constitution expressly states that Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until he is proved guilty. This principle protects individuals from prejudicial treatment based on allegations. Unless and until a competent court convicts a person, he or she cannot be legally regarded as guilty or deprived of civic rights.

In Fawehinmi v Inspector-General of Police, the Supreme Court affirmed that no individual may be treated as a criminal without trial and conviction. The decision reinforced that the rule of law demands respect for due process and judicial determination, not speculation or political sentiment. Thus, Mr Sirika remains innocent before the law and eligible for appointment.

Discretion and Executive Authority

The Governors decision falls within the domain of executive discretion. Administrative law recognises that public authorities may exercise discretion so long as their actions are lawful, rational, and procedurally fair. Unless it can be shown that the appointment was made in bad faith or contrary to law, the courts will not intervene. By appointing Mr Sirika, the Governor acted within the boundaries of his statutory powers.

The position of Pro-Chancellor, while important, is not one requiring legislative screening or confirmation. It is typically an honorary and advisory role, reserved for respected figures capable of offering policy direction and institutional oversight. Therefore, legally speaking, the appointment is valid and enforceable.

The Presumption of Innocence: A Cornerstone of Justice

The presumption of innocence is a universal doctrine of criminal justice, enshrined not only in Nigerias Constitution but also in international law. Article 11(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and Article 7(1)(b) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights-which Nigeria has domesticated both guarantee this principle. In FRN v Ibori, the Federal High Court emphasised that public opinion, however strong, cannot substitute for a judicial verdict.

Similarly, in Ogboru v Ibori, the Court of Appeal held that unproven allegations or investigations do not remove a citizens right to hold public office. These precedents affirm that guilt is not established by accusation, but by evidence tested before a competent court. Accordingly, denying Mr Sirika an appointment based solely on ongoing investigations would amount to punishment without trial, violating both constitutional and moral justice. The rule of law demands fairness to all citizens, even those under public scrutiny.

Morality and Public Perception in Governance

While the law justifies the appointment, public morality offers a parallel perspective. Universities, as centres of learning and integrity, are expected to project ethical leadership. Of course, appointment of a public figure facing allegations, even unproven, can affect institutional image and public trust. Nevertheless, morality, unlike law, is subjective and fluid.

Public opinion often shifts with political climate and media narratives. Governance must therefore rely on law as its stable foundation. Decisions made solely on moral outrage risk undermining due process and fostering mob justice. As the courts have held, justice must be grounded in evidence, not conjecture or prejudice. Thus, while public sensitivity should guide government choices, legality must remain the decisive criterion. The law does not and should not punish individuals based on allegations alone.

Conclusion

The appointment of Mr Sirika as Pro-Chancellor of Umaru Musa YarAdua University is legally sound and constitutionally defensible. The governor acted within his powers as Visitor to the institution, and no law bars Mr Sirika from holding such a position. The presumption of innocence remains a cornerstone of Nigerian and international law, and until a competent court finds otherwise, Mr Sirika is entitled to full legal and civic privileges.

While moral expectations are legitimate, they must not override legal principles. Governance requires a careful balance: morality should guide, but law must govern. The Governor of Katsina State has not erred; he has merely upheld the Constitution. In doing so, he reinforces a crucial message that in a democracy governed by the rule of law, innocence remains the default position until guilt is proven.

* Mr Sirajo Yakubu, Principal Partner of the Law Office, Sirajo Yakubu & Co wrote from Abuja. He can be reached through [email protected]
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have recorded significant successes in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations, killing several terrorists and securing key locations across Borno and Adamawa States between 25 and 31 October.

The Media Information Officer, Sani Uba, a lieutenant colonel, in a statement on Saturday, said the operation thwarted multiple terrorist attacks, destroyed logistics networks, and prevented planned assaults on civilian communities.

Mr Uba said the operations demonstrated the troops determination to maintain pressure on terror groups and deny them freedom of action.

According to him, troops on 25 October foiled an attempt by terrorists to attack Kukawa Town with a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED).

The explosive-laden vehicle, engaged with rocket-propelled grenades, was later destroyed by a T-55 tank, averting a potential tragedy.

A 10-year-old girl who sustained minor injuries during the incident received prompt medical attention at a nearby facility.

In another operation, troops working with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) discovered and safely neutralised three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the DikwaAjiri axis, preventing possible disruption of major supply routes.

Similarly, on Oct. 29, troops of 192 Battalion (Main) in collaboration with the CJTF conducted an ambush in the GwozaLimankara area, neutralising two terrorists and recovering bicycles and food items used for logistics support by the insurgents.

On 30 October, troops of 202 Battalion, supported by members of the Volunteer Force, executed a successful night ambush along the BamaKonduga Main Supply Route, engaging terrorists attempting to cross from the Gezuwa axis towards Sambisa Forest.

The insurgents fled in disarray after coming under heavy fire, he said.

Mr Uba added that troops of the 232 Battalion (Tactical), operating under Operation Strangulation, intercepted smugglers conveying a drum of petrol and two motorcycles used for illegal transportation at Fillin Ball and Sebore in Mubi South Local Government Area of Adamawa.

He said the suspects fled on sighting the troops, abandoning the items which were taken into custody for further investigation.

The theatre spokesman said the troops of 144 Battalion and Sector 4 Special Forces, acting on credible intelligence, arrested five suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP collaborators at Sabon Gari village in Madagali Local Government Area.

According to him, the suspects were identified as Musa Mohammed (38), Gambo Musa (17), Mallam Mohammed (17), Abu Danjuma (27) and Umar Banna (26).

Recovered items included a desert camouflage uniform, a round of 7.62mm x 54mm ammunition, and 50 wraps of Indian hemp found in an abandoned hut. Preliminary investigations are ongoing.

READ ALSO: Trump threatens to deploy US military to Nigeria over false genocide allegation

Throughout the period, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI provided close air support through precision strikes and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, which enhanced ground troops effectiveness and battlefield awareness.

A follow-up exploitation conducted in the early hours of October 31 led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with a magazine containing eight rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 90 rounds of linked 7.62mm x 54mm ammunition, four bicycles, and the corpse of a neutralised terrorist. No casualty was recorded on the part of own troops, he added.

Mr Uba said the Military High Command had commended the troops for their gallantry, professionalism, and commitment to restoring peace and stability in the North East.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the military to the total defeat of terrorism and insurgency, stressing that ongoing operations would continue to focus on dismantling terrorist cells, blocking their supply routes, and protecting vulnerable communities.

(NAN)
The police in Ebonyi State have killed two suspected members of a criminal gang in the state.

Police spokesperson in the state Joshua Ukandu, in a statement on Saturday, said the suspects were killed during a shootout with security operatives at their hideout in Iyonu Community, Ishielu Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Ukandu, a deputy superintendent of police, said the operation, which was conducted at the Iyonu-Idodo forest, followed a tip-off about the gangs activities in the area.

The police spokesperson said the hoodlums opened fire upon sighting the police team, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire during which two suspects were killed.

An AK-47 rifle, two locally fabricated Dane guns, twenty rounds of 9mm ammunition, and five live cartridges were recovered from the suspects during the operation, according to the police.

Foiled kidnap attack

Mr Ukandu said that in another operation, police operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit foiled a kidnap attack on the mother of a prominent individual in Isata Community within Isu, Onicha Local Government Area of the state.

He said the police subsequently arrested three suspects, Monday Okorie, Ngwuta Friday, and Simon Joshua, while one member of the gang fled.

The spokesperson said the police operatives also recovered a locally made single-barrel gun from the suspects.

He said the arrested suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, Adaku Uche-Anya, commended the operatives for their efforts in the operation, Mr Ukandu said.

Ms Uche-Anya reaffirmed the commitment of the police to rid the state of crime and criminality.

She urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information to aid the police in sustaining peace and security across Ebonyi State.

Worsening insecurity

Like other states in the South-east, Ebonyi State has witnessed attacks by armed persons in recent times.

Kidnapping and armed robbery worsen the security in the state and region.

READ ALSO: Police launch manhunt for abductors of medical doctor

Civil servants, business owners, politicians and even students have become targets of such attacks in the state lately.

Beyond the kidnap and robbery attacks, gunmen said to be part of the Biafra agitation in the South-east have been terrorising residents of the region.

The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been blamed for the frequent attacks in the South-east.

But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.

IPOB is seeking the secession of the South-east and some parts of the South-south from Nigeria.
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Anambra branch, has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo and security agencies to secure the freedom of their colleague, Tochukwu Mbanugo, who was abducted on 30 October.

The NMA made the call in a communique signed by Princeston Okam and Obiaeli Ifeanyi, chairman and secretary respectively, at the end of an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) held on Saturday.

The NMA said Mr Mbanugo, a consultant neurosurgeon with the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, was kidnapped in front of his hospital at Uruagu, Nnewi, in the evening of 30 October.

The NMA said the kidnappers had not established communication with Mr Mbanugos family, relatives, friends or colleagues as of the meeting time, urging the government and security agencies to rise up to this challenge immediately.

A 72-hour ultimatum is hereby given to the Anambra government to secure the immediate release of our colleague, Dr Tochukwu Mbanugo.

If at the expiration of the above timeline and our members release is not secured, all the doctors in Anambra State under the aegis of NMA, Anambra will down tools until our member is released.

An emergency meeting will be convened within the next 72 hours to review the progress made so far, it said.

The NMA stated that relevant government agencies had been duly informed, assuring that doctors would continue to deliver quality healthcare services to the people of Anambra, despite the prevailing challenges.

Efforts to get a reaction from the police were unsuccessful as the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, did not respond to calls and messages sent to him.

(NAN)
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The U.S. government shutdown, as of the time of publication, has been going on a month and at this point who knows if there is an ending in sight.

The Congressional Budget Office is projecting the shutdown could cost the economy between $7 billion and $14 billion and the restaurant industry, particularly in the $8 billion Washington, D.C., market, is no doubt impacted as part of those forecasts.

The timing certainly adds some insult to injury to the some 2,660 restaurants in the city, many of which are still recovering from plummeting reservations following President Trumps deployment of the National Guard and federal troops in August.

Jean Hagan, a restaurant consultant and partner at accounting and advisory firm EisnerAmper, adds that the city is also reeling from recent permanent government layoffs.

Less people in the city means less restaurant customers, she said.

To add a third punch, restaurants are also grappling with plummeting consumer sentiment, possibly resulting in fewer restaurant visits.

Technomics director of consumer and industry insights Robert Byrne said the government shutdown is adding to a laundry list of concerns that is driving such sentiment to levels that are even lower than they were during COVID.

Consumers are intuitive. They dont track measures that go into the broad rating of the economy, but they feel every single one of them, he said during a recent presentation. Right now, there is greater pessimism about future job availability  optimism about future income dropped off in August. Consumers are concerned about rising prices. Add this with the government shutdown and there are a lot of reasons theyre particularly anxious.

As such, new data from BlackBox Intelligence shows that traffic and sales in the market have underperformed national levels in the past four weeks, with traffic across segments falling 2.8% in the week of Oct. 12 compared to -1.6% the week of Sept. 21, before the shutdown began. The national average for those two weeks was up 1.6% and 1.3%, respectively. Upscale restaurants in Washington, D.C., have especially been impacted in the past month, with traffic down 6.8% and total sales down 5.7%. Casual dining is the only category with positive cumulative traffic during this timeframe, up 1.6%.

As public restaurant companies begin reporting quarterly results, were also starting to hear how the shutdown is impacting them.
Combining digital and automation technologies to build smart shipyards and strengthen shipbuilding capabilities

Advancing workforce development through hands-on training and specialized engineering programs

"Collaboration between shipbuilding and IT companies will be a catalyst for digital innovation in the U.S. shipbuilding industry"

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- HD Hyundai is partnering with Germany's Siemens to accelerate the digital transformation and modernization of the U.S. shipbuilding industry.

HD Hyundai announced on Sunday, Nov. 2, that it recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Siemens on the strategic collaboration for U.S. shipbuilding revitalization.

HD Hyundai and Siemens recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the strategic collaboration for U.S. shipbuilding revitalization at Lahan Select Hotel, Gyeongju, Korea. (From the left, Joe Bohman CTO of Siemens, Moon Sangmin, Head of Global Strategy at HD Hyundai)

Through this partnership, the two companies aim to enhance the overall competitiveness of the U.S. shipbuilding industry by improving design quality, minimizing production risks, enhancing quality, and reducing costs.

The partnership will drive gradual technological innovation across the shipbuilding sector by advancing the digitalization of ship design, automating block assembly and installation processes, and optimizing production, quality, and process management through data-driven solutions.

In addition to technology cooperation, the two companies will jointly develop professional training programs to cultivate skilled experts in shipbuilding. HD Hyundai plans to dispatch instructors to more than thirty Siemens training facilities across the United States to deliver field-oriented, hands-on education. Building on its existing academic partnerships with leading universities such as the University of Michigan (UM) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), HD Hyundai also plans to develop specialized curricula in engineering, digital design, and process automation. The parties also agreed to explore various opportunities for business cooperation and partnership expansion.

Since 2023, HD Hyundai has been jointly developing a manufacturing innovation platform with Siemens, a provider of industrial software, that integrates data from design to production within a single digital ecosystem. The platform enables virtual simulation of design and production processes, reducing trial and error while deriving optimized outcome.

The partnership is expected to accelerate the smart transformation of U.S. shipyards, enhancing shipbuilding competitiveness through improved quality, cost reduction, and minimized production risks.

"Maximizing production efficiency through digital and automation technologies is key to the reconstruction of the U.S. shipbuilding industry," said Moon Sangmin, Head of Global Strategy at HD Hyundai. "HD Hyundai's accumulated shipbuilding technology and Siemens' digital capabilities will contribute to creating new opportunities for the U.S. shipbuilding industry."

Meanwhile, HD Hyundai has been strengthening its cooperation network in the United States to advance the Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA) initiative  a symbol of KoreaU.S. shipbuilding collaboration. The company has established strategic partnerships with major U.S. players, including Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) in the naval sector and Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) in the commercial ship segment. HD Hyundai is also jointly promoting workforce development programs with leading universities such as Seoul National University, UM, and MIT.

SOURCE HD Hyundai
The Walk, Run, or Ride Event Raises Money to Support Millions of Cancer Survivors

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, nearly 2,000 cancer survivors, patients, and advocates from Texas and the nation filled the streets of Austin for the 29th Livestrong Challenge, an event that celebrates and honors everyone affected by cancer.

Participants walked, ran, or rode their bikes across the finish line, showcasing the power of perseverance. Livestrong's mission is to ensure patients and loved ones not only survive but thrive. The Austin-grown, globally recognized foundation finds and funds solutions to solve everyday cancer challenges and to support survivors and their families through every step of their journey.

Livestrong Foundation Celebrates Success of 29th Annual Livestrong Challenge. Post this

This year's event was made possible through the generous support of Presenting Sponsor Sunflower Bank. Other major supporters included The START Center for Cancer Care, H-E-B and Sharky's on the Pier.

"What makes the Livestrong Challenge powerful is the community that shows up for one another. Survivors, caregivers, and supporters stand as proof that no one faces cancer alone, not at this event, and not in life," said Suzanne Stone, Livestrong Foundation President and CEO. "As long as cancer exists, so will Livestrong."

Challenge participants and supporters celebrated as the race concluded in the new "Family Fun Zone" and "Yellow Zone." The Storytime area featured "My Brave Friend," Livestrong's children's book that teaches lessons of friendship, courage and hope.

Survivor participants finished in a special Survivor Finish Lane, where they received a yellow rose and a T-shirt to symbolize hope and resilience, generously donated by The START Center for Cancer Care.

"My Air Force career was deeply rewarding, and some deployments were tough. But cancer was a fight for my life  and Livestrong gave me the tools and hope to keep going," said Dan Beard of San Antonio, a 22-year Air Force veteran and 15-year cancer survivor. "The Livestrong Challenge represents hope, a reminder of how far I've come, and a chance to help others find the same strength and support."

And  as it is every year  the Tribute Wall was one of the most moving areas for attendees, offering a space for them to honor and memorialize loved ones.

Today's event raised more than $334,000 to support crucial programs such as Livestrong Fertility, Cancer-Informed fitness programs and Resource Support.

Donations are still being accepted: www.LivestrongChallenge.org.

About Livestrong

Livestrong's mission is to address overlooked challenges in cancer care, daily asking the question, "Which everyday cancer problem will we fix today?" Since its inception in 1997, Livestrong has supported more than 10 million cancer survivors, helping establish survivorship as a field of study in the cancer space.

Media Contact:

Alice Claiborne, 713-865-6342

[email protected]

SOURCE Livestrong Foundation
Virginia Department of Veterans Services Grant Enables Free Print-On-Demand Book Vouchers for Veterans Through Words of Veterans a U.S. Veteran-led organization.

QUANTICO, Va. & LORTON, Va. & WOODBRIDGE, Va. & FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Nov. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Virginia Veterans Can Claim Free Words of Veterans Book Vouchers  In honor of Veterans Day 2025, Words of Veterans  https://www.wordsofveterans.com/  is proud to announce 1,000 print-on-demand book vouchers, funded by a grant from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS), are now available to U.S. Veterans and their immediate family members living in Virginia. These vouchers will remain available through November 11, 2025 (Veterans Day) at five participating Veterans and community locations across Northern Virginia.



Participating Locations:



Woodbridge Moose Lodge

9612 Fernedge Ln, Lorton, VA 22079

(703) 339-6686



American Legion Post 28

17934 Liming Ln, Triangle, VA 22172

(703) 221-2507



VFW Post 3103

Princess Anne St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

(540) 373-3110



Marine Corps League Mickey Finn Detachment #333

18736 Fuller Heights Rd, Triangle, VA 22172

(703) 221-7393



Veterans Growing America

15001 Potomac Town Pl Unit 130, Woodbridge, VA 22191

(571) 969-1017



The 1,000 Words of Veterans book vouchers enable U.S. Veterans and immediate family members residing in Virginia to print their military stories, reflections, or memoirs at no cost, turning their personal experiences into a professionally bound 6  9 hardcover book (up to 350 pages). Using the online platform, participants respond to a guided series of writing prompts inspired by the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, automatically generating a formatted manuscript that can be printed and delivered in Virginia.



Eligibility: U.S. Veterans and immediate family members residing in Virginia.



This DVS-funded initiative underscores Virginia's commitment to preserving Veterans' legacies and honoring their post-service contributions through storytelling and publication. "Whether you served in combat, support, or peacetime  your story matters," said Alex Sebby, Founder of Words of Veterans. "Let's get it in print, honor your service, and share your legacy."



For more information contact [email protected].



Contact:

Alex Sebby

[email protected]

5714945106



Photos:

https://www.prlog.org/13108508



Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Words of Veterans
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Analysts have recently lowered their consensus price target for Choice Hotels International from $121.79 to $117.50, marking a modest downward reassessment of the stock's fair value. This shift reflects a more cautious outlook in light of both operational resilience and ongoing development challenges facing the company. Stay tuned to discover how you can follow future updates to this evolving investment narrative.

Analyst Price Targets don't always capture the full story. Head over to our Company Report to find new ways to value Choice Hotels International.

What Wall Street Has Been Saying

Recent analyst commentary has provided insight into how the investment community perceives the current state of Choice Hotels International. Here is a summary of key perspectives based on the latest research:

 Bullish Takeaways

Despite recent guidance reductions, some analysts acknowledge that the revised outlook has removed some near-term uncertainty about revenue per available room (RevPAR) and EBITDA. This could be seen as a prudent move in providing clearer visibility to investors.

 Bearish Takeaways

Barclays has reduced its price target for Choice Hotels from $121 to $117 while maintaining an Underweight rating. This underscores ongoing concerns around the companys development pipeline.

The firm notes that although managements reduced guidance has helped address immediate earnings risk, overall development remains challenged and may limit near-term growth opportunities.

Do your thoughts align with the Bull or Bear Analysts? Perhaps you think there's more to the story. Head to the Simply Wall St Community to discover more perspectives or begin writing your own Narrative!

NYSE:CHH Community Fair Values as at Nov 2025

What's in the News
Key Points

Reddit's user base is expanding at a rapid clip.

Surging ad sales are driving the company's profit growth.

10 stocks we like better than Reddit 

Reddit's (NYSE: RDDT) stock popped on Friday after the social media platform shared its impressive third-quarter growth metrics with investors.

By the close of trading, Reddit's share price was up more than 7% after rising by over 18% earlier in the day.

Image source: Getty Images.

People are flocking to Reddit's sites

Reddit's revenue surged by 68% year over year to $585 million. The social news and discussion forum continues to grow more popular. The number of daily active unique visitors to Reddit's sites rose by 19% to 116 million, while weekly users increased by 21% to 444 million.

Reddit is now the third most-visited website in the U.S., according to Semrush, behind only Google and YouTube.

"Reddit provides something rare on the Internet," CEO Steve Huffman said, adding that "444 million people come here each week for authentic conversations they can't find anywhere else, and increasingly, for engagement with brands, institutions, and publishers."

Advertising was a particularly strong growth driver; Reddit's ad sales rocketed 74% higher to $549 million. The company is investing in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technology to provide marketers with tools that can help them better target potential customers on its platform.

Reddit's profits are soaring

At the same time, Reddit is rapidly becoming more profitable as it scales its operations. The social media leader's net income increased fivefold to $163 million, or $0.80 per share. That easily surpassed Wall Street's projections for earnings per share of $0.52.

Should you invest $1,000 in Reddit right now?

Before you buy stock in Reddit, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Reddit wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $587,288!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,243,688!*

Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 1,055%  a market-crushing outperformance compared to 194% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
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The police arrested Janata Dal-United candidate Anant Singh early on Sunday morning in Bihar's Mokama in connection with the murder of Dularchand Yadav, who campaigned for the Jan Suraaj Party candidate.

IMAGE: Bahubali Anant Singh (middle), former Bihar MLA with supporters, speaks to the media at his residence, after getting bail in Mokama firing case, in Patna, August 6, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

The police arrested Singh, who is contesting the Mokama assembly seat, between 1 and 2 am and presented him before the chief judicial magistrate.

Yadav died at Khushhalchak village three days ago during election campaigning. An assailant reportedly shot him, and an SUV crushed him, officials confirmed.

The incident had taken place close to the Bhadaur and Ghoswari police stations in the Mokama area.

Anant Singh, the controversial former Bihar MLA seeking to reclaim Mokama seat, and his two nephews face charges in the murder case.

Locally known as a 'Bahubali', Singh faces over two dozen cases, including charges of murder, kidnapping, and extortion. He recently secured release from jail.

Patna district magistrate Tayag Rajan and SSP Kartkey Sharma confirmed the arrest at a joint press conference late on Saturday night.

DM Rajan stated the incident was an attack on law and order. He promised stern action against everyone involved in the crime.

SSP Sharma revealed that Anant Singh was present during the clashes. The police arrested the JD-U candidate after fully investigating the crime, he added.

The SSP also said that both campaigning groups filed separate FIRs about the incident.

Singh, who has been under the scanner since the killing of Yadav, who recently clashed with his sympathisers, was picked up from his house in Barh, about 200 km from the state capital.

The police also arrested two other persons, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, who were also present when the incident took place, in connection with the murder of Dularchand Yadav.

According to Yadav's post-mortem report, he died of cardiorespiratory failure due to shock caused by injury to the heart and lungs by a hard and blunt substance, the SSP said.

Therefore, the post-mortem report and preliminary investigation suggest that it's a case of murder, the SSP said.

Investigations also revealed that all three were present at the time of the incident, SSP Sharma said.

They have been arrested as part of a police investigation into the murder case of Yadav. A total of four FIRs, one pertaining to the violation of the model code of conduct, have been registered by the police to investigate the incident, the SSP said, adding that Singh was named in one of the FIRs.

The multiple-term former MLA, whose wife Neelam Devi currently represents the Mokama seat, has also been booked for model code of conduct violation as instances of his moving about in large cavalcades have come to the fore.

When asked about the killing of Yadav, Singh had admitted to a clash between his supporters and the deceased, but also sought to put the blame on Suraj Bhan, his old rival in the underworld and local politics, whose wife Veena Devi is contesting the seat on an RJD ticket.

Yadav, a dreaded gangster of the 1990s known to be at odds with Anant Singh, was supporting Priyadarshi Piyush, a political greenhorn fielded by Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Saturday ordered the transfer of Patna superintendent of police (Rural) and action against three other officials, taking a stern view of violence in Mokama, involving the killing of Yadav.

"The Commission directed that Vikram Sihag, Superintendent of Police (Rural), Patna, may also be transferred. Hence, a panel of officers for posting a substitute in his place may be sent urgently," the poll authority told the state chief electoral officer on Saturday.

It ordered the appointment of new officials to replace the sub-divisional officer of Barh, who is also the returning officer of Mokama assembly seat, sub-divisional police officer Barh-1, and sub-divisional police officer Barh-2.

While ordering disciplinary proceedings against the three, it also directed that Abhishek Singh, the sub-divisional police officer of Barh-2, be also placed under suspension.

Bihar goes to the polls in two phases on November 6 and 11, while votes will be counted on November 14. -- With PTI inputs
Bihar Police has so far arrested 80 people, including Janata Dal-United's Mokama candidate Anant Singh, in connection with the murder of Jan Suraaj Party supporter Dular Chand Yadav, a senior officer said on Sunday.

IMAGE: The last rites of Dularchand Yadav being performed at the Badh Ghat, in Patna on October 31, 2025. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Singh, along with his associates Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, were arrested in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

A Patna court remanded all three to 14-day judicial custody.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Patna, Kartikeya Sharma told PTI, "We have so far registered five FIRs and arrested 80 people, including Singh, in connection with Yadav's murder and other related incidents. More arrests are expected as investigations into the FIRs are on."

Yadav died while campaigning for Jan Suraaj Party's candidate Piyush Priyadarshi in Patna's Mokama area on Thursday.

According to Yadav's post-mortem examination report, he died of cardiorespiratory failure due to shock caused by injury to the heart and lungs by a hard and blunt substance, the SSP said.

"The post-mortem examination report and preliminary investigation suggest this is a case of murder," Sharma added.

Police are keeping a close watch on the candidates who are contesting polls, including in Mokama.

"A large number of security personnel has been deployed in Mokama area. While 13 companies of Central Armed Police Force are camping in the area, two units of Special Task Force (STF) and four Quick Response Teams (QRTs) of Patna Police have also been deployed", the SSP said.

Singh was picked up from his house in Barh, around 200 km from Bihar capital Patna.

Earlier, DGP Vinay Kumar said, "Strict action will be taken against those who violate the election model code of conduct. People who take the law into their own hands will not be spared."

Reacting to Singh's arrest, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav said, "It was expected, it should have been done earlier. This is the 'jungle raaj' in Bihar, where murders are happening like anything. Recently, a father-son duo were killed in Ara."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday claimed that the Congress had been unwilling to accept Tejashwi Yadav as the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) chief ministerial candidate and relented only after the Rashtriya Janata Dal pointed a 'katta', an unlicensed country-made gun, at its head.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the public rally organised for the Bihar assembly elections, in Arrah on Sunday. Photograph: Narendra Modi Photo Gallery/ANI Photo

The PM made the statement on the campaign trail in Bihar, where he addressed back-to-back rallies in Bhojpur and Nawada districts, and highlighted the RJD's reputation for alleged strong-arm tactics and its troubled equations with alliance partners.

"The Congress never wanted to announce the chief ministerial candidate in favour of the RJD. The RJD secured it by placing a 'katta' on the head of the Congress. They have learnt their lessons in the school of 'jungle raj'. Such elements can never do good for Bihar," he alleged.

Modi said Congress wanted to defeat the RJD in the Bihar polls, and urged people to wait for the second phase of polling to be over on November 11 'to see them fighting'.

Without mentioning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi or Yadav by name, the PM said, "The crown prince of 'jungle raj' has been wary that the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' of the other 'yuvraaj' may be denting his own prospects. Hence, the RJD has put up its candidate against the state president of the Congress. Let the polls be over. The two allies will be breaking each other's heads."

The allusion was to the reserved Kutumba seat, where the RJD had reportedly planned to field a candidate against sitting MLA and state Congress president Rajesh Kumar.

Although the RJD decided against doing so, the two allies have ended up in 'friendly fights' at a number of places.

The PM also predicted a 'record victory' for the ruling NDA, which would continue providing a government that was 'upright' and 'foresighted' and build a 'developed Bihar' that was necessary for 'Viksit Bharat'.

"'Jungle raj wallahs' are set to get the worst drubbing in history. The people of Bihar have not forgotten the 'jungle raj'," he added.

The PM, who was visibly pleased with the huge turnouts, said, "Analysts sitting in Delhi, who are racking their brains over poll arithmetic, would do well to come here and experience for themselves which way the wind is blowing."

Modi said the manifesto released by the NDA last week was honest and put forth a vision for the future, unlike the charter of promises of the INDIA bloc, which was 'a dossier of lies'.

He also envisaged a future in which people of the state will not migrate under economic compulsions and 'the youth of Bihar will work in Bihar and make their motherland proud'.

Listing the achievements of the NDA government in the state, he said, "The condition of power connectivity was such that people used to dry clothes on electrical wires, but we changed it."

"Modi also helped open bank accounts for small farmers who have been ignored since Independence," he said.

Noting that Bhojpur and adjoining districts were known for providing a large number of recruits in the armed forces, he said national security and those who ensure it are of paramount importance to his government.

"One rank one pension (OROP) has resulted in the disbursement of Rs 1 lakh crore, which is benefitting families of servicemen," he said.

The PM said it was 'Modi's guarantee' that Article 370 would be scrapped, and it has been, with the Constitution of India now in force in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We had vowed to beat the terrorists on their home turf. And we fulfilled that promise again with Operation Sindoor, which has made the nation proud," he said.

Training his guns at the opposition, Modi alleged, "When terror hideouts in Pakistan were being bombed, the royal family of Congress was losing sleep. Pakistan and the Congress have still not recovered from the shock of Operation Sindoor."

He alleged that the RJD and Congress care about 'just two families -- one most corrupt in Bihar and another most corrupt in the country'.

Raking up the riots that broke out in the wake of the assassination of the then PM Indira Gandhi, Modi said, "It was around the same time of the year in 1984, on November 1-2, when Sikhs were massacred in Delhi. Those who were guilty are being promoted by the party. The Congress has been unapologetic about the carnage."

Indirectly referring to the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra', the PM alleged it was aimed to protect infiltrators (ghuspaithiye) who must be driven out lest they capture the resources meant for the people of Bihar.

"The 'jungle raj wallahs' have very dangerous intentions. Be aware of them," said Modi, adding a proverb in Bhojpuri, a rough translation of which is 'the one responsible for destroying the field is now claiming to sow fresh seeds'.

The PM, who has been pointing out region-specific incidents that happened during the RJD regime, recalled the abduction of a doctor in Tarari, near Arrah, two decades ago, and the Naxal insurgency that took its toll on Dalmia Nagar, a once bustling industrial town in the adjoining district of Rohtas.

"A person would get concerned if his salary increased during 'jungle raj' as he had to give more 'rangdari' (extortion) to the RJD," he alleged.

Modi also disclosed that the NDA was planning to develop the birthplace of Veer Kunwar Singh, the ruler of the erstwhile princely estate of Jagdishpur, who was one of the heroes of the Revolt of 1857, asserting that 'we believe in development while protecting cultural heritage'.

"But Congress RJD are known for being disdainful towards our heritage. They berated the Maha Kumbh held at Prayagraj. Recently, the Congress 'naamdaar' (Gandhi) made fun of Chhath Puja. These people must be taught a lesson. I would urge those who have returned home for Chhath Puja to stay back to vote in this election," he said.

In Nawada, once a Maoist-infested district, the PM said ultra-Left insurgency was destroyed by the NDA, but urged the people to be on guard against 'urban naxals', who sympathise with the ideology while leading comfortable lives in cities.
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Hurmatoi spends her days at the medpunkt, a one-story rural health post where she gives injections, checks blood pressure, and visits bedridden patients in their homes. These days, the community nurse is forced to work well away from the some 300 residents in her part of a village in Tajikistans northern Sughd region.

Instead of caring for people, shes out picking cotton.

Last week, me and several dozen other [public sector] workers spent a week in the cotton fields, said Hurmatoi, who didnt want to give her full name for fear of retaliation. We were told to bring folding beds and slept in a makeshift dorm near the fields. We worked from early morning until sunset, with only a short break for lunch.

Cotton is a cornerstone of Central Asias rural economies. Uzbekistan is among the worlds top 10 producers, harvesting about 1.3 million tons a year, followed by Turkmenistan with around 800,000 tons and Tajikistan with roughly 500,000 tons.

Hurmatoi is one of thousands of health workers, teachers, and other public employees -- as well as students -- to have been mobilized to cotton fields across Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan this fall, leaving schools, hospitals, and government offices understaffed during the harvest season, which runs from late August through November.

Authorities in the region have been accused of using public employees as forced labor under the threat of dismissal from their normal jobs, while students are threatened with disciplinary action or expulsion from school, according to workers and rights groups.

Those who can afford it often bribe officials to get around the difficult manual work or pay someone else to pick cotton instead of them. In Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, those who cannot take part, are required to hire a replacement.

Rights groups say that under pressure -- including international sanctions -- the practice has been reduced in recent years, though as the story of Hurmatoi and others show, it continues.

Hurmatoi said the cost of meals -- breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- are deducted from their cotton-picking pay.

So, in the end, we get a very small amount of money. Its hard work. At 48, Im too old for this and I have back pain. But I risk losing my job if I dont go, she told RFE/RL.

Pressured To Join 'Voluntary' Campaign

Authorities insist that participating in the cotton harvest is voluntary. But local reports and testimonies collected by RFE/RL suggest otherwise.

In Tajikistans southern Khatlon region, education authorities have ordered schools and colleges to send teachers and students to the fields in their free time.

Two lecturers from Bokhtar State University in Khatlon told RFE/RL that they were instructed to pick cotton on weekends or risk dismissal.

In Uzbekistan, teachers, nurses, and local officials in several provinces say they were pressured to join voluntary cotton-picking drives organized by local authorities.

All employees of our schools  teachers, guards, and administrative and technical staff  are picking cotton, a teacher from the Olot district of the southwestern Bukhara region told RFE/RL.

We were ordered that if someone asks we should say we came of our own free will, the teacher said on condition of anonymity.

President Shavkat Mirziyoev, who came to power in 2016, pledged to eradicate forced and child labor in Uzbekistans cotton sector as Uzbek cotton faced a boycott by Western retail groups, such as H&M, Nike, and Walmart over the use of child labor.

In 2023, Mirziyoev told the UN General Assembly that the practice had been completely eliminated.

Yet this year, rights groups and local media report a resurgence under new labels such as voluntary participation.

On September 26, Mirziyoev declared a 10-day emergency campaign to prevent harvest delays. This year, Uzbekistan planted cotton on 875,000 hectares, targeting 3.7 million tons of raw cotton in 2025.

With the spotlight of international scrutiny still shining on it, the government remains sensitive to criticism.

On October 14, the Employment Ministry said more than 70 cases of labor law violations had been identified and stressed that all forms of forced labor are strictly prohibited.

Several local officials have been fined for coercing residents into picking cotton. Among them was a deputy district governor in Surkhondaryo Province, who was ordered to pay 20.6 million Uzbek soms ($1,720) in fines for reportedly insulting and threatening neighborhood committee members who failed to send people to pick cotton.

In Turkmenistan, where the government openly supports mass labor mobilization, the campaign is even broader. Along with farmers and civil servants, the authorities have sent soldiers, former convicts, and even alimony defaulters into the fields.

Unlike previous years, many public employees are now being told to work for free. Officials justify it by saying: You receive your salary from the state, a resident of the western province of Balkan told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity.

Pay More Money To Farmers

Analysts say that despite reforms and international pressure, the deep-rooted structure of the cotton economy in Central Asia still depends on coercion.

The cotton sector in these countries remains unreformed, said Alisher Ilkhamov, director of the UK-based research group Central Asia Due Diligence. Mirziyoevs reforms were political -- they stopped mass mobilization for a while -- but the centralized system hasnt changed. As long as the government sets production quotas and prices, local authorities will keep forcing people to meet targets.

A Dushanbe-based economist, who asked not to be named, said the problem lies in the economics of cotton production.

Sending students and state workers to the fields while pretending its voluntary isnt a solution, he said. If the government raised payments for pickers and farmers -- who are underpaid because the state takes most of the profit -- many people would join willingly.
A Ukrainian drone attack hit Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse on November 2, setting an oil tanker ablaze and damaging port infrastructure, in the latest of a series of strikes on Moscow's crucial oil sector.

A source in Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service it had fired dozens of drones at the facility, which has been targeted in multiple attacks this year.

"Five drone hits were recorded. As a result of the attacks, a tanker caught fire and at least four oil tanker [loaders]...were disabled. Port buildings were also damaged," the source said.

"The security service continues to strike at Russian oil refining infrastructure, which gives the enemy resources for aggression against Ukraine," the source added.

Russian officials said that "fragments of [drones] fell on an oil tanker, damaging the deck superstructure. A fire broke out on the vessel. The crew were evacuated."

The attack came as Ukrainian military authorities insisted their forces were holding out in the front-line eastern town of Pokrovsk, and while Russian forces launched missile and drone attacks at various locations overnight from November 1-2.

Zelenskyy: New Patriots Have Arrived

The Ukrainian general staff reported on November 2 that Russia had launched Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 79 strike drones overnight.

A Russian drone strike on Odesa killed two people. Another person was injured, according to the head of the regional military administration, Oleh Kiper, who said "civilian infrastructure" was damaged.

Ukrainian authorities also reported five people were killed in Russian shelling in the eastern Donetsk region, resulting in power being cut off to tens of thousands of people.

In a social media post on November 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Germany had provided additional Patriot air defense systems.

He did not specify when this happened or how many systems or missiles were provided. Ukraine has been seeking to upgrade its air defense capabilities as Russia has intensified its aerial assaults in recent months.

"We have strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense. I thank Germany and personally Chancellor Friedrich Merz for this joint step of ours to protect lives from Russian terror," Zelenskyy wrote.

"We have been preparing this strengthening of air defense for some time, and now the agreements reached have been implemented," he added.

On the front lines, Ukrainian military authorities reported ongoing fighting at numerous locations on November 2. But much of the focus remains on Pokrovsk, where Ukrainian forces reportedly face some 170,000 Russian troops.

The Battle For Pokrovsk

Analysts warn that the fall of Pokrovsk, which had a prewar population of around 70,000, could open a route west into Dnipropetrovsk for Russian forces, putting Ukraines southern regions at risk.

We are holding Pokrovsk," Ukraines commander-in-chief, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, wrote on Facebook on November 1.

"A comprehensive operation to destroy and dislodge enemy forces from Pokrovsk is ongoing," he added a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the fight for the mostly destroyed city our priority.

As the fighting raged, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a meeting between the Russian and US presidents was "not necessary at the moment."

The comments, released by the TASS news agency on November 2, were the latest indication that Moscow is determined to press ahead with its nearly 4-year-old full-scale invasion -- despite US-led peace efforts.

"What is needed right now is very meticulous work to address the specific details of the problem," Peskov said, without elaborating.

Following Western media reports, Kyiv confirmed that special forces had been deployed to Pokrovsk, as Russian forces claimed to have encircled Ukrainian defenders there.

Russias Defense Ministry also claimed that its forces had killed all 11 members of a Ukrainian special forces team that had landed in the city from a helicopter.

The situation on the ground remains unclear and cannot be independently verified.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Reuters, and AFP
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A source in Ukraines Security Service told RFE/RL that Ukrainian drones hit an oil terminal in Russias Black Sea port of Tuapse, damaging a tanker and port infrastructure.
            

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An airline passenger travelling to Roscommon and Galway to visit family last week became the 12 millionth Ryanair passenger through Ireland West Airport since it began operations to/from the airport in 1986.

Alison Lynch from London travelled on Ryanair's London Stansted service. To mark the 12 millionth occasion she was presented with a Ryanair flight voucher, a bottle of champagne and chocolates.

It's been 39 years since Ryanair's first flight from Knock Airport departed for London Luton on December 16th, 1986. At the time, the west of Ireland gained its first direct link with London when the Ryanair 748 aircraft 'The Spirit of Monsignor Horan' landed at Knock Airport, heralding the start of scheduled services between the airport and London.

Named after Monsignor James Horan, the visionary priest behind Knock Airport, the 44-seat turboprop aircraft was formally blessed by Monsignor Horan's successor, Fr. Dominick Grealy.

Through the late 1980s and 1990s, Ryanair's presence underpinned the airport's development, helping passenger numbers pass 100,000 by 1988 and sustaining crucial UK connectivity.

In the 2000s, their network broadened further, introducing the airport's first scheduled services to Europe, with new routes to the likes of Barcelona, Faro, Alicante, Milan and Cologne, all of which continue to go from strength to strength  providing connectivity to major international markets from the west of Ireland.

In particular, over the last decade, the partnership has continued to grow. Ryanair marked its six millionth passenger at Ireland West in 2015, then celebrated 10 million in May 2023all paving the way to last weeks 12 million passenger milestone. The airline now serves 17 destinations from the airport.

This winter, Ryanair will operate 86 weekly flights across 10 routes to/from the airport, including winter sun hotspots like Lanzarote, Malaga, and Tenerife, as well as top city break destinations like Edinburgh, Liverpool, and London.

Marking the milestone, Ryanair's Director of Communications, Jade Kirwan, said: "We are delighted to mark 12 million Ryanair passengers through Ireland West Airport since Ryanair began operations to/from Knock in 1986. This significant milestone showcases Ryanair's continued support and investment in the region, delivering critically important connectivity, traffic, tourism, jobs, and economic growth.

Joe Gilmore, the airports managing director, added that it was another significant milestone in the airport's history. It's been a fantastic journey over the last 39 years with so many great highlights and milestones achieved along the way. As we look ahead to next year and the 40th anniversary of the airport's official opening, we look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with Ryanair and expanding our range of services over the coming years.
Here's What Happened at the All-Party Meeting Convened by Tamil Nadu CM in Chennai Against SIR

"What can we do? We had called the TVK, but they didn't come. Many parties had come"

An all-party meeting was convened by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in Chennai earlier today to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list; however, TVK has not attended the meeting.

DMK leader R.S. Bharathi, speaking to the media after the meeting, said, "We are opposing this because it is being implemented with an ulterior motive. This is not SIR. This is indirectly getting into the NRC... We are moving to the Supreme Court..."

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DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan, also speaking to ANI after the meeting, said that the purpose of the resolution passed is to stop the Election Commission of India from acting arbitrarily.

DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan told ANI, ...Let the court issue its final order... After that, they can proceed with the SIR. That is what we wanted, and this is the resolution. The purpose of the resolution is that the election commissioners should not act on their own in SIR...

Regarding parties that did not participate in the meeting, he said, "What can we do? We had called the TVK, but they didn't come. Many parties had come, but a few didn't want to antagonise the BJP. Maybe that's why they didn't come."

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CPIM Polit Bureau Member U. Vasuki said, "The original draft of the resolution was corrected after hearing the opinions and comments of other political parties. So that was a very democratic process... Through the Supreme Court, we will wage a legal battle, and we will also go to the people, because without the people's participation, nothing can be stopped. So we will approach people as part of our campaign against this..."

Regarding parties who did not attend the meeting, Vasuki added, "They have already made a decision. The BJP and AIADMK are in the same alliance. If TVK doesn't turn up for this meeting, we can understand what their political position is."

(For more news apart from Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin Holds Meeting Against ECIs Special Intensive Revision Of Voter List ," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Listeners Day on RRI

A special broadcast marking Radio Day

Listeners Day on RRI

Vlad Palcu and Cristina Mateescu, 02.11.2025, 14:00

Hello friends of RRI!

Every year, on November 1, Radio Romania celebrates Radio Day, marking the first broadcast of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation back in 1928. To celebrate this special event, Radio Romania International hosts its yearly special broadcast this Sunday, inviting listeners to weigh in on a topical subject.

This year we are happy to be able to once again produce a special Listeners Day programme. The topic for this years edition was cybersecurity, one that demands growing attention from all users of digital technologies. In a world where every click matters and information and media are exchanged instantly across devices, taking steps to protect ourselves against an increasing number of online threats becomes of paramount importance.

Weve asked you to share your experience and insights in this regard, and your responses have been quite perceptive, which is why were sharing them with everyone.

Weve included here not just contributions from regular listeners of the English Service, but from listeners of RRIs other language departments.

The full broadcast is available in the link at the end.

A big thank you, once again, to everyone whos helped made our yearly Listeners Day programme possible!

Bidhan Chandra Sanyal, India

Addressing these threats requires a coordinated effort involving technology, policy, and education.

Foster a culture of cybersecurity: Businesses and governments need to move beyond simple technical fixes and create a culture of vigilance. This includes regular, realistic training for employees, clear policies on data handling, and rewarding security-conscious behavior.

Invest in AI-powered defenses: To combat AI-driven attacks, we must fight AI with AI. This means investing in advanced AI-driven threat detection systems that can analyze patterns, spot anomalies in real-time, and detect malicious deepfakes.

Strengthen authentication protocols: Broader implementation of robust email authentication standards like DMARC can help defend against brand impersonation and sophisticated phishing campaigns.

Increase AI regulation and governance: Policymakers must establish clear regulations on AI development and use, including governance models to ensure AI systems are not designed for deception. Transparency rules for AI-generated content, such as mandatory labeling, could help curb the spread of disinformation.

Enhance international cooperation: Since cyber threats transcend borders, governments must strengthen international collaboration to share threat intelligence and harmonize cyber laws. Establishing a formal cybersecurity board with cross-sector participants can help ensure a swift, coordinated response to major incidents.

Suresh Kumar Agrawal, India

I think -In todays digital world, peoples sense of safety from online threats varies greatly  while tech-savvy individuals often feel confident, many others remain worried about hacking, scams, and data privacy. To protect themselves, individuals should take key steps such as using strong, unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, updating software regularly, avoiding suspicious links, and adjusting privacy settings on social media. However, online safety is not just a personal responsibility. Society must also play a role by promoting digital education, enforcing strong data protection laws, holding companies accountable for securing user information, and improving public awareness about cyber risks. Strengthening both personal habits and collective systems is essential to building a safer digital environment for everyone.

Lakshmi Kant Mukul, India

Digital Security: Awareness and Collective Responsibility

The digital age has made life more convenient, yet it has also created new dangers. Today, phishing, AI-driven fraud, and misinformation threaten both our personal and social security. Phishing is no longer limited to fake emails; it now involves advanced techniques like spear phishing and deepfakes, where scammers use AI-generated voices or faces to gain trust and deceive people.

At the same time, misinformation spreading on social media is deepening mistrust and division within society. Fake news and fabricated videos distort democratic thinking, blurring the line between truth and illusion.

On an individual level, digital security requires certain essential habitsstrong passwords, two-factor authentication, regular updates, and caution against suspicious links. Equally important is digital ethicsnot forwarding unverified information and respecting others privacy.

On a collective level, education, policy, and platform accountability are crucial. Cyber literacy must be integrated into education; new laws must address AI-related crimes, and social media companies must ensure transparency in their algorithms and content moderation.

Ultimately, digital security depends not only on technology but also on an aware and responsible citizenry. A truly secure society is one where people think before they clickusing the digital world with wisdom, caution, and responsibility.

Many many congratulations to all of you for Radio Romania International: Listeners Day 2025.

Fotios Padazopulos, Greece

Over the last several years I received hundreds of fake invitations to join some company or program and threats about imminent account closure or termination of membership. The list is very long. One particularly dangerous is messages with my banks logo advising to click on a link to get into my account. Such messages have always some grammar or syntax errors and their wording is quite unusual and many times wrong. My reaction is to immediately alert my bank which in the USA. At times I received similar messages about my credit cards with an institution in the USA and it was really hard to tell if those messages were legitimate so I called the institution for verification.

As for protection, one must be constantly alert. It is important not to react, instead to take time and think or to type the link I am asked to click on and see what Google search brings on, but even that does not guarantee safety. I do not respond to messages from unknown sources but many years ago I replied to some of them with harsh language or with sarcasm but that can anger the sender and get into ones computer with devastating consequences.

I rely on the security the browser and Microsoft inherently have, I use a protection program and I also get the security updates as soon as they are available.

Society can only try to stay ahead of internet criminals, shut down their sites and access to internet and punish them with tough sentences.

As for the digital technologies, I hate them, yet, there are times that I have no option but using them as governments and companies offer no alternative. Two questions pop up in my mind: one, what happens when AI functions the wrong way and makes my data available on the internet, two, what happens the day criminals access some AI source or program and take control of it while we dont much about AI safety margins.

Richard Contone, USA

I perceive cyber threats as a real problem in using everyday electronic media. There are many scammers that can access information about you, especially financial type through computers. I feel that the less information that you write on a computer, the better chance that losing your personal information will not happen. Everyone is vulnerable while conveying information on a phone or computer. Although we cannot stop scammers, we can add to our protection by coding any sensitive information with passwords, or do not send any information about ourselves at all. I enjoy reading scientific articles online for knowledge, but digital technology has not contributed to me having a better life. I do not feel safe with a computer, giving any form of ID, or any other information. Younger generations should try to remain anonymous and not broadcast their information digitally.

Ashok Kansal, India

I am very glad to learn that Radio Romania International is celebrating its Listeners Day 2025 taking place on November 2 (the first Sunday after RRIs anniversary). This years theme focuses on digital safety  from phishing scams to AI-driven fraud and disinformation. and I am very happy to be the part of this Year Listeners  Day . Here i am sharing my views how safe we feel from online threats, what personal steps we take to protect themselves

Cyber threats are a major concern in todays digital age. Some common problems include:

Data breaches: Unauthorized access to sensitive information. Malware: Software designed to harm or exploit systems. Phishing: Deceptive attempts to steal sensitive data or login credentials. Ransomware: Malware demanding payment in exchange for restoring access to data. Identity theft: Stealing personal info for financial gain. Cyberbullying: Harassment or intimidation online. Online scams: Fake schemes to deceive people out of money or info.

To protect yourself, stay informed about the latest threats and best practices!

To become cyber smart, follow these best practices:

Use strong passwords: Unique, complex passwords for each account. Enable 2FA: Add an extra layer of security with two-factor authentication. Keep software updated: Regularly update operating systems, browsers, and apps. Be cautious with emails: Avoid suspicious links and attachments. Use antivirus software: Protect against malware and viruses. Use a VPN: Secure your internet connection, especially on public Wi-Fi. Back up data: Regularly back up important files. Stay informed: Follow cybersecurity news and updates. Use secure networks: Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities. Practice online safety: Be mindful of personal info sharing and online behavior.

Dont fall for fake part-time job offers promising easy money.

Unknown links = Fraud

Sharing bank details = Big loss

Always verify before you apply!

Stay one step ahead of cyber criminals  report cybercrime!

Take a screenshot of the suspicious message or fake account.

Report and block the profile on the platform (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X).

If needed, contact your nearest cyber police station.

Instant Loans Can Be Traps!

If an app offers someone a loan of large amount instantly without any document verification, think twice before accepting. Scammers use such offers to steal his/her phone data, contacts, and personal information  leading to harassment and blackmail.

Verify any loan apps authenticity on website before downloading

Stay alert, stay safe .

Stay smart, stay cyber safe!

By following these tips, everyone significantly can improve his online security and become more cyber smart!

Sudhir Pandey, India

We live in a world where the most serious dangers are no longer confined to the streets or battlefields, but exist in the invisible realm of the Internet. Cybersecurity has become one of the greatest challenges of our time, affecting individuals, institutions, and entire nations. From simple phishing emails and fraudulent phone calls to sophisticated financial scams using AI-generated voices, every user is a potential target. Cybercriminal groups now organize large-scale ransomware attacks, crippling hospitals, universities, and companies, while state-sponsored hackers engage in cyberwarfaretargeting energy grids, communication systems, and spreading disinformation to destabilize societies and influence elections.

Artificial intelligence plays a paradoxical role in this environment. It equips attackers with advanced tools to create realistic fake content and manipulate data, yet it also empowers cybersecurity experts to detect and counter threats more effectively. The same technology that fuels cybercrime can also help fight it, provided it is guided by strong ethical and regulatory frameworks.

Governments and international organizations are responding by implementing stricter cybersecurity laws and promoting awareness. However, protection ultimately starts at the individual level. Small but critical actionssuch as using strong, unique passwords, avoiding suspicious links, updating software, and verifying information sourcesare the first line of defense.

Cybersecurity is not just a technical necessity; it is a shared social responsibility. In a world increasingly dependent on digital networks, awareness, vigilance, and digital ethics are essential to safeguarding our personal data, institutions, and collective trust in the online world.

Sarah Boucher, Canada

Those threats increase the chances of AI replacing people. We need an anti-cyberwarfare. We need all the cybercrime groups jailed. AI makes peoples energy bills increase. Make a stronger password.

Muhammad Aqeel Bashir, Pakistan

Greetings from Pakistan! I am very happy to write for your special Listeners Day 2025 program. I listen to your shows regularly and always learn something new. The topic about cyber threats is very important in todays world, because almost everyone uses the internet every day.

I think cyber threats are real and dangerous. Many people do not know how to protect themselves online. I always try to be careful. I never share my personal details, photos, or passwords with anyone. I use only trusted websites and avoid clicking strange links. When I download something, I check it first. I also use antivirus on my computer and mobile phone. These small steps help me stay safe, but still I feel a little worried because hackers are becoming smarter.

At the same time, I believe digital technology has made our life easier. It helps me study, learn new skills, listen to international radio stations like RRI, and stay in touch with friends around the world. I have learned many things through online classes and YouTube videos. So, digital life is very useful if we use it in a good and careful way.

I think society should do more to protect people online. The government, schools, and media should teach everyone, especially young children and old people, about internet safety. There should be awareness programs on TV and radio in local languages so that people can understand easily. Parents should also guide their children on how to use the internet safely.

In my opinion, the younger generation is faster in using digital things. They know more about new apps, websites, and social media. But sometimes they also take risks because they use the internet too much and forget to be careful. So, both young and old people need to learn about online safety and help each other.

I want to thank Radio Romania International for this nice idea and for always connecting people from many countries. I really enjoy your English Service programs. Please keep making such thoughtful topics for listeners.

Jayanta Chakrabarty, India

In recent times cyber threats have pervaded our life in a big way. Digital crimes have greatly threatened the normal functioning of social institutions, financial and business establishments and government departments. While big business houses and government agencies are somewhat well protected with preventive mechanism to fight against these nefarious activities, common people have been vulnerable and left to the mercy of criminal cyber operators. In a fast developing economy like India, like many other countries, the threats of cyber attacks are more pronounced. The threat actors are often operated by novice hackers or organized highly skilled and sophisticated professionals or even state-sponsored entities. These cyber-criminals use a variety of methods for exploiting technical vulnerabilities to social engineering, to steal money or data, disrupt services, or achieve political goals like espionage, financial theft or cyberwarfare. Their motivations are usually multifaceted covering financial gains, causing disruptions to normal life or having political or personal revenge.

Digital attacks on personal bank accounts and rent-a-bank-account scams are on the rise where cyber criminals lure customers with promise of quick cash. These are traps which can drain ones savings and even land an innocent account holder to face potential criminal charges and an uncertain future for laundering money. The EV ecosystem is also facing a complex, interconnected and increasingly attractive cyber targets. Cyber attacks like remote-controlled malicious firmware are paralyzing firms policies, data thefts, pricing frauds and remote shutdowns of charging infrastructure. Urgent actions by a vigilant watchdog will ensure that electric transportation remain resilient, secure, and prepared for the digital threats. Though AI and digital technologies are a boon and are already playing a vital role in global economic and social prosperity yet we are to remain ever vigilant so that the new technologies are never put to misuse.

Without a robust cybersecurity protocol, secure update mechanisms and absence of hardware level defences will result in a crippling electric-charging infrastructure and large-scale power disruptions. Urgent actions must be taken to ensure that transportation remain resilient, secure, and prepared for the digital threats. Computer systems and data have been directly targeted for committing digital crimes such as hacking, fraud, identity theft and other offences causing immense harm. Misinformation are increasingly being used by enemy countries and their local handlers to ferment societal divide and develop hatred and enmity amongst peace-loving people. Harmful acts such as scams, phishing and cyberattacks have often been found to mix real and false information to defraud unsuspecting victims.

Meeting the challenges of cyber threats and cyber crimes requires a multi-layered well-coordinated and strategic approach. Proactive measures include formulating preventive policies, building up a robust technical defence and continuous training and education programmes. The younger generation are to be utilized in a more meaningful and determined way. The dynamism and energetic youth power are to be empowered with the best of equipment and training to meet the challenges of cyber crimes.

Amir Jameel, Pakistan

This year, on the occasion of Listeners Day 2025, Radio Romania International English Service has asked its listeners around the world questions on a very important topic and I feel very happy to answer them and to participate in Radio Romania Internationals Listeners Day.

How Do We Perceive These Threats?

Cyber threats can often feel abstract invisible lines of code, silent intrusions, or seemingly innocent messages that carry malicious intent. Because we cant always see these threats, many people either:

Underestimate them: thinking, This wont happen to me, or believing that only large companies or governments are targets.

Overestimate their own safety: assuming antivirus software or basic digital habits are enough, which can lead to complacency.

Feel overwhelmed: by the complexity of the threats or a perceived lack of control, leading to inaction.

Yet the reality is that everyone is a potential target, whether its through:

Phishing (fraudulent emails or calls),

Identity theft,

Ransomware attacks on institutions we rely on (like hospitals or schools),

Or misinformation campaigns that manipulate what we believe or how we vote.

Do We Feel Protected or Vulnerable?

Most people live somewhere in between: alert but underprepared.

Protected in the sense that we have access to some tools: antivirus programs, password managers, or built-in security on our devices.

But vulnerable because:

Threats evolve faster than protections.

Many people lack basic digital literacy.

AI now makes fake content (emails, calls, images, even voices) shockingly realistic.

Human error remains the weakest link: one click on a bad link, and the door can open wide.

Even large institutions with dedicated security teams fall victim. That raises the question: how safe can an individual really be?

What Should Society Do to Better Defend Itself?

Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility between governments, companies, educators, and citizens. Heres how each part of society can contribute:

Government and International Organizations

Stronger regulations: Mandate stricter data protection laws and hold companies accountable for data breaches.

Cyber defense infrastructure: Just like we have police and military for physical security, we need cyber defense teams that are fast, well-funded, and transparent.

International cooperation: Cybercrime knows no borders. Treating it like global terrorismwith treaties, shared intelligence, and common rulesis key.

Companies and Tech Developers

Build security into design (security by design): From the moment a new app or system is created, security must be a foundation, not an afterthought.

Update systems regularly: Many breaches happen simply because software is outdated.

Educate users: Make security features clear and guide users toward safer habits.

Schools and Education

Digital literacy as a core skill: Just like math or reading, kids (and adults) need to learn:

How to spot a scam.

How to recognize misinformation.

Why strong passwords and privacy matter.

Teach AI awareness: Students should understand how AI-generated content works, and how it can be misused.

Individuals (That Means All of Us)

Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication.

Be skeptical: Dont believe every message, email, or video you see especially if it triggers a strong emotional response.

Back up your data: Ransomware loses power if we dont lose access to our information.

Talk about it: Cybersecurity becomes more powerful when its part of everyday conversation not just something left to the experts.

We live in a time where the battlefield has moved into our homes, our phones, and our minds. Cyber threats are real, growing, and often invisible. While its easy to feel vulnerable, awareness, education, and collaboration are our strongest defenses.

By combining smart personal habits with broader societal actions from laws and technology to education and global cooperation we can create a world that is not only more connected, but also more secure.

Cybersecurity isnt just a technical issue its a human issue. And we all have a role to play.

Ryan Catmull, USA

I have to admit, Im only a sporadic user of ChatGPT at best, and I have been rather apprehensive about it due to the fact that it writes and creates art for us, things that were previously uniquely human. I personally, dont feel too threatened by deepfakes created with AI, we are still not to the point where we can great perfect-enough AI generated video to fool the most acute viewer, but we are close. Mainly I have been concerned about the older folks in our society. I have been getting scam calls targeting older people to my home phone over the past few years. Before the widespread availability of AI voice systems, it was easy to tell that you were just talking to a simple prerecorded message that would pause at various intervals in order to give the illusion of a real human, and eventually you would be transferred to a real human. This was not at all convincing. Recently though, these scammers have adopted an AI agent that is practically indistinguishable to a real human, even I have a hard time. I can only imagine how many older folks are sucked into these scams with the help of this AI technology. Better regulations are a start, but many bad actors will just get around or flat out ignore them. What we need is to educate people on basic fact-checking, and offer free programs to teach people how to recognize deepfakes.

Hans Verner Lollike, Denmark

Cyber space has become a new battlefield against criminals. Firms and public institutions have to invest a lot in security programs. But also as individuals you become a target for criminal cyber activities. Fake e-mails promising you big wins ask you to send in your bank account info. My wife did try to buy on such a page, which had a Danish name and all info sounded real, but she lost her money  the goods never came. When we reported it to the police, we got to know she was not the only one. Never give your bank card info to anyone whom you dont know you very well.

Zhou Zheng, China

Current cyber threats have various motivations. Apart from economic profit, they also involve geopolitical and ideological elements, and even terrorism. If critical data are stolen, a company may lose its competitiveness or even go bankrupt. At national level, threats to data in the energy financial and medical sectors can cause social unrest. Manipulating public opinion through fake news can erode public reasoning. Cross-border cyber threats have become the new instrument of geopolitical games. The state and society should adopt strict cyber security regulations and intensify information campaigns.

Carsten Fenske, Germany

The Internet, with all its true and fake information, is the new marketplace or the new hair salon. Its where global politics is being discussed and where everyone knows best. Nothing has changed in this respect. However, the avalanche of information is infinitely greater. We must be able to cope with it and I hope we will. Im using AI and I dont see it as a threat to humanity, at least not yet. It reminds me of then computers were first introduced, something I experienced first hand myself.

Hugo Longhi, Argentina

I remember the times when my mother used to tell me careful how I cross the street, or that I should put on a warm coat not to catch a cold or dont stay in the noon sun during the hot Argentinian summers. Too much unhealthy food or too much drinking were also a threat, not to mention the risks my reckless teenage years would expose me to. In time, the reasons for which I had to be careful changed, for example, not holding my mobile phone while walking for fear of being stolen and you couldnt live your bike in the street without locking it. From the moment we are born, there seem to be thousands of things that threaten our physical, economic and intellectual integrity. And weve always had to take preventive and protection measures and find ways to alleviate the damage caused. In these times, the dark shadow we have to protect ourselves from comes from other areas. Now cyber threats are the hidden enemies, lurking in silence.

Joe Leyder, Luxembourg

As an individual, you can do something to protect yourself from certain threats using your way of thinking and especially, your doubt. You dont have to believe everything people say, nor doubt everything they say. However, in order to start thinking on your own, you have to have a certain level of education and understand how some things are connected. The so-called conspiracy theories are based on the assumption that everything is controlled by someone. At this point Id like to go back to my experience as a teacher. Teachers should encourage pupils to think, not just teach them their subject. This is, in my opinion, the starting point if we want to better protect our society: education. Dont believe everything they tell you, but do use your brain so as not to end up doubting everything. As an English teacher, Id like to recommend two books to RRI listeners: Animal Farm and 1984, both written by George Orwell. Power is the central theme in both of them, and propaganda one of its instruments. If people understand this, a small step has already been made towards better protecting our society from current threats.
Honda Elevate is the companys current flagship offering which competes in the highly contested 4.2m to 4.4m SUV segment. Elevate will share a lot of elements with upcoming electric SUV based on Honda 0 Alpha electric concept, showcased at Japan Mobility Show 2025, which will be launched in India in 2027 and will be made in India for the world.

Elevate SUV has big roles to play and big shoes to fill in the near future. However, it also needs to keep generating sales for Honda today. To keep Elevate sales afloat, Honda is mustering a new special edition of Elevate SUV, which was teased for the first time on the companys social media handles. Lets take a closer look.

Honda Elevate New Edition Teased

Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) has announced a major product offensive in the Indian market with a new aggressive strategy. The company is considering India in the three most important markets for them after USA and Japan. The grand plan includes 10 new car launches in India by 2030 and 7 of them will be SUVs.

In the meantime, Honda has to stay afloat and boost the sales of Amaze, City, City e:HEV and Elevate. Honda has just teased a new special edition of its flagship Elevate SUV. This teaser had words like Bold and Explorer in it, suggesting that this Honda Elevate new edition might be called Bold Edition or Explorer Edition.

What to expect?

From what we can see in the teaser, Honda Elevate new edition has an earthy Brown shade along with Red accents for visual pop. We can see these Red accents in front bumper beside fog lights and on its 17-inch alloy wheels. Not the whole wheel, but only a few spokes will get Red finish.

We can also see a hint of Red on its grille and what looks like decals on the bonnet. More Red elements are likely to be on the inside along with Red ambient lighting. Instead of Black and Ivory interior combination. Honda Elevate new edition might pack an all-Black theme.

Like Apex Summer Edition which offered a larger 9-inch infotainment screen and 360-degree cameras, Honda Elevate new edition is likely to bring some new unique features which are not offered with standard Elevate. The same 1.5L 4-cyl NA Petrol will continue as is with 119 bhp and 145 Nm, mated to either a 6-speed MT or a CVT.
PRESS RELEASE

Issued after the Urgent Press Conference convened online by the Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace & Democracy on 17th October 2025

Modiji, give us back our Diwali: fisherwomen from Gujarat demand Government of India and Pakistan to release the innocent Fishworkers languishing in jails

The Press Conference was organised by PIPFPD as an urgent measure to demand the immediate release of Indian and Pakistani fishermen who have been incarcerated in each others jails for crossing maritime boundaries. As of date 193 Indian fishermen are languishing in Pakistans Malir jail and about 33 Pakistani fishermen are languishing in different Indian jails. Altogether 246 Indian civilian prisoners are in Pakistan jails and 363 civilian Pakistani persons are in Indian jails.

The speakers are the press conference included senior journalist and campaigner on the issue, Jatin Desai (Mumbai), the PIPFPD Pak chapter convener Mohd Tahseen (Lahore), Pakistan Fisherfolk leader Saeed Baloch (Karachi), and community leaders from Gujarat and Diu, including Chagan bhai, Balubhai and Jivan Jungi. Family members of the imprisoned fishermen who are languishing in Pak jails also addressed the media from Porbandar, Diu, Una and other affected areas on the Indian side of water boundaries. The online PC was moderated by Vijayan MJ, General Secretary of PIPFPD India chapter - who also gave an opening briefing on the issue to media.

The Press Conference was also attended by civic activists, Fisher community and union leaders and also members of the media and film making fraternity. The participants included Arun Mohan, whose significant documentary film on the issue, Boundaries has been an important source to understand the contours of the issue.

 [https://youtu.be/BnxkBUuJrm8?si=2NJa8QhOVzrGZjfQ]

The following are the key demands posed by the Press Conference:

1. Immediate release of Indian and Pakistani fishermen and other civilian prisoners who have completed their legal sentencing for Passports Act violation, or any other relevant charges. The PC demanded that such prisoners who have spent more than 6-8 times their actual sentences be immediately released!

2. Immediate resumption and rejuvenation of the Joint Judicial Committee mechanism to prevent abuses on fisher and civilian prisoners. The Joint Judicial Committee mechanism was created by the Foreign Ministries of India and Pakistan in 2008, but have been made inactive and irrelevant by governmental withdrawal since October 2013, when the last meeting was held in India!

3. Stop the bureaucratic red-tapism on nationality verification of arrested persons and accelerate verification as soon as details of arrest are made.

4. Implement the 2008 Consular Access Agreement in letter and spirit.

5. Open up communication channels for fishers imprisoned in foreign country jails.

6. Stop arresting fishers for cross border fishing. Both countries must accept the joint waters zone of India and Pakistan.

7. India and Pakistan must immediate work together to reach a practical solution in order to protect the lives and livelihoods of the traditional fishing community. We demand that a No Arrest Policy be reached in the interim and both countries work towards a permanent maritime economic cooperation agreement, to save the fishers from harassment and torture.

8. The current Prime Minister Modi had promised the fishers that he will make sure no Indian fishers are arrested by Pakistan - way back in September 2013! It has been 11 years since Mr. Modi, representing the Gujarat state, whose citizens are most impacted by the arrest at sea, have become the Prime Minister of India. No significant action has been taken in these years by his government.

Fisher families demanded the PM that he immediately assure the release of their family members from Pakistani jails. Savita behen, whose husband and brother have been in Pakistan jails since 2021, lamented the loss of male income earning members of the family to issues between countries! For the last four years, they have stolen our Diwali! We demand Modi ji that our Diwali be returned to us, she said. Savita was joined by Moti behen, Lakshmi, Kamla and others from different districts.

We demand that the Fishworkers and civilian prisoners be immediately released from both countries. We also demand UN bodies and Human Rights bodies of both countries to actively come to the rescue of the fisher people.

Statement issued by:

Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace & Democracy (PIPFPD)

along with Fisher Peoples Unions

Date: 18th October 2025

Contact:

 pipfpd.india[at]gmail.com

 pipfpd.info
A new study in Nature Microbiology analyzes soils collected across Kansas to test the role of "legacy effects," which refers to how soils at a given site are shaped by microbes that have adapted to the local climate over many years.

"The bacteria and fungi and other organisms living in the soil can actually end up having important effects on things that matter, like carbon sequestration, nutrient movement and what we're particularly interested in -- the legacy effects on plants," said co-author Maggie Wagner, associate professor of ecology & evolutionary biology at the University of Kansas.

"We got interested in this because other researchers, for years, have been describing this type of ecological memory of soil microbes having some way to remember from their ancestors' past," she said. "We thought this was really fascinating. It has a lot of important implications for how we can grow plants, including things like corn and wheat. Precipitation itself has a big influence on how plants grow, but also the memory of the microbes living in those soils could also play a role."

According to Wagner, legacy effects have been observed before, yet the details remain unclear. A clearer picture could eventually assist farmers and agricultural biotechnology companies that aim to leverage beneficial microbes.

"We don't really understand how legacy effects work," she said. "Like, which microbes are involved at the genetic level, and how does that work? Which bacterial genes are being influenced? We also don't understand how that legacy of climate moves through the soil to the microbes, and then eventually to the plant."

The team sampled soils from six Kansas locations, spanning the wetter eastern region to the higher, drier High Plains in the west, which receive less rain because of the Rocky Mountains' rain shadow. The goal was to compare how legacy effects varied along this climate gradient.

"This was a collaboration with a team at the University of Nottingham in England," Wagner said. "We divided up the work, but the bulk of the experiment -- actually, the entire experiment -- was conducted here at KU, and we also focused on soils from Kansas for this work."

At KU, Wagner and colleagues evaluated how the microbial communities from these soils influenced plants.

"We used a kind of old-school technique, treating the microbes as a black box," she said. "We grew the plant in different microbial communities with different drought memories and then measured plants' performance to understand what was beneficial and what was not."

The researchers exposed the microbial communities to either ample water or very limited water for five months to reinforce contrasting histories of moisture availability.

"Even after many thousands of bacterial generations, the memory of drought was still detectable," Wagner said. "One of the most interesting aspects we saw is that the microbial legacy effect was much stronger with plants that were native to those exact locales than plants that were from elsewhere and planted for agricultural reasons but weren't native."

To begin testing how plant identity interacts with microbial legacy, the team compared one crop (corn) with one native grass (gamagrass). They note that additional species will be needed to confirm the pattern, yet the early results suggest that native plants may align more strongly with local microbial histories.

"We think it has something to do with the co-evolutionary history of those plants, meaning that over very long periods, gamagrass has been living with these exact microbial communities, but corn has not," she said. "Corn was domesticated in Central America and has only been in this area for a few thousand years."

Beyond plant performance, the researchers examined gene activity in both microbes and plants to explore potential mechanisms behind legacy effects at the molecular scale.

"The gene that excited us most was called nicotianamine synthase," Wagner said. "It produces a molecule mainly useful for plants to acquire iron from the soil but has also been recorded to influence drought tolerance in some species. In our analysis, the plant expressed this gene under drought conditions, but only when grown with microbes with a memory of dry conditions. The plant's response to drought depended on the memory of the microbes, which we found fascinating."

Wagner noted that gamagrass is being considered as a source of useful genes for improving corn under stress.

"The gene I mentioned earlier could be of interest," she said. "For biotech firms focused on microbial additions to crops, this gives hints about where to look for microbes with beneficial properties. Microbial commercialization in agriculture is a multibillion dollar industry and still growing."

Wagner's KU collaborators were lead author Nichole Ginnan, now of the University of California-Riverside, and Natalie Ford, now of Pennsylvania State University; Valeria Custodio, David Gopaulchan, Dylan Jones, Darren Wells and Gabriel Castrillo of the University of Nottingham; Isai Salas-Gonzalez of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico; and Angela Moreno of the Ministerio da Agricultura e Ambiente in Cabo Verde.

"One of the things that makes this work valuable is how interdisciplinary it was," Wagner said. "We brought together genetic analysis, plant physiology and microbiology, allowing us to ask and answer questions that couldn't have been addressed before."

This work was funded by the National Science Foundation's Division of Integrative Organismal Systems.
Victims of the car loans scandal could miss out on more than 4bn in compensation if the City regulator ploughs ahead with plans for an "insulting" interest rate in its redress scheme, consumer groups and claims firms say. The Financial Conduct Authority has been accused of offering a reduced rate of interest which will be added to compensation from banks for borrowers caught up in the car loan commissions scandal. Claims law firms and consumer groups say borrowers should be offered the same terms as Marcus Johnson: the sole driver whose case was upheld by the supreme court in a landmark case in August. While the terms of the final payout are sealed, Johnson is widely believed by industry experts to have received about 7% interest on his compensation package, after judges ordered the parties to negotiate a "commercial rate". - Guardian

A small business owner is preparing to face down the cosmetics giant L'Oreal at a tribunal next week over a trademark dispute she says has had a devastating impact on her. Rebecca Dowdeswell, 49, from Nottinghamshire, has been locked in a three-year legal battle with the French company since it claimed her use of the name nkd for her business would cause "consumer confusion" with its own range of Naked beauty products. Dowdeswell has been forced to close one of her two nkd salons and has run up legal fees of more than 30,000 fighting the 170bn company, which has instructed top-tier law firm Baker McKenzie. - Guardian

Nine people are in hospital with life-threatening injuries after a man armed with a large knife started stabbing people on a London-bound train in Cambridgeshire. Armed police rushed to Huntingdon railway station to respond to the incident, which was initially classified as a major terror attack. Two people have been arrested, with witnesses describing a man with a knife being taken down by a police Taser. Counter-terror police have joined the investigation into the attack, which is understood to have started shortly after the LNER train left Peterborough station. Cambridgeshire Constabulary said the first emergency calls were received at 7.39pm. - Independent

A Ukrainian drone strike has started major fires in Russia's Tuapse city, setting ablaze an oil tanker and the town's port in a move that could disrupt Moscow's fuel exports. A large part of Russia's crude and refined products reach international markets via the port in Russia's southern region of Krasnodar. In recent months, Kyiv has intensified strikes on Russian oil and energy infrastructure, whose profits fuel the Kremlin's war effort. Ukraine's secret service revealed yesterday that it has carried out over 150 strikes targeting Russian oil refineries and pipelines. Kyiv is preparing for new drone and long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure with a goal of causing widespread blackouts in Russia, said Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's drone forces. - Independent

Chinese tech giants blacklisted on national security grounds in Britain and the United States have lobbied for Beijing's new embassy in London, deepening fears it could be used as an overseas "spy centre". ZTE Mobile, a state-controlled company deemed by GCHQ to pose a risk to British telecommunications infrastructure that "cannot be mitigated", urged officials to approve the scheme. In a letter to the government's planning inquiry, it described the proposed development of Royal Mint Court, a grade II listed building in east London that China bought for 255m, as "beautiful". The company was fined $1bn in 2017 for sending equipment to North Korea and Iran in violation of US sanctions. China Mobile, a state-owned company that has close links to the People's Liberation Army, also expressed its "full support" for the new embassy in a letter. - The Times

Jaguar Land Rover is racing to avoid fresh disruption to its UK car plants in December after China blocked deliveries of automotive computer chips. With Britain's biggest carmaker still reeling from the fallout of a major cyberattack, bosses are bracing for the supply chain to grind to a halt next month. The German engineering giant Bosch, Hong-Kong-based Johnson Electric, and South Korean automotive firm Hanon Systems are among JLR's so-called tier two suppliers to have said that they will halt deliveries of vital parts. - The Times

Families face council tax bills of up to 10,000 a year under plans being considered by Rachel Reeves to double rates on more than a million homes. The Chancellor is said to be looking at proposals to apply a 100% increase to the two highest council tax bands, which would predominantly hit households in London and the South East. On Saturday night, critics warned that many pensioners, who live on fixed incomes, would be unable to afford such steep increases and would end up "forced out of their homes". - The Telegraph

The UK's national debt is growing at the fastest rate of any rich country as a prolonged borrowing binge threatens to push the country into a "doom loop". Debt has close to tripled from 2005 to 2025, analysis by Oxford Economics shows, outpacing increases in any other advanced economy. A failure by successive governments to live within their means has left the UK with a 2.9trn mountain of debt, which is almost as large as the entire economy and costs over 100bn a year in interest payments. Only Spain and the US have seen debt rise at a rate close to the UK over the last 20 years, while Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands have managed to lower debt relative to the size of their economies. - The Telegraph
Overdose deaths on Staten Island plummeted about 49% from 2023 to 2024 on Staten Island. Staten Island is the leader among the five boroughs of New York City in reducing the number of fatal overdoses. This graphic shows the positive downward trends in drug poisonings amid a fentanyl crisis in New York City. (New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Island is leading New York City in combatting fatal overdoses amid a fentanyl crisis, according to statistics released by the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Here are five key takeaways from an original article by the Advance/SILive.com.

1. Staten Island achieves significant drop in fatal ODs

Staten Island is substantially outpacing New York Citys other boroughs in combating fatal drug overdoses, marking a significant reversal of a devastating trend. According to the citys Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, the borough saw a staggering 49% plummet in accidental overdose deaths in the last year, with fatalities dropping from 157 in 2023 to 81 in 2024.

This dramatic reduction has lowered Staten Island from having the second-highest overdose death rate in the city to the fourth. The rate of such deaths per 100,000 residents was nearly halved, dropping from 40.2 to 20.7. This steep decline is described as unprecedented and provides a beacon of hope for a community heavily impacted by the opioid crisis.

2. The entire city is seeing a decline, but challenges remain

While Staten Islands success is the most pronounced, the positive trend extends across all five boroughs. Citywide, unintentional overdose deaths fell by 28% last year, a decrease that the Health Department called unprecedented after nearly a decade of continuous increases.

In total, 2,192 people died from unintentional drug poisonings, down from 3,056 the previous year. Despite this progress, overdose continues to be the leading cause of premature death in New York City, having claimed nearly 20,000 lives since 2016.

The data also shows that men and boys are disproportionately affected, accounting for 77% of all overdose victims citywide last year.

Overdose deaths on Staten Island plummeted about 49% from 2023 to 2024 on Staten Island. Staten Island is the leader among the five boroughs of New York City in reducing the number of fatal overdoses. This graphic shows the positive downward trends in drug poisonings amid a fentanyl crisis in New York City. (New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene)

3. Racial disparities persist despite overall improvements

Even as overdose deaths decline, a stark racial disparity remains. Black and Latino New Yorkers continue to be the most severely impacted by the overdose epidemic.

Although these communities saw their first decrease in overdose death rates since 2018, their rates remain approximately twice as high as those for white New Yorkers. The progress is also uneven geographically, with the Bronx experiencing the citys lowest decline in overdose death rates at just 24%.

This highlights that the benefits of recent successes are not being distributed equally across all communities, and more targeted efforts are needed to address these inequities.

4. Fentanyl and cocaine remain the primary drivers of overdose deaths

The driving force behind the crisis, fentanyl, continues to be the most common substance found in overdose deaths, though its prevalence has slightly decreased. Last year, the powerful synthetic opioid was involved in 73% of all fatal overdoses, compared to 80% in the previous year.

Cocaine is also a major contributor, being involved in 57% of overdose fatalities. The report also notes the emergence of even more deadly, lesser-known substances. Some are animal medications such as carfentanil, linked to 29 deaths, and medetomidine, implicated in 19 deaths, signaling the evolving and complex nature of the illicit drug supply.

Overdose deaths on Staten Island plummeted about 49% from 2023 to 2024 on Staten Island. Staten Island is the leader among the five boroughs of New York City in reducing the number of fatal overdoses. This graphic shows the positive downward trends in drug poisonings amid a fentanyl crisis in New York City. (New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene)

5. A multi-pronged strategy and a cautious outlook are key

The remarkable decline in deaths is attributed not to a single solution but to years of coordinated, multi-faceted efforts. These initiatives include the Richmond County District Attorneys HOPE program, which diverts drug offenders to treatment instead of prison; widespread distribution of the life-saving drug naloxone; state-provided fentanyl test strips; and a push for safer prescribing practices among doctors.

However, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon has previously warned against complacency. He emphasized that despite the positive data, the crisis is still a raging epidemic and that it is crucial for anti-addiction efforts to remain a top priority to prevent a reversal of this hard-won progress.
A man walks along the coastline during the passing of Hurricane Melissa in Kingston, Jamaica, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) AP

The updates sent by friends and neighbors on WhatsApp confirmed what fisher Prince Davis already feared: Hurricane Melissa put a hole in the stern of his 50-foot (15-meter) fishing boat, and damaged the cabin and back deck.

His fathers boat was nowhere to be found. The roof of the house Davis and his parents shared in the small Jamaican fishing community of White House in Westmoreland parish was also destroyed.

Davis was in Nicaragua, where hed flown shortly before the storm to find new customers for his fish business. But now his livelihood, and the livelihoods of many in his community, were in peril.

Its going to be very rough said Davis. With the damage now, no one will be buying products.

About 29 kilometers (17 miles) northwest in Amity, also in Westmoreland parish, Denver Thorpe lost 15 acres (6 hectares) of mango trees and two greenhouses on his farm.

Theres absolutely nothing, said Thorpe, a farmer and regional manager for the Jamaica Agricultural Society, a farmer advocacy organization.

Hurricane Melissa is blamed for at least 28 deaths in Jamaica, bringing catastrophic winds up to 185 mph (298 kph) and storm surge that wrecked homes and public infrastructure.

While official damage assessments are still underway, experts said its already clear that one of the strongest landfalling Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded also dealt a devastating blow to tens of thousands of Jamaican fishers and farmers who feed their families and nearby communities.

Similar impacts will be felt by some of Cuba and Haiti s small producers, said Lola Castro, World Food Program regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

I would say every (crop) that was on the path has been damaged, theres no discussion on that, said Castro. Some of the fruit trees may be recovered, some of the temporary crops will not be recovered at all.

The destruction will impact how residents earn income and feed their families at a time when they must also rebuild homes and communities. There were already 10 million food-insecure people across the affected countries of Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, said Castro. The WFP does not have that data for Cuba.

In Jamaica, the destruction comes just 15 months after Hurricane Beryl impacted more than 50,000 farmers and 11,000 fishers, and caused $4.73 billion Jamaican dollars (about $29 million) in losses, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining.

We were just about turning the corner, said Thorpe.

A man walks along the coastline in Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa approaches, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) AP

The lifeblood of the most vulnerable

Jamaicas agriculture ministry did not respond to questions about sector impacts, but the country has more than 200,000 farmers tending livestock and growing bananas, melons, cocoa and much more.

The food produced is for domestic consumption and export  Jamaica is one of the worlds largest yam exporters and its coffee growers generate $25 million annually, according to the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association.

Around 80% are small-scale producers, working on 2 hectares of land or less, said Donovan Campbell, geography professor and director of the University of the West Indies western campus.

Small-scale fishing and small-scale farming is what most people use to make a living, he said. It is really the lifeblood of the most vulnerable in our society.

Farmers use October rains to plant crops to harvest before Christmas. Before the storm, the agriculture ministry urged fishers to move equipment out of harms way and farmers to move livestock and harvest any crops they could.

The devastation exceeded most expectations. Officials Wednesday said St. Elizabeth parish, known as Jamaicas breadbasket, was  under water." The parish had over 35,000 registered farmers and fishers as of 2022, according to the Jamaica Information Service.

Residents walk through Santa Cruz, Jamaica, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, after Hurricane Melissa passed. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) AP

For fishers, Davis said its not just losing boats, nets and traps that endangers their work. Without electricity, theres no ice to store what they catch, and customers wont buy what they cant keep cold. Lack of tourism will hurt demand, too.

The slowdown is worse for fishers who use most of their catch to feed their families and sell a little extra, he said. That small income every day maintains their house and their family and their school and children.

There are also special risks for women producers, said Davis and Campbell, many of whom are heads of household who support their children with the small amounts they sell.

Compounding crises in Cuba and Haiti

Cuba and Haiti face similar challenges, exacerbated by their political and economic crises.

The storm unleashed terrible flooding in southern Haiti and is blamed for 31 deaths in the country, where hunger was already rising.

Castro of the World Food Program said the organization is concerned about the impact to some of Haitis female producers, from whom the WFP typically buys produce to supply local schools.

We may need to bring food from other parts of the country if available or even having to import, said Castro.

In Cuba, the evacuation of 735,000 people meant the country suffered no known deaths, but Melissas passage could worsen challenges in feeding Cubans. The country faces a severe economic crisis and spends some $2 billion annually importing food products.

Local officials said there was damage to plantain, corn and cassava crops, coffee, various vegetables and trees across the five affected eastern provinces.

Government officials said Melissas heavy rainfall did benefit dams and reservoirs, after the eastern part of the country had been suffering from a severe drought and water shortage.

That is one of the silver linings, said Margarita Fernandez, executive director of the Caribbean Agroecology Institute in Vermont. CAI is raising funds to send directly to farmers and cooperatives there. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization also delivered seed to Cuba ahead of the storm, a spokesperson said.

Help arrives in phases

Relief efforts across the northern Caribbean are focused on immediate needs for now, as first responders and humanitarian organizations provide shelter, health care, food and clean water, and restore power and communications.

Food producers will soon need cash to make up for lost income, help replacing equipment and animals as well as new seed.

The Jamaican government keeps reserve funds, parametric insurance policies and catastrophe bonds for disasters. The government and nonprofits helped farmers and fishers after Hurricane Beryl replace what they lost.

But it can take a long time for that help to reach small scale producers, said Campbell.

With airports open again, Davis is looking for a flight to get back to White House. He needs to fix his boat, and his roof, but he doesnt know when he will sell fish again.

My worry is about when will the economy will be back to normal, where life goes on as it was before, said Davis. Everyone is picking up the pieces.
New Jersey governor candidates Jack Ciattarelli, left, and Mikie Sherrill, right, are neck and neck according to a new poll. Associated Press photos | Canva Illustration

The fiery battle between Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill to become New Jerseys next governor is a dead heat just days before Election Day, according to a new survey from a pollster that was recently ranked as the nations most accurate.

The poll from AtlasIntel, out Friday night, found Sherrill in front by less than 1 percentage point, drawing support from 50.2% of likely voters, compared to Ciattarellis 49.3%.

Less than 1% of voters remain undecided.

The survey comes on the heels of six polls Thursday that show Sherrill up anywhere from 1 to 9 points in the nationally watched Nov. 4 election to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. That includes a Fox News poll that showed her leading by 7, up from 5 earlier this month.

AtlasIntel has been lauded for having the most accurate polling of the 2020 and 2024 presidential races. The firm received an A+ in Nate Silvers Silver Bulletin rankings earlier this year.

Other findings in the groups Friday poll:

Critics questioned the accuracy of the survey, especially over Ciattarellis lead with Black voters. Other polls have showed Sherrill in front with that bloc.

The poll was conducted with 1,639 likely New Jersey voters between Oct. 25-30. The margin of error was plus-or-minus 2.2 percentage points.

The race will determine whether Sherrill, a congresswoman, keeps the governors office in Democratic hands or Ciattarelli, a former state lawmaker running for governor a third time, turns it red.

It comes four years after Ciattarelli came surprisingly close to unseating Murphy in the last governors race. This time, the seat is open.

Its also one of only two gubernatorial contests in the country this year, along with Virginia. And its considered an early referendum on Trumps return to the White House.

Ciattarelli scored Trumps endorsement and has praised the president. Sherrill has said she would protect the state from Trump.

Axios reported Saturday morning that Trumps political operation will pour $1 million apiece into the New Jersey and Virginia races to help drive turnout in the home stretch.

Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama is set to appear alongside Sherrill at a rally in Newark on Saturday afternoon  the latest in a series of big-name Democrats to stump for her.

Predicting the race has been a challenge, with the majority polls having Sherrill leading Ciattarelli, but mostly by single digits and with some surveys showing her lead shrinking in recent months.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin told NJ Advance Media on Friday that the party is not taking anything for granted.

Theres nothing in any of the polling or anything weve seen to date that suggests that Mikies in danger of losing this election. Just the opposite, Martin said. What were doing is were going to go out there and work extremely hard to talk to every voter in these final few days left and to turn out every single voter we can to vote in this all-important election.

Sherrill insisted during a campaign Saturday that New Jersey is not a red state.

Ive got some even better news, guys: New Jersey is not a purple state, she added. New Jersey is a blue state. ... I have seen the polling numbers, guys. ... So when we vote, we win.

Ciattarelli, meanwhile, appeared at a town hall broadcast live Wednesday night on Fox News with host Sean Hannity in Point Pleasant. Hannity pointed out recent polls that show a close race.

I came up here because this is a huge political earthquake, Hannity told the crowd before the taping, according to a report by the New Jersey Monitor.

In addition to the Trump factor, both Ciattarelli and Sherrill have made taxes and affordability a crux of their campaigns.

Mail-in voting has been underway for a month. Early in-person voting runs through Sunday. Election Day is Tuesday.

More than 1.1 million voters have already cast ballots in the race  more than 567,600 via mail and more than 510,900 in person. About 245,800 more Democrats than Republicans have voted, while 204,500 voted have come from unaffiliated voters.

People in line Saturday at the Monmouth County library in Manalapan to vote early in New Jersey's 2025 elections. Karin Price Mueller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

There were about 100 people on line Saturday at a polling place in Manalapan, including people with children, baby carriages, couples and singles.

A poll worker peeked outside of the room where the voting booths were to see how long the line was. Its been like this all week, she said with a broad smile. All week.
New York City faces one of its most consequential mayoral elections in recent memory on Tuesday.

The frontrunner is democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, whos the Democratic Party candidate.

The democratic socialist tag should be enough to make most New Yorkers run for the hills.

Its downright scary to hear people say that socialist isnt the same as communist.

Really? Remind me again what U.S.S.R. stood for? Oh, yeah: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Not a great track record for that particular moniker. But, hey, go for it, Gen Z. Its your revolution.

Remember when liberal became a dirty word? All the lefties then started calling themselves progressives.

Same thing with communist and socialist Its a distinction without a difference.

Mamdani and his promises of free transit, rent freezes and taxing the rich have all too predictably enthralled the kids of Gen Z.

Even though Mamdani as mayor wouldnt have the power to deliver on much of it on his own.

The kids also dont seem to care about that Mamdani photo with Ugandan official Rebecca Kadaga, who advocates putting gay people in prison for the crime of being gay.

Sorry, all I can think is, What if that was Donald Trump in that photo with her?

Then we have former three-time Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo looked to be on a glide path to City Hall until he shockingly lost the Dem primary to Mamdani.

Cuomo, now on an independent line, has had the temerity to tell Republican Party candidate Curtis Sliwa to get out of the race.

The former gov says that if Mamdani wins its because Sliwa siphoned votes from Cuomo.

If anybody, its Cuomo, rejected by his own partys voters, who should have bowed out gracefully. After all, Sliwa, like Mamdani, is actually the candidate of a major party. And they are the two disrupter candidates in the race. Talk about a contrast.

Cuomo had his chance against Mamdani and failed.

Even if Sliwa had gotten out, theres no guarantee that Cuomo would have gotten Sliwas votes.

Certainly not on Staten Island, where Cuomos COVID policies and support of Raise the Age, bail reform and congestion pricing still deeply rankle many.

You think the folks who rallied outside of Macs Public House during the pandemic are going to vote for Cuomo? I dunno.

And, yes, there are some on the right who wouldnt mind seeing Democrats hoist on their own socialist petard here, clearing the way for a Republican to come in with a huge mandate to save New York City four years from now.

But a Mamdani mayoralty wouldnt really be Cuomos fault either. The extreme lefty tide has rising in the Democratic Party across the country for years. Now New York Dems want to take their swim in the pond.

Sliwa, the Guardian Angels founder, is behind in the polls. Were told were wasting our vote on him. Besides, hes too off-the-wall.

Really? Compared to the slop that Mamdani is ladling out? Compared to everything that we already know about Cuomo? Sliwa is too crazy a choice for mayor?

New Yorkers turned out in droves to vote early. Mostly its been older folks, not Gen Z. That could be good for Cuomo. Or for Sliwa.

But Gen Z can still make themselves heard on Tuesday.

Either way, if Mamdani wins, it wont be because it was a messy three-way race.
Pictured on the left is the intersection of Rutland Road and Kingston Avenue where Aaron Akaberi, 39, drowned while trying to rescue his dog from a Brooklyn basement. Pictured on the right is the location at 701 W 175th St., where 43-year-old Juan Carlos Montoya Hernandez was electrocuted while attempting to pump water from a flooded boiler room in Manhattan. Google Maps

Two men died in flooded basements in Brooklyn and Manhattan following a sudden downpour on Oct. 30, according to The City.

In East Flatbush, Aaron Akaberi, 39, drowned while trying to rescue his dog from a basement at the intersection of Rutland Road and Kingston Avenue, where he had been living in a tent and acting as caretaker, ABC 7 Eyewitness News reported.

The building, according to the outlet, was left without power, heat or water, and residents were forced to sit in the dark.

In Washington Heights, 43-year-old Juan Carlos Montoya Hernandez was electrocuted while attempting to pump water from a flooded boiler room located at 701 W 175th St., according to PIX 11.

He was remembered fondly as a kind and hardworking father of five neighbors told The City.

These drownings are the citys first flood-related fatalities since Hurricane Ida in 2021, according to the reports.

According to The City, New York Citys sewer system could not handle the intense rainfall. An inch fell in just 10 minutes, far exceeding its capacity.

Officials are reported to have issued emergency alerts later in the day.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  With Thanksgiving less than four weeks away, Staten Islanders showed their generosity toward military families by donating food and money to the Ancient Order of Hibernians food drive on Saturday.

A pop-up tent set up in front of the Mannix Brothers ShopRite in Charleston from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. was staffed by volunteers from the St. Columcille Division 4.

Shopping carts adorned with American flags were positioned at the stores two entrances, and shoppers could be seen dropping off a variety of items they had purchased while shopping.

According to George Gillis, president of Division 4, the initiative began two years ago to address food insecurity among military members and their families, prompted by a need at the Blue Star families pantry.

People are very generous in their donations,' Gilles said. Everything from full bags of groceries to single items. Some people donate cash. Every little bit helps, so we appreciate everybodys donations to help our men and women in the military.

Staten Island has a total of six divisions of the AOH, split between men and women. And although they are separate organizations, they work closely together.

Kevin OConnor, 83, a West Brighton resident and member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians since 1987, said: We seem to be filling up more trucks and delivering more portions of food. Last time we were here, we had 75 bags. We went over 100 today.

Anthony DArrigo, a resident of Huguenot, initially stopped because he saw a collection for canned and dry goods. Upon learning that the donation was specifically for the military at Fort Wadsworth, he considered it an even better cause.

Anytime I see a food collection, I try to help out people in need,' he said. Ive been very fortunate and financially blessed. So if I can help somebody else out, Im more than willing to do it."

Throughout the day, hundreds of Staten Islanders donated enough food to pack 140 grocery bags to the brim. It was enough to fill the back of two pickup trucks, which will be used to deliver the proceeds to Blue Star families.

Bill Dertinger, of Tottenville, was seen placing grocery items in one of the shopping carts. People need food, especially around this time of year,' he said. We all have to do our part to help our brothers and sisters who have less than we do."

Meramonnie Mongelli, of Tottenville, watched as her three children, Monroe, 10, Joseph, 7, and Lorenzo, 6, donated food.

Mongelli said: I think its essential for our kids to know that not everyone has a meal every day or every holiday. I want to teach my children the importance of giving back.

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The pipeline, also known as NESE, would include a 17.4-mile underwater segment through the Raritan and Lower New York bays, passing Staten Islands shores. Jason Paderon

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline is seeking state approval for a certificate that has been denied three times in the past.

The pipeline, also known as NESE, would include a 17.4-mile underwater segment through the Raritan and Lower New York bays, passing Staten Islands shores.

The pipeline failed in 2018, 2019 and 2020 to achieve the Clean Water Acts Section 401 Water Quality Certification  a legal necessity for the project to move forward.

At that time, state environmental agencies that are responsible for the approval were managed by the administration of then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was strongly opposed to the pipeline.

Cuomo said in a recent conversation with the Advance/SILive.com that he had fought the project for a decade.

Now, advocates who hope to kill the project have coalesced around a similar rallying cry: they say that nothing about the project has changed, and that it should fail approval again.

In 2025, however, Gov. Kathy Hochul helms the state, and following reported conversations and negotiation with President Donald Trump, has spoken only neutrally about the project.

When asked if Hochul is in favor of the gas pipeline construction, Ken Lovett, a senior communications advisor on energy and environment for the governor, said this in July: The governor has made it clear she is focused on an energy policy that prioritizes affordability and grid reliability. All applications must be reviewed impartially by the required agencies to determine compliance with state and federal laws.

Would not meet New York States rigorous water standards

In its 2020 failure to pass the standards needed to obtain the certification, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) wrote the following:

DEC has determined construction of the NESE pipeline project would not meet New York States rigorous water quality standards. Construction of the proposed project would result in significant water quality impacts resulting from the re-suspension of sediments and other contaminants, including mercury and copper, and would disturb sensitive habitats, including shellfish beds and other bottom-dwelling marine life, clearly demonstrating that a default mixing zone is not appropriate for this project. New York is not prepared to sacrifice the states water quality for a project that is not only environmentally harmful, but also unnecessary to meet New Yorks energy needs.

The Clean Water Act is the basis for federal water regulations, including the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters, according to the EPA.

A drone view from Conference House Park shows the Tottenville shoreline overlooking New Jersey where a possible pipeline could be built on Thursday, July 24, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon) Jason Paderon

Furthermore, the pipeline is still pursuing its Article 15 Protection of Waters permit and its State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

The purpose of Article 15 is to do the following:

The protection of New Yorks diverse water resources ensures that our rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds continue to provide essential ecological and commercial services, said the DEC. Preserving fish and wildlife habitat, safeguarding our drinking water, and allowing industrial and agricultural ventures to responsibly flourish...

The Article 15 permit, according to the DEC, is a part of the NYSDEC Protection of Waters regulatory program.

Article 15 establishes and enforces regulations, such as the following, as listed by the DEC:

are compatible with the preservation, protection and enhancement of the present and potential values of the water resources;

protect the public health and welfare; and

are reasonably consistent with the states social and economic development.

As for the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, or SPDES, it is designed to eliminate the pollution of New York waters and to maintain the highest quality of water possible.

This standard of water must be in conjunction with the best interests of, as listed by the DEC:

Public health.

Public enjoyment of the resource.

Protection and propagation of fish and wildlife.

Industrial development in the state

Next steps

According to the DEC, the agency has until Nov. 30, 2025, to take action in regard to the pipelines Water Quality Certification process. This timeline is additionally known to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the DEC detailed.

The WQC is where the project has been halted every time in the past.

Political touchpoint

Opposition to the pipeline is a bipartisan unifier on Staten Island during this election cycle.

Both incumbent Borough President Vito Fossella and Democratic challenger Michael Colombo expressed their opposition to the Trump-backed pipeline.

Were hopeful that theyll [the state] deny it again. Not just because of the environmental potential damage, but were asked to assume the burden of it and increase our rates when the power will be used to go to Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island. So, its a lose, lose, lose for us in our opinion, Fossella said, noting he would initiate a lawsuit against the project if the state approves it.

Staunch opposition

The pipeline is not widely favored on Staten Island, nor is it a shining jewel for over 100 environmental and community organizations.

The concern is that should the pipeline be approved, the pipe itself would have to be embedded underneath the settled seabed: stirring up decades worth of contaminated sand and other materials that have since laid dormant.

I cant underscore enough: Nothing has changed, said Alex Beauchamp, the northern region director at Food & Water Watch, in July. Presumably, they should rule that way [denying the project]. Again, of course, everything is actually political, so really the only thing that has changed is who is in the White House. Trumps been trying to bully Hochul into approving this and another pipeline upstate.

Beauchamp continued: This is a historically polluted waterway, and in the last relatively few years, youve seen a huge comeback, right? Whales are back in New York Harbor, for example. Seals, fish, things that we havent seen in a long, long time, because theres just been a long, long legacy of pollution.

The pipeline, Beauchamp said, threatens all that progress.

Research continues to show that the enormously expensive proposed Williams NESE pipeline is simply not needed to meet current or future energy demand, said Ellen Weininger, Director of Outreach at Grassroots Environmental Education.

Yet, amid continued rate hikes, National Grid customers across Staten Island, the Rockaways, Brooklyn and Nassau and Suffolk Counties would be footing the bill. Worse yet, the proposed project would disrupt 35 miles of sensitive seabed, unleashing toxic legacy pollution into our sensitive waterways, risking permanent contamination and jeopardizing a $28 billion tourism and recreational economy that supports more than 450,000 jobs in New York and New Jersey, she added.

Pay more, get nothing

The project will bring some financial burdens for families across Staten Island.

The pipeline will increase National Grid bills by 3.5% for New Yorkers in the five boroughs and Long Island, despite the fact that the gas wont be delivered to Staten Island, Manhattan, the Bronx, and parts of Long Island.

Instead, it will be used by homes in Brooklyn, Queens, and Nassau County.

Despite claims that the pipeline will reduce costs once it is completed, Tyson Slocum, the energy program director of the non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization Public Citizen, is not convinced.

Public Citizen filed a protest against the NESE pipeline in the Federal Energy Commissions docket in late June.

There is nothing conclusive that demonstrates that these things are going to lower energy prices. Energy bills are going up all over the place, regardless of how much pipeline capacity, because data centers and LNG [liquified natural gas] exports are all at record highs, Slocum said in July.
This Google Maps image shows the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, where David Brian Pearce was sentenced. (Google Maps)

A Hollywood producer has been sentenced in connection with two overdose deaths, according to a recent report from ABC7 News.

David Brian Pearce, 43, was sentenced on Wednesday, Oct. 30 to 146 years to life in prison over the deaths of Christy Giles, 24, and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, 26, according to the report.

Pearce, a Hollywood producer, had been convicted of all charges faced in this case, including two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of the two women.

He was also convicted of rape and other sexual assaults against seven different women between 2007 and 2021, as stated in a release by the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office.

A jury was previously unable to reach a decision, however, on Brandt Walter Osborn, 45, an actor and former Staten Islander who was charged as an accessory.

Back in 2021, Osborn was charged with two counts of accessory after the fact in the deaths of Giles and Cabrales-Arzola.

On Nov. 13, 2021, at approximately 3 a.m., Los Angeles prosecutors allege Osborn, Pearce, and Michael Ansbach met Giles and Cabrales-Arzola at a party in East Los Angeles. A couple of hours later, the two women accompanied the men back to Pearces Beverly Hills apartment.

There, prosecutors say Pearce provided Giles, Cabrales-Arzola and Ansbach with gamma-hydroxybutyrate, also known as GHB, and fentanyl, resulting in the fatal overdoses of both women.

Police said they believed the victims were given the drugs and overdosed in a residence on the 8600 block of Olympic Boulevard in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles District Attorneys Office stated that within about 35 minutes of their arrival, Cabrales-Arzola called a ride-share service to leave the location, but neither woman left the scene until Pearce lifted Giles out of the apartment approximately 11 hours later. Cabrales-Arzola was carried out about an hour and a half after Giles, prosecutors said.

According to the LA District Attorneys office, Pearce dropped each woman off at a different hospital.

Giles was deceased when she was dropped off; Cabrales-Arzola was resuscitated, but died 11 days later, just a day short of what would have been her 27th birthday, according to authorities.

While the women were being dropped off, prosecutors alleged that Osborn accompanied Pearce in a Toyota Prius without license plates to the hospitals, as detailed in a report by Eyewitness News.

Court case information shows that Osborn is out on $40,000 bail. A source previously told the Advance/SILive.com that Osborn had recently been working as a bartender on Staten Island.

A hung jury could not reach a decision on Osborn and Los Angeles prosecutors previously considered retrying the case.

Michael Artan, Osborns attorney, told the Advance/SILive.com in early July that it is still unclear whether there will be a retrial as discussions with the prosecution were ongoing. He declined to provide further comment on the matter.

According to his IMDb page, Osborn was born on Staten Island.

He attended Curtis High School where he performed with the Curtis Players in several productions.

As a teen, he worked as a print model for various illustrations.

Osborn later attended SUNY Albany and the College of Staten Island where he graduated with a communications degree, according to his IMDb page.

While in college, Osborn worked as an intern at K-ROCK radio on the Howard Stern Show.
The location at 1196 Eastern Parkway where the deadly shooting took place, according to PIX 11. Google Maps

A 16-year-old boy was shot and killed Saturday night in Brooklyn, according to PIX 11.

Police say 16-year-old Tyson Harps was found on Eastern Parkway with a gunshot wound to the head, the outlet reported.

Police responded around 8:47 p.m. on Saturday, to an emergency 911 call for an assault at 1196 Eastern Parkway, for PIX 11.

Upon arrival, officers found Harps, of Park Avenue in the Bronx, unconscious and unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head.

EMS pronounced Harps dead at the scene, according to the report.

No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing, PIX 11 said.

Harps mother, Shekia, created a GoFundMe to help cover burial costs.

Im a mother of three and yesterday (Nov.1) my life was shattered when my first born was murdered at only 16-years-old, said the grieving mother on GoFundMe. He had a bright future ahead.

Those interested in learning more about Harps GoFundMe can visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-bury-tj-support-a-grieving-mother
About 40 million people could see food assistance disappear in November if the federal government shutdown continues. Pictured is a Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits shopper pushing a cart through a supermarket in Bellflower, Calif., Feb. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File) AP

In Staten Islands North Shore, hunger wears new faces. Its the nurse working double shifts just to cover childcare, the disabled veteran stretching a limited disability check, the families navigating a food desert where fresh produce is scarce and rents consume half their pay.

These are the families I connect with dailyreferring thousands to foodpantry networks, helping coordinate popup produce events, and assisting households using 1115 Waiver services. Yet even with these supports, families go hungrybecause policy is starving them.

The harsh reality

Across the U.S., over 40 million Americans rely on SNAP.

 Roughly 70% of adults in SNAP households work full time at some point during the year.

 Nearly 28% live with a disability.

 About 1.2 million veterans live in households receiving SNAP.

In New York State, a family of five with a disabled member can earn up to about $6,275/month (~$75,300/year) and still potentially qualify. That number sounds highuntil you realize North Shore rents often hit $2,500$3,000/month, childcare and medical costs pile up, and grocery stores with fresh produce are few and far between.

Even a full-time household income can leave a family one emergency away from skipping meals.

A household on the edge

Imagine a nurse making ~$78,000/year, married to a disabled veteran, with three children. On paper, theyre above the poverty line. In practice: they pay steep rent, cover medical expenses, and navigate a neighborhood where access to healthy, fresh food is limited. Many weeks, they rely on referrals, pantry bags, and popup produce events just to keep the kitchen running.

This is not charity. This is the system failing them.

Food insecurity as structural violence

The North Shore has some of the highest rates of chronic disease in NYCdiabetes, hypertension, heart diseaseall worsened by food insecurity in neighborhoods that qualify as food deserts. Hunger here is not accidental. Its policy.

Every cut to SNAP, every delay in benefits, every neighborhood lacking a grocery store full of fresh fruits and vegetablesdoesnt fight fraud. It fights the people who need food to survive.

The hidden frontline

Platforms like Hungry on Staten Island, which hosts a comprehensive list of pantries, community fridges, and mobile food services (hungryonstatenisland.com), are lifesavers.

They show just how many local households rely on these networks to stay fed. But these networks are bandaids, not solutions.

A call to action

Food is a human right. Hunger should never be treated as policy leverage. If we truly care about the health of our children, the dignity of our veterans, the well-being of working households, and all families striving to make ends meet, then we must:

 Fully fund SNAP and make it accessible to all working families, veterans, and people with disabilities.

 Invest in food access in North Shore food desertsfresh produce, healthy markets, mobile units.

 Support community programs: pop-up produce events, referral networks, 1115 Waiver services, and platforms like Hungry on Staten Island.

Hunger is not inevitable. It is a choice policymakers make every time they turn their backs on the families who feed, teach, serve, and work for this city.

As someone running for the working families of Staten Island, I will fight to make sure no family goes hungry while we all work to care for our own.

 Sarah Blas, City Council Candidate, District 49, and human being who knows what its like to get hungry
Carmine Rizzo polished shoes on the ferry until 2000, charging just $2.50 per shine during his decades of service to daily Manhattan commuters. Staten Island Advance

Editors note: A version of this story was originally published in 2019. It has been updated by Nicolette Cavallaro.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Three hours and 45 minutes. Thats how long my round-trip commute took every day to Manhattan in the late 80s/early 90s as a college student.

Bus to the Staten Island Ferry, ferry to the subway, and then a walk up and then down a big hill to City College of New York in Harlem. Four years.

Thirty years later, some memories of the ferry remain. The catatonic crush of 7:20 a.m. commuters; the precise folding and reading of broadsheet newspapers; the styrofoam feel of a large, hot McDonalds coffee in my palm that Id bought in the terminal before the big doors slid closed; the shoe shine guy.

Yes, the shoe shine guy.

Carmine Rizzo shines a shoe on the Staten Island Ferry in this Jan. 27, 2000 file photo. Staten Island Advance

Years ago, Id read in the Advance his name was Carmine Rizzo, and he polished shoes for more than 30 years on the Staten Island Ferry, retiring in 2000 at the age of 76. He was paid $2.50 a shine.

There was something oddly comforting about the shoe shine guy. His voice was familiar. His presence, routine. My routine. He was woven in the fabric of my years as a quintessential New Yorker.

Shine, shoe shine, hed say in his hoarse voice that matched his tired appearance, up and down the ferry aisles. Commuters, like me, largely ignored him.

Shining shoes of Rich Santo. staten island advance

Sometimes, hed be summoned by a customer whose shoes had lost their sheen. Once, it was the guy sitting right next to me.

I immediately looked up from my organic chem notes (or whatever test I was cramming for) and watched the shoe shine unfold, so up-close. Like a little pre-internet YouTube tutorial on shoe-shining.

The shoe shine guy had a system. Once hired, he knelt down by his customers feet on an old, tattered, dark blue pillow, as if in supplication.

Carmine Rizzo attends to another of the countless pairs of shoes he has buffed during his long career as a "shoe shine guy" on the Staten Island Ferry. STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

Hed then grab, one by one, the armamentarium housed in the shoe shine box, which looked handmade, and was toted all day long.

The brass handle doubled as the heel rest for his customers.

I imagined it made it over from the Salerno region in Italy to Ellis Island.

A shoeshine kit belonging to Carmine Rizzo, who buffed ferry passengers leather for 35 years, is on display. staten island advance

As he got to work on my neighbors wingtips, I peeped the contents of his shoe box cubicles: Shoe polish -- one black Kiwi tin, and another brown; a raggedy shoe shine cloth that was barely white anymore; three varieties of brushes; maybe a shoe horn?

The look of the shoe shine mans hands are indelible in my mind, too. His arthritic fingers were aged and chunky, his wax-stained cuticles and fingernails, jagged from years of honest, hard work.

I had great respect for him, for that.

With his knee cushion on his lap, Carmine Rizzo, one of the Staten Island Ferry's two "shoe shine guys", takes a moment to relax and read. STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

I sometimes wondered if the shoe shine man had a family to support, and if hawking his services, every half hour of every day on ferry boats was enough to put food on the table.

I sometimes wished I wore shoes that needed shining (I wore mostly sneakers and sandals in warmer weather) or that I could just give him money to help him out.

Carmine Rizzo on his final round as shoe shine guy on the Staten Island Ferry. STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

I thought better of it, though, because one, I was a broke college student. And two, I was afraid to insult him. Who was I to think a man making an honest living, no matter how modest, needed help?

Nobody, thats who.

Carmine Rizzo making his rounds. Staten Island Advance

Fast forward from my college years to today, 33 years since my strap-hanging days.

My ferry commutes are irregular at best now, centered around cultural jaunts or visiting my own daughter in college, ironically also in the Upper West Side.

Memories flood back each time.

Ferry rides seem less romantic now, than when I was a young woman, but remain awe-inspiring upon approaching the White Hall slips, gazing the skyline where the glistening Twin Towers once were.

The Shoeshine guy, Carmine. staten island advance

Things seemed different then. Fuller with lifes promises, maybe? Or was I just young and innocent?

Im not sure if the ferry and subways were safer back then or my naivete shielded me from the horrors in the news these days, but things were just somehow better.

But one things for sure.

After 35 years of shinning shoes aboard the Staten Island Ferry  and clowning with friends like Richard Estrada of Mariners Harbor  Carmine Rizzo put away his brushes and uttered his famous "Shine!" greeting for the last time. staten island advance

There are certain things in my mind of growing up Staten Island that will never be erased. Like the ferry. The wafting of the smell of hot dogs on the ferry home. The view of Lady Liberty. The old, brown wooden benches. The shoe shine guy.

Thanks for the memories, Mr. Rizzo.
One of Australias largest pipeline owners launched an advertising campaign that overstated how soon homes could be using climate-friendly gas in an attempt to retain customers and protect its networks from becoming stranded assets in a decarbonising economy, court documents say.

Australian Gas Networks, a distributor to 1.3 million households, is preparing to defend a lawsuit launched by the consumer watchdog alleging a series of its commercials constituted greenwashing because they tried to mislead viewers into thinking everyday heating and cooking gas could come from sustainable sources within a generation.

Consumers are increasingly switching from gas stoves and heaters to electric alternatives. Credit:

The so-called Love Gas campaign, which ran prominently on TV and social media in 2022 and 2023, was a deliberate attempt to push people to use more gas in their homes and stall customer attrition from the gas network, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says.

The company was becoming increasingly worried about the future of its business as state and federal governments were ramping up policies and incentives to encourage homes to go all-electric, the regulator claims.
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 Miners, farmers, surgeons and even politicians are among the occupations that put in Australias longest work hours. Analysis of census data by this masthead has revealed assistant drillers, a common job on mine sites, have the nations longest average full-time hours at 70.3 hours a week. Next were the drillers they support (68 hours) with shot firers, who prepare and detonate explosives for mining, construction and demolition, third (67.4 hours). Jobs with the biggest hours are mostly regional and often remote  the 20 occupations with the longest average full-time hours were primarily in mining and agriculture  although neurosurgeons (average 58.1 hours a week) and members of parliament (58.5 hours) also made that hard-working list. How many hours a week do people in your occupation work on average? Type your job into the interactive tool below to find out. Queenslander Skye Jackat worked for nine months at an iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia doing the job that topped the list for longest hours. Being a drillers assistant is hard, dusty work; a typical day on the mine started at 4am and Jackat wouldnt crawl into bed until 8.30pm.

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It was insane, like 40 to 50 degrees most days during summer, doing 12 hours a day, she said. It was a lot on the body. Skye Jackat worked for nine months as a drillers assistant, which involved working 12-hour days for 14 days straight in 40-50 degree heat. Credit: Instagram/Supplied Jackat, 31, estimates she lost 12 kilograms in the time she was working at the mine, helping prepare equipment and driving huge, rigid trucks for senior drillers, who take core earth samples for geologists to determine where to dig for one of Australias most lucrative exports. We do all the exploration work before they design the mine and then start mining, she said. Loading In her nine months as a drillers assistant, Jackat earned about $80,000. Sophie Kelly, 25, has been working as a trainee driller for 2 years, flying in for two-week swings then flying out for a week off.

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Originally from New Zealand, Kelly had been living pay cheque to pay cheque and struggling to save. Sophie Kelly, 25, is a drillers assistant on a mine site in WA. She was tired of not being able to save or put away any money for my future, and just really couldnt see myself achieving my goals staying where I was. So I moved to Perth alone and started FIFO [fly in, fly out] straight away, she said. Sophie Kelly works for two weeks straight, before having a week off. Despite the toll of long hours on a remote site and the heartache of missing her family back in New Zealand, hard work pays off, she said. But not many women follow Jackat and Kellys example  97 per cent of drillers assistants are men, the census found.

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The overall share of full-timers putting in 50 hours or more a week is fairly small: only about 7 per cent of occupations tracked by the Bureau of Statistics had average work hours in that band. Nationwide, the average weekly hours for full-time workers was 43.7 hours. But for half of all 941 job types tracked by the bureau, the average was between 40 hours and 42.9 hours. The census shows weekly full-time hours have been fairly consistent since data on the issue was first collected in 1966. Census director Caroline Deans said the biggest shift came after 1983, when the national standard working week changed from 40 hours to 38 hours. Back in the 70s people were working more hours and as we went through the 80s and 90s, and today, there are slightly fewer hours worked by people, she said. Full-timers in big cities tend to work less than regional areas. In the most common city jobs, including retail workers, office clerks and general accountants, average full-time hours were below the national average. KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley said contrasting industry needs was a major factor in the way work hours differ across occupations and locations.

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Mines are running 24 hours a day, so to speak, and mine workers are always busy when they are living on site, he said. Whereas with white-collar and other employees in urban areas, the traditional eight-hour shift drives work hours. Thats the social norm. Other social goalposts, especially household caring responsibilities, also influence average work hours, says Rawnsley. The census asks people to estimate how many hours they work across all their jobs over the previous week. Deans said the data collected provides a good snapshot of peoples experience with work. People tend to be quite good at guesstimating how many hours they worked over the past week, she said. The high average hours for mining jobs were influenced by the prevalence of fly-in-fly-out work patterns in the sector, where employees stay near a remote mine site and work intensively for several weeks before returning home for a rest period.

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Author Ann Cleeves is best known for her Vera Stanhope and Shetland Island book series. Here, the 71-year-old shares her unconventional career path, the true reason she took up writing and how she met her husband, Tim, who passed away eight years ago, leaving her a special gift.

Author Ann Cleaves. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

My paternal grandfather, Arthur, was a Welsh miner. It was exciting staying with him and my grandmother, Dorothy, in south Wales, as there was no indoor bathroom in their terraced house; Id bathe in a tin bath in front of the fire.

My grandfather was very political and a great reader. He encouraged me to tell and write stories. He said I needed to think about characters. I remember making lists of these fictional characters traits.

My father, Donald, was named after Ramsay MacDonald, the UKs first Labour prime minister. Dad was in the air force, but when he returned from World War II he undertook a teaching qualification, as they were desperate for teachers. He had an absolute passion for reading. Small things brought him joy.
The National Partys decision to abandon the goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 has dominated the news so far today.

Heres a quick refresher if you need it:

What does net zero mean? The United Nations defines net zero as reducing carbon emissions to a level where they can be offset by the amount of carbon being stored by trees and other carbon-dioxide removal measures.

Why are the targets needed? Reaching net zero by 2050 is considered essential to reducing global warming. In order to avert the worst impacts of climate change and preserve a liveable planet, global temperature increase needs to be limited to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, the UN says.

How many nations have net zero policies? Climate Action Tracker reports that as of October, some 145 nations, including Australia, have committed to or are considering net zero policies, covering close to 77 per cent of global emissions. China, the European Union and India all have net zero targets, but Climate Action Tracker says the United States, for all intents and purposes, no longer has a net zero policy as a result of the Trump administrations legislative agenda.

When did Australia commit to net zero? The Morrison Coalition government committed Australia to net zero emissions by 2050 in October 2021, just before the UN climate change conference COP26. At the time, it was reported the Nationals would receive an extra cabinet position and more money for regional Australia in exchange for their support for net zero.

How is Australia going in meeting its net zero targets? In September, the federal government updated its commitment to emissions reductions by 2035. The target is now to have net emissions 62-70 per cent below 2005 levels by 2035. Climate Action Tracker says: This falls short of what is needed for alignment with the 1.5C limit, despite the warnings from the recently published National Climate Risk Assessment.

Australia needs to strengthen its climate commitment for both 2030 and 2035, and reduce its net emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2030 and 76 per cent by 2035 to align with 1.5C compatible pathways.
Caring for the carers

My mother recently died  another victim of dementia ("Seniors groups push for $2b-a-year funding boost", November 2-3). Fortunately, she had the Level 4 Home Care Package, and was cared for full time in her home by her daughter. Regrettably we had to change providers twice until we found one seemingly more interested in care than profit. In the latter stages of the illness, what was really required was respite for the carer  intensive, full time care, either at home or institutionally, while the carer restores their own health, mental well-being and strength. Each of the home care providers appeared either unable, or unprepared to provide staff or a location to achieve respite, despite there being funds in the package. Provision for respite needs to be an integral part of the package, or else the public hospital system will get landed with the task  as it did in our case on more than one occasion.

Micheal Traynor, Bellambi

Your correspondent (Letters, November 2-3) offers some wise advice to those with elderly parents in care. However, in my experience it is difficult to visit at different times due to work and other commitments including one's own medical appointments. It seems trustworthiness does not come as part of the care that people are being charged premium prices for.

Amanda Simon, Dulwich Hill
The brother of a Sydney property developer was ambushed outside his home, bundled into a car and held for ransom by an underworld gang  and after four anxious days cut loose on a Sydney street.

George Ayoub, who police feared would be tortured or killed, was emotionally reunited with loved ones and supporters on camera, including an ex-gangster-turned-fixer who claims $1 million was paid to secure Ayoubs release.

Ayoubs ordeal began early on Thursday morning, with CCTV capturing the moment the younger brother of Masscon founder Charlie Ayoub was ambushed by a group of attackers.

Cameras, positioned across the road from the Belfield home, filmed what appears to be a white car pulling up outside just before dawn as George Ayoub walks onto the street.
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 The decision by the National Party to remove mandated net zero targets from its federal policy platform is regrettable but hardly surprising (Nationals abandon net zero mandate ahead of party room meeting, November 1). For some time, the party has been thrashing around in search of relevance while the world moves on. The genesis for its decision on net zero may be found in its campaign against the Voice referendum. They thought that as If you dont know, vote no worked so well on Indigenous policy, maybe they should try the same stunt with climate change. The problem is that an if it aint broke dont fix it approach wont work with climate change. The climate, if not broke, is at least crumbling. Coastal houses that were supposed to be forever homes are being swallowed by rising tides. Summer temperatures in large parts of Australia are reaching the mid-40s, making it impossible for humans to work outside. The frequency and ferocity of cyclones are increasing, sending house insurance premiums soaring. In response to their changing world, many of the inhabitants of rural Australia (who the Nats are supposed to represent) are bolting solar panels to every flat surface they can find, as well as selecting crops and stock that can cope with increasing temperatures. Nationals leaders who continue to wish away climate change are ensuring that their party will become an historical artefact, rather than a healthy participant in political debate. Mike Reddy, Vincentia Nationals Leader David Littleproud (centre), deputy leader Kevin Hogan and Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie. Credit: AAP The Coalitions ongoing squabble over climate targets, particularly net zero, reveals a troubling lack of leadership (Conservatives push to ditch net zero term in Liberal party room debate, November 1). Everyday Australians can only assume that the National Party and many within the Liberal Party dont care about the increasing climate disasters hitting the very communities they claim to represent. They dont care about the floods, the fires, the droughts and the rising insurance costs. The only thing the Liberals and Nationals consistently support are the coal and gas industries that produce climate pollution without paying a cent for the damage and deaths that they cause. Where are the credible policies and plans from the Coalition that will keep us safer? Isabelle Henry, Ascot Vale (Vic) It is intriguing to hear that the Nats have ditched net zero. How do you ditch something that you never held in the first place? Warren Devrell, Wellington New bill no better The current Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act has been an utter failure for our forests, our native animals and our people (Our law to save nature is a rubber stamp for species extinction, November 1). Its well known that Australia is a global hotspot for deforestation and we have one of the worst records in the world for native animal extinctions. But will Environment Minister Murray Watts proposed new bill adequately address matters of national environmental significance? Protecting forests and habitat is essential to protecting our wildlife, safeguarding Country and tackling climate change. According to experts who have examined the bill against a set of criteria, the proposed new bill is no better than the old one and in some aspects, worse. Why? Because its full of loopholes and uncertainty. Generally, it upholds the status quo of allowable destruction of forests for the sake of cattle pastures, mining and developments. If we all take a stand, this new bill could be amended to help save habitat and wildlife  with the added bonus of reducing climate change. Here is what Mr Watt needs to change: remove logging loopholes, close the continuation of use exemption and improve national standards so they are strong. Rigel Best, Doonside Will Environment Minister Murray Watts proposed new bill adequately address matters of national environmental significance? Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

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Giant leap backwards US President Donald Trumps raising of an immediate resumption of nuclear testing sends an ominous message that the Cold War era of nuclear brinkmanship is returning with a vengeance (Trump doubles down on nuclear tests as Russia issues warning, November 1). No world leader can be given more credit for ending the Cold War than former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. His vision of a world free of nuclear weapons, in which mutually assured destruction by such means would never again pose an existential threat to humanity, now seems a distant memory. Instead, with the US, Russia and China rapidly modernising their nuclear stockpiles and missile-delivery systems, Trumps call to resume testing not only pours more fuel on the nuclear fire, it seriously brings into question our moral commitment to the preservation of life on Earth. Rev. Vincent Zankin, Rivett (ACT) Credit: Badiucao Professor Rosalind Dixon outlined two paths Donald Trump could use to wangle a third presidential term, one being by his getting elected as vice-president, then taking back the presidency (Trump 3.0? Dont laugh, I am serious, November 1). This nightmare scenario is predicated on a new president being willing to stand aside for the then 82-year-old Trump. But more importantly, the article could have offered us some small comfort by pointing out that under the Twelfth Amendment to the US Constitution, anyone who is constitutionally ineligible to be president is also ineligible to be vice president. One is entitled to assume that this is game, set and match, but with Trumps stacked Supreme Court and in a country thats lost its marbles, who knows? Tony Bond, Edgecliff Kerry Packer once said you only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime, and Ive had mine. Xi Jinping, in his famously inscrutable way, was never going to be so direct, but if he read Professor Rosalind Dixons article, he is probably thinking that the saying needs to be updated. Joseph Fernandez, Mosman Orwellian nightmare Your correspondent Alison Broinowski (Letters, October 1) correctly identifies those responsible for the terror occurring in Gaza. Author George Orwells doublethink seems to permeate todays media: war is peace, ignorance is strength and, shockingly, a widely celebrated ceasefire is the continuation of genocide. This explains the general confusion over whether the Israeli Defence Forces or Hamas are the terrorists. Perhaps the IDF should take a lead from a Nobel Peace Prize aspirant and rename themselves the Israeli War Force, which would be nearer the truth. Words matter, and a massacre is not a war. Orwell got the date wrong. Im not sure, but I think we knew love from hate, right from wrong, empathy from heartlessness and mercy from vengeance back in 1984. Its in 2025 that telling the truth has become a revolutionary act. Geoffrey Dyer, Bundanoon

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The Israeli Defence Forces have been heavily criticised for their use of extreme force in Gaza. Credit: Getty Images Alison Broinowski suggests Israeli leaders and the IDF should be listed as terrorists because they attacked Gaza several times before October 7, 2023. Each time there has been a major conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, it was started by Hamas firing hundreds if not thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians. Terrorism is defined as the deadly targeting of civilians to spread fear among the population. This is what Hamas does. It is not terrorism to attack those terrorists to stop them repeating the attacks, especially when numerous steps are taken to warn civilians to escape attacks before they happen. This is what Israel does. Athol Morris, Forde (ACT) Separate God and state Nick Bryants praise of Australias electoral system is always good to hear, but we shouldnt congratulate ourselves too much (Well be right, but not far right, November 1). Bryant correctly identifies economic inequality and housing as two areas of concern. Another which plays such a destructive role in the US and elsewhere is the religion/state divide. At the last election, I was alarmed to see so many religious parties on the senate ticket. The sooner Australia converts our loose pluralism into a more robust non-discriminatory secularism, by which the law applies equally to all, religious or otherwise without exemption, the stronger our freaking amazing democracy will be. Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn Nick Bryant is right. Compulsory and preferential voting strengthen Australias resistance to populism. In the mid-1800s, the Chartists were an early form of populism in the UK who demanded universal suffrage, fair elections and removal of the property qualification. It was a movement that promoted class equality. The Chartists found a ready ear in Australia for political equality, which hopefully persists today as a structural protection from extremist populism. Anne Eagar, Epping Thank you, Nick Bryant, for your reassuring assessment of our prospects as a nation. Other pluses include superannuation and our medical system. We certainly shouldnt be complacent in view of income disparity and housing costs, but in general we are doing pretty well. Good on ya, Australia! Andrew Macintosh, Cromer

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Women: stay smart I am a retired lawyer familiar with domestic violence cases and I have this advice for women (Man arrested after mother found dead in suspected domestic violence incident, November 1). In a dangerous domestic situation, you must act smart. When tensions reach boiling point, the response is often violent. If you want to remain unscathed, then think. The argument starts. Each would accuse the other of betrayal or some unforgivable behaviour. Then there would be declarations of intense contempt. Each would start yelling and screaming. Once the situation escalates to the point of being dangerous, that is when the physically weaker person, usually the female, must think about self-preservation. Men are normally built stronger than women. Women must not inflame the situation. Dare I make the suggestion that, at that point, women should back down and placate their partner if they want to live? Dare I say that women should behave in a way that would defuse the situation and wait until they are out of danger to escape from the relationship, so they would never be in harms way again? Marina Wilson, Killarney Heights In a dangerous domestic situation, women must act smart, writes Marina Wilson. Credit: Getty Bad design Correspondents understandably deplore the governments funding cut of several hundred thousand dollars which is set to gut the Australian Design Centre compared to the billions given to sporting stadiums (Letters, November 1). This suggests a failure to understand NSW political realities. Sadly, there seems no prospect that that ADCs activities will attract punters, and hence support of the apparently irresistible lobbying power of the gambling industry and its captive sporting officials. Geoffrey Briot, Stanmore AirBnB no solution I disagree with John Wakefields suggestion that regulatory measures designed to return Airbnb accommodation to the long-term rental market would stabilise vacancy rates and moderate rent increases (Letters, November 1). Tourist and short-term rental accommodation has always attracted premium prices because of timing of school holidays and demand exceeding supply. I cant see any Airbnb owner taking on long-term rental tenants. It means greater property deterioration and more maintenance but less income. We need more affordable housing built. Former Airbnb properties would hardly fit that description. Kevin Armstrong, Forresters Beach

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Just a quick question: if all the short-term rental properties are reverted to long-term accommodation, where do all the visitors stay? Simon Hughes, Grafton Economics lessons HSC students reported lack of interest in studying economics contrasts with intense public interest in the result of politicians ignoring good economics (Rates of interest in one area are too low. Heres how we change that, November 1). Tariffs are trumping free trade. Uncontrolled emissions are degrading the climate. Concentrations of corporate power, locally and globally, mock powerless competition regulators. Whatever the hopes and preferences, political economics is riddled with group-think, wilful blind-spots and general irrelevance to beneficial policy responses. The housing crisis is one example. No wonder students are showing disdain for learning what should be done but is not. Peter Mair Dee Why Killen spree It is a charming picture that Tony Wright paints of the friendship between political rivals Jim Killen and Gough Whitlam. (The unlikely friendships that survived the rolling rage of the Dismissal, November 1). It brings to mind a Killen barb, spoken in parliament at Whitlam, which Gough must have savoured privately: Call yourself a leader. The only reason anyone would follow you would be out of curiosity. Greg Tome, Burradoo All the tea in china Watching a TV news clip showing people in aged care drinking out of those dreadful, thick, white institutional care cups, I thought what a nice touch it would be if people gave their flowery bone china cups to aged-care homes instead of dumping them at thrift shops. Theyre so much more cheerful and homely, as well as very durable. The younger generation doesnt seem to want them, but drinking out of bone china cups makes a nice cup of tea so much nicer. Jill Power, Narrabeen

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Car-parking requirements in new apartment developments would be slashed across Sydneys east as part of a council plan to address major construction works in flood-prone suburbs causing neighbouring homes to crack and sinkholes to appear in low-lying land.

An overhaul of development controls by Woollahra Council has proposed cutting car-parking spaces required in new apartment buildings by up to 50 per cent to deter developers from carrying out major excavating works for underground car parks.

Double Bay residents are concerned about the low- and mid-rise house policy. Credit: Steven Siewert

A council spokesman said the reduction in parking controls would mitigate the adverse cumulative hydrogeological and geotechnical impacts from new developments and address the numerous reports from residents who have provided first-hand accounts of structural impacts from excavation works.

He said the council has significant concerns the NSW governments low and mid rise-housing reforms could result in increased excavation activity in vulnerable coastal areas, exacerbating the risk of construction-induced vibration impacts and structural damage to surrounding homes.
Stickers that must be peeled off Alibarbar vapes have become a common sight outside illicit tobacco stores. Alibarbar is the brand of choice for the organised crime cartel that controls hundreds of shops around the country that sell contraband tobacco and e-cigarettes. Law enforcement and underworld sources, who cannot be identified publicly, say the syndicate allegedly run by underworld kingpin Kazem Kaz Hamad is driving a market takeover by Alibarbar, using threats and extortion to ensure its illegal distribution network is pushing the brand. Hamad was a Melbourne-based organised crime figure who was deported to his native Iraq in mid-2023 after a lengthy prison sentence for drug trafficking. The 41-year-old has since allegedly launched a street war for control of the multibillion-dollar illicit tobacco market. It was all about the cigarettes at the start. But the gangs realised they were losing money by not running the vapes too, said an underworld source with a connection to the syndicate.

They chose Alibarbar. Theyve got control of the stores, who dont get a choice about whether to refuse. Kazem Kaz Hamad in 2015. The syndicates domination of distribution for the tobacco trade  which came as a result of dozens of firebombings and shootings  has meant the vapes have been forced onto retailers with relative ease. There is no known firebombing linked to the vape standover, according a Victorian law enforcement source. The concerted push into the vape market was part of a truce that was struck by Hamad and his enemies to end two years of violence in the so-called tobacco war and create a new nationwide cartel in early 2025. Hamad was recently declared a national security threat by Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett over his involvement in the illicit tobacco industry, links to serious violence and suspected involvement in a terror attack on the Australian Jewish community on behalf of the Iranian government.

Three sources in federal law enforcement, the underworld and tobacco industry said the deal also linked the Hamad syndicate and its partners with a China-based crime group run by a mysterious figure known as Chinese Simon, which has been connected to running massive drug and tobacco-smuggling operations into Australia in the past. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett has declared Hamad a national security threat. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The Chinese Simon syndicate has previously been designated by law enforcement authorities as an Australian Priority Organisation Target, which classifies it as a serious national organised crime threat. The group exerts end-to-end control from export from China to smuggling to distribution and retailing in Australia. It also has suspected links to a major Australian logistics company that was the listed consignee on the Alibarbar shipment seized by the ABF in July, according to confidential sources.

Loading The gangland-backed attempts to push the Alibarbar brand has caught the ABF and Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) off guard as both agencies state that they do not track the identities of illicit brands seized during operations and cannot provide a breakdown of their market share. More than 12 million illegal vapes ... have been taken off the streets by the ABF and TGA since January 2024, a TGA spokesperson said. Industry market intelligence provided to The Age shows Alibarbar began appearing in illicit tobacco shops in May 2024. By August 2025, it was reportedly being stocked in more than 90 per cent of shops. A Victoria Police source confirmed that the Hamad cartel is deploying the same tactics of intimidation it used to gain a stranglehold over the tobacco market with its move into vapes.

Loading Under the racket, shop owners are forced to sell particular brands at prices set by the cartel, paying $5000 a month tax to operate in a given territory. Those who break the rules are ruthlessly threatened with firebombings and shootings. There is massive money to be made from illicit vapes. The ABF and TGA estimate more than $600 million worth of vapes have been seized by authorities since the importing ban was introduced. This is expected to represent only a fraction of the supply being distributed by the syndicates retail shops, of which more than 500 are under their direct control and hundreds more pay the so-called Kaz tax to operate and sell illicit tobacco brands such as Manchester and Double Happiness. Alibarbar vapes sell for $35 to $50 per unit.

It remains unclear what the manufacturer of Alibarbar knows about the wholesale illicit distribution of its product in Australia. The Therapeutic Goods Administration says more than 12 million illegal vapes have been taken off Australian streets since January 2024. Credit: iStock Chinese incorporation records show the company behind Alibarbar, Shenzhen Dali Wanwei Technology Co Ltd, was founded in late 2023. The company did not respond to a request for comment. Alibarbar has branched out from vapes to nicotine pouches and even smoking replacement aids such as nicotine gum. In July 2024, government agency IP Australia granted a trademark over the Alibarbar name and logo to the Chinese company despite the sale of its smoking products remaining illegal in Australia.

Loading It is unclear what relationship, if any, Alibarbars parent company in China has to a string of retailers in Australia using its brand name in promotional materials. A website purporting to be set up as Australias official Alibarbar vape supplier, which offers to ship the vapes locally, is registered to a block of townhouses in Cabramatta, NSW. In the heart of Australia, where the sun shines bright and the landscapes are breathtaking, a vaping revolution is taking place, the website claims in its advertising. Another online Australian distributor that uses an official-appearing Alibarbar corporate logo contains information about local staff who do not appear to exist, according to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.
Diagnosing Murder, Episode 4, is available now. Click here to listen.

Can a medical opinion ever deliver the kind of certainty a criminal court needs?

Doctors, lawyers and scientists interviewed by the podcast Diagnosing Murder say there is too much doubt in medicine  too much we dont know  to provide evidence beyond reasonable doubt in many cases. But one contested medical theory, known as shaken baby syndrome, has for decades given prosecutors so much of what they need to convict someone.

Kabir, pictured in his home, told his story to the podcast Diagnosing Murder. Credit: Josh Robenstone

The result, for some families, is devastating. In the podcasts final episode, Episode 4, released at the weekend, we explore the dramatic conclusion of one such case. And we try to pinpoint how many cases Australia has seen. Officials say theyre not keeping track, but an unlikely duo is working hard to find out.
In the quest to block the Minns governments low- and mid-rise housing reforms, Woollahra Council has literally gone underground and wishes to halve the number of parking spaces required in new apartment buildings to deter developers from carrying out major excavating works for car parks. The council is also shaping up to demand Rose Bay and Double Bay be corralled from the governments building policies. It follows residents concerns that construction works in their flood-prone suburbs have caused neighbouring homes to crack, and sinkholes to appear in low-lying land. The reforms, which permit apartment blocks of up to six storeys near town centres and transport hubs, came into effect in February and have triggered 14 local multistorey development proposals, including plans for a six-storey development opposite Rose Bay Beach. Woollahra Mayor Sarah Dixson. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Woollahra Councils proposal to cut car park numbers for apartments as a weapon against the government policies coincides with the release of an independent geotechnical report, commissioned by the municipality, that found Double Bay and Rose Bay particularly vulnerable to the impacts of excavation. Last week the council committed $300,000 to fund further hydrogeological and geotechnical studies.

Carmen McLoughlin, a member of the Double Bay Residents Association, told the Herald at least 60 local properties had been damaged by new housing developments. Were not against housing but  people dont want to be put in a position where, because of severe structural damage, theyre forced to move out of our homes with no recourse, she said. We dont want to become the next Mascot Towers. At face value this seems reasonable. However, Sydneys anaemic rate of home building in the early 2000s plunged to levels lower than during the Great Depression and World War II. Given the cost-of-living crisis feeding into mortgage stress and soaring rents and the continuing efforts by federal and state governments to address the housing problem, Premier Chris Minns has courageously tackled the states housing supply crisis by legislating increased density and fast-tracking construction of some projects around train stations. Of course, various types of NIMBYism have emerged. The opposition so far has been mainly on planning and heritage grounds but there are suspicions about the motives for Woollahras push for entire suburbs to be exempted from the multi-storey housing reforms. It is not going to happen. NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully deftly reminded councillors they seemed to have forgotten one important detail. It was Woollahra Council that zoned that land as appropriate for low- and medium-density housing, and as the consent authority on development applications they have the responsibility to assess suitable and safe development on that land, he said. Further, the council threat to reduce car spaces ignores the governments rationale in encouraging development around railway stations: they are aimed at people, renters and first home buyers who use public transport, not private cars.
Back then, Weirs use of a jigger on three horses in his care was not the actions of a fit and proper person. But now, according to a source close to Weir who requested to remain anonymous to speak more freely, the ex-trainer is remorseful, understands his actions were unacceptable, and will not reoffend. He has, the source said, used the time of his banishment to rehabilitate himself. He was so ashamed of what he did he almost became a recluse because of the damage he caused to the industry and his entire staff, the source said. A precedent for how a second chance can deliver success has already been set.

Country trainer Paul Preusker served a four-year ban on charges relating to the use of a jigger, and has returned as a fit and proper person. He has a fancied runner, Torranzino, in Tuesdays Melbourne Cup. Loading Adding to Weirs case for a return, the source said, were his more palatable actions of the past. He was an early champion of rehoming retired racehorses, the source said. Fit and proper. He would move on staff who mistreated horses at his stable, the source said. Fit and proper.

He would often pay for hay and feed for struggling fellow trainers and cover vet bills for sick horses when owners would not, the source said. Fit and proper. So, Weirs name will be omitted from 10-year anniversary speeches this week, but it cant be overlooked forever. When it comes time, Racing Victoria will be hard-pressed to deny his right to return to racing. Otherwise, why make him serve a six-year penalty when there was never an intention to let him back? To do so would make a mockery of their penalty system. Dont write off, Jenni Colourful owner Tony Ottobre is never going to be one who says: I dont want to say I told you so.

In fact, quite the opposite. He will always say, I told you so. A delighted Ottobre was quick to point out to doubters on Sunday that his champion mare Pride Of Jenni should never be written off. How right he was. Pride Of Jenni and her partner in crime, jockey Declan Bates, made a mockery of a classy group one field at Flemington on Derby Day in an Empire Rose Stakes blitz. Declan Bates and Pride Of Jenni win the Empire Rose Stakes on Derby Day. Credit: Getty Images How could any punter, tipster or racegoer have ever doubted that she had lost her edge? What were we thinking, believing that she was over the hill and the likes of Fangirl and Leica Lucy could beat her home?

Yes, Tony, we were wrong. And you definitely told us so. There is still more to come. He is hoping that his Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni recovers well this week and can renew hostilities with arch rival Mr Brightside in Saturdays Champion Mile. Mark Zahra gives a trademark fist pump as he returns to the mounting yard. Credit: Getty Images But he is willing to concede that a Jenni/Brightside dogfight is a more difficult outcome to predict. That is one that if you get wrong, youre entitled too, he said.

No longer best against the best Loading It is becoming a repetitive, tiresome theme, but once again it has to be said that racing fans were robbed. The countrys two best jockeys  James McDonald and Mark Zahra  rode the lights out on Saturday. Sadly, for the general racing public, they were doing so in different states.

Zahra rode four winners on the trot at Flemington, including victories in the premium group ones, the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the VRC Derby, while JMac booted home the countrys best horse, Autumn Glow, in the Golden Eagle at Randwick. How good would have it been to see all three performing on the one stage at the one time? As NSW continues to edge in on the traditional Melbourne spring by staging big-money races throughout October and November, the elite races are continually being diluted by the ongoing racing wars. Unfortunately, the best are not always competing against the best. It is like having Carlos Alcaraz win the French Open at the same time Jannick Sinner is winning Wimbledon.

Thankfully, the Melbourne Cup continues to stand alone on the calendar, while Flemingtons Champions Day next Saturday continues to blossom as the countrys premier grand final race day. Long may that remain. Passing the communications test There has been a sense of ease among the trainers and owners ranks in the lead-up to this years Melbourne Cup, especially since all 24 runners have been passed fit to run. The recent decision-making process has been in stark contrast to this time last year when five runners were scratched in the final eight days leading up to the first Tuesday in November, causing shattered connections to lose their cool. As a result, Racing Victoria was hammered with negative feedback.

Irish trainer Aidan OBrien referred to the Melbourne Cup safety protocols as ridiculous, Cranbourne duo Trent Busuttin and Nat Young said they were perplexed as to why two of their horses were ruled unfit to run and Sydney horseman John OShea claimed his galloper was 100 per cent healthy despite being banned. It took cool head and respected owner Terry Henderson to point out to the industry chiefs that the communication lines were down. Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien. Credit: Paul Rovere An ensuing reboot has gone a large way to resolving the problem. The safety protocols havent changed, but the consultation process has. So far, everyone feels like they are being kept in the loop.

Begg to differ Straight-shooting trainer Grahame Begg has come with a late run for jockey bake of the spring carnival. Until the weekend, UK horsewoman Maureen Haggas had a 10-length lead for her less-than-complimentary appraisal of superstar Zac Purtons effort on her husbands horse, Lake Forest, in the King Charles Stakes at Randwick. Trainer Grahame Begg. Credit: Racing Photos It was about the worst ride Ive ever seen in my entire life. I was appalled, absolutely appalled, she said, before admitting a few days later she might have gone a little bit over the top.

But dont expect any backtracking from Begg who was highly critical of Hong Kong-based hoop Andrea Atzenis ride on his horse Royal Insignia at Caulfield last month. Loading He was given no hope by the interloper jockey who came in and cast himself upon Australia a couple of weeks ago, Begg told RSN on Saturday morning. Lets just hope they stamp his passport, never to return because the display that he put on that day was less than satisfying from all counts. He can stay in Hong Kong for mine. It must have been an off day for the talented Italian Anzeni, who has been called upon to ride all around the world because of his ability in the saddle. He won last years Sydney Cup on Circle Of Fire.
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Reviews & adviceTripologist Opinion How car-hire companies try to fleece you (and how to avoid it) Michael Gebicki The Tripologist November 3, 2025  5:00am

November 3, 2025  5:00am Save 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 137 View all comments

Key points Car-hire companies lure travellers with low rates, then pile on fees for insurance, cleaning, fuel, and late returns

Automated AI scanners are increasingly used to detect even the smallest scratches

Complaints are hard to resolve, especially with overseas franchises

In early December Ill pick up a Sixt hire car in Seville for a 12-day jaunt around Andalucia. Thats a juicy prospect but Im not looking forward to the car-hire process. After a polite greeting at the Sixt desk, the screws will start to turn. When I decline the full insurance to reduce the excess to 0, which will probably add 30 ($53) per day, I expect an eye roll from the agent and a warning about the possible consequences. No GPS navigation at a cost of 8 per day? No, because my smartphone takes care of that. Another shrug. Returning a car with crumbs on the back seat? Petrol gauge not full? Brace for a fee. iStock Returning the vehicle is just as fraught. Was that scratch on the mirror there when I hired the car? What about the scraping sound when I didnt spot the speed bump?

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The car-hire business is highly competitive. Multiple operators are vying for business and at the same time, they must stake out prime real estate, in airports or close to major hotels to achieve the kind of presence that makes them stand out, and thats a huge cost. To win market share most operators offer bargain-basement rates as bait and pile on the fees and charges to make their operation sustainable. Department of dirty tricks Car hire operators find novel ways to stack on fees and charges that might not be divulged at the time you make your booking. An extra driver charge can add $20 per day to the hire cost. There might be a mileage limit, or a compulsory prepaid fuel fee for a full tank, and any fuel left in the tank when you return the vehicle is a win for the hire company. Minor misdemeanours can result in a major cost. Returning the vehicle with crumbs on the back seat or sand on the carpet might involve a cleaning charge which can be anything from $50 to $200. Anything less than a full tank when you return your vehicle and youll pay well above pump prices.

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Beware the upsell. iStock Bring back your hire car an hour past the allowed time and you might be hit with an additional days charge. Some companies will add an extra days charge if the car is returned when the rental office is closed, yet still before the end of the hire period. Theres also the upsell. Last October at Romes Fiumicino Airport, Sixt again, the sensible, smallish hatchback Id booked wasnt available. Those are usually the first to go, leaving the more expensive marques for those who book late. I was offered a Jeep, then a Mini Countryman and then a Volvo, at a much higher price. Negotiations stalled, they said Id have to wait until they could get my chosen car delivered from another depot but I wasnt about to pay for an upgrade I hadnt requested. After a protracted stand-off, I drove out in the Volvo, at no extra cost. One of the most common causes of customer complaints against car-hire operators arises from disputes over alleged damages following the return of the vehicle. Its a gotcha moment, and some operators are notorious for their car-return vehicle inspections.

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Tripologist Hiring a car in Europe? Beware this little-known catch Michael Gebicki The Tripologist Several years ago, after a self-drive trip through southern Italy, I returned my hire car to the Hertz depot in Naples. As soon as I parked it was swarmed by several intimidating gents who ran their hands over every square centimetre. A couple of weeks later a bill arrived for more than 200 for damages Id supposedly inflicted. Id been gouged, but Hertz had already charged my credit card and without proof there wasnt anything I could do about it. The return depot was located in a bus station but all too often you pick up your hire car from an airport parking station or a subterranean lot. Always photograph every panel of your hire car, writes Traveller reader Bill Wiglesworth of Castlemaine, Victoria, and thats sage advice, but when its dark and at the end of a long flight, youre in a hurry to get going. You might be working out how to drive an unfamiliar vehicle with the controls on the wrong side and trying to get your smartphone to tell you where to go, and that vital inspection often goes by the wayside. Some car hire companies are now using advanced digital scanning technologies powered by artificial intelligence to check for damage when a car is returned. These scanners probe the exterior, including the undercarriage, to detect dents, scratches, glass damage and tyre wear. Before and after scans should put an end to false claims for damages, but even the smallest scratch will now be recorded.

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Little recourse for disputed damage claims If youve got a problem with charges applied to your booking that seem unreasonable, redress can be difficult. Many large car-hire companies operate as franchises, and getting a foreign franchisee to respond to a complaint might be impossible. Related Article Travel tips Tripologist: Do I need to take out extra cover when I rent a car? Traveller reader Tim Stephens of Haberfield, NSW, was the victim when he was pinged for a speeding fine that happened months after he returned his vehicle. Stephens hired a vehicle from Avis in April 2024, but the offence took place seven months later. Seems when Avis received the fine notice, they transposed the date of the offence to the American month-day-year format, and so the date of the fine, November 4, 2024, became April 11, 2024, when Stephens was the hirer. Efforts to persuade Avis of their mistake fell on deaf ears, and Stephens was left with the problem of convincing the Italian police that the fine belonged to another driver. Naming and shaming on social media is not likely to produce a result. Avis Facebook page is a long litany of complaints, with no recorded response from the company, suggesting that criticism is water off a ducks back. Consumer protection is often thin to non-existent. However, there are a few bright lights.

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When he complained to the European Car Rental Conciliation Service (ECRCS) about a charge for full insurance cover that had been added to a Hertz contact without his consent, reader Paul Demaine of Dee Why, NSW, was able to obtain a full refund. That might have been a fluke, the ECRCS handles complaints only from residents of the EU or UK, and the rental must have taken place in a different EU country from the residents. The car-hire process may not be a joyride but despite the pitfalls, the ability to drive when and where you like is worth all the angst. Forewarned is forearmed. Snap your photos, read the fine print and keep your cool because in the rental game, the smartest driver is the one who leaves with their wallet intact.

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Travel tips Michael Gebicki is a Sydney-based travel writer, best known for his Tripologist column published for more than 15 years in Traveller. With four decades of experience, his specialty is practical advice, destination insights and problem-solving for travellers. He also designs and leads slow, immersive tours to some of his favourite places. Connect via Instagram @michael_gebicki Connect via email
He was asking to be killed when he was surrounded by the police  kill me, kill me, kill me, said Turturica, a taxi driver who was in his vehicle at the station. British Transport Police superintendent John Loveless said the suspect was a 32-year-old black British national. He was not known to counter-terrorism police or security services, Transport Minister Heidi Alexander said, adding that she could not comment on whether he had been known to mental health services. Police named the suspect as Anthony Williams of Peterborough and charged him with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of bladed article. Some witnesses described the weapon as a large kitchen knife. Police released the suspects name at 9am on Monday (8pm AEST) and said he would appear in Peterborough Magistrates Court later in the day. Nothing to suggest terrorism Police earlier detained a second suspect, a 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent, but released him on Sunday afternoon, hours after the attack on the Saturday night rail service.

It was reported in good faith to officers responding to the incident that he was involved in the attack, and following enquiries we can confirm that he was not involved, police said shortly before 6pm on Sunday (5am on Monday, AEDT). The train made an emergency stop at Huntingdon. Credit: AP Counter-terrorism policing were initially supporting our investigation, Loveless said. However, at this stage, there is nothing to suggest that this is a terrorist incident. This is a British Transport Police investigation, and we continue to work to establish, at pace, the full circumstances and the motivations that have led to this incident.

At this early stage, it would not be appropriate to speculate on the cause of this incident. Nine victims were said to be facing life-threatening injuries in the immediate aftermath of the attack, but authorities then revised this number to two. Later, they said one person remained in a critical but stable condition. Five of the 11 people treated in hospital were discharged the day after the attack. The greatest danger is to the conductor who intervened. This casualty is a member of LNER rail staff who was on the train at the time and tried to stop the attacker, police said.

Detectives have reviewed the CCTV from the train, and it is clear his actions were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved many peoples lives. Witnesses describe panic Earlier, Loveless described the emergency response in a briefing to the media shortly after 10.30am on Sunday (9.30pm on Sunday AEDT), amid widespread fears the attack was terrorism. He said the first call to police was made at 7.42pm on Saturday on the emergency 999 phone line, equivalent to Australias Triple Zero. The train was heading south from Doncaster to Kings Cross station in London. Emergency personnel inspect a train in Huntingdon station. Credit: AP

With the driver and railway authorities diverting the high-speed train to Huntingdon, armed police headed to the station and arrested the suspects within eight minutes of the 999 call. One witness, Oliver Foster, described passengers rushing through the train to escape the attackers. Loading There was a girl, bless her, who was really, really in a bit of a state, Foster told the BBC. Because the guy had actually tried to stab her, and one of the older guys, who was an absolute hero, blocked it with his head. He had this gash on his neck, and weve given him, like, a jacket to keep the pressure on. Another witness, Amira Ostalski, said she was in the carriage where the attacker began stabbing passengers around him.

Everyone started shouting: Hes got a knife, theres blood, she told the BBC. Ostalski said one of the train conductors was stabbed when he tried to protect some of the passengers. Some passengers managed to reach a buffet car and were able to block the door against the attacker, preventing him from reaching others. One couple on board the train, Dayna Arnold and Andy Gray, witnessed some of the attacks in their carriage. Gray told Londons Telegraph he saw a young man with a gash on his arm and several knife wounds, so he helped by using a belt as a makeshift tourniquet.

Arnold said the attacker came after her as she tried to escape. I got knocked into some seats. I saw the knifeman running; he came at me with the knife. I said: Please, please dont, she told the Telegraph. Then something changed in his eyes and he said: The devils not going to win. Separately, a train derailed between Penrith and Oxenholme stations in the mountainous Lake District region in north-west England on Monday. There were no immediate reports of injuries, but railway operator Avanti West Coast said all lines on the route that snakes from London up Englands west side to Scotland were blocked and there would be major travel disruption. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. Lifeline 13 11 14
Kyiv/Moscow: Ukraines top military commander says his troops are still holding out in the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk, which Moscow says its forces are at last enclosing in a pincer movement after more than a year of fighting.

Russia has been trying to capture Pokrovsk, dubbed the gateway to Donetsk, since mid-2024 in its campaign to control the entirety of Donetsk, a Ukrainian province it claims to have annexed. The city, home to 70,000 people before the war, has been all but completely destroyed and depopulated.

Capturing Pokrovsk would be the most important Russian territorial gain inside Ukraine since Moscow took the ruined city of Avdiivka in early 2024 after one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

A soldier from Ukraines 33rd Separate Mechanised Brigade at the scene where a Russian glide bomb struck near Pokrovsk this year. Credit: Finbarr OReilly/The New York Times

Since then, Russia has made steady but slow gains in intense fighting along the 1000-kilometre front line, where tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides have died. Kyiv says the costly fighting is largely stalemated and its territorial losses marginal. Moscow says it is still making important gains.
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 New York: Its the night before Halloween, a Thursday, and a couple of hundred young people dressed up as witches or Labubus toys are dancing at a warehouse-style bar beside an elevated subway station in Brooklyn. But this is no ordinary Halloween shindig. Its a party with purpose, as they say, run by Hot Girls For Zohran  an unofficial grassroots campaign group supporting Zohran Mamdani to become mayor of New York City. Look around and youll find volunteers in campaign shirts that speak of rent freezes and a $US30 minimum wage. Youll see QR codes where people can sign up to doorknock. You know whats really spooky? one sign says. There are still New Yorkers who have never heard of Zohran. Campaign groups such as Hot Girls 4 Zohran and Cool Girls For Capitalism have cropped up across the city. Credit: Michael Koziol That seems hard to believe. Mamdani, the 34-year-old state assembly member who upset the establishment by easily winning the Democratic primary in June, has fast become a national and even international figure. He is, polls suggest, days away from becoming the first Muslim mayor of New York, and the second democratic socialist to run Americas biggest, most important city. Young, handsome, charming, well spoken and unashamedly progressive, Mamdani is the antidote to Trumpism while tapping into many of the same populist grievances as US President Donald Trump himself. He has run a slick, social-media-driven campaign built for the times in the face of a generally hostile mainstream press. But his background, politics and promises also make him an enormously polarising figure. Some Republicans have called to review his citizenship (he was born in Uganda and was naturalised in 2018), while Trump called him a 100% Communist Lunatic and says he wont get any federal funding if elected.

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Much ink has been spilled over Mamdanis past support for the defund the police movement, or his remarks about Israel and Zionism, which matter in a city that is home to the worlds largest Jewish population outside Israel. In the campaign, he has retreated from his previous stances and moved to the centre, but many voters wont forgive or forget. His success, especially among young New Yorkers, also makes Mamdani a central figure in debates about the Democratic Partys future. He is seen as both a symptom of the partys problems in the Joe Biden years, and a model for how it can re-engage with voters in a post-Trump era. Miranda Devine, the conservative Australian-American columnist for The New York Post, calls Mamdani Joe Bidens parting gift to his party. Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old Muslim and democratic socialist who is on the cusp of becoming mayor of New York City. Credit: AP In the Democratic Party, young voters have been so badly let down, she said at a debate in Manhattan on Thursday night about whether New Yorkers should fear Mamdani. Theyve had a gerontocracy in Washington running everything  the Democratic establishment is just a decayed, corrupt rump. Devine, who was born in New York and returned in 2019, said she understood the appeal of Mamdani, as the alternatives were not attractive. The contenders are former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned amid sexual harassment allegations that he denies, and Curtis Sliwa, a Republican who wears a beret and is generally not considered a serious candidate. Polls released on Thursday by Emerson College and Marist University, respectively, gave Mamdani a commanding 25-point and 16-point lead over his closest rival, Cuomo, who is running as an independent  with support from the Democratic establishment  after being smashed by Mamdani in the primary.

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Nationally, the discourse about Mamdani centres on his status as a Muslim socialist bogeyman for conservative America and a punching bag for Trump. In New York, the campaigns focus is at least as much on local issues. Affordability is at the centre of nearly all of them. New York is at the pointy end of a wider trend of people leaving big cities for states such as Florida or North Carolina. Rents in NYC have soared since the pandemic, with the median rent for a one- or two-bedroom apartment now $US3600 ($5500) a month  twice the national average, according to Realtor.com figures. New Yorkers earn more than the average American, but those figures are blown out by high-paying jobs in finance, law and technology. For the working-class, under-employed, essential workers and artists, the city is fast becoming prohibitively expensive. Andrew Cuomo, right, campaigns at a seniors centre in the Bronx. The former Democratic governor is running as an independent at this election. Credit: AP Mamdanis main policy commitments aim to redistribute wealth, subsidising more services for the poor by moderately increasing taxes on the rich. He is promising universal childcare, fare-free buses, a rent freeze for about 2 million people living in rent-stabilised units and a pilot program of five city-owned grocery stores. The New York Times estimates those policies would cost about $US7 billion a year, mostly for the pledge of free childcare for all children under five, which it costed at $US6 billion. Mamdani has other ambitious plans, such as building 200,000 publicly subsidised, rent-stabilised homes over the next 10 years  likely to cost around $US100 billion.

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The democratic socialist plans to pay for his promises by lifting the top corporate tax rate from 7.25 per cent to 11.25 per cent, to match neighbouring New Jerseys. He would also raise city income tax for people earning more than $US1 million a year. The campaign estimates these measures would raise $US9 billion a year. Mamdanis supporters say his opponents prefer to focus on his attitudes to Israel or the police because they dont want to talk about his actual plans, which are generally popular (and populist). These are all things that have been tried, have been done before, says Lindsey Boylan, a Democratic activist who worked for then-governor Cuomo and became his first public accuser. But because people dont like that, and [because] it will mean more burden on our wealthiest, people try to make him seem extreme. Media tries to make him seem extreme. But all these things have been done before. They also say Mamdani has listened to the community and moderated his positions, citing his plans to retain police numbers and funding, and his intention to keep tough-on-crime police commissioner Jessica Tisch (if she accepts the role). Nearly 13,000 people packed into Forest Hills Stadium on a recent weekend for a rally to support Mamdani. Credit: Bloomberg That will not satisfy critics such as Devine, who says it doesnt matter what Mamdani says now. I just dont believe anything he says, she told the debate audience. Hes a shape-shifting chameleon. All politicians are, but hes more slick at it than most. Mamdani says he doesnt begrudge New Yorkers who are sceptical, especially given the wall of negative advertisements about him, and welcomes any opportunity to clarify what he will and wont do.

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I will freeze the rent, I wont defund the police, he told Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. I will make buses fast and free, I wont decriminalise misdemeanours. I will deliver universal childcare, I wont require everyone to eat halal food. And he argued his age was an asset, not a liability. Youth gives you an innate sense of possibility, and a humility that you dont know enough yet. Its time to have people around you that are not just characterised by the quickness with which they say yes to every idea you put in front of them. Mamdani has received a handful of endorsements from Democrats, including House leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is from Brooklyn, New York governor Kathy Hochul, firebrand congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and independent Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. The Times reported former president Barack Obama called Mamdani on Saturday to congratulate him on an impressive campaign and offer to be a sounding board if he won. On October 26, nearly 13,000 people packed a stadium in Queens for a Mamdani rally that featured Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez. The campaign to stop Mamdani has drawn in a broad cross-section of big business donors, Wall Street figures, conservatives, parts of the Jewish community and some of the Democratic old guard, including billionaire former mayor and businessman Michael Bloomberg. Mamdani hugs Bernie Sanders, also a democratic socialist, at a rally in Queens. Credit: AP Bloomberg spent $US8 million supporting Cuomos failed attempt to win the primary, and recently plunged another $US1.5 million into a campaign vehicle, Fix the City, which is backing Cuomo. He says being mayor of New York is the second-toughest job in America, and only Cuomo has the experience and toughness to get things done. Cuomos detractors like to say that he brings exactly the wrong kind of experience to the job.

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To guide economic insights

Willemstad/Philipsburg:---The Centrale Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) is undertaking a new round of data collection from companies in Curacaos manufacturing sector to assess domestic developments. Building on the successful first survey conducted in 2024, this second edition aims to provide a follow-up on current manufacturing activities, including production, employment, exports, investments, and key business challenges. This survey serves as part of CBCS ongoing efforts to strengthen data collection and gain deeper insights into the performance and challenges of the manufacturing industry in Curacao. In this regard, the opinion of businesses about their current performance, the economic situation in general, and their expectations for the near future can provide valuable insights for economic analysis and forecasting.

On November 3, 2025, the CBCS will send a link to an online survey, available in Papiamentu, Dutch, and English, to businesses in the manufacturing sector. The estimated time to complete the survey is 10 minutes. Responses will remain anonymous, and all data will be treated with strict confidentiality.

For robust economic analysis, reliable data and information from key sectors are essential. In August of this year, the CBCS expanded its industry-specific survey program by including the construction sector. The information collected through these surveys serves as valuable input for the CBCS Economic Bulletin, which is published four times a year and provides a comprehensive analysis of the performance and outlook of the economies of both Curacao and Sint Maarten. The CBCS conducts such analyses to support monetary, fiscal, and broader economic policymaking and to assess the effectiveness of these policies. In addition, the insights derived from this work can assist businesses in financial planning and investment decision-making.

The CBCS kindly requests the cooperation of companies in the manufacturing sector in Curacao in completing the survey before November 17, 2025. Businesses operating in the manufacturing sector that have not received the survey but would like to participate, may request the link to the online survey via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .Your insights and experiences will help gain a better understanding of the development and performance of the economy of Curacao.

Willemstad, November 2, 2025

CENTRALE BANK VAN CURACAO EN SINT MAARTEN
US strike on alleged drug vessel in Caribbean kills three



Washington, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2025



A US strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean killed three people on Saturday, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said, the latest such attack in international waters.

The United States has deployed Navy ships to the Caribbean and sent F-35 stealth warplanes to Puerto Rico, part of a massive military force that Washington insists is aimed at curbing drug trafficking.

More than 15 US strikes on boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific have killed at least 65 people in recent weeks, prompting criticism from governments in the region.

The latest strike hit "another narco-trafficking vessel... in the Caribbean," Hegseth wrote on social media.

"This vessel -- like EVERY OTHER -- was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling," he said.

"Three male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the strike, which was conducted in international waters. All three terrorists were killed."



-- 'No justification' --

Experts say the attacks, which began in early September, amount to extrajudicial killings even if they target known traffickers, and Washington has yet to make public any evidence that its targets were smuggling narcotics or posed a threat to the United States.

Hegseth said Washington would continue to "hunt... and kill" alleged drug traffickers.

He shared video footage of the strike, showing the moment the vessel is hit, followed by a fireball.

Like previous videos released by the US government, areas on the boat are obfuscated, rendering it impossible to verify how many people were on board.

The United Nations urged on Friday Washington to halt its strikes.

UN rights chief Volker Turk said these people had been killed "in circumstances that find no justification in international law."

"These attacks -- and their mounting human cost -- are unacceptable," he said in a statement.

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro -- who faces indictment on drug charges in the United States -- accused Washington of using drug trafficking as a pretext for "imposing regime change" in Caracas to seize Venezuelan oil.

But US President Donald Trump has said he was not considering strikes against Venezuela, dialing back previous posturing.

Maduro insists there is no drug cultivation in Venezuela, which he says is used as a trafficking route for Colombian cocaine against its will.

The Trump administration has said in a notice to Congress that the United States is engaged in "armed conflict" with Latin American drug cartels, describing them as terrorist groups as part of its justification for the strikes.
US seeks to reboot military channels with China after Trump-Xi meet



Washington, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2025



US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Saturday that during talks with his Chinese counterpart, the two sides had agreed to reboot military-to-military links to "deconflict and deescalate".

Hegseth met with China's Defense Minister Dong Jun on the sidelines of a regional summit in Malaysia, a day after leaders Xi Jinping and Donald Trump held talks in South Korea.

"I just spoke to President Trump, and we agree -- the relationship between the United States and China has never been better," Hegseth said in a post on X, adding that he had spoken with Dong again since their face-to-face meeting.

"The Admiral and I agree that peace, stability, and good relations are the best path for our two great and strong countries," he said, touting a path of "strength, mutual respect, and positive relations."

The Pentagon chief said Dong and he "also agreed that we should set up military-to-military channels to deconflict and deescalate any problems that arise."

Such channels have existed for years but at times fallen out of use.

"We have more meetings on that coming soon," Hegseth said without elaborating.

There was no immediate comment from Beijing.

According to a Chinese defense ministry readout of their meeting in Malaysia, Dong had told Hegseth the countries should "strengthen policy-level dialogue to enhance trust and dispel uncertainty", and build a bilateral military relationship "characterised by equality, respect, peaceful coexistence and stable positive momentum."

Hegseth warned earlier this year that China was "credibly preparing" to use military force to upend the balance of power in Asia, remarks that drew a sharp rebuke from Beijing.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, despite overlapping claims with its neighbors -- including close allies of Washington.

Tensions have also flared occasionally around Taiwan, which Beijing insists is part of its territory and opposes any official exchanges with it.

A 2022 visit to Taiwan by then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi prompted China to launch military drills around the self-ruled island.

bur-ami/mtp
US Navy veterans battle PTSD with psychedelics



Los Angeles, United States, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2025



Suicide is a tragic epidemic among US military veterans, but a new documentary charts how psychedelic drugs offer a glimmer of hope to elite soldiers battling post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

"We're not scientists, we don't know exactly what's happening," said Jon Shenk, who co-directed "In Waves and War" with his wife Bonni Cohen.

"But it does seem like there's something to it," he told AFP.

Streaming on Netflix from Monday, the documentary follows three retired US Navy SEALs coping with the invisible scars of their many tours of Iraq and Afghanistan.

After years spent under enemy fire, the veterans have become trapped on an altogether different battlefield, contending with PTSD, brain injuries, depression and alcoholism.

They have been prescribed cocktails of antidepressants, which not only fail to help, but leave them unrecognizable to their loved ones, and bring their families to "a breaking point in their treatment of their own trauma," says Cohen.

The trio head to Mexico for an experimental treatment, which offers an unexpected lifeline via two psychedelic drugs: ibogaine, extracted from an African shrub, and 5-MeO-DMT, derived from the secretions of the Colorado River toad.



- 'Reboot' -



"It's like a complete reboot," Marcus Capone, a former soldier and subject of the film, told AFP.

"It kind of brings you back to your truer self, before you had any real struggles or real issues in your life."

According to his wife Amber, the treatment "is bringing hope to the hopeless."

With their organization Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, the couple have taken some 1,200 US veterans to Mexico for treatment since 2019.

Once there, they can receive substances that are illegal in the United States and most other countries.

By gaining the Capones' trust, the documentary makers were able to infiltrate and spotlight a community where secrecy and moral rectitude are musts.

At first, many patients are skeptical about substances historically associated with the excesses of the American sub-culture.

Among them is veteran Matty Roberts, another of the film's subjects.

"If this crazy hippie-ass shit helps, if it helped my friends, then maybe I should do it," he says with a sigh in one scene from the film.

His transformation is all the more dramatic. The documentary shows Roberts groaning with nausea and breaking down in tears from the drugs, before emerging with a new perspective on life.

These intimate moments are accompanied with animated sequences, illustrating the veterans' inner journeys through the dark corners of their unconscious and their deepest wounds.



- 'Expand' -



In recent years, the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances like psilocybin -- the active ingredient of magic mushrooms -- as well as LSD and MDMA has sparked renewed interest among scientists for treating depression and addiction.

The documentary shows Stanford University researchers intrigued by the veterans' sudden mental improvement after treatment. But it does not delve into how exactly these drugs rewire the brain, or their potential dangers -- ibogaine, for example, can damage the heart.

"We wanted to make an emotional film that drew you in," said Cohen.

"Also the studies are really exciting, but they're just at the beginnings."

For their part, the veterans hope their stories can convince US politicians to change regulations that currently impede the study of these drugs.

"We need all these medicines to be researched more," said Marcus Capone.

His wife Amber said they are not calling for these drugs to be legalized.

"What we're saying is, let's expand the data. Let's reduce the barriers to research so that we can grow the data set and better understand if these therapies are viable," she said.

It is a plea that resonates across party lines in the United States.

Democratic-led Oregon and Colorado have recently allowed the supervised use of psilocybin. And this summer, Republican-controlled Texas passed a law to invest $50 million of public funds for research into ibogaine.

According to the most current data available from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, there were 6,407 veteran suicides in 2022 -- more than 17 a day.

If you are a US veteran in need of help, or concerned about one, you can dial 988 and press 1, or visit www.veteranscrisisline.net.

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Israel warns of intensifying attacks against Hezbollah in south Lebanon



Jerusalem, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2025



Israel warned Sunday that its military would step up its attacks against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, a day after the Lebanese health ministry reported four people killed in an Israeli air strike.

Despite a November 2024 ceasefire with the Lebanese militant group, Israel maintains troops in five areas in southern Lebanon and has kept up regular strikes.

"Hezbollah is playing with fire, and the president of Lebanon is dragging his feet," Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.

"The Lebanese government's commitment to disarm Hezbollah and remove it from southern Lebanon must be implemented. Maximum enforcement will continue and even intensify -- we will not allow any threat to the residents of the north."

Thousands of Israelis living near the northern border with Lebanon were forced to evacuate their homes for months after Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel following the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023.

That set off a more than year-long conflict that culminated in two months of open war before last year's ceasefire was agreed.

The Iran-backed militant group, which opposes Israel, has been badly weakened by the war but remains armed and financially resilient.

In September 2024, Israel killed the group's longtime chief, Hassan Nasrallah, along with many other senior leaders over the course of the war.

Since the ceasefire, the United States has increased pressure on Lebanese authorities to disarm the group, a plan opposed by Hezbollah and its allies.



- Latest strike -



Israel never stopped carrying out air strikes on Lebanon in spite of the truce -- usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah positions -- and has stepped up the attacks in recent days.

On Thursday, Israeli ground troops carried out a deadly raid into southern Lebanon, prompting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to order the army to confront such incursions.

Aoun had called for talks with Israel in mid-October, after US President Donald Trump helped broker a ceasefire in Gaza.

But Aoun later accused Israel of responding to his offer by intensifying its air strikes, the latest of which killed four people in Nabatiyeh district on Saturday, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

The official Lebanese National News Agency reported that the Israeli army hit a car "with a guided missile".

The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying it killed a member of Hezbollah's Radwan Force in southern Lebanon.

"The terrorist was involved in transferring weapons and in efforts to reestablish Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon," the military said, adding three other members of the group were also killed.

"The terrorists' activities constituted a threat to the State of Israel and its civilians, and a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon."
Philippines, Canada sign visiting troops deal



Manila, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2025



The Philippines signed a visiting forces agreement with Canada on Sunday, the latest in a series of pacts aimed at countering Beijing's assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.

The Philippines and China have engaged in frequent clashes in the crucial waterway, which Beijing claims in nearly its entirety despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

The Royal Canadian Navy last year began taking part in joint maritime patrols in the area with its US, Australian, Japanese, and Philippine counterparts.

The visiting forces deal would allow Canadian troops to participate in joint exercises on land as well.

Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty said the agreement would deepen the relationship with the Philippine military while advancing Ottawa's Asia-Pacific strategy, which calls for "a forward presence in the region".

"(We) will be moving forward on training fronts, on exchanges with our military colleges, information sharing, understanding cyber security," he told a joint news briefing in Manila.

He added that Canada hoped to take part in the archipelago nation's annual Balikatan military exercises next spring.

Manila, a US treaty ally, signed a visiting forces pact with New Zealand earlier this year and already had agreements in place with the United States, Australia and Japan.

A similar deal is in the works with France.
Nigerian president hopes to meet Trump after military action threat: aide



Lagos, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2025



Nigeria's president is hoping to meet with US counterpart Donald Trump, an aide told AFP on Sunday, after the US leader threatened to send the military into Africa's most populous country over what he has described as a threat to Christians by jihadists.

In an explosive post, Trump said on social media on Saturday that he asked the Pentagon to map out a possible plan of attack in Nigeria, one day after warning that Christianity was "facing an existential threat" there.

Nigeria, which is almost evenly divided between a Muslim-majority north and a largely Christian south, is embroiled in numerous conflicts that experts say have killed both Christians and Muslims without distinction.

In his post, Trump said that if Nigeria does not stem the killings, the United States will attack and "it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians".

A senior aide to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's, Daniel Bwala, told AFP that "we do not see the (post) in the literal sense."

"We know that Donald Trump has his own style of communication," Bwala said, told AFP, suggesting it was a way to "force a sit-down between the two leaders so they can iron out a common front to fight their insecurity".

Earlier Bwala had suggested in a post on X that the two leaders could meet soon.

"As for the differences as to whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or in fact all faiths and no faiths, the differences if they exist, would be discussed and resolved by the two leaders when they meet in the coming days, either in State House or White House".

Bwala, who was speaking on the phone from Washington, declined to disclose details of any potential meeting.

Trump posted on Friday, without evidence, that "thousands of Christians are being killed (and) Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter."

Nigeria has denied that Christians have been targeted by jihadist attacks more than other faiths.

"The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality," Tinubu said on social media Saturday.
Nigeria urges Trump meeting after military action threat



Lagos, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2025



Nigeria on Sunday suggested a meeting between its president and US counterpart Donald Trump, after the US leader threatened military action over what he described as a threat to Nigerian Christians by jihadists.

In an explosive post, Trump said on social media on Saturday that he asked the Pentagon to map out a possible plan of attack in Nigeria, one day after warning that Christianity was "facing an existential threat" in Africa's most populous country.

Nigeria, which is almost evenly divided between a Muslim-majority north and a largely Christian south, is embroiled in numerous conflicts that experts say have killed both Christians and Muslims without distinction.

In his post, Trump said that if Nigeria does not stem the killings, the United States will attack and "it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians".

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's spokesman Daniel Bwala, told AFP on Sunday that "Nigeria is US's partner in the global fight against terrorism. When leaders meet there would be better outcomes."

"Nigeria welcomes US support to fight terrorism as long as it respects our territorial integrity," he said.

"We do not see the (Trump's social media post) in the literal sense," he said.

"We know that Donald Trump has his own style of communication," he said, suggesting the post was a way to "force a sit-down between the two leaders so they can iron out a common front to fight their insecurity".

Earlier Bwala had suggested in a post on X that the two leaders could meet soon.

"As for the differences as to whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or in fact all faiths and no faiths, the differences if they exist, would be discussed and resolved by the two leaders when they meet in the coming days, either in State House or White House".

Bwala, who was speaking on the phone from Washington, declined to disclose details of any potential meeting.

Trump posted on Friday, without evidence, that "thousands of Christians are being killed (and) Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter."

Nigeria has denied that Christians have been targeted by jihadist attacks more than other faiths.

"The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality," Tinubu said on social media Saturday.
He added: It was very, very important to Terry to do something that hadnt been done in quite the same way before. He would get bored if we were doing something like just writing Ken Dodd jokes.
His look has been a closely guarded secret for years, with only the cast and crew privy to just how the iconic cuddly character would be realised on stage. Even the opening night programmes were only available for pre-order at the interval so as not to spoil the surprise for the first night of previews.
He also accused the protesters of a long-standing hostility towards the Jewish state and their sympathies to, and support for, the Hamas terrorists who can have no part in the future of Gaza and the Middle East.
San Marcos Police Department American-Statesman file

Multiple people were hospitalized and one person died in San Marcos after two separate shootings late Saturday and early Sunday, police said.

The first shooting took place downtown around 10 p.m. Saturday, according to the San Marcos Police Department. Police responded to reports of multiple gunshots on the square near Kissing Alley, later closing Hopkins Street between LBJ Drive and Guadalupe Street. Three victims were taken to the hospital, with one pronounced dead.

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Authorities said they are on the hunt for two suspects: two Black men, one in a black hoodie with white lettering, the other in a two-tone black-and-gray jacket and a beanie. Police said they potentially left the city in a four-door silver or grey Audi A3.

All bars on the square were asked to close for the night following the shooting.

At 1:25 a.m., police said they received reports of a second shooting in the 1600 block of Post Road, where one victim was hospitalized. Investigators believe it is unconnected to the first shooting.

A suspect has yet to be identified in the second shooting, according to authorities.

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The historic Driskill Hotel has suffered from at least a dozen fires since it opened in 1886. This spectacular photo of the hotel was taken in 1888. Austin History Center PICA 05049

A trusted correspondent sent us a short note in response to the Oct. 5 From the Archives column that ran under the headline, From cattle barons dream to near ruin: The Driskill Hotels history.

The digital message referred to eight fireplaces, stairs and other parts that came out of the Driskill after a fire destroyed part of the Driskill in 1923.

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I was agog to hear about such a destructive fire in 1923 at the 1886 hotel. Surely a description could be found in the American-Statesmans archives.

After a thorough search, we found no mention in the newspapers that survive from 1923. Yet something was going on that year that might have been precipitated by a fire or other disaster, or perhaps by a change of ownership.

In 1923, the large guest rooms were remodeled and subdivided into 125 rooms, and five years later a 15-story annex was begun to the north, which was completed in 1930, records the dependable Handbook of Texas Online. At that time eight mirrors once owned by Carlota, empress of Mexico, were installed in the Maximilian Banquet Room.

Driskill fires, lots of them

On Dec. 8, 1973, a fire damaged the Driskill Hotel and forced 187 guests to take up temporary lodging at other inns. Still, a wedding reception scheduled for the same floor as the fire went ahead as planned. American-Statesman File

A more comprehensive search through the American-Statesman archives did turn up numerous stories of Driskill fires from other years, some of them quite alarming.

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Note the number of times that onlookers went about their business despite smoke or flames, or they gathered in great, intrusive numbers to watch the fires.

Feb. 20, 1887: (advertisement) The Driskill Strictly Fire-Proof. The Most Complete Hotel in the South. Elegantly Furnished. Table and General Service Unsurpassed. Heated by Steam. Fine Passenger Elevator and All Modern Conveniences. Rates as Low as Any Strictly First-Class Hotel. S.E. McIlhenny, Proprietor.

May 6, 1909: (As part of coverage of heavy rains and flooding) Fires in Driskill Hotel Boiler Room Are Extinguished  Water Flows Over Curbing in Many Places, Wires Reported Down.

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Feb. 14, 1921: Fire of undetermined origin, which broke out in a vacant east room on the ground floor of the Driskill Hotel Sunday night at eleven oclock caused negligible damage and considerable excitement. A pile of rags in the room which adjoins a dress-making establishment were burned. Firemen who answered the alarm extinguished the flames before it was possible for them to spread to any extent.  Of six alarms that brought the fire department out on runs Sunday, the Driskill fire was the most important.

Jan. 14, 1940: Fire in the kitchen ventilator filled the lobby and coffee shop of the Driskill Hotel with smoke Saturday night but did very little damage; the blaze was in the original part of the hotel. W.L. Stark, manager of the hotel, said that the fire started in grease in the ventilator. It was quickly extinguished by firemen. Some diners in the coffee shop continued their meals and Mr. Stark declared no guests showed concern.

Aug. 14, 1953: A small fire on the roof of the Driskill Hotel Drug Store, 115 East Seventh, stirred up the business district for a few moments early Thursday night. When smoke was reported in the building, two companies answered the alarm. Insulation around a cold air vent was smoldering. It was believed that a spark from a welding job on the fourth floor of the hotel building fell down a shaft into insulation. Damage was minor.

July 15, 1955: There were virtually no visible scars Friday from two stubborn heart-of-Austin fires that blazed for more than three hours Thursday night threatening for most of that time to roar through the Driskill Hotel and the Scarbrough Building.  More than 100 firemen and policemen, hampered by a milling crowd estimated at 4,000 persons and by chill steady rains, fought the downtown fires, identical in type.  Both broke out from unexplained causes in city transformer vaults under the sidewalks at the northwest corners of both buildings.

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Sept. 25, 1957: Fire in the kitchen of the Driskill Hotel at noon Wednesday was quickly controlled by firemen. The heavy clouds of smoke brought multiple units of the fire department rushing through noon-hour traffic and a big crowd gathered quickly. Firemen blocked off East Sixth Street from Congress to Brazos. Business continued as usual in the hotel as firemen rushed to halt the flames.

June 8, 1964: Grease in an air vent was blamed Wednesday for a minor fire which disturbed noontime diners at the Driskill Hotel restaurant Tuesday. Most diners continued their meals as firemen arrived to put out a blaze which started in the grill and spread through the duct to the kitchen. Damage was slight.

Dec. 9, 1973: An early morning fire at the historic Driskill Hotel damaged the second floor of the old part of the building and forced 187 guests to temporary lodging at another hotel. There were no injuries.  Firemen still did not know the cause of the blaze late Saturday. Driskill officials said the fire would not close the hotel. We are still in full operation, a spokesman said. Although storage rooms and the Jim Hogg Suite were damaged, a spokesman said, a wedding reception scheduled on that floor Saturday went ahead as planned and a dinner dance was also expected to be held. But the fire was serious enough to draw 11 Austin firefighting units to the scene. (Byline credit: Larry Wright, Staff Writer. Could that be the Lawrence Wright, staff writer for The New Yorker and author of a shelf full of books?)

Nov. 21, 1982: Trey and Susan Wattinger got to the church on time, but their wedding reception was a little late Saturday because of a kitchen fire at the Driskill Hotel. Wattinger, his wife of one hour, and 300 wedding guests arrived at the hotel for their reception about 9 p.m. to find police cars and fire trucks in front of the hotel with warning lights flashing. We were riding in a horse-drawn carriage and they told us the hotel was on fire, said 26-year-old Trey Wattinger. I thought: This is all we need on our wedding night.

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Jan. 8, 1998: Austin Fire Department officials were investigating a fire Saturday night at the historic Driskill Hotel that caused an estimated $50,000 damage. Sixty-seven firefighters were called to extinguish the four-alarm fire, which started in the fireplace in the ballroom on the second floor of the 111-year-old building at 604 Brazos St. Firefighters evacuated all occupants and employees. One firefighter was taken to Brackenridge Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Another note: This column does not pretend to be an exhaustive record of Driskill Hotel fires. For instance, arson was committed on the 10th floor in May 2021. I also found passing references elsewhere to a Driskill fire in 1893, but discovered no article about such an event in the archives (AI was stumped, too). I decided against a standalone reference to a 1955 incident that involved an ironing board pad that caught fire at the Driskill Laundry.

One must draw the line somewhere.

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Syracuse, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochul today condemned the detention of two SUNY Upstate Medical University employees by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Hochul said she recently met with the families of the two men and representatives of their unions. The families were also able to visit the men at the federal immigration detention center in Batavia, she said.

Hochul was in Syracuse to campaign for Sharron Owens, who is running for mayor.

Both men are from Cuba. They were taken into custody Wednesday when they went to a hearing at ICEs Mattydale offices, according to their unions.

The men work in the environmental services department at the state-run hospital in Syracuse. They have been employed by New York state since 2022 and 2024, according to the Civil Service Employees Association.

The hospital said in a statement that both men had legal authorization to live and work in the U.S.

One of the men is represented by CSEA; the other is a member of United University Professions, which represents academic and professional employees across the SUNY system. The men own a home in North Syracuse, said UUP President Frederick Kowal.

Hochul said Saturday that her team is working to ensure both men have good legal representation.

This is a very treacherous time in our society, when individuals who lived here for years and are high-functioning members of our community working at SUNY Upstate are the ones who are defined as the worst of the worst, Hochul said.

Union officials said the men were acting in good faith to finalize their legal status in the United States.

CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan said the men are co-workers, neighbors and valued contributors to the hospital and the community.

No one should be punished for following the law, she said Wednesday. Our union members and all hospital employees deserve dignity, respect and the chance to live and work without fear.

ICE did not respond to Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard for a request for information.
Syracuse, N.Y.  With just days left before voters head to the polls, Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Syracuse on Saturday to endorse Democratic mayoral candidate Sharon Owens, calling her a fighter and a true champion for the city.

Hochul, a 1980 graduate of Syracuse University, told a large crowd gathered at the 1199 SEIU union hall in downtown Syracuse that she was right where she needed to be.

Im proud to be able to return here today as governor and to witness history in the making, Hochul said.

The governors visit was part of a statewide tour ahead of Tuesdays election, with stops earlier in the day in Buffalo and Rochester and more planned Sunday in Albany, Westchester and New York City.

Hochul praised Owens, who has served as deputy mayor under outgoing Mayor Ben Walsh, for her focus on affordable housing, job creation and education. She pointed to the upcoming transformation of the I-81 corridor as an opportunity to reconnect neighborhoods and expand housing options.

Hochul said affordability is a key issue driving both her and Owens priorities. She said she plans to work with Owens on I-81 redevelopment, rental housing, homeownership and efforts to keep the community connected.

Taking down I-81 is going to create not just this connectivity that the community has missed, but also more housing and opportunity, Hochul said.

Owens, who joined Hochul on stage, spoke about continuing the citys partnerships with state agencies to move Syracuse forward.

Syracuse is in the position to lead the charge for economic inclusivity, for housing thats affordable, for a transformational city when that viaduct comes down, Owens said.

Several other local Democratic leaders also spoke, including state Sen. Rachel May, Onondaga County Democratic Committee Chair Max Ruckdeschel and Kevin Lockhart, Central New York area vice president for 1199 SEIU.

May praised Owens campaign, calling it one of the best shes ever seen.

Youve shown people why youre the best choice for mayor, May said. Youve shown grace, grit and compassion for every single person in this city.

Owens urged supporters to stay energized heading into Tuesdays election.

My campaign has been about not trashing other people but speaking about my vision, Owens said. Im here for the people of Syracuse. Im so excited about whats in our future.
Mike Nugent remembers his first night working at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. He was an 18-year-old prep cook, an entry level post in the kitchen.

It was a busy Saturday night and I had no training, no experience, he said. But it was a rush, really cool. I was hooked.

That was 25 years ago at the Dinosaur location in Rochester. Today, Nugent, 43, is CEO of the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que business, its five (soon to be six) locations and growing retail sauce sales.

He rose through the ranks with on the job training and took over day-to-day operation of the business in late 2023. He consults frequently with John Stage, who co-founded the first Dinosaur in downtown Syracuse in 1988.

John is a mentor to me, he said.

Stage is still a principal owner, but has sold some of his shares to longtime team members like Nugent. Other shares are owned by a group of investors who have been part of the Dinosaur since the beginning.

Nugent is familiar with the story: In the 1980s, Stage and fellow long-haired rider Mike Rotella began by hauling smokers behind their Harleys to biker rallies. They opened the first Dinosaur in a small space at 246 W. Willow St. in Syracuse.

That location soon grew and eventually launched a string of restaurants across the state, into New York City and, at one time, as far as Chicago and Baltimore.

Dinosaur achieved national recognition on shows like Good Morning America and the Food Network. It still frequently appears in rankings of the best barbecue joints in the country.

Nugent has been around long enough to experience the many accolades and changes at the company. He takes running a business with the history and reputation of the Dinosaur seriously.

Its a big responsibility, he said. Dinosaur is name that means something in terms of barbecue and the restaurant business and its standing in Syracuse and our other locations is important.

This photo shows Dinosaur Bar-B-Cue founders John Stage, right, and Mike Rotella on their Harley-Davidson motorcycles outside the restaurant at 246 W. Willow St. in Syracuse. File photo by David Wilkins

Now, the Dinosaur is poised for some new changes. In December, it will open a new location in Hamburg, in Erie County south of Buffalo. That will replace the downtown Buffalo location that closed in January.

It could mark a major turning point.

All our locations have always been in what you might call urban locations, Nugent said, citing downtown locations in Syracuse, Rochester and Troy, along with Brooklyn and Harlem. This one is suburban, with a smaller footprint. It will probably be oriented to more takeout. It actually has parking.

The menu will still bear all the hallmarks of Dinosaur, from the brisket and ribs to the side dishes, Nugent said. The vibe in Hamburg may be different from the low smokin BBQ and blues joint feel of the current lineup.

So well take a look at how this goes and then see if it can be a model for the future, Nugent said.

Yes, that means Dinosaur could expand again, perhaps even to the Midwest and South. The current lineup of Dinosaurs are all in New York state.

Among his past jobs with the company, Nugent helped run the restaurant in Harlem and oversee Dinosaur openings in places like Newark, Chicago and Stamford, Conn. Those last three, along with one in Baltimore, have since closed.

So we know enough to take it carefully, he said. But this model, this suburban idea, could be the way to go. Theres definitely an appetite for us to grow.

Aside from the restaurants, Dinosaur also has a line of barbecue sauces and rubs, such as its Wango Tango Habanero sauce and the Cajun Foreplay dry rub.

The products for the restaurants are made at a company called Private Label Foods in Rochester, while those sold in stores are now packed at a company called Allegro in Tennessee.

The stores carrying Dinosaur products include Wegmans, Tops and even Wal-Mart, so the name is reaching across the country. They are also available online.

So thats something we can build on, Nugent said.

Dinosaur now has about 450 employees. The company leaders meet frequently, usually in Syracuse, the original and most centrally located restaurant.

Thats where they discuss the future plans. Nugent, who lives in Rochester, said he enjoys coming to Syracuse to toss around ideas with the group.

Ive been here 25 years, Nugent said, and I still find everything about it new and exciting.

Stage, who said Nugent combines hard work and smarts, said hes confident in the direction the new CEO is taking.

Its going back to how Dinosaur grew in the first place  organically, Stage said. Thats good to see."
Police in Upstate New York are investigating a report of a needle allegedly found in Halloween candy.

WRGB reports the Scotia Police Department said it received an isolated report of a foreign object found in a piece of candy collected during trick-or-treating on Friday, Oct. 31. A local parent said on social media they discovered a small sewing needle while inspecting their childs candy.

No injuries have been reported.

Police did not specify what type of candy was allegedly tampered with or where it may have been collected.

Authorities said there is no evidence of a wider threat to the community in Scotia, located about 16 miles outside of Albany. WRGB reports police are examining the candy and following up on all available information to determine how the incident may have occurred.

Police encourage parents to follow safety precautions and inspect Halloween candy wrappers and contents for possible signs of tampering. If any candy is suspected to be tainted, parents should contact police and not let their children eat it.

Most tales of Halloween candy being poisoned, drugged or stuffed with razor blades and needles are a myth  largely related to fears of Tylenol poisonings in the 1980s  but authorities still regularly advise parents to check their childrens candy. Warning signs of sweets tainted or laced with drugs include an unusual appearance or any discoloration; tiny pinholes or tears in wrappers; unwrapped items; and homemade items or baked goods (unless you personally know who handed them out).

Past reports of issues have included a razor blade allegedly found in Chenango County last year, marijuana edibles allegedly given to a child while trick-or-treating in St. Lawrence County in 2023, and nails allegedly found in candy bars in Watertown in 2020.
Jamaica deaths at 28 as Caribbean reels from colossal hurricane



Whitehouse, Jamaica, Nov 2 (AFP) Nov 02, 2025



Storm-ravaged communities in western Jamaica were facing dire straits Sunday, days after record-setting Hurricane Melissa left towns demolished and at least 28 people dead across the island.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness confirmed the new death toll -- nine higher than the previous tally of 19 -- and posted on X late Saturday that "there are additional reports of possible fatalities that are still being verified."

Melissa became the most intense storm to make landfall in 90 years when it barreled into Jamaica last Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane packing winds of 185 miles (300 kilometers) per hour.

It ripped a terrifying path through the Caribbean, leaving at least 31 dead in Haiti, including 10 children who drowned in heavy flooding, and ravaged parts of Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

In Jamaica, devastation was rampant in western parishes including Westmoreland and Saint Elizabeth.

AFP reporters witnessed residents grappling with the enormity of the disaster. Buildings in Whitehouse were destroyed or crumpled, with corrugated roofs strewn across the ground. Power lines were down and trees were shorn of all leaves.

Many communities have been cut off. Countless homes, hospitals, businesses and other buildings have been badly damaged or destroyed.

With large swathes of the country still without electricity or phone service, it was difficult to gain an accurate assessment of the death toll or the scope of the search and rescue operations needed.

The staggering economic losses will be a "burden" weighing on Jamaica and the rest of the region for years, a senior United Nations official said Sunday in Panama.

"It is estimated that Melissa could cause economic losses equivalent to Jamaica's annual GDP," said Nahuel Arenas, head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) for the Americas and the Caribbean.

According to the World Bank, the gross domestic product of Jamaica stood at nearly $20 billion in 2024.

"These are losses that will weigh heavily on the economy of all Jamaicans for years and years to come," Arenas said.

The World Health Organization and other groups have stood up medical teams in the country, and the United States says its emergency response teams are on the ground.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres "emphasized that international support is crucial at this time," and called for the "mobilization of massive resources" to address the loss and damage, a spokesman for the secretary-general said Sunday in a statement.

The UN has allocated $4 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to help scale up humanitarian operations in Jamaica.
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Edgar Wright has revealed therell never be a Shaun of the Dead sequel as he and Simon Pegg dont think there is any more story to tell.

The 51-year-old directors 2004 zombie comedy  co-written by and starring Pegg, and co-starring Nick Frost as his best friend Ed  was one of British cinemas great success stories.

There are a lot of franchises where the sequels don't really earn their keep because all the story has been told in the first movie, Wright told Polygon of the lack of a followup film.

When a character has gone through a massive change, its very difficult to have a second instalment. Shaun of the Dead has him going from being a kind of sad sack to being a hero by the end of the movie.

So its very difficult to start the next movie when theres no obvious arc. We are very happy with it being a one-and-done.

Shaun of the Dead was the first of three films in Wrights Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, followed by 2007 buddy-cop film Hot Fuzz and the 2013 sci-fi comedy The Worlds End.

They are all standalone films, though each contains a reference to a different flavour of Cornetto: Shaun of the Dead features the red strawberry-flavoured ice cream, signifying blood; Hot Fuzz has the blue original flavour, for the police; and The Worlds End briefly shows the wrapper of the green mint flavour to represent aliens.

open image in gallery Edgar Wright has said therell never be a Shaun of the Dead sequel ( Getty Images )

Shaun of the Dead received critical acclaim and commercial success upon its release, grossing $38.7m worldwide (29.4m) on a $6.1m (4.6m) budget.

It received three nominations at the Baftas that year for Outstanding British Film, Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, and the Bafta Interactive Award for its DVD release.

The film made stars of Pegg and Frost. Pegg went on to star in films including Paul and Run Fatboy Run, and landed recurring roles in the Mission: Impossible and Star Trek franchises.

open image in gallery The director claimed there wasnt any more story to tell about Shaun and his zombie-fighting friends ( Universal )

Meanwhile, Frost had starring roles in The Boat that Rocked, Cuban Fury and the wrestling biopic Fighting with My Family.

Wright went on to direct, write and produce Scott Pilgrim vs the World, the Oscar-nominated comedy thriller Baby Driver and 2021 psychological horror Last Night in Soho.

The filmmaker's latest project, an adaptation of Stephen Kings 1982 dystopian thriller The Running Man, starring Glen Powell and Josh Brolin, is slated for release on Friday 7 November.
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Halloween has its traditions, candy, scary movies, pumpkin carving  and the annual spectacle of Heidi Klum's costume.

The supermodel-turned-TV personality is fond of surprising her guests with her elaborate costumes, like in 2022, when she arrived at the event on the end of a fishing line, encased in a slithering worm costume.

I just wanted to be something random, she explained while lying on the floor for maximum worm-like effect. I dont think Ive ever seen anyone being a rain worm before.

Her 2025 costume has now been revealed as Medusa featuring snakes in place of her hair and a rattlesnake tail. Klum posted a video to her Instagram of the depiction, with the caption: HAPPY HEIDIWEEN Dont stare too long or youll turn to stone  #HeidiHalloween.

open image in gallery 2025 Heidi Klum Halloween Party ( 2025 Invision )

Medusa, in Greek mythology, was known for her petrifying effect on beholders and those looking at her face were instantly turned to stone, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Last year, she enlisted the help of several Cirque du Soleil performers as the tail feathers to her impressive peacock costume.

open image in gallery Heidi Klum, dressed as a worm, attends her 21st annual Halloween party on Oct. 31, 2022 ( 2022 Invision )

A lot of planning goes into it, you know, Klum said through her peacock beak, with husband Tom Kaulitz next to her, dressed as an egg. Because first, you have to have an idea.

At her 2008 party she dressed as Kali, the Hindu goddess of death and destruction  complete with multiple arms, dangling heads and a deep coat of blue body paint.

open image in gallery Heidi Klum, dressed as Kali, the Hindu goddess of death and time, attends her annual Halloween party at 1Oak on Friday, Oct. 31, 2008 ( 2008 AP )

Klum said she would immediately be planning her look for the following year. After tonight Ill be thinking about what Ill do next year. Its always got to be different. Completely different, she said.

Other notable Klum costumes over the years have included a giant Transformer, a clone (complete with several Klum-lookalikes) an elderly version of herself, and an alien experiment gone awry.

open image in gallery Heidi Klum, dressed in an eight-foot-tall "Transformer" costume, arrives to her Halloween Party in New York, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010

The star has also transformed into a terrifying butterfly, an ape, a cat, a crow  and cartoon characters including Jessica Rabbit and Fiona from Shrek.

open image in gallery Heidi Klum, dressed as Jessica Rabbit, attends her 16th annual Halloween party, at Lavo on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, in New York

Her tip to those still trying to decide what to wear this Halloween? Leave the store-bought masks at home.

Here we have a photo rundown of just some of Klums outfits from across the years:

open image in gallery Heidi Klum, third from left, poses with Heidi Clones at her 17th Annual Halloween Party at Vandal on Monday, Oct. 31, 2016, in New York ( 2016 Invision )

open image in gallery Heidi Klum, dressed as a cat, poses on the press line at Heidi's Halloween Party in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007 ( AP2007 )

open image in gallery Heidi Klum, center, in blue, arrives at her 22nd annual Halloween party at Marquee on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023 ( 2023 Invision )

open image in gallery Heidi Klum, dressed as a crow, arrives at her 10th annual Halloween party in West Hollywood, Calif. on Saturday, Oct. 31 , 2009 ( AP2009 )

open image in gallery Heidi Klum-Halloween-Photo Gallery ( Heidi Klum, dressed as an elderly woman, attends her 14th annual Halloween party on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, in New York )

open image in gallery Heidi Klum, right, dressed as Princess Fiona and Tom Kaulitz dressed as Shrek arrive at Klum's 19th annual Halloween party at Lavo New York on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018

open image in gallery Heidi Klum, left, dressed as an alien, and Tom Kaulitz attend Klum's Halloween party at Cathedrale on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019 ( 2019 Invision )

I personally dont like it when people hide behind those full masks. I prefer when people get a little bit creative and they play with their face, when they put a lot of makeup on, model Klum told the AP in 2007. I always love that the most on me, I really go scary on the face.
If you are a woman and were in a WhatsApp group last week, chances are it was been on fire with talk of Lily Allens new album, West End Girl. Its been a week now, and I havent turned it off. My mum picked me and my daughter up from the station for half-term, and it was playing on repeat in her car; my teenage daughter instantly recognised it. Thats three generations of women all feeling Lilys stories, a masterpiece of pop bangers about discovering the deceptions of the man she loved  her pain, her fury, her rage.

What a time to be alive, to see not just Lily Allen, but all women taking their anger into their own hands and feeling their power rising up.

In fact, friends have told me theyve needed to take a moment to really process the album because listening to it brought up things from their past  from previous relationships  that they thought theyd dealt with. Im taking a Lily Allen duvet day from work, one told me, and Im pretty sure Im not the only one. Comments sections everywhere are full of men piping up that Allen has hardly been an angel herself, and women responding: duh, we know shes been mad and bad, but shes our mad and bad, so shut up and stand down. This is our time now.

open image in gallery Lily Allens new album, West End Girl, is a masterpiece of pop bangers about discovering the deceptions of the man she loved  her pain, her fury, her rage ( Charlie Denis/BMG Music )

Allen is on to something more than just the sh***y behaviour of an ex who was into open relationships and gaslighting. She has tapped into a wider social zeitgeist that is all about female rage  and its worth.

Its no coincidence that the publishing industry is now on the hunt for new talent to harness this new trend for womens anger. Howls of rage sell  as does femgore, or horror stories written by women, for women  as well as fury directed at our systems and institutions. These are the books they want, and theyre calling it female ragecore, or femrage, and for once it doesnt feel like just another marketing trend. This feels real. Women are buying it because every woman I know seems to be kicking over the metaphorical tables and asking what the hell has happened to them and their lives.

Just look at the new TV drama from the brilliant Sally Wainwright, Riot Women, which follows five menopausal women  a teacher, a police officer, a pub landlady, a midwife, and a messed-up rock-star wannabe  as they enter a local talent contest by starting a punk band. It is packed with sharp zingers that land appreciatively in the laps of an audience of mostly women who have also JUST HAD ENOUGH. Finally, they feel seen in all their rageful and vengeful glory.

Or Miranda July, recently publishing the phenomenal novel All Fours, about a woman upending her marriage to find a whole new sexual way of living, and her Substack chatroom filling up with women, from a range of sexualities and nationalities, asking if they too should set fire to their lives. Not change their lives, or improve them  set fire to them. You understand?

Then theres the feminist influencer The Slumflower, who comes at it from a different angle, using the male gaze to get money from men, whom she instructs women to feel no pity for. She sells out London theatres with her speaking events; Allen has left comments such as Ok queen on her Instagram page.

Is it any wonder this is happening now, this uprising of female fury in our storytelling? Weve been watching the rise of toxic manfluencers like Andrew Tate with their hateful treatment of women for a while now, worrying about our sons and daughters. We have been gut-punched at the sight of our reproductive rights getting rolled back by a president who, at a White House press event, told a female journalist: I just like to watch her talk. Following up with, Good job. Good job. Thank you, darling.

Then there are the biggest female stars of OnlyFans, sleeping with a thousand men to get famous and then sounding a bit surprised afterwards that it was quite emotionally draining. You dont say! Is this really the feminist freedom we were fighting for? We are living in a world of deep-fake pornography, AI-generated sex-robots or AI girlfriends that promote objectification and rape fantasy.

We still cant trust the police to protect us from violent partners or the courts to convict violent sex offenders. Even worse, sexism in the Met isn't confined to one bad apple; its a culture steeped in harassment and objectification. Closing the gender pay gap in the UK is still over four decades away and AI recruitment algorithms are stacked against us. We cant even trust maternity departments to deliver our babies safely  18 per cent of maternity units are rated inadequate, and 47 per cent are rated as requiring improvement.

open image in gallery Lorraine Ashbourne and Joanna Scanlan in 'Riot Women' ( BBC/Drama Republic )

So yes, were angry. Were tired of listening to politicians whom we wanted to believe would be different, but who then go straight ahead and do exactly what they said they wouldnt (yep, it isnt just our lovers who are gaslighting us). We watch children bearing the brunt of wars and feel powerless to help them: why wont any of these revolting men in power make it stop?

Once upon a time, to feel a bit better, wed sink back into the land of naff motivational quotes and touchy-feely nonsense. Not any more. There is a new mood in town and millions of us have taken this communal moment to connect to Allens new album and let it all out. Why should I let you win? she sings. Youve taken everything.

She has announced a new live tour next year, and she will surely have to add new shows  the demand is going to be, frankly, insane. Because female rage is big business now. And everyone is getting involved.
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The lawyer for one of five young men arrested in what the FBI said was a conspiracy to carry out a Halloween terror attack has said his client was only part of a gaming chat.

Amir Makled, who represents a 20-year-old suspect from Dearborn, Michigan, told the Detroit News he thought there was no conspiracy and said he expected there would be no charges. He told the outlet the young men may have been looking at questionable content online, but insisted there was no evidence of a terror plot in any of their communications.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrests last week, saying the bureau had thwarted a potential terror attack. Little more information about the suspected plot has been released so far.

The group detained are all young men between the ages of 16 and 20, and all are U.S. citizens.

Two people familiar with the investigation told the Associated Press that the alleged terror plot involved suspects talking in a chat room and referencing an attack they planned to carry out on "pumpkin day," referencing Halloween.

open image in gallery Five suspects were arrested ( AP )

This is not a terrorist cell, Makled told the Detroit News. There was never any planned mass-casualty event or terrorism plot of any kind that Im aware of. They might have been on some websites or online chat groups that they shouldnt have been, but nothing that is illegal.

He told WSLS that he did not know "where this hysteria and this fearmongering came from.

Makled told the AP that he does not expect formal charges to be brought against the suspects due to lack of evidence.

He described his clients as U.S. citizens who were gamers but not terrorists.

open image in gallery FBI Director Kash Patels announcement that young men plotting a Halloween terror attack was called into question by one of the suspects lawyers, who said there was no evidence of any plot and that he did not suspect charges would be forthcoming ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

If these young men were on forums that they should not have been on or things of that nature, then well have to wait and see, Makled said. But I dont believe that theres anything illegal about any of the activity they were doing.

Investigators said the suspects' alleged plan was inspired by the Islamic State.

Announcing the arrests last week, Patel said that "the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested multiple subjects in Michigan who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend.

Sources speaking to MSNBC claim that there was some friction over Patel's decision to publicize the arrests on social media. They claimed the Justice Department is concerned that his comments could jeopardize any future case against the suspects.
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A former TV news anchor is behind bars after she allegedly stabbed her elderly mother to death.

Angelynn Mock, 47, who anchored for Fox 2 News in St. Louis was arrested Friday in Wichita, Kansas, after police say she killed her mother, Anita Avers, 80, inside the home they shared.

When officers responded to the home on East Crowley around 7:50 a.m., they found Mock outside with cuts on her hands, according to the Wichita Police Department.

Inside, they discovered Avers unresponsive in her bed with multiple stab wounds. Avers was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Mock, who was an anchor for Fox 2 News in St. Louis from 2011 to 2015, was also taken to an area hospital before being placed in police custody.

Angelynn Mock, 47, a former morning anchor for Fox 2 News, was arrested on Friday for the fatal stabbing of her mother Anita Avers ( Sedgwick County Jail )

Sedgwick County dispatch recordings reveal a woman called 911, claiming she had stabbed her mother to save herself, KAKE reported. Authorities have not confirmed who made that call.

Neighbor Alyssa Castro recalled the horrifying scene, telling KAKE that she and her boyfriend witnessed the moments immediately after the stabbing.

There was a woman who approached our vehicle with like blood, like her hands were filled, her body was filled with blood, asking to call 911, Castro said, adding that the woman, later identified as Mock, took her boyfriends phone, ran back into the house. Police later returned her phone, she said.

I asked her if she was okay, and she was pretty shooken up and she seemed scared, and she just ran off, Castro recalled.

The victim was a marriage and family therapist at Wichita Counseling Professionals, her husband confirmed to KAKE.

After being released from the hospital, Mock was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder.

The investigation remains ongoing.
Some of Australias leading cosmetics brands and businesses, including Coles Group and Natio, have been slapped with compliance notices for unlawfully selling products containing microbeads.

A decade after the federal government adopted a policy to phase out the use of microbeads in personal hygiene products, the tiny plastic fragments are still being sold in dozens of products.

Some of the products NSW Environment Protection Authority has ordered to be withdrawn from sale. Credit: NSW Environment Protection Authority

Most of the products containing microbeads are exfoliating scrubs.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is one of the first authorities in the world to take enforcement action against use of microbeads in personal care products.
I have sympathy for so-called Karens because with each passing day I realise Im turning into one.

I havent sent a half-eaten meal back to the kitchen, complained that my decaf soy latte with sweetener tastes awful or asked to speak to the manager  if you dont count last week when I tried to make sense of my stroke-inducing gas bill via a Philippines-based call centre.

But Ive chided an older man on the Quiet Carriage of the train as he worked his way through the minutiae of his life on speakerphone.

I dont want to be a Karen, but sometimes you just need to stand up for yourself. Credit: Getty Images

Ive reported dumped trolleys, delayed putting my bin out so neighbours dont corrupt my carefully sorted recycling (even though in my heart I doubt the contents are recycled) and Ive half-jokingly admonished one of my kids able-bodied friends for parking in the disabled spot next door.
The union has since organised a series of demonstrations outside the offices of government MPs, to protest against the funding cuts and is preparing to escalate its campaign if the government heads into an election year without a new wage deal. We need someone within government advocating for significant pay rises, Mullaly said. But what matters is whether they are going to be delivered. You cant get the pay rises unless you have the bucket of money that will fund them. Australian Education Union Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly addresses teachers protesting outside Carrolls office in June. Credit: Eddie Jim There is no bilateral agreement and I havent seen any evidence that we are going to get one that matches what is happening in other states and territories. The profession feels abandoned and neglected.

The union is pushing for a 35 per cent pay increase over three years to bring Victorian teachers in line with the pay of teachers in NSW. A graduate teacher currently earns $78,801 in Victoria compared with $90,177 in NSW, and the pay gap between experienced classroom teachers is $15,000. Loading The National School Resourcing Board, an independent watchdog that measures the schools funding of state and territory governments against their agreements with the Commonwealth, last month singled out Victoria as the only state that had failed to meet its minimum requirements in the last reporting period. The board found that in 2023, the Victorian government provided state schools $9.01 billion, compared with the minimum $9.23 billion it should have under its funding agreement. While the board accepted there were mitigating factors to explain the $219 million shortfall, the contrast with NSW is stark. Over the same reporting period, NSW provided $12.87 billion to its government schools, which was $1.3 billion more than its minimum commitment. In 2023, while NSW funded 80.23 per cent of the School Resource Standard  an estimate of how much money a school needs under the Gonski funding formula to meet the needs of its students  Victoria provided just 68.76 of the standard.

Under a heads of agreement signed in January between Albanese and Premier Jacinta Allan and their respective education ministers, Victoria pledged to lift its funding of government schools to 75 per cent of the School Resource Standard but has not publicly said when this benchmark will be reached. The Commonwealth agreed to provide the remaining 25 per cent but not until Victoria fully funds its share. The board found that Victoria and the Northern Territory were the only non-compliant jurisdictions. Carroll, in response to the boards findings, said an increase in School Resource Standard indexation after Victoria finalised its 2023 budget and student characteristics beyond what was anticipated  greater than expected student needs  had led to the funding shortfall. The board found that Victorias mitigating factors were reasonable, the report concluded. NSW dramatically accelerated its commitment to fully fund Gonski after the Minns government was elected in March 2023 on a campaign promise to hire more teachers and improve teacher salaries. The NSW government subsequently delivered an 8 per cent once in a generation pay rise in September 2023, which added nearly $10,000 to starting teacher salaries. There has since been a further agreement to increase salaries by 10 per cent over three years.

Loading Teachers in Victorian government schools are, on average, the lowest paid in the country. Opposition education spokesman Evan Mulholland said the report findings confirmed the Allan government had walked away from public school students to meet the escalating cost of major infrastructure projects. The decision to not meet minimum funding requirements is deliberate and calculated because the government has no money to provide appropriate wages, Mulholland said. The premier has prioritised hard hats and publicity stunts over our kids education. You cant pay our teachers and educate our kids in a rail tunnel.
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The Parisian boulangerie is a hub for community life. Parisians visit their local several times a week  sometimes even several times a day. Its a place to engage in chit-chat, try new things and order comforting favourites. Baguettes and croissants usually cost around $2.70 (1.50). The queue to sample a patisserie at Cedric Grolets social-media-famous bakery close to the Louvre is something else. The head patisserie chef at the ultra-luxurious Le Meurice hotel has just shy of 13 million followers on Instagram. Cedric Grolet, named the Worlds Best Pastry Chef in 2018, charged $140 for his rustic strawberry tart. @cedricgroletopera/Instagram Videos of his trompe loeil fruit-shaped pastries are shared throughout the world. I headed to try one of his creations for myself on a crisp, sunny autumn morning  and to speak to some of the pastry pilgrims in attendance. In the line I was surrounded by well-dressed people from around the world  I heard English, German, Japanese, Arabic and Russian. Every person in the queue was clutching a smartphone.

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When I tried to get chatting to the people around me, saying I was looking into pastry tourism, nobody would engage. Tourists travel to Paris from all over the world to try Cedric Grolets trompe loeil realistic-looking fruit pastries. Alamy Stock Photo One woman even told me she didnt speak English, then loudly proceeded to record a voice note in English on her phone. When I got to the front of the queue after about 20 minutes, (This is a very quiet day, the salesperson later told me), there was a bouncer waiting. The cheapest pastry available was 8 (about $14); many others were more than 20 ($35). Where there are bakeries

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What has happened here? The rather unedifying experience is about as far removed from the jolly chit-chat at my local bakery as can be imagined. How has the humble patisserie gone from local amenity to major tourist draw? Social media is currently filled with shots of Europes Instagram and TikTok-famous bakeries  where the lines are longer than for the citys museums. Its part of a sharp rise in so-called bakery tourism. The French capital, home to some 1360 bakeries, is one of the trends heartlands. Mamiche bakery in the 9th arrondissement  lines at Pariss now famous bakeries can often be longer than for the citys museums. Getty Images

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The lines at Pariss now famous bakeries can often be longer than for the citys museums. Paris has the biggest concentration of artisanal bakeries of any place that I know, says Frances Leech, a food entrepreneur originally from Hereford, who has been living in Paris for more than 15 years. A trained baker and pastry chef, she points out that, in contrast to international pastry-seekers, native Parisians will not go far for their treats. [Paris also has] the kind of people who will get mad about walking more than five minutes to a bakery. In fact, more than 90 per cent of the population lives within five minutes walking distance of a baker. Contorting the croissant

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Though tourists come to experience the specifically French culture of the boulangerie, many of the items they travel for are ironically the product of foreign, often English-speaking influence. Emily Monaco, a native New Yorker, who has lived in Paris for almost 20 years, is a culinary writer and runs food tours. She often takes interested tourists to neo-bakeries serving sourdough loaves (pain au levain in French), a departure from the yeast-based methods used, for example, to make the traditional baguette. Christophe Louies cannele cakes are made with Madagascan vanilla. Christophe Louie A lot of these new sourdough bakeries are taking advantage of developments that are happening in other parts of the world, and notably in the anglophone world, says Monaco. The same thing is happening in the Viennoiserie world, she adds. Things like contorting the croissant, which is something that a lot of people come to France to try. I think a lot of the things that people are coming to Paris to try right now, theyre looking for is an innovation. That often marries French techniques with Anglo-Saxon [products].

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Examples include Boulangerie Louvard in the 9th arrondissement, famous for its crookie (a marriage of cookie and croissant) and Frappe in the 11th arrondissement, which sells a New York Rolls a mash-up of a croissant and bombolone, an Italian pastry popular in New York. Boulangerie Louvard is famous for its crookie. Maison Louvard The American wave Concurrently there has been an explosion in American or Australian-style coffee shops, sometimes supplanting traditional bistros with their offering of flat whites, cookies and brownies (pronounced broonies, naturellement). The change is no bad thing, according to bakery entrepreneur Rodolphe Landemaine, who co-founded two successful bakery chains in Paris with his wife Yoshimi, who is originally from Japan.

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They founded Maison Landemaine in 2007 and in recent years have added the offshoot Land & Monkeys, which serves only plant-based patisserie. Many people come to the vegan bakery via social media, and he sees the foreign influence as a welcome boost and accelerator for traditional French baking. Maison Landemaine offers a range of Instagram-worthy pastries. Alamy The influence of the Anglo-Saxon world has been enormous, he says. Speaking specifically about his vegan bakery, he says: Paris being a very touristy city plays a role because there is a bigger community of veggie people internationally than in France. In France we are a little bit making up for our delay [on plant-based food], and the fact that everyone travels and everyone influences each other mutually, that favours a significant evolution in Parisians way of thinking. Boulangerie numbers in Paris and the wider region are at an all-time high, and the trend for neo-boulangeries  whether they sell sourdough, mash-up pastries or vegan goods  are part of it.

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In parallel, the profile of the baked French good has never been higher: in 2022, the artisan know-how and culture of the baguette was inscribed on the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list. This correlates with a change in the kind of people who are opening bakeries, says Emily Monaco. Theres been a really interesting change in the way that food professionals come into the career in France, she says. Traditionally, you would decide that you wanted to work in food at the age of 16, and you would kind of come up through the ranks. A lot of people are now coming to it later in life, and typically with a background in marketing or business. Land & Monkeys is a popular Parisian vegan bakery. An early example is Christophe Vasseur whose sourdough-led bakery Du Pain et des Idees, opened in 2002 was one of the first to be internet-famous  he had a first career in fashion before opening the wildly popular address. Other very brand-led boulangerie chains include the provocatively titled The French Bastards, or the ultra-popular female-run Mamiche.

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The role of the boulangerie is more important than before, says Rodolphe Landemaine. In fact the boulangerie has exploded. Boulangers started to go back to the fundamentals of their profession, like sourdough, and also add new professions like snacking and coffee. The struggle to go viral These new commerce-savvy bakers are concerned about turning a healthy profit, and thus virality becomes more important. They do feel a lot of pressure, because going viral is how you explode, says Emily Monaco. Whereas I think a lot of bakers who came up in the craft are maybe a little bit more judgmental of people who are going for just innovation.

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Frances Leech has pivoted from baking to ice-cream making, and this summer opened her ice-cream shop, Isotope, in the trendy Upper Marais neighbourhood. Istope is a new artisanal ice-cream spot in the fashionable Marais district in the 4th arrondissement She is not on social media personally and doesnt wish to be (I have it written into my contract with my business partner that I will never be in charge of the social media part), but her business got an early boost from popular neighbouring bakery Christophe Louie, known for his artisanal panettone. I can see that [social media] works and its kind of terrifying that it works, says Leech. Buy with the eyes  but look for the taste

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The sourdough-led bakery Du Pain et des Idees, which opened in 2002, was one of the first to be internet-famous. Alamy Stock Photo Not all bakery tourists are the same, either. There are those who visit celebrity chef-run addresses, like the aforementioned Cedric Grolet, or Maxime Frederic, who is head pastry chef at the Cheval Blanc hotel. Leech considers this to be a different kind of product: Its just a different world. Theres local bakeries and then theres I will pay 15 [$26] for a sandwich because its a special occasion. Then there are those tourists who endeavour to buy bread like a local. Agnes Holland, a London-based PR professional visits Paris once a year and has her own pain ritual. Ive got into a routine. I tend to stay in Montmartre and there is one bakery, Farah & Nadine, where I always go to get a baguette tradition.

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Hotel reviews The new must-book Paris hotel with rooftop bar and Eiffel Tower views I know the joy of getting fresh baguette from this bakery that I like  the joy of having that fresh, warm bread with salted butter is like gold permeating through you. Incredible-looking pastries and huge social followings have their place, but for the vast majority of Paris bakeries, return customers and Parisians still really matter. Instagram definitely works, says Leech. And I dont think you can totally rely on it  you need the locals, she adds. And at the end of the day, its got to taste good. I often hear that you buy with the eyes  but you look for the taste, says Rodolphe Landemaine. Which means that if its not good, people dont come back.

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Food is quite simple. There is no need for le brainstorming, he adds. The Telegraph, London

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London: Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will lose his last military title in a British government move to respond to the scandals surrounding the former prince, ending his time as an honorary vice admiral in the Royal Navy.

The government confirmed the plan was under way to remove the title after King Charles formally scrapped his younger brothers status as a prince and a duke.

Andrew pictured in 2011 with daughters Princess Eugenie (left) and Princess Beatrice. Credit: AP

The plans were revealed one day after a major opinion poll of British adults showed that 79 per cent approved of the Kings decision to strip the former prince of his titles  but 58 per cent believed the action should have been taken sooner.

The formal steps already taken mean that Mountbatten Windsor is not considered a prince and has lost his position as Duke of York and other titles, after Buckingham Palace scrapped these titles in the official records of the peerage last week.
Galouti Kabab, Awadhi Biryani, Makhan Malai Lucknow gets UNESCO tag for culinary heritage





LUCKNOW :

LUCKNOW city has been officially inducted into UNESCOs Creative Cities Network (CCN), under the Gastronomy category, marking a global acknowledgement of its culinary heritage, officials said. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay on October 31 designated 58 cities as new members of the CCN, which now includes 408 cities across more than 100 countries. Cities in this network are recognised for their commitment to championing creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development, according to the UN agency.

The United Nations in India in a post on X said, From mouth-watering Galouti Kabab to Awadhi Biryani, delectable Chaat and Golgappe, desserts like Makhan Malai and so much more -- Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh is a haven for food, enriched in centuries-old traditions. Uttar Pradeshs Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said the state tourism department submitted the nomination to the Union Ministry of Culture in January, which was later forwarded to UNESCO after thorough evaluation in March. Under the visionary guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has become a source of pride for the nation. Lucknows inclusion in the global network is a tribute to its rich culinary heritage and cultural vibrancy, he said.

This recognition reaffirms the growing strength of the tourism sector and the States progress toward a Viksit Uttar Pradesh, the Minister said. The Uttar Pradesh Government, in a post on social media, said, This recognition celebrates the citys rich culinary traditions, Awadhi heritage, and its growing role in promoting sustainable and innovative gastronomy. A moment of pride for Uttar Pradesh, where every flavour reflects centuries of culture and creativity. PM Modi hails UNESCO honour: Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the nationwide celebrations on Lucknow being designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy  a global recognition for Indian culture and traditions. Calling upon food lovers from across the world to visit Lucknow, the Prime Minister, in a message on X, said that Lucknow is synonymous with a vibrant culture, at the heart of which lies its rich culinary tradition. He noted that UNESCOs recognition highlights this distinctive aspect of the city and called upon people, tourists, and travellers to experience Lucknows uniqueness at least once. Foodies rejoice: Lucknows food has always represented a paradise for gourmands, whether they slurp up its aromatic gravies or savour the silken delicacies.
Keppel REIT (OTCMKTS:KREVF  Get Free Report) and Empire State Realty Trust (NYSE:ESRT  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation and analyst recommendations.

Profitability

This table compares Keppel REIT and Empire State Realty Trusts net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Keppel REIT N/A N/A N/A Empire State Realty Trust 4.96% 2.13% 0.90%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings for Keppel REIT and Empire State Realty Trust, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Keppel REIT 0 1 0 0 2.00 Empire State Realty Trust 1 2 2 0 2.20

Insider & Institutional Ownership

Empire State Realty Trust has a consensus target price of $10.43, indicating a potential upside of 40.71%. Given Empire State Realty Trusts stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Empire State Realty Trust is more favorable than Keppel REIT.

67.1% of Empire State Realty Trust shares are held by institutional investors. 14.6% of Empire State Realty Trust shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Keppel REIT and Empire State Realty Trusts top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Keppel REIT $195.76 million 16.45 $81.16 million N/A N/A Empire State Realty Trust $766.18 million 1.64 $51.64 million $0.21 35.31

Keppel REIT has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Empire State Realty Trust.

Risk and Volatility

Keppel REIT has a beta of 0.61, indicating that its share price is 39% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Empire State Realty Trust has a beta of 1.79, indicating that its share price is 79% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Empire State Realty Trust beats Keppel REIT on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Keppel REIT

(Get Free Report)

Listed by way of an introduction on 28 April 2006, Keppel REIT is one of Asia's leading real estate investment trusts with a portfolio of prime commercial assets in Asia Pacific's key business districts. Keppel REIT's objective is to generate stable income and sustainable long-term total return for its Unitholders by owning and investing in a portfolio of quality income-producing commercial real estate and real estate-related assets in Asia Pacific. Keppel REIT has a portfolio value of over $9.0 billion, comprising properties in Singapore; the key Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Perth; Seoul, South Korea; as well as Tokyo, Japan. Keppel REIT is managed by Keppel REIT Management Limited and sponsored by Keppel, a global asset manager and operator with strong expertise in sustainability-related solutions spanning the areas of infrastructure, real estate and connectivity.

About Empire State Realty Trust

(Get Free Report)

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) is a NYC-focused REIT that owns and operates a portfolio of modernized, amenitized, and well-located office, retail, and multifamily assets. The company is the recognized leader in energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. ESRTs flagship Empire State Building  the Worlds Most Famous Building  includes its Observatory, Tripadvisors 2023 Travelers Choice Awards: Best of the Best the #1 attraction in the US for two consecutive years. As of September 30, 2023, ESRTs portfolio is comprised of approximately 8.6 million rentable square feet of office space, 0.7 million rentable square feet of retail space and 727 residential units across three multifamily properties.

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While the recent visit of foreign diplomats to Azerbaijans liberated territories offers a symbolic nod to the countrys post-conflict reconstruction efforts, the real story lies not in the optics but in the infrastructure. The Zangezur Corridor, once a theoretical ambition, is rapidly becoming a geopolitical reality. And Azerbaijan is not waiting for permission or applause. It is building.

Since 2021, Azerbaijan has been intensively developing the segment of the corridor stretching from Horadiz to Zangilan using its own resources. This is not just a road or a railwayit is a statement. The construction of tunnels, highways, and rail infrastructure across this terrain reflects a strategic vision that transcends domestic connectivity. It is about linking East to West, North to South, and reimagining the regions economic geography.

The Zangezur Corridor is often framed in terms of its ability to connect mainland Azerbaijan to its exclave, Nakhchivan. But its implications are far broader. It offers a direct route to Turkiye, and by extension, to Europe. It shortens supply chains, reduces dependency on third-party transit routes, and enhances Azerbaijans role as a logistical hub in the South Caucasus. In a world where supply chain resilience is the new currency of power, this corridor is pure gold.

Yet the corridors full potential will only be realized if one of its most sensitive and strategic segmentsNakhchivanis developed with foresight and international cooperation. The recent announcement that Azerbaijan is considering foreign investment for the 188-kilometer railway infrastructure in Nakhchivan is a game-changer. It signals a shift from unilateral development to multilateral engagement. And it opens the door for global stakeholders to participate in a project that is as economically promising as it is geopolitically significant.

Why does foreign investment matter here? First, it brings capital and technology that can accelerate construction timelines and improve quality standards. Second, it internationalizes the corridor, making it not just an Azerbaijani asset but a shared interest among regional and global powers. Third, it creates a buffer against political risk. When multiple countries have a stake in a project, they also have a stake in its stability.

Moreover, attracting foreign investors to Nakhchivan is not just about infrastructureits about integration. It invites the world to engage with a region that has long been isolated due to geography and politics. It transforms Nakhchivan from a peripheral exclave into a central node in Eurasian connectivity. And it sends a clear message: Azerbaijan is open for business, and it is building with purpose.

Of course, challenges remain. The Armenian segment of the corridor is progressing slowly, with Yerevan reportedly working bilaterally with Washington. Coordination across borders is never easy, especially in a region with a complex history. But Azerbaijans proactive approachbuilding its own segment, engaging international partners, and maintaining diplomatic outreachpositions it as the driver of progress rather than a passive observer.

The diplomatic visits to the region, including the latest one to Jabrayil and Zangilan, serve a useful function. They allow foreign representatives to witness the scale and seriousness of Azerbaijans reconstruction efforts. They offer transparency and build trust. But they are not the engine of change. The real momentum comes from bulldozers, rail tracks, and investment agreements.

In the long run, the Zangezur Corridor could redefine the South Caucasus. It could turn historical fault lines into trade routes. It could replace isolation with integration. And it could elevate Azerbaijan from a transit country to a strategic connectorlinking Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe in a seamless flow of goods, energy, and ideas.

But this vision requires more than ambition. It requires execution. And Azerbaijan is delivering. By investing in infrastructure, courting foreign partners, and maintaining a steady diplomatic hand, it is laying the foundation for a corridor that is not just physical but transformational.

The Zangezur Corridor is no longer a dream. It is being built kilometer by kilometer, tunnel by tunnel. And with the right mix of domestic resolve and international cooperation, it could become one of the most consequential infrastructure projects of the decade.
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22:55 Canada PM refers to 'progress' in ties with India Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has referred to the 'progress' his country has made with India as he stressed that Canada is building partnerships abroad amid tariff pressures with the US.Carney's remarks on Saturday came after US President Donald Trump last week terminated all trade... Read more >

21:00 HP: Case filed over banner of Lord Rama pointing arrow at garbage heap Image only for representation A case for hurting religious sentiments has been registered against unidentified persons after a banner showing Lord Rama pointing an arrow at a garbage heap cropped up near the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat in Chhota Shimla, police said on Sunday.In a complaint filed with the police, Advocate... Read more >

20:09 SRK skips traditional Mannat appearance on birthday Shah Rukh Khan on Saturday apologised to his fans who had gathered outside his Mumbai residence to catch a glimpse of the superstar on his 60th birthday, saying he was advised by the authorities not to step out to greet them due to crowd safety concerns.The actor, who traditionally waves to fans... Read more >

20:06 Modi leads mega roadshow in Patna Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a mega roadshow in Patna on Sunday evening.Modi, accompanied by Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' of the Janata Dal-United, state Bharatiya Janata Party president Dilip Jaiswal and Patna Sahib MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, began the roadshow from Dinkar... Read more >

19:55 2 British nationals held over train mass stabbings Two people remain in life-threatening condition on Sunday after mass stabbings which injured 10 people on a high-speed London-bound train, as British Transport Police ruled out a terrorism link to the 'major incident' as counter-terror police engagement was discontinued.Two United Kingdom-born... Read more >

18:59 Nepal SC stays govt decision to recall 11 ambassadors Nepal PM Sushila Karki Nepal's Supreme Court on Sunday issued a stay order halting the government's decision to recall ambassadors from 11 countries, including China and the United States.A cabinet meeting held on October 6 decided to recall ambassadors from China, Germany, Israel, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia, Saudi... Read more >

18:55 Chinese artists stage Ramayana dance drama in Beijing A large group of Chinese dancers staged 'Adi Kavya-The First Poem', a dance drama based on the translation of Ramayana by noted Chinese scholar late Prof Ji Xianlin.The drama, directed by the Chinese Bharatanatyam exponent Jin Shanshan and featuring a cast of over 50 talented local performers,... Read more >

18:34 Teachers put scorpion in Dalit boy's pants Three teachers of a government school in Shimla, including the headmaster, have been booked for repeatedly assaulting an eight-year-old Dalit boy and placing a scorpion in his pants, police said on Sunday.In a police complaint, the father of the boy -- a Class 1 student of Government Primary... Read more >

18:16 Mokama murder: 'Primary cause of death was...' Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar on Sunday said that the death of Dularchand Yadav, which occurred during a violent clash between supporters of two candidates in Mokama on October 30, was caused by cardiac and respiratory failure, and not by a gunshot injury, as per the... Read more >

17:47 ISRO's rocket with 'heaviest' satellite lifts off An ISRO heavylift rocket with communication satellite CMS-03, the 'heaviest' to be carried by an Indian launch vehicle and into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), lifted off from the spaceport in Sriharikota on Sunday.After the 24 hour countdown concluded, the 43.5 metre tall rocket soared... Read more >

17:38 JD-U's Anant Singh, 2 aides sent to 14-day custody A Patna court on Sunday remanded Janata Dal-United candidate from Mokama seat, Anant Singh, and his two associates to 14-day judicial custody in connection with the murder of Jan Suraaj Party supporter Dular Chand Yadav.Singh, a former Bihar MLA, and his two aides, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet... Read more >

17:23 What could I do? Andhra temple founder on stampede Claiming he was not responsible for the tragic stampede at Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga that left nine devotees dead, the 94-year-old founder of the temple has said devotees rushed on their own during the gathering.He further said he had not informed the police as he thought... Read more >

16:14 Rahul goes fishing during campaign trail in Bihar Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took some time off the campaign trail in poll-bound Bihar to catch fish.The leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha went fishing in Begusarai district, after addressing a rally.Accompanied by former state minister Mukesh Sahni, whose Vikassheel Insan Party is... Read more >

16:08 NIA gives nod to cable car project in Pahalgam The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has given its nod to the Jammu and Kashmir government for a cable car project in Baisaran in the tourist resort of Pahalgam, the site of the April 22 terror attack, officials said on Sunday. The Jammu and Kashmir government had sought approval from the... Read more >

15:14 Won't perform 'brahambhoj' until all accused arrested: Grandson of Dular Chand Hours after the arrest of former Bihar MLA Anant Singh in connection with the killing of Jan Suraaj supporter Dular Chand Yadav, the grandson of the deceased on Sunday said the 'brahambhoj' ritual will not be performed unless 'all five accused are arrested and sentenced to death'.Singh, Janata... Read more >

15:12 Bihar polls will be conducted in peaceful, transparent manner: CEC Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday said the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar will be conducted in a completely peaceful and transparent manner under the framework of law and order.Speaking to reporters in Kanpur, Kumar said, The Election Commission has zero tolerance towards... Read more >

15:11 RJD put a 'katta' on Cong's head: Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday claimed that the Congress was 'never willing' to accept Tejashwi Yadav as the chief ministerial candidate but acceded to the demand when the Rashtriya Janata Dal put a 'katta' on its head.The PM tried to fish in the troubled waters of the Indian National... Read more >

14:59 Modi not only scared of Trump, but...: Rahul Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not only 'scared' of US President Donald Trump, but was also 'remote controlled' by big business.Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, made the stinging attack at an election rally in Begusarai... Read more >

13:44 1 in 9 Indians found positive for infectious diseases Pathogens were found in 11.1 per cent of the 4.5 lakh patients tested by the network of labs under the Indian Council of Medical Research as part of efforts to identify viral infections of public health significance.The top five pathogens detected were Influenza A in acute respiratory infection... Read more >

13:02 Pakistan reopens Torkham border with Afghanistan The Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan was reopened on Saturday, allowing the return of Afghan refugees after a nearly two-week closure that followed deadly border clashes between the two countries last month, The Express Tribune reported.According to officials, the decision... Read more >

12:36 UK: 10 injured, nine critical, after train stabbing At least 10 people were injured, with nine sustaining life-threatening injuries, after a multiple stabbing incident aboard a train in the Cambridgeshire county of East England, British Transport Police (BTP) said.According to a statement by the BTP, the incident that occurred on Saturday evening... Read more >

11:19 Dalit man's body with stab wounds found in UP village The body of a Dalit man with stab wounds was found in a field in a village in Muzaffarnagar, the police said on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Sonu (29). According to the police, Sonu left home on Saturday after receiving a phone call but did not return. His body was found... Read more >

11:14 'People will fight this election': Anant Singh after arrest JD-U candidate Anant Kumar Singh/ANI Photo Former Bihar MLA and Janata Dal-United candidate from Mokama, Anant Kumar Singh, who was arrested in connection with the murder case of Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav has shared a video message on his social media expressing complete faith in people's support ahead of the upcoming Bihar... Read more >

11:09 Telangana man murders wife, daughter, sister-in-law, before ending life Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com A 40-year-old man allegedly murdered his wife, daughter and sister-in-law and later died by suicide in Vikarabad district of Telangana in the early hours of Sunday, the police said. Another daughter of the man escaped his attack but sustained injuries. On receiving information on 'Dial... Read more >

10:58 India to hold tri-service exercise 'Poorvi Prachand Prahar' in Arunachal A tri-service exercise to integrate warfighting capability, technological adaptation and operational synergy among the three wings of the armed forces will be held in the rugged mountains of Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh this month, an official statement said. 'Poorvi Prachand Prahar'... Read more >

10:53 Juvenile among 7 militants arrested in Manipur Seven militants belonging to different banned outfits were arrested from Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur and Kakching districts, the police said on Sunday. Security forces arrested two cadres of the banned People's Liberation Army (PLA) from Imphal West district on Saturday. One .32... Read more >

10:42 Kharge, Rahul, Priyanka among Cong's 40 star campaigners for Bihar polls Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with Kanhaiya Kumar and Independent MP Pappu Yadav, are among the party's 40 star campaigners for the second phase of the Bihar assembly polls.AICC in-charge of Bihar Krishna... Read more >

10:21 Tuition teacher gets 3-year RI for sexually assaulting three minor girls A Thane court has sentenced a teacher to three years' rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting three minor girl students in 2019, saying such an act deserves to be condemned and to be dealt with a heavy hand. Special Judge Ruby U Malvankar, hearing cases under the Protection of Children... Read more >

09:58 Countdown begins for ISRO's heaviest satellite launch ISRO's over 4,000 kg communication satellite CMS-03 is all set to be launched today/Courtesy ISRO on X ISRO's over 4,000 kg communication satellite CMS-03 is all set to be launched from this space port on Sunday and the countdown is progressing. The satellite, weighing about 4,410 kg will be the heaviest to be launched from the Indian soil and into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO),... Read more >

09:34 Modi to address rallies, take part in roadshow in Bihar today Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address public rallies and attend a roadshow in Bihar on Sunday. The PM will address public rallies in Ara and Nawada and will attend a 'mega roadshow' in Patna. Elections to the 243-member Bihar assembly will be held in two phases on November 6 and... Read more >

09:16 Bihar polls: BJP MP alleges attack on convoy by RJD workers during campaigning Bharatiya Janata Party MP Manoj Tiwari/ANI Photo Bharatiya Janata Party MP Manoj Tiwari alleged that his convoy was attacked during election campaigning in Dumraon in Bihar by workers of the Rashtriya Janata Dal.In a post on X on Saturday, Tiwari claimed that a group of miscreants attempted to chase his convoy while raising RJD slogans. He... Read more >

08:59 GST revenue in FY26 to exceed budget estimates, says SBI Research Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff The Goods and Services revenue for the Financial Year 2026 (FY26) will still be higher than budgeted collections, according to SBI Research.The report projects that even after accounting for similar gains and losses across states following tax rationalisation measures, Goods and Services Tax... Read more >

08:40 JD-U candidate Anant Singh held in Dular Chand death case JD-U candidate Anant Singh/File image After the hue and cry over the killing of Dularchand Yadav, who was campaigning for the Jan Suraaj Party candidate in Mokama, the police arrested Anant Singh, the Janata Dal-United candidate contesting the Mokama assembly seat, between 1 and 2 am on Sunday morning.The police produced him before... Read more >

08:23 'Guns-a-blazing': Trump warns Nigeria of aid cut, threatens military action United States President Donald Trump warned that the United States could stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria if the country fails to act against the killings of Christians.In a Truth Social post, Donald Trump warned the US could go in guns-a-blazing if killings of Christians by Islamic... Read more >
SINGAPORE, Nov 2  Singapores two leading universities have reportedly warned prospective students against fraudulent study-abroad agencies offering paid guaranteed admission services to their postgraduate programmes.

According to a report in The Straits Times today, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) issued advisories after such agencies were found advertising on Chinese social media platforms, particularly Xiaohongshu.

NUS said these agencies often use fabricated academic qualifications and credentials to mislead universities, and stressed that all applications are reviewed strictly on merit.

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There are no guaranteed, fast track or direct admission routes to NUS, the university was quoted as saying.

One agency reportedly charges up to 300,000 yuan (about RM177,000) to help applicants gain entry into NUS, NTU and other top global universities.

Another agency reportedly claimed to provide recommendation letters from professors and assist applicants in passing background checks.

Both agencies did not respond to The Straits Times queries on their legitimacy.

NUS said it will revoke the student status or degrees of anyone found to have used fraudulent means, while NTU stated that it will reject falsified applications and take disciplinary action against offenders.

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NTU added that applications for its coursework-based postgraduate programmes have risen by about 30 per cent annually since 2023, reaching 48,000 for 2025.

Observers reportedly said the universities strong global rankings  with NUS at eighth and NTU at 12th in the latest QS World University Rankings  have fuelled demand and attracted scammers.
Financial aid

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IMPHAL, Nov 1: Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla today extended financial assistance to the Manipur State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM) to strengthen the development and distribution of Mamas Gift  a locally prepared nutritional supplement designed to meet the needs of displaced children aged nine months and above.

Developed under the technical guidance of doctors and nutritionists from the National Health Mission (NHM), Manipur, Mamas Gift is prepared by the Lamyanbi Village Level Federation (VLF), Khurai, under the MSRLM.

The initiative has so far benefited over 1,000 children in relief camps across nine districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Jiribam, Kakching, Tengnoupal, and Kangpokpi, said a press release issued by the Governors Secretariat.

The Governor lauded the collective effort behind the initiative, describing Mamas Gift as a symbol of community care and resilience.

He noted that the contribution from Raj Bhavan, Imphal, is a humble gesture to support the wellbeing of children and to encourage continued compassion in action.
UNC condemns

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SENAPATI, Nov 1: The United Naga Council (UNC) said today that it was shocked to learn of the occurrence of an "undesirable and ugly incident" wherein the lives of the leaders of the Monsang Students Union were put in "danger" and imperiling the peace in the State.

The UNC said it condemns the "dastardly act" meted out upon the Monsang STS leaders, namely Gedion Kiiri, president, Wanglar Phillip, general secretary, Ts Hollyson and Th Moni, senior leaders of the STS by the miscreants on October 30 near Bijoypur between Kakching Lamkhai and Pallel, while they were returning home to Chandel.

Taking cognizance over the severity of the said incident, "which has deeply hurt the sentiment of the Nagas, especially the students and youths in particular", the UNC said the responsible bodies and persons involved must take responsibility to contain the situation and settle the matter at the earliest.

The UNC then cautioned all concerned to maintain restraint and seek justice through peaceful means as per Naga customary laws.

While appreciating the swift action of the law enforcing agencies, the UNC appealed to the State authorities to look into the matter earnestly and book all the criminals involved at the earliest and give exemplary punishment to meet the ends of justice. Newmai News Network




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

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Parents have spoken about harrowing cases of their young children being abused by other children in daycare centers, as part of an ABC investigation into the New South Wales sector.

How common is sexually abusive behavior between children?

Why does it happen? And what can daycare centers do about it?

What does the data say?

There is no national data to track these incidents in childcare centers.

The national childcare regulator reports on the number of "serious incidents." But there is a lack of detail around what these involve and they don't even necessarily include child abuse.

States and territories also report on "reportable conduct allegations" (claims of abuse of children) in early childhood. But there are inconsistent standards, expectations and enforcement mechanisms across jurisdictions.

The best data we have about all forms of child sexual abuse is from the 2023 Australian Child Maltreatment Study. As part of the study, a nationally representative sample of 8,503 Australians aged 16 and older were asked about their experiences of child maltreatment, including child sexual abuse.

Overall, 28.5% of the group reported they had experienced child sexual abuse. The interviewer then asked who did this to them. As a proportion of the population, here's what they said about abuse from other young people:

10% of Australians reported child sexual abuse from other known children or adolescents (not romantic partners)

2.5% reported sexual abuse from adolescent romantic partners

1.4% reported sexual abuse from an unknown adolescent

1.6% reported sexual abuse from a sibling.

As the study relied on adults recalling childhood experiences, it may mean it's an under-representation of cases, particularly very early in childhood.

We need a lot more data about what's going in the early years.

Is the problem getting worse?

Nevertheless, the Australian Child Maltreatment Study study suggests sexual abuse between peers is becoming more common.

Those aged 1624 were more likely to have been sexually abused by a peer (18.2%) than by an adult (11.7%). Older age groups were more likely to have been abused by adults. For example, of those aged 2544, 14.1% reported having experienced child sexual abuse by another young person, compared to 17.9% by an adult.

This pattern suggests we have made some progress in reducing the rates of adult perpetrated child sexual abuse, but sexual abuse between peers is increasing.

Why is this happening?

We can understand this at both an individual and situational level.

If a child is engaging in harmful or abusive sexual behaviors, this may be because they have been exposed to sexual abuse, violence in the home, pornography, or other trauma. They may be reenacting or processing something they have seen or experienced.

But there are also situational factors that enable this behavior, such as a lack of supervision. We know this is an issue in childcare centers if there are low staff numbers, educators are overworked or there is a lack of adequate training.

How can centers respond?

Research tells us we need to create safe environments for little (and bigger) kids. On top of adequate supervision, this means:

everyone, from kids to educators and parents, understands body safety (what is appropriate touching? What are healthy boundaries?)

everyone is able to recognize if something is not right

everyone feels safe to talk to someone if they need to

trusted adults take incidents or concerns seriously.

This then means, even if a child is at risk of harming a peer or inappropriate touchingthere is little chance they will have the opportunity to do so. And there is a culture to support healthy interactions between kids.

It should not matter who is in the room or the playground, every child deserves to feel and be safe.

How should childcare centers talk about bodies?

Children are naturally interested in their bodies and other people's bodies. This is part of growing up and learning about their world.

If curious children do something inappropriate, good quality childcare centers will deal with these episodes calmly, as they arise. For example, a child might say, "I felt yuck because Sam asked me to pull down my pants."

Educators should respond in a kind, empathetic way and not shame anyone involved.

They can use the situation to explain we don't ask our friends to do this. And just because someone asks us to do something to or with our bodies, it does not mean we have to say yes. We often think of consent education being the job of high schools, but this education needs to start much earlier.

Educators can also model this. For example, with little children, they should let them know they will be changing their nappy. For example, "You need a nappy change because you've done a wee. Do you want Alex or Kim to do it?"

This teaches children a safe adult only touches your genitals for the purposes of care or hygiene, and always with communication and respect.

These micro-level practices build up over time. Ideally, they can also help show parents what is healthy and safe behavior.

We should not demonize little kids

Lastly, we should not demonize children who engage in harmful sexual behavior. Most children do not go on to offend later in life.

What they need is support, guidance and supervision, not stigma or exclusion. While schools or childcare centers sometimes isolate children who have harmed others, exclusion rarely addresses the root cause and can make the problem worse.

Instead, we need to create opportunities for positive, healthy relationships and help children experience safe and appropriate forms of touch. For example, high-fives, hand-holding and hugs within clear boundaries and supportive adult supervision.

Abusive behaviors between children are deeply distressing, but are also preventable. By ensuring strong supervision, body safety education from early years, and responding to children with empathy rather than fear, we can protect kids.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Papua accounted for 93% of Indonesia's 527,000 malaria cases in 2024, as elimination efforts continue to face multiple challengesincluding local perceptions that normalize malaria as an ordinary illness, emphasizing the need for more effective communication.

In several districts, including Keerom and Mimika, malaria transmission remains alarmingly high, with over 40% of the population infected each year. Papua's rugged geography makes access to health care in remote areas difficult. In addition, there are at least seven variants of the local mosquito species (Anopheles farauti), each exhibiting complex behavior, found across the region, including in Papua New Guinea.

Another major challenge is the widespread belief among Papuans that malaria is merely a "normal illness" and not life-threatening. Some local beliefs even attribute its cause to spirits or the weather, leading many to neglect both prevention and medical treatment.

A 2024 study published in the Malaria Journal found that limited understanding of malaria's risks is one of the main barriers to timely and appropriate treatment. Misconceptions about the illness lead to poor adherence to antimalarial medication and limited use of insecticide-treated netsboth proven effective in preventing mosquito bites.

As researchers in public health and parasitology, we recommend more targeted and context-specific strategies to accelerate malaria elimination in Papuawith a focus on culturally responsive communication, active community engagement, and integration into existing health services.

Communication is key

Papuan misunderstandings about malaria are shaped by broader social dynamics, including a strong reliance on traditional healers, religious leaders, and local elders.

Gender inequality also plays a role. In many Papuan communities, men typically make health-related decisions while women's voices are often excluded. This dynamic can have serious consequences for diseases like malaria, where timely treatment is crucial.

For instance, some mothers avoid taking their children to a clinic without the father's permission if he is away for work. As a result, treatment is delayed, increasing the risk of the child developing severe malaria.

To address these social factors, the government must shift the narrative: malaria is a serious disease that can be fatal if not treated promptly. This approach has already proven effective in reducing cases and sustaining progress in parts of West Papua (such as Pegunungan Arfak) and in Timor-Leste.

Culturally sensitive, patient-centered health care is essential for improving community understanding of why it's crucial to seek proper medical care.

This is especially true since formal treatment has been shown to improve children's healthsomething deeply valued in Papuan family belief systems. In turn, improving child health can positively influence families' approach to malaria prevention and care.

1. Empowering mothers in health decisions

A 2024 study shows that malaria communication strategies are more effective when mothers are encouraged to serve as key health decision-makers within their households.

In many families, mothers are the first to notice signs of illness. They play a vital role in deciding when to seek timely care, ensuring antimalarial treatment is completed, and promoting consistent use of mosquito nets.

2. Engaging trusted community figures

Working with trusted community figuressuch as religious leaders, teachers, and health workershas proven to be an effective strategy for strengthening malaria elimination efforts.

These individuals often serve as the first point of contact for health advice and hold significant social credibility. However, their impact remains limited without adequate training and resources to support their role.

A UNICEF study in Papua found that when community leaders receive effective training, the number of people getting tested and practicing malaria prevention increases significantly.

Beyond improving communication skills, this form of community-based engagement helps drive long-term behavioral change. These initiatives can be integrated into existing health programs through church networks and civil society partnerships. They are low-cost and have lasting impacts on malaria control and public health.

3. Use oral and visual communication

In Papua, oral and visual communication in local languages works better than written materials.

The region has a strong oral tradition, with 482 local languages, while literacy rates remain relatively low.

Research in 2024) shows that malaria education using traditional storytelling, local songs, and face-to-face dialogue is more effective in raising awareness and encouraging the use of bed nets.

Public information materials (IEC) on malaria should be adapted to local cultural contexts. Authorities should collaborate with communities to create culturally grounded materials that clearly communicate the risks of malaria. This approach can build trust and sustain long-term community engagement.

4. Use social media

Social media is a powerful tool for reaching younger generationsespecially millennials and Gen Zwith messages about malaria prevention.

These platforms can be used to raise awareness about maternal and child health, correct misinformation about malaria, and encourage treatment-seeking behavior and the use of insecticide-treated nets.

Integration with broader health services

Fragmented health services in Indonesia reduce the efficiency of malaria programs and increase out-of-pocket expenses for patients.

Given budget and infrastructure constraints, integrated health care services provide a more practical solution for improving maternal and child health while reducing unnecessary expenditures.

Evidence shows that malaria messaging is more effective when integrated with programssuch as nutrition, sanitation, antenatal care, and postnatal visits. This integrated approach improves outcomes for both malaria control and maternal and child health.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6)

Today

Scattered snow showers during the evening. Then partly to mostly cloudy overnight. Low 14F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 30%..

Tonight

Scattered snow showers during the evening. Then partly to mostly cloudy overnight. Low 14F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
You dont know how to use ChatGPT? Ekya asked incredulously, her eyes wide as saucers. Nana, everyone uses AI. I even got Waldo to help with some of my class assignments.

I must have muttered something daft, because my granddaughter launched into a sermon that would have made any preacher blush. Stop fretting about costs, nana! These AI engines cost billions to cook up; but the apps? They are absolutely free!

Before I could protest, Ekya commandeered my ancient laptop and performed some digital wizardry. In minutes, my screen was cluttered with iconsClaude, Bert, Yolo, Gemini, Waldo and Grok? The names sounded like the guestlist for a dorm party, with Grok hailing from some remote galaxy.

I jabbed at the Grok icon, half-expecting a puff of smoke. Instead, a rapid-fire text appeared on the screen. What do you want to know?

Oh, Grok, you poor, naive genie! My mind is a convoluted labyrinth of unanswered questions: Does God play teen-patti at Diwali? When will politicians stop fooling the public? Did that little girl whom I met in wonderland love me? Will the air quality in Delhi ever improve?

But no; I played it safe. Grok, whats two plus two?

O, Master, its four! the genie replied, instantly.

Illustration: Job P.K.

Brilliant, I deadpanned to Ekya. Thats exactly what my 50 Palika Bazaar calculator says. Tell me, is this AI thingamajig just a fancy abacus?

Nana! Ekya wailed, Ask something smart! Something that needs logic and analysis. Something that is really, really rocket science!

Logic? Analysis? I scoffed. So, this AI only works for stuff divorced from reality, eh? Fine, lets give Grok a real challenge. I took charge of the keyboard and typed with all seriousness: How do I build a bullshit detector?

The computer went berserk, with Grok spewing advice as if it had had several cans of some energy drink. It instructed me to be a discerning listener and watch for red flags and synthetic inputs. It threw in some technobabble about synohaptic alternate truths, and bio-feedback algorithms concluding with a limp, Truth is slippery, but tech can help you grab it.

Grok, you dimwit, I typed, I dont want to be the detector. I want a gadget to do it for me!

Again, there was a digital tantrum and scads of advice. Grok suggested a hardware configuration with software loaded for awareness of deep fakes in the post-truth era, capacity for critical thinking, source verification, evidence consistency, fallacy detection, and bias identification. It also churned out a blueprint for a wearable device, complete with audio alarms and a buzzer. This sent me scavenging to an e-waste dump from where I gathered bits of circuitry, dodging stray dogs and two bleary-eyed vultures. Back home, I created the Bullshit Detector of the Future, which I named BSDF2047.

Calibration of the gadget was easy. I fed it a potpourri of nonsense: political speeches, election manifestos promising free unicorns, and Instagram reels of Bollywood actors with digitally enhanced six packs and other assets. For extra spice, I tossed in Reddit threads on Trumps tariffs and the entire script of Baron Munchausen. Ekya insisted that I add The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Testing day arrived, and BSDF2047 performed meticulously. It emitted a discreet tsk-tsk at a toothpaste ad on FM radio. It beeped indignantly at a TV advertorial peddling miracle hair oil. But then, chaos! A political party spokesperson flickered on the TV, and BSDF2047 let out a banshee wail, which was not even programmed into its circuits! And when I accidentally placed it on the morning newspaper, it screamed because of the front-page ad for Luxury Flats in Gurugram.

Soon I found that it was impossible to go anywhere with that bullshit detector because it kept sounding alarms. It detected bullshit attempts in TV news, discussions of friends and even when Bassa Ram, my driver, asked for leave. At a distant uncles anniversary bash, BSDF2047 let out a wolf whistle when aunty claimed she had made the dessert. It raised alarms, sniggered, howled or shrieked whenever anyone spoke a half-truth, white lie or held out a political promise.

Gopu was thrilled. Now lets upgrade it to be a Bullshit Neutraliser! The neutraliser will blast counter-narratives to shut up all nonsensical claims! My wife, ever the visionary, suggested the creation of a Bullshit Avengera device that would encounter any person spouting propaganda, asserting technical inexactitudes or taking liberty with facts.

With great regret, I realised a neutraliser or an avenger would shove me into perpetual conflict with the rest of the world. As it was, the BSDF2047 was driving me nuts with its ceaseless buzzing, tut-tutting and screaming. Out of sheer exasperation, I took it to the Lohawala Pul on the Yamuna River and caressed it one last time. Over you go, I whispered, hurling it into the abyss. Find peace in the clean Yamuna.

As it sank in the murky waters, BSDF2047 let out one final, defiant screech, in protest against my terming the Yamuna as clean. I swear I could see huge bubbles of indignation rise to the surface. Back home, I had to face a very miffed Ekya. Nana, you lost your one chance to become a crorepati, she lamented. You could have made a fortune selling the BSDF2047 to every WhatsApp uncle in India!
Further boosting defence ties with Beijing, Bangladesh has decided to equip its Army with Chinese-made SY-400 Missile Systems. The objective is to ensure the plan to modernise the Bangladesh military by 2030 remains on course and to offer it with dependable mid-range, precision-strike capability, reports said.

Over 70 per cent of Bangladeshs recent defence imports have been reportedly from Beijing. The decision to purchase SY-400 comes from the realisation that a modern army cannot afford not to have long-range missile capabilities. Short-range projectiles cannot offer Dhaka deterrence against adversaries. Bangladeshi defence officials reportedly insist that the purchase was a step taken to strengthen the country's defensive credibility. It was in line with Dhakas doctrine of minimum credible deterrence, Defence Security Asia said in a report.

The SY-400 acquisition news comes not long after the Bangladesh Air Force had a recent expansion of its fleet of Chinese J-10C fighters. Here are five things to know about the Chinese ballistic missiles that are being bought by Bangladesh:

The SY-400, locally called DF-12A, was first publicly displayed to prospective customers at the 2008 Zhuhai Airshow. It is currently being used by Qatar and Myanmar, apart from the Chinese PLA. According to a 2009 U.S. State Department cable, the SY-400 is marketed as a 150200-km-range system that carries a 200300 kg warhead, uses a launcher that carries eight missiles, and is capable of achieving an accuracy of 50 metres.

However, modern variants of SY-400s are said to have undergone upgrades, increasing its strike range to approximately 280 kilometres. Its standard configuration consists of eight canisters with solid-fuel missiles. When bought, the projectiles are factory-fitted into these containers and can be stored for years without requiring additional maintenance.

Each missile is approximately six metres long and 0.4 metres in diameter, Defence Security Asia said in a report. They can be 900 to 1,300 kilograms heavy depending on the warhead configuration. Warhead options include high-explosive fragmentation, submunition dispensers, and cluster payloads, the report added.

The SY-400s have active radar/passive radar/IIR seeker with target-recognition capabilities at the terminal stage. Unconfirmed reports claim that they are capable of terminal manoeuvre to some degree to avoid interception by SAM. They can reach speeds up to Mach 5.5 and are equipped with a hybrid guidance suite combining inertial navigation with satellite augmentation or GPS systems, a report claimed.
On Saturday, Tamil film buffs were treated to a teaser announcing Lokesh Kanagaraj's full-fledged debut in front of the camera. The project was revealed as DC, helmed by Arun Matheshwaran, the filmmaker known for his blood-soaked action thrillers Captain Miller, Saani Kaayidham, and Rocky.

Lokesh is 'D' of the title, Devdas; Wamiqa Gabbi is presumably D's lover, Chandra, the 'C' of the title. Both names from Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's Devdas, adapted and reimagined multiple times, most notably, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas and Anurag Kashyap's Dev.D.

The original story revolves around a heartbroken alcoholic and a prostitute. Arun Matheshwaran's film is expected to be another reimagining of the source material as well as another violent entry in his filmography, if the visuals from the teaser are anything to go by.

Interestingly, in the first-look glimpse, we get a brief shot of a still from filmmaker Arthur Penn's 1967 film Bonnie & Clyde, one of the first films from the Hollywood New Wave movement that broke through with an unhinged, hitherto unseen approach to violence. The pathbreaking film starred Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the real-life outlaw couple who committed a series of crimes that immediately put them on the "public enemy" list in the 1930s.

So, naturally, the aforementioned still from the teaser hints at Matheshwaran's film being on similar lines  a possible combination of real-world and fictional inspirations?

Produced by Sun Pictures and scored by Anirudh, DC is currently in the middle of production. A release date announcement is awaited.

Once he wraps up DC, Kanagaraj is expected to start working on his directorials, firstly, the sequel to Kaithi, starring Karthi. The film is part of the Lokesh Kanagaraj Cinematic Universe (LCU), which comprises Kamal Haasan's Vikram and Vijay's Leo. Another spin-off, Rolex, starring Suriya, is also in the works.
As Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan turns 60, the 'King' star's fans are disappointed this year. While thousands waited outside the Bollywood star's Mannat residence, actor Khan had to issue an apology earlier in the evening for missing the annual birthday ritual.

Earlier in the evening, the Bollywood actor said he wouldn't be able to meet fans outside his residence on Sunday owing to security concerns. "Have been advised by authorities that I will not be able to step out and greet all you lovely people who have been waiting for me. My deepest apologies to all of you but have been informed that it is for the overall safety of everyone due to crowd control issues. Thank you for understanding and believe me" the Jawan actor tweeted, adding, "I will miss seeing you more than you will. Was looking forward to seeing you all and sharing love. Love u all"

Fans have been expecting to meet the Dil Se actor today, as he usually used to appear at the balcony of his residence to greet fans. Though he isn't currently residing at Mannat now, he arrived there in the evening, apparently to greet fans. However, authorities advised against it.

The first look of Khan's much-anticipated upcoming film 'King' was released on Sunday. Helmed by Siddarth Anand (War, Pathaan), Khan is seen sporting a salt-and-pepper look in the action-adventure film, similar to the one he did in Jawan. "I am not fear," he says, with a bloodied card between his teeth. "I am destruction."
'Stranger Things' and 'Enola Holmes' star Millie Bobby Brown accused her long-time co-star David Harbour of allegedly bullying and harassing her, a report said on Saturday night.

The shocking allegations against her 'Stranger Things' co-star come ahead of the highly anticipated finale of the teen sci-fi horror TV series.

The Daily Mail report goes on to claim that these accusations were made before Netflix started shooting the last season of the show.

"There were pages and pages of accusations. The investigation went on for months," the report said about the 50-year-old actor, who is already battling allegations of cheating on musician Lily Allenbreaking a four-year-long marriage in the process.

"Lily (Allen) supported him throughout it all. It was a brutal time," the report said about the investigation's impact on Harbour before the divorce.

Allen (40) reportedly talks of Harbour's cheating allegations that led to the December divorce in her new album released in October, titled 'West End Girl'.

While the outcome of the investigation is still unknown, the report clarified that the allegations did not include sexual harassment of any kind.

While there has been no official word from Netflix or either of the actors about the investigation, the streamer has earlier said that it was "unfortunate" that the 50-year-old's personal life became public, ahead of the finale release.

"Nothing is going to overshadow this, not even the leading mans private life," Netflix had said.

What netizens said

"This is not what I expected. The fact that Netflix are declining to comment says it all. I am genuinely surprised because from what I remember of the first season or two he was quite protective of her," a Redditor wrote.

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inpopculturechat

"There was a recent interview with Millie for the new season ... she raved how much she had an instant bond with David and he was so patient with her ... So I doubt very seriously this is true," another Redditor pointed out, refuting the allegations.

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inStrangerThings

"If this is for PR, its absolutely bonkers. Isnt she still following him on insta?" an X user questioned.
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is often associated with personal hygiene habits and bathroom cleanliness, such as frequent handwashing, wiping correctly, and staying hydrated. But have you ever considered that your kitchen could be the culprit as well?

A new study presented in Southern California has turned that assumption on its head, revealing that up to 18 per cent of UTIs may be linked to bacteria traced back to contaminated meat and poor food-handling practices in the kitchen. The culprit is strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli), traditionally associated with diarrhoeal illness, now finding their way into the urinary tract via the food supply.

These findings are particularly significant as studies have shown that UTI cases have increased by over 66 per cent between 1990 and 2021, and in their severe form, these cases can lead to renal failure and sepsis. The problem is compounded as even the prescribed treatments with antibiotics cannot prevent recurrences, and there are now drug-resistant varieties of the microbes as well.

What is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

A urinary tract infection occurs when microbes, primarily bacteria, infect any part of the urinary system, which includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract, affecting the bladder and urethra.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection include a burning sensation during urination, a persistent urge to urinate, and frequent urination in small amounts. The urine may appear cloudy, red, or cola-coloured, indicating blood. Pain in the pelvis, particularly around the pubic bone, is also common.

A mild infection may cause discomfort and irritation, but when left untreated, it can spread to the kidneys and lead to serious complications.

What are the risk factors?

UTIs can affect anyone, but certain factors increase susceptibility. In women, the shorter urethra allows bacteria an easier route to the bladder. Hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause disrupt the vaginal bacterial balance, increasing risk, and certain birth control methods, such as diaphragms or spermicidal agents, can contribute to infection.

Other risk factors include low fluid intake, which allows bacteria to thrive, and constipation, which increases pressure on the bladder and prevents complete emptying. Congenital urinary tract conditions, such as vesicoureteral reflux, where urine flows backward toward the kidneys, can also predispose individuals to infection. Kidney stones and prostate enlargement block urine flow, creating a breeding ground for bacteria.

A suppressed immune system due to diabetes or immunosuppressant medications increases vulnerability, as does the use of catheters in hospitals or for people with certain physical or neurological conditions. Recent urinary procedures or medical examinations that employ instruments in the urinary tract can elevate the risk as well.

Globally, UTIs are among the most common bacterial infections, and rising antimicrobial resistance is causing some alarm. It is estimated that 2.6 lakh deaths were associated with antimicrobial-resistant UTIs in 2019, imposing an economic burden of approximately $3.5 billion annually.

What did the new study find?

The new study from Southern California analysed more than 5,700 E. coli samples from UTI patients and compared their genetic fingerprints with those from meat, including turkey, chicken, pork, and beef, purchased from the same neighbourhoods between 2017 and 2021.

Up to one in five of those UTI-causing strains matched the animal-derived ones. Among meats, poultry showed the highest contamination, with about 38 per cent of retail chicken and 36 per cent of turkey samples testing positive, while beef and pork showed lower rates at around 14 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively.

The study also found that residents of low-income ZIP codes had a 60 per cent higher risk of food-borne UTIs compared to those from more affluent areas.

The pathway is straightforward but often overlooked. When raw meat is handled carelessly, through unwashed hands, contaminated chopping boards, packaging drips, or insufficient cooking, E. coli from animals can transfer to human hands, surfaces, and ultimately enter the urinary tract.

The study concluded that Preventive steps, such as thorough handwashing, avoiding cross-contamination, and ensuring proper cooking of meat products, are essential to reducing exposure. Addressing this overlooked pathway of ExPEC transmission is imperative for protecting public health and reducing the incidence of foodborne UTIs.

These findings add to a growing body of evidence showing that the kitchen, traditionally seen as a place of nourishment, can also be a hidden gateway for bacteria contributing to urinary infections.

What experts say:

Dr Rajeev Sood, Chairman  Urology & Renal Transplantation at Marengo Asia Hospitals, highlighted that some UTIs may originate from E. coli or other bacteria from contaminated food rather than solely from the persons existing gut flora. He stressed the importance of proper cooking and kitchen hygiene, avoiding cross-contamination, and monitoring antibiotic use in food animals.

However, commenting on the new study, Dr Aswati Nair, Fertility Specialist at Nova IVF Fertility, Delhi, noted that the Indian scenario differs from countries with higher meat consumption. She explained that India does not have such a large meat-eating population. Around 50 per cent of our population is vegetarian, so meat-originating bacteria are less responsible for UTIs here compared to European countries, where meat is consumed regularly by most people.

Dr Nair emphasised that hygiene plays a critical role in urinary tract infections in India. Most of the time, the culture reports show Escherichia coli, which has feco-oral transmission. This could be a hygiene-related issue, not necessarily originating from the kitchen, she said.

On prevention, Dr Nair recommended maintaining good personal hygiene and proper handwashing. Always clean from front to back after using the toilet. Drink plenty of water, around 2 to 2.5 litres daily. In winters, when water intake decreases, and in humid climates where sweating increases water loss, inadequate hydration can make people more susceptible to UTIs, she advised.

This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS.
As many as 15 people died and two people suffered injuries in a tragic road accident in Rajasthan's Phalodi on Sunday. The deceased hailed from Jodhpur, and they were returning from Bikaner after a pilgrimage, authorities said.

According to authorities, the tempo traveller carrying devotees rammed into a stationary truck near Matoda village on the Bharat Mala Highway on Sunday evening.

"Fifteen passengers died, while two others sustained serious injuries. The injured were first taken to a hospital in Osian for primary treatment and later referred to Jodhpur," Jodhpur Police Commissioner Om Prakash said.

The victims were residents of the Sursagar area in Jodhpur and were returning from the Kolayat temple in Bikaner after offering prayers at the Kapil Muni Ashram, police said.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed grief over the incident and said he has instructed officials to ensure all possible assistance to the victims' families and proper medical care for the injured.

Former chief minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot also mourned the loss of lives. Gehlot tweeted, "I have just received the news that 15 people have died in a road accident in Matoda, Phalodi. Hearing this, my heart is extremely saddened. I pray to God to grant a place at His holy feet to all the deceased, give strength to their families, and a speedy recovery to the injured."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths and announced solatium for the families of the deceased. In a statement, Modi said, "Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Phalodi district, Rajasthan. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000."
With just a few days left for the assembly elections in Bihar, a candidate of the ruling Janata Dal (U) was arrested in connection with the murder of a Jan Suraaj Party supporter.

Anant Kumar Singh, the JD(U)s Mokama candidate and a former MLA, was arrested from his house in Barh in a late-night operation. He was the prime accused in the murder of Dular Chand Yadav, a gangster-turned-politician.

Yadav (75) was campaigning for his nephew and Jan Suraaj candidate, Piyush Priyadarshi, in Mokama when he was killed during a firing between two groups on October 30.

VIDEO | Barh: JD(U) candidate from Mokama, Anant Kumar Singh, has reportedly been arrested by police and taken to Patna in connection with the murder of gangster-turned-politician Dularchand Yadav.



(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/NCMALQYl0k  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 1, 2025

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said Singh was arrested along with his two associatesManikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. All three will be presented before the magistrate on Sunday.

"Three people have been arrested on murder charges, and raids are being carried out to arrest others. Soon, more arrests will be made. CID has also started investigating the case, Sharma said.

Priyadarshi welcomed Singhs arrest but said the action should have been taken soon after the incident.

But better late than never. What is important now is how the police investigate the whole case... It is a relief for his family," he told ANI news agency.

The murder of Yadav has brought Mokama, a place known for the bahubalis in Bihar politics, again to the limelight. The constituency, which goes to the polls in the first phase of voting on November 6, is witnessing a contest between Singh and RJDs Veena Devi, wife of influential leader Suraj Bhan Singh.

Situation under control

Yadavs murder has sent shock waves across the state, even as Patna District Magistrate Dr Thiyagarajan S.M. maintained that the situation in Mokama is under control. He said over 80 people have been taken into custody in connection with the clashes and firing incidents.

We have given instructions for 100 per cent arms deposition. All legal arms will soon be deposited. Instructions have been given to set up more than 50 checking points in each constituency. The CAPF will also be carrying out checks. Maximum seizure has been done from Patna. Adequate CAPF personnel have been deployed. They are working in coordination with the police and the magistrate, he said, adding that raids are being carried out to seize illegal arms.
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: Anna Tarazevich from Pexels

Scripps Research in La Jolla announce a new clinical trial that will assess the effectiveness of using drugs approved for diabetes treatment and weight loss to treat long COVID-19, the debilitating chronic condition diagnosed in an estimated 20 million Americans and about 400 million people worldwide.

Developed to help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels, these GLP-1 medications have generated billions of dollars in revenue for their ability to slow the pace of digestion and reduce appetite, helping millions worldwide lose weight.

But, as always happens with big pharma blockbusters, the research community is busy exploring other possible applications for this class of compounds, with clinical trials underway or forming in cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and obstructive sleep apnea.

And growing evidence of its anti-inflammation properties, notes Scripps computational biologist and study co-principal investigator Julia Vogel, has driven increasing interest in using GLP-1 drugs to treat at least some of long COVID's myriad symptoms, which range from brain fog and difficulty breathing to fatigue and joint pain.

The trial, which seeks to enroll 1,000 long COVID patients nationwide, will explore how self-administration of tirzepatide, Eli Lilly's GLP-1 agonist marketed as Mounjaro for diabetes treatment and Zepbound for weight loss, affects symptoms over a 12-month period.

"GLP-1 drugs have been found to do so many different things," Vogel said. "They've helped with all kinds of immune conditions, in part by reducing inflammation, and we know that is an issue in long COVID."

Desperate for therapies that work, the long COVID community has already begun experimenting with "microdosing" GLP-1 drugs, with a post made one year ago on the social news site Reddit titled "Ozempic for Long COVID?" reporting anecdotal evidence of the drug helping some improve their symptoms. And the formal scientific community has taken note, with a formal discussion of GLP-1's possibilities for long COVID occurring during a panel discussion at a scientific meeting on Sept. 12 and still available on YouTube.

"We've heard anecdotal reports of people who literally, on their first shot, just feel like their symptoms are just clearing, like they didn't even realize that they had so much anxiety until it was just gone," Vogel said.

Given that there is currently no drug to treat long COVID despite more than $1 billion in spending on research by the federal government, the possibility that GLP-1 drugs are beneficial in this domain is extremely appealing. However, anecdotal evidence will never convince health insurance companies to cover such prescriptions, nor doctors to broadly write prescriptions without proof of efficacy. Those are the goals of the new Scripps Research study.

Dr. Eric Topol, the study's co-principal investigator and a well-known Scripps vice president, noted that no trials to date, and there have been very few so far, have met the level of rigor that will be employed for the Long COVID Treatment Trial.

"There has still not been a large, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of a candidate drug," Topol said. "That is what we have started this week with tirzepatide."

Trial protocols call for half of the 1,000 participants to receive a placebo, inert doses that have no effect, rather than the active drug, creating a control group that is critical to obtaining scientifically valid results.

Scripps Research, he noted, has written many papers on long COVID since the pandemic. A paper that a team of researchers published in January 2023 titled "Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations" that details how this lingering illness affects many different systems of the body has been particularly well received, with nearly 2 million views.

Vogel herself suffers long COVID fatigue so severe that the former distance runner was forced to begin using a wheelchair and leave San Diego, rejoining her extended family on the East Coast. It was seeing one of their own so severely affected by the condition, Topol said, that spurred a strong dedication to long COVID research.

"Julia was hit in early 2020, and her suffering and course led to our work to learn about the condition and seek a treatment," Topol said in an email Thursday.

GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy from Novo Nordisk, are designed to be self-administered, with patients giving themselves shots once per week. This fact allowed the Scripps team to create a "digital" trial that mails supplies to participants rather than requiring them to travel to clinical sites as many trials do.

Participants, who must have medical documentation of long COVID, will receive four doses of tirzepatide in the mail, starting with lower concentrations of the active ingredient and increasing over six months to find each participant's "optimal dose," Vogel said.

"We ask them to report their weight and any side effects every week and then each month, before their next shipment, there's a discussion with one of the study physicians about, 'OK, are you still having any side effects?'" Vogel said. "If they're still having any side effects, (the dose) does not go up.

"If they're feeling better and they're interested in going up, then they can, or they can just choose to stay where they are."

Participants must regularly record their fatigue level using a special smartphone application so that researchers can understand how the drug affects this key measurement.

"We're also going to be sending everyone a wearable (electronic monitor) so they will have this passive monitoring of their daily step count, their heart rate, heart rate variability, sleep, etc.," Vogel said.

Fifty participants will be asked to go one step further, using a special device that can collect blood samples from the upper arm with the press of a button. These collections will allow deeper analysis of biomarkers and other factors that can be correlated with self-reported fatigue assessments and wearable data to provide a fuller picture of the biological effects of the drug.

In addition to a long COVID diagnosis, participants must be at least 18 years of age with internet access, a "fatigue severity scale score" of at least 36 and be willing to follow study protocols. Pregnant women are excluded because of the unknown potential risks of the drug to unborn babies.

Those already taking tirzepatide, or any other GLP-1 drug, are also excluded, according to protocols posted on clinicaltrials.gov, as are those with certain medical conditions or medical histories that researchers have determined could confound results. Participants must also not be in the "underweight" category with a body mass index less than 18.5.

As co-principal investigator, Vogel is also barred from participating.

Is this bittersweet, given all that she has been through since she first started experiencing life-altering symptoms?

"I would not meet the eligibility criteria because I'm underweight, so I don't mind at all," Vogel said in an email. "My main feeling today is excitement about the potential to help people who are coping with the same illness that I am.

"Even if the drug does not decrease the symptom burden as we hope, we will learn a lot about its effects on people with Long COVID, and if it does help, I'll be beyond thrilled."

2025 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two election rallies in poll-bound Bihar on Sunday, before conducting a grand roadshow in Patna later in the evening.

Modi will address his first rally in Arrah at 1.30 pm and a second in Nawada at 3.30 pm. He will return to the state capital by 5 pm.

In Patna, Modi will pay floral tribute at the statue of Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh Dinkar and hold the roadshow in support of the NDA candidates.

The roadshow will start from Dinkar Golambar at 5:30 pm and move through Nala Road, Thakurwadi and Bakarganj.

This will be Modis third roadshow in Patna since last year's Lok Sabha polls. He had held a roadshow earlier this year, soon after 'Operation Sindoor'.

VIDEO | Bihar Elections 2025: On PM Modi's roadshow in Patna today, Patna DM Dr Thiyagarajan SM says, "All preparations are completely in place. From an administrative point of view, every necessary security and precautionary measure has been taken. A large number of police pic.twitter.com/7gRvJd44ve  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 2, 2025

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Patna for the roadshow. Traffic restrictions will remain in place from 2 pm to 7 pm on multiple connecting routes, including Dinkar Golambar to Nala Road, Nala Road to Bari Path, Machhua Toli to Bari Path, Khetan Market, Hathua Market to Bakarganj, Vaishali Golambar to Dinkar Golambar, and Apsara Golambar to Nala Road Golambar.

Only fire tenders, ambulances, patient vehicles, judicial vehicles, election duty vehicles and vehicles with proper passes will be permitted on these stretches, the IANS reported, quoting traffic police sources.

Parking space for the general public and party workers attending the roadshow has been arranged at Gandhi Maidan, Patna Science College, Patna College, under the double-decker bridge, Moin-ul-Haq Stadium and Shakha Maidan.

At around 6:45 pm, the prime minister is scheduled to visit the Takht Sri Harimandir Sahib Gurudwara.

Elections to the 243-member Bihar Assembly will be held in two phases on November 6 and November 11. In the first phase, 121 assembly segments will go to the polls.
Congress Leader Piyanka Gandhi urged the Centre and state government to act immediately to solve the air pollution and smog crisis in Delhi.

On a post on X, she asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to take immediate steps to end the filthy smog people are breathing."

Returning to the Delhi air from Wayanad first, then Bachwara in Bihar, is truly shocking. The pollution enveloping this city is like a grey shroud thrown over it, Priyanka said.

Returning to the Delhi air from Wayanad first, then Bachwara in Bihar is truly shocking. The pollution enveloping this city is like a grey shroud thrown over it.



Its really about time all of us get together regardless of our political compulsions and do something about it. The  Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) November 2, 2025

Its really about time all of us get together, regardless of our political compulsions, and do something about it. The central and state governments need to act immediately. We will all support and cooperate with whatever actions they choose to take to mitigate this awful situation. Year after year, the citizens of Delhi are subjected to this toxicity with no recourse, she added.

"Those who suffer from respiratory issues, children who commute to school every day, and senior citizens, especially, need urgent intervention to clear the filthy smog we are all breathing," the Congress leader said.

On Sunday, the AQI remained at poor and very poor in many parts of the region.

Slow wind speeds in the morning meant that pollutants in the air had reduced dispersion, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Wind speed was below 8 kmph from the northwestern direction. The AQI at the national capital stood at 386, rising from 303 on Saturday.

At 18 monitoring stations, the AQI went to severe levels, standing above 400. The areas include Siri Fort, RK Puram, Punjabi Bagh, CRRI Mathura Road, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Nehru Nagar, Dwarka Sector 8, Ashok Vihar, Jahangirpuri, Rohini, Vivek Vihar, Wazirpur, Bawana, Pusa, Mundka, Anand Vihar, Chandni Chowk, and Burari Crossing.

The Public Works Department (PWD) has begun to install automatic water misting systems along major city roads in a second attempt in an effort to control the pollution, officials said on Friday.
An Indian tech worker who earns more than Rs 1 crore in salary, had a solid background and reason was denied a US B1/B2 tourist visa in less than a minute.

The man shared his experience on Reddit and asked users to tell him what went wrong.

In the now deleted post he wrote, I had my B1/B2 visa interview at the US Embassy today in Delhi, and I was rejected in less than a minute after just three questions. Im trying to understand what went wrong and how I can improve for next time.

The man shared the details of the interview process and the swift denial he got.

The officers only asked him three questions, and he was handed a rejection immediately. The questions concerned his reason for travelling, his prior international travels, and whether he had any family or acquaintances in the US.

When he was asked about his reasons, he mentioned that he was interested in travelling to Atlanta, Georgia, for the Kubecon + Cloudnative Con 2025. I am a senior tech lead at a company, and my day-to-day work is on Cloud Native technologies. It is important that I attend this conference to stay up to date on the latest events or movements in this field, he said.

He also spoke about his travel experiences and how he had been to Lithuania, the Maldives, and Indonesia. When he was asked if he had friends or family in America, he said No. Shortly afterwards, they handed him a 214(b) refusal slip.

The man expressed his surprise at the quick denial, which happened even with his solid professional and personal background.

Im employed in India with a stable job for the last 11 years. I make close to a crore annually and have an eight-month-old daughter, so I had very strong motivations to come back to India,

He also said that he had already made reservations for the Atlanta Conference and booked hotel rooms, and planned an extensive schedule. The conference wasnt available for live streaming, so I had planned everything to attend it in person, he said.

Section 214(b) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act is the most common reason for being given a tourist visa refusal. It is given when an applicant fails to convince the consular officer that they will return to their home country after visiting the US.

In a media note, The US Department of State announced that the U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. the department said that they would use all available information in their visa screening and vetting to identify individuals who are inadmissible to the US.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has said that in recent years the organisation has expanded its work across tribal regions and among labourers, farmers, students, entrepreneurs, and professionals.

The Sangh has added 10,000 new Shakhas in the last one year alone, Hosabale said. He was addressing a press conference in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur on the concluding day of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal Baithak.

The RSS leader stated that currently 87,398 daily shakhas are conducted at 55,052 places, which is 15,000 more than the previous year.

In the coming months, Hindu Sammelans will be organised at the basti (villages) and mandal levels. Through these activities, the message of 'Panch Parivartan' will be taken to the grassroots, to make these principles a part of social behaviour and daily life, he said.

Hosabale claimed that an estimated 45,000 rural and 35,000 urban areas Hindu sammelans will be held in the coming months.

Additionally, Samaajik Sadbhav Baithaks will be organised at the block and city levels, while Prabuddha Nagarik Goshthis will be held at district headquarters, he said.

RSS cant be banned at someones whim

Responding to a question about Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's statement that the Sangh should be banned, Hosabale said those making such a demand should learn from past experiences.

"Such attempts (to ban RSS) were made three times in the past. What did society say then? What did the court say? Despite all this, the Sangh's work kept growing. There must be valid reasons to impose a ban," he noted.

VIDEO | Jabalpur: On Congress president Mallikarjun Kharges remarks seeking a ban on the RSS, Sarkaryavah (General Secretary) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Dattatreya Hosabale says, They have tried many times before. He should learn from earlier experiences. One of their pic.twitter.com/F2FDmxXx3v  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 1, 2025

Hosabale asserted that the RSS cannot be banned just because somebody wishes so, and claimed that society has accepted the organisation.

"It cannot happen just because someone wishes so. If a leader says that an organisation working for the unity, security and culture of India should be banned, he must also state the reason," he claimed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Opposition alliance Mahagathbandhan on Sunday and said the Congress is determined to defeat the Rashtriya Janata Dal in every booth across Bihar during this assembly election.

Targeting the Opposition alliance during the poll campaign in Nawada, Modi said the Congress was not ready to accept RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the chief minister face ahead of polls. "The Congress never wanted to announce the chief ministerial candidate in favour of the RJD. The RJD secured it by placing a 'katta' on the head of the Congress. They have learnt their lessons in the school of 'jungle raj'. Such elements can never do good for Bihar," Modi charged.

Signalling there is unrest within the Opposition alliance, Modi said the RJD wanted to field its own candidate against the Bihar Congress president in this election. "The news is that Congress is determined to defeat the RJD at every booth. You will see what Congress and RJD do to each other as soon as the second phase of voting ends on November 11," ANI reported, quoting Modi.

Highlighting India's successful military operation Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, Modi said, "When terror hideouts in Pakistan were being bombed, the royal family of Congress was losing sleep. Pakistan and the Congress have still not recovered from the shock of Operation Sindoor."

Saying both RJD and Congress disrespected Hindu practices, the prime minister charged that the Congress 'naamdaar' (Rahul Gandhi) made fun of Chhath Puja. These people must be taught a lesson, he said.


Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is scheduled to visit the United States on November 10 for talks with President Donald Trump at the White House. The trip, confirmed by Tom Barrack, the American envoy to Syria and Turkey, will mark a historic firstno Syrian head of state has ever before been received at the White House.

The visit represents a remarkable shift in international diplomacy and follows one of the most significant turning points in Syrias modern history: the collapse of the Assad familys rule lasting more than 50 years. The Assads maintained tight control over Syria through an authoritarian regime often condemned for its repression and human rights abuses. That era came to an abrupt end last December when Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia after losing control of the country amid widespread unrest and military defections. It allowed Ahmed al-Sharaa, a leading figure in the anti-Assad movement, to consolidate authority and emerge as Syrias new president.

His forthcoming meeting with President Trump will therefore not only symbolise a dramatic change in Syrias leadership but also signal the first major step towards rebuilding diplomatic relations between Washington and Damascus after years of hostility.

As Syria emerges from 14 years of atrocities by the Assad regime, @POTUS said lets give the new Syria a chance. #IISSMD25 pic.twitter.com/hpABq9LP8X  Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) November 1, 2025

Al-Sharaa, who had led anti-Assad forces and launched a surprise offensive in Aleppo in November 2024, rose quickly after Assads fall. By January this year, the leaders of the various rebel militias appointed him president of Syria. His personal story makes his visit to Washington especially remarkable. More than a decade ago, he was viewed as an extremist. He once led a militant group affiliated to al-Qaeda, and in 2013 the US government officially listed him as a terrorist and offered a bounty for his capture.

Trump first met Al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia in May, describing him as a young, attractive guy, tough, with a strong past. After that meeting, Trump announced that his administration would lift US sanctions on Syria, saying he wanted to give them a chance at greatness.

The White House visit is part of a larger American effort to normalise relations with Syria. Central to this process is the move to repeal the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, known simply as the Caesar Act. This law, passed in 2019 and enforced from June 2020, punished the Assad regime and anyone doing business with itespecially in the energy, construction and finance sectors. The sanctions were designed to pressure Assad by isolating Syrias economy.

While the Trump administration has already granted temporary waivers and lifted some restrictions, the Caesar Act itself can only be repealed by Congress. The State Department has now officially asked Congress to end the sanctions. Officials argue that ending these sanctions will help stabilise Syria and support the long-term defeat of Islamic State. A State Department spokesperson said that removing the sanctions would preserve our core objectives and give the people of Syria a chance for a better future.

For the new Syrian government, the lifting of sanctions is essential to rebuilding a country devastated by nearly 14 years of war. Much of Syrias infrastructure lies in ruins, and about half of its population has been displaced.

During his visit, Al-Sharaa is expected to sign an agreement committing Syria to join the US-led coalition against Islamic State. According to Barrack, this step will mark the beginning of a new partnership aimed at improving security in the region.

Beyond the fight against terrorism, Washington hopes that improved ties with Syria will help bring stability to the wider Middle East. After Al-Sharaas visit, the fifth round of direct peace talks between Syria and Israel is expected to take place, with the United States acting as mediator. American officials say they hope to see a security agreement on the Syrian-Israeli border before the end of the year.

Donald Trump urged Syria's president Ahmed al-Sharaa to normalize ties with long-time foe Israel. Talks between Syria and Israel were halted after the Gaza war erupted https://t.co/nNky1W6Nfv pic.twitter.com/YSzLWcqTM7  Reuters (@Reuters) May 14, 2025

The last time a senior Syrian official visited the White House was in December 1999, when thenForeign Minister Farouq al-Sharaa (a relative of the current president) met US officials during peace discussions with Israel.

Inside Syria, Al-Sharaa faces enormous challenges as he tries to unite and rebuild a country ravaged by conflict, both internal and external. Rebuilding will take years, but Al-Sharaa has promised to focus on national unity and reconstruction.

In his speech to the 80th United Nations General Assembly in September, Al-Sharaa said: Syria is reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world. It was his second visit to the United States since becoming president. He expressed confidence that Syria would recover within his lifetime, saying, The Syrian people are strong and deserve hope and a chance to return home.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is scheduled to launch the Indian Navys GSAT 7R communication satellite, also designated as the CMS-03, on Sunday evening.

The countdown has begun as the CMS-03, said to be India's heaviest communication satellite at 4,100kg, remains mounted on the 43.5-metre-tall Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) M5 rocketnicknamed 'Bahubali', in a reference to its ability to 'carry' the heavy satellite.

The launch will take place from the second launchpad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota, and can be livestreamed from ISRO's YouTube channel.

The livestream will begin from 4:56 PM onwards, offering a glimpse into the final preparations before the LVM-3 M5 lifts off at 5:26 PM.

Featuring two large S200 solid rocket strap-ons to provide a major boost, the 4,000 kg-class LVM-3 has a clean track record, which includes the historic Chandrayaan3 mission that saw it land near the Moon's South Pole in 2023making India the first country to do so.

Launch Day for #LVM3M5. Indias heavy-lift rocket launches #CMS03 today at 17:26 IST.



Youtube URL: https://t.co/gFKB0A1GJE

 2 Nov 2025 (Sunday)

 4:56 PM IST onwards



For more Information Visithttps://t.co/yfpU5OTEc5 pic.twitter.com/NB46ZT1Pwb  ISRO (@isro) November 2, 2025

The CMS-03, developed for the Indian Navy, is expected to provide a major boost for space-based naval communications and maritime capabilities. Many of its indigenous state-of-the-art components were developed specifically to meet the Indian Navys operational requirements, the defence ministry has said.

"Its payload includes transponders capable of supporting voice, data, and video links over multiple communication bands. This satellite will significantly enhance connectivity with high-capacity bandwidth, enabling seamless and secure communication links between ships, aircraft, submarines, and Maritime Operations Centres of the Indian Navy," the defence ministry added, in a recent statement.

ALSO READ | CMS-03 satellite launch likely in November. Why this is a major upgrade for Indian Navy's operations, maritime defence

The multi-band military satellite will be launched into a sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) of 29,970 km x 170 km from the Earth's surface, enabling it to cover a wide region including India and its naval borders.
At least ten people were injurednine of them seriouslyin multiple stabbing incidents aboard a London-bound train in the Cambridgeshire county of East England on Saturday.

The British Transport Police (BTP) and Counter Terror Policing units have launched an investigation into what Prime Minister Keir Starmer called an "appalling incident. Two suspects have been arrested so far.

The BTP said in a post on X that ten people have been taken to the hospital following the stabbing incidents, and nine of them are believed to have life-threatening injuries.

Ten people have been taken to hospital following a multiple stabbing on a train in Cambridgeshire.



Nine are believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries.



A major incident has been declared and @TerrorismPolice are supporting our investigation.https://t.co/kpyeKWR8cQ  British Transport Police (@BTP) November 2, 2025

"We're conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further," BTP Chief Superintendent Chris Casey said.

"At this early stage, it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident, he added.

Starmer posted on X that the incident was "deeply concerning". "My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response," he said.

The appalling incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning.



My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response.



Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 1, 2025

According to police, the incident took place at 6.25 pm (local time). The law enforcement and emergency service officials responded to the incident when the train stopped at Huntingdon station, around 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of London.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the local police force, said armed police attended the incident after officers were called to the scene at Huntingdon station at 7:39 pm. It added that the two people were arrested at the station.

Train services on the route have been temporarily suspended following the incident.
The two men who were arrested for the mass stabbing on a high-speed train headed for London were both British nationals, according to the British Transport Police, who are leading the investigations.

The suspects were identified as a 32 year old Black British national and a 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent.

Supt John Loveless told the media that the men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Stabbing is trending in the UK because 10 people have been hospitalised after a mass stabbing attack occurred on a Doncaster train bound for London's King Cross on the evening of Saturday, November 1.



While the attacks have been declared a "major incident", authorities have not pic.twitter.com/p9Xmbs4Eu7  Why It Is Trending (@trendingblog247) November 2, 2025

The police also said that initially, nine people were believed to have life-threatening injuries. Following the assessment, four of the victims were discharged, and two people remain in a life-threatening condition.

Police also said that the they found nothing to suggest that the attack was a terrorist incident at the current stage of investigation.

At this stage, it would not be appropriate to speculate on the cause of this incident, Loveless said.

Ten people were injured in the mass stabbing on a high-speed LNER train going from Doncaster to London.

Defence Secretary John Healy described the attacks as an isolated incident. The early assessment is that this was an isolated incident, an isolated attack. He said.

British Transport Police received reports of multiple stabbings and were called to the scene at 7.42 pm local time on Saturday evening.

The train made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station, where police and paramedics arrived on scene.

The two suspects were arrested at the station. Police used a taser on a man who was holding a knife, BBC reported.
Interview/ Samrat Choudhary, deputy chief minister, Bihar

AMONG THE CURRENT breed of BJP leaders in Bihar, Samrat Choudhary stands the tallest. Quite literally as wellhe is 64. As deputy chief minister, Choudhary is the OBC face of the party in the state and is likely to lead the chief ministers race when the BJP gets an opportunity to anoint its own. His father Shakuni Choudhary was MLA six times, primarily from the RJD, with stints in the Congress and the Samata Party. His mother Parvati Devi was also an MLA. Choudhary, too, was with the RJD before joining the BJP in 2017. He served as BJP state chief and also as leader of opposition. Though a member of the legislative council, he will be contesting from Tarapur, his family pocket borough. Excerpts from an interview:

Q/ Every election feels like a challenge. How do you assess this one?

For the past 35 years, Bihars politics has revolved around social justice and development, ever since Lalu Prasads rise. He kept talking about social justice but never delivered it. Lalu ji only builds perceptions. He takes credit for the Mandal Commission, but the credit really goes to (former prime minister) V.P. Singh and the BJP, which had 84 MPs then and supported it in Delhi. The BJP has always believed that we are both Mandalwadi and Kamandalwadiwe uphold social justice and spirituality together. It is the NDAs duty to make both India and Bihar strong and prosperous.

Q/ What are your main issues this election?

Only development. Development and delivery. We have worked on it, delivered it and fulfilled peoples basic needs. That is our focus.

Q/ You are contesting polls after 2010. The BJP has given you a big responsibility.

I won five straight elections, and this is my sixth. I won even when Lalus family could not open their account. Lalu is a big leader, but he has never been able to bring in votes. I have done the groundwork. He is incapable of getting votes. He simply cannot. Today, the NDA is working under the leadership of Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi. We will get full majority, our best result yet.

Q/ There has long been talk that the BJP wants its own chief minister in Bihar, and your name is often mentioned.

The BJP and NDAs chief minister is Nitish Kumar. Lalu ji was made chief minister in 1990 and then betrayed the mandate. His character kept changing. He did not develop Bihar, he looted it. First the fodder scam, then bitumen, then land-for-jobs scam. His character kept degrading and people kept shifting to the NDA.

Q/ Nitish Kumar is projected as the CM face again, but your opponents say that might change after the polls.

Spreading doubt is the oppositions job. There is no vacancy for chief minister here. Nitish is, was and will remain chief minister.

Q/ The opposition grand alliance has announced Tejashwi Yadav as its CM face.

Since 2010, their decline has been constant. People know by now that changing names or candidates doesnt change reality. The question is character and ideology. Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee gave an ideology that Modi ji has fulfilled after 70 years (like removing Article 370). Lalus ideology, on the other hand, is corruption. He is convicted in several cases, in lower courts, High Court and even the Supreme Court. And I appeal to the youth to ask Tejashwi and Lalu one simple question: what is the formula to become a millionaire at the age of 1.5 years?

Q/ The SIR issue is in the news. Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders are campaigning heavily against it.

You have travelled across Bihartell me if one person said his or her vote was affected because of that. Democracy means government chosen by the people. Today, Modi ji and Nitish ji are elected by the people. Democracy was in danger when Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency. Lalu was jailed then. His daughter was born in prison, and he named her Misa after the law under which he was jailed. Journalists, actors, politicianslakhs of people were imprisoned. That was when democracy and the Constitution were in danger. Rahul Gandhi should be asked: your grandmother ruled for 13 years, your father was prime minister, your great-grandfather ruled for 17 years, and your mother was the most powerful person for a decade. If the country is still poor, who is responsible? You. The Gandhi family is Indias Gabbar Singh; in Bihar, that title belongs to Lalu Prasads family.

Q/ BJP-ruled states are often praised for fiscal management. You are the state finance minister. Before the polls, your government announced several schemes for women and youth. How sustainable is Bihars revenue generation?

The double-engine government has made it possible. Bihars total budget is Rs3.17 lakh crore. Of that, around Rs70,000 crore comes from the states own revenue, while the rest, over Rs2 lakh crore, is supported by Modi jis Central government through assistance and loans. All the schemes have been accommodated within the budget itself through a supplementary budget, without stressing the states finances.

Q/ Tejashwi Yadav claims every family will get a government job and that they have a blueprint ready.

It is a blueprint to win elections, nothing else. These are the same people who once brought red prints of violence and lawlessness. The people of Bihar gave Lalu 15 years, he provided barely 94,000 jobs. Nitish Kumar, on the other hand, gave 18.5 lakh jobs, 20 times more. Now they are promising 2.7 crore jobs. Where will the money come from? It would take Rs12 lakh crore. They are talking of giving Rs30,000 to Jeevika didithat is Rs5 lakh crore. Another 17 lakh crore for other schemes. It is propaganda, deception. The public knows this is to loot again.

Q/ Unemployment has always been a key issue in the state.

It used to be 11 per cent, but migration has dropped drastically. Only about 2 per cent of workers migrate now. We are identifying those still going out and will ensure they get employment here.

Q/ Prashant Kishor has emerged as an alternative, saying if he cannot be king, he will be kingmaker. He has made some serious allegations against you.

Let him prove even one allegation. If he can, I will retire from politics. This is Modi and Nitishs team where clean politics is the mainstay. These people dont even have the courage to file complaints. No documents, no evidence. Every election brings small parties: BSP, AIMIM and others. Around 200 parties are contesting this time. But the real fight is only between two sides: NDA and the grand alliance. Lalus side has some votes. They will fight hard but lose badly.

Q/ The NDA has ruled Bihar for 20 years, and Modi has been prime minister for 11 years. If you return to power, what can people expect in the next five years?

I guarantee that Biharis will no longer need to migrate. Till now, we were providing basic amenities; we will now build an industrial network across the state. When Lalu ji left, industrys share in Bihars GDP was negative. Today, it is 23 per cent. Our target is to raise it to 50 per cent, to create a developed Bihar where people can become prosperous within the state itself.
After the British writer Gillian Tindall died at 87 in London last month, it was discomfiting to see her superb 1982 City of Gold: The Biography of Bombay, which had a huge impact on Indian readers and writers, and strongly influenced Mumbais urban heritage movement, nonetheless barely registered the briefest footnote from her vast literary oeuvre in her hometown obituaries from The Times and The Telegraph.

Here, it was very different. The journalist and author Amrita Shah  who has herself written a fine city history of Ahmedabad  shared an evocative image of her battered old copy of City of Gold, in the Penguin India reprint which had made Tindalls work broadly accessible for the first time. Editor and cultural historian Naresh Fernandes, whose 2013 City Adrift is another excellent short biography of Bombay, did the same, saying it alerted many residents to the resonant stories all around us. For months after I read this 1992 reissue, I walked around the city with new eyes, now that I realised that I was strolling past the sites of gallows and gaols and recycled graveyards. #Sonapur.

Fernandes was referring to the paved-over colonial graveyard that gave City of Gold its resonant title, which Tindall says is actually two places, firstly, the city to which people come hoping to make their fortune, and have been coming with that in mind for 300 years. Great fortunes have, indeed, been made there. But in the search for gold (the great Indian lottery as it was known to early British settlers) many have died. For a hundred years, from 1766 to 1866, their bodies were laid in a place called Sonapur, which also means the city of gold since, according to an Indian saying, to die is to be turned into gold. This book is about those who sought gold, and those who found it in one form or another, and about the physical creation they left behind them.

Looking back, we can see Tindall came to focus on Bombay at an advanced and accomplished stage in her writing life, after publishing eight novels  the first came out in 1959, soon after she graduated from Lady Margaret Hall in Oxford with first class honours in English. She had already made her path-breaking foray into urban history with The Fields Beneath: The History of one London Village (1977), which the Royal Institute of British Architects Journal says marked a turning point and established a rich seam of how to write about places, buildings, and the people that make and inhabit them over the centuries. Directly and indirectly, the book has helped forge a way of seeing cities and places that is integral to most practising architects education and toolkit whether they realise it or not; intense mapping through drawing and research to understand how a context came to be, the flows of people, money, goods, transport and infrastructure thats shaped it. The genre is called miniaturist history

Whether or not miniaturist applies to City of Gold  in my opinion the qualifier is both meaningless and unhelpful  there is no doubt the book is a masterpiece. What is more, it was an important intentional corrective to what Tindall describes as the Apocalypse Soon mentality she perceived as misrepresenting her city subject at the time she first engaged with it. Thus, her portrayal of Bombay, which includes the deeply felt Maugham-esque story The China Egg, can be usefully understood as an implicit rebuke to VS Naipaul's India: A Wounded Civilization, which had come out in 1977.

Introducing her 1992 reprint, Tindall recalled when I wrote the book, it was still fashionable to deplore the city and its unrestrained growth in doom-laden terms, implying that dirt, overcrowding, traffic problems, pollution and poverty itself could only ever get worse, the Indian-city-choking-itself-to-death school of thought. As readers will see, I have never subscribed to this pessimistic view, since many of Bombays problems are the result not of poverty as such but the reverse.

It is an important insight that turned out to be remarkably prescient. In retrospect, it is a great shame this insightful and extremely helpful author was not invited to engage with Mumbai again in its 21st century avatar  an immense opportunity missed.


PATNA

The ghats of Patna hum with their usual mix of ritual and routine. The Ganga moves slow and heavy with silt as workers scoop out slush to ready the steps for the annual Chhath festival. This year, the clean-up is hurried, as devotees will also be voters in a few weeks.

Every major contenderthe JD(U), the BJP, the RJD and even Prashant Kishors Jan Suraaj Partyis speaking of the same issues: jobs, migration and the economy. We find women from lower castes much more independent, as their husbands migrate for work. They take decisions, unlike those from middle or upper castes. Rakesh Ranjan, professor, Patna University

A few steps away, a cluster of young men and women sit cross-legged solving question papers. One student, seated slightly apart, looks up from his sheet. We are doing a mock test for the sub-inspector exam, says Sumit Kushwaha, taking a break from his general knowledge paper. The government has advertised 1,799 posts, the biggest recruitment drive in years. Already 14 lakh people have applied.

The scene repeats itself across Biharstudents studying in open spaces, on railway platforms and in parks. In Patnas Gandhi Maidan, hundreds gathered daily for physical training until the ground was taken over for election rallies. In recent months, Bihar has seen several student protests over question paper leaks and job scams. For a state long known for its civil service aspirants but poor in job opportunities, the elections have become an occasion for cautious hope.

Sumit, a political science graduate, says the group has been studying together for months because of the lack of quiet spaces. Beside him sits Pradeep Kumar, who completed his postgraduate degree in mathematics in 2019. Both are preparing to become darogas, or sub-inspectors, a title that carries significant weight in the popular imagination across the Hindi heartland.

Between pages and pencils they talk politics. Sumit says Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and opposition Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadavs promise of one government job for every family has found resonance among the youth. But people may still vote along caste lines, he adds quickly. Pradeep makes another observation. When I went to my village recently, women were lining up to register for Nitish Kumars Rs10,000 scheme. After so many years, that dole is still attracting people.

These two promisesTejashwis job guarantee and Nitishs Rs10,000 cash assistance for womenhave become the leitmotif of the Bihar elections. Tejashwi is wooing the restless youth, while Nitish is depending on his loyal base of women voters to carry him through what could be his last election. Over 14 lakh first-time voters have been added this time.

Ironically, every major contenderthe Janata Dal (United), the BJP, the RJD and even Prashant Kishors Jan Suraaj Partyis speaking of the same issues: jobs, migration and the economy. It is the one ground they agree on even as they fight bitterly for power in Patliputra.

Testing times: Students prepare for police sub-inspector examination on the banks of the Ganges in Patna | Sanjay Ahlawat

The National Democratic Alliance, in power for most of the past 20 years, now talks of expanding Bihars industrial network. Earlier we were busy meeting the basic needs of people; now we will move towards industrialisation, says Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

There is another front on which the two main opponents, the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, battleLalu Prasad. In the RJDs strategy Lalu has a silent presence; in the NDAs campaign, an overarching one. In recent weeks the BJP leadership has sharpened its attacks on Lalu with the usual jungle raj jibe, a term originally used by the Patna High Court in a case of municipal mismanagement. Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Choudhary repeatedly ask: will Tejashwi be any different from his father?

Tejashwi, who became a father for the second time in May this yearhis elder daughter Katyayani and son Iraj are named after Hindu deitiesremains unfazed by political attacks about the Lalu era. It doesnt bother me. This has been on since so many past elections. They dont have anything new. It is their (NDA leaders) time to respond on their record. I focus on what I will deliver.

Question him about the promise of one government job for every familya tall order for 2.7 crore households, given that the total number of government employees in the state now is only 23 lakhTejashwi says he has done his homework. We have discussed with experts and have already prepared a blueprint. He has promised to bring a law in 20 days to fulfil his pledge.

United we stand: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a public meeting in Samastipur district | PTI

The partys Rajya Sabha MP and academic Manoj Jha elaborates. First, the budget in Bihar needs to be looked afresh. Second, the commitment is for a span of five years. We will make sure that almost all get one. Third, we would also look at several units in the tertiary sector where, through certain changes, employment can be provided.

While Tejashwi carries forward the social justice plank of his father and is cushioned by the strong MuslimYadav support factor, he is also seeking to expand to economic justice. The party has engaged with the Bihari diaspora to convince them to invest in industries in the state.

During the 2020 assembly polls, Tejashwi attracted huge crowds and came tantalisingly close to power. The NDA won with 125 of 243 seats with a 37.26 per cent vote share, while the Mahagathbandhan got 110 seats. However, the difference in the vote share between the two fronts was just 0.03 per centless than 12,000 votesand the RJD still finished as the single largest party.

But in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the difference in vote share widened to over eight per cent. Though those polls were for electing a prime minister, now with assembly elections being held after just 18 months, it remains to be seen how the Mahagathbandhan will fill the gap, says Patna University professor Rakesh Ranjan.

Divine assistance: Union Minister Chirag Paswan performs rituals on the last day of the Chhath Puja festival in Patna | PTI

At 35, Tejashwi is the youngest chief ministerial candidate in the fray. The other hopefuls47-year-old Prashant Kishor and 42-year-old Chirag Paswanalso present themselves as youth leaders aspiring for the top post. While Lalu was known for his wit and mercurial ways, Tejashwis public utterances have been measured even when faced with criticism and Nitishs frequent U-turns. He is a good listener and rarely loses his cool even though alliance talks and seat-sharing negotiations were a hard bargain by allies, says a party source.

The NDA has a battery of big campaigners including Modi, Shah, Nitish and Chirag Paswan. Tejashwi, meanwhile, often carries the weight of his alliance alone. Dressed in T-shirts embossed with the party symbol and name, he appeals to the youth and is working hard to expand the partys reach beyond its MuslimYadav base to all sections of society, including women.

Tejashwi has been aggressively wooing women with a promise of enhanced remuneration for Jeevika Didis (community mobilisers) and regularising their jobs. While the RJD has allocated nearly half of its seats to MuslimYadav aspirants, it has also fielded 20 scheduled caste candidates, one scheduled tribe candidate and 24 women. Other castes are represented by alliance partners such as the Congress, the Left and the Vikassheel Insaan Party of Mukesh Sahani, who has been declared a deputy chief ministerial candidate. Tejashwi has hinted there could be deputy chief ministers from among Muslims and dalits as well.

How the Mahagathbandhans pitch of jobs, development and social justice plays out will be seen during the polls, as there are many variables at work. The Congress and Sahani drove a hard bargain in the seat-sharing process. The Congress, energised by Rahul Gandhis Vote Adhikar Yatra against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, wanted more seats despite its poor record last time. The party contested 70 seats but won only 19, reducing Tejashwis chances of becoming chief minister.

Friendly fights between allies in a few seats suggest all sides played a war of nerves, leaving the poll process to decide which candidate to back so that the alliances chances are not harmed. The larger message is that the Mahagathbandhan has emerged as an umbrella alliance which ensures representative justice for all social groups. The campaign against SIR made people alert. It revived the supporters of the entire opposition, says Pawan Khera, chairman of the Congresss media and publicity cell.

The contest is much clearer this time. Tejashwi was born in the post-Mandal era, while Nitish is a product of the Mandal period that changed the political map of the country. Nitish has managed to create his own vote base, whether among women or the extremely backward classes (EBCs), whom he has kept satisfied. The recent transfer of Rs10,000 to over one crore women just days ahead of the polls is seen as one of the key factors that has given the NDA an edge before voting begins.

Despite rumours about his failing health, Nitish has been agile and active since the polls were announced. Analysts are calling this his last election, with some questioning whether he will remain chief minister even if the NDA wins. Nitish, however, has proved his ability to bounce back when he is about to be written off. As soon as the polls were declared, Nitish moved swiftly. Initially, there was no joint appearance of the NDA partners, and Nitish began distributing party tickets to his candidates. While Amit Shah had first said that MLAs would choose the chief minister after the polls, the BJPs tone changed a week later. Soon, all NDA partners came around to the slogan that there is no vacancy for the CMs post and Nitish will be CM again.

The Bihar elections are personal for Modi as well. His government depends on the support of two allies from Bihar, the JD(U) and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). The 29 seats given to Chirag Paswan, though mostly constituencies the NDA lost last time, are seen as an attempt to create a new dalit leader in the state. Chirag has already staked his claim for the chief ministers post in 2030, causing unease within the JD(U) and a section of the BJP.

It is evident that no party can form a government in the state on its own. Nitishs party, built over three decades, now faces the test of succession. This has led to growing demands from a section of JD(U) leaders to bring his son, Nishant Kumar, into electoral politics. That option, stalled by Nitish himself, may reappear after the polls, sources indicate.

For the BJP, Bihar remains an unfulfilled dream, as the party has still not had its own chief minister in the state. That, however, could change if Nitish slips further. In 2020, the JD(U) won only 43 of 115 seats it contested. This time, it is contesting 101. Whether votes transfer smoothly between allies is being closely watched. We will form the government with a big majority. Our alliance is intact, says BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal.

Nitish has allocated 37 seats to backward classes and 22 to EBCs, along with 22 general-category candidates. The JD(U) has also fielded four Muslims and ten dalits across the Musahar, Manjhi and Ravidas communities, keeping in mind Nitishs social-engineering plank. The BJP, meanwhile, has leaned heavily on upper-caste consolidation, fielding 49 general candidates. The party has also given tickets to 24 OBCs, 16 EBCs and 11 dalits, with the Paswan community receiving the largest share among dalits.

If Nitish manages to return to power, the support of women voters will again be a key factor. Tejashwi is aware of this and has been trying to win over at least a section of them. He has offered an annual assistance of Rs30,000 for women and promised to provide cooking gas cylinders for under Rs500. The JD(U), however, insists that the RJDs promises are false. Jeevika Didi scheme is Nitishs brainchild. He gave women confidence and security. Women refused to venture out earlier, but now they are independent, says JD(U) spokesperson Nawal Sharma. The NDA has fielded 35 women candidates, while the Mahagathbandhan has given seats to 32.

Bihar has, however, been an outlier in gender empowerment. Women voters outnumbered men in the last elections. We find women from lower castes much more independent, as their husbands migrate for work. They take decisions, unlike those from middle or upper castes, who go with the choices of their male family members. This also sets them apart from voters in other Hindi-heartland states. Here women voters are informed and politically conscious, says Patna University professor Rakesh Ranjan.

This years elections are different in several other ways, too. Not everyone believes the name of the chief minister will be clear on November 14, the counting day. One reason for that uncertainty is the presence of Prashant Kishor, an untested factor in Bihars poll scenario. Unlike other players in the fray, Kishor, like Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal, has kept his ideology ambivalent. He has made development his theme and, in Kejriwal style, has tried to expose the past of many leaders. He has become a talking point in the state, with educated youth and those disillusioned with mainstream politics seeing him as an alternative. However, his decision to challenge Tejashwi for a direct fight and then back out may have dented his image. He should tell us why he got scared, Sharma says.

In the 2020 polls, there were more than 50 seats where the victory margin was less than 5,000 votes. This means the Jan Suraaj Party could upset many outcomes, making predictions even more difficult.

Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding the SIR process, which attracted nationwide attention when the exercise began in June, has subsided, with even the opposition agreeing that it is unlikely to affect the outcome. Our achievement is the number 12. Aadhaar was the 12th document allowed by the Election Commission [for the SIR process] upon the intervention of the Supreme Court, for the voters list, says Tejashwi.

Another variable that could influence the polls is what Pradeep told us at the Ganga ghats: I will vote for NOTA. Bihari voters have shown that they would rather vote for none and still be counted. During the 2020 elections, there were 30 seats in which NOTA polled more than the winning margins.

Nitish might fervently hope that it does not come to that. At 74, he is the last of Bihars socialist patriarchs. Tejashwi, born a few months before the Mandal announcement in 1990, belongs to the post-Mandal, liberalisation era. Even the other contenders for the top post, such as Chirag and Kishor, come from the same period when change became a constant. These elections may well define their journeys ahead, intertwined with the politics of Bihar for the next 25 years.
Interview/ Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretary, CPI(ML) Liberation

What do you think is the biggest issue in this election?

Q/ I think change is the biggest issue this time. Even in 2020, Bihar had indicated its desire for a change in government, but that didnt happen then. So this is a long-pending, long-awaited agenda for Bihar.

The demand for change is powered by all the issues people faceunemployment, poverty, migration, lack of housing, collapse of governance, massive corruption at every level and the nexus that Nitish Kumar has created. The actual coalition ruling Bihar is not the NDA coalition, it is a coalition of crime, corruption and police. Police officers and mafia gangs are behind it. Bihar badly needs freedom from this.

Q/ Bihar has traditionally been a fertile ground for left politics. What makes left candidates win here?

It is the present and the dream of the future that drives the left forward. Our decades of struggle have built credibility among the people. Currently, we have 11 MLAs who present their report cards to the people, both inside and outside the assembly. At a time when there is little transparency and accountability in politics, we are trying to institutionalise both. This is the left agendathe credible role of the left in defending democracy, which keeps us relevant.

Q/ The NDA emphasises on Nitish Kumars 20-year tenure and compares it with the Lalu Prasad era, using terms like jungle raj. Does Tejashwi Yadav carry a historical burden?

Absolutely not. People do not live in history. History is there to learn lessons from, not to dictate present action. Today, people in Bihar live in the present and fight for the future. If there was jungle raj in the 1990s, what we have today is maha jungle raj.

Q/ What message could emerge from Bihar for the rest of the country?

We hope Bihar sets an example. Bihar has been singled out for SIR experiment. There is a massive attack on universal adult franchise and on the Constitutions commitment to every citizen. People are watching Bihar closely, to see whether it follows a path like Maharashtra or Jharkhand in rejecting the BJP.

Q/ Will SIR affect voters on the ground?

SIR will have resonance. Voters are being disenfranchisedmaybe about 10 per cent of people.
Windswept hills, forests and acres of farmland make mid-Wales a bucolic haven  but its isolated splendour has also hampered economic progress.

Away from the north and south coasts, and the Valleys, much of the country is deemed to suffer 'hidden poverty'  with few jobs other than in farming, forestry and tourism, plus poor transport and infrastructure. So a 1 billion project for a 200-mile grid linking dozens of new wind farms is sparking hopes of a boost to Wales's rural economy.

But the Green Gen Cymru project hangs in the balance as Wales faces seismic political upheaval.

Labour, understood to be the party most supportive of the scheme, faces losing control of the Welsh Senedd for the first time since devolution in 1999.

At the Caerphilly by-election ten days ago, nationalists Plaid Cymru took 47 per cent of the vote, with Reform UK on 36 per cent and Labour  defending the Senedd seat  third with just 11 per cent.

Last month, a poll suggested Labour could finish third when all-out Welsh elections are held in May.

On the march: Locals want cables buried underground claiming masts will ruin the landscape

Reform UK, forecast to win the most seats in those elections, has spoken out against Green Gen Cymru's pylons 'wrecking our precious environment', while Plaid Cymru  set to come second  favours having cables underground or on 'low wooden poles'.

Emphasising the benefits, Green Gen Cymru's boss Stuart George said: 'There's a remarkable gap across Wales. It's devoid of any transmission-level infrastructure between the Valleys and north coast. Our network will enable economic growth to be stimulated which is currently very difficult as they don't have any power grid.

'Business can't expand, the population can't electrify, they can't get electrical vehicles, electric home-heating systems.'

Locals close to one of the three proposed lines accept the need for the 60 miles of cables between Radnor Forest near Llandrindod Wells and Carmarthen.

But Tina Roberts, at Llandovery council, said: 'If they ran them underground there wouldn't be a protest. Everyone here is anti the pylons, it's such a beautiful area right on the Brecons.'

George promised economic benefits 'in the billions', adding: 'It will enable businesses to locate there, for existing firms to expand and the public to electrify their lives.'

He said the scheme would provide 'more opportunities for young people to stay in their communities rather than move to find jobs.'

The project's main backer is Danish energy firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, which has put in 600 million in funding.

While George recognised concern about the 'visual impact' of the pylons, which could double as mobile phone masts, he said they would be smaller than others at 90ft high. But he admitted less than 10 per cent of the cables would run underground  only in the most sensitive landscapes  arguing burying the power lines would be 'five and ten times, and up to 20 times' more costly. For some, the scheme brings memories of Welsh valleys being flooded to provide water for Birmingham and Liverpool.

Roberts said: 'Many people believe the power lines are for the benefit of England, but that's just me reading between the lines.'

A Carmarthenshire landowner, who didn't want to be named as the issue divides farmers, agreed, saying: 'No one here wants it, except for the few who are being well compensated for having these monstrosities on their land.'

Green Gen Cymru's power lines would connect wind farms providing 3.3gigawatts of power  enough to power up to 3 million homes.
Sir Charlie Mayfield, the former boss of John Lewis, will this week call for urgent action to tackle the surge in the number of people who are not working due to sickness or disability.

His report, Keep Britain Working, is due to be published this week.

It is expected to draw attention to the worrying rise in young people who have dropped out of the labour market, many of them citing mental health problems.

Leading employers including accountancy giant PwC, Tesco and Mayfield's former employer the John Lewis Partnership are expected to back his report.

The dramatic rise in the number of people being signed off work due to ill-health has fuelled fears of a sick note culture that risks jeopardising growth, which is already sluggish.

The combination of lost productivity and higher benefit costs is a problem for the Chancellor in the run-up to the Budget, as she faces a multi-billion-pound black hole in her coffers.

Get well soon: Charlie Mayfield will highlight the damaging effect on individuals, as well as the economy

Mayfield is likely to say that fulfilling work can be beneficial for health and well-being, as it guards against isolation and can boost self-esteem.

He is expected to highlight the pernicious effects of inactivity on the economy and on individuals, who often suffer financially and psychologically.

The report, which is backed by the Government, is likely to find that economic inactivity due to sickness has worsened in the UK compared with similar countries.

If recent trends continue, another 600,000 people will become economically inactive over the next four years, on top of the nine million who have already left the labour market.

Growth in working-age health and disability benefits could add 25 billion to welfare spending between now and 2029-30.

Since the pandemic, the number of people who have quit the workplace entirely because of sickness and disability is up by 800,000.

Over the same period, two million more people say they have health conditions that limit their ability to work, an increase of more than 30 per cent, according to evidence compiled for Mayfield.

The biggest rise is among young people aged 16 to 34, where the numbers are up by 1.2 million or 77 per cent. Of those, 530,000 young people said their main condition was mental health-related.

It is not clear why mental health among young people has deteriorated so dramatically, though possible causes include social media and the pandemic. The report is likely to highlight long delays for people seeking help from the NHS with mental health.

There are also long delays for those with musculoskeletal problems, which are a big cause of absence in older people.

Mayfield's recommendations will draw on existing best practices among employers. Measures are expected to include protocols for staying in touch with employees who are off sick so there is less chance of them becoming disconnected from the workplace.
US telecommunications giant Liberty Global is likely to be 'looking for opportunities' to dump its remaining stake in British broadcaster ITV, an analyst has said.

Karen Egan, head of Enders Analysis, told The Mail on Sunday it was 'likely' that Liberty would want to sell the rest of its holding in ITV to pump cash into other assets in its empire.

A core focus is the group's broadband business, which includes a 50 per cent stake in Virgin Media O2, Britain's second-largest internet provider.

'It's quite possible it will sell the remaining stake,' Egan said of the ITV holding, though she noted Liberty would need to wait 60 days before selling more of the business.

She added: 'It might not necessarily sell immediately after that  it'll have to gauge market appetite. But I expect it'll be looking for opportunities to sell.'

Sell-off: Liberty Global is likely to be 'looking for opportunities' to dump its remaining stake in ITV

Last month, Liberty cut its stake in ITV  whose shares are down almost 15 per cent in the past six months  from 10 to 5 per cent, raking in 140 million.

The US giant has owned a stake since 2015 but said it was offloading half to spend the cash on other parts of its portfolio with more growth potential. A shake-up is expected after Liberty's chairman John Malone, 84, announced he would step down.
Smiti Kanodia was just 24 when she founded the Indian chapter of a leading global cultural guide. The idea came to her at New York University, where the business-and-finance major leaned on the magazine to plan weekends for herself and her friends. After graduating, she moved to London for a masters in publishing; then she came home to Mumbai determined to build the same city-centric model herewith smart, tightly curated listings, sharp reviews, and a local calendar. Launched in 2004, the fortnightly quickly became a fixture, expanding from Mumbai to Bengaluru and Delhi and slipping into each citys planning rituals. I was working with some of the brightest minds in the room, Kanodia recalls. The collaboration, she says, succeeded because I kept it real. I like to be around people who are better than me, because without saying it, they set the bar. During our editorial meetings back then, Id say, Im the South Mumbai girl who doesnt read as much as all of you, so make sure the magazine is exciting for me.

This instinct to learn through osmosis still remains.

After she paused the magazines print run, she deliberately turned her focus to raising her children and helping in the family business. But life has a way of catching up, admits 46-year-old Kanodia. This week she brings Art Deco Alive! to the citya first-of-its-kind, cross-continental celebration marking a century of the movement that was born in Paris in 1925 and carried across the world, from Miami to here. After a successful opening in Miami last month, the event will unfold here, in Mumbai, with an electric two-week programme of pop-up exhibitions, architectural walks, workshops, film screenings, literary panels and a grand symposium.

Finding Mumbai in Miami

At the Worli headquarters of her husband Nishants fertiliser company, Kanodia has fashioned a temporary workspace, where her small teamled by Tinaz Nooshian, a longtime newsroom leader who now serves as creative director for the projectis finessing the programme. Its an exciting time, Kanodia shares.

For someone steeped in the citys arts-and-culture life, coming back after a decade in the corporate maze wasnt easy. It took a lot to get out there again, she confesses. Once youve done something that was really big, it becomes hard to put yourself to something else.

The plunge wasnt planned. A couple of years ago, on holiday in Miami with her children, she strolled down Ocean DriveSouth Beachs showcase of Art Deco: low-rise facades, bold geometry, sleek lines. It felt like we were in Mumbais Marine Drive, because there were similar buildings and tree-lined roads. Even the sea breezewarm and saline, familiarfelt familiar.

A visit to the Art Deco Museum left her more curious. Storytelling is such a big part of the narrative in the West, and thats how they preserve their culture, she says. The thought was seeded therewhat if she could do something similar in her home city?

Spearheading a collaboration The centenary year felt like the right moment to move the conversation forward. Kanodia reached out to two Miami-based friends with deep ties to culture and citymaking: Salma Merchant Rahmathulla, a philanthropist and advocate for cultural preservation who serves on the boards of The UnderlineMiamis 10-mile linear park and public-art corridorand is part of The Smithsonians Regional Council; and Gayatri Hingorani Dewan, a curator and former publisher whose work spans luxury, travel, and design within the USIndia corridor. Together, they began shaping a MumbaiMiami exchange, developed with partners including the Miami Design Preservation League and the Art Deco Mumbai Trust, organisations that have long anchored the preservation and public understanding of Art Deco in their respective cities.

Much like what she had initiated with her publishing venture, she wanted to work with the best in the field. That was really my goal, she says. Rather than trying to do everything ourselves, I wanted us to collaborate with the best and ensure there was cross-pollination of ideas.

Atul Kumar, founder trustee of Art Deco Mumbai, responded to her vision, and became, a magnanimous event partner. Atul rallied his entire team and took on the exercise of making the creatives for our shows in Miami and Mumbai.

A conversation on design

For the past few months, Kanodia has shuttled between the two port cities, convening curators, architects, archivists and city officials to read the two skylines against each other, to see how these places absorbed Art Deco and bent it to climate and everyday life. In October at a day-long symposium at The WolfsonianFlorida International University, panels paired Ocean Drive with Mumbais Deco beltfrom Marine Drive through Matungatracing common threads and local inflections. Onstage were Craig Robins (co-founder and co-owner of Design Miami), Jane Wooldridge (award-winning journalist) and art collector, Ella Fontanals-Cisneros, among others.

In Miami Beach, the style softened into Tropical Deco: pastel stucco, rounded corners, ship-like railings and porthole windows. In Mumbai, the same design elements were facelifted by bright and contrasting colours.

The atmosphere was electric, recalls Kanodia. Most people there didnt know that Mumbai has Art Deco. In fact, I think most people in Mumbai, too, dont know that our city has Art Deco. Sometimes we forget to become tourists in our own cities, says Kanodia, who reveals that she too, only recently realised she was living in a Deco home.

With a festival that places two cities side by side, Kanodia wants to ignite and catalyse nascent cultural thought. The plan is to make it a regular fixture, not just in Mumbai, but across other Indian cities shaped by the movement. The intent, she says, is less about nostalgia. Deco isnt just historical, its also contemporary. Its one of those few design forms that doesnt feel dated. It established the vocabulary for modernity in Mumbai. Thats why it will always stay current with time, she says.

That emphasis on continuity feels urgent as new skyscrapers rise  necessary for growth, but often indifferent to context. When we talk about rootedness, its not about being for or against anything, its about creating a conversation thats colourful, one that embraces the future while keeping the best of the past, says Kanodia.


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The small whiteboard at the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) office in Bandra East records, in careful handwriting, how change takes root slowly. It lists the cases the womens organisation handled over the past year: two of khuladivorce initiated by the wifeand two unilateral dissolutions (faskh-e-nikah).

Notably, the number of triple-talaq cases, once at the centre of BMMAs campaign and the subject of its 2019 Supreme Court victory, stands at zero.

Khatoon Shaikh, a social worker and qazi who runs the centre, says she has seen awareness grow among both women and men. Weve come a long way, but our work has only just begun, she says. Shaikh, who has been working for womens rights for three decades, says BMMA is finalising a large sample survey that it has undertaken on polygamythe practice of marriage to more than one spouse at a timewhich will soon be made public. The organisation will also file a fresh petition in the Supreme Court seeking a ban.

The law without machinery

Such activism unfolds against a sobering national backdrop. Nearly two decades after the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA) came into force, its machinery remains badly underpowered.

Currently, there is no centralised data on the total number of cases registered under the Act, as domestic violence cases are rarely handled in isolation. They are usually accompanied by other proceedings, such as maintenance claims (for financial support), divorce petitions, or Section 498A cases (cruelty by a husband or his family).

At the heart of the problem is implementation. The laws framework assumes the presence of a functioning network of Protection Officersstate-appointed officials meant to be the first point of contact for survivors. Under Section 8 of the Act, they are required to record complaints, coordinate with police, arrange medical care and shelter, and ensure that protection and maintenance orders reach a magistrate within three days.

In practice, that system barely exists. The Bombay High Court last month issued contempt notices to the principal secretaries of the states finance department and the women and child development department for failing to implement its 2014 order to appoint taluka-level protection officers under the Act. The court observed that despite a mandate to fill hundreds of posts across Maharashtra, the state government has halted progress, with 74 of 358 protection officer posts still vacant and finance department approvals pending.

Delays have compounded the failure. According to Advocate Persis Sidhva, director of RATI Foundation, which supports survivors of gender-based violence, most cases take a median of five to six years to conclude. Interim-relief applications under the Domestic Violence Act can remain pending for months.

For women seeking protection from violent homes, such timelines can mean returning to abusers, withdrawing complaints, or losing access to children and property.

Other democracies have recognised these enforcement gaps. The United Kingdoms Domestic Abuse Act 2021 created an Independent Domestic Abuse Commissioner empowered to monitor courts, police, and social services and to table an annual progress report before Parliament.

India has no comparable model in place. The result is a patchwork system in which the laws reach depends largely on a womans postcode.

The politics of reform

Bandra East resident Taslim Mohsin Salehs story captures how laws meant to safeguard women can be twisted into new instruments of control. The 35-year-old mother of three sons says that in 2022, her husband, Mohsinallegedly involved with another married womanpronounced triple talaq while she was five months pregnant.

Following the intervention of Shaikh, who called both parties to the BMMA office and warned Mohsin that he was committing a criminal offence under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, he apologised and promised to end the affair. I was very much in love with him, and so I readily went back to him, she says. Last year, however, Mohsin married the woman and brought her home. The abuse and harassment began soon after. They would sleep on the mezzanine, while I was made to sleep down on the floor. In recent weeks, Taslim alleges, he has stopped giving her money for groceriesshe is deliberately made to starveand has forced her to remove her jewellery, claiming he had already divorced her three years ago.

While Taslims case is unusual, Shaikh says it reflects a wider pattern: men entering second marriages to sidestep the ban on triple talaq. So, while we might be seeing fewer or no cases of triple talaq, polygamy remains a problem, she says.

Rights activist Zakia Soman, co-founder of BMMA, says the politics of the day has turned womens reform into theatre. Earlier this week, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma vowed to criminalise polygamy; his bill, to be tabled later this month, proposes a seven-year jail term. Though Sarma says the law will apply to all religions, his motives are widely viewed with suspicion. Soman says, Yes, polygamy is a problem and should be abolished legally. But when it is being done by a Hindutva icon such as Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has been going after the Muslims lock, stock, and barrel, what kind of credibility does it carry?

Womens-rights advocate Veena Gowda remains wary of the tendency to over-criminalise social issues. She cites the Dagdu Chotu Pathan v. Rahimbi Dagdu Pathan (2002) and Shayara Banu (2017) rulings, which had already rendered instant triple talaq void and unconstitutional. While the Supreme Court directed the state to consider legislation, I do not see a reason for having a law which criminalises the pronouncement of triple talaq as a criminal offence, she says. How do you criminalise an act that has no legal consequences?

To frame such issues in religious terms, Gowda adds, is misleading. The National Family Health Survey 2019-21 showed polygamy across communities1.9 per cent among Muslims, 1.3 per cent among Hindus, 1.6 per cent among othersand highest in tribal districts at 2.4 per cent. The real social crime, she says, is abandonment. In every community men desert their women, Gowda says. So why wouldnt there be a law making desertion a criminal offence?

Justice by delay

Matrimonial litigation also remains a labyrinth, says Sidhva of RATI Foundation. Its very case specific. Often what would apply in one case may not apply in another. Samar Mavinkurve, a Pune-based advocate who specialises in family, divorce and child protection law, adds that the implementation of laws, and the protection that women are offered, is often at the discretion of the judges. A judge cannot be appointed in the districts that they have practiced, he explains, So a judge appointed to a bench in Pune or Mumbai could be from Marathwada or Vidharbha and take time to grasp the lifestyle or expenses of people who live in the cities. He offers the example of a woman who, despite continuing to live with her husband, who was supporting her financially, as well as earning a stable income herself, was offered a sum of Rs 50,000 as maintenance, whereas a woman who had been abandoned by her husband, had two children to look after, and no income of her own, was only given Rs 15,000.

Whats lacking, Sidhva says, is uniform implementation. What troubles her more is the sheer length of proceedings. Women who need urgent relief are really not able to get timely support, she says. Even if you get a favourable judgment after six years, how does that really benefit you?

This is clear in the case of Pune-based doctor Shreya (name changed). She filed for divorce in 2014, after discovering her husbands affair. Since adultery was then a criminal offenceit was decriminalised in 2018her family persuaded her to seek a mutual divorce. We agreed on the terms, one of which was that he would bear all educational and medical expenses for my daughter, she says. After a few months, he withdrew his consent and filed a divorce case on the grounds of cruelty.

Shreyas husband now lives with the same woman and their twin children. He claims to have spent Rs 50 lakh supporting Shreyas business; she says it was under Rs 10 lakh. My husband filed a divorce case on cruelty, a financial recovery case, and I filed an adultery case. The judge clubbed all three, delaying my interim-maintenance matter, she adds.

She finally received a judgement order on her interim maintenance application, which she filed in 2014, just six months ago. For the past 10 years, the amount is Rs 10,000 per month, and from April onwards, it will be Rs 15,000 per month, which is nothing if you consider todays expenses. The judge implied that since Shreya was a doctor, she should not rely on maintenance. I am not asking for maintenance for me! she insists, How can a father get away from a daughters responsibility? Shreya is understandably disillusioned. Whats the point of having a legal marriage system if the law cant protect it?

In March 2024, while hearing a similar case, the Delhi High Court observed that a well-educated wife, with experience in a suitable gainful job, ought not to remain idle solely to gain maintenance. Courts, meanwhile, continue to emphasise the sanctity of marriage.

Veteran journalist Kalpana Sharma, who specialises in gender issues, says that while progressive new laws are necessary, what is equally needed is a change in societal mindset. This idea that women must accept that marriage is inevitable despite also being encouraged to follow careers and be independent, is a contradiction.

Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record Shriya Maini notes that personal biases often creep into judicial reasoning. A female judge who is perhaps not very happy with her daughter-in-law, or a male judge whose son has gone through a bitter divorce, may view the same issue differently, and this can influence their approach when granting maintenance. This could happen subconsciously without even realising.

Pune-based Divya (name changed), who had been facing abuse since her marriage in 1992 and had tried to leave her husband several times, was taken aback when he filed for divorce in 2012 on the grounds of cruelty. Her lawyer successfully contested his claims in court. But one of the more perverse rulings in the case came from a judge who decided that since Divya was represented by a high-profile lawyer, she did not need interim maintenancethe lawyer was working pro bono. The ruling that requires her husband to provide maintenance and shelter is also under appeal, so even though the court ruled in their favour, the abuse continues. I have been fighting for such a long time, and on so many fronts going to court, fighting my mother and brothers here, and to keep myself emotionally stable, she says.

Institutions that fail women

The obstacles only multiply when the very institutions meant to protect women end up silencing them. A former head of HR at a major firm recalls her long battle with workplace sexual harassment and the systems failure to address it. The case dates to 2016, when, as a divorced mother, began facing harassment from her managing director. When she resisted his advancesincluding repeated inappropriate phone callsshe sought a transfer from Delhi to Mumbai. He insisted she report to Delhi every two weeks.

She complained to senior management. Despite clear evidence, including recorded conversations, the company shielded the MD. Instead of following the POSH law, it drafted its own policy. Her witnesses were coerced to resign; her promotion was withheld.

She filed a case in the Industrial Tribunal that same year, facing workplace isolation and victimisation. I used to go to the office at 9 am and sit in my cabin and come out at 6.30 pm without talking to anyone, without being copied on any emails, she recalls. She eventually resigned but has struggled to find full-time work since, relying on consultancy assignments. In 2023, the tribunal ruled in the companys favour. When she finally accessed the case files, she discovered missing evidence, including her testimony and recordings. She has now moved the High Court. I have faith in the system, she says quietly.

Maini believes that things are changing, even if slowly. One positive development, she says, is that more women are making themselves visible in the corridors of the courts. I feel that the number of women lawyers arguing cases has increased. There is greater acceptance now more than ever. Many of the trial courts dealing with women-centric issues are mahila courts, where it is mandatory to have a woman magistrate. I think that has also made a difference, she says. But are women sufficiently aware of their rights, freedoms, and lawswhether its the special laws, personal laws, women-centric legislations, or even the latest judgments and orders? asks Maini. And if they are not, are we doing enough to address this?


Actually . . . This year we noticed fewer trick-or-treaters across the metro . . . Here's what could be an end to a tradition overall . . .

The Scarritt Renaissance neighborhood in northeast Kansas City has hosted Scare-it Halloween for 30 years, but this one will be its last.



Each year, they invite anyone who can make it to trick or treat with them.



He said that the neighborhood feels like theyve accomplished their goal for the past 30 years and hopes to continue the tradition of a safe place for families with a fall festival next year.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. The pantomime performance The Secret of Water, specially prepared for the Flight to Baku. Art Weekend: Feel the Future NOW fine arts festival, was presented at the Stone Chronicle Museum, Trend reports.

The initiator of the Art Weekend project, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA Public Union Leyla Aliyeva, along with Arzu Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva, attended the event and watched the stage performance.

The performance revolves around the theme of water, chosen as the main element of this years folk art festival. Authored by Peoples Artist and pantomime actor Parviz Mammadrzayev, the production portrays the eternal bond between humans and water.

In addition to Parviz Mammadrzayev, seven actors took part in the performance, which silently yet powerfully conveys humanitys enduring quest for water  the source of life.

The project aims to present Baku as a global cultural capital  a city that unites tradition and modernity, embraces diverse ideas, and inspires future generations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. As part of the Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW arts festival, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the IDEA Public Union in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, the I Am Water exhibition has opened at the Zaman Art Gallery.

The exhibition features works by more than 20 artists, including Tahir Shikhaliyev, Aylin Mammadli, Diana Aliyeva, Mahammad Orujov, Eldar Babazade, Sayali Mammadova, Orkhan Garayev, Inna Kostina, Afaq Akbarova, Adil Shikhaliyev, Mir Azer Abdullayev, Gunel Ravilova, Aynura Mahmudova, Gulnara Khalilova, Nigar Familsoy, Vugar Ali, Fazila Rajabova, Javid Mammadov, Soltan Soltanli, Vusala Agharaziyeva, Rafail Aliyev, Sarkhan Gadzhiev, Fidan Zaman, and Novruz Balabeyov.

The concept of the exhibition aims to awaken in viewers not only the aesthetic perception of water but also a sense of unity with its essence  to remind that within each person flows their own river, carrying memory, pain, light, and hope.

Through poetic reflections, the exhibition conveys the spirit of water: its fluidity, strength, and mystery. It speaks of water as both origin and reflection  the source of life and an eternal witness to human emotion and transformation.

The I Am Water exhibition will be open to visitors at the Zaman Art Gallery until November 16.

From October 31 to November 2, Baku will host the "Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW" arts festival, which brings together art, culture, and ecology. The project is organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the IDEA Public Union in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan. The author and initiator of the project is Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

This immersive project will transform Baku into a living space of modern creativity, dialogue, and discovery. Special focus will be given to the ecological situation of the worlds oceans and seas, presented through the language of art. The main theme of the festival  water  symbolizes life, renewal, and sustainable development. As a symbol of resilience, renewal, and collective memory, water has been chosen as the central element of Art Weekend, fostering a meaningful dialogue between Azerbaijan and the international art community.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive, later called the "Iron Fist" operation on September 27, 2020 in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces on the frontline.

The 44-day Karabakh War put an end to nearly thirty-year-occupation and resulted in the restoration of Azerbaijans territorial integrity.

Trend presents the chronicle of the 44-day Karabakh War.

- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin held phone talks.

- The Armenian armed forces were forced to retreat by sufferinglosses.

- During one day the list of the destroyed military equipment of the Armenian armed forces was announced.

- Armenia violated the ceasefire regime on the state border.

- The Azerbaijani Army has a full advantage over the Armenian armed forces.

- Another UAV of the Armenian armed forces was destroyed.

- The Armenian armed forces fired at Azerbaijans Fuzuli district by using Smerch multiple launch rocket system.

- The reconnaissance and sabotage group was destroyed in the direction of Azerbaijans Zangilan district.

- A video footage showing the destruction of two more ammunition depots of the Armenian armed forces near Khankandi city has been released.

- The sniper group of the Armenian armed forces was destroyed.

- The Armenian armed forces fired on Azerbaijans Aghdam and Aghjabadi districts.

- The Armenian head of regiment fled, but the servicemen went missing.

- The commander of the Armenian armed forces tank battalion was killed, several tanks were destroyed as a result of explosion.

- The phosphorus shell fired by Armenia at Azerbaijans Tartar district has been neutralized.

- A video footage showing the destruction of the Armenian armed forces tanks in the battles around Khojavand district has been spread.

- The commander of the Armenian armed forces motorized infantry regiment was killed.

- A video footage showing the destruction of the Armenian armed forces artillery in the direction of Khojavand district has been released.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 1. The Youth Leadership and Innovation Center has commenced operations in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, with support from the Azerbaijan International Development Agency (AIDA), operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Embassy.

The Center aims to enhance youth skills and societal roles, develop leadership abilities, and support their efforts to build successful careers.

The opening ceremony on November 1 was organized by the "International Youth Network" Public Union and the Kenya Institute of Special Education.

Participants included Charlene Ruto, project initiator and founder patron of the "International Youth Network" Public Union and daughter of the President of Kenya; AIDA Director Elmaddin Mehdiyev; Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Kenya Sultan Hajiyev; as well as public servants and youth.

Ruto, who has visited Azerbaijan several times, spoke about the country's development, national-moral values, and support for developing nations. She described Azerbaijan's achievements as an inspiration for every people and state.

Expressing gratitude for the Azerbaijani government's support in establishing the Center, she highlighted that such projects, along with scholarships provided to Kenyan youth under the "Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant" program, significantly contribute to strengthening friendship and partnership ties between peoples of the two countries.

Mehdiyev noted that Azerbaijan's support for this project, as well as educational scholarships and other humanitarian and development assistance initiatives in Kenya, form part of the evolving relations between Azerbaijan and Kenya.

Ambassador Hajiyev emphasized the political significance of the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Kenya William Samoei Ruto on September 23 within the framework of the UN General Assembly.

He mentioned that, alongside projects implemented through AIDA, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's "Development of Education and Culture in African Countries" project provided technical equipment assistance to a comprehensive secondary school in Nairobi and neonatal departments in several hospitals in the country.

During the visit, the Azerbaijani delegation held several bilateral meetings, discussing opportunities for future cooperation in various directions, including the humanitarian sector.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has attended the inauguration ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum in the course of her working visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Trend reports.

The address of President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah As-Sisi to the participants was read aloud at the ceremony attended by various Heads of State, Government and Parliament. Also, Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt Mostafa Madbouly delivered a welcoming speech.

The inauguration ceremony was continued with an artistic programme demonstrating the culture of Egypt, whereupon an exhibition of the most symbolic artefacts of the museum was held.

It should be mentioned that the museum holds exhibits pertaining to various periods of the Egyptian Civilisation as well as more than 100,000 artifacts.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. As part of a working visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova, met with the President of the Arab Parliament, Mohammed Al Yammahi, in Cairo, Trend reports.

At the meeting, Speaker Gafarova expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Muslim countries, emphasizing that they are founded on shared religious, cultural, and spiritual values.

It was noted that interparliamentary interaction plays an important role in strengthening cooperation between the countries. In particular, the Milli Majlis maintains close ties with the Arab Parliament and the parliaments of its member countries.

Gratitude was expressed for the participation of parliamentary delegations from several Arab states in the International Parliamentary Conference dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which was recently held in Baku.

The parties noted the importance of joint activities between the Milli Majlis and the Arab Parliament at the international level.
Switzerland multiplies non-oil imports from Azerbaijan in 9M2025

Azerbaijans non-oil exports to Switzerland totaled $247.8 million from January through September 2025. This represents an increase of $128.2 million, or 2.1 times, compared to the same period last year. In September alone, exports reached $27.7 million, up 45.8 percent year-on-year.

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They only come out at night  kind of like vampires  but these guys dont bite. In fact, when we see them, they have fused mouth parts and couldnt bite if they wanted to. They will fly against your windows, attracted by light. Kind of spooky, since we are usually just gearing up for, or down from, Halloween when they appear.

All they want is to find a female to mate with before they run out of fuel. We only see the males; females stay snug in their burrows and send out a lemony scent to guide their potential mates to them.

What am I talking about? Those olive-sized dark brown or black, hairy-bellied beetles called rain beetles. Pleocoma, the genus that includes rain beetles, translates from Latin and Greek as many hairs. Rain beetles are definitely hairy! Long bristles cover their undersides, hang from their legs, and line their wing covers. Adult beetles vary in color from dark honey to mahogany to black. Males are somewhat smaller than the one-to-two-inch-long females.

The Pleocoma family contains about 30 different species scattered throughout the wooded hills and mountains between northern Baja California and southern Washington. They live as grubs in the soil, surviving on tough woody roots of trees and shrubs. They dont dig, but chew their way through soil, one bite at a time. Many species are limited to colonies that are in scattered sites, and the ranges of some are no more than one or two counties. When digging in the soil, depending on the size of the hole, you may find a few to a handful of the worm-like, C-shaped larvae.

The amazing part? By the time they have matured, Pleocoma have spent up to twelve years underground! Only a handful of insects are known to live longer. Since they have such a hard time surviving as a grub, they only manage to store a small amount of fat. That fat is precious to the beetles because, as adults, the Pleocoma cant eat. During pupation, a rain beetles mouth parts fuse. They have no mouthparts or digestive tracts.

Because of the metabolic reaction that uses stored body fat, male beetles will only survive about 24 to 48 hours once they leave the soil. They only have enough energy for about two hours of flight time. When we see them alive, its almost always right after they have emerged from their holes during the first rain. After mating, the females plug their holes, lay eggs and die.

Again, these insects dont appear to damage the oaks and native shrubs they feed on. They can become pests if they attack the roots of orchard trees, but normally, no control measures are needed. So, the next time you see one of these amazing beetles, hopefully you can reflect on the unusual life story that led to it being nearby for such a fleeting period of time. For more information about rain beetles, check out the UC Bug Squad at https://ucanr.edu/blog/bug-squad/article/ever-seen-rain-beetle

Sources: Powell, J. & C. Hogue, California Insects and Greensfelder, L., California Wild

Cathy Calef is a University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener of Tuolumne County.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. On November 3-4, at the invitation of the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a working visit to Qatar to participate in the Second World Summit for Social Development, Trend reports.

The event will address issues of closing existing gaps in socioeconomic development, adhering to the goals and principles of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development, and accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Particular attention will be paid to strengthening international cooperation, improving national strategies, and implementing comprehensive measures aimed at increasing the sustainability, social justice, and inclusiveness of societies.

The World Summit for Social Development is intended to become an important platform for constructive dialogue between states, international and regional organizations, UN entities, civil society institutions, and the expert and business communities.

The forum's primary goal is to catalyze global efforts to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment, ensure decent working conditions, and expand social inclusion in the face of contemporary challenges and interdependence.

The summit is expected to result in the adoption of the Doha Declaration, aimed at further strengthening international partnerships and developing coordinated approaches to achieving sustainable and inclusive social progress.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. Lufthansa is set to restart its flights to Iran next month, according to an Iranian aviation official, following the recent decision by Austrian Airlines  a member of the Lufthansa Group  to resume its direct Vienna-Tehran-Vienna route after a months-long suspension, Trend reports.

Ramin Kashaf-Azar, acting CEO of Imam Khomeini Airport City Company, said that Austrian Airlines will operate its first returning flight in the early hours of Monday, marking the carriers comeback to Tehran.

The flight will arrive at Imam Khomeini International Airport at 2:30 a.m. and depart at 3:20 a.m., Kashaf-Azar stated, noting that the airline will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. Irans intention in developing its nuclear industry is not to produce nuclear weapons but to meet the countrys needs, said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during a meeting with officials in the nuclear industry, Trend reports.

According to him, there is a deliberate campaign against Irans peaceful nuclear activities. Public opinion is being shaped to portray Irans nuclear program as one aimed at building atomic weapons. However, the nuclear industry represents a vast collection of scientific and industrial capabilities and potential.

Pezeshkian added that producing an atomic bomb is only one of the possible negative outcomes of this field, while most of it is directed toward addressing humanitys fundamental needs.

He noted that Iranian nuclear scientists are making progress in the production of radioisotopes and the development of new medical technologies. He emphasized that closely and rapidly advancing this field is a vital necessity.

The Iranian president also said that scientists in Irans nuclear industry should enhance their expertise in various areas, including water, agriculture, and the environment.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. Irans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received messages regarding the resumption of negotiations on its nuclear program, said Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani during a briefing with journalists, Trend reports.

She noted that the content of these messages will be made public at an appropriate time.

On April 12, 19, and 26, as well as on May 11 and 23, five rounds of indirect talks between Iran and the United States were held concerning Irans nuclear program. The indirect negotiations were mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, with Irans delegation headed by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and the U.S. delegation led by U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs Steve Witkoff. The first, third, and fourth rounds took place in Muscat, the capital of Oman, while the second and fifth rounds were held in Rome, Italy.

On the morning of June 13, Israel carried out airstrikes against Iran. As a result, a large number of high-ranking military officers, generals, nuclear scientists, and other senior officials were killed.

That same evening, Iran launched Operation True Promise III in retaliation, firing hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at multiple locations, including Tel Aviv, causing civilian casualties and widespread destruction.

On June 22, the United States conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, reportedly destroying them.

In response, on the evening of June 23, Iran carried out airstrikes on a U.S. military base in Qatar.

Finally, on June 24, the office of the Israeli prime minister announced that Israel had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran through the mediation of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Irans Supreme National Security Council also issued a statement confirming that the attacks had been halted.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. Eight nuclear power plants will be constructed in the southern and northern parts of Iran, said Iranian Vice President and Head of the Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami during a meeting between President Masoud Pezeshkian and nuclear industry officials, Trend reports.

He stated that a contract has been signed with Russia for the construction of these nuclear power plants. Four of them will be built in the southern province of Bushehr, while the remaining four will be located in the northern part of the country.

Eslami noted that the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, currently Irans only operational facility of its kind, was commissioned in 2003. Under the approved program, the construction of new plants in different regions will help meet the countrys growing electricity demand.

The vice president also mentioned that in Irans southwestern Khuzestan province, construction of the Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant began before the Islamic Revolution (1979). In recent years, local experts have resumed work on the project.

Eslami added that another site has been selected on the Caspian Sea coast, in Golestan province in northern Iran, for the construction of a new nuclear power plant.

By building nuclear power plants in various parts of the country, we aim to increase Irans nuclear electricity generation capacity to 20,000 megawatts, he said.

The organizations head emphasized that construction of the second and third units of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant continued even during the 12 days of military airstrikes against Iran. The work is still ongoing.

The first unit of the Bushehr plant began operating in 2011. In 2013, its operation was handed over from the Russian Atomic Company to an Iranian company. Since then, the unit has produced a maximum output of 1,000 megawatt-hours of electricity. Over the past decade, total electricity generation at the Bushehr plant has exceeded 65 billion kilowatt-hours.

Additionally, construction of the second and third units of the Bushehr plant began in 2017 on a 50-hectare site. Each unit will have the capacity to generate 1,057 megawatts of electricity once operational. Their commissioning is expected to save around 10 million barrels of crude oil or 1.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually, while preventing the emission of 7 million tons of pollutants into the environment.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman reaffirm commitment to market stability on current healthy oil market fundamentals and steady global economic outlook and adjust production, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries wrote on its page on X, Trend reports.

"The eight OPEC+ countries, which previously announced additional voluntary adjustments in April and November 2023, namely Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman met virtually on 2 November 2025, to review global market conditions and outlook.

In view of a steady global economic outlook and current healthy market fundamentals, as reflected in the low oil inventories, the eight participating countries decided to implement a production adjustment of 137 thousand barrels per day from the 1.65 million barrels per day additional voluntary adjustments announced in April 2023. This adjustment will be implemented in December 2025.

Beyond December, due to seasonality, the eight countries also decided to pause the production increments in January, February, and March 2026 as detailed in the table below.

The eight participating countries reiterated that the 1.65 million barrels per day may be returned in part or in full subject to evolving market conditions and in a gradual manner. The countries will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions, and in their continuous efforts to support market stability, they reaffirmed the importance of adopting a cautious approach and retaining full flexibility to continue pausing or reverse the additional voluntary production adjustments, including the previously implemented voluntary adjustments of the 2.2 million barrels per day announced in November 2023.

The eight OPEC+ countries also noted that this measure will provide an opportunity for the participating countries to accelerate their compensation. The eight countries reiterated their collective commitment to achieve full conformity with the Declaration of Cooperation, including the additional voluntary production adjustments that will be monitored by the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC).

They also confirmed their intention to fully compensate for any overproduced volume since January 2024. The eight OPEC+ countries will hold monthly meetings to review market conditions, conformity, and compensation. The eight countries will meet on 30 November 2025," the statement said.
Irans nuclear program is focused on meeting the countrys needs, not on developing nuclear weapons, Azernews reports, citing President Masoud Pezeshkian, as he said during a meeting with senior officials from the nuclear industry.

Pezeshkian stated that Irans peaceful nuclear activities are often deliberately misrepresented, with propaganda suggesting that the countrys nuclear program is aimed at producing atomic weapons. In reality, the nuclear industry is a vast collection of scientific and industrial capabilities, he said.

The president noted that building an atomic bomb represents only a small, negative part of nuclear technology, while the majority of the field serves to address essential human needs.

Pezeshkian added that Iranian nuclear scientists are making progress in producing radioisotopes and developing new medical technologies. He emphasized the importance of accelerating work in these areas to meet national requirements.

He also called on Iranian nuclear experts to expand their expertise across various sectors, including water management, agriculture, and environmental protection.

Earlier today, an exhibition showcasing innovative achievements in Irans nuclear industry  particularly in healthcare, treatment, and radioisotope production  was held in Tehran. President Pezeshkian toured the exhibition and was briefed on the latest advancements.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A crowd of young people gathered on Halloween night in Washingtons Navy Yard neighborhood was run out of a park area by police and National Guard members after authorities said some people were engaged in disorderly conduct.

The Metropolitan Police Department says young people converged on the park Friday night and that the gathering remained peaceful as the crowd grew to several hundred.

But as night wore on, some people took part in fights, disrupted the flow of traffic and ignored instructions to remain on sidewalks, leading authorities to close streets and restore order, police said.

A video posted on X captured the chaotic scene as people in uniforms ran on foot after those who had gathered there.

At least five people ranging in age from 14 to 18 were arrested, including one suspected of possessing a knife and two suspected of failing to obey officers and resisting arrest.
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Bahrain to build world's largest rooftop solar power plant

Bahrain on Sunday November 02, 2025 announced construction of the world's largest single-site rooftop solar power plant with a capacity of 50 MWp.

Sunday November 2, 2025 10:17 PM , ummid.com News Network

Manama: Bahrain on Sunday November 02, 2025 announced construction of the world's largest single-site rooftop solar power plant with a capacity of 50 MWp.

For this purpose, Foulath Holding has partnered with Yellow Door Energy, a leading sustainable energy developer in the Middle East and Africa.

Foulath Holding is an industrial holding company with major steel investments and the parent company of Bahrain Steel and SULB.

The construction of the world's largest rooftop solar power plant in Bahrain is part of the Kingdoms ambitious sustainability initiative to develop a massive 123-Megawatt-Peak (MWp) solar project under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between Foulath Holding and Yellow Door Energy.

"Sustainable Global Innovation"

The Bahrain solar power plant will comprise 77,000 solar panels installed across a new 262,000-square-meter stockyard shed.

"Today, the island nation of Bahrain stands at the forefront of sustainable global innovation. We are incredibly proud of this transformative project  marking the largest rooftop solar plant in the world", Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB, said addressing the launch event at the third edition of the premier investment forum Gateway Gulf.

"This milestone not only strengthens our position as a regional leader in clean energy, but embodies our dedication to build a resilience, sustainable future in line with our national vision of elevating Bahrain's international competitiveness", she added.

"Largest Industrial-scale on-site solar projects"

Marking the largest industrial-scale on-site solar projects in the world, the 123-MWp site will encompass ten rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) plants and four ground-mounted solar PV installations and is expected to significantly decarbonise the Kingdom's steel production.

With a total of over 189,900 high-efficiency solar panels spread across 707,000 square meters, the project aims to generate 200 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy in its first year of operation, effectively reducing carbon emissions by 90,000 metric tons.

This initiative will contribute to Foulath Holding's sustainability objectives and Bahrain's Net Zero 2060 target.

"Environmental Stewardship"

Giving more details, Meshary Al-Judaimi, Chairman of Foulath Holding, said that the company had invested approximately USD 250 million in various sustainability projects over the past several years.

"These investments are a testament to our commitment to responsible operations, environmental stewardship and protecting the health and well-being of our community, thereby ensuring industrial development goes hand-in-hand with environmental care. The solar project serves as a continuation of that commitment", he said.

Sherif ElKholy, Managing Director, Head of Middle East and Africa at Actis, and Chairman of Yellow Door Energy, said the project proves how cost-competitive, clean energy can drive forward industry and set a new global benchmark for decarbonising steel production.

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Gualtieri receives bipartisan support after threat over demolition of illegal villas.

Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri on Saturday vowed to continue his administration's commitment to fighting the mafia after receiving a threat against him and his family on social media.

The threatening message, accompanied by a photo of a man brandishing a rifle, came after the city demolished two illegally built villas in a stronghold of mafia-style clans with Sinti origins.

"This is for the mayor and for his family" - the message read - "As you knocked down our house, I will knock down yours. Time will tell. The State does not scare me".

The intimidating message - which has since been cancelled - reportedly came from Silvio Hilic, one of the residents of the sumptuous villas demolished on Via Arzachena in the Rocca Cencia area to the east of Rome.

Police are investigating whether Hilic wrote the message himself from jail on an illegally obtained phone or whether someone else used his Facebook profile to post the threat.

Bipartisan solidarity

The threat against the centre-left mayor and his family was condemned across the political spectrum, with the mayor receiving widespread solidarity from the right-wing government, including from prime minister Giorgia Meloni who slammed the "unacceptable intimidation".

Minacce via social al sindaco di Roma Gualtieri dopo la demolizione di due villette abusive. Forze dell'ordine al lavoro per verificare lidentita dell'autore. "le minacce non fermano il nostro impegno contro le mafie", assicura Gualtieri pic.twitter.com/RkypdBbFGm  Tg3 (@Tg3web) November 1, 2025

Deputy premier Matteo Salvini and interior minister Matteo Piantedosi also expressed solidarity with Gualtieri and condemned the threat, as did the leader of the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) Elly Schlein who said her party "is at [Gualtieri's] side and supports his courageous and determined work."

Nicola Franco, president of the Municipio VI city borough where the demolitions took place, said: "This extremely serious episode confirms how these individuals have dominated the area undisturbed for years. Enough is enough."

Gualtieri responds

"The threats do not alter our commitment to fighting the mafia, upholding legality, and restoring to citizens spaces currently taken away from crime", Gualtieri stated, adding that his administration will continue, together with police and law enforcement agencies, "to work with determination to make Rome a safer and fairer city".

Photo credit: Rocco Pettini / Shutterstock.com.
The unprecedented level of spoiled votes returned by the electorate in the present election is rather alarming.

It suggests widespread disaffection with the current coalition government. It has not delivered on housing nor on the promised infrastructure. The cost of living is impacting the squeezed middle class severely. More importantly the electorate is screaming loudly that it feels disconnected from the democratic process. Many people feel that their voice is not being heard and that there was no real choice. The coalition parties mandated that only their candidate would be supported, thus depriving the electorate of real choice.

Rather than interpreting the landslide victory of Catherine Connolly as a swing to the left, Im inclined to agree with Michael McDowell.

He claimed it was a victory for 'Keep the Other Lot Out Politics'. The result was rather an extraordinary implosion of the credibility and judgement of the leadership of centre-right Government parties. Paradoxically, Im wondering if the level of anger and disillusionment suggested by the spoilt vote could presage an opening to populist right-wing politics? After all, The MAGA movement in the States emerged and gained traction because swathes of society felt alienated and forgotten.

The populist authoritarian Trump promised to drain the swamp of big government in Washington, cut through bureaucratic entanglements posed by Congress and address the real needs of the disenfranchised.

When viewed in light of the international trend of the rise of authoritarian and oligarchic regimes, maybe it is not such a preposterous idea. We are witnessing the erosion of democracy in Hungary under Viktor Orban, in India under Narendra Modi, in Poland under the Law and Justice party, in Turkiye under Recep Tayyip ErdoAan, and also in Brazil. Support for the Reform Party in the UK is rising rapidly.

Similarly, the ultra-right AfD in Germany and Marine Le Pens National Party in France pose a real threat to democracy in Europe. As democracy is eroded, human rights are ignored, and the rule of law is undermined, freedom of speech is curtailed, an independent media is threatened and many other freedoms which are taken for granted are lost.

I was very disturbed when reading about the demolition of the East Wing in the Whitehouse. The White House, not just the home of the President of the United States since 1799 but is also a living museum of American history, which of course is founded on democracy. To me the bulldozing of the East Wing is symbolic of the gradual demolition of the democratic process in American politics.

The Trump regime has taken a series of actions, from attacking judges who challenge their policies - thus undermining the independence of the judiciary - and usurping basic powers of Congress, such as the deployment of the military and National Guard internally, to exacting of retribution against perceived opponents - such as the indictment of former prosecutor James Comey - and exercising political control over universities.

All such actions raise serious questions about the regimes commitment to democracy. But what can anyone do?

Author and journalist Clifford Longley believes that the Church can play a significant role in vigorously defending democracy with strong theological reasoning just as Pope Leo XIII in 1891 issued a stern critique of free market capitalism. He declared that a small number of very rich men have been able to lay upon the teeming masses of the labouring poor a yoke little better than that of slavery itself.

He calls on the present Pope, Leo XIV to offer a vigorous defence of democracy, pointing out that democracy is the best form of government to promote the common good and to protect the dignity of every human person.

What the church has to offer is a set of moral principles to underpin the democratic process, such as the dignity of the human person, the idea of the common good, the principle of subsidiarity which encourages participation in the political process at every level.

Democracy cannot rely on social consensus alone, that is the will of the people. As Clifford Longley points out, the will of the people is often invoked to justify policies lacking any firmer moral basis. After all, people voted Donald Trump into power.

Pope Benedict XVI, in an address to religious and political leaders in Westminster Hall in 2011, focused on dialogue between social consensus and moral principles derived from faith, that is from outside the democratic sphere.

This means accepting the objectivity of moral norms. This, of course, is a highly contested principle today. But I firmly believe that unless we accept the concept of universal norms, such as the dignity of the person, to underpin democracy, it is bound to fail. And the populist leader will exploit the political process and impose authoritarian rule on the populace. Of course, the credibility of the Churchs teaching on democracy is seriously challenged by failure to witness democratic processes in its own structures. Which is why it is so urgent that synodality is embedded at all levels of the institutional Church today. Synodality, in my opinion, represents the very best form of democracy. It is democracy plus. (I will elaborate in a later column.)
I was so traumatised, I was waking up in the middle of the night [thinking]: what if I dont pay it on time?

Every fortnight, the bubble tea chain deducted royalty and marketing fees, regardless of whether a store was making money.

The reality was the opposite, leaving Ben and his family in a crippling financial situation. After taking out a business loan to pour $290,000 into setting up the new Chatime store, slow sales meant Ben was losing money every month. His savings  and his mental health  deteriorated rapidly.

He had been running a bubble tea outlet in western Sydney for just half a year, thinking the side hustle  which he ran on top of his office day job  would give his wife some work and provide the family with extra income that could go towards earlier retirement.

Three years ago, as Christmas was approaching, Ben* was checking himself into a psychiatric ward.

The $100 million claim, made on its FAQ page , is impressive but doesnt stack up upon closer examination. The tea chains 2024 revenue was, in fact, a quarter of that: audited financial accounts filed to the corporate regulator show Chatimes revenue fell below $24.5 million, a decline from $28.5 million the year before. Losses of $195,551 in 2023 deepened to $1.6 million in 2024.

But behind the buzz of new store openings, framed by purple and gold balloon arches and promises of free drinks, the companys scale and revenue of more than $100 million belies the treatment of some franchisees who claim they have been left thousands of dollars out of pocket by joining the business.

Chatime, the flagship brand of Taiwanese listed parent company La Kaffa, landed in Australia in 2009 and kicked off the local bubble tea boom. Local marketing campaigns, from the silly (satisfy your strange) to the seductive (blow me) propelled it to more than 165 outlets across the country, making it one of Australias largest and most recognised bubble tea chains. Its website says it is on track to reach 200 stores.

Five franchisees spoke to this masthead on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution from the company. They have also signed contracts binding them to confidentiality. They are speaking out now to warn prospective franchisees against joining the bubble tea chain, which one described as like a trap.

At the core of their claims is a business model where they allege Chatime profits from unprofitable franchisees  not the thriving bubble tea sales they were promised.

Former Chatime franchisees have spoken up about company-wide practices they allege profit off franchisees.

Ben is one of five current and former Chatime franchisees who allege the company used exploitative practices, including charging royalties to struggling franchisees when they failed to make sales; demanding franchisees pay for ingredients, cleaning materials and subscriptions at prices higher than standard market rates; and punishing them with fines for minor indiscretions.

There have been other indiscretions; hundreds of reusable cups labelled KEEP CUP ended up in landfill in 2023 after KeepCup launched legal action over trademark infringement. Last year, the bubble tea chain pulled specialty cups with battery-powered lights from sale over concerns of non-compliance and fire risks.

Chatime has been dogged by a string of bad headlines over the years. Following a 2019 investigation by this masthead that found staff underpayments extending as far back as 2009, the Federal Circuit and Family Court fined the chain and managing director Chen Charlley Zhao in November 2024 for underpaying more than 150 employees. Some were paid as little as $7.59 an hour. Many of them were vulnerable junior workers and international students.

A Chatime store on Flinders Lane, Melbourne in April 2019. Several franchisees are leaving the bubble tea chain.

Chatime Australias total network sales are significantly higher than the corporate revenue figure, and the performance of the Australian franchise network remains strong, the spokesperson said, declining to provide a figure.

A spokesperson said these figures reflected corporate entity revenue only, representing the Australian and some international operations, and didnt represent all franchise locations across the country.

He is hoping that sharing his story will prevent his experience from being repeated by others and, along with seven other franchisees, is contemplating a class action lawsuit.

In June 2022, Ben secured a lease on a small location in western Sydney and set up his Chatime store. He didnt anticipate that it would be almost entirely unprofitable for the two years it was open. The financial losses left Ben about $300,000 out of pocket, and the emotional and mental toll led him to terminate the franchise agreement ahead of schedule, Ben said.

That doesnt include store fit-out costs that start at $250,000, and the monthly deductions once the store is open.

The many upfront costs that Chatime franchisees must agree to include an initial franchise fee of $50,000, an initial training fee of $10,000, as well as design and documentation fees and project management fees of $10,000 each, according to a franchise agreement seen by this masthead.

Its not cheap to open a bubble tea store or run any franchising outlet. To set up a Chatime, youd have to stump up more than $300,000 before a single dollar is made.

In early 2022, Ben met with Chatime executives, including long-time chief executive Carlos Antonius to discuss his business plan and financial model. A benchmark of 150 cups per day was set and agreed to, which Ben only realised later was too high a bar.

[Chatime] just want to charge money from every business partner, but not really take responsibility [for] anyone, she alleged .

Annie*, who bought a store in 2021 and broke her three-year contract early to sell it in 2023, said she felt fearful of starting a new business after losing $80,000 on her Chatime franchise.

Three other former franchisees told this masthead their experience with Chatime has drained their life savings.

Bens daily average was closer to 100. In winter, he was selling about 50 cups. If I dont sell a minimum of 70 cups a day, I had to pay out of my pocket, he said.

To celebrate the opening day of Bens new store, he had agreed with a Chatime representative that the company would cover the costs of a free bubble tea promotion for anyone who downloaded the Chatime app. But he says the company never followed through.

We ended up giving away 600 free drinks, said Ben, who made the arrangement with a business development manager who is no longer with the business. [The] Chatime [representative] said it will be covered by Chatime. We discussed it in person, then put it in an email, CCd a few people. That guy has left. Chatime is saying, no we didnt agree on this.

Regardless of how many cups were sold and whether Ben was running a profit or loss, the same 10 per cent fee of fortnightly revenue would be deducted from his bank account: 6.5 per cent in royalties and 3.5 per cent in a marketing levy, as per his franchise agreement.

Deducting royalties from unprofitable franchisees isnt illegal, but it isnt considered ethical or best practice, according to law firm Legalite managing principal Marianne Marchesi.

If a franchisee was not making money week in, week out, you would meet with them, have a dedicated performance manager work closely with them to bring them back to profitability, she said.

Good franchisors could offer fee relief by reducing or pausing royalties for a brief period, she added. Its very collaborative, not just, Were just gonna keep taking fees and not support you, bad luck, mate.

Chatime is one of Australias largest bubble tea chains. Simon Schluter

In meetings with senior Chatime executives every four or five months, Ben would ask for fee relief and query where the marketing money was going. Uber Eats delivery drivers had difficulties finding the Chatime store, he said, and he was seeing plenty of localised ads for rival bubble tea chains, but none for Chatime.

I said, Im paying you marketing money of 4 per cent. Do something, some signage, some Facebook marketing in my area. Some people didnt even know I exist.

Company executives said they were doing radio ads, but Ben argued this was targeting inner-city customers and not reaching locals. He believes that marketing funds paid by each franchisee should go towards marketing that franchisee in that location, a view shared by his peers.

Executives were out of touch or unwilling to deal with what was happening on the ground, these franchisees felt. Antonius, who was global chief executive of Chatime until his quiet departure in October, has been candid about never having tried a single Chatime beverage before, describing it as a heavy, sugar-rich product.

Franchisees were also bound by their agreement to purchase their goods from Chatime. But the costs of these necessary expenses, from syrups and jelly toppings to tech systems, music subscriptions and even cleaning materials, were more expensive than if purchased elsewhere, the franchisees allege.

Ben was paying $61.60 a month for music streaming services called Soundmark Solutions and OneMusic, according to invoices seen by this masthead. Ben couldnt use the streaming services in-store as they clashed with the shopping centre music, but Chatime didnt permit him to stop the payments. When Ben contacted the music platforms himself to ask about pricing, he was quoted about a third of what he was paying.

The bubble tea business is making double margins, Ben claimed. They make money from selling the products to us as well as royalty [fees].

If I buy mango syrup, [Chatime] sell it for $24 for about two litres, he said. But the same product, if I buy from somewhere else, its $19. We have no other choice.

Legalites Marchesi said it was highly unusual for a franchisor to take on these subscriptions directly. If they are, it would usually be because theyre using their bulk-buying power to negotiate a better rate for their franchisees.

After two years, Ben had had enough: the whole experience left him and his wife with a lasting emotional and physical health toll.

It was affecting my personal life as well as my work life. I wasnt delivering what I was supposed to, said Ben. I kept thinking about my Chatime debt.

Of the five franchisees this masthead spoke to, three have left the business, while two others were in the process of selling their store as quickly as possible. Not only did they find head office support lacking, but some also reported a punitive approach to franchisees over minor issues.

Clara*, who opened her store in Sydneys north just 18 months ago but is already in talks to sell, said routine inspections conducted by head office representatives were harsh. Failure to wear name badges, aprons or the Chatime shirt would result in lower compliance scores and internal breach notices, which could result in fines. Store staff were required to send multiple reports throughout the day of the store set-up, stock, and fridge.

They find reasons to fine the store, she claimed.

Stock  tea, pearls, fructose, mix-ins, jellies, popping pearls  you can get these elsewhere at cheaper price, but you have to buy from Chatime, said Clara. We have to use certain chemicals from their warehouse. It is quite pricey compared to what you can get from Woolies and Coles.

At the end of the month, subscriptions to payroll compliance and timesheet platforms like WageSafe, Deputy, software app REDcap, Uber Eats, and music subscriptions would climb to $7000 or $8000 when combined with royalty and marketing payments, Clara said. More often than not, shes out of pocket.

Its just beyond a joke, to be honest, she said. Its been really stressful.

Working and losing money

Contractual agreements drawn up by Chatime and signed by franchisees were largely skewed in Chatimes favour.

For instance, Ben was required to hit a minimum sales threshold of $35,000 per month. Failure to hit that target could mean further training  at Bens cost. Failure to hit that target for three months in a row, and Chatime had the right to terminate the agreement. Overdue payments were penalised by a 12 per cent interest fee.

And if franchisees missed a company meeting or conference without a good reason, the bubble tea chain had the right to demand a $500 fee.

A failure to attend any meetings or conferences without a reasonable explanation acceptable to the franchisor (acting reasonably) will result in a non-attendance fee of five hundred dollars ($500) plus GST being payable by the franchisee to the franchisor, states the agreement seen by this masthead.

Marchesi said she had never seen such a fee in a franchising agreement before. A one-off slap on the wrist for not attending a meeting could very likely be considered a penalty at law, which is illegal, she said. Businesses cannot impose penalties; you can only charge amounts that reflect genuine loss in damage.

Bens first inkling that something was amiss at Chatime was at the first town hall meeting he attended, where he heard a franchisee raise issues about broken equipment, cost issues, and lack of communication.

At a later town hall meeting attended by Bens wife, she witnessed managing director Chen Charlley Zhao bullying franchisees for not making enough money, Ben alleges. He was saying, You guys are not working hard enough, Ben said. My wife was really angry and said, you [Chatime] exists because of us [franchisees] ... Its our business, obviously we want to make money.

Former Chatime Australia CEO Carlos Antonius (left) and Chatime managing director and co-founder Chen Charlley Zhao in 2023.

Aaron*, was told a Chatime store would bring in revenue of about $45,000-$50,000 a month when he bought a franchise in Sydneys inner west last November.

But the actual sales Aaron is doing are about half that. When rent, wages and all the other bills are paid, Aaron is bleeding money.

Im losing close to $7000 to $9000 a month, he said.

The thousands in losses also have real implications for Aarons other ways of making income. Having put his day job in financial services on pause three months ago to focus on the bubble tea business, Aaron is desperate to find a way out that doesnt endanger his livelihood. If Ive got a stain on my name, its gonna impact my job.

The franchisees interviewed for this story said a high turnover of company executives and area managers have also exacerbated existing problems.

Turnover issues appear to have stretched to the top: Chatime is currently without a chief executive. Antonius held the top job at Chatime Australia from 2015 and was appointed global CEO in August last year to lead the companys international expansion. ASIC records show he resigned as company secretary on September 11. His LinkedIn profile, which has been updated with an open to work photo filter, states he is freelancing.

On his last day in the job, Antonius said he wished to express his deepest gratitude for the privilege of a lifetime to serve as CEO.

As I step into new opportunities, I carry profound pride in what we have built together and great confidence in Chatimes future, he wrote in a letter to franchisees dated October 6. The brand is in strong hands and poised for even greater success as it continues to bring ups [sic] of joy to millions of customers around the world.

Antonius did not respond to requests for comment. Chatime Australia did not respond to detailed questions from this masthead.

Zhao said Antonius tenure with Chatime Australia ended on June 30 last year, following his appointment to the global post and said the business remained committed to supporting franchisees.

Like many hospitality and retail businesses, some franchisees experience local trading challenges, but many continue to achieve strong results and grow their customer base, Zhao said in a statement.

Our franchise model is built on partnership  not profit from supply margins  and is designed to help franchisees grow sustainable businesses through product innovation, marketing investment, and operational support.

Zhao said the company was committed to high standards across the network and said it worked closely with franchise partners on training, guidance, and store reviews to protect the brand and give customers a consistent experience.

We take franchisee feedback seriously and continue to invest in training, digital innovation, and marketing initiatives to strengthen the network, he stated. We remain focused on sustainable growth for both our franchisees and the brand.

A spokesperson for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it could not comment on specific businesses or complaints, but urged franchisees with concerns about potential breaches of the franchising code to report issues through its website.

The ACCC is committed to ensuring that the protections of competition and consumer laws and small business industry codes of conduct apply to small businesses, as set out in our enforcement and compliance policy, the spokesperson said.

Chatime must do more to provide support, said Aaron. When all the bills are paid, he is not paying himself a wage.

Im making no money  just working for free, Aaron said. Not even for free, working and losing money.

*Names have been changed.

Know more about this story? Email the reporter at jyun@smh.com.au.

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InspirationFoodie travel Forget Michelin stars, this is now the biggest attraction for foodie travellers Hannah Meltzer November 3, 2025  2:00am Save 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 8 View all comments

This article is part of Travellers Holiday Guide to bucket-list places to eat. See all stories .

The Parisian boulangerie is a hub for community life. Parisians visit their local several times a week  sometimes even several times a day. Its a place to engage in chit-chat, try new things and order comforting favourites. Baguettes and croissants usually cost around $2.70 (1.50). The queue to sample a patisserie at Cedric Grolets social-media-famous bakery close to the Louvre is something else. The head patisserie chef at the ultra-luxurious Le Meurice hotel has just shy of 13 million followers on Instagram. Cedric Grolet, named the Worlds Best Pastry Chef in 2018, charged $140 for his rustic strawberry tart. @cedricgroletopera/Instagram Videos of his trompe loeil fruit-shaped pastries are shared throughout the world. I headed to try one of his creations for myself on a crisp, sunny autumn morning  and to speak to some of the pastry pilgrims in attendance. In the line I was surrounded by well-dressed people from around the world  I heard English, German, Japanese, Arabic and Russian. Every person in the queue was clutching a smartphone.

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When I tried to get chatting to the people around me, saying I was looking into pastry tourism, nobody would engage. Tourists travel to Paris from all over the world to try Cedric Grolets trompe loeil realistic-looking fruit pastries. Alamy Stock Photo One woman even told me she didnt speak English, then loudly proceeded to record a voice note in English on her phone. When I got to the front of the queue after about 20 minutes, (This is a very quiet day, the salesperson later told me), there was a bouncer waiting. The cheapest pastry available was 8 (about $14); many others were more than 20 ($35). Where there are bakeries

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What has happened here? The rather unedifying experience is about as far removed from the jolly chit-chat at my local bakery as can be imagined. How has the humble patisserie gone from local amenity to major tourist draw? Social media is currently filled with shots of Europes Instagram and TikTok-famous bakeries  where the lines are longer than for the citys museums. Its part of a sharp rise in so-called bakery tourism. The French capital, home to some 1360 bakeries, is one of the trends heartlands. Mamiche bakery in the 9th arrondissement  lines at Pariss now famous bakeries can often be longer than for the citys museums. Getty Images

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The lines at Pariss now famous bakeries can often be longer than for the citys museums. Paris has the biggest concentration of artisanal bakeries of any place that I know, says Frances Leech, a food entrepreneur originally from Hereford, who has been living in Paris for more than 15 years. A trained baker and pastry chef, she points out that, in contrast to international pastry-seekers, native Parisians will not go far for their treats. [Paris also has] the kind of people who will get mad about walking more than five minutes to a bakery. In fact, more than 90 per cent of the population lives within five minutes walking distance of a baker. Contorting the croissant

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Though tourists come to experience the specifically French culture of the boulangerie, many of the items they travel for are ironically the product of foreign, often English-speaking influence. Emily Monaco, a native New Yorker, who has lived in Paris for almost 20 years, is a culinary writer and runs food tours. She often takes interested tourists to neo-bakeries serving sourdough loaves (pain au levain in French), a departure from the yeast-based methods used, for example, to make the traditional baguette. Christophe Louies cannele cakes are made with Madagascan vanilla. Christophe Louie A lot of these new sourdough bakeries are taking advantage of developments that are happening in other parts of the world, and notably in the anglophone world, says Monaco. The same thing is happening in the Viennoiserie world, she adds. Things like contorting the croissant, which is something that a lot of people come to France to try. I think a lot of the things that people are coming to Paris to try right now, theyre looking for is an innovation. That often marries French techniques with Anglo-Saxon [products].

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Examples include Boulangerie Louvard in the 9th arrondissement, famous for its crookie (a marriage of cookie and croissant) and Frappe in the 11th arrondissement, which sells a New York Rolls a mash-up of a croissant and bombolone, an Italian pastry popular in New York. Boulangerie Louvard is famous for its crookie. Maison Louvard The American wave Concurrently there has been an explosion in American or Australian-style coffee shops, sometimes supplanting traditional bistros with their offering of flat whites, cookies and brownies (pronounced broonies, naturellement). The change is no bad thing, according to bakery entrepreneur Rodolphe Landemaine, who co-founded two successful bakery chains in Paris with his wife Yoshimi, who is originally from Japan.

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They founded Maison Landemaine in 2007 and in recent years have added the offshoot Land & Monkeys, which serves only plant-based patisserie. Many people come to the vegan bakery via social media, and he sees the foreign influence as a welcome boost and accelerator for traditional French baking. Maison Landemaine offers a range of Instagram-worthy pastries. Alamy The influence of the Anglo-Saxon world has been enormous, he says. Speaking specifically about his vegan bakery, he says: Paris being a very touristy city plays a role because there is a bigger community of veggie people internationally than in France. In France we are a little bit making up for our delay [on plant-based food], and the fact that everyone travels and everyone influences each other mutually, that favours a significant evolution in Parisians way of thinking. Boulangerie numbers in Paris and the wider region are at an all-time high, and the trend for neo-boulangeries  whether they sell sourdough, mash-up pastries or vegan goods  are part of it.

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In parallel, the profile of the baked French good has never been higher: in 2022, the artisan know-how and culture of the baguette was inscribed on the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list. This correlates with a change in the kind of people who are opening bakeries, says Emily Monaco. Theres been a really interesting change in the way that food professionals come into the career in France, she says. Traditionally, you would decide that you wanted to work in food at the age of 16, and you would kind of come up through the ranks. A lot of people are now coming to it later in life, and typically with a background in marketing or business. Land & Monkeys is a popular Parisian vegan bakery. An early example is Christophe Vasseur whose sourdough-led bakery Du Pain et des Idees, opened in 2002 was one of the first to be internet-famous  he had a first career in fashion before opening the wildly popular address. Other very brand-led boulangerie chains include the provocatively titled The French Bastards, or the ultra-popular female-run Mamiche.

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The role of the boulangerie is more important than before, says Rodolphe Landemaine. In fact the boulangerie has exploded. Boulangers started to go back to the fundamentals of their profession, like sourdough, and also add new professions like snacking and coffee. The struggle to go viral These new commerce-savvy bakers are concerned about turning a healthy profit, and thus virality becomes more important. They do feel a lot of pressure, because going viral is how you explode, says Emily Monaco. Whereas I think a lot of bakers who came up in the craft are maybe a little bit more judgmental of people who are going for just innovation.

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Frances Leech has pivoted from baking to ice-cream making, and this summer opened her ice-cream shop, Isotope, in the trendy Upper Marais neighbourhood. Istope is a new artisanal ice-cream spot in the fashionable Marais district in the 4th arrondissement She is not on social media personally and doesnt wish to be (I have it written into my contract with my business partner that I will never be in charge of the social media part), but her business got an early boost from popular neighbouring bakery Christophe Louie, known for his artisanal panettone. I can see that [social media] works and its kind of terrifying that it works, says Leech. Buy with the eyes  but look for the taste

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The sourdough-led bakery Du Pain et des Idees, which opened in 2002, was one of the first to be internet-famous. Alamy Stock Photo Not all bakery tourists are the same, either. There are those who visit celebrity chef-run addresses, like the aforementioned Cedric Grolet, or Maxime Frederic, who is head pastry chef at the Cheval Blanc hotel. Leech considers this to be a different kind of product: Its just a different world. Theres local bakeries and then theres I will pay 15 [$26] for a sandwich because its a special occasion. Then there are those tourists who endeavour to buy bread like a local. Agnes Holland, a London-based PR professional visits Paris once a year and has her own pain ritual. Ive got into a routine. I tend to stay in Montmartre and there is one bakery, Farah & Nadine, where I always go to get a baguette tradition.

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Hotel reviews The new must-book Paris hotel with rooftop bar and Eiffel Tower views I know the joy of getting fresh baguette from this bakery that I like  the joy of having that fresh, warm bread with salted butter is like gold permeating through you. Incredible-looking pastries and huge social followings have their place, but for the vast majority of Paris bakeries, return customers and Parisians still really matter. Instagram definitely works, says Leech. And I dont think you can totally rely on it  you need the locals, she adds. And at the end of the day, its got to taste good. I often hear that you buy with the eyes  but you look for the taste, says Rodolphe Landemaine. Which means that if its not good, people dont come back.

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Food is quite simple. There is no need for le brainstorming, he adds. The Telegraph, London

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Updated WorldEuropeCrime Man charged with 10 counts of attempted murder after mass stabbing on UK train David Crowe November 3, 2025  2:49am Save 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

London: The key suspect in a terrifying knife attack asked police to kill him when he was arrested after a mass stabbing on a high-speed train bound for London, according to a witness who saw officers racing to stop the bloodshed. One person has been fighting life-threatening injuries in hospital  a conductor on the London North Eastern Railway who witnesses say tried to shield passengers from the attack. Authorities are hailing the rail worker as a hero. UK Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, told the BBC on Monday morning (6:30pm AEST) that he was in a critical but stable condition. Loading Ten others were wounded in the ordeal, which spread fear through the train as bloodied victims ran through the carriages to escape the assailant.

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Police arrested two men when the train was brought to an emergency halt at a station near Cambridge, but later released one of them and concluded the horror attack was the work of a single assailant. Investigators are still searching for a motive after saying there was no reason to believe the attack was terrorism. Witnesses applauded the quick-thinking train driver, named as Iraq war veteran Andrew Johnson, for ensuring the train was switched to a slower line so it could stop at Huntingdon station within minutes of the attack, allowing police to swarm the train. A forensic investigator films the area where passengers abandoned their belongings at Huntingdon station after the mass stabbing on a London-bound train. AP One witness, Viorel Turturica, told the BBC he saw the suspect yelling at police when they surrounded him, amid confusion as passengers fled the train.

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He was asking to be killed when he was surrounded by the police  kill me, kill me, kill me, said Turturica, a taxi driver who was in his vehicle at the station. British Transport Police superintendent John Loveless said the suspect was a 32-year-old black British national. He was not known to counter-terrorism police or security services, Transport Minister Heidi Alexander said, adding that she could not comment on whether he had been known to mental health services. Police named the suspect as Anthony Williams of Peterborough and charged him with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of bladed article. Some witnesses described the weapon as a large kitchen knife. Police released the suspects name at 9am on Monday (8pm AEST) and said he would appear in Peterborough Magistrates Court later in the day. Nothing to suggest terrorism Police earlier detained a second suspect, a 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent, but released him on Sunday afternoon, hours after the attack on the Saturday night rail service.

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It was reported in good faith to officers responding to the incident that he was involved in the attack, and following enquiries we can confirm that he was not involved, police said shortly before 6pm on Sunday (5am on Monday, AEDT). The train made an emergency stop at Huntingdon. AP Counter-terrorism policing were initially supporting our investigation, Loveless said. However, at this stage, there is nothing to suggest that this is a terrorist incident. This is a British Transport Police investigation, and we continue to work to establish, at pace, the full circumstances and the motivations that have led to this incident.

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At this early stage, it would not be appropriate to speculate on the cause of this incident. Nine victims were said to be facing life-threatening injuries in the immediate aftermath of the attack, but authorities then revised this number to two. Later, they said one person remained in a critical but stable condition. Five of the 11 people treated in hospital were discharged the day after the attack. The greatest danger is to the conductor who intervened. This casualty is a member of LNER rail staff who was on the train at the time and tried to stop the attacker, police said.

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Detectives have reviewed the CCTV from the train, and it is clear his actions were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved many peoples lives. Witnesses describe panic Earlier, Loveless described the emergency response in a briefing to the media shortly after 10.30am on Sunday (9.30pm on Sunday AEDT), amid widespread fears the attack was terrorism. He said the first call to police was made at 7.42pm on Saturday on the emergency 999 phone line, equivalent to Australias Triple Zero. The train was heading south from Doncaster to Kings Cross station in London. Emergency personnel inspect a train in Huntingdon station. AP

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With the driver and railway authorities diverting the high-speed train to Huntingdon, armed police headed to the station and arrested the suspects within eight minutes of the 999 call. One witness, Oliver Foster, described passengers rushing through the train to escape the attackers. Related Article Updated

Violence Nothing to suggest mass stabbing terror-related as police reveal details of two Britons arrested There was a girl, bless her, who was really, really in a bit of a state, Foster told the BBC. Because the guy had actually tried to stab her, and one of the older guys, who was an absolute hero, blocked it with his head. He had this gash on his neck, and weve given him, like, a jacket to keep the pressure on. Another witness, Amira Ostalski, said she was in the carriage where the attacker began stabbing passengers around him.

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Everyone started shouting: Hes got a knife, theres blood, she told the BBC. Ostalski said one of the train conductors was stabbed when he tried to protect some of the passengers. Some passengers managed to reach a buffet car and were able to block the door against the attacker, preventing him from reaching others. One couple on board the train, Dayna Arnold and Andy Gray, witnessed some of the attacks in their carriage. Gray told Londons Telegraph he saw a young man with a gash on his arm and several knife wounds, so he helped by using a belt as a makeshift tourniquet.

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Arnold said the attacker came after her as she tried to escape. I got knocked into some seats. I saw the knifeman running; he came at me with the knife. I said: Please, please dont, she told the Telegraph. Then something changed in his eyes and he said: The devils not going to win. Separately, a train derailed between Penrith and Oxenholme stations in the mountainous Lake District region in north-west England on Monday. There were no immediate reports of injuries, but railway operator Avanti West Coast said all lines on the route that snakes from London up Englands west side to Scotland were blocked and there would be major travel disruption. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. Lifeline 13 11 14 Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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Updated WorldEuropeViolence Nothing to suggest mass stabbing terror-related as police reveal details of two Britons arrested David Crowe Updated November 2, 2025  7:57pm ,first published November 2, 2025  7:23am Save 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

Key points Armed police were called on Saturday night, UK time, after reports of an attack on the train heading for London.

Police said two British nationals were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

There was nothing to suggest it was terror-related, police revealed.

London: Police have arrested two British-born men after a terrifying knife attack on a train bound for London, leaving two victims fighting for their lives in hospital. The police said there was nothing to suggest it was a terror attack but confirmed the two men were facing charges of attempted murder, while 11 victims had been treated at hospital. Forensic police officers at the scene. Getty Images In a major update, British Transport Police superintendent John Loveless said two victims remained in hospital with life-threatening injuries, down from earlier assessments of nine in this condition. Four of the nine have been released from hospital. Loveless said one of the suspects is a 32-year-old man, a black British national. The second is a 35-year-old man, a British national of Caribbean descent.

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They were both arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Both were born in the United Kingdom, he said. Counter terrorism policing were initially supporting our investigation, he said. However, at this stage, there is nothing to suggest that this is a terrorist incident. This is a British Transport Police investigation, and we continue to work to establish, at pace, the full circumstances and the motivations that have led to this incident. At this early stage, it would not be appropriate to speculate on the cause of this incident. Witnesses described chaotic scenes when the train was brought to an emergency halt at a station near the university town of Cambridge, where police arrested two suspects and ambulance officers took 10 bloodied passengers to hospital. Another passenger later self-presented at hospital.

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Loading Police said they were called at 7.39pm on Saturday (6.39am Sunday AEDT) after reports that multiple people had been stabbed as the train from Doncaster to Kings Cross headed south towards Huntingdon, about 120 kilometres north of London. View post on X Loveless delivered his update from the British Transport Police shortly after 10.30am on Sunday morning (9.30pm AEST) to media crews at Huntingdon, amid widespread fears the attack was terrorism. While he said there was nothing to suggest it was terrorism, he acknowledged the community fears about safety.

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Passengers will see high visibility presence of police officers at stations and on trains throughout today, up and down the transport network, he said. Loveless said the first call to police was made at 7.42pm on Saturday night (6.42am on Sunday, AEST) on the emergency 999 phone line, equivalent to the 000 line in Australia. He said armed police headed to Huntingdon station, where they boarded the train and arrested the two suspects. Within eight minutes of the 999 call being made, two men were brought into police custody, he said.

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Paul Bristow, the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said he had heard of horrendous scenes during the attack, which began shortly after the train left Peterborough station. Passengers pulled the emergency alarm to alert the driver to the danger. One witness described wounded passengers running through the carriages to escape the attack. Theyve got a knife, Ive been stabbed, one of the victims told other passengers during the mayhem, according to one witness who described the events to Sky News UK. This victim collapsed on the floor and was taken to an ambulance once the train came to a stop. The witness described the victim as extremely bloodied from the knife attack. No explanation was given for the attack in any of the accounts in the immediate aftermath of the events. Emergency personnel inspect the train at the Huntingdon following the attack. AP

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There were multiple people that had been stabbed who were making their way down [onto the station], but the suspect had also come off the train as well, the witness said. He added that he did not witness the attacks but saw some of the victims. The armed police were pointing to the suspect as he came off the train, he said, adding that he was told the suspect was a male dressed in all black who was waving a large knife before being taken down. The second suspect was then halted by police with what appeared to be a Taser, he said. Emergency personnel on the tracks at Huntingdon train station in Cambridgeshire after the stabbing attack. AP

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A second witness, Oliver Foster, also described passengers rushing through the train to escape the attackers. There was a girl, bless her, who was really, really in a bit of a state, Foster told the BBC. Because the guy had actually tried to stab her, and one of the older guys, who was an absolute hero, blocked it with his head. He had this gash on his neck, and weve given him, like, a jacket to keep the pressure on. The passengers could not barricade the doors and waited in their carriage without knowing whether the attackers would make their way through the train. It felt like literally forever and then the train came to a stop, Foster said. Passengers escaped onto the platform at Huntingdon while police and emergency services swarmed onto the station.

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A third witness described the scene on the train as horrific and pure chaos. There was blood everywhere, the witness told The Sun. Forensic officers inside the train where the stabbings occurred. Getty Images It was a terrible scene, really violent. It was like something from a film. It didnt feel real and just sparked pure panic on board. Knife crime has become a major concern in Britain over several years, with official statistics showing there were 49,600 attacks with sharp instruments in England and Wales in the year to March 2025. This was similar to the levels in previous years, according to a study by the House of Commons Library.

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Aware of the community fears about knife crime, the UK government announced three days ago that almost 60,000 knives had been removed from streets in England and Wales through knife surrender schemes and police operations. It said knife homicides had fallen by almost 20 per cent and that the latest admissions data for National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales showed a 10 per cent fall in admissions for knife assaults. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed concern about the appalling events. My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response, he said. Emergency vehicles line up at the scene. Getty Images

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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the arrests and cautioned against conjecture. Two suspects have been immediately arrested and taken into custody, she said. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she was deeply disturbed by the reports from Huntingdon. This is an absolutely horrific attack and my thoughts are with all those affected, including the emergency responders at the scene, she said. With Reuters, AP Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
The old parochial house in Cloonacool is now a private residence. It served as the local priests residence for many years but when originally built, it was the property of the OHara family - the parents and six children. Of the five brothers in the family, two of them, Denis and Roger, became priests and one of those brothers in particular, Fr Denis, holds a very special place in local history.

Ordained in 1873

Denis O'Hara was born at the foot of the Ox Mountains in the 12-month period following April 1850. His father was reputed to have been a comfortable farmer and Denis received his early education in Cloonacool National School and later attended a Latin school attached to St Nathy's Cathedral in Ballaghaderreen. He entered Maynooth College in 1867 and was ordained in 1873.

After ordination, Fr Denis was appointed curate in the parish of Kiltimagh where he remained for two years. Over the course of the following years, he took up various posts throughout the Diocese of Achonry, but returned to Kiltimagh as parish priest in 1888.

Fr Denis, while not having experienced hunger or poverty himself, was nonetheless influenced with the poverty he had seen as a child. In addition to this, the hardship experienced by tenant farmers in his various parishes at that time was of particular concern to him, both as a priest and as a humanitarian.

An illustration from the 'Illustrated London News' of Land League protestors at a sheriff's sale of cattle to pay rent in Ireland in 1881. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Platform speaker

The following passage gives some idea of the passion and energy that possessed Denis OHara. It is clear that, as well as having a political mind, he had ambitions for his flock that went far beyond their spiritual wellbeing.

While in Ballaghaderreen he formed lifelong friendships with Anne Deane, later president of the Ladies Land League, her cousin John Dillon, and Bishop F. J. MacCormack. He first gained political prominence as a platform speaker at the Gurteen Land League meeting on November 2, 1879, where he proposed a resolution, which was seconded by Michael Davitt. He became deeply involved in the Land League and was a speaker at that time at monster meetings in Ballaghaderreen, Carracastle, and Curry.

O'Hara was present at a riot at Clogher, Ballaghaderreen, on April 2, 1881, where the police fired, killing two people, and the crowd seized and killed one of the constables.

After the 1881 Land Act, he succeeded in purchasing the Costello estate in Edmondstown (near Ballaghaderreen), and dividing it among the tenants. This was one of the first estates in the west of Ireland to be purchased. At the Co Mayo convention in Castlebar in November 1885, chaired by Charles Stewart Parnell, Denis O'Hara proposed John Dillon as the candidate for Mayo East, which Dillon went on to represent for the rest of his political career.

Plan of Campaign

The Plan of Campaign was a strategy adopted in Ireland between 1886 and 1891, co-ordinated by Irish politicians for the benefit of tenant farmers. It was a campaign against mainly absentee landlords and was launched to counter distress in the farming community caused by a continual fall in the prices of dairy products and cattle from the mid-1870s.

This depression had left many tenants in arrears with rent. In addition, bad weather in 1877 and 1878 caused significant crop failure, making it even harder to pay rents. O'Hara was now active in the Plan of Campaign and was in fact described as its Clerical Captain-General.

When Bishop MacCormack was transferred to Galway in 1888, the Achonry clergy elected O'Hara to succeed him, and his candidature was also supported by the Archbishop of Tuam and three other bishops of the province. The Duke of Norfolk wrote to Rome objecting to his appointment.

Citing his deep involvement first in the Land League and now in the Plan of Campaign, Norfolk wrote: "If O'Hara is nominated bishop of Achonry, we can expect much bad news from the west of Ireland.

Mgr Persico, then in Ireland investigating the Plan of Campaign, informed Rome that O'Hara was an ardent nationalist and as such unsuitable for the episcopate.

Congested Districts

Kiltimaghs tourism website says in a piece about Fr Denis that the event which had the greatest impact on Kiltimagh was his appointment there as parish priest.

Within two years of his appointment, he had replaced the old wooden church with a new building still in use today and had also built the Parochial House. In rapid succession, he built six new national schools in the parish.

The Congested Districts Board for Ireland was established by Arthur Balfour, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, in 1891 to alleviate poverty and congested living conditions in parts of the west and northwest of Ireland.

Fr Denis quickly became associated with the Congested Districts Board - despite not becoming a full member until 1910. He is credited with creating the Parish Committee Scheme in 1897. This was soon adopted by the board and by 1906 had spread to eight counties from Donegal to Kerry, with a total of 159 committees. The object of the scheme was to induce tenants to make improvements in their holdings, dwellings, and outhouses, by awarding prizes or grants. This was done through a local committee rather than through the more unwieldy board.

Education and training

Next on Fr Denis OHaras list of things to do was the training and teaching of the youth of his parish. In 1897, Fr Denis invited six sisters from the St Louis Convent in Co Monaghan to help establish such a facility. They initially set up a school for young women to teach cooking, cleaning, and religion. In 1908, this school became, primarily, a boarding school for girls. The school prospered with students winning prizes on a national scale for lace-making and proficiency in the Irish language.

Fr O'Hara remained parish priest of Kiltimagh for 34 years. The town, while described at the time of his arrival as, a forlorn dirty village, was later mentioned in 1915 as one of the most advanced towns of its kind in Ireland.

Fr Denis OHara never retired but passed away, while still fully engaged in his parish duties. Instead of being buried on church grounds, as was the custom, his final wish was that he be buried with his townspeople in the parish graveyard. He was a man renowned for his generosity and was devoted to the poor throughout his life. He passed away in 1922 without a penny to his name.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

A few evening snow showers and flurries, mostly in the Poconos; otherwise, partly cloudy, cold, and brisk overnight. Wind chills in the teens. .

Tonight

A few evening snow showers and flurries, mostly in the Poconos; otherwise, partly cloudy, cold, and brisk overnight. Wind chills in the teens.
Former Bachelorette lead Michelle Young has been suffering from illness for months and she recently received a diagnosis.

Young, who married Jack Leius in June, shared a health update with fans on her Instagram Stories on Nov. 1. She began her post by addressing the numerous requests she's received about sharing her honeymoon photos. Young explained that her trip to Italy was cut short because of her health.

"For the last eight months to a year, Ive been battling with extreme fatigue, brain fog, panic attacks, heart palpitations, hypoglycemia and POTs-like symptoms. After a number of tests came back normal, we thought it could be stress and anxiety with the wedding," she wrote.

"Doctors havent been able to find anything until recently, getting the results of a Mycotoxin and Mold test showing Ive been SEVERELY exposed. My body has been working hard to fight it all off," she continued, adding, "Thankfully, we did just move and know our new home is safe. But, clearly [I] was exposed to something (many things) in the past few years. Now having to do an intense detox, along with many medications and IV therapy to help my body get rid of everything."

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Young said that she and her husband hope to go back to Italy in 2026 to "redo" some of their honeymoon.

For some people with a mold allergy, symptoms are relatively mild and include things like a runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing and sneezing. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a more severe reaction is possible if the person is exposed to a large amount of mold, or if the person is exposed to mold on a regular basis over an extended period of time.

The CDC also says that reducing exposure by either removing the mold or removing the person from being exposed to the mold can greatly improve quality of life.

Young's diagnosis comes as former Bachelorette star Katie Thurston continues on a health journey of her own after being diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer earlier this year.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Credit: Miikka Skaffari/FilmMagic

King Diamond has been awarded a lifelong honorary grant by the Danish Arts Foundation.

The Foundation's honorary award is given to only five people every year and sees recipients paid up to 189,000 Danish Krona (22,000 or $26,000) annually.

According to the Foundation, the grant is "awarded to creative artists who have such an artistic production behind them that they have positioned themselves decisively as artists."

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In its justification for giving the award to the Mercyful Fate frontman, the Foundation says: "King Diamond, born Kim Bendix Petersen, is one of the most legendary and visionary figures in heavy metal. With his piercing falsetto, theatrical appearance and occult narrative universe, he has created a musical and visual language that is entirely his own.

"He is the man behind some of the most unique works in metal history  both as the frontman of Mercyful Fate and with his own band, also called King Diamond. With his music, he put Denmark on the metal world map as early as the 80s.

"On stage, he transforms the concert into a dark theater  a ritual where gothic tales, gruesome characters and symbol-filled scenography merge. His characteristic 'corpse paint' and his microphone stand, an inverted cross made of human bones, make him an iconic figure.

"King Diamond's music is more than just metal  each album is a chapter in a larger horror opera. He is known for creating conceptual works with overarching stories where fate, death and the supernatural go hand in hand. It's gothic horror romance in metal form, delivered with technical precision and theatrical grandeur.

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"For decades, he has stood as a cult figure, a one-man show in a genre of icons. With uncompromising integrity and artistic courage, King Diamond has created a dark and alluring universe that has captivated fans around the world  and continues to grow in power and mythology.

"On this basis, Kim Bendix Petersen (King Diamond) is nominated for the Danish Arts Foundation's honorary award."

King Diamond has influenced many metal icons including Metallica and Slayer. Earlier this year, he said he was growing impatient as he has not released an album in 18 years.

King Diamond has been awarded a lifelong honorary grant by the Danish Arts Foundation.

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The Foundation's honorary award is given to only five people every year and sees recipients paid up to 189,000 Danish Krona (22,000 or $26,000) annually.

According to the Foundation, the grant is "awarded to creative artists who have such an artistic production behind them that they have positioned themselves decisively as artists."

In its justification for giving the award to the Mercyful Fate frontman, the Foundation says: "King Diamond, born Kim Bendix Petersen, is one of the most legendary and visionary figures in heavy metal. With his piercing falsetto, theatrical appearance and occult narrative universe, he has created a musical and visual language that is entirely his own.

"He is the man behind some of the most unique works in metal history  both as the frontman of Mercyful Fate and with his own band, also called King Diamond. With his music, he put Denmark on the metal world map as early as the 80s.

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"On stage, he transforms the concert into a dark theater  a ritual where gothic tales, gruesome characters and symbol-filled scenography merge. His characteristic 'corpse paint' and his microphone stand, an inverted cross made of human bones, make him an iconic figure.

"King Diamond's music is more than just metal  each album is a chapter in a larger horror opera. He is known for creating conceptual works with overarching stories where fate, death and the supernatural go hand in hand. It's gothic horror romance in metal form, delivered with technical precision and theatrical grandeur.

"For decades, he has stood as a cult figure, a one-man show in a genre of icons. With uncompromising integrity and artistic courage, King Diamond has created a dark and alluring universe that has captivated fans around the world  and continues to grow in power and mythology.

"On this basis, Kim Bendix Petersen (King Diamond) is nominated for the Danish Arts Foundation's honorary award."

King Diamond has influenced many metal icons including Metallica and Slayer. Earlier this year, he said he was growing impatient as he has not released an album in 18 years.
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Credit: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

Kelly Osbourne has shared a video of her son Sidney biting the head off a toy bat in an incredibly cute callback to her late father Ozzy's most notorious onstage incident.

The clip, which can be viewed below, shows two-year-old Sidney deftly removing the toy bat's head before breaking into a giggle.

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Sidney's dad is Slipknot DJ Sid Wilson.

The video posted to TikTok is soundtracked by Ozzy's Crazy Train and includes the caption: "Learned from the greatest, Papa!"

Black Sabbath frontman and heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne died in July at the age of 76, just weeks after his retirement show Back To The Beginning was held at Villa Park in his hometown of Birmingham.

Ozzy famously bit the head off a bat thrown from the crowd at a show in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1982. It became one of the most talked about incidents in the history of rock music and resulted in the Prince Of Darkness being taken to hospital and going through multiple rounds of preventative rabies shots.

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He later explained: "Every night for the rest of the tour I had to find a doctor and get more rabies shots: One in each arse cheek, one in each thigh, one in each arm. Every one hurt like a bastard."

This week, an unknown fan installed a bronze plaque at the pub where Sabbath played their first ever show  and included a bronze bat in his act of guerrilla artwork.

The plaque identifies The Crown as being the birthplace of heavy metal, ahead of the inscription, "Preserve the music. Preserve the moments. Preserve the madness. This place should be a museum."

Kelly Osbourne has shared a video of her son Sidney biting the head off a toy bat in an incredibly cute callback to her late father Ozzy's most notorious onstage incident.

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The clip, which can be viewed below, shows two-year-old Sidney deftly removing the toy bat's head before breaking into a giggle.

Sidney's dad is Slipknot DJ Sid Wilson.

The video posted to TikTok is soundtracked by Ozzy's Crazy Train and includes the caption: "Learned from the greatest, Papa!"

Black Sabbath frontman and heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne died in July at the age of 76, just weeks after his retirement show Back To The Beginning was held at Villa Park in his hometown of Birmingham.

Ozzy famously bit the head off a bat thrown from the crowd at a show in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1982. It became one of the most talked about incidents in the history of rock music and resulted in the Prince Of Darkness being taken to hospital and going through multiple rounds of preventative rabies shots.

Advertisement Advertisement

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He later explained: "Every night for the rest of the tour I had to find a doctor and get more rabies shots: One in each arse cheek, one in each thigh, one in each arm. Every one hurt like a bastard."

This week, an unknown fan installed a bronze plaque at the pub where Sabbath played their first ever show  and included a bronze bat in his act of guerrilla artwork.

The plaque identifies The Crown as being the birthplace of heavy metal, ahead of the inscription, "Preserve the music. Preserve the moments. Preserve the madness. This place should be a museum."
Humberly Gonzalez had a conversation with The Wayne Ayers Podcast, which quickly became a rollercoaster of laughter, horror, and heartfelt reflection. Between the dissection of the craziness in her new indie horror success, Match, and the teasing of whats to come in Season 4 of Ginny & Georgia, Humberly brought her class to the table.

The Madness BehindMatch: No Table Read, No Sleep, All Chaos

Forget rehearsals. I booked Match on Wednesday, and then I was shooting in South Africa four days later, Gonzalez admitted. I didnt even audition. I read the script once and couldnt put it down. It was twisted and fun.

But one decision catapulted her right into one of the craziest stretches of her career. There was no table read, no warm-up, just fake blood, real screams, and none of us were chill, she said. My first day on set was the part in the film where Paola barfs and tries to kill Henry.

Playing Paola: The Perfectly Imperfect Heroine

When her fans pointed out that Paola was ignoring all the red flags possible, Gonzalez was in complete agreement. Shes just so flawed. Shes ignoring red flags, pushing boundaries, and not trusting her gut. But thats the thing, shes relatable, and shes human.

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However, audience members were also scream-crying at their televisions. She could have saved her sister instead of worrying about some boy she just met, Wayne said jokingly, and Humberly chuckled in agreement. Right? But its her storyline, how do you overcome such human habits even when faced with dire circumstances?

The WTF Moments That Traumatized Everyone

There was no shortage of jaw-droppers in Match. The bathroom scene, the roaches, the eyes in the elevator, people were hiding behind blankets, Humberly giggled. They just keep ramping up. Theyre not doing ghosts, theyre not doing demons. Theyre doing straight-up chaos. What the hell?! scenes were her own favorites, ordered up in her own personal greatest hits album.

Shell tell me, Oh, I love watching their reactions as if its part of the experience. And you recommend it just to see them scream. Its a shared trauma experience.

On Online Dating: Please Dont Go to Their House!

One of the themes was just a little too close to home. Its definitely a very extreme way of saying, be careful, explained Humberly. Dont show up at someones house. Dont take drinks from strangers. And a five-minute FaceTime call does not mean theyre real. Especially with AI, please.

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Fans knew her message got across. Everyone tells me they deleted their dating apps after watching Match, she laughed. Mission accomplished!

Horror Royalty and Indie Glory

Even with all the blood and the screams, Gonzalez said playing Match might be one of her favorite experiences, right up there with Star Trek and Star Wars. Its just neat to be in something if people talk about it, she said, hoping Match might be one of the movies that crosses over into cult fame.

And yes, she is rooting for indie cinema. You dont need 200 million dollars to tell a great story, she said. Independent films take risks. You have the freedom. You get to play. Thats real cinema,

From Ginny & Georgia to Spin-Off Dreams

Changing gears, Wayne was also asking when Season 4 of Ginny & Georgia will come out. Humberly remained silent but teased exciting new characters and big cliffhangers.

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Fans asking for a Sophie & Max spin-off? Humberly hears you. I think theyll always have love for each other, she smiled. Even if they never officially get back together, theyll always be endgame in my heart.

All of my scenes with Sophie made the cut, which is very rare in television, she revealed. Everything I shot is in there. That never happens!

Dream Roles, White Lotus, & Superhero Dreams

After years of continuous shootings, I am actually taking a break, but dont get me wrong, Im not slowing down, stated Gonzalez. I have been acting professionally for ten years without stopping. And right now, I am training and intending to play an action role, superhero, military, anything physical.

What does her dream project look like? Its to bring together an ensemble of Latino and Venezuelan actors in an action movie, Spanglish meets Marvel, she explained. I want to wear the supersuit!

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Where would she love to guest star someday? White Lotus, obviously, she laughed. They havent done a Spanish-speaking country yet. Lets fix that.

Fan Favorites and Hidden Talents

When asked what she might be doing if she were not an actress, Humberlys face lit up. I would be teaching yoga or scuba diving in Costa Rica. I am just passionate about wellness, scuba diving, and living in close proximity to the ocean.

Celebrity crushes when she was growing up? Jesse McCartney and Vanessa Hudgens, she revealed. And Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance. Totally emo.

Hidden Talent? I can walk a slack line, and I can open any bottle with a lighter, she bragged. Thats party trick or survival skill, depending on the night.

Humberlys World Is Limitless

Right from deleting dating apps to walking the tightrope, Humberly Gonzalez exhibits her fearlessness in every possible way. Be it living in the indie horror world, shattering hearts in Ginny & Georgia, or chasing her Latina Superhero Franchise, she embodies thankfulness and determination. From your mouth to Gods ears, if Im on set tomorrow, youre my lucky charm, she grinned, as Wayne wrapped up the episode. If the universe has any concept of justice, Humberly Gonzalez will not only be on location tomorrow, but shell be starring in the next big blockbuster.

The post Humberly Gonzalez Breaks Down the Chaos of Match and Teases Whats Next for Sophie in Ginny & Georgia Season 4 on The Wayne Ayers Podcast appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
Dining out can get expensive. The post-COVID years have seen restaurants raise prices due to higher ingredient costs. When restaurants get more expensive, people feel less adventurous about trying out new restaurants, preferring to spend money at tried-and-true spots. But trying new places is one of the best parts of dining out. This is why cities where dining out is affordable are so much fun. Fortunately, affordable cities span the entire country.

Affordability, of course, has a subjective, even nebulous texture. For this survey, we have relied on two overlapping 2025 studies by Chef's Pencil and WalletHub judging affordability relative to the average income. That means what is affordable in one city may not be in another. For instance, according to one of the surveys, what is an affordable meal in Bern, Switzerland, at $59, would be equivalent to a $43 meal in Denver, since in both places it would cost 0.8% of the average income. The baseline for this study is what is affordable based on the local income.

But we want this review to be useful for travelers, too. So we have sought to supplement the baseline with our review of some of the better places to eat to gauge if it is affordable by nationwide standards, and thus for tourists. (Note that all cited menu prices below are correct as of writing but are subject to change.) We're judging affordability here based on our accumulated experience, for this and other articles, reviewing menus across the country.

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Read more: The Signature Sandwich Of Every State

Dallas

Sliced brisket on white parchment paper - Cattleack Barbeque / Facebook

You cannot visit Dallas without trying the barbecue. This city has some excellent, affordable grub, ranking first on a recent list of the least expensive dining out cities in the world, ahead of Muscat, Oman, and Bern, Switzerland.

If you're there to sample the barbecue, the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand list  which highlights high-quality, good value for money restaurants  recommends Cattleack Barbeque in particular. Prices here are generally comparable to similarly top-rated spots in another barbecue haven, Austin, but the fact that you're welcome to BYOB makes it a more affordable option, especially for groups. Get there early to make the most of the meaty specials.

But Dallas dining is about more than just barbecue. Try the celebrated Resident Taqueria, where the taco menu features pecan-smoked chicken, glazed pork belly, and house-made chorizo, all for just $3 each. Another beloved spot is Saigon Block, where pho bowls typically cost around $15, such as the meatballs, sliced filet mignon, and tender flank in a flavorful noodle broth. Lastly, do not sleep on Iraqi bakery and restaurant Bilad, which is considered a neighborhood staple in Richardson, with delicious meat, cheese, za'atar, and spinach pies for $2.99.

Denver

Alma Fonda Fina's Mexican-inspired dining room with wooden tables and chairs - almalohidenver / Instagram

Adjusting to the higher altitude can potentially disrupt your ability to enjoy food, but once your stomach settles, go out to town at one of America's most affordable and inventive dining scenes. Denver boasts one of the country's most affordable Michelin Guide-starred restaurants, the Mexican-inspired Alma Fonda Fina, which serves excellent plates in a cozy space that reminds us of a hacienda, a Mexican ranch house. The dinner menu spotlights a taco with chorizo rojo for $8, and a tuna ceviche with charred avocado, coconut broth, salsa, and chive oil for $22. Sure, you can find cheaper tacos and ceviche, but has the establishment been awarded a Michelin star? For the quality you're getting, the price is remarkably affordable.

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Italian is one of the best comfort foods around, so make sure to check out the affordable pasta plates at Michelin-Guide-listed Dio Mio. The pasta here is house-made in the open kitchen visible to diners, and has been praised as a local icon. A cacio e pepe with mafalde, black pepper, pink peppercorn, and Parmesan is $17, while the rigatoni with fennel sausage and kale is $21.

Chicago

Pepperoni pizza with whipped cheese topping - Coalfire Pizza / Facebook

Chicago never fails to amaze us with its wonderfully affordable selection of good food, especially as someone who studied and lives in the northeast. The city is home to one of the best bakeries in the country, the Filipino-inspired and Michelin-starred Kasama. Start your day here with one of the innovative pastries, such as the citrus poppy pound cake with berry compote and whipped creme fraiche for just over $7.

Skip Kasama's pricey dinner menu and head for savory Filipino at Boonie's. The garlic aromas here have been called intoxicating. The lunch features a garlic rice plate with shrimp marinated in a garlic butter coconut milk sauce for just $19. The dinner entrees are meant for sharing, and the Spanish mackerel, coconut water adobo, hanghang oil, and burong garlic chives is $38 for two people. Add the roasted banana spring roll for dessert for just $7.

The city is also home to one of our favorite pizza spots in the whole country. Coalfire serves up incredibly fresh coal oven-baked pizzas with ingredients sourced from local butchers and farmers. Always judge a pizzeria by its Margherita, so order the classic for $23. We also love the look of the jalapeno pepperoni for $24 (no pie is more than $25). Coalfire proves why Chicago remains one of the most famous pizza cities.

Washington, D.C.

Three different pizzas at Yellow - yellowthecafe / Instagram

We admit to being a bit shocked seeing Washington, D.C. cited as one of the most affordable cities to eat out. But, on second thought, we remembered that the nation's capital does harbor affordable dining outside of the K Street lobbyists corridor.

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The now-legendary Falafel Inc. has some of the best, most affordable bites around. Order the falafel sandwich on a freshly baked pita, starting at just $4. Add za'atar fries, also for $4. Meanwhile, the city's rising star, chef Michael Rafidi -- a 2024 James Beard Foundation Outstanding Chef of the Year winner -- makes some of the nation's best pizzas with a Levantine twist at his Yellow eatery. A wood-fired pie comes topped with burrata, jibne (a soft Middle Eastern white cheese), harissa, and basil for $22.

The doyen of D.C. dining, chef Jose Andres, offers great value at many of his restaurants. The fusion Chinese-Peruvian China Chilcano, for instance, offers a three-course lunch menu for $28 with options like stir-fry chicken and salmon. His flagship restaurant, Jaleo, serves a weekday marinated lamb sandwich with a side of your choice, including gazpacho, for $16. Lastly, be sure to hit up D.C.'s beloved ramen house, Toki Underground, where a bowl of the popular Tokyo-style curry chicken ramen with pork broth is less than $21.

Houston

Chicken and waffles with powdered sugar on a blue plate - killenstx and ronniekillen / Instagram

We're back to the Lone Star State, where America's fourth-largest city keeps on attracting re-settled Californians thanks to its affordable cost of living. It's not just housing that's affordable, but the city's great menus. Come to the inauspiciously white-clad Killen's, a Michelin Bib Gourmand recommended spot. James Beard-nominated chef Ronnie Killen is all about decadently good Southern fare, such as the classic chicken and waffles for $18. The chicken tenders and fries platter is $15, as are the smoked and fried wings with your choice of sauce, such as lemon pepper.

Good Chinese also exists in Houston. Head over to Mala Sichuan Bistro, which is quickly becoming a city fixture with its expanding locations. You can easily get by on the street food snacks, such as dan dan noodles in spicy sauce, 10 pieces of house-made, pork-filled wontons, and eight dumplings in red chili oil, each for just $8.99. Add six sticky, sweet rice cake bites for $7.99. Beyond the great prices, if you're unfamiliar with the cuisine, this is a great place to learn about Sichuan food.

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And what about the barbecue, you ask? One of Houston's best smokehouses, The Pit Room, serves up  a pound of brisket for $16.50, a two-meat sandwich for $16, and great sides  like macaroni and cheese and charro beans  for $5 apiece.

Grand Rapids

Several dishes on table including meatballs and bruschetta - Bistro Bella Vita / Facebook

Michigan's second-largest city is gaining national attention for offering charming city living at an affordable price. Grand Rapids, in fact, is easily one of the nation's most affordable dining destinations.

Everything you could want is here for a great price. In the mood for refined Italian? Bistro Bella Vita prepares great pizzas, such as prosciutto with roasted pear, and excellent pastas, like the black spaghetti with crab, both of which are $17. Grab equally tasty and affordable pizzas and pastas at the well-rated Vitale's.

The meat-focused Butcher's Union features a double cheeseburger with cheddar, caramelized onions, spicy pickles, and aioli on a griddled brioche bun for just over $15. Not enough burgers for you? You're spoiled for choice at the beloved Stella's Lounge with a large burger menu -- all under $15 -- featuring our favorite queso jalapeno version. Another great spot is Social Misfits, where savory and sweet-topped waffles are served for $12 to $18 in a stylish dining room.

Seattle

Glazed pork ribs with lemon slice - tomo.seattle / Instagram

We're not pulling your chain. Seattle may be a company town with Amazon and Starbucks, but the city is actually one of the most affordable places to eat in the country. We spent a workcation here on a $38-a-day per diem and ate very well. Rise and shine with the celebrated Dahlia Bakery, where gluten-free mochi donuts with fun flavors like honey graham and pina passion are $4.50.

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For lunch, head over to FareStart, a restaurant operated by a nonprofit of the same name that trains homeless people in the food industry, which offers an array of affordable eats. For example, the smoked salmon on house-made focaccia with preserved lemon aioli and radish slaw is $16. Capitol Hill is Seattle's most pedestrian-friendly neighborhood  after a stroll, head to Spinasse, which we've heard is the best local Italian spot. Order a handmade pasta, such as the pork and beef ragu, for around $20.

You gotta taste the city's famous seafood. Praised as one of Seattle's best places to eat, Local Tide serves fried Dover sole with salt and pepper wedge-style fries for $18. Finally, visit Tomo, helmed by James Beard-winning chef Brady Ishiwata Williams. This serves a Japanese-inspired seasonal menu featuring dishes like Japanese sweet potato for $22 and two pieces of sweet 'n' sticky glazed fried chicken for $26.

Boston

Sliced meat sandwich on a bun - Cutty's / Facebook

America's university capital, the home of Harvard, provides plenty of places for cash-strapped college kids to eat. Boston's bagels might not be as famous as New York's, but the cutesy-named Bagelsaurus is exceptional. The handmade bagels come in many varieties, such as sea salt, everything, black olive, and chocolate chip pretzel. Each costs $2.75 with options for spreads, like honey rosemary ($1.75). Alternatively, grab a BLT bagel for $11.75.

"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" veteran Cutty's makes the ultimate college meal: sandwiches. The slow-roasted beef with cheddar on a black pepper brioche is only $13.99. Leaving Boston without eating clam chowder is practically a cardinal sin. So, head to the long-standing and celebrated Neptune Oysters, where the clam chowder with salt pork and thyme is $15. Stick around to eat the blue mussels with spicy 'nduja for $17.

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You simply cannot have enough seafood in Boston, so drop by one of the multiple popular Row 34 locations. Try the Seaport spot housed in a 1908 renovated textile warehouse for smoked salmon or shrimp pimento with grilled bread at $15 apiece.

Milwaukee

Ricotta-filled pasta in beige bowl - Birch / Facebook

Milwaukee may lack the college cool of Madison, but this city harbors a world-class art museum housed in an iconic architectural structure, and some of the nation's best affordable food. Let's start with one of the country's top-ranked restaurants: Birch. Midwestern flavors shine in the ricotta-filled pasta with corn and feta for $21. We also love the sound of the spaghetti with anchovy and smoked habanada for $19.

The top-rated Swingin' Door Exchange offers peak saloon vibes with classics like the roasted Angus beef sandwich with au jus for $18. Milwaukee sits on the third-largest of the Great Lakes, so seafood is always a good bet, too. Turn to the beloved St. Paul Fishing Company for freshly shucked $3 oyster shooters, fried clam strips for less than $13, and a sandwich with fried walleye for $14.95. A salad is always a great way to round out a meal, and here the mixed greens are less than $8.

Madison

Dining table with several dishes - Mint Mark / Facebook

About that cool college sibling, Madison is Wisconsin's other affordable foodie destination. We love this college town lying on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, which makes for coziness around the whole city. Mint Mark is a produce-centered eatery with a highly-rated menu that includes the Friday lunch offering, with dishes such as a house-made pastrami sandwich with Italian bean soup ($18) and malted chocolate brownie ($5).

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Head to James Beard semifinalist Ahan for the Asian fare like red curry udon noodles with chicken or tofu for $18. Equally popular is The Mediterranean Joint, where the chicken shawarma plate is $17.99 including rice, bread, and salad. Add Greek fries with feta for $5.99 and Dubai-style pistachio cheesecake for $8.49.

Head to The Old Fashioned for award-winning beer-battered cheese curds, a Wisconsin delicacy, as a starter for $10.95. Then order pork schnitzel or chicken fried steak, each for less than $20. The James Beard-nominated Osteria Papavero has great weekday lunch specials, such as beef and pork ragu bolognese for $12.

Wilmington

Burger and fries at The Charcoal Pit - The Charcoal Pit / Facebook

Head to Wilmington, Delaware, for great, affordable eats, with the city placing second for affordability in WalletHub's ranking of American foodie cities. Start at the James Beard-nominated Bardea, where artisan pizza is $20. Or try some of the pasta dishes, such as the duck genovese and foie gras ravioli, each for $23 to $25. The lamb neck with gooseberry and labneh is only $20.

Head to the Charcoal Pit, which is iconic for a reason. This is a 1950s-style diner that was actually founded in the '50s. Order the 4-ounce Angus beef burger special with fries for just $9.25. Pair it with a classic handspun shake for $6.75.

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Food halls are often a good bet for affordable eating, since there are plenty of vendors offering small plates. The Chancery Market serves a diverse array of bites, from Indian street food to Korean fried chicken. A chicken tikka bowl at the Indian-inspired Kati Roll Wala is $12.99. So take in the history and the food at this historic American city.

Cincinnati

Skyline Chili plate of chili, spaghetti, and shredded cheese - Skyline Chili / Facebook

The first thing you need to know about Cincinnati is that this is a beer town, famous for hosting one of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations outside of Munich, Germany. So, gastropubs are a must. Go to the popular Crown Republic for good beer and creative small plates like the smoked wings with Moroccan dry rub and blueberry barbecue with Parmesan dip, and beet tartare with cashew labneh (both $16). Another well-reviewed gastropub is British-inspired Nicholson's, where a full serving of lamb and beef shepherd's pie is $19 and the classic pub beef burger is $14.50.

A top 20 affordable city, according to WalletHub, Cincinnati is famous for its chili. The place to try it is at Skyline Chili, one of the country's great regional fast food chains, where the less-than-$9 chili is served over spaghetti and topped with a mountain of cheddar. Try the popular chili and cheese hot dog for about $4.

Another Cincinnati specialty is the German-inspired sausage and grain mixture, goetta. We've heard that one of the best spots to try it is Izzy's, which has been making Reuben sandwiches in the Queen City since 1901. Get the goetta Reuben for $13.49.

El Paso

Two open face tacos on plate - amar.restaurant / Instagram

Visit America's most bilingual city for some of the nation's tastiest, most affordable eats. Unsurprisingly, Mexican-inspired food is common and great in this border city. Head to the James Beard semifinalist Elemi for elevated tacos, which range in price from $6 to $13 for two, such as one with cremini mushrooms, grilled eggplant, and avocado, Oaxacan black beans, and caramelized quesillo.

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The L & J Cafe has been around since 1927 and is a local institution. This is where you should start your day with breakfast, which is served until noon. Order the minced ground beef picadillo, which comes with eggs, hash browns, beans, and a tortilla for $10.99. For a sunny, popular spot, head to the charming Amar, where plants and bamboo-braided lamps hang from the ceiling. The Peruvian-Mexican menu's most sought-after dishes include shrimp and cheese empanadas and elotes with spicy, creamy sauce for $12 and $8, respectively.

Methodology

Group of people eating out at restaurant with lots of plates on the table - Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

Choosing America's most affordable food cities required turning to the experts. We sourced a couple of different surveys of the cost of dining out in cities, big and small, across the country, relative to local income. We supplemented this survey with our own reviews of menus at popular and distinguished spots to really answer the question of whether one can not just eat, but eat well in these cities as a tourist, too.

Any American city is affordable if you stick to fast food, but there are a good number of places where even some Michelin-starred or recommended places are affordable. In some cities, even restaurants ranked among the best in the nation and helmed by award-winning chefs are affordable, at least relative to local incomes.

Between surveys on affordability and our own double-checking with a host of menus at top-rated spots, we could complement the surveys with detailed evidence to demonstrate that the cities on this list are indeed home to affordable dining destinations in the country for locals and visitors.

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You see this little thing? says Giorgos Rousopoulos, my guide. Its the start of human civilisation right here.

He held up the little thing in question between his thumb and forefinger. Flint stone, he told me. Notorious for making weapons with edges as sharp as a knife. But also creating sparks. Strike one against the other and you have fire.

We were an hour into our ice-age walk in Zagori, northern Greece, part of the Vikos national park. Every few minutes I had to stop to try and take in the epic scale and drama of the scenery around us.

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It was autumn and the ancient forest we were hiking through was a riot of burnished orange, golds and reds.

Bare craggy peaks rose above us while the crystal clear water of the Voidomatis river flowed below.

Emma Cook took the path less travelled, but certainly not less beautiful, to Zagori, Greece

Giorgos had described this place, deep in the Vikos Gorge, as a geologists playground and its easy to see why. Close to the Albanian border, it felt like a world that time forgot.

Each layer of rock around here reveals millions of years of geological activity, shaped by the last ice age and beyond, he explained.

There is also evidence of human activity here, in cave sites dating from 17,000 years ago. Nowadays, however, humans are remarkably absent  we hadnt passed another walker all morning, just one of the reasons why the areas wildlife is so diverse. We were sharing territory with bears, wolves, boar, deer and wild goats, along with more than 30 species of bird.

Locals call the gorge the Greek Dolomites - Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas

Locals call this part of the Vikos Gorge the Greek Dolomites, but unlike the Italian version, not many people in the UK have heard of it. Eighty percent of Greece is mountainous  something French, Austrian and Germans hikers appreciate more than the English.

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Yet despite its remoteness, its surprisingly easy to reach. Preveza is a three-hour flight from the UK, and from there its a 90-minute drive along sweeping, sandy coastline, followed by a steep ascent into the mountains.

But two hours into our uphill hike and it felt like we were a million miles from civilisation. I was acutely aware of the Voidomatis flowing past us over rocks and boulders  and that soon I would be rafting along it, paddle clutched tightly in hand. Giorgos assured me the river was the quickest and most enjoyable way back down, but I was struggling to match his enthusiasm.

Nevertheless, when we reached the top I dutifully peeled off my walking gear, climbed into a wetsuit and life jacket, and lowered myself onto the edge of the rubber raft. A guide and two more hikers did the same, and off we went, pulled immediately into the current.

Rafting along the Voidomatis river is a popular activity in Zagori - Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas

To my astonishment, however, I felt my terror evaporate the moment I dunked my oar into the bubbling water. The guide patiently showed us how to paddle in unison, and we quickly fell into an easy rhythm, drifting along, pushing ourselves off the rocks for momentum and gliding down the occasional mini-rapid.

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All was calm and gentle: every so often wed rest our paddles and drink in the silence, the forested slopes rising on either side, the turquoise green of the rock pools glimmering, punctuated by the briefest flash of a bright blue and orange kingfisher skimming low across the water.

I was perfectly relaxed, until our guide asked cheerfully, Now, are we ready for the dam?

We smiled nervously.

When I say jump, move into the middle of the raft away from the edges, she said, and  checking we were all in position  began to manoeuvre us towards the dams ominous edge. The sound of rushing water grew ever louder as we were sucked closer, and then suddenly the moment of truth was upon us.

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Jump! Oars up!

Crouching on the raft floor, we dropped down the waterfall, tossed from side to side, feeling every bump along the way. It was utterly exhilarating, even for someone as adrenaline-averse as me. There were screams of delight, mostly mine, as we were spewed  out soaking wet  into calmer water below.

Aristi Mountain Resort is the perfect place to relax and recuperate

Back on dry land, and still humming with adrenaline, I was glad of a chance to relax and recuperate in the cosy embrace of the Aristi Mountain Resort, a collection of pretty stone buildings perched high among the peaks. Its rooms were subtly luxurious (all natural stone walls, Persian rugs and dark wooden shutters), and after a few hours trotting between the indoor pool, sauna and steam room, I was ready for an early supper.

We enjoyed a tasty winter salad of roasted pumpkin, beets and warm Metsovo cheese, sourced from the resorts farm and greenhouse, and washed down with a glass of local rose  surrounded by views of the mountains.

The views while dining at Aristi Mountain Resort are unparalleled - Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas, Greece

The next morning, we set out for Vikos, a traditional village with breathtaking views from its pretty square. All the villages in this area were thriving trading posts during the Ottoman period, connected by a series of ancient stone bridges and cobbled pathways known as skales. Nowadays they make ideal hiking trails, offering a network of walks for all abilities.

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We followed one of them from Vikos, down steep steps to the source of the Voidomatis river, then onwards to the tiny village of Kipi, ghostly and abandoned except for its wild cats and a charming guest house, which stays open for hikers year round.

After pausing to admire the magnificent views from 14th-century Monastery of Agia Paraskevi, perched high over the valley on the edge of a cliff, we ended our day with a meal at Kanela & Garyfallo, a busy restaurant in the village of Vitsa which specialises in mushrooms. Vassilis Karsoupas, the chef, became obsessed with them while studying biochemistry as part of his degree, and now has a whole team of foragers and also grows his own.

Our writer was certainly well fed on her trip to Greece - Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas

We feasted on sharing dishes  casseroles, tarts, risotto  each one tastier than the last, and though I declined the offer of mushroom schnapps, I couldnt resist trying the caramelised chanterelles with ice cream for dessert. All delicious, and not a moussaka in sight.

Rather like Zagori itself, this is a side of Greece you dont often hear about. As Giorgos says, up here, we can get forgotten  though with sights and tastes like these, it cant be long before theyre discovered. Go now, and enjoy this sleepy regions fragile spell, before its broken at last.

Essentials

EasyJet flies from London Gatwick to Preveza from 166 return; Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas has rooms from 140 B&B, based on two sharing. Tours with Trekking Hellas can be booked through Aristi Mountain Resort and Villas.

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New Orleans offers a specific Louisiana experience that draws curious visitors looking to experience its incredible live jazz, mouthwatering eats, and unique architecture. But the bustling city isn't the only must-see destination in the state. If you want to uncover more of the region's rich culture, you need to venture beyond NOLA.

By leaving the city for a day or more, you can discover Madisonville, a charming riverfront treasure with seafood and festivals. Or you could end up in Jean Lafitte, a quiet Louisiana fishing town near the Gulf Coast. These Gulf Coast towns and cities are fishing meccas, and few provide an angler's paradise better than Venice. Not to be mistaken with the original Venice in Italy, Louisiana's Venice sits at the mouth of the Mississippi River right on the Gulf of Mexico (renamed the Gulf of America in 2025 by U.S. President Donald Trump).

This prime location makes it the ideal fishing destination. You can enjoy both inshore and offshore fishing via boat or pull on your waders to fish around nearby Breton Island. When it comes to inshore fishing, the sprawling marshes and bayous are home to trout and redfish that draw anglers from across the country. Thanks to the abundance of marine life from the intermingling river and gulf ecosystems, it's easy to catch your limit of speckled trout, redfish, and bass on any given day while inshore fishing around the Delta National Wildlife Refuge or the Grand Bayou.

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Read more: One Of West Virginia's Best-Kept Secrets Is A Train Ride Through A Canyon You Can't Reach By Car

Adrenaline-pumping offshore fishing in Venice, Louisiana

Tuna on a hook held by a man on a boat - Sanerg/Getty Images

If you're looking for the adrenaline rush that comes with reeling in a fighting game fish off the side of a boat, Venice's offshore fishing will provide the goods. Have you ever wanted to reel in a yellowfin tuna? You have a chance of doing that here practically any day of the year. But if you want to snag a trophy-size tuna, you're better off heading out between December and March.

You can jump aboard a dedicated yellowfin tuna fishing charter to find all the best spots. There are also charters available for catching blue and white marlin, which usually run between April and November. Offshore anglers in Venice aren't just looking for these two species, though. Red and black grouper are also up for grabs during winter and fall, while red snapper provide exciting deep-water fishing during summer. Venice is truly a year-round fishing paradise.

Summer is also tarpon season in Venice, where you'll find Louisiana's Tarpon Triangle. This is a collection of three fishing spots renowned for catching prized trophy fish: Southwest Pass, the Empire Canal, and Grand Bayou. While offshore anglers might be catching snapper or tuna during this time of year, inshore anglers are fishing the depths for tarpon. Fishing is so popular here that charters make up 13 of the top 15 things to do on Tripadvisor.

Venice, Louisiana's rustic seafood dining and waterside stays

Charbroiled oysters cooking on an open grill - Eyeem Mobile Gmbh/Getty Images

When you're not out on the water, you're going to want somewhere to eat and rest your head. Changes Restaurants LLC caters to the crowd with its traditional seafood dishes, including the oh-so-popular charbroiled oysters. The restaurant has a great fishing town look with wooden decorations and outdoor seating, as well as artwork on the walls. Don't pass up on the boudin egg rolls or the fried catfish if you want something local.

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There's plenty of fun to be had at Venice's two mainstay bars, which sit side by side on the main drag. Den Lounge is a local favorite, where you'll see familiar faces sitting at the bar or standing around the pool tables. They also grill up some exceptional seafood to go with the ice-cold beer, including oysters and shrimp. Hartt's Old Cypress Bar is great for sitting outside with a beer after fishing. It's a laid-back hangout where you might see people peeling shrimp outside and eating them fresh while catching up on the day's activities.

Venice has a few accommodation options, including an RV park and the waterfront Venice Blue Crab Lodge. The latter is highly rated among keen anglers because it provides private access for people with their own boats to get out on the water. The lodge also has a fish cleaning station and two comfortable cabins for up to seven people each. Venice is only a 1.5-hour drive from New Orleans, so it's a manageable day trip if you prefer staying in the city. You could even book a night at New Orleans' haunted Airbnb near Bourbon Street (if you're brave enough). If you're flying in from out of state, the nearest major airport is Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, located just outside New Orleans and about a two-hour drive from Venice.

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Millions of years before settlers and Native American tribes arrived, geological forces and glaciers carved out "Montana's Alps," the Bitterroot Mountains, which not only form the border between Montana and Idaho, but set the scene for a scenic Montana oasis surrounded by deep nature. Northwestern Montana, locally known as "Glacier Country," is home to the Crown of the Continent and is renowned for its rich history and natural beauty. Deep in this corner of Big Sky Country, the small community of Lolo is nestled against these dramatic peaks at the crossroads where two scenic highways lead to rustic charm and serenity.

Before settlers arrived, Lolo and Lolo Pass had been a crossroads for Native Americans who journeyed through the pass to hunt and trade, and served as a key rest stop for Lewis and Clark in September 1805 before they traveled West. Lolo later developed due to discoveries of gold deposits as well as the magical Lolo Hot Springs, which have become a resort destination in the region. The origin of the town's name is mysterious, with no clear explanation and little consistency between Lou Lou, Loo Loo, Lo Lo. Eventually, the postal service settled the matter in 1888, choosing Lo Lo.

Even though Lolo is than half an hour from Missoula, the second largest metropolitan area in the state, and the nearest commercial airport, Lolo has largely maintained its quiet and peaceful lifestyle in the majestic Bitterroot Valley. In the rustic community of less than 5,000, you'll find the best of both worlds to please your inner foodie and outdoor junkie, no matter when you visit.

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History and views like no other place

Wildflowers and mountain views in Lolo, Montana - Jmoor17/Getty Images

Travelers who want to tread down the path of history shouldn't miss stopping at Traveler's Rest State Park while visiting Lolo. On the entire 4,900-mile Lewis and Clark trail from Pittsburgh to the Oregon Coast, Travelers Rest is the only campsite that has been verified by archaeologists as a Corps of Discovery rest point and is a great place to stretch your legs before or after a long drive on US 12 or US 93. As you stroll down the 1.7-mile trail where you'll walk the party's replica campsite and the scenic West Fork of Lolo Creek and take in the gorgeous views, keep your cameras ready. Over 100 species of birds, as well as deer, elk, and other wildlife, have been observed in the park since Meriwether Lewis took note of Montana's diverse wildlife in his journal while resting. While you're there, don't miss taking a trip back in time through the Visitors Center, home to noteworthy historical exhibits and Native American art.

For a longer walk to explore the past, walk the Lewis and Clark Trail that their party and Shoshone guide crossed through the Bitterroot Mountains. This trail is part of one of America's wildest thru-hikes crossing the Gem State, and it nearly killed Lewis and Clark. To walk in their footsteps, join Lewis and Clark Trail Adventures on a single or multi-day hike along little-known historical sites on the Lewis and Clark Trail. Camping gear, food, and water are provided, and trips start from the Lochsa Lodge, across the state border in Idaho. Be sure to stop at the Lolo Pass Visitors Center, and if you still have energy after your day in the woods, don't miss visiting these nearby, picturesque, hike-in hot springs with waterfalls.

Soak up the day and the views

the Lolo Pass Visitors Center in May - Ian Dewar Photography/Shutterstock

For hundreds of years, the Lolo Hot Springs have drawn everyone from Native Americans, Lewis and Clark, to local new car owners a century ago (they test drove their new cars here). Whether you're ready to soothe after exploring the 350 miles of all-season trails, or need a base to explore the rugged Bitterroot Mountains, you'll find two resorts and all the fixin's for families, explorers, and adventurers half an hour from Lolo. The Lodge at Lolo Hot Springs draws water directly from the mountains for its indoor pools and has comfy, modern rooms for a quiet and scenic weekend away. If you'd rather saw logs in a charming cabin or your RV, head across the road to the Lolo Hot Springs Resort.

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Whether you're fueling up before or after a hike, Lolo punches well above its weight in restaurants and food, being home to some of the country's best steaks, locally brewed beer, and rustic eateries with modern charm. A popular go-to for breakfast anytime of day is KT's Hayloft Saloon, serving up home-cooked classics including chicken-fried steak, French toast, and burgers. For a special treat, visit Lolo Creek Steakhouse, ranked as the best in Montana, and built from century-old, local logs cut from nearby Lolo Pass.

Although the journey to or from Lolo isn't as arduous as in the past, be sure to fuel up yourself and your vehicle for a long, windy road heading south toward Salmon, hidden in Idaho's mountains, or west on U.S. Highway 12 over Lolo Pass. On both highways, be especially careful of motorcycles in the summer months and snow from late fall to early spring, and take plenty of breaks to enjoy the incredible scenery.

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Just two centuries ago, tens of millions of bison roamed across North America, their herds so massive that their approach sounded like rolling thunder. These enormous ancient beasts lived during the Ice Age, but unlike mammoths and saber-toothed tigers, they have returned from the brink of extinction and are still walking the earth today. Yellowstone National Park is known for providing visitors with the rare opportunity to see a wide variety of wild animals in their national habitat, especially bison. However, it's not the only place in the United States where you can see bison roam today. The very best place for travelers interested in seeing these enormous creatures might be the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Bison Range.

About three hours east of Spokane, Washington, this remarkable Montana refuge has a long history. Once, this land was designated as protected lands by President Theodore Roosevelt to try to save the dwindling bison population. Then, it was called the National Bison Range and was under the control of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, despite being within Salish and Kootenai lands. In 2020, however, the land was returned to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and it is managed by the Flathead Indian Reservation and the CSKT Natural Resource Department.

Yellowstone is estimated to be home to around 5,400 bison, while the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) Bison Range only has about 350. However, Yellowstone is also more than 100 times larger than the CSKT Bison Range, which makes its population a lot more impressive by comparison. The refuge is open between May and October, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are limited winter hours between November to April, but not all the routes through the land are open. Expect to pay $20 to drive into the bison range

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Read more: The 5 Most Alligator-Filled Destinations In All Of Florida

How to explore the CSKT Bison Range for yourself

The road winding through the CSKT Bison Range - SilverVagabonds/YouTube

The only way to visit the range is to drive through. The views through your windshield are spectacular, with rolling grasslands over the hills in every direction, interspersed with little ponderosa pine groves. There are two different routes you can take, the mountainous Red Sleep Drive and the flatter Prairie Drive. The year-round Red Sleep Mountain Drive takes you through a variety of landscapes within the refuge, including grasslands, pine forests, and a high mountain. It also provides the opportunity to see many different kinds of wildlife, too. This is a fantastic place for bird lovers, and for a time in the summer, you're almost guaranteed to see a bear hunting for delicious berries along the creek. You might get to spot elk and deer grazing here, too.

If you combine the two routes through the refuge, you should expect to be diving for about two hours  though when you see bison, chances are that you will pull over and watch them for a while, so you should plan to have some extra time. If you prefer to explore on foot, there are two trails that branch off Red Sleep Drive that you can walk, too  just make sure to stay on the paths or in designated areas that are clearly for humans, like the picnic tables. If you do spot some exciting animals, don't try to take a dangerous selfie with wildlife. In fact, you shouldn't approach them at all. You're specifically required to stay 100 yards away from bears and other predators and 25 yards away from bison and other animals.

How to see bison on the CSKT Bison Range

A bison and calf in the CSKT Bison Range - Danita Delimont/Shutterstock

While there is a risk that you'll miss the bison, your chances of seeing them are very good. There are many, many reviews of the refuge on Google Maps, and only a few of them mentioned not being able to see any bison. If you head to the right place at the right time, however, you can give yourself the best shot possible. Just like in Yellowstone, the best time to look for bison is when they're at their most active  early morning and early evening. You may also want to consider bringing some binoculars, just in case, as one reviewer mentioned, the bison are visible but too far from the road to really see.

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Bison can obviously be anywhere in the CSKT Bison Range, and are sometimes right by the road, startlingly close to your vehicle. Sometimes, they will even stand in the road, blocking traffic! They love to graze in the grasslands, so there is a lot of territory that they may be in along the way. Pay particularly close attention to the dry dust beds in clay banks along the Red Sleep Mountain Drive, though. These are favorite places for bison, and you might get to spot them playfully rolling in the dirt, sending big clouds up all around them.

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If youre the kind of traveler who savors hidden alleys and faded facades, then Rhode Island is a compact gem waiting just for you. Because in this tiny state, history doesnt just sit in museums. It spills into the cobblestones, the harbor breeze, the mansion lawn, and the quiet village street. Imagine walking through a place where centuries overlap: colonial ships in the bay, Gilded Age mansions on a cliff, and a vibrant downtown buzzing with locals at brunch. Thats the kind of layering you find in Rhode Islands historic districts.

What makes them special? First: scale. You dont need a week to explore, yet you still feel like youve discovered something deep and resonant. Second: variety. From New England seaport towns to stonequarry villages to seaside retreats for Americas elite, the spectrum is broad. Third: vividness. Because these arent frozen in time and they live on through festivals, galleries, cafes, and neighborhood interactions. For the traveler who wants more than a checklist, the states historic districts deliver stories you can inhabit.

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Where history meets everyday life: Top historic districts in Rhode Island

Newport: Gilded Age grandeur and seaport legacy

Newports Historic District spans roughly 250 acres and was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1968. Visitors can wander colonial-era buildings, churches, and grand Gilded Age mansions like The Breakers and Marble House, which showcase the wealth and architectural ambitions of 19th-century industrialists. The district is a living museum, with streets and waterfronts reflecting Newports evolution from a colonial port and into a Gilded Age playground.

Bellevue Avenue in Newport is lined with stunning Gilded Age mansions, each a glimpse into Americas pst.Shutterstock

Westerly  Smalltown charm & hidden stories

Westerlys historic downtown district preserves streets lined with 19th- and early 20th-century homes, brick commercial buildings and various civic structures. This area reflects the towns growth from a granite-quarrying center to a bustling small town. One particularly evocative piece is the Wilcox Park that was donated to the city in 1898 and designed by the prominent landscape architect Warren H. Manning. Visitors can appreciate the architectural details, from Italianate brick facades to Victorian residences, that offer a quiet, authentic glimpse into New England history.

Bristol  Port town elegance and patriotic legacy

Bristols waterfront district, dating to the late 17th century, includes colonial homes, mercantile buildings, and civic landmarks that trace the towns development as one of Rhode Islands earliest ports. The cobblestone streets, clapboard houses, and preserved wharves give a sense of the towns maritime past, while historical plaques and local museums highlight Bristols role in trade, shipbuilding, and early American life.

Downtown Pawtucket  Industrial roots & creative revival

Pawtuckets historic district preserves the architectural legacy of Rhode Islands early industrial era, featuring brick mills, commercial blocks, and civic buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The district showcases the citys transformation from a textile hub into a center of arts and community engagement. Walking these streets, visitors can trace the rise of manufacturing in New England and see how industrial design shaped urban growth.

Related: You won't want to miss out on these two spectacular Rhode Island beaches

East Greenwich  Colonial streets and civic history

East Greenwich preserves one of Rhode Islands earliest settlements, with colonial-era homes, churches, and civic buildings all along Main Street. The layout of streets, surviving 18th-century homes, and historic markers reveal the towns evolution from a coastal settlement to a regional commercial and governance hub. Visitors can explore taverns, old meetinghouses, and brick facades that reflect centuries of continuity.

Wickford Village  Maritime heritage and early architecture

Wickford Village, part of North Kingstown, maintains 17th- and 18th-century homes along narrow streets overlooking the harbor. The district highlights the towns maritime history, including shipbuilding, fishing, and early colonial settlement. Many buildings have been preserved or restored, giving travelers a sense of life in a small New England port town across three centuries.

Upcoming historical events in Rhode Island you should know about

Whether youre a history buff or just travelercurious, these events offer more than just funthey connect you to the stories of the state. Here are a few notable ones and what you should know about before you go.

Gaspee Days (late May/ early June  Warwick and Pawtuxet)

Each year, Rhode Islanders commemorate the Gaspee Affair of June 1772, when local patriots burned the British revenue schooner HMS Gaspee in an act of resistance.

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What youll find: A parade, colonialera reenactments, arts and crafts, fireworks, a 5K race, and street food stretching through the Warwick-Pawtuxet area.

Traveler tips: Because this event is deeply historical, dress for being outdoors and be prepared for crowds if attending the parade. Public transport or parking early is advised given the moveable festivities.

Related: Top haunted tours to explore in New England

Rhode Island Heritage Festival (midSeptember  Providence)

Hosted by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission, this annual festival at the WaterFire Arts Center celebrates  through music, dance, food, and cultural exhibits  the rich tapestry of Rhode Islands heritage and immigrant communities.

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What youll find: Performances from 40+ heritage groups, international food trucks, craft demonstrations, a parade of flags representing over 30 countries.

Traveler tips: Free admission, familyfriendly, and located in easytonavigate Providence. Arrive around noon to enjoy the full program, and bring your camera as the outdoor cultural displays are photoworthy.

Final thoughts for the traveler

When you plan your trip around one of these events, youre not just showing up for a good timeyoure stepping into layers of Rhode Islands history. Come with curiosity and bring a notebook or smartphone to jot down the names, dates and stories you overhear.

Pick footwear that suits walking and standing as many of these festivals are outdoors and wind through district streets, waterfronts and parks. Give yourself a time margin: arrive early and leave some space in your schedule for spontaneous moments like a street performance or a local chat. Remember, the best travel moments often happen when you pause rather than rush.

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This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Nov 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the Attractions section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
NEED TO KNOW

A party in California turned deadly after a shooting broke out on Halloween night, killing one person and injuring another

Deputies were called to a home in the Newhall neighborhood of Santa Clarita on Oct. 31 at around 11:15 p.m. local time after receiving a report of a gunshot

One man in his 30s was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 27-year-old man was taken to a hospital in "critical" condition

A party in California turned deadly after a shooting broke out on Halloween night, killing one person and injuring another.

According to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, deputies were called to a home in the Newhall neighborhood of Santa Clarita  located about 30 miles north of Los Angeles  on Friday, Oct. 31, at around 11:15 p.m. local time after receiving a report of a gunshot.

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When deputies arrived, they found two victims with gunshot wounds to the upper torso.

One male victim in his 30s  whose identity has not been made public  was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other victim  a 27-year-old man  was taken to a local hospital. His condition is listed as "critical," officials said.

"Investigators learned that the shooting stemmed from a fight that took place at a Halloween party in the area," the sheriff's department added.

Video obtained by local news outlets including ABC 7 and KTLA shows rescue teams rushing to help the victims as people were crying as they left the party.

Google Maps A view of the neighborhood where the shooting occured. A view of the neighborhood where the shooting occured.

Homicide investigators are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting, but the sheriff's department said that two male adult suspects were seen running away from the scene. Officials said the men were headed in an unknown direction, and no arrests have been reported as of Sunday, Nov. 2.

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.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.



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More than 100 people have lost their homes after a towering fire at an apartment complex in South Jersey.

The fire broke out after 2 a.m. Saturday at the Autumn Ridge Apartment Complex in Gloucester Township.

"Just a wall of smoke. It was just completely, completely dark and disorienting," said Ed Crabtree, whose brother-in-law lives in the building.

"He looked in his peephole and he saw fire from the apartment across the hallway," said Pam Crabtree, Ed's wife.

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Pam's brother, along with 100 people in escaped amid the shooting flames.

"We had to evacuate people immediately. There were some injuries," said Gloucester Township Police Chief Anthony Minosse.

Police say four residents were hurt, one critically. A firefighter also sustained minor burns.

It took emergency responders about four hours to contain the flames.

"This situation could have been a lot worse. Of course we're focused on those who were injured and our firefighter and making sure they're well taken care of," said Mayor David Mayer.

Township officials say the Red Cross is helping is helping neighbors.

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"With the way things are right, everyone's gonna have a difficult time getting back on their feet from this and it's just a darned shame," said Kenneth Hohney, who lives across the street.

While the fire is out, the damage to the building is severe. The roof fell into some of the apartments. 40 units sustained damage.

Pam's brother lives on the fourth floor. She said he collapsed when he made it out the building and was taken to the hospital where he was treated for smoke inhalation. He's recovering, but his family says he's in shock about the breadth of the fire.

"Just realizing it's a total loss and you've lost everything," said Pam. "Thank God he got out, because he wouldn't have survived that."
A lottery player won $100,000 on Saturday after purchasing a winning ticket at a Cumberland Farms in Agawam.

The $100,000 prize was from a Mass Cash drawing.

Mass Cash drawings are held twice a day, at 2 p.m. and at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $1 each to play and players choose five numbers between 1-35.

Overall, at least 268 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Saturday, including 9 in Springfield, 5 in Worcester and 31 in Boston.

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The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600.

The largest lottery prize won so far this year was worth $1 million a year for life, from a winning Lifetime Millions scratch ticket sold in Springfield and claimed in July.

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Republican voter registrations have surged across New Jersey in the past four years, with the GOP growing by more than 10% statewide.

Voter registration data shows some of the areas that have seen the largest growth in Republican voters are in traditionally Democratic strongholds.

Republican voter registrations increased by more than 20% in 15 towns across traditionally Democratic areas of Essex and Union counties, according to an NJ Advance Media analysis of the latest data.

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Elizabeth in Union County saw one of the highest increases, with a 55% jump in Republican voter registrations between January 2022 and this month. (See the full town-by-town breakdown on the map below.)

Some of the highest percentage increases were seen in small Jersey Shore towns with low numbers of voters. In those municipalities, the addition of a few dozen new Republican voter registrations dramatically changed the balance of Democrats and Republicans in town.

The towns that have seen the largest percentage increases in Republicans since 2022 are:

Loch Arbour Village (Monmouth): 174.3% increase (+61 voters)

Allenhurst Borough (Monmouth): 60.2% increase (+71 voters)

Elizabeth City (Union): 55.7% increase (+3,173 voters)

East Orange City (Essex): 54.3% increase (+585 voters)

Harrison Town (Hudson): 49.0% increase (+367 voters)

East Newark Borough (Hudson): 48.9% increase (+43 voters)

Paterson City (Passaic): 47.8% increase (+2,863 voters)

Wallington Borough (Bergen): 43.3% increase (+651 voters)

Irvington Township (Essex): 41.9% increase (+362 voters)

City of Orange Township (Essex): 40.2% increase (+216 voters)

Newark City (Essex): 39.7% increase (+2,761 voters)

Roselle Borough (Union): 37.7% increase (+349 voters)

Walpack Township (Sussex): 37.5% increase (+3 voters)

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Whats driving the sudden surge of Republicans in the deepest blue parts of New Jersey?

President Donald Trump is a factor, but not the only one, Al Barlas, the chairman of the Republican Party in Essex County, told NJ Advance Media.

Barlas, also a member of the state Assembly, chalked up the significant Republican gains in East Orange, Irvington, Newark and other towns to a continued GOP presence and community service efforts. Backpack drives, toy donations around the holidays, and a large donation of kites are some recent efforts the party has undertaken, Barlas said.

Its to show voters that the Republican Party does exist and were here not just come election time, were here year round to be a presence in our communities and to show the residents that we actually do care, Barlas said.

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Most of the towns where Republicans have seen the biggest gains have large Hispanic and Black populations  communities that have traditionally voted Democrat.

Are your neighborhoods any cleaner than they were four, eight, 10 years ago? When you, as folks, have continuously voted to elect Democrat after Democrat after Democrat, are your neighborhoods any safer? Have your schools gotten any better? Barlas said when asked how the party was marketing itself to Black and Hispanic voters.

The Essex County Democratic Committee did not respond to a request for comment.

Other towns with large Hispanic populations that saw increases in Republican registrations include Perth Amboy in Middlesex County and Harrison in Hudson County.

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Statewide, the two towns with the greatest percentage increases in Republican registrations were Loch Arbour and Allenhurst, tiny oceanside towns in Monmouth County. The number of Republicans increased 174% in Loch Arbour and 60% in Allenhurst.

In those towns, Democrats and independents also saw increases in registrations because the municipalities both saw their overall number of voters jump significantly in 2024.

Allenhurst which had a population of 472 in the 2020 Census, had 597 registered voters by Election Day 2024  26% higher than the towns population and a jump of 75% of registered voters in one year.

In Loch Arbour, voter rolls nearly doubled between April 2023 and April 2024, with the number of voters surpassing the total population of the borough recorded in the Census.

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The sudden surge in new registrations raised suspicions in the tiny town, and a group of residents filed a lawsuit alleging that nearly 80 of the new voters, all members of the Syrian Sephardic Jewish community, were ineligible to vote because they did not actually live in town but only spent summers there. They also claimed the newly-elected Syrian mayor was ineligible to serve because he had not been a full-time resident for the required year. They eventually dropped the case.

The jumps in both Loch Arbour and Allenhurst also drew the attention of the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office. But the prosecutors office ended an investigation without any charges.

Want to see how the political landscape has changed in your town? Scroll over the map below.

Cant see the map? Click here.

Staff writer Karin Price Mueller contributed to this report.

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History is a complex web of triumph, tragedy, and change, but it isn't immune to the threads of misinformation and misconceptions. There are "facts" that are often passed down through generations and have become so ingrained in our collective memory that we rarely question their authenticity. However, upon closer inspection, many widely accepted historical narratives are revealed to be nothing more than fabrications.

The persistence of historical inaccuracies is rooted in various factors, including biased accounts, misinterpretations, and even deliberate fabrications. (After all, they say the winner "writes history.") These distortions can profoundly shape our understanding of the past, influencing our perceptions of cultures, events, and individuals.

Lets look at 14 historical facts exposed as false fibs. From ancient myths to modern misconceptions, we'll peel back the layers of deception and illuminate the real history that lies beneath.

1. Napoleon Bonaparte Was Short

Image Credit: Andrea Appiani - Public Domain/Wiki Commons.

The image of Napoleon as a diminutive figure with a complex is a persistent myth. In reality, he was of average height for his time, standing around 5'7". This misconception likely originated from British propaganda aimed at diminishing the French emperor's stature, both literally and figuratively.

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The myth of Napoleon's short height serves as a reminder that even historical figures can be subject to image manipulation and misinformation, highlighting the importance of critical historical analysis. It's in your best interest to explore beyond popular ortrayals and seek out the truth hidden within historical (and present) records.

2. Christopher Columbus Discovered America

Image Credit: Sebastiano del Piombo - The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public Domain/Wiki Commons.

While Columbus' voyages undoubtedly had a profound impact on world history, the Americas were already inhabited by diverse indigenous populations for centuries before his arrival. His "discovery" was, in essence, an encounter with a land already known to its native inhabitants.

This misconception underscores the importance of acknowledging the rich history and presence of indigenous peoples before European contact. It challenges us to re-evaluate traditional narratives and embrace a more inclusive perspective on history, one that recognizes the contributions and perspectives of all cultures.

3. Vikings Wore Horned Helmets

Image Credit: Helgi Halldorsson from Reykjavik, Iceland - Viking Arms and Armor, CC BY-SA 2.0/Wiki Commons.

Contrary to popular depictions, Vikings did not wear horned helmets. This misconception arose from artistic interpretations and theatrical costumes in the 19th century, fueled by a desire to portray them as fierce and barbaric.

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Archaeological evidence reveals that Viking helmets were simple and practical, designed for protection rather than intimidation. This myth serves as a cautionary tale about how pop culture can sometimes distort historical reality, reminding us to be wary of sensationalized portrayals.

4. Van Gogh Only Sold One Painting During His Lifetime

Image Credit: Vincent van Gogh - Public Domain/Wiki Commons.

While Van Gogh struggled to gain recognition during his lifetime, he did sell more than one painting. His brother Theo, an art dealer, was instrumental in promoting his work, and there is evidence of several sales to private collectors and galleries.

This misconception underscores the challenges faced by many artists who achieve late fame. It serves as a poignant reminder that recognition and success don't always come during ones lifetime, and that the true value of art may not be fully appreciated until later generations.

5. Einstein Failed Math in School

Image Credit: Ferdinand Schmutzer - Public Domain/Wiki Commons.

Einstein was a brilliant student, excelling in mathematics and physics from a young age. This misconception likely arose from a misunderstanding about Einstein dropping out of school (and left Germany) to avoid mandatory military service.

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This myth demonstrates how easily misinformation can spread and distort the truth, even about well-known historical figures. It serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of verifying information before accepting it as fact, and to be wary of sensationalized or simplified narratives.

6. The Salem Witch Trials Involved Burning Witches at the Stake

Image Credit: Internet Archive Book Images - Flickr - No restrictions,/ Wiki Commons.

The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 cast a dark shadow over colonial Massachusetts, but contrary to popular belief, accused witches were not burned at the stake. The prevailing method of execution in colonial Massachusetts was hanging.

This misconception likely stems from a conflation with European witch trials, where burning was a common practice. The Salem trials, while tragic and fueled by fear and hysteria, did not involve the gruesome spectacle of burning at the stake.

7. Paul Revere's Famous Ride Was a Solo Mission

Image Credit: Edward Mason Eggleston - Public Domain/Wiki Commons.

Paul Revere's midnight ride is etched in American folklore, but he was not the only rider spreading the alarm about the British advance on that fateful night. Several other riders, including William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, played vital roles in alerting the colonists.

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This myth highlights the tendency to focus on a single hero in historical narratives, often overshadowing the contributions of others. The reality is that the American Revolution was a collective effort, with many individuals playing vital roles in the fight for independence.

8. The American Civil War Was Solely About Slavery

Image Credit: Tim Sheerman-Chase - Flickr, CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.

While slavery was undeniably a central issue in the American Civil War, it was not the sole factor contributing to the conflict. Other complex political, economic, and social tensions, such as states' rights and the growing divide between the industrial North and the agricultural South, played significant roles in the outbreak of hostilities.

This misconception oversimplifies the complex causes of the Civil War, reducing it to a single issue. Understanding the multifaceted nature of this conflict is crucial to comprehending its profound impact on American history.

9. Thomas Edison Invented the Light Bulb

Image Credit: Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress - Library of Congress Public Domain/Wiki Commons.

Thomas Edison's contribution to the development of the light bulb was significant, but he did not invent it all on his own. Several inventors before him had experimented with incandescent lighting, and Edison's innovation was to create a practical and commercially viable version.

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This myth underscores the collaborative nature of invention and innovation. While Edison's work was groundbreaking, it built upon the foundation laid by others, demonstrating that progress is often a collective endeavor.

10. The Pyramids Were Built by Slaves

Image Credit: Depositphotos.com.

The construction of the pyramids was a monumental undertaking, but recent archaeological evidence suggests that it was primarily carried out by skilled laborers, not slaves. These workers were likely paid and well-respected for their contributions to this awe-inspiring feat of engineering.

This misconception challenges the long-held belief that the pyramids were built on the backs of enslaved people. It highlights the importance of archaeological research in revising historical narratives and shedding light on the lives of ancient civilizations.

11. Nero Played the Fiddle While Rome Burned

Image Credit: British Museum - Public Domain/Wiki Commons.

The Roman emperor Nero was not playing the fiddle while Rome burned in 64 AD. The fiddle hadn't even been invented yet! This story likely originated from later historians seeking to vilify Nero and portray him as a cruel and uncaring ruler. (Although, this clearly appears to be a story, so perhaps people just took it too literally over the years.)

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This myth serves as a cautionary tale about the potential for historical accounts to be colored by bias and political agendas. It's a reminder to approach historical narratives with a critical eye and consider the context in which they were written.

12. Medieval People Believed the Earth was Flat

Image Credit: Deposit Photos.

Contrary to popular belief, most educated people in the Middle Ages understood that the Earth was spherical. This knowledge was based on ancient Greek teachings and astronomical observations. The notion of a flat Earth was largely a myth perpetuated in later centuries.

This misconception highlights how historical periods can be misrepresented and stereotyped. The Middle Ages, often portrayed as a time of ignorance and superstition, were in fact a period of intellectual and cultural development, with many scholars contributing to our understanding of the world.

13. Cleopatra was an Egyptian

Image Credit: Reginald Arthur - ArtNet, Public Domain/Wiki Commons.

Cleopatra VII Philopator, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, was of Greek Macedonian descent. While she ruled Egypt, she was not ethnically Egyptian. She was a descendant of Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great.

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This misconception underscores the complex history of Egypt and its rulers. Cleopatra, while not Egyptian herself, played a significant role in Egyptian history and politics, navigating a turbulent period of Roman influence and conflict.

14. The Boston Tea Party Was Only a Protest Against High Tea Taxes

Image Credit: Popular Graphic Arts - Library of Congress - Public Domain/Wiki Commons.

The Boston Tea Party was not solely a protest against high tea taxes, but also against the British East India Company's monopoly on the tea trade. The colonists resented this monopoly and saw it as a threat to their economic and political freedoms.

This myth oversimplifies the complex motivations behind the Boston Tea Party, reducing it to a mere tax revolt. It was, in fact, a symbolic act of defiance against British control and a pivotal event leading up to the American Revolution.
NEED TO KNOW

140 high school students in Australia were excused from a major statewide exam

Teachers in at least eight schools realized they had taught students about Augustus Caesar instead of his predecessor, Julius Caesar, just two days before the test

The exam was worth 25% of the students final grade

Nearly 150 high school students were excused from a statewide exam after they were taught about the wrong Caesar in history class.

Teachers in at least eight schools in Queensland, Australia, had been teaching year 12 students about Augustus Caesar, the heir to Julius Caesar, for the test, which was scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 29, per the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC).

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The major exam had focused on Augustus for the past four years, but teachers didnt realize the topic had changed  even though schools were notified about the upcoming switch in 2023 and the information was available publicly online, per the outlet.

Getty Julius Ceasar Julius Ceasar

The exam was worth 25% of the overall course grade for students, and the schools realized their error a mere two days before the scheduled exam date. Brisbane State High School was the first school to recognize that the mistake had occurred, per ABC.

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While the Ministry of Education initially said that the students grades would be scaled to adjust for the oversight, they ultimately excused the 140 affected students from the exam altogether.

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Im very unhappy about the situation, Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said in a statement to reporters, per the Associated Press. He also described the situation as extremely traumatic for the students  many of whom were frantically cramming for Wednesdays test before they learned they would no longer be required to take it.

GoogleMaps Brisbane State High School in Queensland, Australia Brisbane State High School in Queensland, Australia

Langbroek also said that he has opened an investigation into the matter to ensure similar mistakes do not happen in the future, per The Guardian.

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I have directed the director general of the Department of Education to urgently investigate how the QCAA [Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority] communicates with schools to implement syllabus changes, he said.



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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  After Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser enacted a limited juvenile curfew Saturday, while D.C. police established four zones with stricter curfew rules, officials said more than 15 juveniles were cited for violations during the first night.

On Saturday, Bowser announced that any youth under 18 years old would have a curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. every night from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5 at 11:59 p.m. The Metropolitan Police Department also announced four Special Juvenile Curfew Zones to take effect starting at 6 p.m., in Navy Yard, the U Street Corridor, around Union Station and around the Banneker Recreation Center.

Both announcements came one day after large, disorderly crowds gathered in the Navy Yard neighborhood on Halloween night, resulting in five arrests.

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE | DC mayor enacts limited juvenile curfew after Navy Yard crowds; MPD imposes additional curfews in 4 locations

Following the first night of the new curfew enforcement, D.C. police said 18 violators were stopped by MPD officers, including:

Third District officers encountered a group of juveniles in the area of 14th and U Street, Northwest, inside of the U Street Corridor Special Juvenile Curfew Zone at around 10:40 p.m. The group failed to disperse the zone, and 14 juveniles were stopped for curfew violations.

First District officers encountered two juveniles in violation of the citywide curfew, which had taken effect at 11:00 p.m., in the 1100 block of New Jersey Avenue, Southeast, at around 12:24 a.m.

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Third District officers encountered two juveniles in violation of the citywide curfew, which had taken effect at 11:00 p.m., in the area of 9th and U Street, Northwest, At around 2:51 a.m.

MPD said that officers placed signage around each zones perimeter and talked with teens in the area to let them know when they were in violation.

Juveniles engaged by MPD members generally complied and dispersed the zones, MPD noted.

All four zones along with the citywide curfew will take effect again Sunday night.

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  Three people have been displaced after a house fire Saturday afternoon, the Virginia Beach Fire Department said.

Crews responded to a house fire in the 700 block of Saint Nicolas Square at approximately 2:55 p.m. When firefighters arrived, they found heavy smoke coming from the second story of the house.

There was no one home at the time of the fire.

The fire was marked under control at 3:08 p.m. and marked out at 3:31 p.m.

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Two adults and one child have been displaced by the fire. There were no injuries reported.

Fire officials say the fire originated in an upstairs bedroom. The cause is under investigation.

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With two days left before Election Day and a record-breaking 735,000 early votes cast, New York mayoral candidates Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo traded swipes and rallied supporters at church campaign stops just a borough apart Sunday morning.

Mamdani spoke to packed pews at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, then glad-handed a crowd of supporters and volunteers outside nearby the place of worship.

At the pulpit, Mamdani touched on his familiar policy proposals, including a rent freeze for the citys rent-stabilized tenants, affordable housing, universal child care and free buses.

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Now I know that these are lofty aspirations, he said. But to those who say they are too ambitious, I answer that ambition is exactly what befits the greatest city in the world.

He saved his hits on Cuomo for the reporters and crowd outside the church, calling the former New York governor Trumps parrot and decrying Islamophobic attacks against him in the final days of the race.

There have been moments where even I have been shocked by the language that has been used in this race and by the fact that we are seeing more and more of the kind of politics that disgusts so many New Yorkers in Washington, D.C., now endemic in the politics right here in New York City, he said.

Addressing questions about an AtlasIntel poll released Saturday showing Cuomo narrowing the cap with Mamdani to 6.6%, he said, My mother called me the other day. She asked me which poll do we believe? And I said, none of them.

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We saw polls every single day of that primary. Polls which told us we should just pack it up and go home, and we continued to knock on those doors and we won, he added. We want to make sure we speak to everyone we can before polls close.

Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, remains the front-runner after his surprise victory against Cuomo in the June Democratic primary. He now leads Cuomo in most polls by double digits, with Republican Curtis Sliwa trailing a distant third.

As of late Sunday when early voting polls closed at 5 p.m., more than 735,000 New Yorkers had already cast ballots  about two-thirds the roughly 1,149,000 who voted in total in 2021.

I think Im going to vote for him. I think he was sincere. His words today were very very sincere. Latoya Brockington, 45, said after watching Mamdanis speech.

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Every single thing is going up except for the paychecks.  Its really really hard, especially for single moms, for myself.  Cuomo already had his chance. He was in office. He really didnt do much for the working people.

Cuomo addressed the First Corinthian congregation earlier this year.

I actually wanted Zohran to speak at our church for a while, said parishioner Autumn Williams, 20. It was a lot more electrifying with Mamdani.

We need a fresh face who is not going to do the same old, same old, she added.

Over in the South Bronx, Cuomo spoke to an enthusiastic congregation at the Union Grove Baptist Church, detailing how he hoped to give people already living in a neighborhood first chance at getting affordable housing there.

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Were losing too many communities where gentrifiers are coming into the community, and theyre raising the rent and theyre destroying the character of the community, he said.

He also pressed for adding 5,000 officers to the NYPD because the number of police is just too low, and we have to be safe

Cuomo highlighted his stance on education, saying he wants to expand gifted and talented programs and keep mayoral control of the city school system  while Mamdani has floated weakening mayoral control and scaling gifted and talented programs back.

Public schools, we have to do a better job, especially with those in Black and Brown communities, Cuomo said. I will make that a top priority.

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Cuomo joked about voters wanting a fresh face, telling the congregation, I think my face is fairly fresh. I mean, its not right-out-of-the-box fresh. But theres something to experience and wisdom.

Outside the church, Cuomo addressed a gaggle of reporters, blasting Mamdani.

Everybody has a little slogan and now they do a little TikTok dance, and nothing changes, he said. His promises are all BS. None of it will happen.

Marcus Mims, 62, who lives across the street from the church, said hed have worn his Sunday best if he knew Cuomo would be speaking.

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He helped the MTA. He helped us get our contracts. He helped us get our pensions, the retired MTA worker said of Cuomos time as governor. Listen, he helped us.

Brenda Rivera, 51, cheered and yelled Vote Cuomo! from her window. She said her family loves him for his relief efforts as governor when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017.

He always did good by us, she said. I will never forget what he did for Puerto Rico.

God bless! she yelled, adding, We loved your father, also! referring to former Gov. Mario Cuomo.
NEED TO KNOW

Two girls were rushed to the hospital after they were suddenly thrown from a Ferris wheel at the Harvest Festival in New Roads, La., according to authorities

Details surrounding the girls' conditions have not been released

The Harvest Festival in Louisiana is a fun-filled family event that runs from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1

Two girls were rushed to the hospital after they were thrown from a Ferris wheel at the Harvest Festival in New Roads, La., according to the Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriffs Office.

Sheriff Rene Thibodeaux said that the girls were riding the attraction on Saturday, Nov. 1, when they were suddenly ejected from the ride, per WAFB, Louisiana First New and Fox 10 News. One of the victims was airlifted to a Baton Rouge hospital. Details about the girls' conditions have not been released.

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Following the incident, Thibodeaux stated that all rides at the festival were closed for inspection until they could be cleared by the Louisiana State Fire Marshals Office. While the attraction and its adjacent slide ride have been shut down, the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal said it is continuing to investigate the situation, per WAFB.

The Harvest Festival did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

The annual fall festival, which runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, is touted as a fun-filled family event that takes place on Main Street in New Roads. According to the festivals website, it features delicious food and exciting rides, while dedicating funds to supporting the local agriculture-based community.

One witness who attended the festival, Eddie Jones, said he was moments away from stepping on the Ferris wheel when he saw the tragic incident unfold.

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We were in line to buy tickets to the Ferris wheel, and I heard a girl scream, he told WAFB, adding that he saw the two girls on the steel platform below the Ferris wheel with what appeared to be blood on them. I looked over, and the Ferris wheel car was kicked over. I dont know how it got in that position, but it was stuck.

Lawrey/Getty Stock photo of an ambulance Stock photo of an ambulance

Yeah, Ill probably never get on another Ferris wheel, he added. It should not have stuck like that  they had a major malfunction. Someone didnt do something right, thats for sure.

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Another witness, Ronald Brasseaux, told the outlet that he rode the Ferris wheel the night before the incident and didnt feel safe. It was cracking, like they need to take this down, he said. When the Ferris wheel goes, its supposed to, like the things [carts] are supposed to swing with it, but it got stuck, and so as it was going around, it was just like stuck at an angle when they flipped out of it.



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HARTFORD - Two city men face gun and drug charges following the raid of a residence in the 200 block of Capen Street on Wednesday, Hartford police said in a social media post Saturday night.

Hector Santiago, 31, and Adiel Santiago, 22, were arrested without incident when the Hartford Police Narcotics Unit, with assistance from the Emergency Response Team and the Connecticut State Police Narcotics Task Force, executed a search-and-seizure warrant at the residence, Hartford police said.

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The investigation revealed that narcotics were being distributed from within the residence and that firearms may be present, police said.

During the search, detectives seized multiple illegal items, including a Glock 9 mm handgun reported stolen out of Glastonbury; a SCCY 9 mm handgun with an obliterated serial number; one extended magazine containing 26 live rounds; numerous boxes of ammunition; 26 grams of unpackaged fentanyl (enough to package about 1,040 bags); 39 grams of crack cocaine; 6 grams of powder cocaine; $340 in cash and drug factory materials, police said.

Hector Santiago faces charges of criminal possession of a firearm, obliterated serial number; possession of narcotics and operating a drug factory, police said.

Adiel Santiago faces charges of a stolen firearm, possession of a large-capacity magazine and operating a drug factory, police said.

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The post did not indicate if the suspects are related.

Anyone with information regarding illegal firearms or narcotics activity is urged to contact the Hartford Police Tip Line at 860-722-TIPS (8477).

This article originally published at 2 Hartford men arrested on gun and drug charges following raid, police say.
Its Election Week in America, and an exciting one for operatives and omniscient bloviators thirsting to understand the mood of the country and get paid to dispense their advice. Have Democrats won back the trust of voters after the 2024 BidenHarris debacle? Naturally, everyone is looking for clues in the off-cycle races. Can New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill, a Navy veteran who also appeals to suburban women, outperform Kamala Harris and beat Republican Jack Ciattarelli in a state that moved decidedly to the right in 2024? In bluish-purplish Virginia, the chattering class is wondering how big a margin Democrat Abigail Spanberger, the former C.I.A. officer who appeals to rural voters, will notch over Winsome Earle-Sears. The size of Gavin Newsoms presumptive redistricting victory will also play into their prognostications.

But Im more focused on the broader political environment, heading into a midterm election year where control of the House is truly up in the air. Yes, a million things can happen between now and then, especially with an unpredictable Trump in the White House. And the congressional maps arent set in stone, as Trump & Co. are pushing red states to carve out more Republican districts, and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and former President Obama et al. are pushing blue states to redraw friendly districts of their own. Plus, there are retirements yet to be announced and primaries to be run, etcetera, etcetera. Nevertheless, I spoke to more than half a dozen strategists and people working directly with House races to block out where things stand as we approach the on-ramp to the midterms.

Republicans are generally optimistic despite midterms not being historically kind to the party in power. Are they bullish? Yes. Is anything a slam dunk? No, said a person familiar with the Trump political operation. And yet, Republicans uniformly say that the mood feels nothing like the 2017-2018 cycle, when the G.O.P. lost the House with a 41-seat wipeout.

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Instead, they point to the generic ballotthe best indicator of the national mood right nowwhich has Democrats up by 2.7 points on average, compared to the 10.5-point advantage they had over Republicans in 2017. (A new Washington PostABC NewsIpsos poll, out today, similarly found that voters currently prefer Democrats over Republicans by two points; an NBC poll said Democrats are preferred by eight points.) Republicans were also quick to note that the Democratic Partys unfavorability rating of 59 percent is somewhat worse than their own: 53.5 percent. Meanwhile, Trumps own unfavorability rating is up four points compared to this time eight years ago, to 51.1 percent, according to the RealClearPolling average.

Democrats, of course, know they still have work ahead after the 24 disaster. Last week, as my partner Peter Hamby reported, a group of Democrats put out a report, Deciding to Win, whose survey of tens of thousands of voters found that the partys message was too liberal, too disconnected, and too exclusive. The D.N.C. is expected to release its own autopsy after Tuesdays elections.

Still, Democrats scoff at Republicans argument that performing less badly than eight years ago is a winning political strategy. We dont need to perform at 2018 levels, one Democratic strategist said, noting that the party needs to win only a net three seatsnot 40to take back the House. (Democrats may actually need to win up to 10 seats because of mid-district redistricting in red states, but its too early to tell.)

The Economic Albatross

Theres no question that Trumps own favorables, while stable, arent exactly a signal that his policies are popular. Hes now underwater on key issues like immigration, the economy, trade, and even foreign policy. (Hes above water on crime and the Gaza/Israel war, according to the RCP average, but the Post poll today had him down on those issues, too.)

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Meanwhile, Democrats are dusting off James Carvilles Clinton-era catchphrase, Its the economy, stupid, and hoping it sticks. Trumps favorables on the economy are at their lowest point in his two terms, with only 33 percent approval, according to a new Yahoo/YouGov poll. An NBC News poll out today likewise found that nearly two-thirds of voters say Trump has not lived up to expectations on the economy and cost of living despite the presidents claim that stock market gains reflect his deft management.

Expect Democrats to exploit the uncertain landscape out there: The stock market is booming, but the job market is softening; gas prices are low, but home energy prices are up; high-profile layoffs, including Amazons elimination of around 14,000 white-collar jobs, are grabbing headlines, and so on. Trump was always seen as a bad person who was good on the economynow hes seen as a bad person who is bad on the economy, said Democratic strategist Jesse Ferguson. It becomes an anchor on every Republican candidate running in the midterms.

Republicans I spoke with insist that the president is well aware of the challenges facing the economy, which theyre confident will improve over the next year. They intentionally made many of the tax cuts passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill retroactive, so voters will see a benefit in their April filings. The G.O.P. narrative also includes the continued decline of mortgage rates, as well as anticipated new policies from the White House aimed at bringing down costs for essentials like food and healthcare, according to a source familiar with the White House strategy. As we enter into the new year, and the election year, [the president] will become more hyper-focused on costs, said the source.

No one expects voters to be thinking about the government shutdown when they head to the midterm polls a year from now, but both parties are working the refs to direct the political fallout. Democrats boast that the shutdown has allowed them to focus the conversation on healthcarehighlighting Republicans cuts to Medicaid and refusal to extend Covid-era subsidiesfor a solid month. Republicans believe the shutdown has helped them yoke the Democratic torchbearers, like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, to the partys left wing, trotting out the canard that Democrats are holding the government hostage until both parties agree to fund free healthcare for undocumented immigrants. It means we can keep immigration top of mind for voters, one Republican strategist told me.

The Trump Money Tree

House Republicans are also thrilled about how much money theyve been able to raise, belying the adage that fundraising often dips the first year for the party that holds the White House. So far this year, House Republicans have outraised their Democratic counterparts by $720,000. During the first year of Trump I, by contrast, House Democrats outraised their Republican peers by $8.7 million. For more proof that the Republican donor base is still engaged and supportive of the presidents agenda, note that of the $93 million the National Republican Congressional Committee has raised this year, $35 million came from a single fundraiser that Trump hosted at Mar-a-Lago this spring.

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Democrats do admit that Trumps war chest gives them pause. The presidents super PAC, MAGA Inc., has more cash on handat least $196 millionthan the Republican and Democratic campaign committees combined, and a person familiar with the Trump political operation told me that the president will do what it takes to win the midterms as long as theres a path to effectuate an outcome. In other words, if Trump isnt spending in a specific race, its probably a sign that they dont think its winnable.

Trump continues to hold Republicans together, having convinced them that its far more politically potent to stick with him than to discard him, and party members seem to feel profoundly more comfortable than they did in 2018. You cant underestimate the power of the White House, committees, and outside groups all rowing in the same direction. Thats a huge advantage, Republican strategist Matt Gorman told me. Democrats, of course, say with some justification that the political winds are shifting in their favor, and that theyre confident in their incumbents and new recruits.

In any case, next November, there should be about half as many contested seats as in previous yearsaround three dozensince partisan redistricting and polarization continue to shrink the map. Of those competitive seats, Trump won in 13 districts currently held by Democrats, while Harris won just three districts that Republicans represent. Regardless of what happens in the next year, its a pretty safe bet that the margin of control of the House will continue to be extremely slim.

Latest from Puck
As Jamaica slowly recovers from the most catastrophic hurricane to hit the country, more than two dozen Floridians stranded there have been rescued and returned home Saturday afternoon, officials said.

Hurricane Melissa killed at least 19 people in Jamaica and left thousands in the country without power, water or internet. It leveled entire neighborhoods, including multiple hospitals. Amongst the wreckage, 28 Floridians were caught in the storm and left stranded.

READ MORE: Jamaica death toll at least 19 but expected to rise. U.S. sending helicopters to help

Around 3 p.m. Saturday, Gov. Ron DeSantis posted on X that a rescue flight had landed in Tampa with those Floridians who had been in Jamaica. The Florida Division of Emergency Management and other officials have been devising a plan to rescue the 28 since they learned of their presence in Jamaica on Thursday.

On Thursday, I learned of Florida residents who were stranded in Jamaica in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, a category 5 storm. At my direction, @FLSERT and other state officials immediately went to work on a plan to get them home.



I am happy to report that just now, a rescue  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 1, 2025

Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the town of New Hope on the southwestern tip of Jamaica.

READ MORE: Hurricane Melissa aftermath: Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti facing economic losses, more hardship

The hurricane also ravished Haiti and Cuba. The death toll in Haiti climbed to at least 30 people with 20 more still missing. Melissa doused the region with rain, submerging farms and triggering fatal floods.

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While no deaths have been reported in Cuba, 735,000 people were evacuated before Melissa hit five provinces that exposed more than 3 million people to deadly conditions.

READ MORE: Hurricane Melissas death toll in Haiti climbs to 30; another 20 are missing
Three people were killed in another U.S. military airstrike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in a social media post.

In a post on X Saturday evening, Hegseth said that the vessel was "known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics."

"Three male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the strike, which was conducted in international waters," Hegseth said in the post. "All three terrorists were killed, and no U.S. forces were harmed in this strike."

@SecWar/X - PHOTO: Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth posted on his X account that the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on overnight on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea, Oct. 24, 2025.

Trump administration gave GOP senators secret details about strikes on alleged drug boats, leaving Dems on outs

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It marks the 15th strike -- in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific -- since the U.S. began its military campaign on Sept. 2, bringing the total number of people killed to 64.

Earlier this week, Hegseth announced multiple strikes in the Eastern Pacific.

14 dead in more strikes against alleged drug boats, Hegseth says

The Trump administration this week provided more than a dozen Senate Republicans a secret target list for its ongoing military campaign in the Caribbean Sea, suggesting the administration is preparing for sustained operations against drug cartels and that it believed the military strikes could withstand potential legal challenges.

The meeting, which was only open to some Republican senators, was criticized by Senate Democrats.
NEED TO KNOW

One man remains missing after he and two other men were riding snowmachines and a 4-wheeler in Alaska

After the Alaska State Troopers deployed rescue crews near Lockhart Point, one man made it safely to the shore and another self-rescued before being transported to a clinic

The Northwest Arctic Borough has warned residents to stay off the ice due to unsafe conditions

One man remains missing after he and two other men fell through the ice near Alaskas Lockhart Point.

On Nov. 1 around 11:20 a.m., the Alaska State Troopers deployed rescue crews in response to a report of three men  all from Kotzebue  falling through the ice while riding two snowmachines and a 4-wheeler, according to a press release from the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

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Authorities have confirmed that one of the men made it safely to the shore while another self-rescued before being transported to a local area health clinic. The third, however, remains missing.

Multiple EMT personnel and local community members were already on scene providing assistance and searching for the third man prior to the Alaska State Troopers arrival, per the release. The Northwest Arctic Borough Search and Rescue and Kotzebue Fire Department are continuing to respond to the situation.

Following the incident, the Northwest Arctic Borough warned people to refrain from going out on the ice unless they are actively assisting the rescue operation, noting that the conditions are unsafe.

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KOTZEBUE: PLEASE DO NOT GO OUT TO THE ICE UNLESS YOU ARE COORDINATING WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE - THE ICE IS NOT SAFE, the organization wrote on Facebook. PLEASE KEEP OUR SEARCHERS SAFE BY COORDINATING THROUGH SEARCH AND RESCUE.

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In May, a similar incident was reported when the body of a 32-year-old man, Skye Rench, was found in Alaskas Susitna River two months after he disappeared.

Rench had been traveling in a side-by-side ATV with four other adults when the vehicle broke through the ice on the river, Alaska State Troopers said when he first went missing in March. Three of the passengers escaped the water and survived while another person, Sean Kendall, was never found and presumed dead.

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Three people were killed in a multi-vehicle crash involving a suspected intoxicated driver in southwest Houston on Sunday morning, the Houston Police Department said.

A total of five vehicles were damaged after a suspected intoxicated driver rammed through the intersection on West Orem Drive and Almeda Road, HPD said.

The driver of a gray Chrysler sedan was traveling southbound on Almeda Road with no headlights when they ran through a red light and struck a white Buick with multiple people inside, according to HPD Sgt. Rebecca Dallas.

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Officials said two men were pronounced dead at the scene and a woman was rushed to the hospital, where she died from her injuries. The driver at fault was also taken to the hospital, where their condition is critical.

HPD says the three deceased victims were inside the Buick.

Officials added that surveillance video from a nearby gas station is being used as evidence in the investigation.

Three vehicles waiting at the intersection were also hit, but all of those injured were treated and released at the scene, Dallas said.

"If you plan on drinking, just go ahead and get a rideshare so you can get home safely and so the streets of Houston are safe," Dallas said.

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Laquita Washington, who survived the crash, said her heart went out to those who died, and she is thankful to be alive.

"It happened so fast that I didn't even know what was happening," Washington said. "Now all I can do is thank God, honestly," she added.

HPD confirms the driver of the Chrysler was charged with intoxication manslaughter.

HPD stated that the intersection was closed for several hours while they conducted their investigation.

For news updates, follow Brianna Willis on Facebook, x and Instagram.
DENVER (KDVR)  Three people were injured during an apparent gunfire exchange after a fight broke out at a party in Denvers Green Valley Ranch neighborhood overnight, Denver police said.

One suspect who an officer shot at fled the scene, and police have not found that person, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said.

The party and subsequent fight happened in the 5100 block of North Biscay Court just before the time change at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, police said. Officers responded to reports of a fight and as they arrived heard what they believed to be an exchange of gunfire.

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They then moved towards that gunfire, saw several people running, identified one individual that did have a weapon, Thomas said. They challenged that individual, they did not drop the gun, he continued to be a threat so one officer, I believe, fired shots at that individual.

Thomas said officers did not know if that person was hit by the police and have been unable to find them.

Officers did find two handguns in the area, as well as three people injured in the initial gunfire exchange that police heard.

A police spokesperson to FOX31s Kasia Kerridge there may be several suspects, and one of the people in the hospital could be a suspect.

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All three received non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a hospital.

Thomas said it was a large party with several people involved, but all of them have since fled the scene.

This is an active scene that were still investigating, trying to determine exactly what happened and with who all was involved, Thomas said.

Thomas said anyone with information cant contact police through Metro Denver Crime Stoppers anonymously.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Police are investigating after five people were injured in a shooting in Northeast Washington, D.C., overnight.

Officers found all five people shot in the 2300 block of Bladensburg Road, Northeast, after responding to the area for a reported shooting at around 1:48 a.m. on Nov. 2, according to D.C. police.

Medics transported the victims, three men and two women, to area hospitals. All five people were conscious and breathing when they were found, police noted.

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DC mayor enacts limited juvenile curfew after Navy Yard crowds; MPD imposes additional curfews in 4 locations

In connection with the shooting, which took place outside, investigators are looking for a gold sedan seen fleeing the scene.

As of Sunday morning, there is no word on the victims conditions as detectives continue to work to learn what led up to the shooting.

Check DCNewsNow.com for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
The Los Angeles Police Department says seven people were arrested Saturday night as Dodger fans took to streets across the city to celebrate the World Series victory.

Three people were arrested for felony vandalism, one for failure to disperse, one for battery on a police officer and one for possession of fireworks, according to the department. Another woman was arrested after she rode a bicycle into a police horse, police said. The horse is said to be OK.

In Echo Park, some businesses, driverless cars and Metro buses were vandalized.

A large crowd of Dodger fans celebrated the team's World Series victory by taking over an intersection for a sideshow in Pacoima.

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LAPD officers issued a dispersal order at an intersection there as throngs of fans took over an intersection, waving Dodger flags and shooting fireworks into the air.

Some of the officers patrolled the streets on horseback and people were told to leave the area.

Over in Pacoima, video from AIR7 showed cars performing donut maneuvers at an intersection as onlookers ignited fireworks.

The LAPD went on Tactical Alert about 6 p.m. Saturday in preparation for the celebrations that might ensue and shut down streets in the area in hopes of keeping crowds under control.

When the crowds grew, the LAPD issued dispersal orders at Chick Hearn Court and 11th Street, and at Sunset Boulevard and Echo Park Avenue.

City News Service contributed to this report.
Nine people were wounded in a shooting at a party in an Ohio Airbnb between Cleveland and Akron early Sunday, authorities said.

The nine people included a mix of adults and juveniles who attended the chaotic party in Bath Township, which was promoted on social media, Police Chief Vito Sinopoli said at a press conference.

No suspects have been arrested or identified. The shooting broke out around 12:15 a.m. at the home about 20 miles south of Cleveland.

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Violence is not commonplace here, Sinopoli said. Its pretty much an indicator that no community is immune from violence, and this happened to be in Bath Township again unfortunately.

Officers got to the scene minutes after multiple 911 calls came in, arriving to find people sprinting away while others attempted to aid the wounded. Sinopoli said most people, including whoever opened fire, fled the scene after the bullets stopped flying.

The exact details of what led to the shooting were not immediately clear, along with the identities and conditions of the wounded victims, Sinopoli said.

When an incident like this occurs, were very upset about it, he said. Were going to do our very best to find out whos responsible for this and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

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Airbnbs and short-term rentals are not permitted under local zoning ordinances in Bath, which has about 10,000 residents. Police noted that in 2017, a teen was wounded in a drive-by shooting outside a different Airbnb rental.

_____
Churches, schools and restaurants are rushing to fill the food assistance hole left by the loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding, with nearly 9,000 Centre County residents set to lose benefits Saturday.

The monthlong federal shutdown has left SNAP, formerly called food stamps, unfunded. President Donald Trumps administration is sitting on billions of dollars in federal contingency funds, and a federal judge ordered the administration to fund the program in a Friday ruling.

Gov. Josh Shapiro, at a news conference, said the money could take up to 10 business days to reach families, however. He added that he was skeptical the Trump administration would follow the order, given its history of ignoring such rulings. A White House spokesperson referred the Centre Daily Times to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not return an email requesting comment.

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Harrisburg gridlock has left food banks unfunded for four months. Centre County says it is unable to help because of the lack of state funding. Shapiro released $5 million in state funds to the commonwealths largest charitable food distributor Friday, amounting to about $2.50 per SNAP recipient.

The CDT has compiled a list of resources made available by the community for SNAP recipients and others in need. The list will be updated as more information becomes available.

Data compiled in part by Penn State employee KateLynn Luzier.

Abba Java Coffeehouse

For Penn State students, there is a free coffee shop run by the Wesley Foundation. It is located at 250 E. College Ave. in State College.

Angelos Pizzeria

Angelos Pizzeria in Bellefonte is offering a menu for families in need for the month of November. The menu includes large trays of pasta, plain pies with a soda and smaller meals at a discounted price, all served with garlic knots.

Blanchard Church of Christ

Blanchard Church of Christ runs a food pantry on the second Wednesday of the month from 35 p.m. It is located at 161 Beach St., Blanchard.

Bonfattos Italian Market & Corner Cafe

Bonfattos Italian Market & Corner Cafe in Bellefonte has a Pay It Forward Community Meal Card for those in need throughout November. The card is a QR code that can be found on the restaurants Facebook page and scanned in-store, no questions asked.

Centre Church food distribution

Food distribution occurs starting at 6 p.m. the third Friday of the month at Centre Church, located at 119 E. College Ave. in Pleasant Gap.

Centre Hall food distribution

Progress Grange, a fraternal group in Centre Hall, has food distributions the first Wednesday of the month from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Items distributed typically include milk, eggs and fresh produce, with dairy sometimes available. Progress Grange is located at 217 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Centre Hall.

Centre Helps emergency food bank

Located at 410 S. Fraser St. in State College, Centre Helps runs a 24/7 food bank for emergencies only.

Centre House emergency food bank

Located at 217 East Nittany Ave. in State College, Centre House runs a 24/7 food bank for emergencies only.

CommonFood Centre County

CommonFood Centre County runs a food distribution program with nonperishables and fresh produce the third Saturday of each month from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Register by calling 814-409-8584 or emailing commonfoodpa@gmail.com. The distribution site is 105 S. Main St., Port Matilda.

Cozy Thai Bistro

The restaurant will give away free pad thai meals to the first 50 people who ask on Nov. 8 from noon to 1 p.m. The restaurants address is 232 S. Allen St., State College.

FaithCentre Food Bank

Fresh produce, dairy, meat, baby food, baked goods and personal care products are available Wednesdays at FaithCentre Food Bank, located at 131 S. Allegheny St. in Bellefonte. People with last names A-E go the first week of the month, F-L go the second, M-R go the third and S-Z go the fourth. Registration is required. Call 814-355-4400.

Feed the People Market Stand  Student Farm at Penn State

Penn State students run a pay-what-you-can produce stand. It is located at the HUB-Robeson Center, 288 Pollock Road, University Park. It is open Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m.

Fillmore Food Pantry

This food pantry opens the third Saturday of each month and is located at 126 Apple St. in Bellefonte. The CDT is trying to verify hours.

Grace Lutheran Church

Grace Lutheran Church, at 205 S. Garner St. in State College, is having holiday food distributions Thursdays, Nov. 6, Nov. 20, Dec. 4, Dec. 18 and Jan. 8.

Halfmoon Christian Fellowship Church

The Halfmoon Christian Fellowship Church at 1776 Halfmoon Valley Road in Port Matilda, will have drive-thru food distributions Mondays, Nov. 3 and Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. There are no income restrictions, with registration at pick-up.

Howard Area Food Pantry

The food pantry serves Curtin Township, Howard Borough, Howard Township, Liberty Township and Marion Township. It is located at 44 Vesper St. in Beech Creek and opens the first Monday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m.

Kitchen 1870

Kitchen 1870, a bakery and bed and breakfast in Aaronsburg, noted on Facebook its bakery operates on a pay-what-you-can basis. It offers breads, cakes, cookies and other baked goods.

Lions Pantry

For Penn State students, the Lions Pantry offers nonperishables and other household items. Hours vary and can be found on its Instagram page. The pantry is located at 133 Bluebell Road in University Park.

Little Mammas Pizza

Little Mammas Pizza in Bellefonte is offering $6 combos. Options include two slices of pizza, soup and garlic bread, salad and garlic bread and half sub and chips, all served with a fountain beverage.

Milesburg Food Pantry

Food bank opened on the first Tuesday of each month. The CDT is working to verify hours. Contact 814-355-0890.

Park Forest Village United Methodist Church mini pantry

There is a small food pantry located outside the Park Forest Village United Methodist Church that residents try to keep stocked with food. The church is located at 1833 Park Forest Ave. in State College.

Pastor Cathy Dittman of Snow Shoe United Methodist Church

Pastor Cathy Dittman said she can be contacted at 814-441-0642 if there is an urgent need, particularly when it involves children.

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I have some funds available in our churches that I can help them out with, she said of needy families.

Philipsburg Community Action Food Pantry

This is a food bank serving Philipsburg and Rush Township. It is open Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment and located at 14 S. Front St. in Philipsburg. Call 814-342-0404 or 800-822-2610.

Philipsburg Paltry Pantry

There is a small food pantry at 229 Hickory St., Philipsburg.

Snow Shoe Township Fresh Express

This food distribution occurs at noon the first and third Thursdays of the month at the Snow Show Township offices, located at 268 Old Side Road in Clarence.

Snow Shoe United Methodist Church food pantry

This is a food bank serving Burnside Township, Snow Shoe Borough and Snow Shoe Township. It is located at 502 Moshannon Ave. in Snow Shoe and is open the second Thursday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m.

South Hills School of Business & Technology

South Hills School of Business & Technology has a box with nonperishable items. The school is located at 480 Waupelani Drive in State College.

Spring Township Police Department

The Spring Township Police Department is offering families in need gift cards to area restaurants, no questions asked. Call 800-479-0050 or message the department on Facebook.

St. Andrews Episcopal Church

St. Andrews Episcopal Church in downtown State College offers a free dinner every Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. The church is located at 208 W. Foster Ave..

St. John Lutheran Church Fresh Express

This food distribution occurs from 4 to 6 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at St. John Lutheran Church, located at 216 N. McAllister St. in Bellefonte.

St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church Fresh Express

Food distribution here occurs the third Thursday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m. at 160 N. Main St. in Pleasant Gap.

State College Area School District

State College Area School District noted in a Tuesday email to families that those needing assistance with basic needs could fill out its family needs assessment form. Resources can be made available to students, family or staff members affiliated with the State College Area School District.

State College Dominos

The Dominos at 540 Westerly Pkwy. in State College is offering one large topping pie to anyone who presents a SNAP card.

State College Food Bank

A food bank serving College Township, Ferguson Township, Halfmoon Township, Harris Township, Huston Township, Patton Township, Port Matilda Borough, State College Borough, Taylor Township and Worth Township is opened Mondays from 1 to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

Trinity United Methodist Church Bellefonte

Trinity United Methodist Church in Bellefonte offers a free lunch on weekdays at 11:30 a.m. The churchs address is 128 W. Howard St., Bellefonte.

YMCA of Centre County Backpack Program

School children in need are able to get a backpack full of food each Friday (or the last day of the school week) at the YMCA of Centre County. The program is open to children in all of the countys school districts. More information is available on the YMCA website.

Yummy Toddler Food

Amy Palanjian of Yumy Toddler Food wrote on Facebook she occasionally has extra prepared food leftover from photo shoots, no questions asked. She said she could be reached via email at amy@yummytoddlerfood.com.
No question, antisemitism is real, resurgent and too often conflated with criticism of the Israeli government as it has destroyed Gaza to root out Hamas.

But it beggars belief that the Trump administration is sincere when it demands UCLA pay the government more than $1 billion because, as it alleges, the school failed to protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests in 2024, and engages in diversity, equity and inclusion practices. This is extortion, pure and simple.

Yes, some Jewish students were intimidated and felt unsafe during the campus protests; and yes, the school agreed to a $6-million settlement with several of them. But does anyone really believe the Trump administration cares about antisemitism?

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I was a post doc at the University of Virginia in August of 2017, I was there when the Unite the Right rally came to town, said Anna Markowitz, a UCLA associate professor of education and president of the executive board of the UCLA Faculty Assn. I watched that group walk down the street with Nazi salutes and heard them chant horrible things. And the administration did not care one whit about that.

Oh, it was worse than that; Trump defended the neo-Nazis, infamously claiming there were some very fine people on both sides. Just last week, Trumps nominee for the Office of Special Counsel withdrew from consideration after his offensive texts surfaced, including one in which he described having a Nazi streak. Recently, Vice President JD Vance refused to condemn some members of the Young Republicans, who joked about gas chambers in a group chat, with one declaring, I love Hitler. Said Vance, "Kids do stupid things, especially young boys." (According to Mother Jones, they ranged in age from 24 to 35.)

Still, the Trump administration is using its phony commitment to combating antisemitism to undermine the independence of American universities.

In reality, it wants to have a hand in campus hiring, admissions, sports, scholarships and gender-affirming medical practices. In its effort to turn back the clock on civil rights of all kinds, it wants to squelch any practice that can be remotely linked to creating a more diverse student body and faculty.

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We know all this because a proposed settlement hammered out in secret between the Justice Deparment and UCLA was ordered to be made public after the UC Faculty Assn. and its larger umbrella group, the Council of UC Faculty Assns., filed a public records suit demanding its release.

The 27-page document is a master class in gaslighting. It purports to support free speech and civil rights while demanding the university squelch free speech and civil rights.

I was shocked by the contradictions, Markowitz said. Over and over, they would claim they are making these changes because they are interested in upholding civil rights or in upholding free speech, with sentences that said, And thats why we will no longer allow people who hold these views to take part in this dialog.

Thats particularly evident in the section on international students, she said.

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Processes will be established, the document states, to provide that foreign students likely to engage in anti-Western, anti-American or antisemitic disruptions or harassment are not recruited or admitted to UCLA.

As for transgender athletes, the school must essentially deny their existence. If any female athletes are found to have been adversely affected by competing against a trans women, says the document, UCLA will send a personalized letter of apology to each impacted female athlete.

The agreement also stipulates that UCLA hospitals may not engage in gender-affirming medical care of any kind for minors, despite California laws that recognize the right to access gender-affirming care and protections for those who provide it.

The government is also demanding UCLA prohibit overnight demonstrations, and any activity that denies access to campus facilities such as the Jew Exclusion Zone enforced by activists in Dickson Plaza during April 2024, which blocked Jewish students and faculty from accessing classroom buildings and Powell Library based on their religious beliefs or refusal to disavow Israel.

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Using that kind of language is deliberately inflammatory. Many Jewish students were involved in the pro-Palestinian encampment. As one civil rights attorney put it, There were Shabbat ceremonies. There was a seder ceremony that occurred in the encampment. Jewish faculty members and students were instrumental in creating the encampment. So the idea that this was a, quote, Jewish-exclusion zone was absurd on its face.

(And, lets not forget, law enforcement stood idle for three hours as counter-protesters, supporters of Israel, violently attacked the encampment.)

In a document full of ironies large and small, perhaps the most glaring is the stipulation that anyone who wears a mask during a protest must briefly unmask to verify their identity. Those who refuse will be subject to disciplineand referred for prosecution.

Who, exactly, is going to monitor UCLAs compliance with the governments demands? A whole new infrastructure is to be created, according to the document. The university would appoint an administrator to oversee its efforts to disband unlawful DEI. That person will be answerable to a Resolution Monitor who would have tremendous power over the universitys admissions and hiring policies.

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So whats next? A federal lawsuit brought by a coalition of faculty, staff, students and labor unions is challenging the agreement, alleging that the government is illegally pressuring UC to accede to its demands. The first court hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Beyond that, Markowitz said, Californians need to understand what's at stake, and bring pressure on Gov. Gavin Newsom and the UC Board of Regents to fight government overreach.

The Trump administration is systematically attempting to defund higher education while at the same time remaking it in its own ideological image, Markowitz said. The goal is to put ideology at the heart of UC, rather than servicing the students, their dreams and desires, or serving California, the economy and workforce.

In the Trump administration's war on American universities, fighting antisemitism, while worthy, is just a pretext. Don't be fooled.

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Bluesky: @rabcarian

Threads: @rabcarian

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Xi returns to Beijing after APEC meeting, state visit to ROK

Xinhua) 08:42, November 02, 2025

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing on Saturday evening after attending the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and concluding his state visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Xi's entourage, including Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and foreign minister, returned by the same flight.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
The Second Forum of Azerbaijani Engineers Living in Europe was held in Cologne, Germany, Azernews reports.

According to the State Committee on Work with the Diaspora, the event, themed Prospects for Artificial Intelligence and Energy Exchange between Azerbaijan and Europe, was organized by the Alliance of Azerbaijanis in Germany with the support of the Azerbaijan Diaspora Support Fund, operating under the State Committee.

The forum opened with the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Germany, followed by a moment of silence in honor of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijans territorial integrity.

Altay Rustamli, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the First Forum and Head of the Alliance of Azerbaijanis in Germany, delivered the opening address, emphasizing the importance of unity and cooperation among Azerbaijani engineers across Europe.

Fuad Muradov, Chairman of the State Committee on Work with the Diaspora, described the forum as an important platform for knowledge exchange and professional collaboration. Regardless of where they live, every Azerbaijani remains at the center of our states attention, he said. The diaspora policy defined by President Ilham Aliyev, aligned with modern global challenges, continues to strengthen the cultural and scientific diplomacy of our compatriots abroad. This forum enables the effective use of our engineers intellectual potential and supports new ideas and joint initiatives. As a committee, we will continue to create real opportunities for the development of our compatriots living abroad.

Among the speakers were Samir Rzayev, Counselor of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Germany; Sanan Tapdigov, Member of the Board of the Intellectual Property Agency; Tahir Khalilov, Acting Chairman of the United Water Supply Service of Large Cities; and Rashad Khaligov, Deputy Chairman of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency. They praised the forum as a valuable initiative that strengthens ties between Azerbaijani professionals in Europe.

A video presentation introduced the Committees ongoing projects, highlighting the purpose and significance of such specialized forums.

Discussions at the event covered a range of topics including the use of artificial intelligence across industries, emotion recognition through AI, ethical innovation in humanoid robotics, and perspectives on technological collaboration between Azerbaijan and Europe.

Speakers included Professor Elkhan Richard Sadigzade of Korea University and Chairman of the Organizing Committee; Sonabayim Huseynzade, Head of Women in Engineering; Rauf Abdullayev, Engineer at Berlin Medical and Business Schools; as well as several distinguished Azerbaijani engineers, scientists, and professionals from across Europe. They underscored the importance of international cooperation, innovation, and technological exchange in engineering, sharing their personal experiences and expressing gratitude to the Azerbaijani state for its continued support.

Professor Konstanze Chope from Germanys Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems expressed hope that such events would further enhance cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany.

The forum brought together around 200 participants, including Azerbaijani expatriates and foreign guests, from 16 European countries and 45 cities across Germany. The session was moderated by Sabina Mammadova, Chairperson of the Mugham German-Azerbaijani Music Society.

The State Committee on Work with the Diaspora has, in recent years, consistently organized international forums for Azerbaijani scientists, doctors, engineers, youth, and students abroad  an initiative widely appreciated by both the Azerbaijani diaspora and society at home.
The decade that just, past has marked a period of transformation for the northeastern states, turning it from a "landlocked" region into a "land-linked powerhouse under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said. The minister was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the Integrated Sohra Circuit Development under the Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) scheme and launched multiple Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) projects worth Rs 233 crore in Meghalaya. The Union Minister emphasised that over Rs 6.2 lakh crore has been allocated to the region through the 10 per cent Gross Budgetary Support policy, promoting connectivity, enterprise, and empowerment across various sectors. Meghalaya, he said, has been one of the foremost beneficiaries of this renewed focus, achieving 12-16 per cent growth in the post-COVID years through targeted investments in infrastructure, air connectivity, and tourism. Minister Scindia highlighted landmark projects, such as the 166.8 km Shillong-Silchar Greenfield Expressway (Rs 22,864 crore) and the expansion of Umroi Airport near Shillong city, which will accommodate larger aircraft, enabling a sharp rise in annual flight operations. The New Shillong City project, he added, will emerge as a "smart-green township" and a knowledge hub for the northeast region. Minister Scindia described Meghalaya as "a heaven on earth, the abode of clouds and cascading waterfalls, where every breeze carries the fragrance of dignity, faith, and the freedom of progress," and reaffirmed the Government of India's unwavering commitment to advancing responsible, inclusive, and heritage-based tourism across the region. The Integrated Sohra Circuit, conceptualised jointly by the Ministry of DoNER and the Government of Meghalaya, represents one of the most ambitious tourism initiatives in the northeast region. With total investments exceeding Rs 650 crore, including Rs 221 crore under DoNER, the project aims to transform Sohra into a multi-day experiential tourism destination rooted in sustainability and local livelihoods. The Sohra Experience Centre at Kutmadan, being developed at an investment of Rs 115 crore, will serve as the cultural nucleus of the circuit, showcasing Meghalaya's diverse tribal heritage through amphitheatres, rain experience parks, art galleries, and craft pavilions. Supporting projects include the Nohkalikai Falls precinct (Rs 26 crore), Mawsmai Eco Park (Rs 29 crore), the Seven Sisters Falls Viewpoint, Shella Riverside Development, and Wahkaliar Canyon, which features adventure tourism attractions such as hot-air balloon rides. Collectively, these projects are expected to increase tourist spending sixfold, while generating thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities. Alongside the tourism circuit, several critical infrastructure projects were inaugurated to enhance regional mobility and trade. These include: Pynursla-Latangriwan-Mawlynnong Road (Rs 29.97 crore), which provides all-weather access to Asia's cleanest village, boosting cross-border tourism and local trade. Mawshynrut-Hahim (Athiabari) Road (Rs 99.76 crore) -- upgraded to intermediate lane standards, strengthening agricultural connectivity in western Meghalaya. Foundation Stone for a major bridge over the Umngot River on the Jongksha-Wahiajer Road (Rs 21.86 crore) -- linking East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills for better movement of people and goods. Minister Scindia also highlighted that the Umroi Airport runway extension and the new Shillong Western Bypass will soon reduce travel time between Guwahati and Sohra to about four hours, bringing the region closer to major tourism and trade hubs. The Minister emphasised that the Sohra Circuit will ensure that "the first smile a tourist sees in Meghalaya becomes the first income earned by a local family." Skill development programmes in collaboration with the Meghalaya Skills Development Society and IHM Shillong are already underway to train local youth in hospitality, safety management, and eco-tourism practices. He reiterated that the Ministry of DoNER is committed to creating inclusive growth pathways that preserve the state's natural and cultural wealth while ensuring sustained livelihoods for its people. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated, "Meghalaya stands today at the confluence of heritage and hope. These projects are not just about building infrastructure; they are about building futures." (ANI)
WINDSOR LOCKS  A coalition of groups from Massachusetts and Connecticut on Saturday celebrated the upcoming departure of Avelo Airlines from Bradley International Airport.

The groups are opposed to the airlines contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport immigrants.

These are people who are shackled, many of them have not gone before a judge, their families dont know where they are. Theyve essentially been kidnapped and relocated in a very illegal way, said John Majercak, of Indivisible Northampton Swing Left Western Massachusetts.

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We think that any company thats helping (ICE) shouldnt get anyones business. So were spreading the word, letting people know not to fly them, he added.

Posting huge banners over the Route 75 overpass just outside the airport, activists from the local Connecticut and Massachusetts chapters of Indivisible and the Democratic Socialists of America CT Chapter celebrated what they called a victory in a pressure campaign against the airline.

Majercak said ICEs treatment of immigrants in this country have been appalling. People are just horrified at what theyve been seeing, he said.

He added that Saturdays activists were split into two groups, with the other half protesting at Bradley Airport.

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The budget airline, which offered the states only nonstop service to Montego Bay, Jamaica, faced significant public backlash and protests from activists, politicians and the public for entering into a multi-year contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to operate deportation flights, which began in mid-May.

Avelo defended the deal, worth an estimated $150 million, citing that it provides financial stability and helps protect jobs amid a volatile market for budget airlines, according to the Associated Press.

Protest organizers said that since April, thousands of activists in the Stop Avelo coalition all across the country have called for boycotts, resulting in tens of thousands of Americans signing pledges to never fly the airline as long as its flying deportation flights for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

About a dozen people showed up Saturday for what organizers called the party on the overpass. Music from members of The Expandable Brass Band of Northampton and Hartford Hot Several Brass Band entertained the crowd, with many passing drivers honking their horns in apparent solidarity.

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The Connecticut Airport Authority announced on Oct. 13 that Avelo Airlines would suspend its services to Bradley International Airport.

Avelo Airlines last scheduled flight from Bradley International Airport will be on Jan. 25.

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CLAVERACK - U.S. Rep. Josh Riley was speaking at the campaign kickoff event for Democratic Party sheriff candidate Jackie Salvatore when a man stood up and started yelling.

"Congressman Riley, we are your constituents and we want some answers, please!" the man said, according to a video of the event shared with the Times Union. "Israel has killed more than 63,000 Palestinians.  There is a Democratic bill, H.R. 3565, called Block the Bombs' ."

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A woman stood up to his right: "Go to the U.S. Congress, tell them the people in the 19th District are against the slaughter of children, we are against mass-murdering journalists, we are against kidnapping doctors with American tax dollars!"

At different points during the September rally, other protesters shouted their concerns. Riley responded that he heard them, that he would discuss the issue later, but he tried to keep the event - which also included state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli - on track. The protesters were drowned out by competing chants of "Elect Democrats!" and "We want to hear Josh!" from other attendees, and one got into an extended shouting match with several people as Riley continued his speech.

Riley, a Democrat serving his first term in a district that stretches from Hudson to Ithaca, has faced a series of small protests over the Gaza conflict during his time in office.

As a centrist Democrat in a so-called "purple" district, Riley's attempt to navigate the ongoing crisis in the Middle East is similar to the challenge facing many members of his conference. But in upstate New York, he currently appears to be facing more pressure than other Democrats, for reasons that range from an especially vocal coalition of activist groups to the number of progressive bastions in his largely rural district.

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By comparison, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, who represents Albany in the neighboring 20th District, called the Gaza conflict a "genocide" at a Troy town hall in June and is one of just three New York House Democrats to co-sponsor the Block the Bombs Act, which would condition U.S. military aid to Israel. (Tonko later clarified his remarks in an interview with WAMC, using the word "tragedy" and calling on Israelis and Palestinians "to engage in community spirit.") And while U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan previously faced strident criticism from activists in his mid-Hudson Valley district about his position, that didn't cost him in 2024: Ryan won his House race by more than 14 points.

But while the protests in Riley's district are small, so is his margin of error: He won the district by fewer than 8,000 votes in 2024, when he faced off against incumbent Republican Marc Molinaro. Republican state Sen. Peter Oberacker announced last month he would try to unseat Riley.

In an interview with the Times Union, Riley noted that his district is "pretty evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans and independents, so you're always getting a really wide perspective.  What I try to do on any issue, including this, is try to back up to the point where you can find some common ground, even on something as divisive and emotionally charged as Middle East peace."

The middle ground, Riley has said for months, is for the warring parties to reach a durable ceasefire. One was announced several days before Riley spoke to the Times Union, though sporadic violence has continued - including Israeli strikes on Tuesday that killed more than 100 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

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Though the 19th District's activists - who represent a range of views - may not collectively hold the average voter position on the conflict, national polling shows Democrats' support for Israel's military actions has dropped. In a September poll by Pew Research, only 18% of Democrats viewed the Israeli government favorably and 60% said the Israeli government was going "too far"; only 7% said the government was "taking about the right approach."

In December 2023 - two months after the Hamas attacks - the same pollsters found that only 45% of Democrats said Israel was going too far in its military response, with 18% saying it was taking about the right approach.

In this election cycle, that shift in opinion has been on display most visibly in the New York City mayoral race, where Zohran Mamdani, a longtime pro-Palestinian advocate, is polling well ahead of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a staunch defender of Israel, in a city where strong support for the Jewish state was once viewed as a necessary element of a successful citywide campaign.

When asked if either side had the moral high ground in the conflict, Riley equivocated: "It started with a horrific terrorist attack against Israel," he said, adding he has had "very serious concerns with the way the war has unfolded."

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When asked to expand, Riley conjured up images from both sides of the conflict: "You turn on the TV any day during this war and you're seeing these horrific images of kids (in Gaza) who are starving.  You can see their bones through their skin. How can you not have concerns when you see those images? You hear from the families of the (Israeli) hostages, you see the images that were put out of hostages being forced to dig their own graves - how can you not have concerns?"

Riley also said he was happy to see some of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks reunited with their families, adding a "massive surge of humanitarian assistance" into Gaza was now needed. Later, in a text message, he said U.S. aid to Israel "should be subject to the same conditions as aid to any other ally. With a ceasefire now in place, we need to focus on making sure it holds and getting humanitarian assistance to the civilians who desperately need it."

The persuadable

Several pro-Palestinian activists said one of their main contentions with Riley's record in the House of Representatives was his failure to sign onto another resolution, H.R. 473, "Calling for the urgent delivery and disbursement of humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza."

Though the resolution is focused on distributing aid to Gazans, its text calls on the White House and federal agencies "to urgently use all available diplomatic tools to bring about the release of the hostages, the immediate and secure delivery and disbursement of the necessary food and humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, and a durable end to the conflict in Gaza."

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The resolution never made it to a vote, but it was co-sponsored by 123 out of the 213 House Democrats, including Tonko as well as New Yorkers Yvette Clarke, Jerry Nadler, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velazquez.

The resolution lacks any Republican co-sponsors, which highlights why GOP House members in New York and elsewhere have faced far less pressure from pro-Palestinian activists in their respective districts: With representatives such as Elise Stefanik, Nick Langworthy and Claudia Tenney - whose districts all border Riley's - backing President Donald J. Trump in expressing fairly unbroken support for Israel's conduct of the war, those elected officials are viewed as not persuadable, and thus unworthy of activists' time and energy.

Riley told the Times Union he was "as big a supporter of getting humanitarian aid into Gaza as anyone." He later sent a statement: "I support getting aid into Gaza, but it must come with real safeguards and guarantees that it reaches moms, kids, and other civilians - not Hamas."

About 64% of trucks delivering aid to Gaza were intercepted between May 19 - when Israel again began allowing aid to enter the territory - and the end of October, according to the U.N. However, all were intercepted "either peacefully by hungry people or forcefully by armed actors." The U.S. Agency for International Development found there was no systematic theft by Hamas of U.S.-funded humanitarian supplies, according to an investigation by Reuters. The Trump administration has pushed back on that, with spokesperson Anna Kelly saying the USAID report "was likely produced by a deep state operative" to discredit the president's claims.

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Riley said Hamas should be permanently disarmed - a condition of the ceasefire reached last month that observers have described as one of its most difficult elements.

"Hamas is a terrorist organization that has inflicted evil across the region, and it can't be allowed to govern within the region," he said. "How we get there - let's have some reasonable, honest, respectful debates with each other about it, but I do think the ultimate goal about having Palestinians governed by Palestinians who have their best interests in mind and not a terrorist organization, is a goal that we should be striving toward. Clearly, it's reasonable enough that all of the parties to the agreement signed off on it."

Riley was referring to Trump's 20-point peace plan. It envisions Gaza as "a deradicalized terror-free zone" and further states that "Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty."

Jim McCabe, the activist who first rose to speak at Riley's Columbia County event, called it "infuriating" that the congressman "has decided to take this fence-straddling position."

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"He seems to be of the mind that he can do this dance (in) the middle of the road and appeal to both Democrats and, I guess, moderate conservatives," he said.

McCabe said many politicians endorse the "two-state solution," in which a Palestinian state and an Israeli state would exist side-by-side, but he argued the U.S. has chosen with its wallet: The two-state solution "sounds good," but "the U.S. continues to arm Israel, solely," he said.

McCabe and other activists' demand is that Riley sign a House bill that would bar the U.S. from selling certain munitions and bomb-guidance systems to Israel. That bill is co-sponsored by far fewer representatives (56) than the resolution urging the delivery of aid, including only three of New York's 26 representatives: Tonko, Velazquez and Ocasio-Cortez.

A visit to the Holy Land

Eric Feinblatt, a graduate student at SUNY Binghamton and a pro-Palestinian activist, arrived at a town hall Riley held at SUNY Sullivan on Oct. 6. He cradled a cloth rolled up to look like an infant to draw attention to the deaths of Palestinian children during the war.

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In August, protesters descended on Riley's district office in Binghamton. There was another demonstration in October, where about a dozen people entered the building housing Riley's office. Three were arrested after refusing to leave for hours and charged with trespassing, according to WNBF-1290 AM.

Feinblatt said people should look at Riley's record instead of his statements. He mentioned a bill Riley signed that would sanction individuals in the International Criminal Court for "investigating, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting" an American citizen or citizen of an allied nation. The bill was largely in response to the court issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.

Feinblatt also takes issue with Riley's trip to Israel in August, which was funded by the American Israel Education Foundation, the educational nonprofit of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). "It was not the time to go on a propaganda tour," he said.

Freshman members from both parties of Congress are traditionally offered this trip by AIPAC, but this year, only 11 of the 33 first-term Democrats chose to go - a large drop-off in participation, according to the New York Times. The total of 14 Democrats who made the journey included a disproportionate number of New York House members: Riley as well as Tim Kennedy of western New York; George Latimer, whose district includes the Bronx and White Plains; and Laura Gillen of Long Island, according to the news outlet Mondoweiss.

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Riley spoke of the trip in positive terms, saying he "was able to have meetings with folks with a really wide range of views," including Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa - part of the Palestinian Authority regime that has contested with Hamas for political power while also facing Israeli criticism - and the families of some of the Israeli hostages."

Riley said the trip confirmed "for me a position I had for quite some time before going, which is that the war has to end.  It also confirmed for me that the way to end it is not just through a ceasefire, but a ceasefire where hostages are coming home and humanitarian assistance is coming in."

This article originally published at Activists want to make Gaza a problem for Rep. Josh Riley.
Nov. 1---- Age-Friendly Minnesota will host the Southwest Minnesota Regional Exchange in Willmar alongside regional partners.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Bethesda Grand, 901 Willmar Ave. S.E. in Willmar.

According to a news release from Bethesda, the event is designed to connect community members, organizations and regional leaders around the age-friendly movement and explore future opportunities.

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Highlights of the event include updates on Age-Friendly Minnesota, a statewide initiative that works to make Minnesota a better place to grow older; a regional showcase of local efforts; and a panel discussion with local elected officials and regional leaders.

The event will include lunch. Registration is free and open to the public; it must be completed by Nov. 5. Find more on Age Friendly Minnesota's website at

and look for regional exchanges under the meetings and events tab.
When Jonathan Sterling picks up a blowtorch these days, its not a metaphor. The 46-year-old former real-estate executive spends his mornings crawling through an industrial warehouse and cutting copper pipe in an HVAC training lab not far from his home in Vero Beach, Florida. I never used a torch before, he said. Youre crawling around with live wires, high voltage, risk everywhere. Its dangerous.

Until last year, Sterling oversaw operations for 35 Keller Williams offices and 7,000 agents, helping generate roughly $13 billion in annual sales. When corporate layoffs hit in mid-2024, he joined the growing ranks of white-collar professionals wondering what  if anything  felt safe anymore.

AI scares the hell out of me, he told Quartz. Much of the work he once did, determining web strategy and overseeing website builds, was all too easily outsourced to AI bots. Hed watched longtime friends experience layoffs, too. They were made redundant by companies slashing and burning the lower-level jobs that have been replaced with AI, which then means they don't have a need for the people who were managing them  my friends, he said.

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So, instead of chasing another marketing or management role, Sterling enrolled in a hands-on, eight-week HVAC course costing $2,700. He plans to work in the field long enough to be legitimate in the eyes of others in the industry, then move into a leadership post at a company thats expanding. Nights and weekends, hes building Foxtown Education, a fledgling site listing trade schools and certification programs for other mid-career professionals like him.

People are still in denial that their cushy jobs are safe, he said. I figured Id rip the Band-Aid off now.

The white-collar crisis of meaning  and security

Call it the learn-to-craft era. Across TikTok, LinkedIn, and backyard-barbecue small talk, a new fantasy is taking hold: leaving the laptop behind to weld, fix, or plumb. If it seems familiar, its because its the uncanny mirror image of the learn-to-code mantra that defined the 2010s, when knowledge work seemed the surest path to stability and status. In 2025, with generative-AI tools writing code  plus composing copy and designing logos  the safest jobs may be the ones that require torque wrenches and flame-retardant gloves.

Google searches for trade school for adults have more than doubled since early 2023, and some accelerated plumbing and HVAC programs report 10-30% higher applications, according to industry publications. Yet the number of Americans actually working in skilled trades is roughly flatabout 13% of total U.S. employment. For every Sterling changing careers, hundreds more are simply day-dreaming about it online.

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Because California is the countrys largest job market, its a good indicator, said Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, CEO of JVS Bay Area, a nonprofit that runs apprenticeship programs in automotive and water-utility maintenance. For the first time in state history, were seeing white-collar jobs shrinking while blue-collar roles in construction and manufacturing are on the rise. That shift, she adds, shows the direction were heading more broadly, even if its still early days.

The pendulum swings back

Countryman-Quiroz views growing enthusiasm for the trades as the pendulum swinging back from the learn-to-code era. Before, workers chased techs promise of high pay and flexibility. Now the incentives have flipped. A four-year degree costs an average of $25,000 a year between tuition and fees, student-loan payments are back  with one in 25 American adults in default  and office work feels precarious. Instead of going thousands of dollars into debt, she said, trade workers can often secure a union job with high earning and advancement potential.

At JVS, graduates from skilled-trade programs roughly double their income within two years  rising from about $31,000 to more than $63,000  with plenty of room to grow. Demand is strongest in water-system maintenance, a field facing nationwide staffing shortages. These are jobs that require as much technical knowledge as any desk job, she said. Youre working with complex machinery and rigorous safety standards. In other words, its not remedial work  its highly skilled work.

Still, she cautions against framing this as a mass white-collar exodus. JVS primarily serves lower-income job-seekers, not laid-off tech or marketing managers. Whats really changing, she argues, is the cultural conversation: People are realizing a stable, respected career doesnt have to mean sitting in front of a computer all day.

The satisfaction of fixing something tangible

For Sterling, the appeal is as much emotional as economic. After two decades of writing catchy Google ads and managing remote teams, hes enjoying the instant feedback of fixing something real. You go piece by piece, solving a puzzle, he said.

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Physical risk was new territory. You can burn yourself or blow something up, he laughed. But after a few days you start to feel confident.

Hes not romanticizing the trades, however. Entry-level HVAC techs start around $25 an hour, or about $50,000 a year. Still, demand is steady: the BLS projects more than 600,000 job openings annually in installation and repair fields through 2034. People here worry more about their air-con going out than they do about alligators, he joked. In Florida, its life or death.

What AI cant replace

Even as automation advances, most hands-on technical roles remain stubbornly analog. Our research has found that human skills interpersonal communication, creative thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving remain in high demand, Countryman-Quiroz said. Trade-job postings emphasize those soft skills as much as technical ones. The human factor may explain why interest in the trades spikes during every technological upheaval. Robots might assemble cars, but someone still has to maintain the factorys water system or repair the HVAC keeping servers cool.

Yet nostalgia for real work can obscure structural gaps. The U.S. invests just 0.1% of GDP in workforce development  one-fifth what other advanced economies spend  leaving workers to retrain largely on their own. We need far more investment from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors in job training and workforce development, Countryman-Quiroz argued. Its equally important to remove structural barriers, like the high cost of childcare, that prevent workers from accessing better opportunities.

Crafting a different kind of security

Sterling isnt waiting for policy to catch up. Foxtown Education, the site he recently launched, lists trade schools and CDL programs, aiming to demystify blue-collar work and other neglected careers for the LinkedIn crowd. If youre even a little bit curious, he advises trade-curious professionals, go find a class and just check it out. Dont put too much of your old filter on it. Sterling also recommends searching out programs that skip the textbook-instruction portion and go straight to manual, hands-on learning, like the one hes completing.

Whether learn to craft becomes a real labor-market shift or remains just a coping meme for anxious office workers, it reflects something very real  the ache for security and self-respect in a rapidly changing and already volatile economy. Sterling, for his part, said he feels more empowered and confident now, even kneeling on a shop floor with an acetylene torch.
Pres. Herzog and top health CEOs will headline a summit on embedding AI in decision-making and breakthrough stem cell research at Reichman University.

Reichman University in Herzliya will host LeMaanchems annual medical-innovation conference on November 10, bringing together over 800 experts to explore how stem-cell medicine and AI are transforming healthcare.

President Isaac Herzog is slated to open the event with greetings, underscoring the national profile of a gathering that organizers say will spotlight breakthrough work in regenerative medicine, organ and tissue repair, and AI-guided, patient-specific care. The conference, now in its third year, is being held in partnership with Reichman University and is closed to invited guests.

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Among the slated speakers are Prof. Uriel Reichman, Reichman Universitys founding president and board chair; Prof. Ran Balicer of Clalit; Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yohanan Locker, chairman of Clalit Health Services; Prof. Jacob Hanna of the Weizmann Institute of Science; Prof. Eran Meshorer of the Hebrew University; Prof. Ayal Hendel of Bar-Ilan University; and Prof. Irit Avivi, head of the hematology division at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov). Television presenter and actor Guy Zu-Aretz will host.

A central leadership panel will discuss how to embed AI in decision-making across Israels hospitals and health funds while preserving the human touch in care. According to the organizers, participants include Dr. Eitan Wertheim, CEO of Clalit Health Services; Dr. Michal Mekel, director of Rambam Health Care Campus; Prof. Eli Sprecher, director general of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center; Prof. Orly Weinstein, CEO of Sheba Negev; and Sigal Dadon-Levi, CEO of Maccabi Health Services. Their current roles have been confirmed in recent official announcements and institutional profiles.

Stem cells and AI to headline medical summit at Reichman University (credit: FLASH90)

Sigal Dadon-Levi said ahead of the conference that theAI revolution is not a future vision, it is already here, transforming how we diagnose, treat, and prevent disease. At Maccabi, we are leading dozens of innovative AI projects in medicine, research, and service, as part of our organizational strategy. Our vision is to provide Maccabi members with truly personalized medicine, more precisely matched to each patients needs and characteristics.

Prof. Avivi will outline how AI is expected to accelerate testing, speed drug development, and tailor therapies at the individual level. It may look like science fiction today, but within a decade at most, AI is likely to become a routine part of physicians work and improve accuracy, efficiency, and clinical outcomes, she said.

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The program will also feature a one-on-one conversation between Prof. Balicer andIsrael Prize laureate Gil Shwed, the Check Point founder and executive chairman, about the boundary between medical innovation and high-tech and the limits of AI in care.

Beyond the science and policy, the conference will include a recognition ceremony for physicians and volunteers who served IDF soldiers and the Israeli public during the Iron Swords war, reflecting LeMaanchems broader mission of volunteer-based medical guidance for thousands of patients across Israel.

LeMaanchem founder and chair Yossi Arbelich established the conference to convene clinical leaders and technologists around practical advances. At the same time, the organizations president, Prof. Joseph Press, and innovation head, Dr. Gadi Neuman, help steer its medical agenda with academic partners at Reichman University.
"The doctor was very serious looking and said they thought it was a melanoma. I was half in a state of shock. I didn't cry. And I said, 'Well, if it took 10 years to recur, why can't it take another 10 years before I have my next recurrence?' And he kind of just shook his head 'No' and said, 'I won't give you percentages, because everybody is an individual,' which of course let me know immediately that the percentage of people who live is low."

 Linda N. Cummings, Alive Hospice's first patient, "Dying and Death: A Clinical Guide for Caregivers" by David Barton, released in 1977

The third hospice program in the world launched in Nashville in 1974 with coffee and doughnuts.

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One of its cofounders, Vanderbilt psychiatrist David Barton, felt the hospitals could be institutionally apathetic toward terminally ill patients.

"There was a bit of aversion to being constantly around people whose lives are ending," Barton said.

Dr. David Barton and his wife, social worker Lynn Barton, two of the founders of Alive Hospice in Nashville, pose in the facility's courtyard Sept. 26, 2025.

So, after studying about dying and reading about hospice care facilities that had opened in London and Connecticut, he bought refreshments and invited eight people to his West Meade home.

"To tell you the truth," said Barton, 88, said, smiling, "I'm a pretty good salesman."

Barton pitched the idea to those eight, who included a few other doctors, a neighbor with cancer, his rabbi, and his wife, who by that point had become a clinical social worker.

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At meeting's end, he had pledges of support. Within a year, they had raised $57.

Five decades years later, Alive Hospice operates two inpatient facilities in Middle Tennessee and provides in-home hospice care, grief counseling, children's camps, education programs and more. The nonprofit is celebrating with a 50th anniversary gala Nov. 4, hosted by longtime music artists and Nashville philanthropists Amy Grant and Vince Gill, at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

Cofounders David and Lynn Barton, who will be honored at the gala, spoke with The Tennessean about Alive Hospice's history and its first patient, their neighbor, Linda Cummings.

The whole patient

"I don't like people talking behind my back. I think that I have a right to know what's wrong with my body. I don't mean totally  I don't want to know all the details by any means, but I don't think they should be making any decisions if I haven't been told the true situation."

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 Linda N. Cummings, "Dying and Death: A Clinical Guide for Caregivers"

David Barton grew up Jewish in the segregated South, in Selma, Alabama, where state troopers attacked civil rights marchers in 1965 in an incident that became known as "Bloody Sunday."

While in college, he came back home and ran into a high school girl from another Jewish family they knew in town at a neighborhood pool. She was with a college guy who'd come to visit her from Chicago.

"You're too young to date college boys," Barton said.

"Obviously I'm not," she fired back.

Barton and that that girl started later that year, and got married three years after that.

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The personal stories: Alive Hospice marks 50 years of compassionate care, 'the most sacred place in Nashville'

After Tulane Medical School, David Barton, during his internship, switched from cardiology to psychiatry, but he stayed interested in what he called "physical medicine." Barton found himself attracted to doctors who talked about "integrative health" or "the whole patient."

Dr. David Barton, right, founder of Alive Hospice in Nashville, appears at a 1979 Living and Dying seminar at The Temple in Nashville. From left: Dr. Ingeborg Mauksch, Iris A. Kozil, the hospice's first executive director, Rabbi Jan Brahms, The Temple staffer Judith Kale, and Barton.

He started doing hospital rounds with physicians who were treating injuries or disease to talk about what the patient's mental health needs might be.

While still practically a student himself, Barton also became interested in medical school education. After serving two years as a U.S. Army psychiatrist and a stint at the University of Virginia at Charlottsville, Barton came to Vanderbilt University's medical school in 1971 to overhaul its psychiatric teaching program.

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While there, Barton befriended a hemotology professor, John Flexner, who shared an interest in end-of-life care and eventually joined Barton in teaching "Dying and Death" classes at Vanderbilt.

Flexner also joined Bartons' efforts to launch Alive Hospice.

At that first meeting in the Bartons' house, on Dec. 18, 1974, participants agreed dying patients needed community support to help deal with loneliness, financial strains, logistics, spiritual questions and more than arose.

The first Alive Hospice board included the Rev. Bill Barnes from United Methodist Church, Rabbi Randall Falk of The Temple, the bishop of Nashville's Catholic diocese, the UT social work school director and a philosophy professor.

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In 1975, Alive Hospice, run by volunteers, started providing in-home care. The first patient was one of the Bartons' neighbors, Linda N. Cummings, who had melanoma and eventually became paralyzed before she died.

Cummings and David Barton talked at length about her needs and what she was experiencing, physically and mentally.

"Linda was a great teacher," he said.

The fireball who built Alive Hospice

"When you see your death really right there, I think you become a little frenzied and try quickly to shove it all in in the last few days. You can't do that. At times, though, the panic would close in on me. It was almost like waves of nausea. But not really nausea. It comes in waves. It just floods you. It's like shudders coming from the outside and getting you, and they're dark."

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 Linda N. Cummings, "Dying and Death: A Clinical Guide for Caregivers"

Alive Hospice ran out of a room it rented in a place called the Rap House near Belmont University. Volunteers coordinated treatment for about a year  until the Bartons met "a fireball" named Iris Kozil at a dinner at a friend's house.

In 1988, Iris Kozil, right, the first executive director of Alive Hospice of Nashville, talks with hospice staffer Mimi McIllwain, left, and nurse Katherine Wright at the hospice's offices. Alive Hospice's first inpatient facility would open 12 years later.

Turns out Kozil was looking for a job. So Lynn Barton arranged to interview her a few days later at Pancake Pantry and eventually offered Kozil the position of fulltime executive director  as long as Kozil fundraised her own salary.

Kozil accepted, and, Lynn Barton said, "she was the one who really made our organization an organization."

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Alive Hospice started to capture the attention of Nashville's community-minded circles, and fundraising began to grow. And some of Nashville's biggest music stars, including Amy Grant, began participating in an annual monthlong concert series at the storied Bluebird Cafe, an event that has been going now for more than 30 years.

Songwriter Kent Blazy holds the guitar with the signatures of the artists that performed in the month of January that will be auctioned off to benefit Alive Hospice at the Blue Bird Cafe in Nashville on Jan. 18, 2018.

The Bartons stepped off the board in the 1990s, satisfied with what they had launched. But they continued to serve on an advisory board.

In 1998, the nonprofit started accepting its first residential patients at 17th and Charlotte. Another inpatient centered opened in Murfreesboro in 2013.

"This organization, since it was created, is focused on patients' needs and caring," David Barton said.

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Community support reached a peak in 2023 when rumors circulated that the board was considering selling the operation to a for-profit company. Those sparked a backlash and a "Keep Alive Alive!" movement that drew enthusiastic endorsements from celebrities like Tim McGraw and Faith Hill and community leaders like former U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper.

The Bartons joined the "Keep Alive Alive!" movement.

In June 2023, the chairman of the board, while acknowledging Alive Hospice was facing financial "headwinds," told The Tennessean that the board had voted to do just that.

"We've made this decision to be independent and not-for-profit," chairman Vicki Estin said. "We're not going back through this again. The decision stands."

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The Bartons rejoined the board afterward in hopes of keeping the hospice a nonprofit.

The Bartons acknowledge that most U.S. hospices now are for profit, and they said the controversy is a reminder that the nonprofit has to operate "with intention, not assumption."

"This forced the entire organization to plan for the future and make folks think about that," David Barton said.

"Is Alive Hospice viable?" he added. "It's certainly more viable than it was."

"I think that dying does complete a life cycle, but I'm not ready for my life cycle to be over. Right now, I'm in a hopeful mood. If I had died ten years ago, it would have been a tragedy. I'm not going to like it when the time comes. I'm not going to like it. I don't like it already. But it is just part of life."

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 Linda N. Cummings, "Dying and Death: A Clinical Guide for Caregivers"

Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How dying neighbor helped founders create Alive Hospice
To mark the 50th anniversary of Nashville-based nonprofit Alive Hospice, The Tennessean asked several staffers and patients' relatives to share about their experiences with the nonprofit.

The chaplain, off duty, headed right back to the house

Joshua Chandler always had been healthy. So when he experienced some symptoms in summer of 2016, Chandler, his wife and their four daughters were surprised when he was diagnosed with a rare disease called amyloidosis.

Then they were stunned when doctors told him the disease was terminal and he likely only had two months to live. Chandler's first two reactions  he told doctors he wanted to live until Oct. 20, he and his wife's 10th wedding anniversary; and he insisted he not die in a hospital.

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Chandler's wife, Rachel Lora, arranged to have Alive Hospice start providing treatment in the family's home Sept. 16 that year. He died six days later.

Then-Alive Hospice Chaplain Khette Cox came to visit the family for the first time on what turned out to be the day Chandler died.

"On the day that Khette came by, Joshua was sleeping," Lora said. "She spoke with me and Joshuas mom and aunt. Joshua died about 15 minutes after Khette left that day."

Lora called Cox's cell phone to let her know. Though her work day had ended, Cox turned her car around and headed back to the house.

Rachel Lora, pictured in June 2025 with her three daughters, lost her husband, Joshua, to a rare disease in 2016. He died at home after getting services from Nashville nonprofit Alive Hospice for five days. From left, Peyton, Rachel Lora, Izie and Grace.

"Khette sat with us as our extended family and friends arrived comforting us, taking care of the paperwork part of things, and supporting us as if we were her own family," Lora said.

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Lora sat on the floor holding her husband's hand. Cox knelt beside the couple.

"She's asking me if I needed anything, water, a Coke," Lora said.

Then, Cox joked, I have liquor in my car if you want that."

Both of the women laughed.

After the funeral, the daughters started grief counseling with Alive Hospice, and the next summer, they went to Alive's grief camp. Lora and her girls also went to workshops together to learn how to navigate holidays and life without Chandler.

"When my youngest daughter wanted to know why her dad had to die when there were other family members whom she didnt like as much got to live," Lora said, "the counselors at Alive Hospice helped her navigate those feelings.

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"[They] assured me that it was perfectly normal for her to feel that way  and that I shouldnt feel embarrassed about it, because I was mortified she said that out loud to strangers."

Nine years later, Lora said she remains amazed with and grateful for the support she received, especially from the chaplain, Cox, who now works at a different hospice.

"I firmly believe that without the support from Alive Hospice, my family would not have navigated this terrible situation as well as we did," she said. "And I wholeheartedly believe that Khette was quite literally sent to us by a higher power."

'The most sacred place in Nashville'

She has been a reporter/anchor for NewsChannel 5 and a spokeswoman for Gov. Phil Bredesen.

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But the first time Lydia Lenker set foot in renowned Nashville healthcare institution Alive Hospice was June 8 this year  the day her 95-year-old mother went there for end-of-life care after spending several months in a hospital.

"She had just been made comfortable in her bed when the team of Alive nurses and techs  I prefer to call them 'earth angels'  swooped in with kind words and the most tender care," Lenker said. "Mom immediately seemed calmer."

Nashville corporate communications executive Lydia Lenker and her mother, Michelina Lenker, on the day before her 95th birthday, have afternoon tea at the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville on July 20, 2024.

A social worker, a chaplain and nurses gently walked Lenker through a detailed explanation of what to expect around her mom dying.

Three days later, Lenker said, "Mom passed peacefully, and my husband and I are forever grateful we were able to share this time with her in this serene setting."

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The staff, she said, "elevate the passing of a loved one with the utmost dignity, respect, and thoughtful ritual."

"Alive Hospice has been described as the most sacred place in Nashville," Lenker said, "and now I understand why."

Why he delivers Christmas trees every year

In December 2015, Michael Upchurch's wife, Denise, entered the Alive Hospice Nashville facility in the end stages of cancer. On her way in, she noticed all the beautiful Christmas trees in the lobby and in the hallways.

She told her husband that she wished there was a Christmas tree in her hospice room, too.

Brothers Jeremy Upchurch, left, and Mason Upchurch pose with their maternal grandmother, Barbra "Bebe" Moss, on Dec. 7, 2024 at Alive Hospice in Nashville. The brothers and their dad, Gallatin Fire Department Lt. Michael Upchurch, have delivered trees to patients' rooms every year since the boys' mom, Denise, died at Alive Hospice in 2015

"After she passed away, my sons, Jeremy and Mason, were talking about what we could do to remember their mom," Michael Upchurch, a Gallatin Fire Department lieutenant, said. "One of the boys said something about a Christmas tree, something for patients to feel more like at home."

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So every year since, the Upchurches have delivered trees for every patient room at Alive Hospice. Last year, that meant more than 70 trees for facilities in Nashville and Murfreesboro.

It has proven to be a powerful annual tradition for the Upchurch family. The most moving moments happen when they have to pause on tree delivery day when a patient who just died is wheeled out, Michael Upchurch said.

Last year, "there was a lady watching her brother leaving the facility to a funeral home," he said, "and she broke down and hugged us."

'A sweet and gentle goodbye to this world'

Debbie Buchanan got a whole team when Alive Hospice started providing at-home care for her husband with dementia.

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A tech came twice a week to bathe him, a chaplain and a social worker came twice a month, and a nurse came once a week. All were friendly, kind and respectful, always speaking to both Buchanan and her husband, John.

"He was always glad to see them," Debbie Buchanan said. "He enjoyed the social interaction. We became a lot like family."

That nurse, though, really stood out, she said.

Debbie and John Buchanan, living with Alzheimer's disease, on the front porch of their home in Nashville on Oct. 30, 2024. The couple received in-home care from Nashville nonprofit healthcare provider Alive Hospice for the last six months of his life.

"Cassidy Burns. She's this tiny, energetic, cute little young thing," Debbie Buchanan said.

"Cassidy always spoke with him first, asked him questions first. Outsiders who come in to see people with dementia sometimes talk over them. Not Cassidy."

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The nurse calmly explained everything she about to do to John Buchanan, often distracting him with animated conversations during potentially uncomfortable procedures.

"He would laugh and carry on with her," Debbie Buchanan said, "even when the catheter was changed."

Sometimes Burns would schedule the Buchanans as her last stop of the day so she could spend more time with them.

"It was a rough thing to go through," Debbie Buchanan said, "but their compassion really made a difference with me."

The day after John Buchanan died, the nurse sent Debbie Buchanan a text.

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"I've loved every moment spent with you and John, you 2 are so special to me. I am so grateful he had a sweet and gentle goodbye to this world.

"You have taken such good care of your husband, and this final season was no different. You are a superwoman in my eyes. And I am so blessed to have witnessed y'all's love. I will miss our weekend visits so dearly, but I'm certain I'll see you again. Please please please reach out if you need anything at all, even if it's just a chat. Love you big time."

Grief camp for kids can be healing for the counselors, too

Former Alive Hospice Chaplain Khette Cox, mentioned in the story above, easily has been able to relate to the children she worked with at Alive's grief camp.

When she was 9, Cox lost her dad to a heart attack.

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When she started working at the grief camp decades later, Cox was assigned to the 9-year-olds.

One summer, she said, there was a quiet girl who often deflected talking about her trauma with a joke or a mean comment. Cox persisted, though.

"We were journaling and I sat down beside her," Cox said. "She gave me a side eye.

"I noticed she had drawn a picture of her dad. So I asked a question: 'What was his name?' And she told me. 'How old was he when he died?' '46.'

Counselor and chaplain Khette Cox, top, prepares to remove a mask from a camper's face during Camp Evergreen at Alive Hospice in White Bluff, Tenn., on June 6, 2017. Camp Evergreen brings together children who have lost a loved one for three days of camp activities and counseling.

Oh, Cox told the girl, so was my dad.

"And he died?" the girl said.

"Sure did," Cox answered. "Of a heart attack."

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"And thats all it took. From there she talked about her dad. I encouraged her to write it down. Or draw it down," Cox said.

"But she wrote. And all along the exercise, shed 'check out' her answers with me. As our parallel stories took shape," she said.

"We were fast friends after that."

Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Alive Hospice marks 50 years of 'kind words', 'tender care'
MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has issued a stark warning to President Donald Trump amid their high-profile divorce. The Georgia Republican told CBS News that she is starting to feel very sorry for the 79-year-old, saying that his attacks on her reflect poorly on him. The great schism began when Greene, 50, broke with him on the cost-of-living crisis, which Trump insists is a hoax, and the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
The next time they have the opportunity, one of the right-wing influencers who now dominate the White House press corps should ask President Donald Trump if he happened to watch House Full of Dynamite, Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelows latest film, when he was traveling this week. Its a chilling movie about a nuclear strike on the United States, and since he seems to be suddenly concerned about Americas nuclear arsenal for no apparent reason, it would be fair to ask if the film was behind his startling announcement on his way back from Asia that he was ordering the immediate resumption of nuclear testing after a three decade moratorium.

Dont laugh. Its as plausible an explanation for his confusing order as anything else, because his stated reason  that other countries are testing their nuclear weapons  is simply not true. The only country to hold such tests in recent times is North Korea, where Kim Jong Un continued to evaluate his nuclear capability, despite all the happy talk and love letters between Trump and his good buddy. None of the nuclear powers have tested any weapons since the 1990s.

Its possible that he got a look at last weeks footage of Russian President Vladimir Putin, dressed in military uniform and sitting alone at a big table, while facing two big screens that showed Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and his deputy, Valery Gerasimov, directing drills of the countrys strategic nuclear forces. Did Trump think they were actually testing nuclear weapons? Or maybe he just misunderstood the Oct. 26 announcement from the Russians: That they were testing a nuclear powered cruise missile, and he thought it was a weapon.

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Who knows. What matters is that Trump is the only person in the United States who can order a nuclear strike  and its clear hes just as clueless about that existential threat as he is about most everything else.

Like everything else, Trump believes he is an expert on the subject. By now, everyone is familiar with the fact that his uncle, Dr. John G. Trump, was a physicist and engineer who taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Trump has long contended that, because they share good genes, this familial connection proves his own brilliance. Any time a scientific subject comes up, he will mention his uncle as testament to his own expertise  particularly when it comes to the nuclear threat. As Trump explained on the campaign trail in July 2016, Nuclear is so powerful, my uncle explained that to me many, many years ago.

As with so many other issues, Trumps beliefs were formed when he was a young man, and they appear to be based on a very shallow understanding of the subject. In November 1984, at the behest of his mentor Roy Cohn and just after Ronald Reagans reelection as president, Trump gave an interview to the Washington Post declaring his desire to negotiate an arms agreement with the Soviet Union. But importantly, he withheld specific plans because he didnt want to tip his hand:

He could learn about missiles, quickly, [Trump] says. It would take an hour-and-a-half to learn everything there is to learn about missiles . . . I think I know most of it anyway. Youre talking about just getting updated on a situation . . . You know who really wants me to do this? Roy . . . Id do it in a second.

A few years later during a Playboy interview, Trump said, Ive always thought about the issue of nuclear war; its a very important element in my thought process I believe the greatest of all stupidities is peoples believing it will never happen because everybody knows how destructive it will be, so nobody uses weapons. What bulls**t.

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When he ran for president in 2016, the issue came up several times. MSNBC reported that he had repeatedly asked his foreign policy advisers why the U.S. couldnt use nuclear weapons. He told host Chris Matthews that he would consider using them, and when pressed on his comments, Trump asked, Then why are we making them? Why do we make them? (The U.S. doesnt make any new nuclear weapons.) In a primary debate, he was asked about the nuclear triad and clearly had no idea what they were talking about, which suggested that he never did get around to studying up on the subject.

Most shockingly, during his first term it was reported that, when it was explained in a Pentagon briefing that the U.S. once had over 30,000 nuclear warheads and only had a tenth of that now, Trump apparently didnt realize there had been successful arms control agreements going back 50 years. On more than one occasion he asked why he couldnt have as many nuclear weapons as previous presidents had. Its very sad that Uncle John Trump isnt still alive so that he could give his nephew some more lessons in nuclear power, because hes obviously forgotten his earlier ones.

In the early days of his first term, Trump used to let threats of nuclear annihilation fly with some frequency. Before they became pals, he taunted North Korean president Kim Jong Un for his missile tests with tweets declaring that he would rain down fire and fury the likes of which the world has never seen and calling him little rocket man if he didnt stop. (He didnt stop.)

Want more sharp takes on politics? Sign up for our free newsletter, Standing Room Only, written by Amanda Marcotte, now also a weekly show on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

Eight years later, the problem is that theres no one around to school him anymore. Many of the people in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths Pentagon are war-mongers who believe that nuclear weapons should be on the table. The current Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Elbridge A. Colby, conceived a new strategic posture during Trumps first term that recommended a much looser nuclear policy  including their use in response to a cyber attack.

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There is no need for nuclear tests. The United States has a sophisticated testing system that doesnt require setting off explosions, and when it comes to deterrence, nobody in the world assumes that Americas arsenal is full of duds. But as Tom Nichols writes in The Atlantic, the weapons do serve a purpose that may appeal to Trump and his allies:

Nuclear tests dont make much sense for U.S. national security, but theyre a great way to raise international tensions. During the Cold War, the superpowers sometimes engaged in nuclear tests as a way of signaling nerve and resolve. Unfortunately, these tests served mostly to put both East and West on edge, pollute parts of the United States and the former Soviet Union, and make a lot of people sick.

Make America Radioactive Again?

If Trump really did get nervous about the nuclear arsenal after watching House Full of Dynamite, then he got the plot all wrong. It wasnt a nuclear missile that failed to work, it was an interceptor. (The Pentagon has been furious at the films suggestions that such a situation could happen.) Considering how little he still knows about this subject, it wouldnt be a surprise.

More disturbing for the general audience watching it, the film features a group of experienced people who take their jobs seriously. They know what theyre doing in this moment of existential threat. Its very tense, a viewing experience thats even more nerve-wracking if you momentarily contemplate the collection of yes-men the Trump administration has installed in the same roles. As for the top job? Donald Trump being the one to make the ultimate decision is simply terrifying.

The post Make America Radioactive Again? Yes, if Trump has his way appeared first on Salon.com.
Swedish automaker Volvo no longer feels like an outsider in the Indian markets with the country becoming a home market, said Kamal Bali, President & Managing Director (MD), Volvo Group India. Speaking to ANI after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles under the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) framework, Kamal Bali, President and Managing Director of Volvo Group India, said, "We are not new to India. We have been there for 25 years. It has now become like our home market. In fact, we are building our fourth international manufacturing hub in India. So India is becoming very important. So India is like our home market," he said while responding to a question about the challenges the company faces as a non-Indian player. Both automotive manufacturers pledged, as part of their membership of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT), to work together on a more sustainable heavy-duty transport eco-system in India. Talking about the company's deeply rooted presence in the Indian markets, Bali further stated, "We know India well, and then we have a joint venture with Eicher Motors, which is an Indian company. So we have another brand. So Volvo is one brand. Eicher Motors is another brand. Eicher Motors on the mainstream brand, Volvo on the premium brand. I think we have two brands. So we have enough knowledge about India as a group." Speaking about the company's commitment to sustainability in India, Bali said the partnership with Tata Motors, as part of LeadIT, aims at developing the broader ecosystem, including infrastructure, regulatory alignment, and talent development. "MOU is about working together to accelerate decarbonisation of heavy duty trucking industry," he stated, adding that the player will compete in the market but collaborate with other automakers to create an ecosystem. He added that the heavy-duty transport contributes 37 per cent of total road emissions. To achieve net-zero targets, all actors in the ecosystem--vehicle manufacturers, fuel suppliers, infrastructure providers, and policymakers--must work in tandem, he added. Commenting on the MoU, State Secretary Sara Modig said "The collaboration between Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and the Volvo Group shows how industry can take the lead - not only in setting goals, but in building the ecosystems, technologies, and infrastructure needed for fossil-free heavy transport that can scale across markets." Volvo Group's presence in India spans more than two decades. The company offers trucks, buses, construction equipment and power solutions for marine and industrial applications, financing, and services. With a strategic focus on research, sustainability, and digital transformation, the company host the Group's largest R&D and IT hub outside Sweden. Through its joint venture with with Eicher Motors, it leads global medium-duty engine production, setting benchmarks in safety, innovation, and environmental stewardship. (ANI)
SHINNSTON, W.Va. (WBOY)  With no recent progress on securing additional funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), local organizations across West Virginia are stepping up to ensure no one in the community goes hungry.

American Legion Post 31 in Shinnston hosted a free lunch and dinner on Sunday for anyone in need of a nutritious, home-cooked meal. Organizers said the event aimed to help bridge the gap for residents struggling with rising food costs and uncertainty over future federal assistance.

The meals, prepared and served by local volunteers and veterans, included soup, grilled cheese, and peanut butter sandwiches. American Legion Post 31 Auxiliary President Marsha Duckworth was happy to help the community.

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This might be to only warm meal theyve had in maybe a week or so, and if this warms their bellies today then I think thats just wonderful thing we can do for them, Duckworth said. There are bags of potatoes on the back table if anybody needs any, they can get them, and there is some food supply that Tom Willis has and hes giving that out too. If anybody needs anything, they just have to reach out to us, and well put them in contact and get them some food to take home for later.

How to manage stress amid SNAP benefit cuts, health professionals weigh in

Post 31 officials added that community efforts like these are becoming increasingly important as food insecurity remains a pressing issue across the Mountain State. According to the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, more than 250,000 West Virginians rely on SNAP benefits to help meet their monthly food needs.

American Legion Post 31 First Vice Commander Cliff Shingleton also told 12 News about why its important to them to hold community events like this one.

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With all the benefits being cut off and we know that people are having food insecurities this supports the pillars of the American Legion and its something that we can do to help our community. And weve got a family here that loves to serve people and help. So, its our pride to open our doors and let folks come in and enjoy our food and hospitality and have a warm place to get into for a little bit if they need it, Shingleton said. And we just put the word out to our folks that there are people in need, and this is what you get, you get a whole spread of food, you get food to take home, you get a pile of blankets. Folks here love to help and when we find an opportunity we jump in and do it.

While federal lawmakers continue to debate long-term funding for the SNAP program, local initiatives such as the American Legions free meal event are providing short-term relief and a reminder of the power of community solidarity.

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New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo said diversity can be a weakness when asked to condemn Islamophobic remarks about his opponent Zohran Mamdani.

As New York governor for 11 years and attorney general, our diversity is our strength, Cuomo, who is running for mayor as an independent and trailing in the polls, said Saturday on MSNBC. But it can also be a weakness, so you have to work very, very hard to make sure youre always keeping people united, and theres always flare-ups among different races, religions, creeds for one reason or another.

News: Zohran Mamdani Slams Possible Trump Involvement In NYC Mayoral Race

MSNBC Eugene Daniels, who appeared shocked at Cuomos comment, asked Cuomo to correct the record if he didnt mean to say that. Cuomo doubled down.

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Diversity can be a weakness if you have antipathy among groups, Jonathan, Cuomo said, getting Daniels name wrong.

Cuomo continued: If you have racism or antisemitism, etc. So then youd have friction, right? Which we have had in New York, and so you have to work very hard to keep it as a positive and to make sure that its not a negative, and you have zero tolerance for any racism, any antisemitism, etc.

In a comment to HuffPost, a representative for Cuomo said, Its what he says all the time, New Yorks diversity is its greatest strength and if the forces of hate and division are allowed to take hold, it weakens us from within. Those trying to make this anything other than what it is are desperately trying to gaslight their way through this election.

Politics: Zohran Mamdani Trolls Andrew Cuomo Over Toxic Trump Endorsement

Cuomos answer came after he was asked about his appearance on a radio show a few weeks ago. On the radio show, Cuomo laughed along with conservative radio personality Sid Rosenberg after Rosenberg said Mamdani, who is Muslim, would cheer if another Sept. 11 happened. After Cuomo laughed, he said, Thats another problem. But can you imagine that? If Mamdani was in the seat on 9/11, what would have happened to this city?

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Cuomo said on MSNBC that Rosenberg made that comment as a joke and Cuomo didnt correct him because he was not my supporter.

He also added he didnt recall current New York City Mayor Eric Adams making an Islamophobic comment while endorsing Cuomo on Oct. 23.

When MSNBC host Jacqueline Alemany asked if Cuomo condemned Islamophobic comments about Mamdani, Cuomo said 100%.

Politics: Trump Tells New Yorkers They 'Must Vote' For Cuomo While Attacking Mamdani

I condemn Islamophobic comments, antisemitic comments, racist comments, bigoted comments, anti-Italian comments, of course, Cuomo said.

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After Cuomos appearance on Rosenbergs show, Mamdani called Cuomos remarks disgusting.

This is Andrew Cuomos final moments in public life, and hes choosing to spend them making racist attacks on the person who would be the first Muslim to lead the city, Mamdani said on PIX11 News.

And frankly, its not about me, its about the fact that there are more than 1 million Muslims who live in New York City, he continued. And to have our faith be smeared and slandered by someone who at one point was considered a leader in the Democratic Party, showcases the fact that bigotry and racism is not exclusively a Republican problem. It is also a problem within our own party.

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
Nov. 2An annual report on wild steelhead and wild spring and summer chinook from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game shows the fish continue to be in trouble but there are a few positive signs.

Tim Copeland, a fisheries biologist for the department, likens the report to an annual visit to the doctor's office where humans get an assessment of their health and progress, or lack thereof, toward goals.

"This seems to show they may not be getting sicker but they are not back to full health yet," Copeland said.

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The recently published Wild Adult Steelhead and Chinook Salmon Abundance and Composition at Lower Granite Dam, Spawn Year 2024 is focused on the return of adult fish in 2024. It measures their overall abundance of the fish and traces how they performed based on when they were hatched, known as a brood year, and when they migrated to the ocean, or migration year.

Brood year is used to calculate adult-to-adult productivity or how many fish returned from a given number of adults. Migration year is used to calculate smolt-to-adult productivity  how many adults return from a given migration year. The numbers are different because fish from a specific brood year don't necessarily migrate to the ocean at the same age.

Steelhead

The 2024 Spawn Year included a total return of 70,117 steelhead, of which 15,327, or 22%, were wild. The return included the last of the adult steelhead from Brood Year 2016, which were hatched from 33,936 parents. But those parents begat only 15,810 adult steelhead, or 0.47 recruits per spawner.

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A recruit-per-spawner rate of less than one means the fish are not replacing themselves.

"If you get one spawner back for every spawner that started that generation, then the population stands still," Copeland said. "We are at the point where the populations are low. You don't want to stay there. You want to grow the population. You want the number to be greater than one."

According to the department's work, wild steelhead returning above Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River haven't had a recruitment rate greater than 1 since 2010. Brood Year 2017 won't be complete until the adult return from this year is tallied. But the department calculated an initial adult-to-adult productivity rate of 0.65 recruits per spawner.

Fisheries managers also calculate smolt-to-adult productivity. This metric measures how many adults come back from a specific migration year, which includes fish from multiple brood years.

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The COVID-19 pandemic shut down juvenile fish monitoring activities in 2020, so fisheries officials don't have a solid estimate of how many smolts migrated to the ocean that year. That makes a smolt-to-adult rate impossible to calculate for migration year 2020.

In 2021, an estimated 294,392 wild steelhead smolts left the Snake River upstream of Lower Granite Dam for the ocean. So far, 7,276 adults have returned. The produces a preliminary smolt-to-adult return rate of 2.47%. That rate will change slightly when wild adults from this year are added.

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The longtime regional goal is to have a smolt-to-adult rate from 2% to 6%.

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"We are getting fish back at a greater rate but it is still not where it needs to be," Copeland said. "A 2% SAR keeps you from sliding further. It needs to be north of 2 for a couple of years in a row to build it back up."

Spring and summer chinook

The 2024 spawn year included 61,251 spring/summer chinook that returned above Lower Granite Dam. That includes 9,803 wild fish, about 16% of the total run.

The run completed the return of fish from Brood Year 2018, which produced an adult-to-adult productivity of 2.61. In 2018, there were just 7,382 spawners but they produced 19,287 adult fish. The department calculated a preliminary adult-to-adult productivity estimate of 1.4 for Brood Year 2019. The number will be finalized in next year's report when adults from 2025 are added.

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Because of the COVID-induced shutdown of the trap at Lower Granite Dam, there is not a smolt-to-adult calculation for migration year 2020. The preliminary estimate for Brood Year 2021, which will be completed next year, shows a smolt-to-adult return rate of 4.82, or 7,715, adults from 160,082 smolts.

Wild spring chinook have replaced themselves for the previous two years after a five-year run in which the replacement level was less than one.

"We have been down so long, anything looks up," Copeland said. "We have had a number of bad years in a row and the wild fish numbers are down. We would like to build them back up. This shows we are starting to build them back up but we are not at a place we want to declare victory."

Wild Snake River steelhead and wild Snake River spring/summer chinook are both listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and their numbers remain below objectives.

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John Cassinelli, anadromous fish program manager for Fish and Game at Boise, said the performance of both runs remains below objectives.

"We are not trying to paint a rosier picture than what is going on," he said. "These fish are not doing great. We are paying attention and doing a lot of studies to help but it's not great right now."

Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com.
Archaeologists have made a number of historic discoveries while excavating the ancient Greek City of Laodicea, which housed a church mentioned in the Bible. Among the most notable discoveries was a 2,100-year-old statue head.

Celal Simsek, a professor of Archaeology, announced the discovery on X, sharing photos that showed a well-preserved state head. "Goddess Hygieia meeting the sun and us after 2100 years in Laodicea," he wrote, according to a translation.

On October 18, Simsek shared additional photos showing excavations at Laodecia, sometimes called Laodikeia. "Restoration work is being carried out in the ancient city of Laodikeia, based on international principles of restoration at an institutional level, highlighting the original state of the work," he wrote.

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According to a November 1 article by Popular Mechanics, the statue head belonged to the goddess Hygieia, who was "revered as the goddess of health and cleanliness."

According to Popular Mechanics, the finding "further cements" the area's importance as a "prominent cultural center in the first century B.C." It was pulled from an amphitheater's ruins.

The ancient Greek city is located in present-day Turkey, according to Popular Mechanics.

The Goddess Head Is Just Part of a Major Excavation in the Ancient Location

The statue was discovered in May 2024, according to Simsek's post.

According to Hurriyet Daily News, "Unearthing of the head of the Hygieia statue after 2,100 years caused great excitement in the excavation site, while efforts to unearth its body continue."

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The ancient Greek city housed one of seven churches mentioned in the Bible, that site reported.

Laodikeiada 2100 yl sonra gunes ve bizimle Hygieiann bulusmasGoddess Hygieia meeting the sun and us after 2100 years in Laodikeia @kazardb @muzeler_dairesi @TCKulturTurizm @yazgi_gokhan @birolincecikoz pic.twitter.com/qynoFRhG78  Celal Simsek (@celal1964) May 20, 2024

The professor has made a number of posts sharing details on the ongoing excavations at Laodicea. The archaeologists also found a statue of Asclepius.

"Both statues were made in the late Hellenistic-early Augustus Period in the classical style," he told Hurriyet Daily News.

He added to that site: "The statues of the god and goddess of health reveal the presence of the Herophileion medical school in the ancient city of Laodicea and the ancient writer Strabo, one of the important doctors trained there. All statues have very fine workmanship and are of high artistic quality."

Laodikeia antik kentinde kurumsal bazda uluslararas restorasyon ilkelerine gore eserin orijinal durumunu on plana ckaran restorasyon calsmalar yaplmaktadr. pic.twitter.com/u88lwwkMI9  Celal Simsek (@celal1964) October 18, 2025

"Laodikeiada sabah/Morning in Laodikeia," he wrote with another post on October 12.

"Restoration work continues at the stage building of the Western Theater in Laodikeia under the Legacy to the Future Project; we have completed the vault," he wrote in August.

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The professor told the site Arkeolojihaber: "We already know it was an administrative center overseeing 7-10 cities. When we began excavating the council building, we observed that its surrounding walls formed a pentagonal shape, and including the front, it had a hexagonal structure. This is the first time we've encountered such an architectural style."

He added, "After Laodikeia became the capital of the Phrygian region, it also functioned as a judicial center."

Another statue depicts "an administrator, chief judge, and manager from that era," the site reported, quoting the professor as saying, "This statue dates to the 2nd century CE. However, the head placed on top of it that we found is dated to the 400s. This suggests that as the judicial system continued, the person seated here served as chief judge, and over time, portraits of changing presidents and judges were recreated and installed here. In this respect, this site is the first and only one of its kind."

Related:

This story was originally reported by Men's Journal on Nov 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Bonnie Blue isnt backing down  even after being arrested in Bali  and her first public comment made that very clear. The 26-year-old adult content creator, whose real name is Tia Billinger, broke her silence after being arrested in Bali on suspicion of violating local morality laws. Her five-word message came as she was...
WEBB CITY, Mo.  A decades-long tradition of getting a head start on Thanksgiving continued at a Webb City church today.

This marked the 76th year for the Turkey Dinner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

It serves as the churchs biggest fundraiser of the year, with the money raised supporting church activities in a variety of ways. 100 turkeys were baked and served with traditional sides, like stuffing.

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While this is a fundraiser, its also a way to unite the community, regardless of what denomination they belong to.

Not just our parish community, where we all have to really band together to pull this thing off for one weekend a year, but the community as a whole, said Emily Elwell, Sacred Heart Turkey Dinner coordinator.

If you missed it today, turkey dinners will be served at Sacred Heart again through 5:00 p.m. tomorrow. Its ten dollars for adults, five dollars for kids.

Sacred Heart is located on North Madison Street, just north of Webb City High School.

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An area college announced last week that it purchased a farm facility that it plans to revitalize into an Agriscience complex.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Wilmington College announced on Thursday, Oct. 30, that it recently purchased the shuttered BrightFarms facility, located at 780 Davids Drive, that borders the colleges 267-acre Academic Farm.

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The college plans to revitalize the 120,000 square-foot hydroponic greenhouse and the adjacent 20 acres into the Wilmington College Agriscience Complex.

The former commercial greenhouse, originally used as a facility for growing salad greens, herbs, and tomatoes year-round for regional distribution, will be turned into a living-learning laboratory.

The greenhouse will integrate crop science, animal science, agribusiness, and food systems under one roof, according to the college.

The facility will also include classrooms, laboratory renovations, and upgraded greenhouse infrastructure to support advanced agricultural research, sustainability initiatives, and workforce training.

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The greenhouse features existing offices, restrooms, a paved driveway and parking lot, commercial-grade utilities, ADA accessibility, and other professional spaces that can be readily repurposed into classrooms and labs.

The college also plans to renovate a portion of the greenhouse into a livestock handling facility to support training in animal nutrition, reproduction, and pre-veterinary science.

A 120 x 240 livestock and equine show arena will also be constructed on the property in the construction-ready, excavated, and prepared land originally intended for future facility expansion.

The arena is anticipated to have seating for up to 1,000 and will be capable of hosting statewide livestock and equestrian competitions, FFA and 4-H events, and applied learning workshops.

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The arena will allow the WC Aggies student organization to once again host its annual high school judging competition (livestock, equine, poultry, and agronomy) in Wilmington.

The nearly seven-decade-long tradition has attracted more than 1,500 competitors in recent years, outgrowing local facilities and relocating to Clark County.

The facility will serve as a hub for hands-on learning, applied research, and community engagement, Wilmington College President Corey Cockerill said. A place where students train across livestock production, pre-veterinary science, meat science, agribusiness, and food systems, while also advancing solutions in sustainability and food security.

Cockerill called the Agriscience Complex a game-changer and said that it represents one of the boldest moves in the nearly 80-year history of WCs agriculture program.

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The agriculture program makes up the largest academic area at Wilmington College, and accounts for a third of the institutions main campus student enrollment. This fall, the major welcomed its largest incoming classes ever, according to the college.

The Agriscience Complex will play a key role in training for agricultural careers in Ohio $124 billion agriculture industry, according to Cockerill.

Cockerill also added that Ohios agriculture industry is at a critical crossroads.

Rising food insecurity, rapid technological change, and the generational transfer of knowledge as farmers retire have created an urgent demand for a workforce prepared to meet todays  and tomorrows  agricultural challenges.

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The Executive Director of the Clinton County Port Authority, T. Alex Beres, said the colleges purchase and redevelopment of the BrightFarms property represents the kind of strategic investment that drives sustainable economic growth in the county.

By reimagining the recently vacated greenhouse into a state-of-the-art agricultural center, the College is creating a vital community asset that enhances the diversity of our economic base, Beres said.

Beres added that the Port Authority has maintained active communication with the facilitys prior ownership and other entities, and managed existing economic development agreements to ensure the transfer and redevelopment could happen quickly and seamlessly.

The timing of the propertys availability lined up with the Colleges plan to grow its agriculture program. The college had already been raising funds for a proposed agriculture pavilion adjacent to its Equine Center on Fife Ave.

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College officials said the proposed pavilion project evolved into what they realized could be accomplished for less money at the former BrightFarms property.

The college continues to raise funds to go toward the Wilmington College Agriscience Complex, though renovations will begin right away to ensure students can start using the facility as early as Fall 2026.

We still need financial support to develop and expand the property for a truly integrated agricultural complex, Cockerill said.

The college also expects the Agriscience Complex to greatly boost student recruitment and enrollment.

Adam Lohrey, vice president for enrollment management and marketing, said that the new facilities will allow the College to continue accelerated growth in enrollment by providing an industry-leading learning environment.

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Our reputation in the agriculture industry is grounded in the preparation of students through experiential learning, Lohrey said. The complex will empower faculty to prepare students for impact on the agriculture industry. It demonstrates our commitment to many future generations of highly educated agriculture leaders.

The planned renovations come at a time of increased interest and institutional growth in the agriculture program, according to Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, J. Wynn Alexander.

Alexander also said that growth in agricultural careers and the importance of agricultural education are at an all-time high.

The number of ag students has literally outgrown our classrooms, faculty resources, and laboratory spaces for the institution to maintain the applied nature, which is one of the hallmarks of a Wilmington College education, Alexander said. This acquisition will not only serve our existing students but will also allow us to grow to expand our agricultural outreach, broaden our educational portfolio of programs, and provide workforce development opportunities that will serve the agricultural needs of the future. This is the right purchase, at the right time, for the right reasons.

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Building the Agriscience Complex is informed by the Colleges strategic plan, In Common Cause, which features seven pillars for guiding the institution from 2024 through 2027.

One pillar specifies elevating agriculture to advance signature curricular and co-curricular opportunities locally, regionally, and on a global scope.

Dr. Chad McKay, associate professor, area coordinator for agriculture, and Endowed Chair of Agribusiness and Leadership, said that the purchase of BrightFarms will work well with the Colleges introduction of a Master of Science in Agriculture degree program starting next fall.

Its an era where innovation meets hands-on learning in the pursuit of a more sustainable future, McKay said. It reflects our commitment to preparing students not just to work in agriculture, but to shape its future, no matter if you were born and raised on a farm or if your first experience with agriculture is our courses. There is something for everyone interested in agriculture at Wilmington College.

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McKay, a WC alumnus, noted the many milestones the agriculture program has met since its founding in 1947, growing from the original animal science curriculum to six academic concentrations, to the largest major at the College.

The building of the Wilmington College Agriscience Complex is a testament to how far our agricultural roots have grown while still staying true to hands-on learning and community values, McKay said. Its inspiring to see the next generation of WC students gaining opportunities that will keep our legacy thriving and our future bright.

Rendering of proposed Livestock Pavilion.

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(The Center Square) - As President Trump approaches the one year mark in office, apprehensions at the southern border have dropped significantly. States along the southern border, including Texas, Arizona and California have seen significant reductions.

In 2025 so far, Customs and Border Protection has reported 443,671 land border encounters compared to more than two million encounters each year in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

In Arizona, state and local leaders have called on the federal government to enforce illegal immigration more strictly for years.

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In 1994, Arizona was one of several states that sued the federal government over costs related to illegal immigration. The state argued the federal government failed to control illegal immigration, which led to state expenses for public education for undocumented children, incarceration costs and medical care. The lawsuit was later rejected by a circuit court.

However, several years later, Arizona legislators pushed Congress to develop an additional legal immigration pathway in the state.

In 2007, the Arizona House of Representatives called on the United States Congress to develop market-based visa programs for essential workers.

Immigration advocates who push for market-based solutions are typically looking to avoid annual caps placed on visa programs by Congress and give certain areas more visa availability than others.

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One year later, representatives in Arizona pushed for a guest worker program in the state that would allow employers to recruit and hire Mexican workers. The program was never implemented.

Even as some legislators pursued legal immigration pathways, in 2010, the state passed a law designed to crack down on illegal immigration by expanding the power of state and local law enforcement.

The law required state and local police to verify immigration status during routine stops or arrests if they had reasonable suspicion of a persons unlawful presence in the country.

The law also made it a state crime for undocumented immigrants to apply for or hold jobs, and prohibited local governments from creating sanctuary policies. Additionally, the law required immigrants to carry federal registration papers with them.

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The law gave state and local officers power to arrest, without a warrant, anyone believed to have committed an offense that would make them deportable.

The provisions of this act are intended to work together to discourage and deter the unlawful entry and presence of aliens and economic activity by persons unlawfully present, the law reads

The law was quickly challenged and heard in the U.S. Supreme Court. The nations high court struck down three provisions of the Arizona law in a 5-3 decision.

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Arizonas provision to prevent undocumented immigrants from obtaining jobs and it struck down the provision requiring immigrants to keep documentation on hand. The high court also struck down the provision in the law that allowed local law enforcement to arrest someone without a warrant.

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It is fundamental that foreign countries concerned about the status, safety, and security of their nationals in the United States must be able to confer and communicate on this subject with one national sovereign, not 50 separate states, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the courts majority opinion.

Since this landmark case, state-based immigration proposals in Arizona have been few and far between. However, immigration advocacy groups throughout the state now provide legal, financial and educational services to immigrants throughout Arizona.

Arizona Justice for our Neighbors, an advocacy group founded in 2018, partners with the mayor of Tucson, local churches and volunteers to offer free or low-cost legal services for immigrants.

We ensure that the people we serve are treated with dignity and respect, the website reads. Our advocacy work includes education, training, and technical assistance in the efforts to dismantle oppression by restoring belonging and justice within the immigration justice system.

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In 2022, Arizona voters passed a resolution allowing undocumented immigrants in-state tuition for colleges and universities throughout the state.

Earlier this year, U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., proposed increasing legal pathway options and allowing providing a pathway to citizenship for dreamers and long-term undocumented residents.

We dont have to choose between border security and immigration reform. We can and should do both. Americans deserve the right to feel safe and know their border is secure, but for decades, Congress has tried and failed to take action because politics got in the way. Its time to push forward and enact a plan that works, Gallego said.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  As the federal government shutdown continues, local organizations across Arkansas are stepping up to help families struggling to make ends meet.

Volunteers with the Arkansas Foodbank spent Saturday loading cars with boxes of food  as part of an effort to support federal and state employees missing paychecks.

Kate Jenkins with the Arkansas Foodbank said the demand for help has grown since the shutdown began.

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We have seen already a 10- to 20% increase in visitors to some of our pantries. And there are a lot of first-time visitors that are coming out as well, Jenkins said.

Arkansas Department of Education, Agriculture launches school food pantry toolkit

There is uncertainty surrounding the continuation of SNAP benefits, many Arkansans who rely on federal food assistance are now facing even more anxiety.

At the Arkansas Food Bank, we already serve 280,000 Arkansans a year, Jenkins said. With the federal government shutdown, weve added between 15,000 to 20,000 Arkansans without a paycheck.

To help bridge the gap, Saint Mark Baptist Church partnered with the Arkansas Food Bank to distribute 200 boxes of food, along with potatoes, water, and Kroger gift cards.

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We know that one in four Arkansas kids faces food insecurity, Jenkins said. SNAP is a really vital resource for those families to help those kids succeed in school and succeed in life long-term.

Arkansas Foodbank hosts food distributions for government employees

The Arkansas Food Bank says it will continue to host distribution events as long as the shutdown continues, hoping to provide stability for families facing financial uncertainty.

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Tweaking supply chains of solar cells to escape the US tariffs is not an effective strategy because of constraints posed on the cost-effectiveness front, according to Chetan Shah, Chairman and Managing Director of Solex Energy Limited. Shah stated that India has the scale, cost advantage, and ecosystem needed to emerge as a global solar manufacturing hub. "That's not a sustainable way, just a temporary thing because establishing unit outside India and making it cost effective, that's something which is a big challenge. Middle East, Qatar and Turkey those countries. I think India is India. The kind of cost that we can bring, the kind of the scale that we can bring. You can see like in 2019, the Indian capacity, the model manufacturing capacity was six gigawatt. Just with a line of the ALMM scheme, in just three years, the capacity has increased to 120 gigawatt." Solex Energy CMD said reacting to the solar company's move to recalibrate supply chains for maintaining access to US markets. Talking about the trade diversification efforts of the solar firms, Shah said, "Changing global equations have opened new opportunities for India and Europe to collaborate. "As an Indian, we see a lot of opportunity. We were inventors in the past, we lost it, and now it is time to regain it again." The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ISC Konstanz, Germany, for advanced R&D and technological collaboration in solar cell manufacturing. Shah emphasized that future success for Indian manufacturers will depend on striking the right balance between innovation and affordability. Commenting on US tariffs, Shah said they are "temporary," explaining that "US has no choice... they don't have any manufacturing." He noted that India stands to benefit from the current geopolitical environment as "people are having a habit of cost-effective or low-cost products which came from China and India." Just a decade ago, India's solar landscape was in its infancy, with panels dotting only a few rooftops and deserts. Today, the nation has raced ahead to script history: India has officially surpassed Japan to become the world's third-largest solar power producer. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), India generated an impressive 1,08,494 GWh of solar energy, leaving Japan behind at 96,459 GWh. India's cumulative solar power capacity stood at 119.02 GW as of July 2025. This includes 90.99 GW from ground-mounted solar plants, 19.88 GW from grid-connected rooftop systems, 3.06 GW from hybrid projects, and 5.09 GW from off-grid solar installations, reflecting the country's diverse approach to expanding renewable energy.[3] As part of the pledge made at COP26, efforts are being directed towards reaching the target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel electricity capacity by 2030. This commitment is seen as a key step in India's clean energy transition and its broader climate goals. (ANI)
Local TSA workers impacted by the government shutdown are getting help with putting food on their tables.

On Saturday, the Atlanta Community Food Bank hosted a food distribution at its headquarters in East Point.

Volunteers gave out boxes of food that included bread, produce, chicken, and other items.

The goal is to help TSA workers whose paychecks are on hold until the shutdown ends.

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Theyre responsible for keeping us safe at the airport when were traveling, and this is the least we can do to help them get the help they need when dealing with this unexpected disruption in their lives, Kyle Waide, the president and CEO of Atlanta Community Food Bank said.

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Waide said because of the demand across north Georgia, they had to pull $5 million out of reserves to make sure they have enough food supply to go around.

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When the Paramount Theatre learned a few months ago that the city of Aurora was planning to give the organization less funding than expected next year because of a projected budget deficit, theater officials announced they were cutting the BOLD Series of shows at the Copley Theatre.

At the time, those officials said that the citys previously-communicated financial support of $7 million could be reduced by up to 65%. They warned that, if city funding for the organization did come in far under the $7 million mark, it would mean additional cuts.

But Auroras recently-proposed 2026 budget, which includes significant funding and staffing cuts for city departments, doesnt just have a reduction in that previously-discussed funding for the Paramount. City and theater officials say it includes none of those funds at all.

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I was surprised, Aurora Civic Center Authority President and CEO Tim Rater said. Im still hopeful that theyre going to find the funds as they continue. Ive been told this is not a final draft. But its concerning.

The Aurora Civic Center Authority  which owns the Paramount Theatre, the Copley Theatre, Paramount School of the Arts and North Island Center plus manages the city-owned RiverEdge Park and Stolp Island Theatre  regularly receives money from the city both though its contract to run RiverEdge Park and through a head tax paid by the Hollywood Casino in Aurora. Those payments are included in the citys proposed 2026 budget.

Under former Mayor Richard Irvin, Aurora told the Civic Center Authority it would be receiving an additional $7 million next year to help close a gap the organization had in its budget, Rater previously said. Previous reporting shows that money was to be part of a three-part plan to make the Aurora Civic Center Authority financial sustainable.

But current Mayor John Laesch hit the brakes on another piece of that plan, a proposed 4,000-seat theater and event space called the City of Lights Center that hed been critical of, almost immediately after being elected in April. He later said at a community meeting that, while the Paramount is vital to downtown, the city had been giving the Aurora Civic Center Authority way too much.

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Laesch has long spoken about the Aurora Civic Center Authority needing to find a way to become financially stable, including during his time as an alderman at-large on the Aurora City Council. As mayor, hes also made suggestions about ways he thinks that could happen, and he recently said it doesnt appear that steps are being taken to right the ship.

He also previously told The Beacon-News that he didnt want a steep decline in funding for the Civic Center Authority, but that the math was going to drive what they ended up getting.

Aurora officials have been saying for months that the citys 2026 budget is facing a significant deficit. The projected difference between revenue and expenses was said to be roughly $30 million earlier in the budget process, and the proposed budget released in October shows a $2.5 million deficit alongside millions of dollars in funding cuts and nearly 140 less positions.

Laesch told reporters at a meeting in mid-October about the proposed 2026 budget that his administration had not budgeted any lump sum payments to the Aurora Civic Center Authority, and neither had the previous administration. Under Irvin, the city did give the Civic Center Authority some of its federal pandemic-era relief funds and also bought a downtown parking garage from the organization for $10 million, a sale which Laesch said at the October meeting was creative maneuvering.

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Earlier in the same week that Aurora released its proposed 2026 budget, two actors from the Paramount Theatre spoke at a City Council meeting urging the city to financially invest in the Aurora Civic Center Authority. Both stressed the economic impact of the arts and the way the downtown has improved over the years since the Paramount has been in operation.

There is a direct parallel between the ascendancy of the Paramount, in my opinion, and the ascendancy of the downtown district, Andrea Prestinario, who has been involved with the theater since the start of the Broadway Series and recently starred in the theaters production of Come From Away, said at the City Council meeting on Oct. 14.

When later asked about the citys decision to not budget any of the previously-discussed amount for the Civic Center Authority, Laesch told The Beacon-News that we all want to make sure that the Paramount stays open, but theres going to be a lot of pain felt around the city and around the downtown.

Its not great, and theres just no money, he said. Without a massive tax increase, theres no way to address this.

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The city made cuts in its own budget but had to stop cutting to not make it more difficult for public safety and other staff to do their jobs, Laesch said.

The city is having ongoing negotiations with the Aurora Civic Center Authority, according to Laesch. He said the city asked the Civic Center Authority to break out its financials to see where it needs help, but they havent got back to us.

Rater, however, said he feels that the organization he leads has been doing all it can. The Civic Center Authority was working to reduce the deficit in its 2026 budget down from the roughly $7 million it was at previously to match what Laeschs administration had been telling him would be in the citys budget, he said.

The Aurora Civic Center Authority has already cut over 20% of its full-time staff as well as some part-time staff, has not been filling open positions and, as previously announced, eliminated the BOLD Series, according to Rater.

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When asked what further cuts would be needed if the Aurora City Council approves the currently-proposed 2026 city budget, he said that was being looked into. It would likely mean that the Civic Center Authority would need to take a good look at our school and would be unable to operate RiverEdge Park, he said.

Although the Civic Center Authority has a contract with the city to run the park, Rater said that contract doesnt cover the cost of staffs time spent working on it. Staff spends a tremendous amount of time on RiverEdge, he said, and that would need to be refocused as the organization would need to make further staffing cuts.

Wed just have to shrink everything down, Rater said. We wouldnt have the manpower to do it.

In a letter to the city of Aurora dated Sept. 2, the Civic Center Authority said it had originally developed its 2026 budget at the direction of the previous administration with a goal of providing over 1,000 performances each year. That draft budget had a deficit of $7.7 million, according to the letter.

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At the time, the Authority had reduced that deficit down to $5.6 million by cutting the BOLD Series and reducing staffing by around 20%, according to the letter. So, it asked for the city to cover that amount to make necessary adjustments without further dramatic changes to our programming, preserving the communitys access to the quality and variety of performances and events that Aurora has come to expect.

The letter also highlighted efforts by the Aurora Civic Center Authority to boost revenue, including by increasing ticket prices, putting in place dynamic pricing and working to increase contributions. A recent study showed that the organization has the ability to raise $25 million over the next five years, the letter said, but that reliable city support will be essential to creating the confidence and conditions needed for a successful campaign and to ensure that these ambitious goals can be realized.

The Authority understands the city is facing broad financial constraints in 2026, which is why it worked to reduce its deficit, Chairman of the Board Jonathan Hylton wrote in the letter. The organization also recognizes the citys need to manage its resources responsibility over the long term, so it suggested the city could reduce its support by 10% in each of the following three years.

Through monthly meetings with Aurora officials, Rater said, he came to understand that the citys 2026 budget would include $2.5 million in support of the Civic Center Authority. He called that number a worst case scenario, but he said the Authority has been making further cuts to meet the city there.

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The $2.5 million in funding is also what Laesch previously told The Beacon-News could be in the 2026 city budget for the Civic Center Authority, although he said it could be lower further along in the budgeting process.

After recent work, the Authority now has a $3.3 million deficit in its 2026 budget, Rater said. As the organization looks to the future, he said, it is also reevaluating the prices of everything  tickets, concessions, merchandise, classes, weddings and venues  with some of those changes having already gone into effect.

Despite the citys proposed 2026 budget not including any funding to cover the Civic Center Authoritys deficit, Rater said hes hopeful that Aurora aldermen and the mayors office will find a way to prioritize funding for the Authority.

We worked really hard to meet them there. I understand its a tremendous amount of money, he said. Ultimately, its going to come down to prioritizing funds, and what is most important, and the value they place on what we are currently doing.

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Auroras proposed 2026 budget is now being discussed at a series of meetings by the City Councils Finance Committee. After those meetings, which will continue through November, the 2026 budget will go before the City Council for final approval in early December.

Like Rater, actor Prestinario is remaining hopeful that the city will do the right thing since the budget isnt yet a done deal, she told The Beacon-News on Thursday. But, it is astounding to her that the citys gone in the opposite direction, she said.

Prestinario understands where the money is coming from and that it would be different from whats been done in previous years, but she said it was a direct investment when putting money into something like the Aurora Civic Center Authority.

I dont know why they think that cutting out support for the one thing that has transformed the downtown district is the way to go, she said. Thats really just profoundly disappointing.

rsmith@chicagotribune.com




For 60 years, Texas has been home to one of the largest and most beloved holiday light displays in the country, a dazzling tradition that features more than 2 million lights to help residents and visitors alike ring in the most wonderful time of the year.

The Austin Trail of Lights has been named among the best holiday light shows in the country by U.S. News & World Support, with the annual display heralded for the glitz and glamour it brings to Zilker Park just south of downtown. While it's now nationally renowned, the holiday display has grown substantially since its origins back in 1965.

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Founded as a small gathering 60 years ago, the Austin Trail of Lights was initially referred to as the Yule Fest, a holiday celebration held by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department in benefit to the city. The centerpiece of the festival is the beloved Zilker Holiday Tree, constructed with lights mounted to one of the Texas capital city's iconic and rare moontowers - an approximately 155-foot-tall structure with more than 3,300 lights attached.

The Zilker Holiday Tree, constructed using Austin's iconic moontowers. (Courtesy City of Austin, Austin History Center)





The Zilker Holiday Tree, constructed using Austin's iconic moontowers. (Courtesy City of Austin, Austin History Center)





Growing from its humble beginnings, the Austin Trail of Lights now includes more than two million lights decorated throughout the park, 90 lit holiday trees and more than 70 additional holiday displays and festive tunnels, with the Zilker Holiday Tree still serving as the crown jewel. The event has remained Austin's longest-running holiday tradition, according to festival organizers, with Visit Austin estimating more than 300,000 people attend the Austin Trail of Lights each season.

Attractions are seen at the Austin Trail of Lights festival at Zilker Metropolitan Park on December 14, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)





Following that inaugural celebration in 1965, the tradition is poised to kick off its festivities with a preview party on December 5 and its annual fun run on December 6, before an official grand opening on December 10. From there, the Trail of Lights display will remain open to the public through its closing night on December 23.

Find it: 2100 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78746

This article originally published at Austin Trail of Lights' 2M+ holiday lights display celebrates 60 years.
Authorities are investigating a reported shooting in Dayton on Sunday afternoon.

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The shooting was reported in the 4000 block of Kammer Avenue around 2:15 p.m., a Montgomery County dispatch supervisor confirmed.

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News Center 7 crews are heading to the scene to learn more information.

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Two people were caught in Kenya with about $7,500 worth of elephant tusks in their possession.

What's happening?

According to Capital News, the National Police Service and Kenya Wildlife Service worked together on the arrests in early October. The two alleged smugglers were discovered in Maralal Town, Samburu County. They concealed seven pieces of elephant tusks that weighed nearly 25 pounds total.

"The duo are in police custody pending arraignment in court," according to the NPS.

Why is this arrest important?

The illegal ivory trade is massive, with most ivory coming from Africa. The black market plagues communities, threatening people's safety. Ivory smugglers undermine government authorities and laws, destabilizing already fragile systems. These criminal networks often trade other illegal items too, such as drugs and guns.

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According to the International Elephant Foundation, more than 1,500 wildlife rangers died protecting elephants from 2006 to 2021. Many were murdered by ruthless poachers. The market makes African communities more dangerous for humans and wildlife.

Elephants are a keystone species that support entire food chains. They act as a food source for carnivorous predators, clear brush to create habitats, and dig watering holes that sustain countless creatures.

"Africa's elephants play key roles in ecosystems, economies, and in our collective imagination all over the world," IUCN Director General Bruno Oberle said. "Today's new IUCN Red List assessments of both African elephant species underline the persistent pressures faced by these iconic animals."

On the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List, the African savanna elephant is listed as endangered, and the African forest elephant is critically endangered. Habitat destruction and limited resources play a role, but the rampant and ruthless poaching of elephants is the main factor.

What's being done to stop the ivory market?

Officials around the world are dedicated to extinguishing the ivory trade.

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The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora imposed a worldwide ban on ivory trading in 1989. Organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund focus on stopping consumers from seeking and purchasing ivory. And wildlife rangers defend the animals with their lives.

Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

In a statement on the arrests, the NPS said that it "appreciates the continued close collaboration and cooperation of other government institutions in maintaining law and order," per CN.

People can help by, first and foremost, never purchasing ivory products as well as educating themselves and others on the illegal trade and reporting suspicious activity. Many groups sell ivory on eBay under "bovine bone," per the BBC. Reporting this kind of activity can shrink the market until elephants can roam safely again.

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Officials in Hyderabad, India, have caught the culprits responsible for a trafficking operation involving pangolin scales.

What's happening?

Pangolins are like small anteaters covered in scales. They eat mostly insects such as ants or termites, and they can roll up into a ball for defense. They are the most trafficked animal in the world, according to the WWF. The eight species of pangolin are all under threat, with their status ranging from vulnerable to critically endangered.

As News Meter reported, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in Hyderabad, the capital of southern India's Telangana state, confiscated 6.5 kilograms (about 14.3 pounds) of pangolin scales and arrested four individuals involved in the scale trade after a day-long operation.

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The scales were taken from five pangolins. According to News Meter, these scales are popular in China and throughout Southeast Asia, where people use them for medicinal purposes.

However, there is a global ban on trading pangolin scales. All eight species of pangolin are included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

The Indian government has also protected the Indian pangolin through the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.

Why is animal conservation important?

In many cases, government bans on certain activities are put in place to protect the environment of its inhabitants. For example, illegal mining activities can disrupt the ecosystems around the sites through pollution.

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Trafficking animals illegally can disrupt ecosystems by removing key players or introducing invasive species that disrupt the food chain. Invasive species are unknown to typical predators of the region, so they can outcompete other creatures in the area for food and resources with cascading effects.

In the case of the pangolin, the loss of this species can have reverberating impacts on communities. Pangolins play a key role in managing the population of insects, and they also help with soil health as they turn up the earth in search of insects.

Animal conservation efforts are also important to preserving biodiversity. A healthy variety of species is important to avoid the consequences of ecosystems losing key members.

What's being done about pangolin conservation?

In addition to the legal protections given to pangolins in international trade, there are many nonprofit organizations putting in the work to keep these animals from going extinct.

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Save Pangolins is raising awareness of these creatures, training rangers, and running sanctuaries and recovery centers.

The Pangolin Crisis Fund is combating trafficking, educating the public, and planning conservation efforts.

It's important to take action to protect endangered species before it is too late.

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On hot summer days, people may often go for a swim in a beautiful lake or river to cool off from the heat. And while heat isn't always a good friend to the body, another danger might be also lurking in the warm summer waters, making some lakes dangerous to swimmers. Naegleria fowleri is a brain-eating amoeba that thrives in soil and freshwater, and typically enters the body through the nose and travels to the brain, where it can cause a deadly infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). This infection damages brain tissue, and may ultimately prove fatal. As a result, medical experts advise against exposing your nose when swimming in freshwater.

Fortunately, PAM is a very rare infection, with less than 10 cases each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, survival rates among infected individuals are low, and death may occur within five days after the start of symptoms. Explore spoke exclusively with the Chief Medical Officer of One Oak Medical Group, Dr. Jason Singh, who confirmed the rarity and deadliness of this amoeba.

"I think it's important to know that Naegleria fowleri is [an] extremely rare (3-8 US cases annually) but almost always fatal brain infection when forced water entry through the nose allows it to migrate along nerves directly into brain tissue," he explains. "The death comes from hemorrhagic necrosis which is the body's inflammatory response to it." Dr. Singh also underscores that keeping water out of your nose is the key to avoiding the infection. "The prevention should focus entirely on avoiding nasal water exposure," he advises.

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Read more: The Lake That Many Call The Most Dangerous In America

Saving yourself from the brain-eating Naegleria

man covering his nose with his hand in the pool - Koldunova_anna/Getty Images

Keeping the water out of your nose remains the major preventive move against Naegleria fowleri. But as Dr. Jason Singh explains, that's the only way it can enter your system. "One thing to note is that they cannot infect through drinking, skin contact, or vapor inhalation," he notes.

It's recommended to wear nose clips or hold your nose if you're going into a lake or hot spring. It's also helpful to keep your head above water as much as possible, and avoid stirring up the water, because the organism also lives in soil sediment. As for people who might want to flush their sinuses, it's also essential to avoid using untreated tap water for your nasal irrigation. You should only use distilled or sterile water, though boiling your water and using it after it cools may also work.

However, despite the fact that those who contract this infection often succumb to it, early treatment might still give them a fighting chance. As Dr Jason Singh reveals, "Early recognition is critical as symptoms (severe headache, high fever, altered smell/taste) begin 1-9 days post-exposure, and while treatment rarely succeeds, early intervention with amphotericin B has saved a few patients."

More ways to stay cautious during your freshwater adventures

A person's gloved hand holds a beaker containing liquid above a watery surface - Melnikov Dmitriy/Shutterstock

Before you dive into a lake, experts suggest that you should assume that the water contains the brain-eating amoeba. If the weather has been hot, or the water level is low, it might be safer to engage in alternative water activities, such as kayaking or boating. If you do go into the water, avoid diving or jumping; otherwise, you should just stick to chlorinated pools.

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As a general precaution for swimming in freshwater, it may help to avoid touching your nose after swimming until you've thoroughly washed your hands with soap or an alcohol-based hand rub. Make sure any kids who have been swimming do the same, since it's been discovered that most infection cases have occurred among children and especially young boys. "Keep in mind again that the statistical risk remains extraordinarily low for recreational water users who take basic nasal protection precautions, though children and young adults should be especially careful as they represent most cases due to their water activity patterns," Dr. Jason Singh tells Explore.

It's worth noting that most casess of this infection are found in the southern U.S., although it's also been found across Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota, among other states. It is believed that climate change could be playing a role, as warmer water conditions create more growth opportunities for this brain-ravaging amoeba. This is more reason why everyone needs to stay informed, no matter where you live in the United States.

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NEED TO KNOW

Between 1918 and 1919, an unknown assailant dubbed the Axeman terrorized the city of New Orleans

At least five murders and over a dozen attacks can be attributed to the Axeman, who earned the name from using axes as their murder weapon

Though many people were suspected, all were eventually cleared, and the Axeman was never caught

It's been over a century since the Axeman brutally murdered at least five people and attacked over a dozen others in New Orleans. But other than an alleged love for jazz music, the identity of The Big Easy's most infamous criminal remains unknown.

From May 1918 to October 1919, an unknown serial killer broke into homes across the city and attacked victims in their sleep, often with their own axes. Because they rarely took valuables, police couldn't find a clear motive for the murders.

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Fear ran through the city as the attacks continued, reaching a height on March 19, 1919, after the Times-Picayune published a letter days earlier allegedly from the Axeman. In it, the killer threatened to attack again on March 19 "at 12:15 oclock (earthly time)" but promised not to enter any homes playing jazz.

"If everyone has a jazz band going, well, then, so much the better for the people," the Axeman allegedly wrote, per Country Roads Magazine. "One thing is certain and that is some of those persons who do not jazz it out on that specific Tuesday night (if there be any) will get the axe."

Here's everything to know about the Axeman of New Orleans and why they were never caught.



Who was the Axeman of New Orleans?

HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Canal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, circa 1918-1919. Canal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, circa 1918-1919.

The Axeman of New Orleans was a serial killer who was active between the years of 1918 and 1919. Police believe the unidentified murderer was responsible for at least five murders and up to 17 attacks.

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Described by survivors as a White, working-class male in his 30s, the serial killer gained entry into their homes by removing a small door panel. According to Smithsonian, the Axeman used a railroad shoe pin, which led police to believe the murderer was an experienced burglar.

Though many attributed the March 1919 letter to the serial killer, Miriam Davis, historian and author of the 2017 book The Axeman of New Orleans: The True Story, argued otherwise.

When you read the letter, this is a person whos an educated person  he has a classical allusion to Tartarus," she told Country Roads Magazine in September 2022. "And the person who is the Axeman, from the description weve got of him, hes a working man ... I just dont think a working class person at that time would have been educated enough to write that letter.

Davis believed that local jazz musician Joseph John Davilla was the more likely culprit behind the note. The day the Times-Picayune published the letter  which prompted the entire city of New Orleans to blast jazz music throughout the night  he wrote "The Axman's Jazz (Don't Scare Me)," which has long been associated with the killer's spree.

How many people did the Axeman kill?

The Mysterious Axeman's Jazz sheet music cover by, Joseph John Davilla

The Axeman was responsible for killing at least five people  Italian grocer Joseph Maggio and his wife Catherine, barber Joe Romano, grocer Mike Pepitone and 2-year-old Mary Cortimiglia  and attacking up to 17 others.

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In May 2018, the Maggios were killed while they were sleeping in their apartment. The killer slit Catherine's throat with a razor so severely that her head was nearly severed before striking them both with an axe, per the Times-Picayune.

Three months later, Romano was fatally beaten in the head with an axe, which was found bloodied by his bedside, per Country Roads Magazine.

In March 2019, a week before the letter was published, the Axeman attacked the Cortimiglia family, beating grocery owner Charlie and his wife Rosie with an axe. They survived, but their toddler daughter, Mary, was found dead.

Pepitone's attack in October 1919 marked the last of the alleged Axeman assaults. Like the other victims, Pepitone was found dead in his bedroom after being struck in the head.

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Because the majority of the victims were Italian and Sicilian grocers, Davis believed they could have been targeted for their success.

The author also argued that the Axeman's attacks may have started as early as 1910, as a spree of similar crimes during that period were attributed to an unknown killer called "The Cleaver."

Who was suspected of being the Axeman?

Though no one was suspected of all of the Axeman attacks and murders, several people were arrested  and almost convicted  of some of the individual attacks.



According to Country Roads Magazine, Joseph Maggio's brother, Andrew, was arrested as a primary suspect after police learned he was the one who discovered the bodies. But he was eventually released.

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In the Cortimiglia attack on March 8, 1919, police suspected rival grocers and neighbors of the family. Detectives even allegedly coerced Rosie into signing a document implicating Frank Jordano and his father, Iorlando Jordano.

They remained incarcerated for a year before Rosie confessed that she had wrongfully accused them and did not know the identity of her attacker.

But perhaps the most popular Axeman suspect was Joseph Manfre, who was also known by the names Mumfre or Monfre. He was a known criminal who had been arrested for attempting to bomb an Italian grocery store in 1907, per Country Roads Magazine. Pepitone's wife, Esther, claimed that Manfre admitted to killing her husband.

The widow shot and killed Manfre after she claimed he walked into her home and demanded cash or he would kill her like he "did [her] husband."



Why was the Axeman never caught?

P. L. Sperr/Hulton Archive/Getty A view of Royal Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, circa 1915. A view of Royal Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, circa 1915.

During the crime spree, police were allegedly reluctant to believe that the murders and attacks were related. Davis told the Chicago Review Press in March 2017 that at the time, people just "werent that familiar with the concept of a serial killer."

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"The idea of a murderer who acted without an obvious motive was counterintuitive," the author said. "Believing that the Jordanos attacked the Cortimiglias over a business dispute made more sense to people at the time and fit into their (to some extent deserved) stereotype of Italian vendettas."

Further, there were no reliable eyewitness accounts to point to and a lack of evidence at the crime scenes.

Read the original article on People
As federal funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits runs out during the ongoing government shutdown, one local bakery is stepping up to make sure no one in the community goes hungry.

Guglhupf Bakery, which has locations in Durham and Chapel Hill, is giving away free loaves of bread to anyone who shows their EBT card during business hours.

Owner Sean Scott, who recalls the importance of bread during his own modest upbringing, told ABC11 News, "That's kind of what we do."

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The funding shortfall, affecting 42 million low-income Americans -- including 16 million children -- has left many without access to SNAP benefits. While two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to continue funding SNAP, recipients remain uncertain about when their accounts will be replenished.

SNAP has traditionally been entirely federally funded, but is administered by states. This means the shutdown's impact on SNAP benefits will vary by state.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein recently announced $10 million in state funding for food banks, with an additional $8 million from private organizations and charities. NC, along with 24 other states, has also joined a lawsuit to partially fund SNAP.

SEE ALSO: As SNAP cuts loom, here are food assistance resources helping fight food insecurity

Scott said when he learned that funding to feed lower-income Americans was running out, he felt compelled to act.

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"We've been around for 26 years in Durham, so it's almost a responsibility, I feel like, as a local business owner," he said.

The bakery announced the offer on social media, which quickly went viral. Customers and supporters have rallied to help, with some sending donations via Venmo and others, like US Foods, providing flour.

On the program's first day, customers flocked to the bakery.

Tom Dekle, a customer, shared the news with his daughters, one of whom works in SNAP education programs. "They were ecstatic about it," he said, adding, "At the end of the day, the need's not going to go away."

Dekle said he hopes more local businesses follow Guglhupf's lead and that the community continues to support them in return.

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Scott plans to continue the program as long as there's a need, running it week by week.

You can visit either bakery during regular store hours. We've listed the hours and the addresses below.

SEE ALSO: How to talk to kids about food insecurity amid looming SNAP benefit cuts

Durham Bakery

2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707

Tues-Sat: 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sun: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Mon: Closed

Chapel Hill Bakery

1800 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Tues-Fri: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sat: 8 a.m - 5 p.m.

Sun: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Mon: Closed

Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App




India's coffee exports have continued their strong upward trajectory, maintaining their billion-dollar streak for the fourth consecutive financial year, according to the Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. During the financial year 2024-25, India's coffee exports reached USD 1.80 billion, marking a 40.2 per cent growth over the USD 1.28 billion achieved in FY 2023-24, the department said in a X post, attached with it an infographic. India's coffee exports have grown significantly due to increasing global demand for its rich and unique flavours, the Commerce Ministry said in a statement in early 2025. Approximately three-fourths of India's coffee production consists of Arabica and Robusta beans. These are primarily exported as unroasted beans. However, there is a growing demand for value-added products, such as roasted and instant coffee, which further fuels the export boom. India's coffee is primarily grown in the ecologically rich Western and Eastern Ghats, areas famous for their biodiversity. Karnataka leads in production, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu. India is now the seventh-largest coffee producer globally, with exports reaching $1.29 billion in FY 2023-24, almost double the $719.42 million in 2020-21, according to the Commerce Ministry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest monthly radio programme, 'Mann ki Baat', on Sunday, among other things, featured discussions about the increasing popularity of Indian coffee among global beverage lovers and how people in India are taking up coffee plantations as a means of livelihood. Joining the thread from where he had left off last year, discussing Araku coffee from Andhra Pradesh in a similar monthly Mann ki Baat episode, PM Modi today commended the Koraput coffee of Odisha. Indian coffee is becoming very popular all over the world, the prime minister said, listing out several places in India where coffee plantations are in abundance. "Be it Chikmagalur, Coorg and Hassan in Karnataka; the areas of Pulney, Shevaroy, Nilgiri and Annamalai in Tamil Nadu; the Biligiri region on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border; or the areas of Wayanad, Travancore and Malabar in Kerala - the diversity of Indian coffee is truly remarkable," the prime minister had said. The Prime Minister said the mentions of coffee in Mann ki Baat stemmed from many people from Odisha sharing their feelings with him about Koraput coffee. "They wrote to me saying that Koraput coffee should also be discussed in 'Mann Ki Baat'."Prime Minister Modi said he was told that Koraput coffee tastes amazing, and not only that; besides the taste, coffee cultivation is also benefiting people." There are people in Koraput who are cultivating coffee through their sheer passion. They were doing well in the corporate world... but they loved coffee so much that they entered this field and are now successfully working in it. There are also many women whose lives have been pleasantly transformed by coffee," he said, lauding the people of Koraput. North-East states are also progressing in coffee cultivation, he further said. In summary, he concluded that these efforts are further strengthening Indian coffee's identity worldwide. "India's coffee is coffee at its finest. It is brewed in India and loved by the World," the prime minister said, in a way, phrasing what coffee lovers tend to say as they sip Indian coffee. Over the centuries, the cultivation of coffee in India has evolved from a humble practice to a thriving industry, with the country's coffee now widely loved across the globe. (ANI)
For three days in a row, Baku is hosting a series of art events that bring together art enthusiasts from around the world. The Baku ART Weekend festival officially opened on Friday for the first time, with a mission to celebrate creativity and cultural heritage.

Art Weekend in Baku - Azertag

The event in the Azerbaijani capital has gathered artists, cultural figures, and curators from several countries. Its aim is to create a platform where art can be experienced, shared, and remembered  open to audiences of all ages and welcoming to international guests.

Art Weekend in Baku - Azertag

Throughout the festival, exhibitions, meetings, and performances are taking place at various exhibition halls, museums, educational institutions, and historic and cultural sites across the city.

Art Weekend in Baku - Azertag

Through exhibitions, performances, concerts, and public art projects, ART Weekend invites people to imagine the future through creativity while embracing Azerbaijans cultural identity as a bridge between history and tomorrow.

Art Weekend in Baku - Azertag

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The festival opened with The Triumph of Form exhibition, featuring works by renowned Colombian artist and sculptor Fernando Botero, celebrated for his distinctive style, often referred to as Boterismo, which depicts figures and objects in exaggerated, rounded volumes.

Art Weekend in Baku - Azertag

In addition to Botero, the cultural program features internationally recognised artists such as Italian painter and sculptor Giuseppe Carta, contemporary Italian visual artist Giovanni Ozzola, and American-British visual artist and researcher Michael Takeo Magruder.

Art Weekend in Baku - Azertag

Until November 2, Baku hosts a constellation of exhibitions, performances, concerts, talks, workshops, and public art projects  with a total of 40 events planned as part of the festival. The ART Weekend is organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the IDEA Public Association, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan.

Art Weekend in Baku - Azertag

The initiator of the Art Weekend project, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of the IDEA Public Union, Leyla Aliyeva, as well as Arzu Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva, attended the event.
When it comes to Proposition 50, Marcia Owens is a bit fuzzy on the details.

She knows, vaguely, it has something to do with how California draws the boundaries for its 52 congressional districts, a convoluted and arcane process that's not exactly top of the mind for your average person. But Owens is abundantly clear when it comes to her intent in Tuesday's special election.

"I'm voting to take power out of Trump's hands and put it back in the hands of the people," said Owens, 48, a vocational nurse in Riverside. "He's making a lot of illogical decisions that are really wreaking havoc on our country. He's not putting our interests first, making sure that an individual has food on the table, they can pay their rent, pay electric bills, pay for healthcare."

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Peter Arensburger, a fellow Democrat who also lives in Riverside, was blunter still.

President Trump, said the 55-year-old college professor, "is trying to rule as a dictator" and Republicans are doing absolutely nothing to stop him.

So, Arensburger said, California voters will do it for them.

Or at least try.

"It's a false equivalency," he said, "to say that we need to do everything on an even keel in California, but Texas"  which redrew its political map to boost Republicans  "can do whatever they want."

Read more: Your guide to Proposition 50: California redistricting

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Proposition 50, which aims to deliver Democrats at least five more House seats in the 2026 midterm election, is either righteous payback or a grubby power grab.

A reasoned attempt to even things out in response to Texas' attempt to nab five more congressional seats. Or a ruthless gambit to drive the California GOP to near-extinction.

It all depends on your perspective.

Above all, Proposition 50 has become a political ink-blot test; what many California voters see depends on, politically, where they stand.

Mary Ann Rounsavall thinks the measure is "horrible," because that's how the Fontana retiree feels about its chief proponent, Gavin Newsom.

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"He's a jerk," the 75-year-old Republican fairly spat, as if the act of forming the governor's name left a bad taste in her mouth. "No one believes anything he says."

Timothy, a fellow Republican who withheld his last name to avoid online trolls, echoed the sentiment.

"It's just Gavin Newsom playing political games," said the 39-year-old warehouse manager, who commutes from West Covina to his job at a plumbing supplier in Ontario. "They always talk about Trump. 'Trump, Trump, Trump.' Get off of Trump. I've been hearing this crap ever since he started running."

Riverside and San Bernardino counties form the heart of the Inland Empire, east of Los Angeles. The next-door neighbors are politically purple: more Republican than the state as a whole, but not as conservative as California's more rural reaches. That means neither party has an upper hand, a parity reflected in dozens of interviews with voters across the sprawling region.

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On a recent smoggy morning, the hulking San Bernardino Mountains veiled by a gray-brown haze, Eric Lawson paused to offer his thoughts.

The 66-year-old independent has no use for politicians of any stripe. "They're all crooks," he said. "All of them."

Lawson called Proposition 50 a waste of time and money.

Gerrymandering  the dark art of drawing political lines to benefit one party over another  is, as he pointed out, hardly new. (In fact, the term is rooted in the name of Elbridge Gerry, one of the nation's founders.)

What has Lawson particularly steamed is the cost of "this stupid election," which is pushing $300 million.

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"We talk and talk and talk and we print money for all this talk," said Lawson, who lives in Ontario and consults in the auto industry. "But that money doesn't go where it's supposed to go."

Although sentiments were evenly split in those several dozen conversations, all indications suggest that Proposition 50 is headed toward passage Tuesday, possibly by a wide margin. After raising a tidal wave of cash, Newsom last week told small donors that's enough, thanks. The opposition has all but given up and resigned itself to defeat.

Read more: Voters in poll side with Newsom, Democrats on Prop. 50  a potential blow to Trump and GOP

It comes down to math. Proposition 50 has become a test of party muscle and a talisman of partisan faith and California has a lot more Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents than Republicans and GOP-leaning independents.

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Andrea Fisher, who opposes the initiative, is well aware of that fact. "I'm a conservative," she said, "in a state that's not very conservative."

She has come to accept that reality, but fears things will get worse if Democrats have their way and slash California's already-scanty Republican ranks on Capitol Hill. Among those targeted for ouster is Ken Calvert, a 16-term GOP incumbent who represents a good slice of Riverside County.

"I feel like it's going to eliminate my voice," said Fisher, 48, a food server at her daughter's school in Riverside. "If I'm 40% of the vote"  roughly the percentage Trump received statewide in 2024  "then we in that population should have fair representation. We're still their constituents." (In Riverside County, Trump edged Kamala Harris 49% to 48%.)

Amber Pelland says Proposition 50 will hurt voters by putting redistricting back into the hands of politicians. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Amber Pelland, 46, who works in the nonprofit field in Corona, feels by "sticking it to Trump"  a tagline in one of the TV ads supporting Proposition 50  voters will be sticking it to themselves. Passage would erase the political map drawn by an independent commission, which voters empowered in 2010 for the express purpose of wrestling redistricting away from self-dealing lawmakers in Washington and Sacramento.

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"I don't care if you hate the person or don't hate the person," said Pelland, a Republican who backs the president. "It's just going to hurt voters by taking the power away from the people."

Even some backers of Proposition 50 flinched at the notion of sidelining the redistricting commission and undoing its painstaking, nonpartisan work. What helps make it palatable, they said, is the requirement  written into the ballot measure  that congressional redistricting will revert to the commission after the 2030 census, when California's next set of congressional maps is due to be drafted.

Read more: Voter turnout exceeds expectations in California's Prop. 50 special election

"I'm glad that it's temporary because I don't think redistricting should be done in order to give one political party greater power over another," said Carole, a Riverside Democrat. "I think it's something that should be decided over a long period and not in a rush." (She also withheld her last name so her husband, who serves in the community, wouldn't be hassled for her opinion.)

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Texas, Carole suggested, has forced California to act because of its extreme action, redistricting at mid-decade at Trump's command. "It's important to think about the country as a whole," said the 51-year-old academic researcher, "and to respond to what's being done, especially with the pressure coming from the White House."

Felise Self-Visnic, a 71-year-old retired schoolteacher, agreed.

She was shopping at a Trader Joe's in Riverside in an orange ball cap that read "Human-Kind (Be Both)." Back home, in her garage-door window, is a poster that reads "No Kings."

She described Proposition 50 as a stopgap measure that will return power to the commission once the urgency of today's political upheaval has passed. But even if that wasn't the case, the Democrat said, she would still vote in favor.

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"Anything," Self-Visnic said, "to fight fascism, which is where we're heading."

Get the latest from Mark Z. Barabak

Focusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. Capitol.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN)  Authorities blocked sections of two streets and evacuated some residents in Lebanon Saturday evening amid a barricade situation.

The Lebanon Police Department posted about law enforcement activity on West Adams Street just after 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1. According to officials, the activity was isolated to a single home, where an individual barricaded himself inside following a domestic situation.

In a Monday social media post, Lebanon police said when officers arrived, they learned the incident was a continuation of a dispute from the night prior. During that incident, one of the residents allegedly aimed a shotgun at someone else in the home.

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Teen facing charges after 3 killed in October crash in Kentucky

Authorities said any residents who needed to be evacuated had already done so, but there was no threat to the public. Police said West Adams Street was shut down between South Cumberland Street and South Maple Street. In addition, South Maple Street was closed between Ligon Drive and Jennings Avenue.

Mondays update added that the suspect  identified as 60-year-old Jaye Carter of Lebanon  fled into his bedroom and locked himself inside while officers were investigating. Because he had several firearms in his bedroom, additional SWAT resources were requested.

Drugs, gun, cash recovered during arrest in South Nashville

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Just after 7:15 p.m., police updated their post, saying that Carter had been safely taken into custody and the affected streets and areas were being reopened.

According to Lebanon police, Carter was taken to an area hospital due to his level of intoxication before he was booked into the Wilson County Jail on an aggravated assault charge.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
The video is of what CENTCOM said was suspected Hamas operatives looting an aid truck traveling as part of a humanitarian convoy delivering needed assistance from international partners to Gazans."

Hamas condemned the US allegations of its operatives looting an aid truck in a video released by CENTCOM on behalf of the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) on Friday.

The video is of what CENTCOM said was suspected Hamas operatives looting an aid truck traveling as part of a humanitarian convoy delivering needed assistance from international partners to Gazans in northern Khan Yunis."

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"The claims are baseless and unfounded, the Palestinian terror group stated, and are nothing more than an attempt to justify the already limited reduction of humanitarian aid and cover up the "ongoing starvation in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas continued, claiming that the looters were sponsored by Israel, and that no organization operating in Gaza, or any of the Palestinian truck drivers transporting the aid, had filed a report on the incident, proving that the scene cited by US Central Command is fabricated.

We remind the US administration that there are other mediators who are far more credible and did not see any sort of looting, Hamas argued, slamming the US over deepening its immoral bias by spreading only Israels narrative.

'Confirming what everyone in Gaza already knows'

"This theft undermines international efforts in support of President Trumps 20 Point Plan to deliver critical assistance to innocent civilians," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. "Hamas is the impediment. They must lay down their arms and stop their looting so that Gaza can have a brighter future."

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"US Central Command is confirming what everyone in Gaza has known, but was denied for two years by international journalists, activists, politicians, NGOs, and supposed 'experts, '" Palestinian analyst Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib wrote. "Hamas has been systematically stealing, looting & siphoning aid meant for suffering Palestinians in the Gaza Strip."

"What makes the conclusion of the video 100% is the presence of a pick-up truck full of Hamas operatives, passing by the truck as the knocked-out driver is being thrown in the median divider of the road," Fouad explained. "These are the pick-up trucks that Hamas's 'police' and enforcers use to roam around Gaza, execute, murder, kidnap, torture, and disappear people."

Seth J. Frantzman contributed to this report.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A Baton Rouge Police Department officer was injured early Saturday morning after an 18-wheeler crashed into a patrol unit on I-12 near Millerville Road.

According to BRPD, the crash happened around 6:52 a.m. when the officer, who was parked on the shoulder of the interstate, was struck from behind by the truck. Police believe the driver of the 18-wheeler may have fallen asleep at the wheel before the collision.

The officer was taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries. BRPD said the officer was released from the hospital on Saturday but is still suffering from injuries.

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The investigation into the crash remains ongoing, and BRPD asked the community to keep the officer in their prayers.

Photo courtesy of the Baton Rouge Police Department.

Latest News

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.




Police arrested a driver on suspicion of DUI after a Friday night crash seriously injured a pedestrian in the North Bay.

Monte Parker, 57, was arrested after a collision with a pedestrian around 10:15 p.m. in the area near Sunset Avenue and East Travis Boulevard in Fairfield, police said. The pedestrian was taken to a local hospital with major injuries.

Police said they were still investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision Saturday.

This article originally published at Bay Area driver arrested on suspicion of DUI after crash seriously injures pedestrian.
WACO, Texas (FOX 44)  Downtown Waco was filled with cheers, music, and a sea of green and gold Saturday morning as Baylor University celebrated 116 years of Homecoming tradition with its annual parade.

The early morning event brought together students, alumni, and community members  all showing their Baylor spirit as the sun rose over downtown. The parade featured colorful floats, local nonprofits, high school bands, and enthusiastic supporters from across the country.

Among those celebrating was Baylor senior Julian Years, who traveled from California to attend the university. He said this years Homecoming parade marked a full-circle moment as he helped design and coordinate his organizations float.

Im actually the social chair for Baylor Cruz, so I was in charge of designing our float, Years said. Ive been looking forward to this day for a long time  planning the design, the costumes, everything. Im over the moon right now.

Years said seeing his finished float roll through downtown made all the effort worthwhile  a memory hell cherish long after graduation.

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The Baylor Homecoming Parade, known as one of the oldest collegiate homecoming traditions in the nation, continues to unite generations of Bears in celebration of school pride and community spirit.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken has stated that drones spotted over military bases last weekend were sent to spy on F-16 fighter jets and ammunition stockpiles.

Source: Politico citing Francken, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "They [the drones] come to spy, to see where the F-16s are, where the ammunition are, and other highly strategic information."

Details: The Belgian defence chief did not directly accuse Russia of orchestrating the drone incursions, but he implied there were few other plausible suspects.

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"The Russians are trying to do this in all European countries. Is it the Russians now? I can't say that, but the motives are clear and the ways of doing things like this are also very clear," he said.

Francken added that modern warfare is "truly a drone war, and the Defence Department really needs to prepare for that".

He is expected to present a 50 million national counter-drone strategy next week.

Background:

On 2 November, Belgium launched an investigation after new suspicious drones were observed over the Kleine-Brogel airbase in the east of the country.

A few days earlier, a separate investigation was initiated over sightings of several drones flying over a military base in southern Belgium. Unknown UAVs were spotted twice over a base in Wallonia, prompting additional concern.

Earlier this week, Francken told the Belgian news outlet HUMO that NATO would "wipe Moscow off the map" if the Kremlin ever attacked Brussels.

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Authorities in Bemidji are asking the public to help locate 18-year-old Andrew Nicolas Christianson, who is missing after leaving a Halloween party on Oct. 31.

According to police, Christianson "was visiting a [friend's] house in Bemidji and was heavily intoxicated and was last seen leaving the address on foot in an unknown direction."

The address he departed from was on the 500 block of Jefferson Avenue SW.

Bemidji Police Department

Christianson was wearing a red jersey, with a tan sweatshirt and jeans. He is described as being 5-foot-8 and approximately 115 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.

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Anyone with information about his whereabouts should call 911.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Nov 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A Syrian man suspected of planning a serious attack against the German state motivated by jihadist beliefs has been arrested, a spokesman for Berlin prosecutors said on Sunday.

Police seized equipment suitable for making a bomb during the operation, the spokesman added.

Police detained the 22-year-old man in the Neukolln district of the German capital on Saturday. He was brought before a magistrate on Sunday who ruled that the suspect should be remanded in custody.

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According to prosecutors, the man shared propaganda on the Islamic State terrorist organization on social media. The material included jihadist songs, along with a call for them to be disseminated.

The Bild tabloid reported that the suspect had been planning an attack on a location in Berlin and cited security sources suggesting it could have been a suicide attack.

Prosecutors would not confirm that detail but said the investigation is considering all possibilities.

Iris Spranger, interior minister for the city-state of Berlin, said that the case showed once more "that we are extremely watchful in cooperation with the security authorities for the security of people in the capital."

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The prosecutors' spokesman said that a unit from the police Special Task Force (SEK) had been deployed to make the arrest. The units usually go into operations heavily armed.

Besides the bomb-building equipment, officers also seized data storage devices at three locations in Neukolln and Berlin's Kopenick district, according to the spokesman.

The arrest comes as Germany's Christmas markets open, sparking memories of the 2016 Berlin attack in which an Islamist extremist drove a lorry into a crowd, killing 13 and injuring more than 70.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that this weekend's arrest showed that the "threat posed by terrorism in Germany is abstract, but nevertheless high."

He said the suspect had been in living in Germany since 2023.
What is it about Shah Rukh Khan that makes people cheer, cry, and sometimes even travel halfway across the world just to see him wave from his balcony? Maybe it's his "chocolate boy" charm, maybe it's his incredible journey, or maybe it's just the way he makes everyone believe that no dream is too big to come true. From millennials who watched 'DDLJ' in the '90s to Gen Z who discovered him in 'Pathaan', SRK's fan base spans generations; there's something about SRK that speaks to people, no matter their age or where they're from. Every year on his birthday, the crowd outside Mannat swells past midnight. Fans sing, dance, and hold up banners that read "King Khan Forever". This year was no different. People came dressed in SRK T-shirts, some holding heart-shaped balloons, others recording every second on their phones. A few fans had even flown in from Indonesia just to catch a glimpse of him. "We've come all the way to India to see him," one fan told ANI. "We really love you, Shah Rukh, and we hope to meet you someday." Among them were fans who had flown in from Indonesia just to catch a glimpse of their idol. "We've come all the way to India to see him," one fan told ANI. "We really love you, Shah Rukh, and we hope to meet you someday." That kind of love can't be manufactured. It's not just about fame or fortune; it's about connection. And Shah Rukh has built that connection over decades, brick by brick, smile by smile. Long before the red carpets and blockbusters, he was just a boy from Delhi with big dreams. With no family ties in the industry, he started out on television in the late '80s with 'Fauji' and 'Circus'. But it was his big-screen debut in 'Deewana' (1992) that made people sit up and notice. The film, in fact, earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. Just a few years later, 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' turned him into the "King of Romance". As Raj, the boy who made love look effortless, Shah Rukh became more than just a character. However, what truly set Khan apart, though, wasn't just his good looks or his performances; it was his relatability. He was the everyman who made audiences feel seen. Whether as a lover, a friend, or a flawed hero, Shah Rukh made people believe he was one of them. The kind of fan following SRK has today doesn't just happen. It's because he always believed in himself, right from the start. Even when he was just starting out, making his way to stardom, he had this confidence that he was meant to be a "superstar". Viveck Vaswani, one of his oldest friends, once told ANI, "The first time I met him, he said, 'I'm a superstar.' I said okay, and he made it true." Today, even at 60, SRK's charm isn't just limited to India. His fan following spans continents, and even Hollywood stars count themselves among his admirers. Last year, while speaking to ANI, WWE champion and Hollywood actor John Cena minutely explained how Shah Rukh inspired him in his life. He also shared that he was "starstruck" and "emotional" when he met him in person. "He (Shah Rukh) did a TED Talk that found me at the right time in my life, and his words were beyond inspirational to me. They helped orchestrate a change in my life. And since that change, I've been able to recognise all the jackpots that I've been given and been grateful and worked hard to make sure I don't waste them," Cena said. He also recalled meeting the actor at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding: "It was just such an emotional moment to be able to shake a person's hand that affects your life so drastically and tell them specifically what they did. He was amazing. He couldn't have been more empathetic and kind and sharing. It really was wonderful. It was wonderful. I was awestruck, starstruck. It was fantastic." That's the magic of Shah Rukh Khan, a man who can make a stadium roar, a fan cry, and even a global star feel inspired. But what binds them together is simple: the feeling that he truly cares. His movies, his dialogues, even his wave from Mannat, and of course, the iconic arms-outstretched pose, they all remind fans that he isn't just a superstar. He's their "King of Hearts", forever. (ANI)
A Syrian man suspected of planning a serious attack against the German state motivated by jihadist beliefs has been detained, a spokesman for Berlin prosecutors said on Sunday.

Police seized equipment suitable for making a bomb during the operation, the spokesman added.

Police detained the 22-year-old man in the Neukolln district of the German capital on Saturday. He was to appear in court on Sunday

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According to prosecutors, the man shared propaganda on the Islamic State terrorist organization through social media. The material included jihadist songs, along with a call for them to be disseminated.

The Bild newspaper reported that the suspect had been planning an attack on a location in Berlin and cited security sources suggesting it could have been a suicide attack. Prosecutors would not confirm that detail but said the investigation is considering all possibilities.

Iris Spranger, interior minister for the city-state of Berlin, said that the case showed once more "that we are extremely watchful in cooperation with the security authorities for the security of people in the capital."

The prosecutors' spokesman said that a unit from the police Special Task Force (SEK) had been deployed to make the arrest. The units usually go into operations heavily armed.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday compared a Canadian ad featuring former President Reagan, which angered President Trump, to election interference.

I read that the premier of Ontario spent $75 million sending propaganda across the U.S. border, Bessent told CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union.

This is Ronald Reagans own words, Tapper cut in.

Via our airwaves, via our own airwaves, Bessent continued. Its the equivalent of election interference. Nobody likes foreign election interference. Nobody likes foreign governments trying to sway public opinion for their own good.

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On Friday, President Trump said that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney apologized for the ad that used Reagans criticism of tariffs to slam the White Houses trade policies.

The Ontario ad later aired during the World Series between Canadas own Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The ad clearly frustrated the president, who pledged to stop trade conversations with Canada and levied an additional 10 percent tariff, after it initially aired.

Trump claimed the ad wrongly represented Reagans remarks, switching up the order of his comments about tariffs.

In the last few months, Trumps tariff policy has strained relationships with American allies like Canada and the European Union, rattled markets and provoked widespread economic uncertainty.

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A mayor from Ontario defended the ad paid for by his province last week.

I support the premiers approach, Brampton, Canada, Mayor Patrick Brown said Sunday on CBCs Rosemary Barton Live, referring to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who spearheaded the ad. Sometimes you need to throw a rock in a pond to get a splash. Hes got a reaction.

Its got a lot of coverage. And the words are truthful, despite what theyre trying to spin and say that, you know, its only a portion of the speech, Ronald Reagan viewed tariffs as taxes that would cost America in the long term.

The Hill has reached out to Fords office for comment.

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WASHINGTON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump wants to hear from the courts how to fund SNAP food aid benefits for needy Americans and payments could flow by Wednesday as ordered by a U.S. judge, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday.

Asked if that could be done to meet a federal judges order that partial payments begin Wednesday, Bessent said, Could be. Bessent also said on CNNs State of the Union program that the Trump administration will not appeal the court ruling.

News: Michigan Lawyer Says The Halloween Terror Plot That FBI Director Kash Patel Described Never Existed

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Will Dunham)

U.S. Updates

Read the original on HuffPost
The gathering of aerial intelligence by a snooping aircraft during wartime is a perilous mission.

The 'spy (or, more correctly, reconnaissance) aircraft must survive enemy fighters and anti-aircraft weapons, often relying on little more than speed, altitude or guile. Here are ten spy planes of World War II of either exceptional ability or colossal significance

10: Martin Maryland

Martin Maryland

The Martin Maryland was a twin-engined American attack and reconnaissance bomber that first flew in 1939. It was designed to compete for the USAAC contract won by Douglas with what would become the A-20 Havoc. Despite losing this domestic contract, it was not hard to sell military aeroplanes in 1939, and France was desperate for them. In French service, the Maryland proved highly survivable.

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Britain benefited from an order intended for France before it was invaded in 1940, receiving Marylands which would later be joined by directly ordered aircraft with two-stage superchargers. The Royal Air Force dispatched the Marylands to Egypt, Cyrenaica and Malta for photo-reconnaissance missions in North and East Africa.

10: Martin Maryland

Martin Maryland

Marylands photographed the Italian fleet before and after the dramatic Battle of Taranto in 1940, when Royal Navy torpedo bombers successfully attacked the powerful Italian fleet at anchor. Importantly, photos from the Marylands had alerted the planners to the location of barrage balloons. The Maryland was used by Six medal Warburton, the most highly decorated British reconnaissance pilot. He also scored five aerial victories in it, which takes some doing

The Maryland was faster than the 280mph (450 km/h) Bristol Blenheim, capable of a decent 316mph (508km/h) and pleasant to fly (if a little cramped). In 1942, South African Marylands performed long-range missions over Vichy-held Madagascar, a mission of huge significance. Remarkably, one SAAF Maryland was downed but used its defensive guns to capture Vichy soldiers as prisoners on the ground.

9: Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu

Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu

Kurt Tank was arguably the greatest German aircraft designer; his designs included the Fw 190 fighter, the Ta 152 and the Fw 200 Condor airliner. He was also responsible for the unusual Fw 189, a German reconnaissance aircraft developed to replace the Henschel Hs 126.

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Twin-boom aircraft have the rear fuselage divided into two separate sections, and this configuration was chosen for the Fw 189 as it could include a central crew gondola with a relatively unobstructed view out. The twin-boom configuration is popular in reconnaissance aircraft (to this day), the first example being the German AGO C.I of 1915.

9: Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu

Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu

The name Uhu is German for eagle owl. Despite the Uhus slenderness, it was an extremely tough machine, able to withstand significant battle damage; it also relied on its manoeuvrability for survival. The sight of the Rama ( or frame), as it was known to Soviet forces, was much dreaded as it signalled an area of interest to the German army.

The Fw 189 was powered by two Argus As 410 engines of 459 hp (342 kW) with a top speed of 214mph (344km/h). A total of 864 Fw 189s were made from 1940 to 1944. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and the Soviet Sukhoi Su-12 of 1947 was an artillery-spotting aircraft sharing much in configuration with the Fw 189.

8: Junkers Ju 86

Junkers Ju 86

When the twin-engine Junkers Ju 86 first flew in 1934, it was a very advanced design. Originally planned as an airliner and a bomber, it abandoned Junkers famous corrugated skin in favour of a smooth, streamlined fuselage, which was combined with a retractable undercarriage. Like its sibling, the Ju 88, it would perform reconnaissance.

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As would later be taken to extremes by the US U-2 and SR-71, flying far higher than fighter aircraft is a survival technique employed by many reconnaissance aircraft types. By 1939, the Germans were working on high-altitude reconnaissance variants of the Ju 86. These would have turbochargers, a pressurised crew cabin and larger wings to operate in the sparse air of higher altitudes.

8: Junkers Ju 86

Junkers Ju 86

The P series of high-altitude capable bomber-reconnaissance aircraft took part in intelligence gathering of Soviet assets before Germany turned on its ally in 1941. The fear of these high-fliers set Allied nations into developing specialised high-altitude interceptors, notably the Westland Welkin.

The even more specialised Ju 86 R series had a massively long wingspan. Countering Ju 86s resulted in the highest air combat of the war. Spitfires succeeded in shooting down at least two Ju 86 at extreme altitudes. In one example, a significantly lightened Spitfire Mk V shot down a Ju 86P at 41,994 feet (12,800 metres) near Cairo.

7: Consolidated PBY Catalina

Consolidated PBY Catalina

At first light on 3 June 1942, 22 US Navy PBY-5A Catalinas took off from Midway Island. Their mission was to search for an anticipated incoming Japanese fleet. A Catalina spotted Admiral Tanakas occupation force, leading to the Battle of Midway which was a decisive victory for the Americans. This alone cements Catalinas patrol aircraft as among the most crucial reconnaissance aircraft in history.

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But this is not all; RAF Catalinas had earlier played an essential role in finding the German Bismarck battleship in the Atlantic on 26 May 1941. At 1030 Bismarcks trailing oil slick (from the ship's damaged fuel tank) was detected by a Catalina from 209 Squadron. This led to the ships destruction, one of Germanys largest and most formidable warships.

7: Consolidated PBY Catalina

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Reliable, with an enormous range and the ability to take off and land on both land and water, the Catalina proved itself again and again. Though often overlooked as a significant wartime aircraft, it was certainly one of the most significant military aircraft of all time.

A total of 3308 Catalinas were built and proved themselves in submarine warfare (in terms of anti-submarine activity, the Catalina sank 40 submarines, 14 more than the Sunderland and equal second overall with the Avenger) and maritime patrol. They also saved countless lives in the air-sea rescue mission.

6: Lockheed P-38 Lightning

Lockheed P-38 Lightning

This American twin-boom fighter was fast and full of a host of innovations including fowler flaps (also carried by the Westland Whirlwind), General Electric turbochargers recessed into the tailbooms, and a (then novel) tricycle landing gear. It was first flown in 1939, and blew minds with its performance.

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On February 11, 1939, the prototype Lockheed XP-38 Lightning flew from California to New York in seven hours and two minutes, setting a speed record (it took two refuelling stops). The flight was part of a record-breaking transcontinental flight to publicise the aircraft.

6: Lockheed P-38 Lightning

Lockheed P-38 Lightning

The P-38 was designed as a fighter, but was clearly ideal material for a reconnaissance aircraft. The US, like most nations, had rather neglected the reconnaissance mission in the inter-war period, but studying British developments, it was clear by 1941 that it had to raise its game. Following recce A-20s, the P-38s were selected for serious modification for the role.

Overcoming many early technical issues, the reconnaissance P-38s became among the best in their class (though, at least initially, some in the United States Army Air Force preferred the proven and somewhat more reliable Mosquito). The P-38 was a massive contributor to the Allied intelligence effort.

5: Nakajima C6N Myrt

Nakajima C6N Myrt

The fastest Japanese carrier aircraft of the war and the only carrier aircraft on our list, the Myrt (as it was known to Allies) was an awe-inspiring aircraft that proved a headache to intercept. However, by the time it was in service, in September 1944, there were few Japanese carriers from which to operate, and C6N operations were primarily land-based.

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The only purpose-designed carrier reconnaissance aircraft of the war, the C6N was beautifully streamlined with every effort made to reduce drag. It featured a laminar flow wing, and the use of what was for a Japanese aircraft a thick skin reduced the number of rivets required from 220,024 of a Mitsubishi Zero to fewer than 100,000.

5: Nakajima C6N Myrt

Nakajima C6N Myrt

The rather troublesome Homare radial engine was well cowled with ejector exhausts contributing thrust. After a successful mission, a telegram was sent reporting, "No Grummans can catch us." (Grumman was the manufacturer of the US Navy Hellcat and Avenger carrier fighters).

A Nakajima C6N1-S Saiun (MYRT) was the last aircraft shot down in World War 2. It was shot down by Lieutenant Commander Thomas Reidy of the US Navy, flying a Corsair fighter, on August 15, 1945, a day after Emperor Hirohitos surrender announcement. The war ended five minutes later.

4: Mitsubishi Ki-46

Mitsubishi Ki-46

Reconnaissance aircraft seldom get the attention they deserve, performing totally essential work, usually alone and often unarmed. In the Ki-46 the Japanese possessed the worlds finest example of this type of aircraft. As a reconnaissance platform, it was unmatched by any other machine until the appearance of the Mosquito and proved maddeningly difficult to intercept throughout the conflict.

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As late as September 1944, a Spitfire Mk VIII (itself no slouch) required the removal of armour and a pair of machine guns, to achieve the performance necessary to make an interception. According to an oft-repeated claim, the Germans were impressed enough that they attempted to obtain a manufacturing licence (without success), though a reliable original source for this tale remains elusive.

4: Mitsubishi Ki-46

Mitsubishi Ki-46

The improved Ki-46-III was faster still due to a weight reduction programme, the adoption of more powerful Ha-102 engines with direct fuel injection, and a revised fuselage design resulting in near perfect streamlining. In this form it could achieve a maximum speed a shade over 400mph.

It was improved further as the turbo-supercharged Ki 46-IV. Although it never entered production, its performance was incredible: in February 1945 two of the prototypes flew from Peking to Yokota in 3 hours 15 minutes, covering 1430 miles at an average of 435 mph. Loved by its crews and respected by its enemies, the Ki-46, a masterpiece from designer Tumio Kubo, was in a class of its own for most of the war.

3: PR Spitfires

PR Spitfires

Aerial reconnaissance is vital for victory in warfare, to determine the state of the enemys forces and infrastructure. Due to the size of 1930s cameras and the need for a dedicated camera operator, long-range reconnaissance needed to be carried out by twin-engined aircraft. At the start of the war, the RAF used the Bristol Blenheim for the role, a converted light bomber.

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But the Blenheim was extremely vulnerable to smaller, faster and more manoeuvrable enemy fighters, notably the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Australian Sidney Cotton, commander of 1 RAF Photographic Development Unit proposed a radical new solution to strategic reconnaissance: unarmed single-seat fighters relying on high speed and altitude for survival.

3: PR Spitfires

PR Spitfires

Fitted with cameras in the wings, the Spitfires were tweaked and polished for maximum speed, and they proved 30mph faster than the standard Mk 1. On 18 November 1939, a reconnaissance Spitfire took off from Seclin in France to photograph Aachen in Germany, becoming the first Spitfire to fly over enemy territory. Though this first mission was thwarted by bad weather, later flights proved the concept.

The Photo Reconnaissance (PR) Spitfires were a massive success. Developed across the war with great scientific rigour by some of the greatest minds in their field, they provided vital reconnaissance that proved pivotal to many Allied actions, did much to define and refine the mission, and even continued into the Cold War.

2: Arado 234 Blitz

Arado 234 Blitz

The worlds first true jet bomber and reconnaissance aircraft was two steps forward in air warfare when it first flew on 15 June 1943. By this time, propeller-powered aircraft designs were beginning to reach their maximum speed; efficient flight beyond 460mph required the then new technology of jet propulsion. This was the dawn of the jet age of warfare.

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Overflying Britain had become very difficult by 1943, such was the excellence of British air defence. But this changed with the introduction of the jet-powered Arado 234, which proved virtually immune to interception. Early jet engines were far from fuel efficient, and to reach the required range, almost every available space in the Ar 234 was devoted to housing fuel.

2: Arado 234 Blitz

Arado 234 Blitz

In August 1944, in a state of desperation, a force of Ar 234 prototypes was tasked with reconnaissance missions. The seventh prototype performed the first reconnaissance mission over the United Kingdom by a jet aircraft. These sorties were intended to gather intelligence about Allied strength and the plausibility of a naval invasion of the Netherlands.

The Arado 234 was capable of such high and fast flight that Allied fighters failed to intercept them. Later, the Allied anti-jet tactic of attacking an aircraft at landing or take-off proved effective, and this approach was also used against the even faster Messerschmitt 262. Though the highest performance recce aircraft of the war, it arrived too late to achieve a great deal. According to records, an Arado 234 was the last German plane to fly over the UK during the war - this occurred over Scotland on 11 April 1945.

1: De Havilland Mosquito

De Havilland Mosquito

The Mosquito, popularly known as the Wooden Wonder for its wooden construction and ability to do almost anything asked of it with aplomb, was a spectacularly fast twin-engined British aircraft. It was designed as a bomber that would rely on speed for survival.

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The aircraft was initially controversial as much faith and effort had been put into the heavy bomber concept. In the reconnaissance role, as in several other roles, the Mosquito would prove fantastically capable, and among the most survivable intruder aircraft used in the war.

1: De Havilland Mosquito

De Havilland Mosquito

Fast, survivable and long-ranged, it made for a superb reconnaissance aircraft. The Mosquitos blistering speed made it a nightmare for defending fighters or anti-aircraft units to locate and destroy. On the first operational reconnaissance mission, by a Mosquito PR Mk.I, on 17 September 1941, the RAF aircraft evaded three Luftwaffe Bf 109 fighters. Despite being unarmed, the Mosquito got home.

The Mosquito contributed to many campaigns, among them the liberation of Europe. Alongside photo-reconnaissance Spitfires, Mustangs and other aircraft, Mosquitoes played a vital role in providing the detailed images upon which the planning and decision-making for D-Day were dependent. Throughout the build-up and the Normandy campaign, PR aircraft took an unprecedented 85,000 photos daily. The Mosquito was a master of aerial reconnaissance.

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What would you do if you were mayor for a day?

The League of Minnesota Cities is asking students in fourth, fifth and sixth grades to participate in this years Mayor For a Day essay contest.

Three winners will be chosen, and each winner will be awarded a $100 prize. The winning essays will be published in Minnesota Cities, the Leagues publication.

Essays should be about 125 to 300 words; one entry per child. The deadline is Dec. 12.

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For more information, go to mayor-for-a-day.

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In an effort to address challenges related to health, AI, food and other quality-of-life factors in the Heartland, leaders in the public, private and non-profit sectors will converge in Oklahoma next week to announce initiatives they believe will spur change and move communities across America forward.

Two nonprofit organizations that aim to improve economic and social well-being through targeted programming will kick off their Big Bets for America tour, an initiative organizers say will catalyze progress through "unlikely" collaborations, on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Fordson Hotel and The Jones Assembly in downtown Oklahoma City.

Bentonville, Arkansas-based Heartland Forwards mission is to accelerate growth and re-write the narrative about the nations Heartland, guided by the goal of generating $500 million in economic impact to the area by 2030. Established in 2019, the organization aims to improve economic performance, foster job creation, promote inclusive growth, and improve health outcomes through research, community-driven programs, and policy work.

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The Rockefeller Foundation, according to its website, was founded in New York City in 1913 by John Rockefeller and his son. The global philanthropic organization promotes the well-being of humanity by finding new solutions, creating unlikely partnerships, and taking a business-minded approach to improve the welfare of Americans and the entire world.

These foundations collective rolodex will bring in farmers, business executives and others to get at the crux of challenging issues Oklahoma and other states in the region face. Gov. Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, as well as representation from some of the most integral companies in corporate America in areas including technology, aviation, strategy and consulting, finance and asset management are slated to participate.

As Washingtons struggles to solve problems continue, Rajiv Shah, president of The Rockefeller Foundation, said innovators throughout the U.S. are hard at work figuring out how to advance the American dream. He said Big Bets for America is intended to showcase data-driven, tech-forward solutions to 21st century issues, in addition to bringing together a lengthy list of partners to kick off collaborations that can drive change.

Today, as political paralysis collides with profound technological and economic transformation, convenings like these are vital for empowering the leaders who remind us every day that progress is still possible, Shah said in a statement.

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt during the media conference celebrating the 1000-day countdown to LA28 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.

During a time of economic uncertainty for many, Eason Jordan, senior VP with the Rockefeller Foundation, said they want to show America that there are organizations and companies that are stepping up to find and put forth solutions to todays problems. Economic opportunity and health are two areas he said deserve attention.

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Several discussions about AI are also on the agenda. As AI continues to erase and create jobs simultaneously in the public and private sector, Jordan said the world has to figure out how to better pivot in this environment.

Another topic of discussion at Big Bets for America will center around the medicinal qualities of food. The Rockefeller Foundation has invested more than $3 billion in the U.S. in the last 20 years, with major investments in Oklahomas Fresh RX program, which partners with local farms to provide free, nutritious produce to Oklahomans with diabetes by bringing fresh options directly to them. The organization offers a free 12-month program for people in the Tulsa area.

Why start the Big Bets for America tour in Oklahoma?

The conference takes place as Oklahoma sits at or near the bottom of several metrics, including health outcomes, food insecurity, education and overall well-being.

Angie Cooper, president of Heartland Forward, said improving those rankings can be done through a multifaceted approach that involves strengthening the talent pipeline from the ground up through education and workforce development, and using technology to expand access to healthcare resources like telehealth. She said AI can accelerate the effort.

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Thats why its great to bring a lot of different people in a room to Oklahoma City from around the country to say, Who has this resource, and who has the expertise on this, and how can we support that? I think the magic happens when you look at all the tools and people that have expertise and then tailor it to each individual community, Cooper said.

Heartland Forward has two announcements planned, and Cooper said theyre eager to hear peoples thoughts about actions that can accelerate economic growth and prosperity in Oklahoma and throughout the 20 states the organization considers the Heartland.

The Oklahoma City skyline is pictured from Bricktown in Oklahoma City, on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.

Oklahoma will be the first stop for Big Bets for America. Jordan said not only is the state in the heart of the Heartland, it has leaders in the private, non-profit and government sectors who are delivering in impactful ways.

It was really an inspiration for us, Jordan said, adding that Stitt leading the National Governors Association and Holt heading the National Conference of Mayors also played a role in Oklahoma City hosting the opening event for the effort.

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Its a wonderful opportunity for everyone participating in Big Bets for America to engage with those policy makers, Jordan said.

More information about the event is available at www.bigbetsforamerica.org

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma City to host Big Bets for America on Tuesday
Comedian Bill Maher on Friday mocked President Trump for receiving a golden crown from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung during his trip to Asia.

He was in South Korea and the president there gave him a golden crown and Trump was very moved by it, Maher said on his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher. He said, I know exactly where Im going to keep it, on my head.

Maher talked about Trumps recent back-and-forth over potentially running for a third term despite constitutional term limits established in the 22nd Amendment. He paraphrased Trumps remarks and said, Based on what I read, I guess its not allowed, but well see what happens.'

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Well, first of all, I can show you where you can read about it, Maher said. Its like 14 words in this thing called the Constitution. And then the president said, I cant comment on an ongoing insurrection.'

Lee presented Trump with the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Koreas highest honor, along with a replica of a historic gold crown. Trump called the medal a great honor, and added that he would like to wear it right now.

On his flight to South Korea, Trump said the Constitution makes it pretty clear he cant run for a third term, but added that its a very interesting thing. I have the best numbers for any president in many years.

The dual subjects of kings and Trumps third term remarks stirred protests and pre-2028 election commentary over the past few weeks.

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On Oct. 18, millions of Americans took part in No Kings Day protests against the president and his administration. Democrats largely supported the peaceful protests while many Republicans derided the marches, as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called them, hate America rallies.

For his part, Trump reacted to the protests with an AI-generated video shared across his social media. The video shows Trump, wearing a crown and a flight suit, in the cockpit of a fighter jet before taking to the skies and dumping brown liquid over No Kings protesters. Kenny Logginss Danger Zone plays in the background of the video, a nod to the film Top Gun.

After the protests, Trump said in a Sunday Morning Futures interview with Fox Newss Maria Bartiromo, Theyre referring to me as a king. Im not a king.

Comedian and The Daily Show host Jon Stewart called Trumps behavior and praise from Republicans king-esque. He later said that for Republicans, king is a demotion. Hes not a king, hes a deity sent by God to bring peace to all mankind. A Jesus-like figure.

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Last week, Maher blasted Trumps decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House and build a lavish ballroom as the presidents attempt at not leaving.

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It seems Charleston, South Carolina, is a place to be for the wealthy these days, as several billionaire-owned megayachts have been docking in the city's Harbor Marina.

Per marinetraffic.com, a boat-tracking website, the yacht Spectre, owned by billionaire Rob Sands, arrived on Sept. 26, while Hampshire, the cruiser owned by fellow billionaire Andrew Currie, had docked in Charleston on Sept. 20.

According to ABC News, both boats are over 200 feet long, and each costs $70 million or more to purchase, with additional yearly operating costs in the seven-figure range.

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In addition to being eyesores and apt symbolic representations of societal woes, superyachts are also environmentally destructive.

As Fortune observed, social scientist Gregory Salle has referred to them as a form of "ecocide" because of their environmental impact.

According to his research, the annual carbon pollution of the top 300 superyachts is almost 285,000 tons, an amount that surpasses that of many small nations.

Perhaps the damage could be mitigated if the yachts begin to use sails, solar, or greener fuels as a source of power, but for now, most still use diesel engines, exacerbating climate concerns.

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While we can't control what the wealthy choose to buy, one way to exercise our influence is by raising awareness of how their luxury purchases, such as superyachts, impact the environment.

Using your purchasing power to support eco-friendly initiatives can also communicate to companies that helping the planet is profitable. You can also choose eco-friendly resorts and hotels when you travel. A number of luxury resorts, including this one in Thailand, are demonstrating there are more sustainable ways to vacation.

Hopefully, with sustained pressure, we can influence the uber-wealthy into purchasing less environmentally destructive totems of wealth than superyachts  and encourage investments in innovation that move the needling toward a cooler, cleaner future.

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.
Shah Rukh Khan's love for his craft and unbreakable spirit continue to define him, even after decades in cinema. As the superstar turned 60 on Sunday, 'Raees' director Rahul Dholakia shared a rare anecdote when the actor's undying spirit played out right before his eyes. In a conversation with ANI, Rahul Dholakia recalled how SRK battled an injury during the filming of action sequences for 'Raees'. "He (SRK) had an injury on his knee. Despite that, he insisted on doing the action sequences. The particular scene where he walks out of the smoke, the one we used in the film's teaser, he already had a swollen knee. I asked if we should cancel the shoot as it included a lot of action scenes, and he was like, 'No, I will do the action. He asked me to design the scene in such a way that he doesn't land on his injured knee. This is when he worked the landing on his own with our action director, Ravi Verma. He did 20 different stunts and without any problem," Dholakia shared. He revealed how the actor shot the entire 'Udi Udi Jaye' song with his knee injury, perfectly acing the dance moves without any trouble. After every take, ice had to be put on SRK's knee. "Doctors were also on set to take care of any emergencies. I knew the situation, as I was the director, but nobody else did. He never made a show out of it," Dholakia added. The filmmaker went on to recall Shah Rukh Khan's reaction when he was offered the role of 'Raees'. "After I narrated him the script, his first question was 'Why me?' He was extremely sure about himself and believed nobody could have done it better than him. But he wanted to see my conviction. So he was testing me about why I approached him. He wanted to know if I was sure about him," Rahul Dholakia shared. 'Raees', which was released in 2017, also featured Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Pakistani actor Mahira Khan in prominent roles. (ANI)
Anyone who has suffered from jet lag or struggled after turning the clock forward or back an hour for daylight saving time knows all about what researchers call your biological clock, or circadian rhythm  the master pacemaker that synchronizes how your body responds to the passing of one day to the next.

This clock is made up of about 20,000 neurons in the hypothalamus, the area near the center of the brain that coordinates your bodys unconscious functions, like breathing and blood pressure. Humans arent the only beings that have an internal clock system: All vertebrates  or mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish  have biological clocks, as do plants, fungi and bacteria. Biological clocks are why cats are most active at dawn and dusk, and why flowers bloom at certain times of day.

Circadian rhythms are also essential to health and well-being. They govern your bodys physical, mental and behavioral changes over each 24-hour cycle in response to environmental cues like light and food. Theyre why more heart attacks and strokes occur early in the morning. Theyre also why mice that are missing their biological clocks age faster and have shorter lifespans, and people with a mutation in their circadian clock genes have abnormal sleep patterns. Chronic misalignment of your circadian rhythm with external cues, as seen in night-shift workers, can lead to a wide range of physical and mental disorders, including obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

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In short, there is ample evidence that your biological clock is critical to your health. And chronobiologists like me are studying how the day-night cycle affects your body to better understand how you can modify your behaviors to use your internal clock to your advantage.

How biological rhythms affect your health

Your biological clock affects your health by regulating your sleep-wake cycles and fluctuations in blood pressure and body temperature. It does this primarily by syncing your endocrine system to environmental light-dark cycles so that certain hormones are released in certain amounts at certain times of day.

The pineal grand in your brain, for example, produces melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep in response to darkness. Doctors advise reducing exposure to artificial blue light from electronic devices before bedtime because it can disrupt melatonin secretion and sleep quality.

Your circadian rhythm also affects your metabolism. Among other things, sleep helps you regulate leptin, a hormone that controls appetite. Your leptin levels fluctuate throughout the day according to a rhythm set by your circadian clock. Insufficient or irregular sleep can disrupt leptin production, which can make us hungrier and lead to weight gain.

Your hormones fluctuate rhythmically over the course of the day. The stress hormone cortisol typically peaks in the morning, while the sleep hormone melatonin typically peaks in the night. Pikovit44/iStock via Getty Images Plus

In recent years, researchers have discovered even more ways your circadian clock can affect your health. For example, there is now research suggesting that eating at set times of day, or time-restricted feeding, can prevent obesity and metabolic diseases. Depression and other mood disorders may also be linked to dysfunctional circadian control that lead to changes in how your genes are expressed.

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The time of day when you take your medicine can also affect how well it works and how severe any side effects might be. Likewise, your biological clock is a potential target for cancer chemotherapies and anti-obesity treatments.

And finally, even your personality might be shaped by whether your internal clock make you a morning person or a night person.

Getting the most out of exercise

Circadian clocks also provide a potential answer to when is the best time of day to maximize the benefits of physical exercise.

To study this, my colleagues and I collected blood and tissue samples from the brains, hearts, muscles, livers and fat of mice that exercised either before breakfast in the early morning or after dinner in the late evening. We used a tool called a mass spectrometer to detect approximately 600 to 900 molecules each organ produced. These metabolites served as real-time snapshots of how the mice responded to exercise at specific times of day.

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We stitched these snapshots together to create a map of how exercise in the morning versus evening affected each of the mices different organ systems  what we called an atlas of exercise metabolism.

The best time of day to exercise might be the time when you feel you perform best. Anuruk Charoenamornrat/EyeEm via Getty Images

Using this atlas, we saw that time of day affects how each organ uses energy during exercise. For instance, we found that early morning exercise reduced blood glucose levels more than late evening exercise. Exercise in the late evening, however, allowed the mice to benefit from energy they stored from their meals and increased their endurance.

Of course, mice and humans have many differences along with their similarities. For one, mice are more active at night than during the day. Still, we believe that our findings could help researchers better understand how exercise affects your health and, if timed appropriately, can be optimized based on time of day to meet your personal health goals.

Getting along with your biological clock

I believe that the field of chronobiology is growing, and we will produce even more research providing practical applications and insights into health and well-being in the future.

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In my own work, for example, a better understanding of how exercising at different times of day affects your body could help tailor exercise plans to maximize specific benefits for patients with obesity, Type 2 diabetes and other diseases.

There is still much to learn about how your circadian clock works. But in the meantime, there are some tried and true ways people can synchronize their internal clocks for better health. These include regular exposure to sunlight to trigger the endocrine system to produce vitamin D, staying active during the day so you fall asleep more easily at night and avoiding caffeine and reducing your exposure to artificial light before bedtime.

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: Shogo Sato, Texas A&M University

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Shogo Sato receives funding from the Brain & Behavioral Research Foundation (NARSAD Young Investigator Grant, 28681) and start-up funds from Texas A&M University.
Cameras rolling, Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino sailed down the Chicago River in a convoy of government boats. His men held rifles as videographers filmed the stunt later posted to their social media.

The Trump administration had just launched an operation in the city to pursue the worst of the worst criminal undocumented immigrants. Homeland Security used the footage for a music video set to Alice in Chains Rooster ending with Bovino smiling into the distance.

In Chicago, the Sept. 25 moment was widely mocked. Would the federal government be hunting migrants at Navy Pier? Boarding boat tours to find undocumented architecture enthusiasts? Patrolling the Riverwalk?

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But more than a month after Bovino and the crew of camouflaged agents he calls the green machine arrived in Chicago to assist Trumps immigration crackdown dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, the scene signaled a profound shift in how the federal government arrests undocumented immigrants far from the border.

Instead of carefully targeted arrests long practiced by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, President Donald Trumps administration has deployed roving groups of masked Border Patrol agents, who work within U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These agents have roamed throughout Chicago and its suburbs with the mission of arresting as many undocumented immigrants as possible, often while camera operators film for future government promotional videos.

Allegations have mounted that Border Patrol agents under Bovinos command are indiscriminately throwing tear gas in Chicago neighborhoods and using inappropriate force against residents during protests over the Trump administrations ongoing immigration enforcement push, leading to a federal judge requesting Bovino to debrief her daily on his agents actions.

What were seeing now is what the rest of the nation can expect, said Fred Tsao, senior policy counsel at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. This is the new model.

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Since Bovino and his agents arrived, the number of arrests has risen sharply, but so have reports of excessive force and unlawful detentions, including of U.S. citizens. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday while speaking in Gary, Indiana, that agents have arrested 3,000 people in the operation, which began in early September.

While the agencys actions have generated significant legal challenges for the government and public pushback from angry residents, the Trump administration is doubling down on the approach.

Trump is reassigning at least half the top leadership at Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices around the country in a major shake-up of the agency responsible for carrying out the presidents vision for mass deportations, The Associated Press reported.

The Trump administrations move to sack ICE middle managers around the country and potentially replace some of them with Border Patrol officials suggests White House support for the aggressive mass deportation raids.

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This is one team, one fight, said U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement. This operation is targeting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Chicago. ICE and Border Patrol have already arrested more than 3,000 illegal aliens, including rapists, murderers, and gang members.

Historically, ICE handles the governments deportation efforts within the countrys interior while Border Patrol works along the border and ports of entry. While ICE has its own legacy of alleged human rights abuses and constitutional violations, its operations tend to be more targeted and focused, experts told the Tribune.

Border Patrol by contrast is known for aggressive pursuits of immigrants far from the big-city spotlight, along the rural Mexican border, where drug cartels and harsh desert conditions generate danger  conditions that are in stark contrast to Chicagos neighborhoods, where homes are adorned with Halloween decorations and schools hosting fall festivals.

The Border Patrols arrival in Chicago drew confusion from some residents who noted the city is hundreds of miles from Canada and more than 1,000 away from the Rio Grande. But McLaughlin says, While the U.S. Border Patrol primarily operates within 100 air miles of the border, the legal framework provided by the Immigration and Nationality Act  and other laws allows them to operate anywhere in the United States.

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But unlike ICEs once-targeted operations, Border Patrols arrests now appear arbitrary. Agents drive up and down residential streets and stop mostly brown people seemingly at random  landscapers, pedestrians, construction workers  demanding to know, Where were you born? or Are you a U.S. citizen?

Experts warn that this aggressive approach will likely fuel greater abuses of civil and human rights, heighten public anger and lead to more warrantless arrests, straying far from the previous stated focus on the worst of the worst.

For weeks, residents have reported the presence of heavily armed federal agents conducting high-profile sweeps across neighborhoods from Little Village to the western suburbs. Videos show officers in military-style gear confronting pedestrians, blocking intersections and deploying tear gas in confrontations spanning eight different neighborhoods.

Within the Department of Homeland Security, ICE and Border Patrol have a long-standing rivalry with different cultures and approaches around immigration enforcement, experts told the Tribune.

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I think of Border Patrol and ICE as two siblings that dont always like each other, said Claire Trickler-McNulty, a former top official at ICE.

Border Patrol historically has a far bigger budget and a bigger staff. ICE officers often wear suits and deal more with longer-term case management, while Border Patrol are uniformed officers who often patrol dark roads in the countryside along the border.

Contrasting ICE with Border Patrol, McNulty said, Their mode of operation, generally, is based on targeting. Border Patrol is based on trying to stop anybody trying to cross the border. Its just a wider-net approach.

Katherine Hawkins, a legal analyst with the Project on Government Oversight, explained more differences between ICE and Border Patrol.

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ICE officers are very on board with deporting people, but they usually do it in a certain way where its focused on people who have come into contact with the criminal justice system, Hawkins said. It tends to be focused on going after particular individuals. They might stake out someones house.

But that isnt what the Trump administration wants, Hawkins said.

I think theyve realized that Border Patrol gives them extra manpower and probably less pushback when theyre told to just go round up everyone, she said.

Trump campaigned for president on a platform pledging mass deportations of immigrants while restricting future influxes into the country. How to best implement his desire is a logistical challenge due to limited detention space, manpower and constitutional safeguards that slow down government officials wishes.

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Scott Shuchart, a former high-ranking ICE official, said immigration enforcement has always focused on a debate over how to best use the governments manpower.

Are the resources going to be deployed to get people who are dangerous or are they going to be deployed to get the easiest people? Shuchart said. I think what were seeing is one side finally winning that argument.

A recent Supreme Court decision allowing agents to take the ethnic background of a person into consideration in some circumstances has cleared the way for more aggressive patrolling, Shuchart said, referring to what some are calling Kavanaugh stops.

In September, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court lifted a restraining order from a judge who found that roving patrols were conducting indiscriminate stops in and around Los Angeles. The order had barred immigration agents from stopping people solely based on their race, language, job or location.

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The majority did not explain its reasoning, as is typical on the courts emergency docket. But Justice Brett Kavanaugh said the lower-court judge had gone too far in restricting how federal immigration agents can carry out brief stops for questioning, The Associated Press reported.

A lot of what Border Patrol was doing was illegal until a couple months ago. It was racial profiling, Shuchart said. Then the Supreme Court decided racial profiling doesnt count if theyre working-class Latinos.

A significant part of the Trump administrations approach to immigration revolves around using social media to claim undocumented immigrants are driving crime in big cities even though statistics show they are less likely to commit violent crimes than U.S. citizens.

Dan Herman, a former senior adviser to the commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, said much of the current approach favored by Bovino and the White House is more about sending a political message.

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What we are seeing is, when you put law enforcement in a role that is not what theyve been trained or equipped or have the appropriate authorities for, you can have mistakes and improper behavior, unprofessional behavior, Herman said. Its really about the theater of these things.

Bovino himself is an example, Herman said.

In the first week of January, before Trumps inauguration, Bovino sent 60 agents hundreds of miles to Bakersfield, California, to make 78 arrests at farms and businesses. His staff acknowledged congratulatory comments on social media and posted photos of an encounter with someone whose car window was shattered after refusing to open it, The Associated Press reported.

He was trying to get the attention of the new administration and show he was interested in spectacle, not security, Herman said. I think the administration is trying to reward that attitude, and theres a reason theyve used him as their incident commander in these high-profile operations.

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Border Patrols presence has consequences far beyond the immigrants being targeted. Local restaurants and businesses in Latino areas and their neighboring communities are experiencing deep financial woes as customers stay home.

Chicagos rapid-response volunteers, who monitor enforcement operations and document abuses, have become targets. Many have been arrested for recording agents, following agents or alerting people of federal agents in a neighborhood.

Residents have angrily confronted Border Patrol agents throughout the city in several confrontations, leading the feds to deploy tear gas in neighborhoods from working-class East Side to wealthy Lakeview.

What immigration enforcement looks like now is not just arrests, Tsao said. Its public intimidation.

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Tsao noted that U.S. citizens are not required to carry proof of citizenship, but many people of color have begun doing so anyway out of fear. I know people who carry their passports everywhere or keep photos of them on their phones, he said. Thats what this climate has created.

For Tsao and others, the concern extends beyond one city. Chicago is showing the rest of the country what this new era of immigration enforcement looks like, he said. The border has come to the interior. The border has come to Chicago.

_____
British police dismissed speculation on Sunday that a mass stabbing attack on a London-bound train that hospitalized 11 people the night before was terrorism-related.

Police said one person injured in the incident remains in life-threatening condition, among six people hospitalized in the wake of the stabbing. One man, born in the United Kingdom, was in custody Sunday after a second man arrested in connection with the attack was released without charges. Both were arrested eight minutes after the first emergency calls were made from aboard the train, where passengers had reported scenes of panic and chaos as many ran through the carriages and some sought safety in the bathrooms.

The 32-year-old British man still in custody was undergoing questioning by police on suspicion of attempted murder, police said. They also said that they determined the 35-year-old man previously arrested in connection with the stabbing was not involved in the crime.

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"It's a shocking incident, and first and foremost, my thoughts are with the family and friends of those who' been affected and those who are injured," British Transport Police Superintendent John Loveless said in a news conference outside the station in Huntingdon in eastern England, where the train halted soon after the attack.

"There is nothing to suggest this is a terrorist incident," he added.

Superintendent John Loveless from British Transport Police speaks to the press at Huntingdon Station after a stabbing attack on November 02, 2025 in Huntingdon, England. / Credit: Leon Neal / Getty Images

The police superintendent also gave an update on those injured in the attack, reducing the number in life-threatening condition from nine to two. Four of the injured have been discharged from the hospital, he said. One other person had arrived at the hospital, taking the overall number injured in the attack to 11.

Police cars and ambulances are pictured outside Huntingdon Station in Huntingdon, England, on Nov. 1, 2025, following a stabbing attack on a train. / Credit: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Emergency services, including armed police and air ambulances, were quick to arrive on the scene shortly after they were alerted after 7:30 p.m. local time Saturday as the train drew into Huntingdon, a market town a few miles northwest of the university city of Cambridge. The two people were arrested at the station, which is around 75 miles north of London.

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Police said the stabbing attack occurred on the Doncaster to London King's Cross train as it headed into Huntingdon. It did not provide a motive for the attack.

During their immediate response to the stabbing, police said that "Plato," the national code word used by police and emergency services when responding to what could be a "marauding terror attack," had been initiated. But the declaration was later rescinded.

"At this early stage, it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident," Loveless said.

The British newspaper The Times reported that a witness described seeing a man with a large knife. The witness told The Times there was "blood everywhere," with people hiding in bathrooms to escape, and some getting "stamped (on) by others" as they tried to flee.

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Paul Bristow, the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said in a post on X that he had heard of reports of "horrendous scenes" on the train. Cambridge is located in the county of Cambridgeshire.

Police officers stand with British Transport Police and members of the emergency services outside Huntingdon Station in Huntingdon, England, following a stabbing on a train. Nov. 1, 2025. / Credit: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Passenger Olly Foster told the CBS News partner BBC News that he heard people shouting "run, run, there's a guy literally stabbing everyone," and initially thought it might have been a Halloween prank  Saturday was a day after Halloween. But as passengers pushed past him to get away, he noticed his hand was covered in blood from a chair he had leaned on.

In a social media post, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack an "appalling incident" that was "deeply concerning," and urged people in the area to "follow the advice of the police."

"My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response," he wrote.

Forensic police officers examine the LNER train as it sits in Huntingdon Station after a stabbing attack on Nov. 02, 2025 in Huntingdon, England. / Credit: Leon Neal / Getty Images

Britain's King Charles III sent his sympathies and thoughts to those affected and said he was "truly appalled and shocked to hear of the dreadful knife attack."

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"Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with all those affected, and their loved ones," the king said. "We are particularly grateful to the emergency services for their response to this awful incident."

London North Eastern Railway, or LNER, which operates the East Coast Mainline services in the U.K., confirmed the incident had happened on one of its trains and said there would be major disruption on the route until Monday.

"Passengers will see high visibility presence of police officers at stations and on trains throughout today, up and down the transport network," Loveless said.

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Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System are again asking the Florida Legislature for authority to increase cooperation between the two government-run hospital systems, arguing that closer collaboration would enhance efficiency and improve health care.

If enacted, the proposal would allow the two organizations, which between them operate 11 hospitals in the county, to do more together  without running afoul of antitrust laws prohibiting anticompetitive behavior.

By declaring such activity in the public interest and state policy supervised by the state, the Legislatures blessing would permit the public hospital systems to act in ways that otherwise could be considered anticompetitive.

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The renewed push, outlined by Shane Strum, who is the top executive at both health systems, comes months after similar legislation stalled in Tallahassee, where it was opposed by one of the biggest hospital companies in the country, HCA Healthcare, which operates four hospitals in Broward County.

The biggest selling point from Strum and his allies: closer collaboration would improve care.

He and Paul Tanner, chair of the board that oversees the Broward Health system, pointed to parts of the county where pregnant women dont have access to maternity care.

Broward is densely populated and isnt in a rural area in the middle of the country, and we still have health care deserts, Tanner said.

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Doug Harrison, secretary/treasurer of the Memorial system board, also said the two districts could join to provide services that arent available in the county. We dont believe that anybody should be leaving Broward County, he said.

State Rep. Hillary Cassel, R-Dania Beach, who sponsored a similar measure in the 2025 legislative session and said she would sponsor the 2026 version, said there are things that we need here in Broward County, desperately, and by allowing the hospitals to collaborate with one another, deal with scales of economy, negotiate better insurance rates, its just a win-win.

Different approach

Strum and the boards of the countys two public hospital districts are taking a different approach in advance of the 2026 legislative session after the effort failed in 2025. This year we decided were just gonna come out and share everything, Strum said.

The 2026 attempt is starting earlier in the legislative calendar and is more public than the 2025 effort.

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Strum pushed for the proposed law at an Oct. 27 meeting of the Broward Legislative Delegation. The location: the Memorial Regional Hospital conference center in Hollywood. Large screens at the front of the room, above the heads of lawmakers, touted the better together partnership between the two systems that began almost nine months ago.

Multiple commissioners from the hospital systems governing boards were at the legislative delegation meeting, along with hospital staff and supportive elected officials who arent members of the Legislature. After the 2025 legislation was filed in Tallahassee, some commissioners said they werent familiar with it.

Last year we filed [the bill] relatively late. [The] legislative session was tied up with a lot of other issues, Cassel said in an interview. Now we have a lot of support under us from the community, from Broward County, that Im going to be able to bring to Tallahassee to say, This is something the county needs. This is good for Broward. This is good for the community. And its good for the residents.

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Hospital districts

What now operates as Broward Health is the brand name for the North Broward Hospital District, the government district that operates hospitals and other health services in the two-thirds of the county north of Griffin Road. Its an evolution from what was called Broward General Hospital when it opened in Fort Lauderdale in 1938.

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Memorial Healthcare System is the brand name for the South Broward Hospital District, which provides services in the southern third of the county.

Each district is overseen by separate boards of commissioners appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Strum was DeSantis chief of staff during the first half of the governors first term. He was hired as president and CEO of the North Broward Hospital District in February 2021. In September 2024, the boards of both districts approved his appointment as interim CEO of the South Broward district.

Earlier in his career, Strum was senior vice president at the South Broward district.

Collaborate or merge?

During his presentation to lawmakers, and later in an interview, Strum emphasized enhanced collaboration, not the politically fraught concept of a merger. He said the merger is not accurate.

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This legislation is not a merger, he said, adding the districts will continue to operate in the sunshine and transparency, and with legislative oversight.

Some viewed the 2025 effort as a way to effect a merger. Strum said the word merger was used against the proposals by opponents.

We went up [to Tallahassee in 2025] thinking wed be OK. We had all the support in the world, but lets just say our competitors were unhappy with the two systems working together, and they were able to frame the conversation. They just said, Hey, thats a merger. Its a merger, Strum said.

Some leaders in Broward believe the two systems should merge.

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I think we should move toward that. I think we should work toward a merger and one hospital district. It could be very economical at a time when were so concerned about the cost of health care, said County Commissioner Nan Rich, a former Florida Senate Democratic leader. Im not saying overnight. Im saying begin with a strong collaboration and move toward a merger of the districts.

Miami-Dade County has one hospital system and Palm Beach County has one government health care district. Rich and Tanner said Browards two-district setup  created seven decades ago  is a historical anachronism.

Were only one of the 67 counties that has split its health care. Theres a lot of reasons why it was split in the 50s, but today there is no reason to have it split. And so its just more efficient, particularly as people look to address costs, Tanner said.

He said he wasnt advocating for a merger, and echoed Strums statements that the legislation being sought now wouldnt bring one about.

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Merging is a complicated question. Maybe in five years, 10 years down the road that becomes obvious, Tanner said. But today I think you just have to be able to deliver health care as best you can and as efficiently as you can just to provide the best benefit to the taxpayers of Broward County. Youve got to take it one step at a time.

Harrison, one of the longest-tenured commissioners on the South Broward Hospital District Board, where he is a former chair, said the county is a far different place than it was when the separate districts were established.

And, he said, its different than it was when he was growing up in the 1970s in southwest Broward and a trip north was a major excursion; physical distance was a much greater obstacle than today.

He said merging the districts is a political nonstarter right now and raising the question ends up overwhelming the discussion. People think that theres something going on, nefarious.

Legislative maneuvering

Getting an idea through the Legislature and signed into law often takes more than one legislative session.

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The biggest unknown is what HCA will do. The companys media representatives didnt respond to questions about why the company opposed the legislation in 2025 and whether it would oppose the 2026 version.

HCA fields a formidable lobbying force in Tallahassee.

During the 2025 session, the legislative lobbying database showed 23 people from seven different lobbying and law firms registered to represent the company.

Filings show Heather Turnbull, managing partner of Rubin, Turnbull & Associates, one of the states most influential lobbying firms, lobbied against the hospital district proposal in 2025, along with Oak Strategies.

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Though they cant make political contributions like the private sectors HCA, Browards two hospital districts had significant lobbying firepower.

Powerhouse lobbyist Ron Books firm was among those trying to advance the legislation, along with lobbyists from the GrayRobinson law firm and from Continental Strategy, Ericks Consultants and Floridian Partners.

For the 2025 session, 15 people registered as lobbyists for one or both of the hospital districts.

The legislation

The 2026 legislation hasnt been filed yet.

House Bill 1253 and Senate Bill 1518, which didnt advance in 2025, said the hospital districts could jointly enter into, participate in, establish, and control any venture, partnership, corporation, business entity, organization, joint operating network, service line, facility, or any other joint relationship or collaboration, public or private, for profit or not for profit, anywhere within the boundaries of either or all such special districts, if the governing bodies of such districts, in their discretion, determine that it is consistent with, and in furtherance of, the purposes and best interests of such districts.

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The legislation also said the districts may exercise such powers, regardless of the competitive consequences thereof, including any actions that may be deemed anticompetitive within the meaning of state and federal antitrust laws.

The Legislatures blessing would provide immunity for state action, permitting acts normally seen as anticompetitive  but are allowed when they are deemed state policy and supervised by the state.

Opponents of the plan posted an anonymous petition on change.org asserting dire potential consequences from the 2025 legislation. Clinics could close, the petition said. Procedures may be outsourced. Services that arent deemed profitable may quietly disappear.

Even though the legislation would authorize actions that could otherwise be deemed anticompetitive, Strum said it opens up competition, leaning into the free enterprise system that allows us better to compete and serve better community goals. It creates economies of scale that will actually help lower health care costs in our community.

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This report includes information from South Florida Sun Sentinel archives.

Political writer Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.
PNW math instructor named to NASA project

Purdue University Northwest mathematics faculty member Grethe Hystad, associate professor of Statistics in the College of Engineering and Sciences, has been selected to join a team of multidisciplinary scientists on a NASA-funded project.

The five-year initiative, Advancing Multi-Messenger Biosignature Techniques with Machine Learning, explores whether life, extant or extinct, exists elsewhere in the solar system, according to a release.

Hystad will share in a $5 million grant and focus her work on developing machine learning methods, a process that uses algorithms to train computers to learn from data and make predictions.

Hematologist/medical oncologist joins Franciscan

Hematologist and medical oncologist Dr. Jeremy Johns is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Munster.

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Johns earned his medical degree from the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Buffalo, New York, and completed both his residency in internal medicine and his fellowship in hematology and oncology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey, a release said

He is accepting new patients at the Franciscan Health Cancer Center Munster at 701 Superior Ave., Suite 2500. Call 219-922-4081.

Chamber sets networking event

The Highland Griffith Chamber of Commerce will host, I Have An Idea: Growing Your Business From Idea To Success, from 9 a.m. till noon Nov. 14 at Alumni Hall on the campus of Purdue University Northwest in Hammond.

The free event will begin at 8 a.m. with coffee and networking, the release said. The event, in partnership with Purdue University Northwest College of Business, will feature vendors, a short presentation, and informal roundtable discussions ready to assist local current and prospective small business owners.

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Registration is not required but is recommended. Register at www.hgchamber.org, For further information, contact the chamber office at 219-923-3666 or info@hgchamber.org.

Valparaiso emergency room marks 10 years

The emergency room at Northwest Health  Valparaiso, 2000 Roosevelt Road, marked 10 years of service to the community in October. The ER, which opened in 2015, has cared for tens of thousands of

patients, providing quality, around-the-clock care for families in Valparaiso and beyond, according to a release.

The emergency room operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about emergency department locations at Northwest Health visit NWHealthIN.com.

VU, Harper College start engineering program

Valparaiso University and Harper College have signed an articulation agreement that provides a new pathway for future engineers to earn their bachelors degree.

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The agreement, signed in September, guarantees acceptance into the Valparaiso University College of Engineering for students who earn their Associates Degree in Engineering Science at Harper College, Palatine, Illinois, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements, according to a release.

In addition to earning their AES, students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, and must apply during their second year at Harper College to start the following fall semester at VU.

To learn more about the opportunities for future engineers at VU, visit valpo.edu/college-of-engineering/.

Franciscan presents free suicide prevention course

Franciscan Health Munster is presenting a free suicide prevention course in November.

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The QPR Suicide Prevention Course, aims to save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training, according to the release.

Franciscan Health Munster is presenting the course from 9:30-11 a.m. Nov. 10 in the St. Clare Conference Room of the hospital, 701 Superior Ave. The course is free, but registration is required by Nov. 9.

To register and for more information, contact Franciscan Health Community Health Improvement Coordinator Stacy Zembala at Stacy.Zembala@franciscanalliance.org.

Old National Bank donates $15K to food program

Franciscan Healths Fresh Start Market will be able to help feed local families facing food insecurity for three months thanks to a $15,000 donation from Old National Bank.

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Since 2021, Old National Bank has contributed more than $40,000 to support Franciscans Food Insecurity Program, according to a release. The recent $15,000 donation will fund food purchases for three months at the Fresh Start Market, which serves nearly 200 people monthly.

The Franciscan Health Foundation partnered in 2021 with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana to create the three-phase Food Insecurity Program to address food insecurity across the region.

The Fresh Start Markets are supported by donations to the Franciscan Health Foundation. To donate or for more information, call 219-661-3401.
"The Day of the Dead is much more Spanish than Halloween**"**, explains Susana Pliego, Director of Culture at Casa de Mexico, explaining the importance of this tradition that is gaining an ever increasing number of followers in Spain. In contrast to Halloween, which is a more gloomy holiday based on the sale of sweets and things which go bump in the night, the Day of the Dead unites pre-Hispanic Mexican traditions with Spanish ones to celebrate life and what lies beyond death.

In order to showcase Mexican customs, for the eighth consecutive year the Casa de Mexico in Madrid has set up an altar of the dead, designed for this edition by the architect and photographer Guillermo Gonzalez.

'Cabaret of memories', the largest altar to the dead in Europe, is inspired by the Mexican cabaret of the first decades of the 20th century, heavily influenced by French and German cabaret. Guillermo Gonzalez wanted to base his altar on this celebration of music and dance, whose elements evoke the presence of happy souls that continue to shine in the afterlife.

Architect Guillermo Gonzalez next to his creation in the house in Mexico in 2025. - Casa de Mexico

This altar not only honours those who have departed, but also reminds us that life, like the best of cabarets, should be lived singing, dancing and loving until the end.

The striking and colourful altar features several spectacular pieces such as12 life-size 'star performers', 62 glass spheres, a candelabra of skeltons, or bones, and small cardboard devils**,** as well as a rack of more than 60 skulls (a Mesoamerican ritual structure where the skulls of those sacrificed in honour of the gods were displayed) .

Image of several skulls placed in the Casa de Mexico on the occasion of the Day of the Dead in 2025. - Juan Isidro Montero Garcia

The tour proposed by the institution takes us back to the most vibrant Mexico of the 30s and 40s, a homely place with the traditional altar on the top floor where visitors can leave a message in memory of their loved ones; notes that, once the Day of the Dead has passed, are burned in a ceremony.

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What began as atradition among the institution's employees to have a piece of Mexican folklore on the other side of the ocean has become a key date in the cultural agenda of the year in Spain. The altar is becoming increasingly popular as people seek to learn more about Mexican culture and its cult of death as another phase of our existence. Dince 2003 this celebration has been recognised by Unesco as Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Mexican marigold and the seven levels of the altar

The seven levels of a Day of the Dead altar represent the path that the soul of the deceased must travel to reach eternal rest, symbolising purification and protection during its journey.

Although the composition may vary, as a general rule the following are placed in levels: the saint of devotion, the souls in purgatory, salt for purification, the traditional pan de muerto, the favourite food of the deceased, a photograph of the deceased, and finally a cross made of seeds or lime.

Another element that cannot be missing is the marigold flower, with strong orange tones and a characteristic smell that guides the dead on their journey.

The stairs leading to the altar for the Day of the Dead 2025 at Casa de Mexico. - Casa de Mexico

The Casa de Mexico altar can be visited throughout Madrid until 9 November and guided tours lasting 25 minutes can be booked through its website.
It can sometimes feel like you're one wrong move from your next traffic ticket. A couple in San Francisco weren't even safe in front of their own house. The city's planning department sent a $1,524 fine in 2023 to Judy and Ed Craine for parking in their driveway. After a lengthy struggle for sensibleness, the fine from the previously unenforced code was waived in August. Mayor Daniel Lurie even stated his aim to modernize restrictive property rules and prevent this from happening again.

The Craines live in a Noe Valley home built in 1910, only two years into the Ford Model T's production run. I mention that fact to note that the car hadn't yet become a ubiquitous method of transportation. According to KGO-TV, the San Francisco Planning Department later imposed code to prevent the neighborhood's residents from parking in setbacks in front of houses. This was why the Craines were ticketed for parking in a carport, but their garage-having neighbors weren't fined. Dan Sider, the department's chief of staff, told the station that the couple's fine was the result of an anonymous complaint. He added:

"I recognize that the property owner is frustrated. I think I would feel the same way in their situation. But the Planning Code doesn't allow for the City to grandfather illegal uses on account of their having flown below the radar for a length of time."

Read more: These Are The Cars You Regret Owning

Overwhelming evidence overturned the planning department's fine

An aerial photo of a car parked on the concrete pad at the Craines' address in 1958. - KGO-TV

However, the Craines could be grandfathered in if they could prove historic use before the code was enacted. A KGO viewer was able to give the couple the evidence they needed. David Ruiz, a manager of an aerial photography collection and a former U.S. Army aerial imagery analyst, found a 1958 photo showing a car on the concrete pad. The planning department accepted Ruiz's evidence and expertise, legalizing the Caines' carport. We can now be sure that it won't happen to anyone else. According to SFist, the city planning commission approved Mayor Lurie's proposal to legalize front setback parking last week. The only caveats are that no more than two vehicles can be parked in a driveway and vehicles can't block the sidewalk.

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California isn't the only state where car owners can be targets of overreaching regulations. A city councilman in Jacksonville, Florida attempted to ban drivers from backing into their driveways. He wanted to prevent residents from avoiding citations for possessing a vehicle with up-to-date registration by keeping their license plates out of sight from patrolling police officers. While the bill made it through committee, it thankfully never passed into law. I still want to know who snitched on the Craines.

Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox, and add us as a preferred search source on Google.

Read the original article on Jalopnik.




It's finally happening, San Antonio. Trader Joe's is opening a new location on the city's Northwest Side on Tuesday, November 4, in the Huebner Oaks Shopping Center. The 9,600-square-foot store will be the third Trader Joe's in San Antonio.

The California-based grocer will open the store for business at 9 a.m., following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:55 a.m. at its location, 11745 Interstate 10 West near Huebner Road. Trader Joe's revealed it hired more than 40 new crew members from surrounding areas and transferred in others from nearby stores, according to a news release on Friday, October 31.

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Store Captain Hrag Kozanian and Trader Joe's crew members will be on hand to welcome customers to their new neighborhood store. In addition, through the company's longstanding Neighborhood Shares Program, the new San Antonio Trader Joe's will donate 100% of products that go unsold, but remain fit to enjoy, to a range of non-profit, community-based organizations, seven days a week.

How many Trader Joe's stores are in San Antonio?

The Northwest location will mark the third Trader Joe's location in San Antonio. Trader Joe's has only two locations in San Antonio, both on the city's Northside on Basse Road and North Loop 1604.

In Texas, the company has several locations in cities across the state, including three in Austin, four in Dallas and three in Houston. Recently on October 29, Trader Joe's opened its first store in Bee Cave, a suburb about 12 to 17 miles west of downtown Austin.

What makes Trader Joe's special?

Unlike major grocery stores, Trader Joe's does not offer online shopping and focuses on the in-store experience. Exclusivity is a big part of what makes Trader Joe's products so sought after.

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The store is known for its low prices, which are competitive because of its private-label products, such as the "Mandarin Orange Chicken," "Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips," and frozen cauliflower gnocchi.

This article originally published at California supermarket announces opening date of new San Antonio store.
The hurried push to revise Californias congressional districts has drawn national attention, large sums of money, and renewed hope among Democrats that the effort may help counter a wave of Republican redistricting initiatives instigated by President Trump.

But if Democrats succeed in California, the question remains: Will it be enough to shift the balance of power in Congress?

To regain control of the House, Democrats need to flip three Republican seats in the midterm elections next year. That slim margin prompted the White House to push Republicans this summer to redraw maps in GOP states in an effort to keep Democrats in the minority.

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Texas was the first to signal it would follow Trump's edict and set off a rare mid-decade redistricting arms race that quickly roped in California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom devised Proposition 50 to tap into his state's massive inventory of congressional seats.

Californians appear poised to approve the measure Tuesday. If they do, Democrats potentially could gain five seats in the House  an outcome that mainly would offset the Republican effort in Texas that already passed.

While Democrats and Republicans in other states also have moved to redraw their maps, it is too soon to say which party will see a net gain, or predict voter sentiment a year from now, when a lopsided election in either direction could render the remapping irrelevant.

GOP leaders in North Carolina and Missouri approved new maps that likely will yield one new GOP seat in each, Ohio Republicans could pick up two more seats in a newly redrawn map approved Friday, and GOP leaders in Indiana, Louisiana, Kansas and Florida are considering or taking steps to redraw their maps. In all, those moves could lead to at least 10 new Republican seats, according to experts tracking the redistricting efforts.

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Read more: Voters in poll side with Newsom, Democrats on Prop. 50  a potential blow to Trump and GOP

To counter that, Democrats in Virginia passed a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would give lawmakers the power and option to redraw a new map ahead of next year's election. Illinois leaders are weighing their redistricting options and New York has filed a lawsuit that seeks to redraw a GOP-held district. But concerns over legal challenges already tanked the party's efforts in Maryland and the potential dilution of the Black vote has slowed moves in Illinois.

So far, the partisan maneuvers appear to favor Republicans.

"Democrats cannot gerrymander their way out of their gerrymandering problem. The math simply doesn't add up," said David Daly, a senior fellow at the nonprofit FairVote. "They don't have enough opportunities or enough targets."

Complex factors for Democrats

Democrats have more than just political calculus to weigh. In many states they are hampered by a mix of constitutional restrictions, legal deadlines and the reality that many of their state maps no longer can be easily redrawn for partisan gain. In California, Prop. 50 marks a departure from the state's commitment to independent redistricting.

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The hesitancy from Democrats in states such as Maryland and Illinois also underscores the tensions brewing within the party as it tries to maximize its partisan advantage and establish a House majority that could thwart Trump in his last two years in office.

Despite deeply shared frustrations about the state of our country, mid-cycle redistricting for Maryland presents a reality where the legal risks are too high, the timeline for action is dangerous, the downside risk to Democrats is catastrophic, and the certainty of our existing map would be undermined," Bill Ferguson, the Maryland Senate president, wrote in a letter to state lawmakers last week.

In Illinois, Black Democrats are raising concerns over the plans and pledging to oppose maps that would reduce the share of Black voters in congressional districts where they have historically prevailed.

I cant just think about this as a short-term fight. I have to think about the long-term consequences of doing such a thing, said state Sen. Willie Preston, chair of the Illinois Senate Black Caucus.

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Adding to those concerns is the possibility that the Supreme Courts conservative majority could weaken a key provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act and limit lawmakers' ability to consider race when redrawing maps. The outcome  and its effect on the 2026 midterms  will depend heavily on the timing and scope of the courts decision.

The court has been asked to rule on the case by January, but a decision may come later. Timing is key as many states have filing deadlines for 2026 congressional races or hold their primary election during the spring and summer.

If the court strikes down the provision, known as Section 2, advocacy groups estimate Republicans could pick up at least a dozen House seats across southern states.

I think all of these things are going to contribute to what legislatures decide to do, said Kareem Crayton, vice president of the Brennan Center for Justice. The looming court ruling, he added, is an extra layer of uncertainty in an already uncertain moment.

Republican-led states press ahead

Support for Prop. 50 has brought in more than $114 million, the backing of some of the party's biggest luminaries, including former President Obama, and momentum for national Democrats who want to regain control of Congress after the midterms.

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In an email to supporters Monday, Newsom said fundraising goals had been met and asked proponents of the effort to get involved in other states.

"I will be asking for you to help others  states like Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and more are all trying to stop Republican mid-decade redistricting efforts. More on that soon," Newsom wrote.

Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Braun called a special session set to begin Monday, to protect Hoosiers from efforts in other states that seek to diminish their voice in Washington and ensure their representation in Congress is fair.

In Kansas, the GOP president of the state Senate said last week that there were enough signatures from Republicans in the chamber to call a special session to redraw the state's maps. Republicans in the state House would need to match the effort to move forward.

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In Louisiana, Republicans in control of the Legislature voted last week to delay the state's 2026 primary elections. The move is meant to give lawmakers more time to redraw maps in the case that the Supreme Court rules in the federal voting case.

If the justices strike down the practice of drawing districts based on race, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has indicated the state likely would jump into the mid-decade redistricting race.

Shaniqua McClendon, head of Vote Save America, said the GOPs broad redistricting push underscores why Democrats should follow Californias lead  even if they dislike the tactic.

Democrats have to be serious about whats at stake. I know they dont like the means, but we have to think about the end, McClendon said. We have to be able to take back the House  its the only way well be able to hold Trump accountable.

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Read more: Your guide to Proposition 50: California redistricting

In New York, a lawsuit filed last week charging that a congressional district disenfranchises Black and Latino voters would be a "Hail Mary" for Democrats hoping to improve their chances in the 2026 midterms there, said Daly, of FairVote.

Utah also could give Democrats an outside opportunity to pick up a seat, said Dave Wasserman, a congressional forecaster for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. A court ruling this summer required Utah Republican leaders to redraw the state's congressional map, resulting in two districts that Democrats potentially could flip.

Wasserman described the various redistricting efforts as an "arms race ... Democrats are using what Republicans have done in Texas as a justification for California, and Republicans are using California as justification for their actions in other states."

'Political tribalism'

Some political observers said the outcome of California's election could inspire still more political maneuvering in other states.

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I think passage of Proposition 50 in California could show other states that voters might support mid-decade redistricting when necessary, when they are under attack, said Jeffrey Wice, a professor at New York Law School where he directs the New York Elections, Census & Redistricting Institute. I think it would certainly provide impetus in places like New York to move forward."

Similar to California, New York would need to ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment, but that could not take place in time for the midterms.

"It might also embolden Republican states that have been hesitant to redistrict to say, 'Well if the voters in California support mid-decade redistricting, maybe theyll support it here too,'" Wice said.

To Erik Nisbet, the director of the Center for Communications & Public Policy at Northwestern University, the idea that the mid-decade redistricting trend is gaining traction is part of a broader problem.

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It is a symptom of this 20-year trend in increasing polarization and political tribalism," he said. "And, unfortunately, our tribalism is now breaking out, not only between each other, but its breaking out between states.

He argued that both parties are sacrificing democratic norms and the ideas of procedural fairness as well as a representative democracy for political gain.

"I am worried about what the end result of this will be," he said.

Ceballos reported from Washington, Mehta from Los Angeles.

Get the L.A. Times California Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan's much-awaited fan meet has been cancelled, dimming the celebrations for many who were eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of the actor on his birthday. Taking to his X handle, SRK shared that the most-cherished annual ritual has been cancelled for safety concerns and crowd control issues. "Have been advised by authorities that I will not be able to step out and greet all you lovely people who have been waiting for me. My deepest apologies to all of you but have been informed that it is for the overall safety of everyone due to crowd control issues. Thank you for understanding and believe me," the actor wrote on X. https://x.com/iamsrk/status/1984975758419189802 Noting that he was looking forward to greet his fans, Shah Rukh said, "Thank you for understanding and believe me... I will miss seeing you more than you will." It is worth mentioning streets outside Shah Rukh Khan's home, Mannat, turned into a sea of love on Sunday. The superstar turned 60 on Sunday, November 1, and, as always, fans from across the country gathered to wish their favourite actor well and hope to catch just one glimpse of the "King of Bollywood". Crowds lined the streets, holding posters and banners reading "We love you SRK" and "Happy Birthday King Khan". Fans were even seen chanting his name outside the residence. Many, in fact, travelled miles just to see their idol appear on the balcony and greet them. Prior to this, SRK, during a #AskSRK session, suggested that he would meet his fans as part of their annual fan meet. In response to one of the fans, the actor, in his witty style, said, "Of course, but may have to wear a hard hat!!!" Many others even shared details about their visit to Mumbai for Shah Rukh Khan's birthday celebrations. "Welcome see you on 2nd," the actor replied to a fan. Meanwhile, the fans were treated to the title launch of SRK's upcoming film along with a small teaser. https://x.com/iamsrk/status/1984863561555058760 The one-minute, eleven-second teaser features gripping visuals, fast-paced action, and a darker, more intense version of Khan than audiences have ever seen before. Sporting silver hair, sharp expressions, and a brooding aura, the actor embodies a ruthless and enigmatic persona. Directed by Siddharth Anand, 'King' is set to release next year. (ANI)
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Canada and the Philippines, both staunch critics of Chinas increasingly coercive actions in the disputed South China Sea, signed a key defense agreement on Sunday to boost combat drills and expand security alliances to deter aggression, officials said.

Canada and other Western nations have been bolstering their military presence in the Indo-Pacific to help promote the rule of law and expand trade and investment in the region. The strategy dovetails with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. s efforts to build defense ties with other countries to help the Philippines' underfunded military face a militarily superior China in the disputed waters.

There was no immediate comment from China, which has accused the Philippines of being a troublemaker and a saboteur of regional stability following joint patrols and combat drills with the United States and other countries in the South China Sea.

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Beijing claims the waterway, a major trade route, virtually in its entirety, despite a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated those claims based on a 1982 U.N. convention.

China has dismissed the ruling and has employed powerful water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers against Philippine coast guard and other vessels, resulting in collisions and injuries to crewl. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have been involved in the long-simmering territorial disputes.

Philippines says China wants to expand its territory

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. signed the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with his Canadian counterpart, David McGuinty, after a closed-door meeting in Manila on Sunday.

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McGuinty said the agreement will boost joint military training, information-sharing and cooperation in addressing emergencies, including responding to natural disasters.

Teodoro told reporters the agreement will be key to fostering a rules-based international order in a region threatened by China's aggression. Who is hegemonic? Who wants to expand their territory in the world? China, Teodoro said.

Such agreements provide a legal framework for visits by foreign troops for joint large-scale exercises in either country.

The Philippines signed the first such defense pact with the U.S. in 1998, followed by a similar accord with Australia nine years later. The agreement with Canada was the third signed under Marcos, after similar ones with Japan and New Zealand.

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Talks are ongoing with France and Singapore for similar agreements. Efforts are also underway to launch negotiations with Britain and possibly with Germany and India, Teodoro and other officials said.

Beijing faces backlash over plans for disputed shoal

At the annual meeting of defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with Asian and Western counterparts on Saturday in Malaysia, Teodoro condemned China's recent announcement that it would establish a nature reserve in the Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing area claimed by Manila and Beijing.

This, to us, is a veiled attempt to wield military might and the threat for use of force, undermining the rights of smaller countries and their citizens who rely on the bounty of these waters, Teodoro said.

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Canada criticized Chinas plan when it was announced in September, saying it opposes attempts to use environmental protection as a way to take control" of Scarborough Shoal. Canada in September also criticized China's "dangerous use of water cannons, which injured one Filipino official aboard a government vessel.

Canadian Ambassador to Manila David Hartman has said his country has been vocal in confronting the provocative and unlawful actions" of China in region's waters and will continue to do so.

Last year, Canada signed an agreement on defense cooperation with the Philippines. Another agreement signed in Ottawa in 2023 gave the Philippines access to data from Canadas Dark Vessel Detection System, which harnesses satellite technology to track illegal vessels even if they switch off location-transmitting devices.

The Philippine coast guard has used the Canadian technology to track Chinese coast guard ships and fishing vessels in the South China Sea.
Police in Canton are looking for more information after they received a report of a sewing needle sticking out of a candy bar handed out during trick-or-treating last week.

The needle, sticking out from a wrapped Twix, did not appear to seriously injure anyone, according to a Facebook post by the Canton Police Department on Saturday, Nov. 1. But a Canton police sergeant said Sunday they are still investigating in the case.

Police say someone received the candy with the needle while trick-or-treating in the area of Saltz Road and Sheldon Road, a residential area near an elementary school about 30 miles west of downtown Detroit.

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"At this time, this appears to be an isolated incident, but out of an abundance of caution, we want the community to be aware and vigilant," the department posted on Facebook.

"The Canton Police Department takes all such reports seriously and are working to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident."

Someone in Canton found a sewing needle sticking out from the wrapper of a piece of candy distributed during trick-or-treating on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, according to a statement and images shared by the Canton Police Department.

While there are occasional similar reports of doctored Halloween candy across the country, experts note it's rare.

Joshua Smith, a professor Central Michigan Universitys Department of Philosophy, Anthropology & Religion, said in a statement released earlier this month myths about widespread Halloween candy issues persist in part because people are "bad at thinking about risk."

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"We hear about one or two stories of something bad happening with Halloween candy and we conclude that Halloween candy is risky," Smith said in an Oct. 22 news release. "

"We fail to take all our evidence into account and think that even if those stories are true (and they probably aren't), the likelihood of running into a situation like that is incredibly low."

Reach Dave Boucher at dboucher@freepress.com and on X @Dave_Boucher1.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Canton police investigating report of sewing needle in Halloween candy
NEED TO KNOW

Sophia Farmer was undergoing a wisdom teeth extraction procedure in July when she became unresponsive, Grayslake Fire Department Chief Dan Pierre tells PEOPLE

She died three days later

After a three month investigation, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office determined her cause and manner of death

A cause of death has been revealed for a 17-year-old Illinois girl who fell unconscious during a wisdom teeth extraction procedure and was pronounced dead at a local hospital days later.

Sophia Farmer, of Spring Grove, was undergoing the dental procedure on July 21 at Northern Lakes Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center in Grayslake when she became unresponsive, Grayslake Fire Department Chief Dan Pierre tells PEOPLE.

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A 911 caller reported a person in cardiac arrest and when paramedics arrived they found Farmer was not breathing and her heart wasn't beating either, he says. The oral surgeon's office had already started an IV, he adds, and upon their arrival, paramedics began CPR and intubation.

On the way to the hospital, Farmer did start breathing again in the ambulance and her heart began beating on its own, but she did not regain consciousness, he says.

Farmer died three days later, on July 24, according to her obituary.

Speaking about her death, Pierre tells PEOPLE it was a "sad ending to a 17-year-old girl's life."

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After a three month investigation, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office determined that Farmer's death was the result of complications of dental extraction surgery under sedation, with an ARID1B gene mutation and "multiple neurologic abnormalities" listed as contributing factors, a spokeswoman tells PEOPLE.

Her manner of death was listed as natural.

PEOPLE has requested a copy of the full medical examiner's report but it has not yet been provided and additional information about her death has not been publicly reported on.



ARID1B-related disorder is a rare genetic condition that can cause significant development delays and disabilities, according to the Foundation for ARID1B Research.

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People with the disorder most typically, but not always, have intellectual disabilities that can range from mild to severe and may also have, "autistic features, seizures, delays or (near) absence of speech, as well as daily living and motor impairments," according to the foundation.

The foundation went on to note though that "the disorder is probably underdiagnosed because of its diverse manifestations and the lack of availability of genetic diagnostic testing."

Pierre tells PEOPLE that paramedics were not informed about any genetic abnormalities of Farmer's and that the department's incident record "doesn't show that it was reported." He had no additional information about if the oral surgeon was aware of her condition.

The oral surgery center declined to comment and Farmer's family could not immediately be reached.



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Deaths related to dental treatment are extremely rare, with fewer than three people dying per year, according to a 2017 study from the National Library of Medicine.

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

Farmer was remembered in her obituary for her love of boating and camping  and loved ones said she "never met a dog that she didn't want to keep."

"From the moment she came into our lives, Sophie filled our hearts with immeasurable love and laughter," the obituary read. "Above all else, Sophie loved the Lord. She was active in her youth group and loved to sing on the worship team. She had a tender heart for others and you would often find her praying over her friends."

A funeral service was held in August.



Read the original article on People
What caused the SS Edmund Fitzgerald freighter to sink amid a violent storm on Lake Superior on Nov. 10, 1975, killing its 29 crew members, remains a point of debate and mystery a half-century later.

Theories range from the Edmund Fitzgerald striking a shoal and suffering bottom damage to flooding through the freighter's hatch covers, which filled the ship with water and sank it, to rogue waves, to structural flaws in the ship that the 1975 storm made deadly.

Fed investigations: Ship likely sank due to faulty, failing hatch covers

Two major federal investigations were conducted after the Fitzgerald's 1975 sinking: the U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Board of Investigation, which released its report in July 1977; and the National Transportation Safety Board, whose findings and recommendations were released in May 1978.

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The Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation, in its conclusions, noted that the lack of survivors and witnesses, and the incomplete information on all that the Edmund Fitzgerald was facing on Lake Superior that day and evening, meant "the proximate cause of the loss of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald cannot be determined."

But the board goes on to list a suspected cause: flooding through the ship's topside hatches.

The ill-fated journey of the Edmund Fitzgerald. It sank during a storm on Lake Superior on Nov. 10, 1975.

"The most probable cause of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald was the loss of buoyancy and stability which resulted from massive flooding of the cargo hold," its report states. "The flooding of the cargo hold took place through ineffective hatch closures as boarding seas rolled along the Spar Deck," the deck that covers a ship's cargo holds.

The report states that the Edmund Fitzgerald's flooding began early on Nov. 10 and worsened throughout the day and evening as the violent storm on Lake Superior gained strength. The taking on of water reduced the ship's freeboard, making it ride lower and lower in the raging water. The Coast Guard report notes that Edmund Fitzgerald Capt. Ernest McSorley reported being in some of the worst seas he had ever seen.

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"It is probable that, at the time he reported this, Fitzgerald had lost so much freeboard from the flooding of the cargo hold that the effect of the sea was much greater than he would have ordinarily experienced," the report states.

The Coast Guard report noted that the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald happened so quickly, no deployment of lifeboats occurred, nor a mayday distress call sent over the ship's radio  despite the ship's crew having been on the radio with the nearby freighter Arthur M. Anderson just minutes before on the evening of Nov. 10.

The report further noted that the Fitzgerald's positioning on the Lake Superior bottom  its front section upright and looking as if it collided with the muddy bottom at speed; the middle section of the ship disintegrated and the rear section capsized and nearly perpendicular but less than 200 feet from the front section on the lake bottom  tend to indicate the ship didn't suffer a structural breaking apart on the lake surface, as the ship halves would have likely remained buoyant for at least a brief time and the raging, 50-knot winds would have taken the two ship halves farther from one another.

The damaged sign of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck as seen from a diving submarine.

The marine board walked through how a loss of buoyancy due to severe topside flooding through the ship's faulty or failing hatches potentially unfolded on the fateful night of Nov. 10, 1975.

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"Finally, as the storm reached its peak intensity, so much freeboard was lost that the bow pitched down and dove into a wall of water, and the vessel was unable to recover," the report states. "Within a matter of seconds, the cargo (26,000 tons of iron ore taconite pellets) rushed forward, the bow plowed into the bottom of the lake, and the midships structure disintegrated, allowing the submerged stern section, now emptied of cargo, to roll over and override the other structure, finally coming to rest upside-down atop the disintegrated middle portion of the ship."

The NTSB final report from its investigation reached a similar conclusion.

"(T)he probable cause of this accident was the sudden massive flooding of the cargo hold due to the collapse of one or more hatch covers," its report stated.

George "Red" Burgner was a Great Lakes mariner for decades and served as a steward or cook on the Edmund Fitzgerald for 10 years. Burgner left the Fitzgerald earlier in 1975 to have surgery on chronic bone spurs in his feet  and turned down a company invite to return to the ship just days before its fateful voyage.

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In a January 1978 deposition, Burgner stated that the Fitzgerald frequently left port without yet fully securing the approximately 68 clamps that went around the ship's hatch covers. It has contributed to some speculating that the ship's hatches may not have been perfectly secured when the fierce storm hammered the boat.

Could the Fitzgerald have bottomed out on a shoal?

The captain of a Great Lakes freighter that also endured the storm of Nov. 10, 1975, on Lake Superior, and was the nearest ship to the Edmund Fitzgerald at the time it sank, speculated that the Fitz may have sunk from damage to its hull from bottoming out on a shoal, a shallower area in the lake due to rocks and sandbars.

"(T)he Fitz was to the west of our course line. Maybe too close to Caribou Island," said Capt. Jesse "Bernie" Cooper of the bulk carrier Arthur M. Anderson, in a handwritten recounting of the Fitzgerald's sinking about 10 years after the event.

"(The time was) 15:20  3:20 p.m. The Fitzgerald called with the information that she had a fence rail down, two vents damaged, plus a starboard list. He (Fitzgerald Captain McSorley) also had his pumps going, so that means that the Fitz had to have water in one or two of her side tanks. Probably a stress fracture of the hull.

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"At this time the Fitz was mortally wounded. How bad we wouldn't know until later. My own opinion is that she bottomed out on a shoal. This area had not been surveyed since the 1915 era."

Robert Thibaudeau spent 45 years as a mariner on the Great Lakes, the last 18 years as a captain of freighters. His last ship was the MV Paul R. Tregurtha, the longest bulk carrier freighter on the Great Lakes at more than 1,013 feet. He retired as a captain in 2021.

He, too, speculates that the Fitz grounded on a shoal, and suspects it's one known as Six Fathom Shoal, on the north end of Caribou Island in northeastern Lake Superior. Bedrock ridges there take lake levels to 36 feet or even shallower in places, a potential problem for a deep-drafting vessel like a Great Lakes bulk carrier. In the aftermath of the Fitzgerald sinking, the Canadian government in 1976 updated its bathymetric maps near Caribou Island from those created in the early 1900s, and mapped the shoal about a mile farther east from the island than had been previously mapped.

Several onlookers view the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1959. The Fitzgerald was 729 feet long, and the largest ship on the Great Lakes for the first 13 years of its existence.

"If you look at where they went, the track line, there is a 36-foot (deep) shoal area they potentially could have got close to just off Caribou in that area," Thibaudeau said. "I believe they could have gotten close to that 36-foot (shoal) spot."

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The captain added that even if the ship was in navigable water near the shoal, the heavy seas from the storm could have thrusted the ship's bottom into the bedrock.

Officials with the Lake Carriers Association, a Westlake, Ohio-based trade organization representing the Great Lakes freighter shipping industry, also concluded that the Edmund Fitzgerald bottomed out on a shoal in the immediate years after the sinking.

But some dispute the possibility.

Sean Kery, a senior principal engineer and naval architect for CACI, a Virginia-based government contractor that works with the U.S. Navy and other clients; and Ben Fisher, with Bremerton, Washington-based SAFE Boats International, a company that designs boats for military, law enforcement and first responders, in a 2012 presentation of a forensic examination of the Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking, rejected the shoal damage theory.

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"There is no sign of grounding damage to the exposed stern section, which would be the deepest in the water under normal conditions," Kerry and Fisher's research paper stated.

Ric Mixter agrees. The Wixom resident is a diver, documentary filmmaker, Great Lakes shipwreck historian and author of the 2022 book "Tattletale Sounds: The Edmund Fitzgerald investigations." He is among the few who have dived the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck, in a submersible in 1994.

"I've totally ruled out running aground," he said. "I've got lots of people who tell me that Six Fathom Shoal doesn't exist."

In addition to McSorley, three other crew members on the Fitzgerald that fateful night  First Mate John H. McCarthy, Second Mate James A. Pratt, and Third Mate Michael E. Armagost  had attained the designation of Master from the U.S. Coast Guard, meaning they had passed through a rigorous licensing and endorsement process showing their experience and proficiency to safely and efficiently operate a ship such as a Great Lakes bulk carrier.

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"They had made that turn (by Michipicoten and Caribou islands) more than a hundred times," said Mixter. "John Simmons, the wheelsman, had been on the Fitzgerald since 1959. He was the longest-serving employee on board that ship.

"To insult those guys to say ... they cut that corner and ran aground, it's absolutely silly."

A faulty 'backbone' and rogue waves could have doomed the Fitz

In addition to serving as a cook on the Edmund Fitzgerald for a decade, Red Burgner was also the ship's winter "keeper" for seven years, an employee who stays on the ship at dock or drydock overwinter, helping coordinate maintenance and keeping the ship operational, and serving as a point of contact with contractors coming to the ship.

In his January 1978 deposition, Burgner stated that the Edmund Fitzgerald had recurring problems with a loose keel, the steel backbone of the ship along its bottom, from which the hull is constructed. Burgner said he observed the loose keel, with sections receiving only spots of "tack welds" instead of solid welds along the length of the keel to reattach it to the ship, as recently as overwinter 1973-74.

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Burgner also testified that the ship would move and heave with large waves in a way that he didn't experience on other boats, and take longer to straighten out after such waves. The Fitzgerald also made "groaning" noises that Burgner said he'd never heard on any other boat he'd served on.

Black and white negative of a photograph that shows an interior view of the hull of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald under construction at the Great Lakes Engineering Works shipyard. Handwritten text in the upper left corner of the image shows "Hull No. 301, 29 Nov. 57."

Burgner stated he was present for a conversation where maintenance men working on the lower decks of the boat told McSorley the problem had arisen again earlier in 1975, as the Edmund Fitzgerald was being prepared for the upcoming shipping season.

"They came in the mess room door, had coffee, sat down and started talking," Burgner stated. "And they said, 'Captain, the keel's loose on this son of a bitch again.' "Burgner said McSorley replied, "'I don't give a (expletive). All this son of a bitch has got to do is stay together one more year. After that, I don't give a shit what happens to it.'"

Burgner's account of keel problems on the Edmund Fitzgerald is corroborated by marine engineer and naval architect Joseph E. Fischer, then president of Bay Engineering Inc., who, in a recollection years after the Fitzgerald sank, recalled that a company he was with in 1969, R.A. Steam in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, "was asked to investigate the continuing failure of the longitudinal keelsons attachment to the bottom shell plate" of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

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"Each year, a survey would show cracks in the weld of the center vertical keel to the bottom shell," Fischer said. "These cracks would be gouged out and rewelded only to show the same cracks in the following years."

Mixter thinks it's a key to the Fitzgerald's demise. With Burgner's testimony, "there is a clear indication (McSorley) knew there was an issue, but he still pushed through five gale-force winds in that season, one on Lake Huron and the rest on Superior," Mixter said. "So each time that keel was getting loose."

Cooper, the captain aboard the Anderson on the same Nov. 10, only miles away from the Fitzgerald, recalled seas of "25 to 35 feet" that evening on eastern Lake Superior.

"Sometime before 7 p.m. we took two of the largest seas of the trip," Cooper recounted in his handwritten retelling of that night. "The first one flooded our boat deck. It had enough force to come down on the starboard lifeboat, pushing it into the saddles with a force strong enough to damage the bottom of the lifeboat ... the second large sea put green water on our bridge deck! This is about 35 feet above the waterline!

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"Did these two large seas reach the Fitzgerald at 7:10 p.m.?"

The Fitzgerald had already reported a fence rail down, vents damaged and a starboard list, with two pumps activated  signs the ship was already taking on water. The ship was riding lower above the waterline. The large waves might have meant its death knell.

"It collapsed Hatches 1 and 5, and the ship couldn't recover," Mixter speculated. "It broke its back on the surface. It dove underneath the water, and the stern section ripped off and flipped upside-down."

That more or less coincides with the conclusions of the 2012 analysis by Kery and Fisher: a cascading disaster of two smashed vents, flooding ballast tanks, the Fitzgerald's forward house flooding, the forward two hatch covers blown in, allowing yet more water to rush in and weigh down the ship, and a hull girder failure.

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Mixter believes what exactly caused the Edmund Fitzgerald to sink on the night of Nov. 10, 1975, leaving its crew of 29 dead, is possible to know. But it would take more dives and further research on the ship's remains on the Lake Superior bottom to understand. It's time to overcome reservations about it, he said.

"There are so many questions that could be solved with a quick sonar scan with the newest technology we have," Mixter said. "Many of the voices that were so vocally opposed to us (shipwreck divers) have faded since they have passed away.

"Fifty years later now, we are sitting at the point where there is better technology, and we could figure it out."

Contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why did the Edmund Fitzgerald sink? 3 theories could explain it
Legendary former CBS News anchor Dan Rather celebrated his 94th birthday on Friday.

The iconic newsman, who served as CBS Evening News anchor from 1981 to 2005, smiled for the camera, flanked by two friends who celebrated his big day alongside him. The journalist looked happy and healthy, surrounded by balloons and a birthday cake.

Journalist Tony Plohetski held a birthday dessert for Rather, adorned with a "94" candle, and expressed joy in the caption.

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"Happy birthday to an American treasure. We loved celebrating 94 years of a truly incredible life! ," he shared.

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Rather Spoke Candidly About Changes at CBS News

Last month, Rather, who stepped down from CBS Evening News in 2005 after 24 years as anchor, took to Substack to share his feelings about Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press, becoming the editor-in-chief of CBS News. CBS acquired The Free Press for $150 million, the Wall Street Journal previously reported.

"The former opinion writer for The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times is not a reporter. She has never worked in television news, and she has never led a staff larger than a few dozen," Rather wrote on his Substack, which has more than 530,000 subscribers, according to the New York Times. "That all changed this week when David Ellison, whose Skydance Media recently acquired CBS, installed Weiss in a position created for her. She will not report to the president of CBS News  as one might expect  but to David Ellison directly."

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Rather continued, calling it "a dark day in the halls of CBS News."

"The American people will pay the price for this move, as will the journalists of CBS News who can no longer credibly serve as watchdogs because the ones they are meant to hold to account are signing their paychecks and hobnobbing with the president," Rather stated.

He Supports the Other Anchors

Rather opened up to the New York Times about how he still watches the nightly news on each major network, and stated that he supports each of the anchors.

I give Muir credit. He goes to where the work is, he said of David Muir, anchor of ABC World News Tonight, which has the top ratings. He called Tom Llamas, the new anchor of NBC Nightly News, a real talent.

Related: Iconic Journalist, 74, Stuns on the Red Carpet

This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Hairstylists, makeup artists, and other professionals volunteered their time to give makeovers to women who have overcome adversity.

The Celebration of Survivors event happened at the Citadel of Deliverance Church and was aimed at lifting up women in the community.

At the same time they are going through their own personal storms as it relates to breast cancer, domestic violence, pregnancy and infant loss and we just wanted them to know that we see them, we feel them, we appreciate them and we love them, explained Stephanie Dillard, who organized the event.

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At the church all Saturday afternoon celebrity stylists were in attendance to give completely free makeovers to women who have survived breast cancer, domestic violence and infant mortality loss.

Perhaps the most important message that was given at the event was just how important confident women are to communities.

Bishop Linwood Dillard, the senior pastor at the Citadel of Deliverance Church emphasized how women are the backbone for many, if not all, communities in Memphis and around the country.

I didnt see it as just a makeover event, I saw it as ministry, said Bishop Dillard. Letting these ladies know that they are beautiful and as much as there is a physical transformation, I think even more so there is spiritual, mental and emotional restoration that is taking place.

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They spared no expense as many of these makeovers took two hours or more to complete and stylists were even flown in to attend. Davion Anderson, a stylist from Houston, flew in when he heard about the opportunity.

Women are women, they have emotions, they have feelings, and if theyve been through anything detrimental, and with what some of these women have gone through it makes a big difference to let them know that someones thinking about them, Anderson explained. Someone wants to do something for them that they typically havent received in a long time or reiterate that theyre still here, they are still human.

While the women who attended the event received the best of the best in hair and makeup, Bishop Dillard hopes women going through their own struggles know that theyre not alone and our communities are better with them in it.

Thats why today is so important because survival is not the end of a story, actually its the beginning of a new beginning so dont lose heart, dont lose hope, reach out for help, and see yourself as God has made you, he said.

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This was the first makeover event from the church but they tell WREG it likely wont be their last.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
President Donald Trump hosted a Great Gatsby themed party for Halloween, complete with tuxedos, flapper dresses, jazz covers and cocktails that evoked the opulence of F. Scott Fitzgeralds Roaring Twenties. Glittering lights, champagne towers and carefully curated period decor created an atmosphere of celebration and indulgence. According to the Associated Press, the official theme of A little party never killed nobody, which is a reference to a song from the 2013 film adaptation.

Dancers at Trumps Halloween party as people begin losing food stamps under his administration pic.twitter.com/LWknoEktw6  PatriotTakes  (@patriottakes) November 1, 2025

The timing added an unintended layer of irony. The party took place the night before many SNAP recipients experienced lapses in benefits, the federal program relied upon by millions of Americans to buy groceries. Images of gleaming tables and dancing guests circulated widely, a striking contrast to the very real struggles some Americans faced the following day.

Observers noted echoes of Fitzgeralds novel in the scene: a world obsessed with appearances, where glitter and spectacle mask the emptiness beneath. The Gatsby motif  a glittering party meant to dazzle, distract and impress  played out in real life as guests toasted while federal benefits quietly lapsed.

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The juxtaposition has not gone unnoticed on social media, with critics highlighting the stark gap between the lavish celebration and daily necessity. While partygoers enjoyed the visual feast, the circumstances around them  empty shelves, reduced benefits and families navigating hunger  added a layer of unintended resonance with the novels cautionary tale about excess, illusion and disconnection.

In the end, the party offered all the glamour of a literary fantasy, but the timing reminded observers that reality has its own narrative. And much like in the Gatsby world, in a world built for spectacle, real consequences remain inescapable.

The post Champagne, sequins, SNAP cuts: A real-life Gatsby party appeared first on Salon.com.
Bollywood celebrities led the line of heartfelt birthday wishes for superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who turned 60 on Sunday, November 2. From his old friend and longtime co-star Kajol to Akshay Kumar, many extended greetings to SRK, further giving a nod to his upcoming film, 'KING'. Sharing a string of pictures with Shah Rukh, Kajol penned a witty birthday wish which read, "Happy happy 60th to a life well lived .. advice for the day! Don't count the candles.... Here's to turning 29 again. Wish all and only good things for you and yours! Happy Birthday." http://instagram.com/p/DQisYKwgumC/ Akshay Kumar shared a rare throwback picture with the 'Jawan' star and wrote, "Many, many congratulations on your special day, Shahrukh. 60 ka lagta nahi hai vaise tu kahin se. Shakal se 40, akal se 120 ;) Happy Birthday dost. Stay blessed." https://x.com/akshaykumar/status/1984853240668979574 Filmmaker Farah Khan also dedicated a sweet wish to SRK along with cute pictures with the actor. "Happy birthday KING @iamsrk .. rule for another 100 years," she wrote. https://www.instagram.com/p/DQhjBqljFoP/ Karan Johar, who has worked with Shah Rukh Khan in several iconic films, penned a long note for the actor. He also shared a special video, curated with scenes from their films, BTS moments and award shows. "Bhai... the repertoire of cinema and projection of love that you have given to zillions of your fans across the globe makes you so much more than a mega movie star...it makes you an emotion...an emotion some of us are privileged to experience every day! I love you so much Bhai... thank you for being there through thick and thin and being family to Yash, Roohi, Mom and I...Always and forever...Happy Birthday!!! This Decade like every decade will be yours!!!!" a part of his post read. https://www.instagram.com/p/DQim0OpCJtH/ Kareena Kapoor Khan took to her Instagram story and added, "Happy birthday King. There will never be another." Shilpa Shetty, while sharing a video carousel featuring their pictures and videos, gave a shoutout to the "King of hearts." "Here's to teaching gen A to Z the true art of romance! Wishing you great health, happiness, love and success always! Love you, Baazigar O Baazigar," she wrote. https://www.instagram.com/p/DQikFbajCX0/ Sonam Kapoor shared goofy moments with the superstar and added, "Happy happiest birthday @iamsrk." Actor Riteish Deshmukh shared an old picture, showing him with SRK and Genelia and wrote, "To the man whose inspiration has shaped me in ways words can scarcely capture. Dearest @iamsrk..Shah Bhai I wish you best of health, happiness and life filled with love and blockbusters - you have a special place in your hearts - keep beating, keep inspiring!!! I love you!!!! Have a fantastic birthday!!!!" Anupam Kher also extended birthday wishes to the 'Pathaan' actor and wrote, "Happy landmark Birthday my dearest #Shahrukh!! May God give you all the happiness, long and healthy life! Knowing you is a joyous and rich feeling! Your energy is infectious! This video even though is of more than 5mins of duration, but I could go on and on! Stay happy and live for another thousand years! This "sweater" look from #Mohabatien (minus the violin and hair) is specially for you on your special day! Love and prayers always!" https://www.instagram.com/p/DQiqeg-gkf1/ Many others, like Vivek Oberoi, Tiger Shroff, Neha Dhupia, Shatrughan Sinha, Kamal Haasan, Ananya Panday, Kriti Sanon, Nimrat Kaur, and his 'KING' director Siddharth Anand, also sent their heartfelt messages across social media platforms. The teaser for 'KING' was unveiled earlier in the day, sparking an immediate and enthusiastic response from fans. With Shah Rukh Khan in a never-seen-before avatar and Siddharth Anand's signature high-octane style, King is set to redefine the genre. The film is scheduled to release in 2026. (ANI)
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  The Charleston Police Department is seeking help from the community as they work to locate a missing College of Charleston student.

Owen Tillman Kenney, 19, was last seen by friends in the area of King Street and Burns Lane around 2 a.m. on Oct. 31, according to police.

Kenney is described as 61 in height and 155 pounds. He was last seen wearing the Boston Celtics jersey in the photo shared below.

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According to a Facebook post from family members, Kenney has tattoos on his right forearm, left shoulder, and on his left shin and knee. He may have had a black zip-up hoodie when he was last seen.

Provided by Charleston PD

Provided by Charleston PD

If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Charleston Police Department at 843-720-2422 and ask to speak with the on duty Central Detective or send a tip via e-mail at www.charleston-sc.gov/tips.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
Candles, candy and colorful flowers adorned the ofrenda, or altar, that a couple of dozen people helped build Saturday to honor Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, the man shot and killed by an ICE agent in northwest suburban Franklin Park nearly two months ago.

At the intersection of Grand Avenue and Emerson Street, near where the shooting took place, the small crowd set out to pay homage to Villegas Gonzalez for Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday to remember loved ones who have died.

Villegas Gonzalezs girlfriend, Blanca, described him as a very kind, gentle person and said he was someone who was wanted. She said its hard for others to understand the pain she has gone through since his death.

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This has not been an easy process, especially when youre in this country alone, she said. A lot of us leave our parents behind, coming to this country, looking for a dream.

An orange cross was placed atop the altar, while photos of Villegas Gonzalez and Mexican flags covered the ground. Some wore shirts with his face on it. The group also prayed and listened to some of Villegas Gonzalezs favorite rock music from a playlist that Blanca, who asked that her full name not be used for fear of retribution, shared.

I didnt know him, but he could have been my brother, he could have been a neighbor, he could have been my family, said Maria Lopez, of Melrose Park. Its not because of his immigration status, its because he was a neighbor. It could have happened to anybody.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials have said an agent shot and killed Villegas Gonzalez, 38, on Sept. 12 after he attempted to flee arrest during a traffic stop, dragging and allegedly seriously injuring the agent with his vehicle. Democratic lawmakers have called for investigations into the shooting, including after body cam footage released by local police showed the agent describing his injuries as nothing major.

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The state of Idaho, meanwhile, took custody of Villegas Gonzalezs two children, an absence his family in Mexico said they feel immensely.

Adriana Balvaneda, an organizer with Hijas Del Pueblo, the group that put on Saturdays event, said she grew up in Franklin Park and was on a walk outside with her parents when Villegas Gonzalez was killed.

I saw the police put the yellow tape. I saw the Franklin Park village bring out the trucks to shield the view of what happened, she said. Theres a lot of pain in our community.

She said Dia de los Muertos is the perfect time to honor Villegas Gonzalezs spirit. Hijas Del Pueblo is also advocating for Franklin Park to become a sanctuary city and for the town to set up a permanent monument for Villegas Gonzalez, Balvaneda said.

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Thats really what Dia de los Muertos is about, is making sure that were always aware of our ancestors, she said. And even though they may not be here physically with us, I know his spirit is the reason why Franklin Park has not seen as much activity as other places.

Silvia Rogel, with Elmwood Park Neighbors United, said the whole community needs to come together amid the heightened federal immigration enforcement during Operation Midway Blitz, not just for Villegas Gonzalez, but for every immigrant.

We are contributors to this economy as much as everybody else, and we will demand our power, Rogel said. We know that it is never given to us, so today we are demanding our power.
A J.C. Carson High School student has died after falling from a vehicle during a crash at the school on Wednesday, police told Channel 9.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Student hospitalized after falling from vehicle at China Grove school

The student was injured after falling from a Chevrolet Tahoe during an accident that occurred on school grounds. Police said Saturday that the student died from their injuries.

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The incident involved several juveniles.

The circumstances surrounding the crash are still under investigation, police said.

Rowan County Schools sent the following statement:

Rowan-Salisbury Schools and Jesse C. Carson High School are deeply saddened by an accident that occurred in the school parking lot on October 29, where an incident involving a vehicle resulted in a fatal injury to a student. Emergency personnel responded quickly, and the student was transported to the hospital.

The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority. Our hearts are with the injured student, their family, and the entire Carson High School community as we support them during this difficult time.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

(WATCH BELOW: Deputies: Suspect crashed near school, broke into Chester County classroom)
Beijing and Washington may be set to revive dormant military communication channels, but it is just a first step and the two sides are still some way from genuine trust, an observer has cautioned.

The assessment followed US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's announcement on social media on Sunday that the two countries had "agreed that we should set up military-to-military channels to deconflict and de-escalate any problems that arise".

Hegseth met his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Defence Ministers Meeting Plus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday in the first face-to-face meeting between the defence chiefs of China and the United States under the second Trump administration. The Pentagon chief said he spoke with Dong again on Saturday.

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They agreed that "peace, stability and good relations are the best path for our two great and strong countries", the US defence secretary said, adding that more meetings would come soon.

The agreement comes in the wake of a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump on Thursday, their first in-person discussion since Trump's return to the White House in January.

The talks between the presidents in the South Korean city of Busan "set the tone for everlasting peace and success for the US and China", and "the relationship between the United States and China has never been better", Hegseth said in his social media post, echoing Trump.

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An analyst cautioned, however, that restoring contact was only an initial step, and it was not certain that the two sides could build military trust amid fraught political and economic ties.

China's Defence Minister Dong Jun attends the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on October 31. Photo: AFP alt=China's Defence Minister Dong Jun attends the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on October 31. Photo: AFP>

Building genuine consensus after establishing communication channels requires continuous dialogue, mutual compromise and concessions from both sides, a process that is far from easy, according to Song Zhongping, a mainland military commentator and former People's Liberation Army instructor.

"Direct military-to-military contact can help build trust and prevent misjudgment," Song said. "Both leaders have repeatedly emphasised that China and the US must avoid confrontation and conflict - that's the bottom line. Their militaries need to improve exchanges and establish mechanisms for crisis management and control."

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But, he noted, deep-rooted mistrust remained.

"Conservative forces in the US are deeply wary of China and continue to hype the 'China military threat'. As China's defence abilities grow, Washington feels its hegemonic status is under threat," Song said.

Setting up a communication channel did not mean that mutual trust had been achieved, and "we still need to watch how it develops", he said.

Song added that Taiwan remained the core point of contention, representing a fundamental clash of interests between the two sides, and how the US handled the issue would be crucial to building real military trust.

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Taiwan is regarded by Beijing as a core interest - "the first red line that cannot be crossed" in bilateral relations, and part of China to be reunited by force if necessary.

Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.

After his talks with Xi on Thursday, Trump told reporters that "Taiwan never came up" in the meeting.

However, Taiwan was raised during the talks on Friday. Dong said the US should be cautious in its words and actions on the Taiwan issue and must unequivocally oppose "Taiwan independence".

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"The reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is an unstoppable historical trend," Dong said, urging the US to translate its pledges of not containing China or seeking conflict into concrete action, according to the Chinese defence ministry's account of his meeting with Hegseth.

In August 2022, following then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island, Beijing suspended a number of US-China military dialogue channels - including theatre-level command talks between their militaries - citing Washington's interference in China's internal affairs.

Since then, direct high-level military communication has been largely dormant, raising analysts' concerns about an increased risk of miscalculation in the Taiwan Strait and elsewhere.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
PARIS (Reuters) -Chinese online retailer Shein has pulled from sale childlike sex dolls after they were found on its website by the French consumer watchdog, the company said on Sunday.

France's Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) had said late on Saturday it spotted the dolls on the website along with several other pornographic items such as adult-looking sex dolls, and had reported the matter to judicial authorities.

"Their description and categorization on the site leave little doubt as to the child pornography nature of the content," DGCCRF said in a statement.

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The agency added that no filtering measures effectively limit access on the website to this pornographic content for minors or sensitive audiences.

Contacted by Reuters, Shein said in an email: "The products in question were immediately removed from the platform as soon as we became aware of these major shortcomings."

It added that "Shein has a zero-tolerance policy towards any content or products that violate our internal policies or applicable laws".

The Chinese fast-fashion company is set to open a physical store, its first in France, on Wednesday, at the Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville (BVH) in Paris. It has come under fire from conventional French apparel retailers, who say Shein is undermining their business model with its ultra-low prices.

Shein also plans to open five other stores within Galeries Lafayette department stores, in Angers, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges and Reims.

(Reporting by Kate Entringer and Geert De Clercq)
Will Connecticut ever realize that two of what it professes to be its highest ideals of public policy, local control and equality of opportunity, are contradictions?

State government was reminded of this again the other day by another report from the Equable Institute, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve government employee pensions. Connecticut's state teacher retirement system, the institute notes, does much better by teachers in wealthy municipalities than those in poor ones, because teacher pensions are calculated from their salaries. Wealthy municipalities pay more so their teachers get bigger pensions.

Indeed, Equable says state government pays twice as much for the pensions of teachers in some wealthy municipalities than it pays for the pensions of teachers in some poor ones.

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Additionally, because of the higher salaries they pay, wealthy municipalities suffer less turnover in their teaching staffs and retain better teachers longer than poor municipalities do.

Equable says the disparity in pension contributions is responsible for some of the disparity in student performance between wealthy and poor municipalities. That stands to reason, but pension disparities surely matter far less to educational results than the disparities in the household wealth of students and the amount of parenting they get.

As usual liberals and teacher unions like to attribute all the deficiencies of public education to inadequate spending, even though Connecticut has been raising education spending steadily for almost 50 years, improving teacher salaries and pensions without improving student performance.

Per-pupil parenting has always been the main determinant of student performance, but politics prohibits addressing the parenting problem. No elected official or candidate dares to note the strong correlation between single-parent households and child neglect and abuse, student educational failure, poor physical and mental health, and general misbehavior. Acknowledging that correlation would impugn the entire welfare system and the perverse incentives it gives the poor, and it would show where so much social disintegration is coming from.

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But everyone admires teachers as individuals, so finding public money for satisfying them and their unions is easy and doesn't cause the political problems that examining the causes of poverty would.

It's no wonder that teachers prefer to teach well-parented, well-behaved, attentive, and curious kids rather than poorly parented, ill-behaved, and indifferent or demoralized kids. It's no wonder that teachers in impoverished cities, like police officers there, can get worn down quickly and seek to pursue their careers in municipalities with less poverty and dysfunction. This is just another aspect of the flight to the suburbs, which has been caused by government's failure to solve poverty in the cities.

Maybe state law should arrange for all teachers to be paid directly by state government according to the same salary schedule so their pensions would be equalized. No adjustments for union contracts or individual merit could be permitted, since they would generate inequality.

Such an egalitarian system likely would reduce salaries and pensions in wealthy and middle-class municipalities and increase them in poor ones. But of course teacher unions would never give up bargaining power over wages and benefits, not in the pursuit of equality or anything else.

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Or maybe teachers in the poorest municipalities should be paid at least $100,000 per year more than teachers in the highest-paying municipalities. They might not all be good teachers but most might deserve more money just for having to deal with so many indifferent and misbehaving students.

While that might be fairer to those teachers, who are part of the constituency the Equable Institute is trying to help, Connecticut's long experience would still be that school spending is almost irrelevant to educational performance, and the presumption of increasing teacher salaries and pensions would still be that the job satisfaction of teachers is more important than education itself and ending generational poverty.

But even the long failure to end generational poverty isn't the biggest problem here. The biggest problem here is simply Connecticut's failure to care much about it. As a political matter paying off the teachers is the most we can do.

Chris Powell (cpowell@cox.net) has written about Connecticut government and politics for many years.

This article originally published at Chris Powell (opinion): Our contradictory ideals: Local control vs. equality.
Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, was arrested by Patna Police in connection with the murder case of a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, the Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said. On October 30, a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, was killed during firing between the two sides while campaigning for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections in Mokama. SSP said Anant Singh has been arrested along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. All three will be presented before the magistrate. "... On 30 October, there was a clash between two groups of competing candidates. Stones were pelted resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident. The deceased, Dularchand Yadav, aged 75 years, was a resident of the village where this clash occurred... Both sides registered cases, and police started investigating the case... Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the postmortem report of the deceased, it appears that the Model Code of Conduct was violated, and it is a serious issue. It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested. His accomplices, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have also been arrested with him... All three will be presented before the magistrate, and due investigation will follow," SSP Patna, Kartikeya K Sharma said while addressing the media on Sunday. He further said that the raids are being carried out to arrest others."Three people have been arrested on murder charges, and raids are being carried out to arrest others. Soon, more arrests will be made. CID has also started investigating the case... Cases have been registered under various sections... People from both groups have been arrested for misbehaving with the police and creating law and order issues... The three accused in the murder have not surrendered. They have been arrested," he added. In a telephonic conversation with ANI, Jan Suraaj Party's candidate from Mokama, Piyush Priyadarshi said that Anant Singh should have been arrested sooner. "This is a good gesture, but it would have been good had they taken action sooner. Today, he was moving around in a convoy of 50 vehicles and even participated in election campaigning. When an FIR was registered against him, he should have been arrested sooner... But better late than never. What is important now is how the police investigate the whole case... It is a relief for his family," Piyush Priyadarshi said after the arrest of Anant Singh. On Saturday, two station house officers (SHOs) were suspended in connection with the murder case, officials confirmed. According to the Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) of Patna, Ghoswari SHO Madhusudan Kumar and Bhadaur SHO Ravi Ranjan have been suspended in the case. Mokama is infamous for being a stronghold of influential and often controversial "strongmen" or "bahubalis" in Bihar politics, most notably Anant Kumar Singh, his brother Dilip Singh and Surajbhan Singh. Mokama is now once again in the limelight after the murder of Dularchand Yadav, as the vote battle may be influenced because of the incident. This year, the electoral battle in Mokama Assembly constituency in Patna district, Bihar, is centred around two Bahubalis - Anant Singh and Surajbhan Singh, who dominate the region's political narrative. Mokama, which will vote in the first phase on November 6, is once again set to witness a high-voltage electoral contest in the 2025 polls, as Janata Dal (United) has fielded strongman Anant Singh, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal has nominated Veena Devi, wife of former MP and influential leader Surajbhan Singh. Both candidates come from the Bhumihaar community, setting the stage for a direct clash of political legacies in one of Bihar's most volatile yet politically significant constituencies. Voting for Bihar's 243-seat Assembly will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14. (ANI)
Nov. 1Christian Dane Reno Christian Dane Reno was born at home in Los Lunas, New Mexico on a cold winter day on November 28th, 1992. This would only be the beginning to the million amazing stories of our beloved Chris. His parents Christopher Reno and Lois Fritz-Reno delivered him personally and called an ambulance to come assist their new little warrior. With the winter conditions extreme on this night, it took time for an ambulance to be able to get to the correct temperature to safely carry a newborn miles to be evaluated at a hospital in Albuquerque. This gave these amazing parents time to bask in awe of their new baby boy. From then on, it was obvious that Christian would lead a life full of adventure and love. Christian was one of the middle children of six siblings. A younger brother to Daniel, Nicole, and Tara and a protective older brother to twins Max and Jasmine. With his birthday landing on Thanksgiving every seven years, it was naturally built into him to have a deep connection to family. But, impactful relationships didn't stop with family. Christian never met a stranger in his life. He could develop friendships through the most light-hearted conversations with everyone around him. Whether you were a classmate, acquaintance, of even someone that was greeting him through a drive through. He had the ability to make instant genuine connections by simply treating others with warmth, laughter and a full ear to ear smile on his face. Christians youth and adolescent years were full of sports, adventures, and friendships. As he grew older he became an amazing landscaper. He met his wife Desiree in a tale of love as old as time, inside of an ice cream shop. Over the course of a decade they carried on to marry and have three incredible children Violet Rae, Christian Chase, and Daisy Mae. Our beloved Christian loved nothing more than being a father. Welcoming his first daughter in 2020, his son in 2022, and his youngest daughter in 2025 he beamed with pride to watch the little miracles he created cling to him as their new daddy would always be their hero. He would pride himself on sharing every life experience with his babies and took them everywhere to see the beauty of the world in each moment. All three followed in every footstep he walked. His positivity and life lessons are something these lovely children will be able to carry with them forever. On October 17th, 2025 Christian was devestatingly involved in a traffic accident that unfortunately took his life at the young age of 32. He is survived by his parents, four siblings, wife, and children. And will be joining in heaven his beautiful sister Tara, grandparents, William and Deleta Reno, and many others that will be happy to embrace him again. Through this tragic loss there is also so much beauty in reflecting on the way Christian led life with his heart on his sleeve. He lived every day to its fullest potential and didn't leave words of love left unspoken. That'll be something Christian's loved ones will be able to take away from him forever. A celebration of life will be held at Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church on Albuquerque on Saturday, November 8th, 2025 at 11:00am. All of those who knew and loved Christian Reno are invited to attend and share many warm memories of this outstanding man. Thank you all who had an impact on Christian's fulfilling life and turned him into the incredible son, brother, father, husband, and friend we all were blessed to to have.
Nov. 1Surrounded by wreaths, ribbons, and Nativity scenes, Helenmarie Evanko of Drums wiped a few nostalgic tears from her eyes.

"It reminds me of when I was little," she said on Saturday morning as she roamed through Christmasland  12 rooms of Christmas decorations on the second floor of Main Hardware & Discount Pool Supply Inc., 642 South Main St., Wilkes-Barre.

Saturday marked the first day of the 50th anniversary season for Christmasland, where Main Hardware owners Brian and Kim Kaminski will welcome customers every day through Christmas Eve.

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This is the fourth holiday season for the Kaminskis as owners of Main Hardware, which happens to be where they met as teenage co-workers in the 1980s.

Every year it gets bigger and better, long-time customers Bill and Candace Evans of Mountain Top said.

"Which of these should we get?" Candace Evans asked her husband, holding up two lawn ornaments that resembled peppermint lollipops.

"Get both!" said Bill Evans, adding the couple expects to return to Christmasland several times this season.

"You can get things here that you can't find anywhere else," he said.

Whether you need stockings for the fireplace, lights, or garland, lumps of "coal" for a "naughty" friend, holiday pins for your lapel, or ornaments shaped like hedgehogs and raccoons, you'll find them here.

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Brian Kaminski gives his wife credit for that.

"We have classic ornaments like reindeer and Santas," he said, "and then she finds ornaments like Bigfoot or the Grateful Dead, too."

Some older customers have fond memories of displays in which motorized elves hammered or sawed away to "make toys." The old ones didn't come with the store, Brian Kaminski said, but his friend Dwight Kline built a new carpenter elf for Christmasland.

And as you climb the stairs to Christmasland, you'll pass a campfire scene where Santa and a reindeer are toasting marshmallows. Kim Kaminski's artistic uncle, Frank Pilch, painted the wintry setting that sets it off.

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The Kaminskis expect Santa himself to visit the store on Nov. 22 and possibly Dec. 20. Kim Kaminski also said a prize will be given away each of the "50s days of Christmas," which started Nov. 1.

Hours for Christmasland are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 23. Christmas Eve hours will be 9 a.m. to noon.
CHEROKEE, Iowa (KCAU)  Cherokees volleyball team qualified for state, and a local business is raising funds to help with expenses.

Chuys Taqueria & Mexican Foods will donate a percentage of its sales to help cover travel expenses for Cherokee High Schools volleyball team as they compete and represent the Cherokee community.

This is the first time the establishment has undertaken such an initiative since its inception, and they believe this is the best way to show support for the community.

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We want to involve with the community, said Danny Borjas, the owner of Chuys. Why not support one of our own? You know, like the volleyball teams, we found out they made it to state, so why not try to get involved with them as well?

The final day of the fundraiser is November 3.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
Cameron Parish resident Karri Hooper takes sound readings from underwater microphones as part of a community science research project on the coast of Southwest Louisiana. (Elise Plunk/Louisiana Illuminator)

Communities around Louisiana, in a bid to get more information about the environmental and health impacts of industrial pollution, are taking data collection into their own hands  despite a law restricting how their research findings can be used to enforce state regulations.

The practice is called community, citizen or participatory science, and it involves data collected from non-scientists thats passed along to researchers who use their expertise to study and understand what they mean. From air quality to fisheries impacts, the grassroots-gathered information has the potential to inform the public about impacts of nearby industry.

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Our challenge for really a couple decades has been: How can we get something that can empower the communities to be able to speak for themselves, about the issues, with data? said Marylee Orr, executive director of Louisiana Environmental Action Network.

The Louisiana-based nonprofit, long involved with community air monitoring projects, recently posted on its website an interactive air monitoring dashboard. The site gives continuous updates from air quality sensors placed at four locations along the Mississippi River in the heavily industrialized corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The dashboard also lists locations and readings from Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality monitors.

The system, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, uses stationary air quality sensors to measure spikes in air pollutant levels. Toxic emissions such as sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide and volatile organic compounds can be detected, recorded and displayed on the online dashboard, providing neighboring communities with information about potential health risks.

Similar efforts to get hard numbers for air and water quality concerns are also happening in Cameron Parish, where community air monitoring and water quality research partnerships are expanding. The area is the site of three liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals, and six more LNG facilities are either under construction or in the planning stages.

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Environmental groups, including the Habitat Recovery Project and For a Better Bayou, have been working to secure funding for air quality monitoring equipment and underwater sound research in an attempt to find the source of air pollution and fisheries disruptions in the region.

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Stories hold weight, and science and data holds weight, Habitat Recovery Project director Alyssa Portaro. When we put these two things together, it really gives a robust picture of whats going on.

Fishermen and advocates alike suspect air quality and fisheries problems in Cameron have ties to the nearby LNG facilities but have no independent data to back up their suspicions. The environmental groups received grants to buy monitoring equipment and hire fishermen to collect data and partner with scientists for research projects.

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Nobody knows exactly whats going on out here, said Sky Leger, a fisherman who works along Cameron Parishs coast. He and his girlfriend, restaurant worker Karri Hooper, recently got involved with community science monitoring, in part, to help track whether noise from boat traffic and LNG facility construction is impacting adjacent fishing grounds.

Sky Leger collecting data for community science work as a Liquified Natural Gas transport ship passes behind him. (Elise Plunk/Louisiana Illuminator)

Around the country, scientific communities have seen growing acceptance of data collection in partnership with non-scientists.

Theres been increasing recognition of the power of these types of projects to collect really useful data, said Bradley Allf, a postdoctoral research associate at Colorado State University who uses participatory science to study urban ecology and conservation.

Allf studied the concept of citizen science data collection for his doctoral thesis, saying the research technique has grown in popularity as well as acceptance within the scientific community over recent decades.

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There was some hesitation around whether we can really trust data collected by people who havent necessarily been trained in science, Allf said. I dont think thats very true anymore.

Despite its expanding acceptance, the struggle to increase transparency around industrys environmental impact in Louisiana with community-gathered data faces legal hurdles.

The Louisiana Legislature approved a law in 2024 enacting strict qualitative standards for community air monitoring programs in order to be considered valid data that state regulators could use for oversight or enforcement.

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Air-monitoring equipment and analysis must use the most current EPA-approved techniques, and data must be analyzed at labs the Louisiana Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program certifies, according to the legislation dubbed the Community Air Monitoring Reliability Act.

Environmental groups argue these standards, which can be costly, prices them out of being able to do research. The cost for the states preferred monitoring equipment runs up to $500,000 dollars, said former EPA official Larry Starfield, an adviser to Orrs monitoring dashboard project

Thats not something that is accessible, said Misha Mayeur with the Habitat Recovery Project.

The equipment her group intends to buy with current grant proceeds costs around $20,000, cheaper than the regulatory monitors that cost more than their entire annual budget to buy.

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The sensors the Louisiana Environmental Action Network uses for its stationary air monitoring in Southeast Louisiana, like those in Cameron Parish, arent up to the standards for regulatory enforcement in the 2024 state law. The regulatory monitors required in Louisiana to allege pollution violations cost around $500,000 dollars, said former EPA official Larry Starfield.

Even if the data cant be used to enforce air quality standards for Louisiana, Orr said theres still value in community awareness that could prompt change.

If the data suggest a problem, its an opportunity for communities to invite companies to investigate their concerns, said Orr.

Starfield said he hopes keeping the community informed could offer a way to let industry prove its willingness to cooperate and improve air quality.

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Many of the workers live in the community. Why wouldnt you want to have a good relationship? he said.

President and CEO of the Louisiana Chemical Association and Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance president David Cresson responded to the launch of LEANs dashboard in a statement emailed to the Illuminator, saying the association was reviewing LEANs data and methodology.

We hope to continue to work with LEAN to identify the areas of impact as indicated by their data, and if the specific source can be verified, take practical steps to remediate the issue, Cresson said in a statement from the association.

And if industry chooses not to cooperate, Starfield said data can help encourage state and federal entities to get involved.

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The idea is to engage Louisiana [Department of Environmental Quality] and EPA in a situation where theres a feeling that theres a problem here, were seeing a pattern, he said. Certainly bringing in EPA and bringing in LDEQ and asking them to investigate  thats absolutely a good thing.

Fishermen in Cameron used their collective voice to engage state enforcement in August when they brought to light impacts to oysters, crabs and fish from dredging spills near the site where Venture Globals CP2 LNG facility is being built.

Venture Global initially claimed there were no sediment spills or harmed fisheries. But at the urging of fishermen, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries sent a biologist to study the area, and the official later confirmed oysters had been killed.

Alyssa Portaro and her son look at oysters on a dock in Cameron Parish after a community science data collection trip. (Elise Plunk/Louisiana Illuminator)

The only thing that theyre going off of is by the reports of the people that Venture Global hired, Leger said. But we have the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries coming out here and checking the oysters  and they are saying that there is very much so a problem with sediment being on top of those oysters in the lake.

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Portaro said this example is a strong argument for informing the community, as well as involving scientists, in documenting air and water quality issues in places like Cameron Parish.

The fishermen were able to verify that, document it; then Fish and Wildlife came out and said, Yeah, there is mud in the lake, said Portaro. Sometimes the biologists on the job need the community keeping an eye on them, a well-informed community.

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A candidate for the Cincinnati City Council has been arrested just days before the election, according to our media partner WCPO-9 TV.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Hamilton County Jail records show that Kevin Farmer was arrested Saturday morning for burglary and violating a protection order.

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WKRC-12 TV and WLWT-5 TV reported that Farmer appeared in court on Saturday.

Court documents indicate that Farmer allegedly broke into a victims house with the purpose to commit therein a criminal offense.

Both stations report that the victim in this case is Republican U.S. Congressional candidate Rosemary Oglesby-Henry.

The prosecutor said Farmer broke a garage window to get inside Oglesby-Henrys house, WLWT-5 and WKRC-12 report.

Farmer was previously arrested and charged with domestic violence and assault in July, according to our media partner.

Oglesby-Henry was also named as the victim in this case. However, those charges were dismissed.

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As previously reported by News Center 7, Oglesby-Henry was arrested in September after she allegedly pointed a gun at Farmer.

WKRC-12 reported that the prosecutors office said the pair had a relationship at one point and referred to them as ex-business partners.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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Nov. 1The city of Albuquerque has sued the federal government over the withdrawal of a $11.5 million grant for the construction of a 7-mile loop for pedestrians and cyclists around Downtown and Barelas.

The lawsuit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court for New Mexico against the Department of Transportation, Secretary Sean Duffy, the Federal Highway Administration and Administrator Sean McMaster.

The grant  which made up 30% of the Rail Trail's total $39.5 million cost  was withdrawn by USDOT in early September as a grant agreement was still being ironed out. The department sent the city a letter dated Sept. 11 stating its reasoning: the project "runs counter to DOT's priority of focusing DOT's multimodal grant programs on projects that promote vehicular travel."

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The city of Albuquerque was awarded the RAISE, or Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, grant in 2022 during the Biden administration.

The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration violated "the Administrative Procedure Act, portions of the U.S. Constitution and is an ultra vires agency action"  meaning exceeding the legal scope of its authority.

"Defendants' actions exceed statutory authority, are contrary to law, and are arbitrary and capricious," according to the lawsuit, which asks the court to declare the withdrawal of the grant as unlawful and vacate the withdrawal and award the city "its reasonable fees, costs, and expenses, including attorneys' fees."

The USDOT and FHA did not return a request for comment Saturday. An attorney for the defendants has not yet been assigned, according to online court records.

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The lawsuit was filed days before the Albuquerque mayoral election, with incumbent Tim Keller trying to be the first consecutive three-term mayor, running against five challengers.

The city issued a news release announcing the lawsuit filing Saturday morning. In the release, Keller said, "This trail reflects our values and the community's desire to invest in innovative, quality-of-life projects."

The cuts have not stopped the project in its tracks, with the total budget coming from several funding sources.

A ribbon-cutting last week opened the first section of the Rail Trail, connecting the Sawmill area with Old Town. The Central Crossing portion of the trail, according to the city, is slated to open sometime next year.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) On Saturday, thousands gathered downtown in Oklahoma City for the dedication of the Clara Luper National Sit-in Plaza.

Schoolteacher Clara Luper, an Oklahoma City youth and teacher who on Aug. 19, 1958, was among the original 13 student members of the NAACP Youth Council, participated in a sit-in at Katz Drug Store. That act of courage resulted in the desegregation of Katz stores within three days and inspired a wave of sit-ins that propelled the Civil Rights Movement, advancing equal rights for all.

The new art installation, located at North Robinson Avenue and West Main Street at the former Katz site, commemorates this historic moment, showcasing symbols cemented in history: a 4-ton bronze lunch counter with realistic, life-sized depictions of the original 13 student sit-inners, Luper, and a Katz Drug Store employee.

The original sit-inners who participated in the Aug. 19, 1958, sit-in at Katz Drug Store and their representatives gathered with the community

to dedicate the Clara Luper National Sit-In Plaza on Nov. 1 in downtown Oklahoma City. Credit: Todd Ruffin

At the plazas public dedication, those in attendance included musical performances by local choirs and remarks from Clara Lupers daughter, Marilyn Luper Hildreth; committee members the Rev. Dr. Lee Cooper Jr. and John Kennedy; Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt; StudioEIS representative Elliot Schwartz; and ten of the 13 original sit-inners.

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For so long, this moment in Oklahoma City has been overlooked in the history books, yet it helped change the nation, said Luper Hildreth, who sat at the Katz counter at just 10 years old. Seeing it honored in bronze, with such care and collaboration, would have meant the world to my mother. This sculpture ensures that future generations will remember that ordinary young people, acting together, can create extraordinary change.

New sculpture downtown honors Clara Luper led Civil Rights sit-in

StudioEIS, an internationally acclaimed sculpture and design firm in Brooklyn, New York, says it took four years creating the art installation.

This project has been one of the most collaborative undertakings in our 50 years, said Schwartz, founder of StudioEIS. The final work reflects the same spirit of unity that powered the sit-in movement.

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Guests were invited to experience the plaza and sculptures for themselves at the programs conclusion.

The project represents a true community effort to honor the birthplace of the sit-in movement here in Oklahoma City, said John Kennedy, project developer. We are proud to recognize the courage and vision of the original 13 sit-inners and their teacher, Ms. Luper. May we never forget that we all have an opportunity to make a difference and that small actions can lead to big change.

The Clara Luper National Sit-In Plaza was made possible entirely through private donations, with support from the following:

American Fidelity Foundation

Arnall Family Foundation

Chickasaw Nation

Communities Foundation of Oklahoma

E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation

Kirsten and David Griffin

Hamm Family

Hobby Lobby

Vicki and Bob Howard

Lezlie and David Hudiburg

Inasmuch Foundation

Joullian Family

Kate Richard and Christian Kanady

John Kennedy Family

Kirkpatrick Foundation

Loves Travel Stops

McLaughlin Family

LaDonna and Herman Meinders

Nichols Family

OG&E

Russell M. Perry Family

Presbyterian Health Foundation

Shannon and Sam Presti

Kim and David Rainbolt

Rev. John Reed  C.C.S.R.

Richison Family Foundation

LaRue and Bill Stoller

Glenna and Dick Tanenbaum

Stanton Young Family

Trae Young Family Foundation

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Some lawmakers and advocates are increasingly uncertain whether critical HIV and AIDS services will survive the federal governments funding fight.

The GOPs House-passed budget bill seeks to cut over $1.5 billion in services for people living with and vulnerable to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the U.S.  far greater than the cuts proposed by President Trump and the Senate.

Its unclear whether the Senate or White House will support the bill once its considered after the government shutdown ends. But some warn passing the Houses proposed cuts would result in increased infections and deaths.

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Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, called these efforts a callous move in a statement to The Hill.

People across the country rely on the testing, PrEP access, early diagnosis, and lifesaving treatment these resources provide, DeLauro said.

Eliminating these programs, she added, is not an option, and Americans living with HIV concur.

Anyone old enough to remember the start of the AIDS epidemic here in the U.S. remembers what government neglect produced, said Javier Munoz, an actor living with HIV and affiliate of the #SaveHIVFunding campaign, a coalition of organizations advocating against HIV funding cuts. Hundreds of thousands died. An entire generation is gone.

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Protecting and sustaining current funding levels is a matter of life and death, he said.

Clashing funding proposals

The Houses full-year funding bill proposes over $1 billion in cuts to domestic HIV/AIDS prevention and research services. Also at risk is $525 million for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, a flagship federal program that helps provide treatment for people living with HIV.

The bills additional proposed cuts to global initiatives bring total reductions to HIV-related services in the House budget to almost $2 billion.

Jeremiah Johnson, executive director of PrEP4All, an organization that advocates for universal access to HIV prevention and treatment, said the brazen way that the Trump administration had gone after international HIV programs led to a lot of immediate coverage of cuts to global programs.

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He said cuts to domestic programs have only recently begun to make headlines, despite their potential to be devastating.

This is something thats going to immediately translate intofewer HIV tests, more people being diagnosed late and presenting with opportunistic infections and dying, he said.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) tried to change the House bill to prevent $1.4 billion in funding cuts, but his amendment failed on party lines.

Unfortunatelyweve had to make some very tough choices among programs that are located in this bill, Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, said during the bills markup in September.

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Aderholt said he would not vote for the amendment because it didnt offer a way to offset costs and would cause the bill to breach its allocation.

That said, we have maintained a significant investment in over $2 billion in funding of the Ryan White program in this bill, he said at the time.

Both he and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), chairman of the Appropriations Committee, didnt respond to a request for comment.

Aderholts remarks point to the GOPs attempts to follow the White Houses mandate to reduce excessive spending  though that hasnt always translated to cutting the programs or funding the executive agency has requested, especially for health-related agencies.

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One example is the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program, which Aderholt referred to in his speech. The Houses bill maintains a $505 million budget for HOPWA even though the White House recommended eliminating the program entirely.

Meanwhile, the Senates version of the full-year government funding bill  passed in September  fully maintains funding for HOPWA and Ryan White. It also provides billions to the CDC for prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

This reflects the Senates wariness in cutting HIV/AIDS programs, which Senate Republicans have acknowledged have been impactful.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called PEPFAR an enormous success to defend taking it off the chopping block in a recissions package earlier this year, which the House had urged the Senate not to do at the time.

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I cant imagine why we would want to terminate that program, she said.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson told The Hill that critical HIV/AIDS programs would continue through the Administration for a Healthy America in response to a request for comment about proposed cuts to domestic HIV services.

The Trump administration proposed reorganizing the HHS to create the Administration for a Healthy America  but the agency currently remains theoretical. Congress has taken no steps to approve or create it.

Cuts mean death

The differing proposals for funding HIV services has both angered and saddened advocates, who are unable to gauge the federal governments interest in continuing to fund formerly bipartisan programs.

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Its a wide swath of different threats that were facing as a community, and it feels particularly targeted to the HIV community at this point, given the disproportionate amount of focus that we are seeing on our funds, Johnson, PrEP4Alls executive director, said.

HHS layoffs earlier this year led to several divisions dedicated to HIV services, including the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy, being gutted or eliminated.

Over the summer, the Trump administration passed the big, beautiful bill  a large tax and spending bill that took billions of dollars away from Medicaid, a federal and state insurance plan that is the largest source of insurance coverage for approximately 1.2 million people living with HIV in the U.S.

Medicaid covers treatment costs for about 40 percent of adults accessing HIV treatment, Lyndel Urbano, the senior director of public policy and government relations at insurance company Amida Care, said.

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This includes costs for including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the newly-approved miracle drug lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable lauded by experts for its potential to revolutionize HIV care.

The thing about these drugs is that theyre not cheap, Urbano said. HIV medications typically cost thousands of dollars and lenacapavirs current price stands at around $28,000 per year.

Without Medicaid, Urbano said that people at risk for HIV or living with it  who are disproportionately low-income  wouldnt have access to any form of treatment.

If either Trumps lesser cuts or the Houses more substantial ones come to pass, Urbano said, this would further erode progress toward ending the HIV epidemic in the country. Programs disseminating HIV testing kits, providing training to medical professionals, and access to medical care in rural communities would all be cut.

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A lot of the guidance for how insurance companies cover things like these HIV prevention treatments start with the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC] and the way that they approve the drug for prevention, Urbano said.

The CDC PrEP Guidelines Work Group assessed lenacapavir and provided a clinical recommendation for its use in mid-September  a little over a week after Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee pushed forward the bill with HIV cuts.

Urbano worries the CDCs increased politicization may result in yanked approvals for treatments such as lenacapavir.

Its just concerning to me what happens in the future, he said. We want a situation where people dont have to jump through hoops to get something that could actually change lives.

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Jenny Collier, CEO of Collier Collective, which advises the #SaveHIVFunding campaign on policy said patients are upset and confused amid the turmoil.

People arent sure if theyre going to be on waiting lists, or they can get their meds fully paid for, or their co-pays will be covered, or if their other support services, like transportation, will be provided, she added.

Munoz, the #SaveHIVFunding campaign affiliate, said his access to medication would likely end without federal support or programs.

The actor, who has worked on Broadway shows like Hamilton, said his health insurance is based on his employment. In periods without health insurance coverage, he relies on community organizations and health centers  many of which receive federal funding  to access HIV medication.

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Cuts to HIV funding means death, he emphasized. That is not an exaggeration. These drastic cuts mean death for anyone who needs assistance to afford life-saving and life-sustaining medications.

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On Nov. 1, Milwaukee residents braved the rain and assembled in the auditorium of North Division High School to attend the first discussion about transparency from We Energies, the city's primary energy and heat provider.

Residents and organizations like Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Power Wisconsin Forward and Walnut Way, along with others, want We Energies to be more transparent by compiling zip-code specific energy rate data and to be up front about how future projects could affect Wisconsinites bills.

We Energies tracks rates and other data across the state, but not by zip code, according to Brendan Conway, the company's director of media relations.

Maria Beltran stands for a photo at North Division High School before an event by Power Wisconsin Forward, Citizen Action of Wisconsin and other organizations aimed at requesting We Energies have a higher level of transparency surrounding data in Wisconsin.

Organizations and residents meet to discuss transparency

Maria Beltran, a Lindsay Heights resident, has struggled with rising utility costs and service disconnections in the past.

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A mother of seven, Beltran was pregnant with her youngest son when the familys service was cut off.

She told the Journal Sentinel of a time she corralled her children into her bedroom at night so they could all sleep on her mattress together to conserve heat.

They were like, Mama, we can see our breath, Beltran recalled her children telling her.

The meeting was focused on including testimony from residents like Beltran, but the effort for transparency has gained the attention of representatives like Ald. Sharlen Moore, from Milwaukees 10th aldermanic district.

Moore and Larson spoke in support of the event organizers' efforts to pressure We Energies to compile highly specific data. According to organizations like Citizen Action of Wisconsin, elected officials will be important in putting pressure on We Energies.

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Neither official specified if they would use their offices to pressure We Energies to compile the data, but expressed their support for the organizations mission at the Saturday event.

The organizers said there was not a set timeline of when they would like to see the data compiled but said the first step was for residents to sign a petition backing the request dubbed, The Peoples Audit.

Kat Klawes, climate action policy coordinator of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, said We Energies has been asked to make data like this accessible in the past, but did not respond.

Milwaukee residents watch presentations at event Saturday calling for a higher level of transparency in We Energies data.

We Energies says it does track costs, just not by zip code

The Journal Sentinel reached out to We Energies and asked for zip-code level data. We Energies said it does not record data by zip code but does track gas and electric bill costs across the state. Rates are approved by the Public Service commission, and those reports are publicly available.

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We Energies also acknowledged the financial difficulty of rate increases on its customers and referenced low-income energy bill assistance programs.

One of the main drivers for the rate increase is to fund a push for renewable energy sources across the state, according to Conway.

The company announced its new Capital Investment Plan on Oct. 30  a $36.5 billion total investment between 2026 and 2030. A new investment of $11.6 billion will go towards renewable energy and it will add a $3.4 billion investment to natural gas energy generation.

It also reduced carbon emissions by over half and have the goal of being carbon neutral in Wisconsin by 2050, Conway said in an email.

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Part of this includes creating a more durable power grid to reduce the number of outages. We Energies is burying hundreds of miles of power lines, adding new equipment and maintaining trees around the lines.

Renewable energy projects, including increasing battery storage and modernizing natural gas plants across the state is meant to create a higher level of energy security, according to Conway.

Finding energy assistance in Milwaukee

Energy insecurity can be difficult to combat, especially with winter on its way, but some resources are available to help ease financial strain.

Riverworks Development Corporation is holding a housing and resource fair at Kumba Juice and Coffee, 274 E. Keefe Ave., on Nov. 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. It will have information on weatherization and energy upgrades available for homes, business energy saving incentives, tax credit and critical home repair information and information on energy equity efforts within the community.

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Registration is required, but interested residents can sign up here.

Anyone who is having trouble paying heating and electric bills can also apply for energy assistance through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program. The program assists eligible households and is funded by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Public Benefits program through the State of Wisconsin.

Applications for the program can be submitted online.

Everett Eaton covers Harambee, just north of downtown Milwaukee, for the Journal Sentinel's Neighborhood Dispatch. Reach him at ejeaton@gannett.com. As part of the newsroom, all of Everetts work and coverage decisions are overseen solely by Journal Sentinel editors.

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April Quevedo covers Metcalfe Park for the Journal Sentinel's Neighborhood Dispatch. Reach her at aquevedo@gannett.com. As part of the newsroom, all Aprils work and coverage decisions are overseen solely by Journal Sentinel editors.

Support for this effort comes from the Zilber Family Foundation, Journal Foundation, Bader Philanthropies, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation and individual contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. The project is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #364427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association.

Learn more about our community-funded journalism and how to make a tax-deductible gift at jsonline.com/support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation with JS Community Journalism in the memo, then mailed to: Local Media Foundation, P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Citizen Action of Wisconsin, others call for We Energies rates data
Catatumbo, Colombia  The Catatumbo region, which stretches along the border with Venezuela in the department of Norte de Santander, is Colombias most volatile frontier.

Endowed with oil reserves and coca crops but impoverished and neglected, this border area has historically been a site of violent competition between armed groups fighting for territorial control.

The National Liberation Army (ELN), Colombias largest remaining guerrilla force, maintains a strong and organised presence, operating across the porous border with Venezuela.

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It is there that some of their fighters pick up an Al Jazeera reporting team and drive us to meet their commanders.

Tensions remain high in this region. In January, thousands of people were displaced because of the fighting between the ELN and a dissident faction from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that continues to operate in some parts of the country in spite of peace agreements brokered in 2016.

The fight is over control of the territory and access to the border with Venezuela, which is a crucial way to move drugs out of the country.

Entering the area, its immediately apparent that the ELN is in total control here. There is no evidence of the countrys military. ELN flags decorate the sideroads, and the signs give a clear message of the way the groups members see Colombia right now.

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Total peace is a failure, they say.

There is also no mobile phone signal. People tell the Al Jazeera team that telephone companies do not want to pay a tax to the armed groups controlling the territory.

When President Gustavo Petro took office, he promised to implement a total peace plan with Colombias armed groups. But the negotiations have not been easy, especially with the ELN.

Government offcials suspended the peace talks because of the fighting in Catatumbo, but now say they are ready to reinitiate talks.

Commander Ricardo of Colombias rebel group the National Liberation Army (ELN) [Screengrab/Al Jazeera]

Al Jazeera meets with Commander Ricardo and Commander Silvana in a small house in the middle of the mountains. The interview has to be fast, they say, as they are concerned about a potential attack and reconnaissance drones that have been circulating in the area.

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The commanders are accompanied by some of their fighters. Asked how many they have in the area, they respond, We are thousands, and not everyone is wearing their uniforms. Some are urban guerrillas.

The government estimates the ELN has around 3,000 fighters. But the figure could be much higher.

Commander Ricardo, who is in charge of the region, says he believes there could be a chance for peace.

The ELN has been battling for a political solution for 30 years with various difficulties, he says. We believed that with Petro, we would advance in the process. But that did not happen. Theres never been peace in Colombia. What we have is the peace of the graves.

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The group and the government had been meeting in Mexico prior to the suspension of the talks. If the accords we had in Mexico are still there, I believe our central command would agree [it] could open up the way for a political solution to this conflict, Commander Ricardo tells Al Jazeera.

US drugs threat

But its not just the fight with the Colombian state that has armed groups here on alert. The United States military campaign against alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific  and the USs aggressive posture towards the government of neighbouring Venezuela  have brought an international dimension to what was once an internal Colombian conflict.

The administration of US President Donald Trump refers to these people not as guerrillas but narco-terrorists, and has not ruled out the possibility of attacking them on Colombian soil.

The US operation, which began in early September, has killed more than 62 people, including nationals from Venezuela and Colombia, and destroyed 14 boats and a semi-submersible.

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Some of the commanders have an extradition request from the US, and the government says they are wanted criminals.

The US strikes against boats allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and the military build-up in the region to ramp up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro are seen by the ELN as another act of US imperialism.

The US government claims one of those boats belonged to the ELN. Why dont they capture them and show the world what they captured and what they are they trafficking? Commander Ricardo asks. But no, they erase them with a bomb.

He also warns about the possibility of the ELN joining in the fight against the US. In the hypothesis that Trump attacks Venezuela, we will have to see how we respond, but its not just us, he says. [Its] all of Latin America because I am sure there are going to be many, many people who will grab a weapon and fight because its too much. The fact that the United States can step over people without respecting their self-determination has to end.

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The ELN was inspired by the Cuban revolution. But over the years, it has been involved in kidnappings, killings, extortion, and drug trafficking.

Commander Silvana, who joined the group when she was a teen, says the ELN is not like other armed groups in the country.

Our principles indicate that we are not involved in drug trafficking, she says. We have told this to the international community. What we have is taxes in the territories we have been controlling for over 60 years. And if there is coca, of course, we tax it, too.

Commander Silvana of the ELN [Screengrab/Al Jazeera]

Colombia has been a crucial US ally in the region over the decades in the fight against drug trafficking. But Petro has increasingly questioned the US policy in the Caribbean, arguing that Washingtons approach to security and migration reflects out-of-date Cold War logic rather than the regions current realities.

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He has criticised the US military presence and naval operations near Venezuela, warning that such tactics risk increasing tensions instead of promoting cooperation.

Trump has accused Petro, who is a former guerrilla, of being a drug trafficker himself.

Petro responded angrily, writing on X, Colombia has never been rude to the United States. To the contrary, it has loved its culture very much. But you are rude and ignorant about Colombia.

Colombias Foreign Ministry also condemned Trumps remarks as offensive and a direct threat to the countrys sovereignty, and vowed to seek international support in defence of Petro and Colombian autonomy.

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The belligerent US approach to Venezuela and Colombia, both led by leftist presidents  and the heightened possibility of a US military intervention  risk turning a local Colombia conflict into a broader regional one.

Everyone on the ground is now assessing how they will respond if the US government gives its military the green light to attack Venezuela.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patna Kartikeya Sharma assured voters that the Bihar assembly elections will be held peacefully. "On 30 October, in an unfortunate incident, supporters of candidates competing in Mokama had a clash. An incident of stone pelting took place during the clash, after which the dead body of one person was recovered. Three people have been arrested on charges of murder... Anant Singh was arrested around 2 hours ago... I want to assure the voters of Patna that elections will be held peacefully, and that they can fearlessly come out and vote. Patna Police and administration stand with the voters, and no one will be stopped from exercising their right...," SSP told ANI on Sunday. His statement came after the arrest of Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama in connection with the murder case of a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav. He also informed that the deceased (Dularchand Yadav) had a gunshot injury in his leg. "The deceased (Dularchand Yadav) had a gunshot injury in his leg. As per the post-mortem report, he was murdered. The bullet has not been recovered because the postmortem report showed there was an entry wound and an exit wound." SSP said Anant Singh has been arrested along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. All three will be presented before the magistrate. "On 30 October, there was a clash between two groups of competing candidates. Stones were pelted resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident. The deceased, Dularchand Yadav, aged 75 years, was a resident of the village where this clash occurred... Both sides registered cases, and police started investigating the case... Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the postmortem report of the deceased, it appears that the Model Code of Conduct was violated, and it is a serious issue. It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested. His accomplices, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have also been arrested with him... All three will be presented before the magistrate, and due investigation will follow," SSP Patna, Kartikeya K Sharma said while addressing the media on Sunday. On October 30, a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, was killed during firing between the two sides while campaigning for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections in Mokama. Mokama, which will vote in the first phase on November 6, is once again set to witness a high-voltage electoral contest in the 2025 polls, as Janata Dal (United) has fielded strongman Anant Singh, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal has nominated Veena Devi, wife of former MP and influential leader Surajbhan Singh. Voting for Bihar's 243-seat Assembly will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14. (ANI)
HALEIWA (KHON2)  As the winter surf season begins, so do discussions about the future of Oahus eroding North Shore.

For the first time, community members, beachfront homeowners, engineers, and the University of Hawaii Sea Grant gathered Saturday to discuss what the future looks like for portions of the islands world-famous Seven Mile Miracle.

Its a topic thats become increasingly urgent.

In 2022 a home collapsed into the ocean near Rocky Point and then in October 2024, a home located a few houses down was forced to be demolished after it started crumbling into the ocean.

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The lot is now for sale but the listing states a home might not be able to be built on the lot due to the severe erosion and to check with DPP. However, experts warn it wont be the last house to fall into the ocean and theyre trying to find solutions to prevent that from happening.

With a $1 million grant, the University of Hawaii Sea Grant and the North Shore community are working on a North Shore Beach Management Plan which is aimed at identifying short and long-term community-supported solutions to protect the coastline.

North Shore sand erosion history and whats next

The plan focuses on three areas: Sharks Cove to Rock Pile, Rock Pile to Rocky Point, and Rocky Point to Sunset.

Were asking some very specific questions about different types of beach management strategies and what the community might favor, said Dolan Eversole, Coastal Processes Specialist with Hawaii Sea Grant. Things like sand management versus doing more structural measures and armory.

Eversole said the plan combines science and community input, starting with addressing practical, low-cost steps.

The low-hanging fruit, as we say, is sand management, he added. That includes dune restoration and better public infrastructure to control erosion.

Further down the road, the plan could explore more complex structural or land-use measures, such as stabilizing beaches with limited structures if needed.

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Many longtime homeowners say theyre frustrated by the lack of support over the years. Most of the beachfront homes along the North Shore were built in the 1960s  before the state banned sand mining. At the time, shoreline revetments were also allowed, but they no longer are.

Shoreline hardening is technically not allowed by Act 16, explained Andy Wycklendt, a coastal engineer with Integral Consulting. Any sandy beach thats around  you cant put hardened structures on the shoreline. Solution for North Shore coastal erosion needed

Wycklendt said thats to ensure beaches remain public trust resources and not lost to erosion. His team will be collecting LiDAR data before and after large wave events to better understand how sand moves along the shoreline.

We collect our first series of data this week, he said, and well collect additional data in about a week or two after the first major swell.

There will be two more community meetings over the next year as the plan develops. The final North Shore Beach Management Plan is expected to be completed by late 2026, with recommendations for state lawmakers.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56)  She went by three names: Martha Layne Collins. But she has one lasting legacy.

Governor Collins was a true trailblazer, said Scott County Judge-Executive Joe Pat Covington.

Collins served as lieutenant governor under John Y. Brown Jr. before winning the governors seat and leading the commonwealth from 1983 to 1987. It was a time when Kentucky governors were limited to a single term, and when, as a woman in politics, she had a lot to prove.

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I think she and her people probably realized that Kentucky was not going to elect a woman governor unless a lot more voters than usual had looked her in the eye, shaking her hand, and took her measure and thought, this person can do this job. And she apparently convinced enough of them that she could, said Al Cross, former political writer for the Courier Journal. She won a very narrow, victory in the Democratic primary of 1983 over Harvey Sloane, the mayor of Louisville, and Grady Stumbo, who was, had been the [Kentucky] Human Resources Secretary.

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Collins was Kentuckys first and only female elected governor, but shes remembered for much more than that.

For proof, look no further than the 9-million-square-foot Toyota manufacturing plant in Georgetown that broke ground in 1986. It was a project Collins and her administration helped bring to life.

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When she was governor, going out on a limb and getting the Legislature to support her opening of the Toyota plant in central Kentucky, that transformed Central Kentucky, said Denis Fleming, author of Thomas Jefferson and the Kentucky Constitution.

The domino effect from her vision and her work that helped bring the Toyota plant here to Georgetown-Scott County has made a huge impact on our community, our region, our state and our nation, Covington said.

Fleming mentioned Collin in his book several times, including when he sat next to her at a dinner with former governors in the late 1990s. He said he saw a personal side of her that the public didnt always get to see.

I just remember her as being very determined and accomplished and casual and funny. You cant underestimate her sense of humor.

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Collins political successes in Kentucky catapulted her into the national spotlight. But her career wasnt without controversy.

Kentucky governor declares emergency over SNAP benefits risk

A scandal involving her husbands financial dealings in 1992 impacted her reputation.

Unfortunately, her husband and some of her campaign folks got involved in activities that resulted in him going to prison. She was probably not aware of that, but she should have been aware of that. And thats really the black mark on her career in politics, Cross said.

Still, Collins own words show the way she viewed her role, and the doors she opened for women in politics.

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I didnt really think of myself as a woman governor. I thought of myself as the governor, and I had to make the decisions and do the leadership that a male would have to do, or whatever, she said in a 1992 interview with the Nunn Center for Oral History at the University of Kentucky. I wanted to be a good governor for the Commonwealth, but I also wanted to be a good governor for women, because now the doors of the of the governors office in Kentucky are open to a woman. Theyll never be closed again. Thats always a possibility now.

In that same interview, she talked about how she hoped to be remembered. Now, in the wake of her death, her words still ring true for many.

I hope that in some way, when I die, that people remember me as someone who Kentuckys a little better off for her having come this way, Collins said. And a fair, honest, hardworking person-woman, if you want to say the first woman governor. Im very honored.

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Great workplaces dont happen by accident. They are nurtured and built to bring out the best in people. If you know of one, nominate it as a Top Workplace in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

For the 17th year, the Enquirer will honor outstanding workplace culture in the region. Any organization with 50 or more employees in the region is eligible to compete for a Top Workplaces award. Standout companies will be honored in spring 2026.

Anyone can nominate an outstanding company. The nomination deadline is Dec. 5. Public, private, non-profit, a school, or even a government agency. To nominate an employer or for more information on the awards, just go to cincinnati.com/nominate or call (513) 206-9789.

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There is no cost to participate. To qualify as a Cincinnati Top Workplace, employees evaluate their workplace using a short 26-question survey that takes just a few minutes to complete. Companies will be surveyed through mid-February.

Energage, the Pennsylvania-based research partner for the project, conducts Top Workplaces surveys for media in 65 markets nationwide and surveyed more than 2 million employees at more than 8,000 organizations in the past year.

"Earning a Top Workplaces award is a celebration of excellence, said Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage. It serves as a reminder of the vital role a people-first workplace experience plays in achieving success."

For the 2025 awards, more than 2,500 organizations in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky were invited to survey their employees. Based on employee survey feedback, 122 earned recognition as Top Workplaces.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Is your company a Top Workplace? Let us know
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  On Saturday, Nov. 1, open enrollment for 2026 plans begins for the states official health insurance marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado.

Until Jan. 15, 2026, the annual enrollment period will offer Colorado residents the opportunity to either shop for new affordable health insurance options or renew current plans between six different health insurance companies; however, individuals must enroll by Dec. 15 for coverage that starts on Jan. 1, 2026.

Connect for Health Colorado offers state residents financial assistance for purchasing health insurance and has launched an improved Estimate and Explore tool to showcase a tailored view of coverage options. According to the official marketplace, an estimated 65% of customers will qualify for financial help for plan year 2026 [and] more than half of customers who currently receive financial assistance will have at least one 2026 plan option with an estimated net premium under $10 per month.

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While Connect for Health Colorado doesnt set health insurance rates, we know rising premiums and the expiration of enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs) will have a real impact on people in Colorado, said Kevin Patterson, chief executive officer of Connect for Health Colorado. Shopping and comparing plans this year is more critical than ever.

As the official health insurance marketplace for the state, Connect for Colorado aims to increase access, affordability and choices for individuals purchasing health insurance in the state.

Connect for Health Colorado offers free, expert assistance and resources for residents to make informed choices about their health insurance options. Residents can learn more about the health insurance plans offered in 2026 and their costs online at ConnectforHealthCO.com or by calling 855-752-6749.

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CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The countdown is on for the holidays and many did not wait to get into the festive spirit this weekend.

On Saturday, dozens of Corvette owners in the Charlotte area gathered for their annual toy benefit at Hendrick Motorsports. They collected around 1,000 toys for local kids ahead of the holidays.

Altogether, club members have collected thousands of presents through small events like this one.

Were in the neighborhood of 12,000 or more toys that weve contributed with the Salvation Army as a distribution point for the toys, Jerome Johnson with Road Runner Vettes said. People come from all over, and all the Corvette clubs, to want to put back into the community.

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Saturdays toy drive was a partnership between the Charlotte Road Runner Vettes Corvette Club and the Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte.

 Click here for more heartwarming news across the Carolinas

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County to host meeting on improvements for off-road park in Fabens

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso County is hosting a community meeting to get public feedback on proposed improvements to the San Felipe OHV Park in Fabens.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3 at 1331 N. Fabens Road.

The Countys consultant  Countryman & Co. Architect  will hold a public information session designed to introduce the project and gather community ideas.

Attendees will be able to share their input on off-road trail options, shade and shelter features, and other amenities that will shape the future of the park.

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The proposed project includes:

Construction of off-road trails for children and adults

Installation of shade structures

Construction of access roads and perimeter fencing

Implementation of standardized park signs

The improvements are made possible through funding from the 2024 El Paso County General Obligation Bond Program, along with a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant that supports construction costs.

Community engagement will continue throughout the design process to ensure the final plan reflects the needs and vision of Fabens residents and off-highway-vehicle enthusiasts, the County said.

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In November 2024, El Paso County voters approved three propositions under the 2024 General Obligation Bond Program: Proposition A for parks and recreation improvements, Proposition B for a new Medical Examiner facility, and Proposition E for the Countys first dedicated animal shelter.

Together, these projects represent a $155 million investment in community spaces, public health, and animal welfare, the County said.

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Hundreds of people with hearings scheduled in several downtown Los Angeles courthouses will have their matters continued or rescheduled as the buildings will be closed Monday because of street closures and large crowds expected for a parade celebrating the Dodgers World Series victory.

City officials said they were encouraging downtown businesses to allow employees to work from home or adjust their schedules to avoid the traffic they anticipate as fans head to the 11 a.m parade.

Los Angeles Unified School District officials said that all schools will open as usual, but parents should allow extra time to get kids to class.

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I encourage all Dodgers fans to plan ahead for the parade, be prepared and celebrate peacefully, safely and responsibly, Mayor Karen Bass said in a news release, which also expressed pride over the team's win.

L.A. County officials said Sunday that the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration and the county Hall of Records, which are both located downtown, would also be closed.

The parade begins at Temple Street and Broadway. After going west on Temple, the route turns south on Grand Avenue, west on 7th Street and north on Figueroa Street. It ends at 5th Street.

Officials encouraged fans to gather along Grand Avenue, the longest stretch of the route.

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After the parade there will be a celebration at Dodger Stadium at approximately 12:15. Fans need a ticket for that event.

The team said fans won't be able to attend both the parade and celebration, due to the timing and effect of street closures on traffic.

City officials urged fans to use public transportation. Metrolink will have extra trains on its Antelope Valley, Orange County and San Bernardino lines to make it easier for people from all over the region to get downtown.

Dodger Stadium Express buses from Union Station and Harbor Gateway will start running at 8:30 a.m.

Those who drive should expect some downtown freeway exits to be blocked.

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The courthouses closed Monday are the Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 N. Hill St., the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center at 210 W. Temple St., Superior Court departments at the Spring Street Courthouse at 312 N. Spring St. and the Archives and Records Center at 222 N. Hill St.

Restraining order cases scheduled for Monday are being transferred to the Metropolitan Courthouse at 1045 S. Hill St. All other proceedings at the courthouses closed on Monday will be rescheduled, officials said.

The L.A. Police Department is on heightened alert, officials said, and will have officers stationed along the parade route and near Dodger Stadium.

Cars parked along the parade route will be towed, officials warned.



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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso Police are asking for your help in finding a violent robber who beat and robbed a man at gunpoint last month in South-Central El Paso.

This is this weeks Crime of the Week, as publicized by Crime Stoppers of El Paso.

Police released video of the incident and confirmed last week that they were investigating the incident.

Nighttime robbery in Central El Paso caught on camera

At about 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 2, a man was outside of a residence on the 3100 block of Pera with his family. Suddenly, a man armed with a gun walked through the driveway, pointing a handgun at the victim. The suspect demanded that the victim give him everything and struck the man on the head with the gun.

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The man fled with two necklaces that the victim was wearing, Crime Stoppers said. The suspect was last seen running south on Estrella.

The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male, in his 20s or 30s, 5 feet, 9 inches in height, with a medium build and light complexion, Crime Stoppers said.

He wore a black hooded jacket, a black ski mask, and dark-colored cargo pants, Crime Stoppers added.

Anyone with any information on the identity of this violent robber should call Crime Stoppers of El Paso immediately at (915) 566-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.cselpaso.org. You will remain anonymous, and if your tip leads to an arrest, you may qualify for a cash reward.

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Deal Ends Standoff Over Church Education in Northeast Syria

Church schools in northeast Syria will keep teaching the Syrian Ministry of Education curriculum after the Council of Churches and the Autonomous Administration's Education Authority reached an agreement, ending a dispute over education policy.

In a statement on Sunday, the Council of Churches in al-Jazira and the Euphrates regions of Syria called for promoting national unity, coexistence, and peace across Syria, stressing the importance of the March 10 Agreement between the Syrian transitional government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to ensure a stable and secure future for the country.

The understanding follows months of tension as the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) had banned the use of the Syrian state curriculum in areas under its control, closing government schools and universities to new student registration while enforcing its own educational program. The closures included dozens of private schools affiliated with churches.

Earlier, Adnan Bri, co-chair of the Education Authority, told North Press that 11 Christian schools in the al-Jazira area still use the Damascus-issued curriculum, which he described as "Baath-era material," adding that the schools charge tuition fees, violating the administration's principle of free education.

Bri explained that the schools--located in Hasakah, Qamishli, and Derik--belong to Syriac, Evangelical Presbyterian, and Armenian communities and are "private institutions not formally linked to the churches, offering academic rather than religious instruction." He noted that the authority had not closed any schools but aims to implement a unified curriculum, ensuring free education for all.

The Assyrian Democratic Party condemned the AANES' decisions as "an infringement on the Assyrian community's right to official education and a threat to students' futures." It also criticized the lack of consultation with Assyrian representatives.
After Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, was arrested in connection with the murder case of a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, Patna District Magistrate (DM) Dr Thiyagarajan SM said that the situation is absolutely normal. "The incident that happened has been taken very seriously. We camped day and night for the last 48 hours. The situation is absolutely normal now. Since it is concerned with the election process, we investigated it thoroughly from every angle. Action is being taken against all anti-social elements involved in this. Yesterday, 80 people were arrested, and today, the main accused have been arrested... We have already identified and taken action against the people who are trying to influence elections...," Patna District Magistrate told ANI. He further said that adequate CAPF personnel have been deployed and raids are being carried out to seize illegal arms. Assuring voters of fair polls, Patna DM told reporters, "The incident that occurred in Mokama assembly constituency has been taken very seriously by the district administration and the police... We have taken many actions in the case... The Model Code of Conduct is a strong pillar in the entire election process. As per the instructions of the Election Commission, we are committed to ensuring a fair election. If an anti-social element tries to go against the law or the Model Code of Conduct, strict action will be taken. We have given instructions for 100% arms deposition. All legal arms will soon be deposited. Instructions have been given to set up more than 50 checking points in each constituency. CAPF will also be carrying out checks. Maximum seizure has been done from Patna. Adequate CAPF personnel have been deployed. They are working in coordination with the police and the magistrate... Raids are being carried out to seize illegal arms..." Earlier, on October 30, a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, was killed during firing between the two sides while campaigning for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections in Mokama. Mokama, which will vote in the first phase on November 6, is once again set to witness a high-voltage electoral contest in the 2025 polls, as Janata Dal (United) has fielded strongman Anant Singh, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal has nominated Veena Devi, wife of former MP and influential leader Surajbhan Singh. Voting for Bihar's 243-seat Assembly will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14. (ANI)




Connecticut's National Guard plans to comply with a directive from President Donald Trump's administration instructing them to contribute troops to a new "quick reaction force" intended to respond to civil disturbances and riots, a spokesperson said Friday.

In a series of leaked memos, the Trump administration directed National Guard units in all 50 states to train soldiers in a specialized course that includes the proper use of batons, body shields, stun guns and pepper spray, as part of a force of more than 23,000 troops nationwide.

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"As with all lawful orders, the Connecticut National Guard is in the process of developing a plan to comply" with the directive, Major Michael J. Wilcoxson said in a statement Friday. "However, inherent to most military planning efforts, there are various factors and considerations to work through."

Wilcoxson did not share how many Guard members Connecticut had been asked to contribute to the force. According to the Associated Press, many but not all states were expected to train 500 troops for this purpose.

Critics see the creation of a new force to deal with civil disturbances  as opposed to the natural disasters these reaction forces typically respond to  as a possible escalation in the Trump administration's efforts to use the National Guard against Americans in cities run by Democrats, sometimes in response to protests against federal policies.

David McGuire, executive director of the ACLU of Connecticut, said Friday his reaction to the recent order "was one of dismay but not shock," noting Trump has frequently discussed federalizing National Guard troops, who are typically under states' control. Though a reaction force is different from full federalization, McGuire said, the new directive speaks to the administration's desire to use the Guard for his purposes.

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"The President has been speaking about federalization and doing this now for a while," McGuire said. "It's no longer theoretical."

McGuire emphasized that, in all but the most extreme circumstances, only a state's governor can deploy its National Guard troops and called on Gov. Ned Lamont to issue an executive order "stating clearly that the Guard is under his control" and won't be deployed to other states.

A Lamont spokesperson deferred comment on the recent Trump administration directive to Connecticut's National Guard.

The Trump administration memos, issued in early October and first reported this week by The Guardian, cite a recent Trump executive order that directed the Pentagon to create quick reaction forces that would be "available for rapid nationwide deployment."

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Asked recently about a prior memo detailing similar plans, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he would not comment on "particulars" but went on to say that there were "multiple layers of National Guard response forces."

"We've got a lot of different ways that, constitutionally and legally, we can employ" Guard troops, and "we will do so when necessary," Hegseth said.

Wilcoxson noted that the Connecticut National Guard has long used reaction forces and that the "capabilities described in the memorandum are not new" to the agency.

Though the National Guard typically has troops on standby and ready to deploy, they generally have been used to respond to natural disasters.

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McGuire said he's nervous what will come next, at a time when Trump appears to be seeking new and ambitious ways to use the Guard. So far, Trump has sent the National Guard into Los Angeles and D.C. but been blocked by federal judges from doing so in Chicago and Portland, at least for now.

"The real test is going to be when there is a request directly of Connecticut to use our resources to further whatever agenda the Trump administration has on that day," McGuire said. "And I would hope and expect the governor would decline that."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

This article originally published at CT National Guard complying with Trump order to create new 'quick reaction force'.




Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, before the ubiquity of artificial intelligence, researchers in China began to see a pattern: people were expressing their deepest feelings on social media.

Some people said they felt more than just sadness, openly expressing the desire to end their own lives, the researchers found. With the sheer volume of social media posts, the researchers began building a computer model that could sift through thousands of posts and highlight the few that should be referred to a clinician.

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Jie Tao, an associate professor of business analytics and director of the AI and Technology Institute in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University, said although his research specialty - machine learning, AI and natural language processing - was becoming more relevant, he felt he wasn't having an impact.

"I get some satisfaction from doing research," he said. "But I was saying to myself, what's the point of writing papers that my own mother won't read? That, to me, is ridiculous. If nobody's reading it, then there's no point."

Tao, who has been at Fairfield since 2015, said he promised himself he would use his skills and knowledge to benefit society. To that end, as COVID-era lockdowns kept everyone isolated, Tao and his team took the nascent research begun in China and expanded on it, building an AI model that can, with a surprising degree of accuracy, identify suicidal ideation in social media posts.

The AI that Tao and his team developed has been programmed to search through six commonly used social media sites, including Reddit, X and the Chinese platform Sina Weibo, looking for specific phrases and combinations of phrases, flagging posts that could lead clinicians to users who were considering suicide. The tool then alerts human clinicians who follow up with the users and intervene if they thought it was necessary.

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The initial Chinese researchers identified social media posts that represented people genuinely considering suicide about 70% of the time, which Tao said led to a lot of false positives. Tao tested his AI against the same researchers using the same social media pool and found it to be more accurate at identifying posts that represented real, imminent suicidal ideation than the human researchers.

"We brought that to the high 80s, almost 90% using this tool," he said.

The Chinese researchers made about five referrals to psychologists a week; Tao's tool "brought that number to almost 25," he said.

Tao said the model, called a Knowledge-Enhanced Transformer-Based Approach to Suicidal Ideation Detection from Social Media Content, or KETCH, required what he calls "brain surgery" on the "black box" of artificial intelligence.

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"It actually doesn't understand something like irony," or sarcasm, "something that us humans are very good at. Well, some better than others, but we are generally much better than AI," he said.

Tao said he "injected" a set of rules and lexicons from human counselors, helping the AI understand if a person was saying something jokingly.

"We ask the AI to basically self-evaluate how confident it thinks its decision is, and we use that to control," he said. "If they're not very confident, we will basically treat the decision lighter."

Ethical concerns

Ridgefield resident Arthur Caplan, who founded the medical ethics department at New York University Langone Medical Center, said suicide is "a major public health challenge," and one of the primary barriers is a dearth of mental health providers.

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"If a Connecticut parent were to say, 'My kid seems in trouble to me, I would like them to see a therapist,' you could be told there's a waitlist that could last a year," Caplan said. "There just aren't that many psychologists and psychiatrists who deal with mental health issues in young people."

To that end, an artificial intelligence that can scan through public social media posts to pinpoint people with severe mental health challenges could be a boon. But Caplan also had some concerns. Consent, he said, is an issue. While the tool looks only at public posts, Caplan wondered if people should be required to provide consent to have their posts scanned by an AI.

"Anybody who's old enough may say to TikTok or whoever, 'I don't want you reselling my information, and I don't want you giving it to programs that are surfing around to check my mental health,'" he said. "If you or I don't have that right, it's certainly something that needs a thorough debate in the legislature.

"If the program's bad and you think it didn't handle things well for whatever reason, who's responsible? Who's accountable?" Caplan asked.

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According to Gijo Mathew, "AI is advancing faster than our ability to set clear guardrails."

Matthew is chief product officer at mental health services provider Spring Health, which in October convened an ethics council devoted to AI and mental health safety. That council includes researchers and clinicians from a variety of institutions, including insurance companies, health-care practitioners and research groups, the Yale School of Medicine among them.

"In mental health, that gap creates risk because getting it wrong isn't just a technical failure, it's a human one," he said.

The council's first order of business is to create a framework to evaluate the "safety, ethics and clinical effectiveness of AI tools in mental health," with the goal of "creating a common standard for safety and performance so innovation in AI for mental health can move forward responsibly and with confidence," Matthew said.

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Tao does not minimize ethical questions. If, for example, a patient is contacted erroneously, it could create enough of a hubbub to lead the person into suicidal ideation, a false positive that gets escalated. Or the AI might miss cries for help that might have been obvious to human clinicians, but believes the more accurate the AI model is the better.

"Both kinds of mistakes are very scary," Tao said, though he believes better accuracy is the solution. "The final safeguard of the system is we want it to be overly comprehensive so we don't bother people who are not going to commit suicide, even if they're just joking, or miss somebody who's actually going to commit suicide."

Matthew said he believes human intervention is the important piece.

"AI won't replace therapists or psychiatrists, but it will change how they work," he said. "The future is human-led care that's supported by AI; tools that make therapy more effective, more continuous and more accessible."

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The issue, however, is the technology is improving faster than the ethical or legal frameworks around it.

"Diagnosing mental health conditions is complex and deeply personal," Mathew said. "We're operating ahead of regulation, which makes responsible self-governance critical. Mental health data is among the most sensitive information there is, and today's laws weren't built for AI systems that learn and adapt. Until policy catches up, it's on companies and clinical leaders to set high standards for safety, accountability and explainability."

Tao said his AI model is not designed to replace psychologists but is a tool to be used by clinicians.

"The providers can incorporate these tools and adopt them into their platform, so they're visible, they're transparent to the end users  to consumers," he said.

The next steps

While Tao's group is attempting to get its suicidal ideation-detection model as accurate as possible, he's also hoping to expand the concept, he said.

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"We also have problems like depression and ADHD and PTSD, so can we expand this to be more generalized in mental health issues," he said, but he's taking his diagnostic model beyond the brain.

After his father was diagnosed with cancer and Tao tried to educate himself, he found he could not stay on top of all the new research. So, he decided to build an AI model that searches, validates and translates its findings into understandable language, he said.

"This AI agent will actually go out every day on its own to search the internet to find out what's new today. What's the new drug trials? What's the experimental treatments? What are the new FDA approvals?" Tao said. "It's actually multiple AIs working together, some doing research, some validating the research, some being careful to make sure they're understandable."

Anyone who has thoughts of harming themselves, or seeks access to free and confidential mental health support, can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-8255 (en Espanol: 888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing dial 711 and then 988) or visit 988Lifeline.org.

This article originally published at CT researcher creates AI model to detect suicidal ideation in social media posts.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday called Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani the most divisive candidate I have ever experienced in New York.

He alienated the Jewish community, Cuomo said on the Cats Roundtable radio show hosted by John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM. Alienated the Italian community. Offended the LGBTQ community.  [New York Police Department], youre racist, wicked, and corrupt. Barack Obama, hes evil and hes a liar.  Hes in favor of decriminalizing prostitution, thats haram according to the Quran. He has offended everyone.

Cuomo slammed Mamdani throughout the interview, suggesting this Zohran has frightened a lot of people with his policies and his things. At one point, he criticized some of Mamdanis top priorities, including free busing and freezing rent prices.

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You get a little older, a little more mature, and you realize theres nothing free, and the policies hes is talking about are all BS, and the fact that he has zero qualifications is actually quite dangerous, Cuomo said.

Regarding Mamdanis potential win on Tuesday, the former governor also suggested people will die if a hurricane, health crisis or other disaster hits the city.

An Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill poll released on Thursday showed Cuomo 25 points behind Mamdani, who received 50 percent of support from respondents. Republican Curtis Sliwa, whom Cuomo has sought to portray as a spoiler for Mamdani, trailed behind at 21 percent support.

Mamdani appears to have built a coalition across key demographics, increasing his margin among Black voters since last month, from 50% to 71%, whereas Cuomo dropped ten points among Black voters since September, Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in a statement.

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Despite endorsements from incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg for Cuomo, Mamdani is widely expected to win the mayoral race on Election Day on Nov. 4, even as moderate Democrats and some Republicans coalesce around the former governor. While former President Obama has not endorsed Mamdani, he reportedly called the Democratic mayoral nominee on Saturday and complimented his campaign, according to The New York Times.

In April, the Department of Justice (DOJ) opened an investigation into Cuomos handling of nursing homes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This came after a House Republican panel in late 2024 called on former Attorney General Merrick Garland to prosecute Cuomo for allegedly lying to the panel about how he handled nursing homes during the pandemic.

In 2021, Cuomo accepted some fault for his decisions the year before. New York health officials reported there were 15,000 COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

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The father of 18-year-old Sean Brasfield, who was one of four children killed, spoke to ABC11 News about the death of his son.

He agreed to speak under the condition that his name not be used in our reporting. Brasfield was found dead in the trunk of a car parked in a Zebulon garage on Springtooth Drive after 38-year-old Wellington Dickens III called 911 on October 27 with an apparent confession.

Brasfield's father told ABC11 that he had not seen his son in ten years, and efforts to coordinate an arrangement with Dickens to see him were unsuccessful.

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"I never would have thought this would happen," he said. He said he kept his son, who had a disability, on his insurance so that if he received medical care, he would know where his son was at least.

"But that never happened," he added.

Brasfield's father had no indication that his son would be killed and that his step-siblings would be murdered as well. "I know there are a lot of eyes on Sean," he said, "but there are three other innocent children who died and a 3-year-old with nobody."

When Brasfield's mother, Stephanie Rae Jones, died in April 2024 due to complications stemming from a miscarriage, he said he reached out to Dickens and they had a brief conversation. However, no information was given about where his son was.

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In August 2025, the father said he and Dickens exchanged messages on Facebook after Dickens allegedly asked for help with Brasfield.

When asked what happened following that dialogue, Brasfield's father responded, "I guess nothing."

He also said he wasn't initially notified of his son's death and found out elsewhere.

"The sheriff's office apologized and have been great since then," he said. "Answering my questions and giving me updates. When they call, I pick up."

He's at a loss for what comes next.

"I was going to let bygones be bygones," he said, speaking of his quasi-relationship with Dickens. The father said he was willing to put the past and distance aside "for the kids".

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Instead, Dickens confessed to the murder of three of his children and stepson Sean Brasfield. The other three children have been identified as: Leah Dickens, 6

Zoe Dickens, 9, and Wellington Dickens, 10.

SEE ALSO | Johnston County father accused of killing 4 children didn't properly register homeschool

His motive as of now remains unclear.

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Dallas Municipal Court will host a weeklong series of free public events featuring food trucks, police meet-and-greets, and distracted driving simulations.

The annual Municipal Court Week aims to educate residents about traffic safety while honoring court staff, including judges, clerks, and bailiffs.

The City of Dallas Municipal Court stands as a pillar of trust, ensuring every voice is heard and every citizen is respected, according to a statement from the City of Dallas.

Events run Monday through Friday, November 3-7, at the courthouse located at 2014 Main Street.

Monday kicks off with all-day popcorn and movies for citizens. Police Chief Daniel Comeaux will meet with residents from 9:30 to 10 a.m., followed by a distracted-driving simulation station.

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Tuesday features Breakfast for the Blue honoring law enforcement from 8 to 9 a.m. The citys 311 mobile unit will provide on-site services, and food trucks will arrive at 11 a.m.

Wednesday focuses on youth engagement with area schools from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students will experience mock trials, court process tours, and presentations on youth diversion programs.

Thursday returns to community appreciation, featuring more distracted-driving demonstrations and food trucks. Court clerks receive special recognition from 9 to 10 a.m.

The week concludes on Friday with an employee appreciation luncheon from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Special awards and recognitions will be presented to court staff.

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Judge Tonya Goffney chairs the Municipal Court Week committee. Administrative Judge Preston Robinson Jr. oversees daily court operations.

All events except Fridays employee luncheon are open to the public. Informational tables operate daily from 9 a.m. to noon.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw on Sunday defended President Donald Trumps efforts to oust Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro but stopped short of endorsing land strikes on the country.

Speaking with CBS Margaret Brennan on "Face the Nation," the Texas Republican said the administrations pressure campaign shows Trump is taking Venezuela much more seriously.

Deterrence almost always works, especially when you are dealing with dictators like Maduro, Crenshaw said. They only listen to one thing, which is power. And Venezuela has been largely left alone by American administrations. The Western Hemisphere has been left alone, and I think this president is taking it much more seriously.

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In recent weeks, the Trump administration has engaged in multiple strikes of boats they say are full of drugs being smuggled into the United States.

Last month, the president hinted at expanding military operations from the sea to the land, an idea Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) last week said he would support.

On Sunday, Crenshaw wasnt quite ready to back that idea, telling Brennan there would have to be a longer conversation about doing something to that extent.

Talking hypotheticals about invading Venezuela, I mean, that's not really what we're talking about right now, Crenshaw added.

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But while Crenshaw praised Trump for the steps he has taken so far, he drew a line between himself and another prominent Republican: Tucker Carlson.

The Fox News anchor-turned podcaster recently invited Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes to his show. The interview was soon widely condemned as antisemitic by much of the GOP after the show aired.

During the interview, Carlson said Republican supporters of Israel  including U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)  suffer from a brain virus, while Fuentes said the big challenge to unifying the country was organized Jewry.

I have had a long-standing feud with Tucker Carlson, Crenshaw said Sunday. Im glad everyone else is also waking up now to how bad of a person he is. He's changed a lot over the last 20 years.

The GOP is still dealing with the fallout of an explosive review of a string of antisemitic texts POLITICO first reported last month.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  On Saturday, one day after large, disorderly crowds gathered in the Navy Yard neighborhood, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser enacted a limited juvenile curfew for several days. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) established four zones with stricter curfew rules as well.

Five teens were arrested on Halloween evening after a gathering of several hundred, MPD said. Witnesses said that pepper balls had to be used to disperse the crowd, many of whom refused orders to stay out of the streets, which forced their closures.

It was kind of wild to see, said AJ Crews, who was at the train station when it happened. People love the act, and they love the drama, so they were just going to it. So in my opinion, it was craziness. But you know what I mean? Thats D.C., I guess.

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On Saturday, Bowser announced that any youth under 18 years old would have a curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. every night from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5 at 11:59 p.m.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Disorderly behavior in Navy Yard leads to multiple arrests, street closures on Halloween: DC police

Bowser also said that MPD Police Chief Pamela Smith has the authority to designate high risk special zones and establish earlier curfews starting at 6 p.m. and declare a temporary curfew zone if any group of at least eight minors is scheduled to gather and the safety of the youth, residents, or the public is endangered.

On Saturday, MPD announced four Special Juvenile Curfew Zones, which will be in effect starting at 6 p.m.:

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Navy Yard Special Juvenile Curfew Zone

North boundary: Interstate 695

East boundary: 8th Street, SE

South boundary: Anacostia River

West boundary: South Capitol Street, SE

U Street Corridor Special Juvenile Curfew Zone

North boundary: V Street and Vermont Avenue, NW

East boundary: Florida Avenue and 9th Street, NW

South boundary: T Street NW

West boundary: 15th Street from T Street to V Street, NW

Banneker Recreation Center Special Juvenile Curfew Zone

North boundary: Euclid Street, NW

East boundary: Georgia Avenue, NW

South boundary: W Street, NW

West boundary: 9th Street, NW

Union Station Special Juvenile Curfew Zone

North boundary: H Street, NE

East boundary: 3rd Street, NE

South boundary: D Street, NE

West boundary: North Capitol Street, NE

MPD said that everyone under the age of 18 must leave any public place or establishment unless they are doing exempted activities.

The behavior on Halloween evening  which included young people brawling, blocking streets, and moving into commercial establishments in large groups, endangering both themselves and others in the area  follows several weekends of similar behavior by youth in neighborhoods across the District, a news release from Bowsers office Saturday read.

MPD also stated that there would be an increased police presence Saturday night after the incident at Navy Yard.

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The defendant was allegedly contacted via Telegram last year and paid 12,000 shekels to carry out tasks for an Iranian agent.

An indictment was filed against a 23-year-old from Tiberias for carrying out tasks for Iranian foreign agents for cash compensation, the State Attorneys office announced on Sunday.

The Southern District Attorneys Office filed the indictment in the Beer Sheva District Court against Yosef Ein Eli, stating that the defendant was contacted in 2024 via Telegram and paid 12,000 shekels to carry out tasks for a foreign agent who referred to himself as Career Path.

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Ein Eli and the foreign agent exchanged text messages before eventually losing contact. In July 2025, Ein Eli reached out to the agent again and asked to work with him, leading to months of maintaining a relationship with foreign operatives via Telegram on behalf of an Iranian intelligence agency and a terrorist organization, according to the State Attorneys Office.

During his campaigns, Eli posed as various people. Notably, he posed as an IDF soldier serving near Dimona. According to the State Attorneys office, the defendant did not initially know he was cooperating with Iranian and/or terrorist agents, yet continued to work with them after learning so. He continued to cooperate for financial gain, the statement said.

THE ISROTEL Dead Sea Hotel (credit: ISROTEL)

Missions included filming sites around Israel

His missions included, but were not limited to, filming various sites nationwide, including hotels in the Dead Sea area where he worked, hotel lobbies, and views toward Jordan, following the agents instructions. In one case, he was instructed to walk along a marked trail in the Dead Sea area and film the route, which he completed after several attempts. He also sent additional videos and photos, hoping for additional payment. He also filmed hotel activities with guests in frame, participating in events.

Shortly before his arrest, Ein Eli was asked by one of the agents to document all events at the hotel where he worked, and he complied, sending detailed reports and photos. Though some reports were allegedly false, he did share other true information, including changes to the hotels security routine.

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He also shared personal information of other hotel employees for recruitment, sending at least 10 contacts, presented as soldiers.

Ein Eli was also reportedly asked if he knew of any arms dealers from whom weapons could be purchased, and replied with weapon videos he found on Telegram  due to their inauthenticity, he was refused payment.

In its request to detain the defendant until the end of proceedings, the State Attorneys Office noted that Ein Eli knowingly operated with hostile elements while Israel was at war on multiple fronts, including against Iran, and chose to cooperate despite knowing the security risks.

Ein Eli has been charged with contact with a foreign agent and transmission of information to help enemy forces.
Union Minister of Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu inaugurated a newly established Crche Facility at Udaan Bhawan in the national capital. The initiative marks a significant step toward fostering a more inclusive, supportive, and employee-friendly workplace within the Ministry. At the inauguration ceremony, children greeted the Minister with flowers. Following the inauguration, Rammohan Naidu viewed the crche area, its equipment and safety features, and interacted with the parents and children. He distributed toys and chocolates to the children on the occasion. The crche is equipped for the routine care of children aged six months to six years, including growth monitoring, nutrition, play, pre-school learning, and medical care, said Ministry of Civil Aviation. The environment has been designed to be engaging and stimulating for pre-schoolers. It is set up on the ground floor at a well-secured location with CCTV coverage and necessary safety features, as stated in a release. The facility will cater to the needs of employees of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and its attached and subordinate offices, including AAI, DGCA, BCAS, AAIB, and AERA, enabling them to balance work and childcare responsibilities with greater ease. The establishment of the crche is a part of the Ministry's efforts under the ongoing Special Campaign 5.0, which focuses on the productive utilisation of unused spaces within government premises and the promotion of employee welfare and workplace efficiency, a release said. Meanwhile, Union Minister Naidu, along with State Minister Nara Lokesh, on Saturday visited a hospital at Srikakulam to meet the injured after a stampede broke out at Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Andhra Pradesh, in which nine people were killed. The ministers also interacted with doctors. The stampede occurred at a privately built, unregistered shrine where the organisers had neither obtained prior permission nor informed the authorities about the event, police officials said. (ANI)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Department is investigating the death of a 16-year-old girl.

At 6:35 a.m. Sunday, officers and emergency medical staff responded to a report for an unresponsive person at the City Park in Eagle Butte.

Responders found an unresponsive 16-year-old girl and began life-saving measures, but despite their efforts she was unable to be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement says there is no indication of a threat to the public, and the circumstances surrounding the death are under active investigation.

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On one of the final days of his life, Father Guillermo Trevino walked through Vatican City beneath a soft, silvery sky, holding aloft a towering wooden cross.

With 100 singing pilgrims following, he led the way, lifting his black cowboy hat high whenever someone strayed.

Rev. De Neice Welch, one of the pilgrims also on the trip, said she will never forget the sight of him smiling beneath that brim, guiding them like a shepherd through the heart of the Church he so loved.

Guillermo Trevino Jr.

Trevino, who was just 39, died in Iowa City on Friday, Oct. 31, a day after he returned from his trip to Rome. He had undiagnosed diabetes, which ultimately led to a stomach perforation that proved fatal, according a Facebook posting by his sister, Mariela Trevino-Luna, who also was with him on the trip to Europe.

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Trevino served as a pastor of the St. Joseph Catholic churches in Columbus Junction and West Liberty, southeast of Iowa City, but he was known statewide for his work as a founding member and chaplain of Escucha Mi Voz Iowa. The group is one of the state's leading advocacy organizations for immigrant rights.

"From my time as the Bishop of Davenport, I remember his playful and serious sides," Thomas Zinkula, archbishop of Dubuque, the most senior leader of Iowa Catholics, said in a message to the Des Moines Register. "Fr. Guillermo loved movies, Star Wars and professional wrestling. But he also was passionate about serving and advocating for immigrants. I was inspired by his total commitment to seeking justice and mercy for people on that particular margin of society."

Father Guillermo Trevino carries a wooden cross through Vatican City on Oct. 23, 2025.

Maria Ayala, vice president of Escucha Mi Voz Iowa, expressed her concern for Trevino's loss at a time when immigrants face increasing uncertainty.

"I don't believe what happened," Ayala said. "We need more people like him to support our hispano-latino community."

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Trevino had just come back from the Fifth World Meeting of Popular Movements in Rome, where he and Welch represented the Gamaliel National Network, a grassroots organization of nonpartisan, faith-based organizations.

"Father Trevino was one of the most special people I have ever met," said Welch, senior pastor of Bidwell Street United Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh.

She added that a memory she will never forget is when, waiting for dinner one night during the trip, Trevino gathered the contingent from South Africa to play foosball.

"They were all playing and laughing and joking, and they didn't even speak the same language, but he took control of that situation and invited all these people to just have fun," Welch said.

Families of Pascual Pedro and Noel Lopez walk to stand near Fr. Guillermo Trevino during a protest demanding the return and release of each man, respectively, July 29, 2025 near the U.S. Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

A life of service and faith for social issues

Born in Moline on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities, Trevino never gave up on people, Deacon David Montgomery, chancellor of the Diocese of Davenport, said in an email to the Des Moines Register. He noted that Trevino's own father, a Mexican citizen, was deported 12 times from the United States.

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Trevino "was a gentle and sweet man, had a booming preachers voice and could effortlessly preach and pray in English and Spanish, switching back and forth with ease," Montgomery said.

Father Guillermo Trevino poses outside the Vatican on Oct. 23, 2025.

Trevino's first campaign to aid vulnerable people, in 2018, stopped what advocates saw as a measure hostile to homeless people. The Iowa City Council agreed to replace 14 benches in the city's Ped Mall with versions lacking the center armrests that had made them unsuitable for sleeping.

"I believe this is a mistake by the city," Trevino told the Iowa City Press-Citizen at the time. "And we feel that if you break something you should pay for it, own up to it."

Escucha Mi Voz Iowa held its first organizing meetings in the basements of his churches in 2021, said Montgomery.

Pascual Pedro (right), a former West Liberty High School soccer star, stands in a photo in 2024 with Escucha Mi Voz board president, Father Guillermo Trevino. Pedro, 20, was recently detained by ICE officials and deported to his home country of Guatemala.

Trevino emerged as a leading figure in the Diocese's outreach to immigrant communities. In 2022, he received the National Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award, which recognizes a young faith-filled Catholic who has demonstrated leadership against poverty and injustice in the United States, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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In 2023, he helped distribute $1.3 million in pandemic relief checks to meatpacking plant workers and farmworkers, according to Montgomery.

He added that one of Trevino's most impactful victories came in 2024, when he helped save the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. The national community organizing grant program that provides $5 million to $10 million in aid annually had come under fire for exceeding its resources and faced attempts to severely scale it back, according to the National Catholic Reporter. The online publication quoted Trevino as saying ahead of a decisive conference of bishops that "pausing grant awards or the annual collection for even one year would cause irreparable harm to the poorest and most marginalized communities in this country."

He was continuing his advocacy this year, writing an opinion piece for the Des Moines Register after Pascual Pedro, a West Liberty High Shool graduate, was detained during a routine immigration check-in and deported fewer than two weeks later.

"As Pascual Pedros parish priest and godfather, I am deeply troubled by the recent statements of Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Joni Ernst, and Rep. Ashley Hinson regarding his unjust deportation to Guatemala," he wrote. "We demand leadership. We demand justice. We demand you Bring Pascual Home Now."

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Most recently, in August , U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, sat alongside Trevino as he spoke to a crowd on immigration issues at St. Joseph in West Liberty.

Sanders on Saturday recalled his experience with Trevino and, in a message to the Register, said he personally mourned his loss.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks to a crowd on immigration issues on Aug. 22, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in West Liberty, Iowa.

"I had the privilege of meeting Fr. Trevino several times," Sanders said. "He was a courageous man who dedicated his life to fighting for dignity and justice for all people. He stood up for the poor, the vulnerable, and the voiceless.

"His passing is a tremendous loss, but the best way to honor his legacy is to continue his struggle  to stand up, speak out, and confront injustice wherever it exists."

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Thai Theodoro is a reporter at The Des Moines Register. Reach her at ttheodoro@gannett.com. Follow her on X, previously Twitter, at @thaiiswriting.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa's Father Trevino, known for immigrant advocacy, dies at 39
The death toll from a Russian attack on the Samar district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on 1 November has risen to four as the bodies of two children have been found.

Source: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

Details: The boys killed in the attack were 11 and 14.

The administration also reported that a drone strike on the Dubovyky hromada has damaged several houses. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

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In the Pavlohrad district, drones damaged infrastructure and a car.

In the Nikopol district, several hromadas came under drone and artillery fire, but no casualties were reported.

Background: On the evening of 1 November, Russian forces attacked the Samar district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, killing two people and injuring seven.

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State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton is reminding New Yorkers to hunt safely this season and encouraged all outdoor enthusiasts to respectfully share the woods and follow safety precautions.

Regular deer hunting season in the Northern Zone began Oct. 25 and closes Dec. 7.

Bowhunting season for deer and bear is ongoing in the Southern Zone and ends Nov. 14. The regular big game season in the Southern Zone begins Nov. 15.

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With nearly 600,000 New Yorkers participating annually, hunting is among the most popular forms of wildlife-related recreation in the state, Lefton said. Hunting remains a safe, ecologically important wildlife population management tool, and fosters an understanding and respect for the environment. I encourage everyone enjoying the woods to be aware of their surroundings and follow all outlined safety measures while afield.

Due to ongoing efforts to teach hunting safety, responsibility, and ethics, incident rates over the last five years are at the lowest levels recorded in New York, according to DEC statistics. Many, if not all hunting-related incidents can be prevented by following the primary rules of hunter safety:

 Treat every firearm as if it were loaded;

 Control the muzzle, always keep it pointed in a safe direction;

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 Identify your target and what lies beyond it;

 Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire; and

 Wear hunter orange or pink.

Tips for all hunters venturing afield this fall include:

 Tell someone your hunting location and anticipated return time. If plans change, notify them;

 Dress for the weather and plan for both location and elevation changes;

 Become familiar with planned hunting areas in advance; and

 Pack the 10 Essentials, especially a light source, knife, map, and first aid kit.

Additionally, DEC encourages all New York hunters to Strap Up Before You Go Up to improve tree stand safety. Like shooting incidents, elevated stand incidents can easily be avoided by following simple safety measures.

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Venison Donations

With nearly 3 million New Yorkers potentially losing their federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance in November, DEC is encouraging hunters to help fight hunger in our communities at this critical time.

Each year, DEC partners with Feeding New York State to facilitate the donation of 50-70,000 pounds of venison from deer harvested by hunters to those in need.

To donate a deer harvest:

1. Drop off any legally harvested, tagged, and reported deer at one of Feeding New York States participating deer processors (https://feedingnys.org/hunters/)

2. Call the processor ahead of time to ensure they can accept your deer.

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3. Complete the processors log sheet indicating your desire to donate the deer. Hunters can also donate whole deer or venison directly to anyone they choose.

DEC and Feeding New York State will cover the processing costs for donated deer so that the venison can be distributed to food pantries and food banks throughout the state; however, funding is limited.
DALLAS, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A Luzerne County native killed in the Civil War and whose remains were lost now has a lasting tribute in his hometown. A grave marker dedication ceremony was held on Saturday in Dallas to honor Corporal Nathan Allen.

Civil War reenactors participated in the event at Wardan Cemetery.

Allen grew up in the Dallas area and was shot while carrying a flag on the battleground in 1865. His life story piqued the interest of Linda Holmes, who is a distant relative of Allen.

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She gathered letters he penned to write a book about him.

Homicide investigation after teen found shot in street

I wanted to capture the information that this soldier spent time while he was at war writing letters home and writing in his diary, and I wanted to trace his journey, Event Organizer and Author Linda Holmes stated.

History is dying. People dont care as much, like, especially at stuff like this. Like, its important for people like me, my age, doing Civil War reenactment because these people are older. They cant really do it much longer, Danny Kozlak, a Civil War Reenactor from Milford, said.

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Corporal Allens grave marker is alongside the tombstone of his younger brother at the cemetery in Luzerne County.

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Donald Trump promised his supporters he would be their "retribution" if re-elected. Now, he's making good on that promise with his DOJ putting two prosecutors on leave for they signed court documents describing the "mob of rioters" on January 6th. ABC News' Jonathan Karl joins The Weekend: Primetime to discuss this as well as Trump's focus on revenge in his new book, "Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign that Changed America."
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  North Carolina Democrats and Republicans traded barbs on Saturday after a voter lookup tool on the state Board of Elections website was down for several hours, affecting much of the state.

The voter lookup tool on the North Carolina State Board of Elections, also known as the voter search, allows potential voters to find information about their polling places, among other data.

On Saturday, early voting was still underway ahead of Election Day on Tuesday.

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The North Carolina Democratic Party first raised the issue, with an unofficial claim that the tool was not functioning in 94 out of 100 counties.

When Dave Boliek first took over the Board of Elections, he removed career election professionals to fill his leadership with inexperienced, partisan appointees. Now, on the last day of early voting before our municipal elections, the NCSBE Voter Search tool went down, said part of a statement from NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton.

Clayton also said there were problems at polling places where poll workers are having difficulty quickly identifying and registering voters.

Saturday night, NCBOE officials said the tool was back up and working. Patrick Gannon, spokesman for the NCBOE, said he could not confirm that 94 counties were not functioning earlier, but told CBS 17 it was down for most of the state.

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Gannon also stated that there was no disruption at any polling place.

Anderson Clayton, Chair of the NC Democratic Party, is either ignorant or intentionally spreading misinformation, part of an emailed statement from Gannon said.

Republicans said significant work has been underway to update software  and blamed Democrats for neglect.

Since his first day as executive director, Executive Director Sam Hayes has been working diligently to update election software that was neglected by the previous director and the then-Democratic majority, part of a statement from Gannon said.

Democrats appeared to focus on Dave Boliek, the North Carolina State Auditor.

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Its clear that Republicans were wrong when they said that making Boliek the only State Auditor in the country that controls elections would not impact voting or the quality of our systems, Clayton said in a statement.

Matt Mercer of the Republicans also issued a statement on the matter  bringing up former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper.

Its insulting Democrats are trying to score cheap political points when Auditor Boliek has spent his tenure in office identifying their complete failure to manage the DMV in our state and just weeks ago found former Gov. Roy Coopers administration delayed $83 million in benefits to North Carolina families, Mercer said in a statement to CBS 17.

The email from Gannon included some information about Tuesdays voting.

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Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Election Day. For more information, see: 10 Tips for Election Day Voters: 2025 Municipal Elections Edition.

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After the 2013 government shutdown ended, Republican leaders made clear they had only been humoring Sen. Ted Cruz and his plot to defund Obamacare.

It was not a smart play. It had no chance of success, then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said.

Then-House Speaker John Boehner initially said the GOP had fought the good fight. But he would later say the plan never had a chance and even called the Texas senator Lucifer in the flesh.

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This is how shutdowns generally go. The side seeking a concession fights what they view as the good fight, and then they give up when it becomes clear that its also a losing fight. Because, as McConnell has often said, shutdowns dont work.

And maybe thats how Democrats thought this one would go down. House Speaker Mike Johnson basically predicted as much Saturday, wagering Democrats might back down after Tuesdays elections.

But a full month into the shutdown, its hard to see how Democrats can give up now. The politics of this have gone surprisingly well for them. And Republicans seem to be the ones struggling for a path forward.

Much can change as some of the biggest impacts of the shutdown start to hit this weekend and in the coming weeks. But were in a very different kind of shutdown this time  one where its much tougher to see the politics forming an obvious off-ramp.

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The polling on blame has been remarkably constant since before the shutdown began. People continue to blame President Donald Trump and the Republicans more than Democrats by double-digit margins in most surveys. That margin was 45%-33% in a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Thursday.

A Yahoo News-YouGov poll, meanwhile, showed 46% said they blamed conservative Republicans a lot for the shutdown  more than the 38% who blamed progressive Democrats that much.

Surveys also continue to show that Democrats policy demand, an extension of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies, remains popular with more than 7 in 10 Americans.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on October 29, 2025. - Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

That Yahoo survey also suggested a problem for Republicans that we havent seen tested in previous polling.

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It showed Americans said by a nearly 3-to-1 margin  63%-21%  that they disapproved of the firings of thousands of federal workers during the shutdown.

This was, of course, Trumps big threat to Democrats. He made a big show of casting Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought as the grim reaper ready to target Democratic employees and programs for cuts  even as some Republicans cautioned the White House that such cuts could squander the GOPs political advantages. Then the administration followed through.

But it doesnt seem to have dissuaded Democrats from pressing forward. And theres now reason to believe those Republicans had a point about these cuts backfiring on the administration.

Indeed, much of the GOPs handling of this seems rather haphazard. And Friday was a case in point.

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The day started with Republicans dealing with a curveball from Trump, who decided late Thursday to suddenly urge them to nuke the filibuster to end the shutdown. This completely impractical idea also legitimized a key Democratic talking point  that Republicans could end the shutdown any time they want.

Then Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins made a few seemingly unhelpful comments about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, also known as food stamps.

She at one point said that if people really needed them that badly, then we have failed you. House Speaker Mike Johnson soon stepped in to clarify that the we somehow meant, we, the Democrats. (Neither Rollins nor Johnson is, in fact, a Democrat.)

Separately, Rollins was noncommittal when asked whether the administration would abide by a judges order for it to release emergency SNAP funds, saying, Were looking at all the options.

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It was a stunning response  not just because ignoring court orders could trigger a constitutional crisis, but also because it would mean the administration would be taking such a drastic step to prevent poor people from getting food.

US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks alongside US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins during a news conference on Capitol Hill on October 31, 2025. - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

A pair of federal judges soon ordered the administration to release the emergency funds to at least partially cover food stamp benefits. But ahead of the rulings, Republicans did a great job making themselves out to be opposed to this  and even ready to fight against it. (Trump on Friday night ultimately indicated he would do what he could to fund SNAP.)

Another major factor here is what the shutdown could do for Democrats. Its early, but there is evidence this has led to something of a badly needed rallying effect on the left.

The reason the Democratic Party has seen some of its worst poll numbers in history this year is largely because Democrats themselves have lost faith in their party. But a Quinnipiac University poll last week showed 58% of Democratic voters suddenly approved of their partys congressional contingent.

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Thats still not great. But it is up nearly 20 points from where it was between February and July, when that number hovered around 40%.

Democrats would seem to have relatively little reason to back down  and plenty of reason to stick with their demands that Republicans come to the table on extending the enhanced Obamacare subsidies. Imagine a situation in which they have these seeming political advantages and they throw in the towel anyways. Its not difficult to see that reigniting a backlash on the left.

And in case that danger wasnt clear, witness a newly released Pew Research Center poll. It asked Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents who expressed frustration with the party what the main reason for that was. Far and away, the most-cited reason was not fighting hard enough against the Trump administration, which 41% cited.

If youre a Democrat, its hard to look at all of that and not want to at least let things play out. You might think the premium increases that people are seeing on their Obamacare plans after open enrollment began Saturday could shift the politics even more in your favor. And maybe youve got a little more confidence in how the SNAP issue is going to play.

You might even start to think that, at the end of this long journey, there could be something more valuable than a moral victory.

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SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Investigators are continuing to investigate a shooting which disrupted a party in Spartanburg County.

On Saturday, deputies with the Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office were called to One on One Fitness on Southport Road for a reported shooting. The sheriffs office said the business was hosting a teen party when a shooting took place.

No injuries were reported, though the sheriffs office said several cars were damaged.

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The sheriffs office said no one has been charged at this time, and the shooting remains under investigation.

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The National Conference on Handlooms and Handicrafts 2025 concluded in Odisha's Bhubaneswar on Saturday, reaffirming the Government's commitment to reimagining India's handmade sector as a vital pillar of Viksit Bharat 2047. Organised by the Offices of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) and Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, the two-day conference brought together senior officials from States and Union Territories, policymakers, and sector experts to chart a unified vision for the growth of India's handloom and handicraft industries. According to the Ministry of Textiles, Deliberations centred around two key objectives: assessing the current landscape of the handmade economy and shaping the framework of a forthcoming national scheme aimed at deeper State participation, integrated governance, and sustainable sectoral development. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, chaired the second day of the conference today, in the presence of Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner (Odisha), and Poonam Guha Tapas Kumar, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts), Government of Odisha. In her address, Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary (Textiles), emphasised the need to balance the traditional craftsmanship with modern tools to enhance productivity and reduce drudgery. The Secretary urged institutions such as the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) to take a proactive role in forecasting design and colour trends ahead of market cycles. Highlighting the importance of inter-State coordination, she called for seamless movement of raw materials across States to ensure efficient supply chains in the handicrafts sector. Concluding her address, she stated, "We must safeguard the very ecosystem we are nurturing. Whether we call it handloom or handicraft, it should not be seen as a peripheral part of our economy- it is, in fact, the premium product of the future." Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary (Textiles), also said that, "Such conferences will be organised every six months to ensure continuous dialogue between the Central and State Governments, facilitate cross-learning of best practices, and review the progress of initiatives undertaken in the handloom and handicraft sectors. She reiterated that sustained coordination and periodic review are essential for achieving the shared vision of a resilient, inclusive, and innovation-driven handmade economy aligned with the goals of Viksit Bharat 2047." Anu Garg reiterated the cultural and ecological value of handlooms, citing Kotpad and Dongria Shawls as sustainable examples. She called for greater recognition of artisans (including name-tagging on products), youth-oriented training in market research and product design, and announced plans for a Sustainability Cell and promotion of eco-textiles such as Katha Silk. Dr. M. Beena, Development Commissioner (Handlooms), presented the blueprint for the National Traditional Textile Mission (2026-31)- a mission-mode approach aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047, emphasising cooperative federalism, skill and design upgradation, women-led development, cluster infrastructure, universal financial support for artisans, and innovation hubs for GI-linked branding. Amrit Raj, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), outlined governance reforms under the Mission, proposing a three-tier National-State-District model for decentralised, outcome-based implementation with strengthened digital governance and PMU-led impact monitoring. The National Conference on Handlooms and Handicrafts 2025 was inaugurated on 31st October by Manoj Ahuja, Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha, in the presence of Dr. M. Beena, Development Commissioner (Handlooms); Amrit Raj, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts); and Poonam Guha Tapas Kumar, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts), Government of Odisha. Alongside the Conference, a Theme Pavilion showcasing the rich handloom and handicraft heritage of Odisha was curated at Taj Vivanta, Bhubaneswar. The Pavilion was inaugurated by Manoj Ahuja. On the first day of the conference, "six thematic sessions were held that highlighted State-level innovations and best practices aimed at holistic sectoral development. Delegates also undertook a field visit to Kala Bhoomi, Boyanika and Utkalika showrooms to experience Odisha's craft heritage." The two-day deliberations reaffirmed a shared national commitment to create a cohesive, inclusive and innovation-driven ecosystem for artisans and weavers balancing tradition with technology and aligning with the objectives of Viksit Bharat 2047. (ANI)
Feeling refreshed? Daylight Saving Time, the practice of moving clocks forward one hour in the summer and then back again in the fall, has come to an end.

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the practice allows for a more effective usage of natural daylight.

"Moving the clocks forward one hour in the spring grants us more daylight during summer evenings, while moving clocks back one hour in the fall grants us more daylight during winter mornings," wrote the Almanac.

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Although there have been several attempts to get rid of the practice at the national and state levels, including in Tennessee, none so far has been successful.

Here's what to know about the practice.

When does daylight saving time end in 2025?

Daylight saving time ends annually at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November. In 2025, that falls on Nov. 2.

Does Tennessee observe daylight saving time?

Tennessee, along with most U.S. states, participates in the time change.

A few states and U.S. territories do not observe daylight saving time, including Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and most of Arizona due to its desert climate.

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The Volunteer State is one of at least 28 states that have introduced legislation in support of establishing year-round daylight saving time, the Tennessean previously reported.

In 2019, Gov. Bill Lee signed a law aiming to eliminate the twice-a-year time shift, but the state law won't take effect unless Congress first passes a federal law allowing states to observe daylight saving time year-round.

Is Trump doing away with daylight saving time?

President Donald Trump has expressed support for keeping daylight saving time hours as recently as April, calling it very popular, though he has also referred to the move as a 50-50 issue," USA TODAY reported.

The president, however, doesnt have the sole power to abolish or permanently instate daylight saving time. Its ultimately up to Congress whether or not to stop the time change. Additionally, individual states cant decide to abolish the practice without Congressional approval.

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Legislation to make daylight saving time permanent has circulated through Congress for years.

Florida has tried several times to make daylight saving time permanent with the proposed federal Sunshine Protection Act, which has been introduced to Congress multiple times since 2018  most recently in 2025  without being passed.

Nearly 20 states have passed legislation in recent years to support getting rid of the time change, but the debate is divided on whether there should be more daylight hours during the morning or the evening.

Why do we 'fall back'?

While Benjamin Franklin proposed the idea of saving daylight in 1784, the modern concept is credited to William Willet, a London builder who noticed people "wasted" daylight hours by keeping shutters closed in the morning.

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According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, in 1907, he lobbied for a gradual clock adjustment in spring and fall, but his idea was met with ridicule.

The onset of World War I shifted public opinion. Germany adopted the practice in 1915 to conserve coal, prompting Britain to follow in 1916 with British Summer Time.

The U.S. joined in 1918 with the Standard Time Act, creating time zones and implementing daylight saving time despite public skepticism. A Congressional committee investigated its benefits, and wartime urgency helped sway support.

Propaganda, like postcards from the National Daylight Saving Convention, encouraged Americans to back the change. Daylight saving time returned during World War II as a year-round measure to save fuel. After the war ended in 1945, its use became inconsistent across states, with each choosing its own start and end dates.

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Congress passed the Uniform Time Act in 1966 to standardize daylight saving time across states, addressing confusion in interstate transportation.

Initially, daylight saving time ran from the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. In 1986, the start date was moved to the first Sunday in April to help conserve energy. The current schedule, starting in March and ending in November, was set by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, effective in 2007.

Contributing: USA TODAY

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for the Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X at @_leyvadiana

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Daylight saving time 2025 ends today, why we fall back
Daylight saving time 2025 ended overnight Sunday morning, but the change to standard time in the U.S. won't be permanent until President Donald Trump officially follows through on his thoughts to end daylight saving time.

Most of the United States willtook the time to "fall back" and gain an extra hour of sleep at 2 a.m. when DST 2025 came to a close on November 2.

Here's what we know about when DST start and ends, why it exists and more:

Did 2025 daylight savings time change happen last night ins US? Did clocks fall back today in USA? When does daylight saving time end? Is it daylightdate do clocks turn back an hour?

In the U.S., clocks fell back on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.

When do clocks fall back an hour to end daylight savings time in November? Did daylight saving time change fall back last night in 2025?

Clocks fell back at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in the U.S.

When does 2026 daylight savings time change spring forward? What date will daylight saving time change spring forward?

Clocks will spring forward at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8, in 2026.

When does daylight savings time end permanently in the US? Is daylight saving time going away in 2026?

Despite the Sunshine Protection Act being unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate in 2022, there is no permanent end in sight.

Trump time change 2025: Is President Donald Trump going to end daylight savings time in the US?

In December 2024, Trump said he planned to eliminate daylight saving time. He needs the approval of Congress in order to achieve this, and he had been urging them to approve.

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Others hope that instead of eliminating daylight saving time, it will be permanent. 20 states have advocated for this by passing measures in recent years in favor of year-round daylight saving time.

Trump expressed support for such a notion in April 2025, calling it very popular, though he has also referred to the move as a 50-50 issue.

Conversation in Congress about the issue is ongoing.

When does daylight saving time change occur in the US? When do clocks return to standard time?

Participating states turn clocks forward an hour on the second Sunday in March during the spring. Daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday of November in the fall of each year and that's when most states turn clocks back an hour.

What states don't have daylight saving time in the US?

As of July 25, 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation noted that only Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not participate in daylight saving time. The Navajo Nation is the lone exception in Arizona.

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The territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also do not participate.

According to the website, states may exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time by state law in accordance with the Uniform Time Act, as amended.

What to know about daylight saving time.

Why does time change at 2 a.m. for daylight saving time?

In an interview with Time Magazine, author Michael Downing cited his book, "Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time," to explain how Amtrak and the railroads were the main reason clocks change at 2 a.m. for DST.

There were no trains leaving the station at 2 a.m. on Sundays in New York City when daylight saving time was established.

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"Sunday morning at 2 a.m. was when they would interrupt the least amount of train travel around the country, Downing said.

What time is it in Louisville?

Visit timeanddate.com to see the current time in Louisville.

Daylight saving time and time change in Kentucky

Kentucky first observed daylight saving time in 1918, when the Standard Time Act established daylight saving time to conserve electricity during World War I. After the war was over, daylight saving was no longer national law and became a local option.

Between 1918 and today, Kentucky observed daylight saving time for 75 years, according to timeanddate.com. For a while, cities across Kentucky were inconsistent, with some observing the time change and others not.

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But starting in 1970, Time and Date AS has tracked observance of daylight saving time in Kentucky every year.

Over the years, researchers have tried to tie your body getting an hour less of sleep that night to a variety of issues, including an increase in car crashes and health problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

In 2019, Kentucky Republican Reps. Bart Rowland of Tompkinsville and Brandon Reed of Hodgenville pre-filed a bill to do away with resetting clocks every six months and instead use daylight saving time all year long. To do so, however, requires authorization by the federal government.

Under federal law, states are allowed not to observe daylight saving time, with Arizona and Hawaii being the lone states to do so. States are not allowed to stay on daylight time throughout the year.

Did daylight saving time start because of farmers?

No, according to almanac.com.

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"Many Americans wrongly point to farmers as the driving force behind Daylight Saving Time. In fact, farmers were its strongest opponents and, as a group, stubbornly resisted the change from the beginning," Catherine Boeckmann wrote for almanac.com.

"When the war ended, the farmers and working-class people who had held their tongues began speaking out. They demanded an end to Daylight Saving Time, claiming it benefited only office workers and the leisure class. The controversy spotlighted the growing gap between rural and urban dwellers."

When does 2025 daylight saving time spring forward start, DST fall back end?

Daylight saving time began on Sunday, March 9, and ends on Nov. 2 in 2025.

Chris Sims is a digital content producer for Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

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Katie Wiseman covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Bluesky @katiewiseman.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: When is 2025 daylight savings time change? Did clocks fall back last night?
Five men have been booked into the Tarrant County jail in recent weeks on allegations ranging from sexual assault and child exploitation to failure to register as a sex offender. Bonds in some cases total more than $350,000.

The following individuals were processed between October 16 and October 29, 2025, and are listed in order by total bond amount.

1. Bernardo Carter

Bernardo Carter

Total Bond: $350,000

Arrested: October 16, 2025

CID: 0431851 | Race: Black | Gender: Male

Facility: Tarrant County Corrections Center

Charges: Sex Offenders Duty to Register Life/Annually  $50,000 Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child  $50,000 Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child  $250,000



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Carter faces three counts, including two involving the aggravated sexual assault of a child.

2. Cordero Davidson

Cordero Davidson

Total Bond: $60,000

Arrested: October 25, 2025

CID: 0680836 | Race: Black | Gender: Male

Facility: Tarrant County Corrections Center

Charges: Assault Family/Household Member Impede Breath/Circulation  $10,000 Sexual Assault of a Child  $50,000



Davidson was booked under commitment authority D432. Jail records show he has not posted bond and has no other active agency bookings.

3. Antonio Martinez

Antonio Martinez

Total Bond: $50,000

Arrested: October 29, 2025

CID: 0876572 | Race: White | Gender: Male

Facility: Belknap

Charge: Aggravated Sexual Assault  $50,000



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Martinez was booked on a single first-degree felony charge of aggravated sexual assault. He is currently detained under the commitment authority CDC3.

4. Jeremiah Whitfield

Jeremiah Whitfield

Total Bond: $35,000

Arrested: October 27, 2025

CID: 1064077 | Race: Black | Gender: Male

Facility: Tarrant County Corrections Center

Charge: Sexual Assault  $35,000



The Fort Worth Police Department booked Whitfield and he remains in custody with a bond set at $35,000. There are no other agency holds listed in his inmate record.

5. Roman David Ramirez

Roman David Ramirez

Total Bond: Not Available

CID: 1034497 | Race: White | Gender: Male

Arrest Dates: October 18 and October 27, 2025

Charges: Assault Family/Household Member Impede Breath/Circulation  Bond Not Listed Sexual Assault  Bond Not Listed Driving While Intoxicated BAC  0.15  Bond Not Listed



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Ramirez appeared in two separate county booking reports for unrelated incidents: the first involving assault and sexual assault, and the second for driving while intoxicated.

Booking Report: Sex Crime Charges (October 18)

Booking Report: DUI Charges (October 27)

Most booking information and mugshots were obtained from the Tarrant County inmate search. Roman Ramirezs information came from the countys daily booking reports, and his mugshot was sourced from Mugshot Zone. Ramirez appears in two separate booking reports for distinct offenses within a nine-day period.

Each of these arrests was processed through the Tarrant County jail system. The Sheriffs Office holds inmates at various stages of their legal proceedings. Charges listed include some of the most serious sexual offenses under Texas law, carrying potential sentences ranging from several years to decades in prison.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Coal and coke waste is seen piled high at an industrial site in Alabama. In an interview with Inside Climate News, Pizarchik spoke at length about the current regulatory environment around coal mining and, more specifically, about a recent announcement in Alabama. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here.

Joe Pizarchik knows mining.

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For nearly a decade, he served as the Senate-confirmed head of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), the federal agency charged with regulating the surface impacts of underground coal mining across the country.

Before that, Pizarchik served in his home state of Pennsylvania in its Department of Environmental Protection, first as assistant director of the Bureau of Regulatory Counsel, then as director of the Bureau of Mining and Reclamation.

Joe Pizachik served as head of OSMRE under President Barack Obama. (Courtesy Penn State University)

Pizarchik said that in all that time, hes never seen a situation quite as disheartening as the one the nation is experiencing under President Donald Trump.

In an interview with Inside Climate News, Pizarchik spoke at length about the current regulatory environment around coal mining and, more specifically, about a recent announcement in Alabama. The states top coal regulator has suspended federally mandated methane monitoring after a March 2024 home explosion atop a coal mine that left an Alabama grandfather dead and his grandson severely injured.

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It is extremely disappointing to see a Trump regime putting the interests of big corporations and wealthy people ahead of American citizens and the environment, he said.

So far in his second term, President Donald Trump has emphasized his administrations support for what he calls clean, beautiful coal, which is actually the dirtiest, and often most expensive, of fossil fuels.

The administration has also trumpeted the fast-tracking of coal projects across the country, claiming that doing so will unleash American energy. Often, however, that characterization doesnt hold water. In Alabama, for example, where the Bureau of Land Management has just approved mining thousands of acres of publicly owned coal, part of what may be the largest mining expansion in state history, none of the extracted coal will be used to power American homes. Instead, the metallurgical coal, used in steelmaking, will virtually all be shipped overseas through the port of Mobile, Alabama, for use in foreign manufacturing.

Pizarchik said that hes particularly concerned about the ability of federal agencies like OSMRE to enforce regulations required by law during a government shutdown.

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Even when Pizarchik was head of the regulator and a government shutdown wasnt at hand, he said, it was difficult for the agency to meet its goal of inspecting 10 percent of all mines. Now, under the current regulatory environment, Pizarchik said thats even further out of reach.

Its highly unlikely thats happening at this point, he said.

Pizarchik is also deeply troubled by the actions state like Alabama, where regulators have moved to push back against what he views as common-sense enforcement of federal law to protect citizens from imminent threats.

In March 2024, a home exploded above Oak Grove mine, a longwall coal mining operation in rural Jefferson County, southwest of Birmingham. The explosion, likely caused by the release of methane gas, which is released during the mining process, led to the death of W.M. Griffice, a grandfather, and severely injured his grandson.

The Griffice familys home is one of well over a hundred that Oak Grove Mine operators have said could be impacted by subsidence. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

In December 2024, following an extensive investigation by Inside Climate News, federal regulators at OSMRE issued a Ten-Day Notice indicating that the mine might have been out of compliance for failing to adequately monitor potentially explosive methane emissions. The notice required Alabama regulators to come into compliance or show cause for any failure to seek adequate remedies.

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In response, state officials required coal companies across Alabama to submit methane-monitoring plans within 90 days to mitigate risks posed by escaping gas. Before the 90 days were up, and at the request of the coal industry, the director of Alabamas coal regulator, Kathy Love of the Alabama Surface Mining Commission, issued a six-month extension.

Officials from OSMRE pushed back, writing to Love that they felt the extension was excessively long and that the agency likely would not have abated its Ten-Day Notice had they known she planned such a delay.

In September, as that extension was about to expire, Love sent a letter to OSMRE notifying federal regulators that she had indefinitely suspended any requirements to monitor methane gases above coal mines, even where homes and businesses are present. Love also asked federal regulators for a formal review of the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the Ten-Day Notice, which she said she believes should be withdrawn.

Kathy Love, director of the Alabama Surface Mining Commission, speaks during a June ASMC meeting. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

Pizarchik said hes never heard of a state agency approaching federal regulators months after a Ten-Day Notice to ask that it be withdrawn. If Love had issues with the agencys actions, he said, they should have been expressed to federal regulators months ago.

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If Alabama and this director thought there was no merit to it, she had ten days to put together the evidence and demonstrate that, he said. She didnt do that, which I think raises questions about her credibility.

Love declined to answer Inside Climate News questions about the letter and Pizarchiks observations. No comment, the director said in an e-mail.

Pizarchik also said that the timing of Loves letter may be opportunistic, sent at a time when OSMREs regulatory staff is stifled by the government shutdown and in the shadow of the Senates confirmation of Lanny Erdos, a former coal executive, as the new head of OSMRE.

This letters timing might have been tied to the impending shutdown and with the change in leadership, he said.

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Loves letter also came just weeks after the Bureau of Land Management approved a private companys mining of federal coal in Alabama, partly based on the expectation that Alabama would soon have methane monitoring requirements above mines.

That expansion of Warrior Mets Blue Creek mining facilities is slated to be one of the largest buildouts of coal mining infrastructure in the states history, with capital costs topping $1 billion. Taxpayer-funded support for the project, which included the controversial deepening of Mobile Bay to support exporting mined coal, may exceed $400 million.

That could definitely be another timing factor, Pizarchik said. Wait until that project is finalized and then suspend the monitoring program so the coal companies dont have to do it.

Secretary Doug Burgum speaks to miners inside Warrior Mets Mine No. 4 in Alabama. (Department of the Interior)

Pizarchik also said that he doesnt buy Loves contention that the technology doesnt exist to conduct such monitoring and that doing so would be cost prohibitive for coal operators.

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Its a crock of bull, Pizarchik said. Longwall mines are the most efficient in the country. So they ought to be able to afford that.

Trumps Big Beautiful Bill even lowered costs for coal mines, he said, reducing royalties on mining publicly owned coal and providing a tax break for metallurgical coal operations.

And the technology to monitor methane, Pizarchik said, already exists. Anyone can go into a Lowes or Home Depot and buy a basic methane detector, similar to a fire alarm, to provide protection. There are also basic steps mining operators can take to reduce the risk of methane escaping into residences or other confined spaces.

You simply vent the methane into the atmosphere, Pizarchik said. And thats not particularly expensive.

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Pizarchik also noted that Loves letter unnecessarily criticizes a citizen who complained directly to federal officials following the home explosion. Love wrote that OSMREs regulatory actions may have been based on media pressure and a citizens unknowledgeable complaint.

Joe Pizarchik testifies before U.S. Congress about mining matters. (C-SPAN)

Pizarchik said that preventing citizens from providing relevant information to federal regulators would violate the law. During the first Trump presidency, the administration moved to change federal rules to prevent direct citizen complaints, but that decision was ultimately reversed in the wake of lawsuits by environmental groups and, ultimately, Bidens election, Pizarchik said.

She appears to want to go back to the rules the way Trump had changed them last timeand that would make them not in compliance with federal law, he said. And shes making a bold assumption about whether that citizen was knowledgeable or not, because the fact is, we know methane got into her neighbors home and killed a man.

Ultimately, Pizarchik said Loves suspension of methane monitoring increases the risk to residents living above coal mines, particularly gassy mines where significant amounts of potentially explosive methane gas are released during mining.

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Love and her agencys actions may bring into question whether the government, and potentially even Love personally, Pizarchik said, may be liable if another tragedy like the March 2024 explosion were to occur again:

Given the six-month extension and now the permanent suspension, has she not created the circumstances for government liability in Alabama, in her official capacity and maybe in her personal capacity, if someone else is injured or killed from a methane explosion?

If he were still director, Pizarchik said he would likely take a multi-prong approach to dealing with Alabama regulators. First, he would reissue the Ten-Day Notice requiring immediate action to mitigate the risks of methane escaping from mines. Then, he would begin the lengthy process of a federal takeover of Alabamas mining regulatory program.

I think Id probably do both at this point, he said.

Oak Grove mine has denied any wrongdoing in the case of Griffices death as part of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Griffices family. A trial in that case is tentatively set for early 2027.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the bolstering of American military assets in the Caribbean as the U.S. continues to strike alleged drug boats off the coast of Venezuela. At the same time, President Trump said on social media the U.S. needs to be ready to potentially take action against Nigeria after the killing of Christians by extremists. Politico Magazine Senior Writer Ankush Khardori and staff writer for The Atlantic, Mark Leibovich, join Alex Witt to discuss who can hold the admin
During this session, the ADG instructed all officers and police personnel to remain alert and vigilant while performing their duties.

President Murmu is set ot visit Uttarakhand from November 2 to 4.

Today, the President is scheduled to attend the second convocation ceremony of the University of Patanjali at Haridwar.

On November 3, President Murmu will address the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly in Dehradun to mark the silver jubilee of the state.

On the same day, she will grace a function to commemorate the 125 years of the establishment of the Raj Bhavan, Nainital.

On November 4, the President will visit the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram at Kainchi Dham.

Before returning to New Delhi, the President will also grace the 20th convocation of Kumaun University at Nainital. (ANI)
Donald Trump's celebrating the Roaring '20s ... and, a whole lotta people online are calling him tone deaf as many in poverty are staring down a Great Depression.

POTUS hosted a "Great Gatsby"-themed party at his exclusive Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach for Halloween ... with ladies dressed as flappers and fellas throwing on their most boisterous suits and fedoras.

Getty

The bash was reportedly titled "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody" ... which is the name of a 2013 song by Fergie, GoonRock and Q-Tip made for the Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan 'Gatsby' film.

TMZ

The irony of the title wasn't lost on many online ... who decried Trump for throwing such a decadent affair the night before Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits ran out.

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Many called this a class issue ... popping off at the rich and powerful for partying like it's 1925 while so many others are wondering where their next meal might come from.

If you don't know ... the prolonged government shutdown still hasn't ended -- but, 42 million Americans are losing access to their benefits because the Department of Agriculture says the money for the month, some $9.5 billion, has run out.

X / @GavinNewsom

California Governor Gavin Newsom called out President Trump for the party as well ... telling his followers the prez "doesn't give a damn" about the common man.

A judge in Rhode Island demanded the Trump administration fund the benefits ... but Trump took to social media Friday to say his admin's lawyers aren't sure they're legally allowed to do so, and he's asked the courts for clarity.

Getty

Trump has said military and law enforcement personnel will get paid amid the shutdown -- though the legal justification for doing so has been questioned by some since Congress holds the power of the purse, not the Executive branch. President Trump said it would be his "HONOR" to pay the benefits out if the court allows it.

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BTW ... our own Harvey Levin has started a new political movement amid the shutdown called OWTA -- "Out With Their Asses" -- asking citizens to vote out all 535 incumbent members of Congress for allowing the shutdown to go on so long.

So, a little partying never killed nobody ... but, it may kill some pols' election chances next year. Stay tuned!
Many people in the United States may have their circadian rhythm thrown off come Sunday morning, Nov. 2, due to daylight saving time ending.

Clocks will "fall back" to standard time this year at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 2, meaning those affected will gain an extra hour of sleep. The twice-a-year movement of clocks either backward or forward accounts for more daylight in the mornings or evenings for millions of Americans. With daylight saving time ending over the weekend, people affected can expect more daylight in the mornings.

While much of the country will be impacted by the time change, a few regions and states won't, including Hawaii, Arizona and some U.S. territories.

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Here's what you need to know before daylight saving time ends overnight.

The end of summer is near, and the transition of seasons brings cooler temperatures, colorful foliage and cozy atmospheres. Every fall, travelers flock to natural landscapes around the country to immerse themselves in the warm, vibrant hues of the leaves changing colors  a popular activity known as leaf peeping. "Seasonal activities provide travelers with unique experiences and leaf peeping is a consistent favorite for its beauty and ease  nationwide travelers can hop in the car and be within a few hours of stunning vistas," Priceline's consumer travel trends expert Christina Bennett told USA TODAY in a statement. Here are the best domestic destinations to go leaf peeping, according to Priceline.



1. Hudson Valley, New York



Just a quick escape from New York City, Hudson Valley is ranked by Priceline as the top destination for leaf peeping in 2025. Travelers can explore numerous parks and preserves to take in the shades of autumn, from Croton Gorge Park to Hudson State Historic Park. 2. Boulder, Colorado



Boulders' natural landscapes draw in travelers from all over, and one of the most famous leaf peeping activities is to drive the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway for 55 miles of colors. 4. Bucks County, Pennsylvania



Last year, Bucks County earned the top spot on Priceline's leaf peeping list. About an hour away from Philadelphia, Bucks County offers hot air balloon rides and drives over picturesque historic bridges. 6. Columbia River Gorge, Oregon



Throughout the year, the Columbia River Gorge is stunning, but the forests become truly vibrant in the fall. Travelers can hike to waterfalls or go on romantic horseback rides to experience the fall colors. 7. French Lick West Baden, Indiana



Travelers to French Lick West Baden can pick from several prime leaf peeping locales, such as hiking through Hoosier National Forest or taking the charming French Like Scenic Railway. 8. North Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada



Compared to its counterpart South Lake Tahoe, North Lake Tahoe is a quieter, more laidback retreat. In the fall, travelers are invited to leaf peep along its iconic shoreline and hiking trails. 10. The Berkshires, Massachusetts



The Berkshires remain one of the most iconic places for leaf peeping, with a wide array of viewpoints. Hiking trails lead to stunning vistas of the canopy. People can see the colors from down below by kayaking on the lake. Top 10 US destinations for fall colors travelers cant miss 1 of 7 The end of summer is near, and the transition of seasons brings cooler temperatures, colorful foliage and cozy atmospheres. Every fall, travelers flock to natural landscapes around the country to immerse themselves in the warm, vibrant hues of the leaves changing colors  a popular activity known as leaf peeping. "Seasonal activities provide travelers with unique experiences and leaf peeping is a consistent favorite for its beauty and ease  nationwide travelers can hop in the car and be within a few hours of stunning vistas," Priceline's consumer travel trends expert Christina Bennett told USA TODAY in a statement. Here are the best domestic destinations to go leaf peeping, according to Priceline.



1. Hudson Valley, New York



Just a quick escape from New York City, Hudson Valley is ranked by Priceline as the top destination for leaf peeping in 2025. Travelers can explore numerous parks and preserves to take in the shades of autumn, from Croton Gorge Park to Hudson State Historic Park.

What is daylight saving time?

Daylight saving time, which occurs between March and November, is when most Americans adjust their clocks ahead by one hour.

Those affected by the time change gain an hour in November, as opposed to losing an hour in the spring, to make for more daylight in the winter mornings. When we "spring forward" in March, more daylight is visible in the evenings. And in the autumn, we "fall back."

Daylight saving time was first introduced in the United States in 1918 under the Standard Time Act as a measure to save on fuel costs during World War I by adding an extra hour of daylight, according to the Library of Congress.

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After being abandoned at the federal level after WWI, the U.S. government reinstituted daylight saving time on an emergency basis throughout the mid to late 20th century. A uniform twice-a-year time change was then established through the Uniform Time Act of 1966.

Congress amended the Uniform Time Act in 2005, expanding daylight saving time to the period in effect today: Starting on the second Sunday of March and ending on the first Sunday of November, according to the Congressional Research Service. Yet again, this move was for energy-saving purposes.

This illustration photo shows a clock in the background of a smartphone showing the time after daylight saving time was implemented in Los Angeles, California, on March 15, 2022.

When does daylight saving time end in 2025?

Daylight saving time comes to an end at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.

This year, daylight saving time comes a day earlier than last year and falls on the second-earliest possible date for the time change. Since daylight saving time falls on the first Saturday in November, the earliest possible date is Nov. 1.

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In 2026, daylight saving time will begin again on Sunday, March 8.

Which locations in the US do not practice daylight saving time?

Hawaii and Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation) do not observe daylight saving time and remain on standard time all year.

Neither do American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

What is Trump's stance on daylight saving time?

President Donald Trump has previously shown support for ending daylight saving time permanently, calling it inconvenient.

"The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate daylight saving time," Trump said on Truth Social in December 2024. "Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation."

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Trump's tune changed a little earlier this year, as he noted that eliminating the time change would be a toss-up and would be difficult to rally support for.

"This should be the easiest one of all, but it's a 50-50 issue. If something's a 50-50 issue, it's hard to get excited. I assume people would like to have more light later, but some people want to have more light earlier, because they don't want to take their kids to school in the dark," Trump said in March, according to Reuters. "A lot of people like it one way, a lot of people like it the other way, it's very even."

In April, he said the House and Senate should push for more daylight at the end of the day, a stance consistent with his 2019 position, according to Politico.

Contributing: Fernando Cervantes Jr., Orlando Mayorquin, Bailey Allen & Kinsey Crowley/ USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daylight saving time ends Nov. 2. When do clocks 'fall back'?
DESTIN, Fla (WKRG)  Dozens of people were forced to evacuate a large fire at an apartment complex on Friday, according to a Facebook post from the American Red Cross of North and Central Florida.

(Contributed by Destin Fire Rescue)

(Contributed by Destin Fire Rescue)

(Contributed by Destin Fire Rescue)

(Contributed by Destin Fire Rescue)

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(Contributed by Destin Fire Rescue)

The post says that a fire started at the Legacy on the Bay Apartments in Destin around 3 a.m. on Friday.

Destin Fire Rescue put out the fire while members of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team assisted residents of the 36-unit apartment complex.

Officials say 48 people and 13 pets were saved from the fire.

No residents or firefighters were injured.

Two pets died.

Rescue, the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office, and the American Red Cross of North and Central Florida all worked together to prevent the fire from spreading to other buildings and to get the residents out.

All 36 units of the building were destroyed in the fire, and their residents are now displaced.

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The American Red Cross is looking to provide displaced residents with a place to stay.

The post didnt say how the fire started.

The Florida Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
CRAWFORD COUNTY, Kan.  A high-speed chase in southeast Kansas ended with a vehicle rollover that ejected both occupants, authorities say.

Photo source: Crawford County Sheriffs Office

According to the Crawford County Sheriffs Office, the incident occurred Saturday night when deputies say they tried to stop a red Hyundai traveling east on Kansas Highway 171, with speeds topping nearly 90 mph.

Deputies said the driver continued north on S. 260th Street, ignoring stop signs and driving recklessly. The vehicle ran off the road just north of U.S. Highway 160, overcorrected, and rolled into a ditch on the east side of the road.

FOUR STATES CRIME

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The driver, identified by deputies as Treytin Moore, told responders he had been drinking and consented to a blood test. Both Moore and the passenger were taken to Mercy Hospital Pittsburg by ambulance.

The sheriffs office says charges will be submitted to the Crawford County Attorneys Office for review, including DUI, fleeing law enforcement, and aggravated battery.

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Several drones spotted above a Belgian airbase over the weekend were there to spy on military fighter jets, the countrys defense minister said Sunday, at a time when European nations are on high alert for airspace intrusions.

They come to spy, to see where the F-16s are, where the munitions are, and other highly strategic things, Theo Francken told CNN affiliate RTBF.

The drones were clearly spying, the minister said, noting the long time one of them had spent over the airbase.

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Kleine-Brogel Air Base, in the municipality of Peer, hosts the largest unit of Belgian defense forces in the country and aims to fundamentally contribute to NATOs nuclear deterrence strategy, according to its website. Local media reports have long rumoured the presence of US nuclear weapons at the site.

Belgiums Ministry of Defense told CNN it cannot confirm or deny the presence of nuclear weapons at the base. When asked for comment, NATO referred CNN to the Belgian authorities.

The latest sightings come as Europe is on high alert after recent incursions by drones and aircraft into NATO airspace.

The airbase is home to F-16 fighter jets, the airbases website said, adding that these are set to be replaced by ultramodern F-35s within a few years.

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Speaking of the latest sightings, Francken said that Russia is trying to do this in all European countries but stopped short of directly pinning the blame on Moscow.

Is it the Russians now? I cannot say that, but the motives are clear, he said.

A road sign is seen pointing toward the Kleine Brogel on Sunday, November 2, 2025. - Jill Delsaux/AFP/BELGA MAG/Getty Images

On Sunday, Francken posted on X that three reports had been received the previous night of drones above Kleine-Brogel. The drones were of a larger type and flying at higher altitude, he said.

He stressed that they were not just flying over Kleine-Brogel, but were clearly monitoring the airbase.

A drone jammer was used, but without success  A helicopter and police vehicles chased the drone, but lost it after several kilometers, he said.

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The most recent sightings follow other reports of drones above Kleine-Brogel earlier on Saturday. Those sightings kicked off an investigation, with Francken declaring that it is strictly forbidden to fly drones above military areas.

Earlier this week, Lithuania closed its border with Belarus following constant violations of its airspace, the countrys foreign ministry said.

Last month, Belgian defense officials also reported that an unspecified number of drones flew over the countrys Elsenborn military base and toward the border with Germany.

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Editor's note: This item has been updated with the latest details.

Suspicious drones were spotted over the Kleine Brogel Air Base for three nights in a row between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, local media reported.

The incidents appear to be part of an espionage operation, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said, without naming the culprit but linking the incidents to recent Russian airspace violations in Europe.

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"The Russians are trying to do this in all European countries," Francken said. "Is it the Russians now? I can't say that, but the motives are clear and the ways of doing things like this are also very clear."

Following the second and third incidents, police helicopters gave chase but were unsuccessful in intercepting the drones, Belgian outlet VRT reported.

While officially unconfirmed, the air base is widely believed to be the host to U.S. nuclear weapons under NATO's nuclear sharing arrangements. The base also houses F-16 fighter jets and is set to host F-35s beginning in 2027, Belga News Agency reported.

Francken later told the Belgian news outlet RTBF that the drones had come to spy on fighter jets and ammunition.

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"They come to spy, to see where the F-16s are, where the ammunition are, and other highly strategic information," Francken said on Nov. 1.

Drones were also spotted near the Leopoldsburg and Marche-en-Famenne military bases over the weekend, local media reported.

The incidents come amid a surge in mysterious drone sightings across European countries, raising fears of Russian involvement in hybrid warfare and renewed concern about the alliance's security.

On Oct. 17, allied forces shot down two drones of unknown origin after they were spotted near a military base in southern Estonia.

The unexplained drone sightings were preceded by Russian aircraft and drones violating NATO airspace on several occasions.

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Polish forces shot down several Russian drones that entered their airspace during an attack on Ukraine in early September. Days later, a Russian drone breached Romanian territory, though Bucharest chose not to engage it.

The incidents prompted calls for a more forceful response to such incursions, including downing Russian aircraft and drones if necessary.

Reports of drone sightings at airports have intensified in recent months, leading to air traffic disruptions in France, Germany, Lithuania, Norway, and Denmark, among other European countries.

Late on Oct. 31, Berlin's Brandenburg Airport was temporarily forced to divert flights after a reported suspicious drone sighting.

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Read also: These people just escaped Russian-occupied Ukraine  but some say they need to go back

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The finely balanced provisional results of the Dutch election has intensified the debate over European security and dependence on the United States, prompting urgent questions about defence autonomy and the respective roles of the Netherlands and France.

"Almost all Dutch parties agree on the severity of the Russian threat, and, increasingly, the risks stemming from China," says Bart van den Berg, head of the security and defence programme at the Hague-based think tank, the Clingendael Institute.

On Friday, Dutch press agency ANP's election service announced that D66 has become the largest party in the parliamentary elections.

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Although not all votes have been counted yet, the news agency says that the party led by D66 leader Jetten can no longer be overtaken by the PVV. It is now up to D66 to form a cabinet, but it remains unclear what combination of parties will be part of it.

Van den Berg points out that only fringe parties advocate restoring ties with Moscow or minimising China as a security risk. Mainstream parties, he said, broadly favour tougher stances, continued support for Ukraine, and a strong commitment to NATO.

The Netherlands will continue its current security policy - meeting NATO targets and backing Ukraine - but the real debate now is over how to reduce strategic dependency on the United States, he said.

US military sales

Europes military reliance on Washington is intensifying more rapidly than political consensus can form. Defence spending across Europe has risen sharply, yet a significant share of this demand has shifted towards the US defence industrial base.

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This helps to explain the steep increase in US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Europe over the past two years, according to Guntram Wolff, a senior fellow at Bruegel, a Brussels-based think tank.

Recent data show that US FMS notifications to Europe have surged from an annual average of $11 billion (20172021) to $68 billion in 2024, particularly in the areas of fighter aircraft, missile systems and defence software.

The US defence industrial base itself is quite strained, Wolff noted. Delivery delays have lengthened for key products, and the US government retains the ability to reprioritise buyers according to strategic interest scoring underlining both the capacity and political risks faced by European partners.

Atlanticist tradition

The Netherlands, with its Atlanticist tradition, has largely leant on transatlantic defence, often favouring American hardware like F-35s over French Rafales.

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Atlanticist tradition refers to a political and strategic worldview that emphasises the importance of close cooperation between North America (especially the United States and Canada) and Europe (especially Western Europe) - the countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean.

Currently, the Dutch Air Force remains dependent on the United States. The F-35 is a superior fighter to the Rafale. But in the long term, these dependencies - and how our forces manage themwill be crucial, says Van den Berg.

France and Germany weigh future of joint EU weapons projects

While the Dutch possess strong marine, naval and niche technological capabilities, they are less integrated than France in European defence industrial projects and remain sceptical about a fully independent EU army.

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France, by contrast, has consistently championed European defence sovereignty. President Emmanuel Macrons drive for a European pillar within NATO and even a European army distinguishes France as the leading advocate for EU strategic autonomy.

French-led joint fighter and naval programmes have generated momentum, but, as Wolff points out, Germany still regards the US - not France - as its principal military ally, which limits how far such integration can go. The European defence market remains fragmented, and consensus is difficult to achieve, according to Van den Berg.

NATO summit opens in The Hague amid unprecedented security and protests

Trump Era

Dependence on the United States carries both immediate and long-term risks. The president of the US can, at any time, alter the allocation order under FMS programmes, notes Wolff, observing that several allies have experienced delivery delays lasting years when priorities have shiftedas seen recently with Switzerland and previously with the UAE.

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Europe urgently needs a strategy to reduce its technological reliance on the United States. That requires clear incentives for European high-tech defence firms and a shift in procurement policy towards domestic suppliers, he adds.

Frances advanced technology is frequently overlooked in favour of US systemspartly for the perceived security guarantees they offer, and partly as a legacy of longstanding alliances. Yet the Trump era demonstrated that such guarantees cannot be assumed simply through procurement choices.

France remains world's second largest arms exporter behind US

Van den Berg is even more pragmatic. Most Dutch parties support diversifying alliances - not only strengthening ties with the US but also making new friends among middle powers like Brazil, India, and Indonesia," he says. "Reducing dependency means investing in domestic industries and forging European military innovation.

Tough choices

The path ahead demands difficult choices. As Europes threat perception intensifies - particularly following Russias invasion of Ukraine and a series of hybrid crises across the continent - politicians and strategists alike emphasise the urgent need to expand domestic defence production, integrate markets, and modernise procurement systems, lest Europe remain vulnerable to transatlantic unpredictability.

Europe now has advanced high-tech defence companies, some of which are becoming unicorns. What is needed is a coherent strategy to channel demand towards these firms, scale up production, and restore technological leadership in critical domains, says Wolff.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A shooting in Portlands Pearl District neighborhood left two people hospitalized early Sunday morning, police said.

Just after 2:30 a.m., officers responded to the area of Northwest 9th Avenue and Couch Street on reports of shots fired.

Arriving at the scene, they found a female victim with a gunshot wound on her leg. After officers applied a tourniquet, she was taken to a hospital by ambulance, police said.

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13-year-old boy wearing costume hit by car, seriously injured in SE Portland, police say

Officers were then notified of a male victim who was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound, finding he had also been injured at the same location.

Police say both victims are expected to survive.

Any possible suspect or suspects had left the area before police arrived and no arrests have been made, officials say.

Additionally, police said they believe there were multiple witnesses in the area at the time of the shooting and are encouraging anyone with information to come forward.

Investigators with Portland police and Crime Stoppers of Oregon are also teaming up to offer cash rewards of up to $2,500 for any information about this person or the shooting. Tips can be submitted anonymously via Crime Stoppers website or their mobile app called P3 tips.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  An East Nashville non-profit is calling on the help of young artists to help them bring awareness to their kids mental health program.

Kid S.M.A.R.T. is hosting an art fundraiser and they are calling all youth artists to submit a piece with the theme of Building Connections. Kid S.M.A.R.T. brings mental health services to youth and the families who need them.

Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More

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Annie Klavers sister, Dr. Jackie Klaver, founded the program to support kids who have limited access to high-quality mental health services as a result of economic hardship. Kid S.M.A.R.T is hosting an event at their Wilburn Street Studio with artwork from the community, activities for adults and children.

Kid S.M.A.R.T leaders say the theme Building Connections links science and art between children and the community. The event is also meant to promote the ways children form connections.

All children and college students are eligible to submit art. Local art teachers will view all submissions and selected artists will receive $100, tickets to the event, and primary display at the event!

Art submissions are due Nov. 2 at 11:59pm. Kid S.M.A.R.T.s art fundraiser on Nov. 16 from 4-7 p.m. at Wilburn Street Studio.

Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is "waging a war against the people" in the state. "TMC is waging a war against the people in West Bengal. This election is a fight between the people and TMC... As a political party, we have to go to people's homes and assure them what the double-engine government will do... The people have decided that TMC will not remain in West Bengal..." Bhattacharya told ANI. Earlier, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that it will conduct the second phase of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 States and Union Territories, with the final voter list to be published on February 7, 2026. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said the exercise will cover Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Meanwhile, the TMC criticised the BJP over SIR, alleging that it had caused deaths due to fear among citizens in West Bengal. In a post on X, the party said the latest casualty was Bimal Santra, a migrant worker from Nabagram village under Jamalpur in Purba Bardhaman district. "Another precious life lost to @BJP4India's politics of fear and hatred," the TMC post read. "In just a few days we have seen: 57-year-old Pradeep Kar of Panihati who died by suicide and blamed the NRC in his note. A 63-year-old man from Jitpur, Dinhata, Cooch Behar, who attempted to take his life, was terrified of harassment under the SIR process. A 95-year-old Khitish Majumder of Kotwali, Paschim Medinipur, living with his daughter in Ilambazar, Birbhum, who ended his life," the post added. "This is the human cost of an exercise designed to terrorise and displace. SIR is an instrument of intimidation, driving our people to despair, forcing them to question their citizenship and their right to belong. @BJP4India, your hands are stained with blood," the TMC said, further adding that "the people of Bengal will seek justice, and we will make sure they answer for every life ruined by their politics of hate." West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to hit the streets in Kolkata on November 4 to protest against the ongoing SIR, and will be joined by party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. (ANI)
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Volunteers from Texans on Mission were deployed to Jamaica on Saturday morning to help the country recover from Hurricane Melissa, which left dozens of people dead this week.

Hurricane Melissa leaves dozens dead; widespread damage across Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba

Two of the Texans on Mission volunteers that flew to Jamaica this morning are from Smith County and theyll be part of the nonprofits emergency response team thats organizing the relief efforts of hundreds of Jamaican churches.

Photo courtesy of Texans on Mission.

They will work directly with regional church leaders to assess immediate needs, develop structured recovery plans and implement actionable strategies for long-term community resilience, Texans on Mission said on Saturday. Additionally, the team will look for ways more Texans on Mission volunteer teams can deliver help, hope and healing in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

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Texans on Mission asked the community to pray for those impacted by the storm. To learn more or to help their recovery efforts, visit Texans on Mission online.

You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming.

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Despite the stated intentions of those who advocate for them, programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) perpetuate, rather than alleviate, mass poverty.

That's worth remembering amid the panic over the federal government's shutdown, which, as Hearst Connecticut Media noted Oct. 29, "has ignited what one state legislator Wednesday called a federal food fight' in Connecticut over the stalemate in Washington and the need to fund food programs for the 360,000" SNAP recipients in Connecticut.

Citing the Urban Institute, the Connecticut Mirror reported Oct. 24 that Connecticut would be "hit harder than any other state" by the lack of SNAP funding. Unsurprisingly, Connecticut's cities  which have long acted as holding zones for poverty, shielding the vast majority of voters from the policy failures of the state's political leadership  are bracing for the most significant consequences. The CT Mirror reported that "Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury and Bridgeport will be hit the hardest." In response, Connecticut, along with more than 20 other states, is suing the federal government in an attempt to compel funding.

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But Connecticut's leadership never stops to ask the important questions: Why are 10% of residents in one of the wealthiest states in the country unable to afford food? Do these programs have a track record of lifting families out of poverty? Does SNAP, as the name suggests, contribute to nutritional health?

The answers, after 60 years of the experiment known as the federal War on Poverty, are obvious.

"Most policymakers do not want social welfare programs to reduce work. Unfortunately, that is precisely what happens when recipients face so-called benefit cliffs,'" the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity noted. "People are less inclined to work when they can earn more by not working.  Thus, even though work is the key to long-term self-sufficiency, the current structure of many welfare programs often discourages work in the immediate term and leaves families trapped in dependency."

It's no coincidence that the Connecticut cities where SNAP reliance is most prevalent are also characterized by neighborhoods full of vacant buildings that once housed businesses; dependency on SNAP and similar programs decimates economic activity, making poverty endemic and intergenerational.

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Analyzing the problem at a national level in 2024, the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) noted that enrollment in food-assistance programs "has increased significantly, surging from 17.3 million individuals in 2001 to 42.1 million in 2023," and "enrollment as a percentage of the population has doubled from 6.1 percent in 2001 to 12.6 percent in 2023." A majority of able-bodied recipients do not work, and the "duration of dependency has lengthened" over time, according to EPIC. This is in line with research from the Congressional Budget Office, which, according to a report from the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, found that "in 1979, families living below the poverty line earned about 60 percent of their income from work. In 2021, that number dropped to an all-time low of around 25 percent."

And despite the stated goal of providing "nutritional assistance," the program allows unfettered access to foods and drinks proven to cause serious health problems. Politicians have claimed SNAP cuts will lead to starvation, but obesity, which correlates with low income, is an exponentially deadlier problem. A 2022 study found that 500,000 Americans a year  or 1,300 a day  die from obesity-related health complications. A 2024 study published on the National Institutes of Health's website found that 20,500 Americans  0.00006% of the country's population  died of starvation in 2022. Yet Connecticut and a majority of U.S. states have declined to participate in a national initiative through the Department of Health and Human Services to stop using SNAP to subsidize junk food.

SNAP certainly benefits politicians who rely on voter dependency to shore up their re-election prospects, but the program disincentivizes economic productivity, fosters intergenerational poverty, and facilitates poor health. With SNAP on suspension, Connecticut leaders should take this time to draft work requirements and health guidelines for when the funding is restored.

This article originally published at Editorial: SNAP needs serious reform.
Beijing has protested to Tokyo over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's contact with a former senior Taiwanese politician on the sidelines of the Apec summit in South Korea, describing the action as "egregious".

Takaichi posted photos of herself meeting Lin Hsin-i on social media on Friday and Saturday, referring to him as "senior adviser to the Presidential Office of Taiwan".

In the comments she said she hoped the "practical cooperation between Japan and Taiwan will deepen".

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In a statement on Saturday, China's foreign ministry said Takaichi deliberately met "personnel from the authorities of China's Taiwan region ... [and] hyped it on social media".

"Those actions severely violated the one-China principle, the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and basic norms of international relations, and sent a gravely wrong signal to the 'Taiwan independence' forces," the statement said.

"Those actions are egregious in nature and impact. China expresses its firm opposition and has made serious demarches and protests to Japan."

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It said "the Taiwan question is China's internal affair and at the core of China's core interests".

The handling of the issue affected the political foundation of China-Japan relations and basic trust in Japan, and was a red line that must not be crossed, the ministry said.

Beijing urged Tokyo to "reflect on and address its wrongdoings, take concrete measures to undo the negative impact, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and act on its statement of building a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship fit for the new era".

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China, to be reunited by force if necessary. Japan and most other countries, including the United States, do not recognise self-governed Taiwan as independent, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the island by force and is committed to arming it for defence. Beijing opposes official engagement with Taipei.

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Takaichi has taken controversial positions on the issues of Taiwan and Japanese wartime history - two major areas of friction with mainland China.

In April, before she became prime minister, she met Taiwan's leader William Lai Ching-te in Taipei, where she called for cooperation on artificial intelligence and defence aimed at "maintaining our security guarantees".

She also met Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung in Japan in July. Both meetings drew criticism from Beijing.

Beijing's protests on Saturday came just a day after Takaichi met President Xi Jinping in person for the first time since she took office last month.

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During the meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in Gyeongju, Xi stressed that China and Japan "should properly manage differences by focusing on the bigger picture, seeking common ground while reserving differences".

Earlier in the week, the countries' top diplomats spoke by phone, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi telling his Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, that historical issues and the Taiwan question were fundamental matters in bilateral ties.

Strains in relations were also apparent when the defence ministers of the two countries, Dong Jun and Shinjiro Koizumi, met on the sidelines of the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday.

According to Japanese media, Koizumi told Dong that Japan had serious concerns over China's increased military activities in the East China Sea. The ministers agreed it was crucial for the two sides to persist with communication, confirming that dialogue and exchanges at all levels would be promoted.

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Addressing the Asean meeting, Dong said China and the Asean nations were neighbours and that no one had a stronger desire than China to see peace and stability in the region, state news agency Xinhua said. China had played an important part to that end, Dong said.

"China firmly backs Asean's centrality in the regional architecture, and stands ready to work with regional countries to uphold peace in the region," he said.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Rotary Club of El Paso kicked off its 12th annual El Paso Winefest with a grand tasting on Saturday, Nov. 1, and will continue on Sunday in Downtown El Paso.

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Located in the heart of downtown El Paso on Main and Stanton Streets, the grand tasting featured a variety of signature creations by 24 of the regions renowned chefs and top-rated restaurants and 500 wines from around the world, all for sale through the El Paso Winefest app.

The event follows on Sunday. Nov. 2, with the gastronomic battle, led by the Culinary Institute by Southwest University, happening from 1 to 3:30 p.m., according to the Rotary Club in a news release.

The Culinary Village will showcase a competitive creative playground where Culinary Institute students will dish out flavors perfectly paired with a diverse selection of libations.

Wines, beers and bubbles will be perfectly paired with 12 signature dishes prepared by the student teams. Attendees will help crown the champion culinary team of the year, according to the Rotary Club.

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Proceeds will go to support Rotary Club of El Paso projects, including Childrens Holiday Party and Book Distribution, RotaCare El Paso free Medical Clinic, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, International Youth Exchange, Rotary Wheels Bikes for Kids, and Ramp Builds to assist disabled and homebound individuals.

In addition, the Rotary Club said this years event will feature a special commemorative poster designed for the event by Krystyna Robbins. Krystyna is displaying her works during the events and her original art poster was auctioned off on Saturday. A percentage of proceeds from art and framing sales will also benefit the Rotary Club of El Paso projects.

More information is available here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Tuesday's election will decide whether voters choose Solomon Kinloch or Mary Sheffield to be Detroit's next mayor. (Brittany Greeson for Chalkbeat)

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for Chalkbeat Detroits free newsletter to keep up with the citys public school system and Michigan education policy.

Detroit residents who havent already voted will head to the polls on Tuesday to help decide who the citys next mayor will be.

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The election  featuring candidates Solomon Kinloch, a pastor, and Mary Sheffield, city council president  has been largely focused around issues related to neighborhood revitalization, safety, poverty, and housing instability.

All of those issues affect the citys public schools, and each of the candidates say they intend to play a role by partnering with schools to ensure children have a quality education.

What that role looks like remains to be seen. But low academic achievement, high rates of chronic absenteeism, and the myriad effects of poverty on student learning are key challenges in Detroit.

Heres what you need to know about the election.

What can Detroits next mayor do?

Unlike in some other big cities, Detroits mayor doesnt have any control over or say in education issues. But the mayor can still have some influence.

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For instance, students miss school at alarming rates in the city, and its not just because they want to blow off the classroom.

More than half of the students in the Detroit Public Schools Community District attend school outside their neighborhood, and challenges getting to and from school often lead to absences.

The Detroit Partnership for Education Equity and Research has reported that a third of families in Detroit dont own a car, and 30% of families dont have a fixed way to get their children to school.

Meanwhile, high school students largely take city-run transportation to get to school, and Chalkbeat has often heard from teens that buses dont always arrive on time or pass them by when theyre waiting at the bus stop.

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While the mayor cant equip all Detroit residents with vehicles or require students to attend their neighborhood school, they can address issues with the transportation system. The topic came up earlier this month when Sheffield and Kinloch met for a televised debate.

Sheffield vowed to provide more coordinated transportation to reduce absenteeism and get our students back in school, while also noting that the city needs to improve transportation wait times. Kinloch said that in order to improve transportation, the city needs to ensure it is offering competitive pay to transit workers, has reliable vehicles, and has trained mechanics.

What Detroiters told us they want from the next mayor

Chalkbeat asked Detroit residents to tell us what they would like to see the next mayor do to address education issues in the city.

Some common themes emerged. Residents said they welcome the mayor playing a role in education issues, though several made it clear schools should continue to be independently operated. They told us they want to see Sheffield or Kinloch address issues such as safety, transportation, poor attendance, lack of stable housing, and lack of student engagement.

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One reader told us that the mayor needs to play a role because she or he has a direct impact on some of the biggest challenges facing schools in the city.

Sharon Kelso, a Detroit district parent and education advocate, said safety, lack of student engagement, and lack of accountability of school staff are major factors affecting student learning.

There is currently too much failure with blame being placed on students and parents, Kelso said.

The next mayor, she said, can promote parental involvement by holding town hall meetings to hear parent concerns. They can also hold town hall meetings and conferences to hear from students. Kelso said the mayor can work with DPSCD and charter school leaders to address transportation and safety issues.

Sheffield and Kinlochs views on education

Kinloch has said he will create a cabinet-level position that would partner with DPSCD to make sure that were removing the social ills that keep the children from showing up in class in a productive way, not to just to survive, but to thrive. He said on his website that the cabinet member would work with school administrators, educators, parents, and students to coordinate city services that support student success.

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Sheffield, in a response to a Chalkbeat Detroit survey, said she would commit significant resources toward improving conditions that affect education that the city oversees. Sheffield, during the debate, said she would partner with DPSCD and charter schools on a consistent basis to ensure that we have robust after-school programming within a two mile radius of every school, focusing in on literacy, as well as addressing the social deterrents that affect students and families.

How to vote in Tuesdays Detroit election

Detroit residents arent just voting for a new mayor. They also will be electing city council members, city clerk, board of police commissioners, and the community advisory council.

For information about how to vote early, BridgeDetroit has a handy guide here. A reminder that if youre voting in person on Nov. 4, the polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Want to read more?

Chalkbeat wrote in July about why some advocates see education as a key issue in the mayoral race. After the primary, we broke down how the top two contenders would address education issues, specifically chronic absenteeism. And we had all the details about what the candidates said about education at a televised debate.

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For more information on the candidates, check out coverage from our partners at BridgeDetroit.

Lori Higgins is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Detroit. You can reach her at lhiggins@chalkbeat.org.

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.
A lawyer for US Senator Elizabeth Warren is defending a recent social media post in which the anti-crypto lawmaker decried corruption that led to the October 23 pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao.

A lawyer for Zhao, better known as CZ, has threatened to sue the senator, calling her post defamatory, according to the New York Post.

Warrens lawyer hit back on Sunday, according to a letter obtained by Punchbowl News.

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Simply put, any threatened defamation claim would be without merit, Warren attorney Ben Stafford wrote.

Prison and pardon

In 2023, Zhao pleaded guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act when he led Binance, the worlds largest crypto exchange.

Specifically, he admitted Binance had failed to prevent criminals, sanctioned entities, and other bad actors from laundering billions of dollars in dirty money under his leadership.

In addition to his guilty plea, Zhao agreed to resign as CEO and pay a $50 million fine. He was later sentenced to four months in prison.

Since the reelection of US President Donald Trump, Zhao has quietly campaigned for a pardon, according to news reports that have prompted an occasional rebuke from the crypto mogul.

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On October 23, Trump pardoned Zhao. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told DL News that Zhao had been prosecuted by the Biden Administration in their war on cryptocurrency.

With Zhaos pardon, that war was over, Leavitt said.

Retraction request

Democrats quickly jumped on the news.

Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, has repeatedly criticised the decision, saying the pardon sends a dangerous and reckless message to white-collar criminals and the entire cryptocurrency industry.

Warren, meanwhile, took to X shortly after the news of Zhaos pardon first broke.

CZ pleaded guilty to a criminal money laundering charge and was sentenced to prison. But then he financed President Trumps stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon, she wrote on X on October 23.

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If Congress does not stop this kind of corruption, it owns it.

Teresa Goody Guillen, an attorney for Zhao, told the Post that her boss was mulling a lawsuit.

Mr. Zhao will not remain silent while a United States Senator seemingly misuses the office to repeatedly publish defamatory statements, Goody Guillen wrote in a draft letter obtained by the Post.

Accordingly, Mr. Zhao respectfully immediately requests the retraction of these false statements.

Zhaos lawyer wasnt the only person who took issue with the way Warren characterised his guilty plea.

A crowdsourced community note was appended to Warrens X post that read, CZ pleaded guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act for failing to implement an effective anti-money laundering program. He did not plead guilty to money laundering.

Bank Secrecy Act

Warren has nothing to apologise for, according to Stafford.

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Responding to an October 28 letter from Goody Guillen, Stafford said Zhao had, in fact, pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge.

Zhao had pleaded guilty to a violation of the Bank Secrecy Act, which is widely referred to as an anti-money laundering law, including by federal agencies and courts, Stafford wrote.

Moreover, even if Warrens post wasnt entirely accurate, it wasnt made with malice  a required element of any defamation lawsuit.

Among other things, minor inaccuracies do not amount to falsity so long as the substance, the gist, the sting, of the libelous charge [is] justified, Stafford wrote, citing a 1991 court ruling.

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Still, Warrens attorney insisted the senator was only referring to the charge Zhao had pleaded guilty to.

Her X Post does not state  and should not be construed to state  that he pled guilty to any other money laundering charge, he wrote.

Aleks Gilbert is a DeFi correspondent based in New York. Have a tip? Email him at aleks@dlnews.com.




Everyone has an emo phase, even deer. Residents in Lago Vista, a lakeside community near Austin, grew concerned after spotting a deer that "fully embraced his emo era," according to the city's police department.

The animal was seen wearing a hammock tangled in its antlers, prompting locals to call the police department to ensure the "emo deer" was OK. The Lago Vista Police Department wrote in its October 25 Facebook post, "We've received a lot of calls regarding our local deer who's fully embraced his emo era, but in case you haven't met him yet We'd like to introduce to you Lago Vista's newest woodland icon!"

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Officials joked that the deer was eating, drinking and strutting around like he just dropped his debut album called "Hammocks & Heartache." Lago Vista wrote that the deer is thriving in his "main-character moment."

While the deer might look like it needs help, the police department assured that there is no need for the public to intervene. According to Lago Vista police, male deer naturally shed their antlers before the end of winter, which means the emo-chic accessory will fall off on its own soon enough. Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) also assured that the deer is fine.

"As difficult as it can be to see an animal with 'hardware disease' and want to help it, there are good, scientifically backed reasons why we do not get involved unless absolutely necessary. Darting animals in urban areas can be very high risk due to the number of people, roads, and houses, and the unpredictable nature of animal behavior," TPWD told the Lago Vista police department.

Lago Vista added, "Sometimes the best help is to let Mother Nature run her course even if her latest fashion choices are a tad questionable."

This article originally published at 'Emo' deer puzzles Texas community after seen with questionable antlers.
Emergency power outages have been introduced across Donetsk Oblast after Russian strikes on energy infrastructure left the entire oblast without electricity.

Source: Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration

Details: Filashkin said that power engineers are working to resolve the issue.

"The power supply in the oblast will be restored as soon as possible," he added.

Ukraine's Ministry of Energy has reported that some consumers in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Chernihiv oblasts have also been left without power following Russian attacks on energy facilities.

Background: On the night of 30-31 October, Russian forces launched yet another drone attack on energy infrastructure in Odesa Oblast.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Saturday afternoon, a citywide prayer walk was held, gathering spiritual leaders and people of faith in the Erie area to pray for a for a call to justice.

The prayer walk started on German Street, near the location where Marchello Woodard was shot and killed by a state parole officer.

Marchello Woodard was killed right across the street from our church here, so hes the foundation for this prayer walk, said Valerie Perkins, leader of social justice at Greater Calvary Full Gospel Baptist church.

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When asked why she believes the prayer walk is important, she said, Injustice for one is injustice for all. A threat to justice for one is a threat to justice everywhere. So were just calling everybody to come together and recognize that were all in this together. Because a country divided, a people divided against themselves, was destined to fall.

Erie County DA investigates Woodards death amid protests

She also mentioned that while the prayer was focused on Marchello Woodards death, they also wanted to pray for other societal problems such as the government shutdown and its effects.

Sometimes turning the other cheek means let me show you another side of my personality. Which means I can stand strong in the face of oppression, I can stand strong in the face of injustice, I can stand strong in the face of inequity and still be a spiritual person. To be Christ-like actually means to be strong in the face of adversity, it means to be strong in the face of injustice and evils, said Curtis Jones Jr., Pastor and community activist.

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Jones said that he believes his responsibility as a follower of Christ is to stand up to evil.

Participants led prayers at several places, including the state probation and parole office, city hall and the Erie County courthouse.

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He further inaugurated the 69th Foundation Day of Kerala at a function in Raj Bhavan, according to the release.

The Governor recalled the efforts made by V.P. Menon in having dialogues with the Maharajas of princely states and steering them all towards a nationalistic perspective.

The Governor marked Kerala Piravi celebrations at Raj Bhavan by lighting a lamp before a Bharat Mata idol draped in saffron and holding a saffron flag, as stated in the release.

The Governor stated that everyone must be a part of the nation-building process.

"While the Government is doing their bit, people cannot afford to be 'silent spectators' in the Nation's Development," he said.

Noting that Kerala has always guided the nation with the right kind of vision, values, and culture that have shaped the nation's course, the Governor exhorted everyone to play their part effectively in their respective fields. Observing that the road to Viksit Bharat passes through Viksit Kerala, the Governor noted that Malayalees have not lagged in any field and have provided leadership in all aspects of life.

Before Education Minister V Sivankutty boycotted the event over the installation and worship of the idol, government programmes initially avoided displaying the image.

However, the Bharat Mata idol was later reinstated on stage after a brief pause.

Later, a cultural fete was held by the artiste students of Kerala Kalamandalam, joined by the staff of Raj Bhavan, adding gusto and grandeur to the formation day celebrations. (ANI)
A citywide prayer walk was issued to all spiritual leaders and people of faith in the Erie area, uniting the community for a call to justice.

Organizers said that this call to action went beyond denomination, race or title, inviting all believers to pray as one.

Participants walked to key locations to pray for government, schools, family and neighborhoods, with a special focus on justice in the community due to current events.

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Waiting and wondering Prayer vigil held for Marchello Woodard 110 days after shooting

Elder Sharon Newell, a representative from Greater Calvary Gospel Church, said that prayer is a peaceful yet powerful way to advocate for whats right.

Newell said, Prayer works. The prayers of the righteous of much according to the word of god, and prayer changes things, in civil rights, any movement, prayer works.

The walk began on German Street near the location where Marchello Woodard was shot by a state parole agent.





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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
There will be some cabin crew in bright red uniforms. There will probably be some loud music and plenty of dry ice. And Sir Richard Branson could almost certainly show up in a rocket, a balloon or perhaps even a submarine, pulling some kind of stunt or other.

We can expect plenty of glitzy razzamatazz when the first Virgin train heads out of London to the Continent in a few years time, breaking Eurostars monopoly of rail travel through the Channel Tunnel.

And yet we should not stop there. There should be lots of operators competing on that route  not just two.

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After a long struggle, Virgin last week finally won its battle to run trains to the rest of Europe after securing approval from the Office of Rail and Road.

It will still need to get safety approvals from regulators in both the UK and the European Union, negotiate platform space and work out a deal with Eurostar. But it hopes to have a service to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam up and running by the end of the decade.

For the first time in the three decades since the tunnel linking the UK to the rest of Europe was opened, passengers will finally be able to choose which company they want to travel with.

Eurostar has enjoyed a monopoly over the rail route between Britain and the rest of Europe for three decades - David Cabrera

And at least one rail route in the UK will get some much-needed competition, even while the rest of the network is steadily nationalised.

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It is about time. Eurostar has, just like any monopoly, become complacent and expensive.

When I checked on Friday afternoon, if I wanted to book a trip to Paris for the following weekend, the cheapest return train ticket would cost me 260 return, and well over 300 if I decided to travel at a civilised hour, while I could get a return easyJet flight for 110.

The prices are way too high, especially given that most of the infrastructure is now three decades old. It is not as if the service is amazing either, even if it recently unveiled spiffy new gender neutral uniforms for the staff.

On Trustpilot, the train service has an average review ranking of just 2.1 out of a possible 5.0, which suggests, to put it politely, that there is a little room for improvement.

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That is not nearly good enough. The entire point of the tunnel was to replace flights with train routes, both to reduce congestion at the airports and to cut carbon emissions. The train service should have driven the budget airlines out of the market on that route by now.

Instead, eye-watering ticket prices mean many of us prefer to get a cheap flight instead. As for the plans for seamless train journeys that would link into the Continents increasingly sophisticated high-speed rail network, and whisk us all effortlessly around France, and on to Germany, Italy or Spain, they remain on the drawing board, and have done for decades.

It is a huge missed opportunity, and one that will only start to be fixed once the tunnel is finally opened up to competition.

Here is the problem, however. Why only allow Virgin to offer an alternative service? There were three more bidders for the route who were turned down.

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As well as Virgin, Gemini Trains, chaired by the Labour peer Lord Berkeley, as well as Trenalitia, the main operating arm of the Italian rail operator and the Spanish start-up Evolyn, were all interested in bidding for the route.

Instead of just one new operator, we could have had four or five. Sure, there are issues with hangar space. But even in Sir Sadiq Khans London, where virtually nothing gets built any more, it is surely not impossible to build some extra storage capacity for the trains if that is what is needed, and if some extra platform space is needed at St Pancras, then surely that would be possible as well.

In reality, a whole series of competitors would genuinely kickstart the market. We need a range of different services: a British Airways-style business class offering, for example, for all the people travelling to Brussels or Paris on expenses, alongside a much cheaper Ryanair-style service for people who are getting away for the weekend and would rather spend their money on dinner out than the train fare.

Sure, not all of us want to make a seven or eight-hour rail trip to Milan, or take a 10-hour through-train to Madrid, but a few people will, partly because they want to cut their carbon footprint, or perhaps because they just happen, perfectly understandably, to prefer the old-fashioned romance of the train to the cattle-car conditions of most airports.

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We could even see direct routes from other British cities, perhaps with trains running from Manchester straight through to Paris, or else from Birmingham direct to Brussels.

The important point is this: we cant know for certain which routes would be profitable or what the levels of demand might be.

But we can be sure of one thing: if we allow lots of different operators access to the rail tracks running under the English Channel, then plenty of different possible routes will be tried out, and we will find out very quickly which ones work and which ones dont.

A duopoly is a lot better than a monopoly, but only just. It can very quickly slip back into a cosy cartel, with both companies quietly agreeing to keep prices high and to keep the competition limited. It is less hassle and more profitable.

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In reality, the tunnel has been a squandered asset. It should be opened up to a whole range of different services, and it will be far better off from a blast of fierce competition between competitors.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Rogue Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene wants to get to the bottom of why an increasing number of top Trump administration officials have been moving into military housing.

Im one of those people they call a conspiracy theorist, Greene said on controversial comic Bill Mahers eponymous HBO show Friday night. When I hear things like that, Im like, what do they know that I dont know?

Stephen Miller, along with his wife, former Trump aide Katie Miller, pipped himself a swish new military home late last month. / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

I read this week that a number of the members of the administration are now living on a military base, Maher said. For people who love America so much, they seem to be scared of it.

The Millers' move follows after Kristi Noem moved rent free into a military house ordinarily reserved for Coast Guard top brass. / Octavio Jones / Octavio Jones/Getty Images

Maher is correct. A growing number of high-ranking MAGA officials have indeed moved into taxpayer-subsidized military homes in the Washington, D.C. area over the past few months, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Rubio and Hegseth are now also living in residences usually reserved for senior Army staff. / Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Miller, along with his wife, former Trump aide turned MAGA podcaster Katie Miller, and their children, is understood to have upped sticks last month after left-wing activists reportedly targeted their prior residence on repeat occasions.

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Noem moved rent-free into a military base home ordinarily occupied by the head of the Coast Guard earlier in September. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security says she made the move after the Daily Mail published photos outside her previous home.

For people who love America so much, they seem to be scared of it, as Maher put it. / Noam Galai / Getty Images

Administration officials have since clarified that Hegseth and Rubio now live at residences on Generals Row at Fort McNair, itself a run of large historic residences usually reserved for top Army leaders.

Greene further used her appearance on Mahers show to continue her campaign of bashing fellow Republican officials amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Careful as ever to avoid criticizing President Donald Trump directly, she clarified much of her recent fury had been largely provoked by her GOP colleagues in the House.

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A lot of the things I say are against my own party, but theyre mainly my frustrations in Congress, she said. I believe that Congress should be solving a lot of these problems. However, Congress is not solving these problems.

Greene also renewed her attacks against the Republican Speaker. Mike Johnson, for a month now, cannot give me a single policy idea, she told Maher. And Im angry about that.

Over the past several months, the ordinarily die-hard MAGA loyalist has emerged as an increasingly rogue voice of dissent within her party, bashing the second Trump administration on everything from strikes on Iran to the DOJs handling of recent developments in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case.

Critics speculate her growing willingness may have something to do with Trumps refusal earlier this summer to back her for a gubernatorial run in her home state next year, even as the president himself appears at a loss as to whats caused her about-turn.

Whats going on with Marjorie? Trumps reported to have asked senior Republican colleagues in a frantic series of calls earlier in October.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  Its almost time for California voters to decide if the state should temporarily change its congressional districts.

What is Prop 50?

Proposition 50 would adjust Californias Congressional district map. Usually determined by an independent redistricting commission, the measure would temporarily set it aside. If it were to pass, the new boundaries determined by Proposition 50 would be used through the next three election cycles. It is the only measure on the special election ballot.

Why was Proposition 50 introduced?

Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Election Rigging Response Act on Aug. 21, setting up the election so Californians could decide whether to adopt a new congressional map via a special election. It also established the timeline and procedures to have the special election.

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It arose in response to Texas new congressional map, as advocated for by President Donald Trump, that will help the GOP maintain its congressional majority come the 2026 midterm elections. Californias new maps seek to counteract this  if Prop 50 passes, it would add five more Democratic seats to the House of Representatives.

Who can vote in the special election?

All registered California voters can vote on Prop 50 and should have received a vote-by-mail ballot. Ballots were issued starting Oct. 6, and the deadline to register to vote so that it processes in time for Election Day was Oct. 20, although provisional ballots can still be completed up until Nov. 4. Californians must post mark their mail-in ballots by no later than Nov. 4 and these must be counted by Nov. 12.

Election Day is officially on Nov. 4. You can track your ballot using the Secretary of States Wheres My Ballot? tool, or find your in-person polling place here.

What does voting Yes or No on Prop 50 mean?

Yes

A yes vote for Prop 50 means you support Californias push for new Congressional maps that may give Democrats an advantage in the House of Representatives. Supporters of Prop 50 argue that its passage would level the playing field, gives power to voters and is a vehicle to protect democracy nationwide.

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The five largest donors to support Prop 50 include the House Majority PAC, The Fund For Policy Reform, The California Teachers Association Issues PAC, The California Nurses Association, and the National Education Association.

No

A no vote would mean you want Californias district lines to remain the same, as they were originally drawn by the states independent and nonpartisan commission. Opponents of the proposition argue that it repeals voter-approved election reforms, wastes taxpayer money and is a political power-grab.

The five largest donors to the opposition PACs include Charles T. Munger, Jr. (previous chairperson of the Santa Clara Republican Party and the California Republican Partys Initiatives Committee), the Congressional Leadership Fund, The Kevin McCarthy for Congress PAC, Thomas M. Siebel (Chairman of C3.ai), and Robert A. Kotick (former CEO of Activision Blizzard).

Supporters have raised about $120 million for Prop 50, while opponents have raised about $44 million, making the proposition the subject of more independent expenditures than any others in the states history.

What will change if Prop. 50 passes?

There are five Republican-led districts that would become more Democratic if Prop 50 passes:

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District 1: Represented by Rep. Doug LaMalfa, currently includes cities such as Chico, Redding, Yuba City and more.

District 3: Represented by Rep. Kevin Kiley, currently includes cities such as Rocklin, Folsom, Truckee and more.

District 22: Represented by Rep. David Valadao, currently includes cities such as Tulare, Porterville, Delano and more.

District 41: Represented by Rep. Ken Calvert currently includes cities such as Palm Springs, Corona, Lake Elsinore and more.

District 48: Represented by Rep. Darrell Issa, currently includes cities such as Temecula, Murrieta, Escondido and more.

To see how your specific district may be affected, see this interactive map.

What happens if Prop 50 does not pass?

Polls show that over 50% of California voters are in support of Prop 50. But, we wont know its true fate until Tuesday, Nov. 4, or in the days after as ballots are counted.

If voters do not decide in favor of Prop 50, the current maps drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission would continue to be used until new maps are drawn following the 2030 U.S. Census.

What does this mean for the rest of the country?

California and Texas arent the only two states that have taken action or started conversations around redistricting. Missouri passed their own redistricting plan back in September, one that could help Republicans win more seats in the House in next years midterms.

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States that have either started on new maps or have stated that they are open to doing so in favor of Republicans include Indiana, Kansas, Utah, Ohio, Florida and Louisiana.

Maryland representatives are now considering new district lines in favor of Democrats, as well as New York and Illinois.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Newly obtained emails show that Houston's decision to remove signal priority for downtown MetroRail trains may have been fueled by politics, and that city officials made the change despite internal concerns about reliability and the lack of safety considerations.

In a Sept. 18 exchange, Metro's Chief Signals Engineer Fred Mills told a colleague that the change "was a political decision, not a technical decision." Another Metro official, Director of Safety Mohammed Boukhriss, replied that he wished the agency had conducted "at least a basic evaluation" before the change took effect on Sept. 20.

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"To the best of my knowledge, the impacts to service and safety were not a consideration," Mills replied.

The emails, obtained by the Houston Chronicle through a public records request, also show that city staff and consultants had been developing the plan for months alongside Metro and outside the public eye. A December 2024 presentation shared by a Houston Public Works engineer with Metro outlined a "Downtown and Midtown Traffic Signals Retiming Project," led by the city and consultant HDR, that aimed to improve traffic flow for vehicles through 394 intersections.

READ MORE: Houston Red Line riders urge Metro to fully restore signals

Internal documents and emails also show that the Red Line wasn't originally part of the city's retiming plan. A December 2024 feedback memo from Metro to Houston Public Works lists the Red Line as "not affected by coordination in Downtown/Midtown," while the Green and Purple lines were. The Red Line's inclusion appears to have come later in 2025, although the exact date is unclear.

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Removing signal priority has frustrated riders who say the change increased their commute times and made one of the city's few reliable transit options less dependable. Riders began noticing slower trains in September, leading to confusion about who was responsible, while public officials offered little explanation.

In a statement to the Chronicle, Metro said the agency "does not make decisions based on politics."

"Our focus is on customer feedback and coordination with our regional partners to improve mobility for all users," the statement said. "The recent traffic-signal timing adjustments are part of a long-overdue effort to modernize traffic management in the downtown area."

Metro said the updates were intended to improve reliability for both buses and trains that share downtown streets and were "driven directly by feedback from riders." While acknowledging that "customers initially experienced significant delays," the agency said it has since observed "notable improvements in both bus and rail travel times."

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"Currently, average headways are approximately eight minutes," Metro added. "We continue to monitor performance data to further improve service reliability and keep the region moving efficiently."

The agency also emphasized that "the opinions referenced in the internal email  were those of an individual and do not represent Metro's official policies or position."

Mills declined to provide a comment for this story, and Boukhriss could not be reached.

Many critics have pointed to Mayor John Whitmire's administration for the change, noting that the city controls the timing of downtown traffic lights. Emails also show that Houston Public Works initiated the decision. The city did not respond to a request for comment from the Chronicle.

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Peter Eccles, director of policy and planning for the advocacy group LINK Houston, said the records confirm that the Red Line's inclusion came later and that Metro's technical staff didn't vet the decision. Eccles also said the city has reversed the preemption removal on 16 of 26 intersections in Midtown.

"The signals project can achieve its goals without removing preemption. Riders appreciate that the city and Metro reversed this change at 16 of 26 intersections, and also their intent to restore reliable service," Eccles said. "Nonetheless, Houston's daily transit riders require more than good intentions. Trips on the Red Line are slower and less reliable than before, and they will stay that way until preemption is restored at all 26 intersections. We urge METRO to fix this mistake now."

Slowing commutes

Weeks before the signal changes took effect, city consultants were already rewriting downtown stoplight patterns to make trains wait longer at intersections, the emails show.

In a July 9 email, a traffic engineer working for the city told Metro staff that new 60-second signal plans were being tested and that preemption - the system that automatically turns lights green for trains - would be turned off. The engineer said the old settings would be saved "as a backup in case the city plans to reactivate the preemption in future."

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However, Mills warned that removing preemption would be far more complicated than the city expected and could disrupt how trains operate downtown.

"The Main Street timing files are built specifically around preemption," Mills wrote. "I expect significant rework  will be needed to make operations work without preemption for northbound and southbound trains."

Internal testing data obtained by the Chronicle shows the city's signal changes have slowed trains more than their early projections suggested.

At the time, consultants said the impact on riders would be minimal - about a minute longer between UH Downtown and Wheeler Station. But two months later, updated testing showed travel times had jumped from roughly 13 minutes to more than 21 minutes once the new signals were in place.

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Those predictions were made just days before the change went into effect on Sept. 20, when riders began noticing the Red Line train stopping at multiple red lights downtown.

On Oct. 23, riders packed Metro's board meeting, petitioning the city to return to the original timing.

"Please don't undermine something that has already worked very well for the city for 20 years and that tens of thousands of Houstonians rely on," said Midtown commuter Sebastian Lecourt at the most recent Metro board meeting.

According to Metro's most recent ridership numbers, the Red Line averaged over 33,000 boardings on weekdays, over 16,000 boardings on Saturdays and over 15,000 boardings on Sundays.

This article originally published at Exclusive: Houston slowed downtown trains for politics, not safety, emails suggest.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries and accelerate innovation, a quieter crisis may be unfolding. Health and environmental advocates are warning that the data centers powering the AI boom may be releasing harmful "forever chemicals" into communities, The Guardian has reported. But concerningly little is known about the extent of their use in the industry or where they end up.

What's happening?

While experts across multiple disciplines and sectors have celebrated the promise of AI, perhaps just as many have warned against the consequences it may bring.

From an environmental perspective, the technology may be used to improve energy efficiency, monitor droughts, track deforestation, measure glacier loss, and manage food supplies. But its energy-hungry operations can also generate heat-trapping pollution when powered by fossil fuels or strain renewable supplies when powered by cleaner options  so there are important costs and benefits to weigh, particularly as the public calls for eco-friendlier AI and effective regulations.

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Another known concern is that the data centers that power AI operations require cooling, largely achieved with huge amounts of water, which comes with its own environmental drawbacks. But now The Guardian has reported that data centers run by companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are also using PFAS gas, or f-gas, for cooling purposes.

Not only could these gases leak into the air or enter the environment when equipment is thrown away or incinerated, but the use of these chemicals in a fast-growing industry also has the potential to contribute to production-related contamination. According to The Guardian, f-gas producer Chemours is "increasing production at its Parkersburg, West Virginia, and Fayetteville, North Carolina, plants" in response to data center needs.

As the industry grows and some companies say the risks are low, environmental advocates like Jonathan Kalmuss-Katz warn of looming threats. The Earthjustice attorney told The Guardian that "this issue has been dangerously understudied."

Why is PFAS pollution concerning?

PFAS  short for "per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances"  are a class of synthetic chemicals also referred to as "forever chemicals" for their persistence in the human body and the environment. They don't break down well in either location, posing the potential for generational effects. Exposure has been linked to reproductive issues, cancers, and other serious conditions.

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As data centers multiply to support growing AI systems, so could the health risks. Yet companies aren't required to report how much f-gas they use, and no regular testing is being done at data center sites.

Requirements for testing and tracking could be stymied by industry claims that "f-gas that escapes is not a threat because, once in the air, it turns into a compound called Tfa," which is not considered a PFAS in the United States, per The Guardian, even while it is understood as such in other countries.

It seems the Environmental Protection Agency could also present an obstacle to future regulations. The federal agency worried some when it announced in September that it would be fast-tracking chemical reviews to advance data center operations. "The Trump EPA wants to get out of the way and help speed up progress on these critical developments, as opposed to gumming up the works," said EPA administrator Lee Zeldin, according to Inside Climate News.

The outlet reported that the government plans "include what advocates said is unprecedented language that calls for the EPA to 'ease' and 'reduce' regulations." Maria Doa of the Environmental Defense Fund told Inside Climate, "The EPA said it is going to 'Get out of the way,' not 'The EPA is going to do a thorough but expedited review.'"

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Doa added that a lack of effective regulations on data centers using potentially harmful chemicals could also impact the labor force at these centers and the plants that produce their equipment and supplies.

What's being done about it?

If companies aren't testing for f-gas levels and federal agencies end up overlooking threats, it may take a concerted effort from health experts and environmental advocates to bring about effective regulations as well as community awareness.

Some states, such as Minnesota, are already pushing for laws that would require tech companies to disclose their chemical use. Meanwhile, overall AI regulations are likely to emerge as a hot topic in the lead-up to the U.S. mid-term elections, and constituents may call on candidates to lay out their plans for protecting the public from the pollution and energy strain the industry could unleash.

Until stricter rules are in place, residents may continue to face unknown risks, with marginalized communities likely to experience hazards disproportionately. Research into evidence-backed solutions for cleaning up contamination and addressing health concerns associated with PFAS exposure will continue to be critical.

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.
A fire and explosion at a convenience store in northern Mexico on Saturday killed at least 23 people, including children, and injured 12 others, local officials said.

The fire occurred in downtown Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora state, Gov. Alfonso Durazo said in a video posted on social media.

"Sadly, a number of the victims we've found were minors," he said, adding that the people injured were taken to local hospitals in Hermosillo.

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"I have ordered an extensive and transparent investigation to determine the causes of the incident and figure out those responsible," Durazo said.

The damaged facade of a store caused by a fire that killed multiple people, in Hermosillo, Mexico, on Nov. 1, 2025. / Credit: Stringer / REUTERS

Sonora Attorney General Gustavo Salas Chavez said preliminary investigations showed the deaths were caused by "inhalation of toxic gases," the Associated Press reported.

"At this time, we have no indication that leads us to presume the fire was intentional," he said, noting authorities had not ruled out any line of investigation.

The damaged facade of a store caused by a fire that killed multiple people, in Hermosillo, Mexico, on Nov. 1, 2025. / Credit: Stringer / REUTERS

Images circulating on social media show a massive fire engulfing the Waldo's store. One video showed a burned man collapsing onto the asphalt a few yards from the store entrance.

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"Nobody will face this pain alone. From the very first moments, emergency, security and health services responded with great professionalism and commitment, controlling the situation and saving lives," Durazo said.

Forensic technicians work in the area where a fire inside a store killed multiple people, in Hermosillo, Mexico, on Nov. 1, 2025. / Credit: Stringer / REUTERS

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her condolences on socia media "to the families and loved ones of those who died."

"I have been in contact with the Sonora governor, Alfonso Durazo, to provide support where needed. I've instructed Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez to send a support team in order to assist the families and the injured," she continued.



Mexican media reports said customers sought refuge inside the store after the explosion, only to become trapped by the flames.

Newspaper El Universal said the explosion occurred around 2:00 p.m. and that nearby businesses opted to close their doors to prevent the fire from spreading there.



Local authorities urged members of the public to avoid the area of the explosion, and canceled celebrations scheduled to be held that day in honor of the Day of the Dead holiday.

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The San Francisco housing market spent much of the last two years seemingly stuck in the mud. Real estate agents lamented that homes that once sparked bidding wars were going unsold for a month or longer.

But not anymore. San Francisco homes are selling faster than they have in years - faster, in fact, than almost any of the 25 most-populous cities in the U.S. The median home sold in September found a buyer after just three weeks on the market. That's more than a month faster than the national figure of 51 days.

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San Francisco stands out sharply from other large U.S. cities, where prospective buyers appear reluctant to place bids amid a struggling job market and high mortgage rates. But the rise of artificial intelligence companies in San Francisco has brought a wave of workers flush with cash. The AI boom has already caused rentals to fly off the market, while home sellers - who were already resistant to cutting prices - now have even less reason to soften their expectations.

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That hasn't yet translated to a surge in prices, which took a tumble during the pandemic as many buyers left for outer Bay Area suburbs. But that could change. San Francisco home sales have seen a major jump this fall while listings dipped, a sign that prices could soon start to climb, according to a new report from real estate brokerage Redfin.

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"The market had been in an ice age the past couple of years, but this autumn we saw our first signs of the big thaw," said Arrian Binnings, a San Francisco real estate agent with Christie's International Real Estate.

Even San Jose, which has generally remained a highly competitive market, has cooled slightly as buyers step back. In September 2023, San Jose homes spent a median of just 11 days on the market before selling. In the two years since, that median lengthened by a week, while the San Francisco rate has fallen by nearly two weeks. San Francisco homes are selling faster than any September since 2021, before mortgage rates rocketed upward.

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Binnings attributed San Francisco's heating trend to the city's tight supply of available homes, as well as the wealth flooding into the market as workers at OpenAI and other companies sell their stock.

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"I think San Francisco is behaving differently because it has emerged as a pocket of growth in a sea of stagnation, not just in California but across much of the country," he said.

Even within San Francisco, some neighborhoods stand out. Homes tend to sell most quickly on the west side of the city, where home prices have proved most immune to the pandemic-era slump. Meanwhile, homes in or near downtown and eastern San Francisco tend to take much longer. Those neighborhoods have generally seen the bulk of new construction over the past decade - much of it condos, whose prices have continued to decline amid rising homeowners association costs.

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But that, too, could be changing. Mia Takami, a Realtor with eXp Realty, said she's seen a boom in demand in Mission Bay, where Uber and OpenAI have offices. Most of her buyers are homeowners looking to live close to work, she explained, but she has also worked with investors who see San Francisco's rising reputation - and rents - as potential for profits.

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That surge in demand, combined with a decline in supply, has had drastic effects on her inventory. Last September, Takami said, she had more than a dozen listings available. At the end of this September, she had none.

This article originally published at S.F. homes are selling at the fastest rate among large U.S. cities.




A sex worker who was convicted of manslaughter for shooting her client dead along an idyllic strip of San Francisco's northern waterfront has been sentenced to five years in prison in a case that spotlighted the use of police surveillance and issues of transgender rights.

Leniyah Butler was 20 in November 2023 when she shot Hamza Walupupu, a 32-year-old Congolese immigrant, in the face in the parking lot at Crissy Field, not far from the Golden Gate Bridge. Butler stood trial over seven days in March and was convicted by a federal jury of voluntary manslaughter. She was acquitted of second-degree murder.

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Butler was arrested after the FBI used an automated license plate reader database to track a Jeep Commander that picked her up after she dumped the victim's car, court records show. Her arrest demonstrated the powers of police surveillance in San Francisco, even before the city massively multiplied the number of Flock Safety cameras capturing license plates.

Her sentence comes amid legal battles over a January executive order by President Donald Trump directing federal prisons to stop providing transgender inmates with gender-affirming care and to house them according to their biological sex.

Butler's attorneys, who say she has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, seized on Trump's policies to argue that she should be released to a housing program for victims of sex trafficking or serve a short sentence in county jail rather than serve time in a federal prison.

A federal judge sentenced Leniyah Butler, convicted of voluntary manslaughter for shooting a Congolese immigrant in the Crissy Field parking lot in 2023, to five years in prison. (Michael Macor/S.F. Chronicle)





Butler's attorney David Rizk argued that she shot Walupupu in self-defense after she performed a sex act on him and he demanded his money back.

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"Twenty four months is surely sufficient for a young, impaired Black transgender victim of trafficking who shot an older, drunk, ill and violent trick' who attacked her out of fear for her life," Rizk wrote in an Oct. 25 filing.

But the U.S. Attorney's Office sought a 13-year prison sentence, calling Butler's actions that early morning "callous and deliberate." Prosecutors said Butler lacked remorse afterward. "I know it was a murder, bitch," she told the FBI in what prosecutors characterized as a "two-hour confession."

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston decided on a five-year term and remanded her to a women's prison, according to Rizk. Butler reportedly showed remorse at the hearing, a departure from the previous statements prosecutors said she made to the FBI and in jail calls.

"I just want to apologize to the victim's family," she said, according to the Bay Area Reporter. "I'm really nervous.  I wish I could show more emotion, but what I've experienced, what I've been through in life, it's kinda hard to show emotion. I'm deeply sorry."

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In a statement to the Chronicle, Butler's attorneys Rizk and Shaffy Moeel said the sentence "reflects the court's recognition of the complexity of what occurred."

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment.

The case pitted conflicting narratives against each other.

In court filings, Rizk alleged that Walupupu had a history of mental illness, alcohol abuse and of picking up and assaulting transgender sex workers. He said Butler was sex-trafficked as a child and forced onto the streets by her mother through coercion and neglect.

But Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey Davidson and George Hageman accused the defense of "blatant victim-blaming." They painted a different picture of Walupupu as a family man and immigrant who escaped war and gun violence in Congo to find the American Dream. Prosecutors said Butler had a violent criminal history, including when she allegedly used bear spray at a crowded Pride event in June 2023.

Two people walking their dogs in November 2023 found the body of a sex worker's client in the Crissy Field parking lot. (Leah Millis/S.F. Chronicle)





Walupupu was slain in the early morning hours of Nov. 12, 2023, after he picked up Butler at the corner of Post and Polk streets, an area known as the "transgender blade."

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Walupupu agreed to pay Butler $100 for "everything" and drove her to a parking lot at Crissy Field, where she performed a sex act on him in his car, court records show. But when Walupupu told Butler he wanted more, she declined his advances and told him that she was transgender, which made it difficult to do "everything," prosecutors said.

Walupupu "tried to make it seem like he didn't know" she was transgender, Butler later told the FBI, and demanded a refund. When Walupupu then tried to pull Butler out of the vehicle, she drew a small pistol from her purse and shot him, her defense attorney said.

The .380-caliber bullet struck Walupupu in the eye, and he took his last breath soon after.

Butler pulled his body out of the way and drove his car to Hunters Point, prosecutors said.

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Two people who pulled up to Crissy Field to walk their dogs found Walupupu dead in the parking lot and called 911.

Three days later, police found the car double-parked on Kiska Road with dried blood inside. Authorities recovered video footage from a nearby security camera that showed a black Jeep Commander with chipped black paint on the top pulling up alongside the car. The video showed a woman wiping down the car before getting into the Jeep's passenger seat.

The FBI searched a license plate reader database, known as Flock, for hits on a black Jeep Commander, and found that there was only one in the Bay Area around the time of the killing, court records show. The Jeep had the same paint damage and was largely captured by a Flock camera in the Bayview - not far from where Walupupu's vehicle was dumped.

FBI agents pulled license plate numbers from the Flock images of the Jeep, which led them to the home of Butler's mother. When the FBI went to arrest Butler on Nov. 20, 2023, prosecutors said, she jumped out of a second-story window naked, hopped over fences and hid in a nearby basement.

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She was ultimately arrested and talked to the FBI for two hours.

"He shoulda known that was gonna happen," Butler told the FBI, according to court records. "He shoulda just known not to play with people in general."

In a jail call after her arrest, prosecutors said Butler expressed no remorse.

"I don't think I should say sorry to nobody," she told a friend. "I don't feel sorry for smoking him."

This article originally published at S.F. sex worker gets 5 years for shooting client dead near Golden Gate Bridge.
Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Federal Aviation Administration officials on Friday night urged Congress to approve government funding as more air traffic controllers call in sick amid the shutdown.

The nation's nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers and additional Transportation Security Administration agents are deemed essential, but they are not being paid during the government shutdown that started on Oct.1.

Now in its 32nd day on Saturday, the FAA said the strain on unpaid employees is causing many to call in sick due to other obligations, such as supervising children, and out of frustration, The Hill reported.

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"A surge in callouts is straining staffing levels at multiple facilities, leading to widespread impacts across the [National Airspace System," FAA personnel posted on X.

"Half of our Core 30 facilities are experiencing staffing shortages, and nearly 80% of air traffic controllers are absent at New York-area facilities."

The FAA post said the "shutdown must end" so that air traffic controllers can get paid and to ensure the safety of more than 50,000 daily operations across the country.

When experiencing staffing shortages, the FAA reduces the amount of air traffic to maintain safety, which could cause flight delays or cancellations, the post said.

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Such staffing shortages caused delays at airports in Boston, Dallas, Nashville and Newark, N.J., among several others, according to ABC News.

The shutdown is the second-longest in U.S. history, but it is poised to exceed the current record-holder of 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019.

During that shutdown, air traffic controllers again worked without pay until the government reopened and they received back pay.

Air traffic controllers earn a median salary of $150,000 annually, but new hires are paid about $50,000, aviation industry labor expertJake Rosenfeld of Washington University in St. Louis told ABC News.

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The Senate has failed 13 times to obtain the 60 votes needed to overcome the Senate's filibuster rule and fund the federal government while continuing to work on a 2026 fiscal year budget.

The Senate reconvenes on Monday, which is one day short of the record 35-day shutdown.
President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to attend the 2nd convocation ceremony of the University of Patanjali at Haridwar on Sunday as a part of her three-day visit to Uttarakhand, as per an official release. President Murmu is visiting Uttarakhand from November 2 to November 4. On November 2, the President will grace the second convocation ceremony of the University of Patanjali at Haridwar. On November 3, President Murmu will address the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly at Dehradun on the silver jubilee of Uttarakhand state, after which she will leave for Nainital. On the same day, she will grace a function to commemorate the 125 years of the establishment of the Raj Bhavan in Nainital. On November 4, the President will visit the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram at Kainchi Dham. She will also grace the 20th convocation of Kumaun University at Nainital before finally departing from Uttarakhand. Meanwhile, the State's Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence & Security), Abhinav Kumar, held a briefing for the officers on duty ahead of her visit. During this session, the ADG instructed all officers and police personnel to remain alert and vigilant while performing their duties. Earlier on Saturday, the President extended warm wishes to the people of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Puducherry on their Formation Day. The President acknowledged the states' contribution to the progress and development of the nation and prayed for the well-being of all on the social media platform X. "Warm greetings to the people of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Puducherry on their Formation Day! Each of these regions has made remarkable contributions to India's progress. May these states and Union Territories continue to achieve new milestones in their journey of development. I extend my best wishes for the continued prosperity and well-being of all their residents," President Murmu wrote. (ANI)
By David Lawder and Andrea Shalal

(Reuters) -The White House on Saturday released details about the agreement that U.S. President Donald Trump reached this week with Chinese President Xi Jinping to de-escalate their countries trade war, including U.S. tariff reductions and a pause in Beijing's new restrictions on rare earth minerals and magnets.

The deal, which also includes resumption of Chinese purchases of American soybeans, averts Trump's threatened 100% tariff on Chinese goods and extends a delicate trade truce between the world's two largest economies for about a year.

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Here are some of the key elements of the Trump-Xi agreement that was reached in Busan, South Korea on Thursday:

TARIFF REDUCTION ON FENTANYL-RELATED CHINESE GOODS

The U.S. will halve the 20% tariff on Chinese goods related to supplies of fentanyl opioid precursor chemicals coming from China. The reduction to 10% on the duties first imposed in February will cut the overall U.S. tariff rate on Chinese imports to about 47% from 57%, according to U.S. officials.

That total includes duties of about 25% imposed on Chinese imports during Trump's first term in the White House and a reduced, 10% "reciprocal" tariff imposed in April and previous "Most Favored Nation" tariff rates.

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PAUSE ON CHINA'S RARE-EARTH EXPORT CONTROLS

China agreed to a one-year pause on export controls it unveiled this month on rare earth minerals and magnets, which have vital roles in cars, planes and weapons and have become Beijing's most potent source of leverage in its trade war with Washington. Those controls would have required export licenses for products with even trace amounts of a larger list of elements and were aimed at preventing their use in military products.

The White House said China will also issue general licenses for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony and graphite for the benefit of U.S. end users and their suppliers. The White House said that amounted to "the de facto removal of controls China imposed in April 2025 and October 2022."

China also agreed to suspend all retaliatory tariffs it has announced since March 4, including duties on U.S. chicken, wheat, corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, the White House said.

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It said Beijing would also suspend or remove all retaliatory non-tariff countermeasures taken against the U.S. since March 4, such as listing certain American companies on the Chinese government's end user and unreliable entity lists.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S EXPORT CONTROLS PAUSED

The U.S. agreed to a one-year pause on an expanded Commerce Department blacklist of companies prohibited from buying U.S. technology goods, including semiconductor manufacturing equipment, a move aimed at averting the use of subsidiaries and other firms to skirt export controls.

The expanded blacklist would have automatically included firms more than 50% owned by companies already on the list and would have had the biggest impact on Chinese companies, banning U.S. exports to thousands more Chinese firms.

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CHINA COMMITS TO SOYBEAN PURCHASES

China agreed to buy at least 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans in the last two months of 2025, as well as at least 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans in each of the following three years, the White House said. China also agreed to resume purchases of U.S. sorghum and hardwood logs, the White House said.

China had largely stopped buying U.S. soybeans this autumn, purchasing none in September after sourcing its beans from Brazil and Argentina. Washington pressed for more purchases, given loud complaints by U.S. farmers, a key Trump constituency.

Analysts noted that the soybean commitments will only bring China back to its prior levels of U.S. purchases. In 2024, the U.S. exported nearly 27 million tons of soybeans to China. China promised to vastly expand soybean purchases in the "Phase One" trade deal with Trump that paused a trade war in 2020, but never met the targets as the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

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China will also take measures to resume trade from chipmaker Nexperias facilities in China, allowing production of critical legacy chips to flow to the rest of the world, the White House said in its fact sheet.

In addition, Beijing will extend its market-based tariff exclusion process for imports from the U.S., with exclusions to remain valid until December 31, 2026, the White House said.

China will terminate its antitrust, anti-monopoly and anti-dumping investigations targeting U.S. firms in the semiconductor supply chain, the White House said.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PAUSES NEW PORT FEES

Beijing agreed to remove measures it took in retaliation for Washington's Section 301 investigation of Chinas dominance of the global maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sector, and to remove sanctions imposed on various shipping entities, the White House said.

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The Trump administration agreed to pause for one year new port fees imposed on Chinese-built, -owned and -flagged ships. The fees, aimed at reviving U.S. commercial shipbuilding, could have added millions of dollars to the cost of each voyage to U.S. ports.

The port fees took effect on October 14, along with 100% tariffs on Chinese-built ship-to-shore cranes. They quickly disrupted cargo flows, pushing up container rates as shippers sought to avoid China-linked vessels. China has imposed its own fees on U.S.-linked ships, including those from global shippers with 25% U.S. ownership.

The White House said it would negotiate with China about the issue in the meantime, while continuing talks with South Korea and Japan on revitalizing American shipbuilding.

COOPERATION ON FENTANYL TRAFFICKING

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China agreed to take "significant measures" to end the flow of fentanyl to the U.S., including moves to halt the shipment of certain precursor chemicals to North America and strictly control exports of other chemicals worldwide, the White House said.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business Network this week that working groups from the two countries would "set very objective measures" in the coming weeks on reducing flows to measure success in curbing the deadly opioid blamed for tens of thousands of U.S. overdose deaths every year.

When Trump first imposed the fentanyl-related tariffs, officials in his administration said they were wary of ongoing promises by China to help, and that the tariffs would remain in place until Beijing had taken concrete measures.

(Reporting by David Lawder, Andrea Shalal, Doina Chiacu and Michael Martina; Editing by Paul Simao and David Gregorio)
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  A Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) sergeant is on administrative leave after he was arrested for public intoxication on Halloween.

FCPD said in a news release Saturday that the Leesburg Police Department arrested 43-year-old Sergeant Brett Choyce of Hamilton, who was off-duty at the time, for being drunk in public.

Disorderly behavior in Navy Yard leads to multiple arrests, street closures on Halloween: DC police

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Choyce is a 23-year veteran of the department.

FCPD placed Choyce on administrative leave for an Internal Affairs Bureau investigation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
NEW YORK  A fast-spreading house fire killed two adults and three children, all from the same family, in Paterson, New Jersey, on Halloween night, officials said Saturday.

Members of the Paterson Fire Department were dispatched to 15 Emerson St. for a reported structure fire shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, the department said in a news release.

As firefighters headed to the scene, dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting occupants trapped on the top floor.

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About four minutes after the initial call, Engine 2 firefighters arrived at the home and encountered a small, wood-frame structure already engulfed in flames.

Despite a quick response and the best efforts of firefighters  who fought tirelessly under extremely difficult conditions to try to save those trapped inside  the blaze claimed the lives of the family, said Frank Lozada, president of the Paterson Firefighters Association.

After an aggressive attack on the flames, which were fueled by strong winds, firefighters encountered the five victims on the second level of the one-and-a-half-story structure, officials said.

They were later identified by the Passaic County Prosecutors Office as a 39-year-old man, a 38-year-old woman and three children, ages 7, 12 and 14, 12. A neighbor described them to WABC as really good people (and) friendly.

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Two firefighters were transported to St. Josephs Regional Medical Center by Paterson Fire Department EMS, according to the department. Their condition was not immediately available Saturday afternoon.

Calling the fire a heartbreaking tragedy that weighs heavily on our entire department and our city, Lozada said the incident serves as a somber reminder of the critical role of functioning smoke detectors, promoting fire safety awareness and maintaining strong community support for emergency services.

The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation, officials said.
CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WPRI)  Nearly a dozen people gathered outside the Central Falls Police Department Saturday evening to mourn the death of a young woman who was found in the woods in Pawtucket earlier this week.

The demonstration included both friends and family of 24-year-old Erica Bader, whose death was deemed suspicious and is under investigation by Central Falls and Pawtucket police.

BACKGROUND: 6 charged in connection with suspicious death in Central Falls

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We will make sure that justice is served for her, Crystal Smith, Baders stepmother, told 12 News. Everyone will make sure of that, and theyre here tonight to make sure that happens.

Baders body was found by Pawtucket police in a wooded area Monday. Police there believed that her death happened in another area, leading them to contact Central Falls police when their investigation brought them to a home on Central Street.

Since then, a total of six people were arrested and charged with failure to report a death. Three of the individuals were arrested Tuesday, while the other three got arrested Wednesday.

One of the six individuals arrested was 44-year-old Brittney Terpening, who court documents say was Baders roommate. Terpening also faces a domestic felony assault charge.

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ALSO READ: Central Falls police responded numerous times to address of woman found dead

Hopefully, we can get them to justice for what theyve done to her, Smith said. And her father, like I said, me and him both miss her every day, every night.

I will celebrate her as much as I can and I loved the love and support of everything that we have of everyone, Smith added.

Smith said she will also hold a memorial for Bader on Nov. 9.

NEXT: Central Falls holds food pantry for those in need

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Excess moisture has done significant damage to ginger crops in India, according to The Tribune.

What's happening?

The district of Sirmaur in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh lost 25% of its ginger crop yields because of rhizome rot. Heavy rains over the summer provided the perfect environment to infect root systems.

"I have been growing ginger for 15 years, but this year the crop has almost collapsed," local farmer Ramesh Kumar told The Tribune. "Nearly half of what I sowed has rotted underground. We had high hopes from the market prices but now we are staring at debt."

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India experienced the earliest monsoon season in over a decade, which damaged many crops. Onion, tomato, rice, lemon, orange, cashew, and mango crops have all declined steeply as a result of weather challenges.

Why are ginger yields important?

"Our household depends on ginger sales every season," another local farmer, Kamla Devi, said. "This year, the disease destroyed a major portion of the crop. The cost of seed, fertiliser, and labour has already been spent, and now we are left with nothing. The government support is the only hope for small farmers like us."

The economic hardships of farmers get passed on to consumers. Prices for ginger in Sirmaur have doubled in some instances. Grocery prices across the board have been rising significantly as crops fail.

Dropping ginger yields is another example of how increasing pollution is leading to extreme weather events that directly affect everyone. Floods, droughts, and heat waves are impacting housing as well as ecology.

What's being done about failing crops?

As Devi mentioned, government support remains one of the few stopgaps available for farmers in these circumstances. Governments can act as a buffer, able to buy crops at rates that keep farmers afloat and sell stores at lower rates to protect consumers from exploding prices.

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Attacking the root cause of destructive weather patterns will require substantive cuts in emissions. In India, for example, the accelerating use of coal power remains a major hurdle to the country's net-zero pollution goals. It will need to redouble efforts in wind and solar energy if it hopes to tamp down these heat-trapping gases and the patterns destroying food production systems.

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Potato shelves across major supermarkets are running bare in South Australia as farmers in the region struggle with one of their toughest seasons in years, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. The shortages have triggered steep price rises, leaving shoppers paying far more for a staple food.

What's happening?

South Australia produces 80% of the country's fresh potatoes, but extreme weather and drought have slashed harvests in key growing areas.

Mitolo Family Farms, which normally grows 200,000 tonnes each year, reported yields were down 10-12%. "There are significant shortages because it wasn't just us; all fresh market suppliers grow in similar regions," said John Tselekidis, the company's head of sales and marketing, per ABC News.

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The harvest was worsened by hot spells followed by cold and windy conditions. These swings damaged crops and created quality issues such as skin staining, which left some potatoes unsellable.

The supply squeeze pushed prices up dramatically. "They probably increased between 50 and 200%," said Renee Pye, general manager at grower Pye Group, per ABC News. She estimated production was down 20-30%. "We're just not seeing as many potatoes coming out of the ground as what we had planned on, so we're short of what we can be supplying," she said.



Why is this important?

Households are already battling higher grocery costs. The jump in potato prices means yet another strain on family budgets. Farmers warned the shortages would last for weeks, keeping prices elevated through October.

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The problem also highlights how hotter, harsher conditions are disrupting food systems. When drought and temperature swings damage crops, supplies tighten, which pushes up costs for basic items and threatens food security. The ripple effect extends to restaurants and food manufacturers that rely on steady supplies of potatoes.

Similar disruptions have hit other crops in recent years, spiking global cocoa and coffee prices, showing how vulnerable everyday foods are to extreme weather and shifting growing conditions.

What's being done about it?

Farmers were beginning their spring harvest, and supermarkets said supplies should improve soon, ABC News reported. A Coles spokesperson said they expected an increase "as our growers reach the end of last year's crop and get ready to harvest for the new season." Woolworths also said things should "return to normal in [the] coming weeks."

Growers and market leaders urge customers to buy imperfect produce, which tastes the same but might not look pristine. "If a potato has a mark on it and it made the shelves at your local fruit and vegetable store, it's still going to taste perfectly fine," said Penny Reidy of the South Australian Produce Market.

Consumers can also save money on groceries by planning ahead and being flexible with what they buy  steps that can help households weather short-term supply shocks.

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Burger King employees are always there for us, churning out juicy burgers and salty fries, and an epic breakfast menu filled with tasty food items every time we visit the drive-thru. They go above and beyond for their customers, whistleblowing on menu items they'd never touch and highlighting hidden gems like the BK soft serve ice cream. But recently, BK employees in Spain reappeared in the news for a different reason  they've officially been fired from their jobs after throwing an off-the-clock parking lot party during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain, has ruled in favor of Burger King in an ongoing lawsuit about the firings. Employees are expected to uphold company policies even if they aren't actively whipping up a best-selling Whopper or dropping onion rings into the fryer. That was true especially in 2020, when the company was enforcing special rules for customers and employees during the pandemic. It also sends a message going forward to all fast-food employees: You'd better watch what you do off the clock if you want to keep your job.

Read more: 13 Fast Food Onion Rings, Ranked Worst To First

How a parking lot party resulted in the firing of Burger King workers in Spain

People lined up outside a Burger King during Covid protocols. - junpinzon/Shutterstock

The trouble started with a "botellon," a drinking street party in Spain that was hosted in a Burger King parking lot at the height of the pandemic. The party happened after-hours, and nobody was on the clock. Several employees attended this party, and when Burger King found out about it, the company was swift to fire some (not all) of the employees involved. Those employees challenged the decision in court and have since been locked in a legal battle.

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The first judge to see the case sided with the employees, ruling the conduct wasn't bad enough to result in termination. Burger King appealed the decision, claiming the employees in question violated good faith in the employee-employer relationship. Burger King pointed to three ways employees had wronged the company: Breaking internal rules, violating the company's code of conduct, and ignoring pandemic-related health protocols and procedures.

The court sided with Burger King during the appeal, overturning the original decision and upholding BK's decision on the firings. The judge provided a few reasons why the employees' actions were bad enough to result in termination: Employees were aware of the internal rules they were breaking and of the COVID-19 protocols that were in place, and their actions impacted BK's reputation and bottom line.

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Read the original article on Daily Meal.
It's clear a man's hatred toward the Mormon community fueled a deadly September attack at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, the FBI has confirmed.

While the Free Press and other media outlets previously reported details about the suspect's feelings about the church community, the FBI did not provide specific comment about religious motivation until this week.

A section of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township is seen on Monday, October 6, 2025, through fabric along the fencing surrounding the charred remains at the scene where the church was burned down amid the Sept. 28 fatal shooting.

Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge at the FBI Detroit Field office, provided a brief update on Friday, Oct. 31. Her comments and additional details come roughly one month after the attack left five dead  including the assailant  and nine others injured.

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Although much of the information she provided was previously known, she did say the investigation remains open.

"Based upon the facts, circumstances and information obtained in this case, I am confirming that this is a targeted act of violence belived to be motivated by the assailant's anti-religious beliefs against the Mormon religious community," Runyan said.

"This motive was determined based upon countless hours of investigate efforts by our team, as well the cooperation of law enforcement partners, the community and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan."

She said the FBI continues to pursue all credible leads related to this case.

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On Sept. 28, authorities said Thomas Jacob Sanford drove his truck into the Grand Blanc Township facility. It appears he lit a fire before shooting people at the facility. Police said officers arrived within minutes, fatally shooting Sanford.

Runyan thanked officers who responded to the shooting and people inside or around the church who helped those in need, calling them all "brave."

"This tragedy not only affected the Grand Blanc community but also left a lasting impact on our nation. The FBI remains fully committed to doing all that it can to protect the citizens of Michigan and the American people," Runyan said.

This is one of the first updates from federal law enforcement in weeks; while the Free Press had asked for details from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives  commonly referred to as ATF  representatives said they could not provide more information, citing the U.S. federal government shutdown.

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"During the furlough, (U.S. Department of Justice) operations are directed toward national security, violations of federal law, and essential public safety functions. With that being said, the ATF investigation of the attack at an LDS church in Grand Blanc Township has not been affected during the furlough," Tracy Morris, a Detroit-based ATF spokesperson, said in an email to the Free Press on Oct. 20.

"Unfortunately, the rest of your questions will have to be answered once the furlough is over and I am back in the office."

In her statement, Runyan also highlighted resources for victims. She said those in need should visit www.FBI.gov/GrandBlancChurchShooting.

Reach Dave Boucher at dboucher@freepress.com and on X @Dave_Boucher1.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: FBI: Grand Blanc Twp. church attack driven by 'anti-religious beliefs'
While investigating everything from bizarre coincidences to ghoulish encounters, Sarah Knapton, our Science Editor, and Joe Pinkstone, our Science Correspondent, have found that apparently supernatural experiences tend to have perfectly rational explanations.

Now they want to help you out.

Every Sunday, theyll be demystifying your most bizarre personal stories, using science, psychology and a bit of common sense to find logic behind the madness  although sometimes a bit of mystery remains.

Today, our duo investigate a readers dark premonitions...

Since I was small, I have had the ability unfortunately to feel that somebody was in danger or dying.

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I was only eight when I said, This week three people will die on this street. I was frightened when it emerged they really did die that week.

The same happened to me last year in Italy. I dont know why but I feel our neighbour wont last long.

Daniela

Sarah and Joe answer:

I bet youre fun at parties, Daniela! Wandering round like a prequel to The Sixth Sense, declaiming: I see dying people.

But joking aside, it cannot be much fun being able to predict the deaths of your neighbours or the calamities they will suffer. Indeed, you describe it as unfortunate and frightening.

The ability to predict death is woven through British folklore. In Irish mythology, it said that the wail of a banshee  or fairy woman  preceded the death of a family member.

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Likewise in Scottish tradition, the Bean Nighe  or washerwoman of the ford  is said to wait beside pools and streams scrubbing blood from the clothes of those about to die. The caoineag, a female spirit, predicts death in battle.

In English folklore, a huge hound known as Black Shuck is said to appear before an imminent death, while a white dog with red eyes, called Cwn Annwn, plays a similar role in Wales.

Diseases give off a scent

Nobody knows how these tales began but its noticeable that they often involve women, and perhaps hint at a female ability to pick up subtle signals of a fatal outcome.

In 2017, it was proven that Joy Milne, a pensioner from Perth in Scotland, could smell Parkinsons disease.

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She had detected a change in the odour of her husband six years before he was diagnosed with the condition and testing with Manchester University proved she could accurately detect the illness.

It led researchers to find 10 molecules in high concentrations in the skin of Parkinsons patients.

Mrs Milne was found to have hyperosmia, a hyper-sensitive sense of smell, and we wonder if that could partially explain your unsettling experiences, Daniela.

Recent research suggests that women have a better sense of smell than men and one scientific review found some pregnant women temporarily become super smellers.

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Certain conditions, such as migraines, can heighten a sense of smell, and they are more common in women.

Many illnesses are now known to have a strong odour profile, and dogs can now be trained to detect the odours of various cancers, diabetes, malaria, upcoming epileptic seizures, narcolepsy and even Covid-19.

It makes you wonder whether the link between dogs and death omens may partly lie in canines ability to pick up changes in human body chemistry.

Energy-burst can herald death

Its not hard to see how a village stray, curiously approaching dying locals because of their unusual aroma, may soon get written into folklore as a precursor of doom.

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Care-home workers are often able to predict the deaths of their residents through a phenomenon known as the surge or terminal lucidity.

In the final days or hours of life, older people can demonstrate a strange burst of energy and mental clarity that resembles a miraculous recovery, but in fact is the prelude to death.

It has been suggested that when near to death, neurotransmitters are released that act upon parts of the brain, temporarily boosting memory retrieval and lucidity.

Benefits of disturbing superpower

Hospice workers have also remarked on a distinctive odour from dying people in their final days, as the body shuts down. It has been described as sweet, fruity or resembling nail-polish remover.

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In 2014, the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found humans can smell when someone is starting to get sick from an infection, which perhaps evolved so that we could steer clear of them.

It would be interesting to find out the causes of your neighbours death, Daniela, to see if they could be explained in this way.

If they were young people hit by a car, for example, we would need to look for an alternative explanation for your uncanny prognostications.

But perhaps you are just very sensitive to changes in your neighbours and subconsciously pick up on slight alterations in behaviour or chemistry that, sadly, signal their demise.

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Its a strange and unsettling superpower, but perhaps it could help you to make the most of those precious final moments with loved ones.

Verdict: Partly explicable.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
CAIRO (AP)  Only a few thousand Sudanese have reached the nearest camp for displaced people in the days since Sudans paramilitary forces seized el-Fasher city, raising fears over tens of thousands who might still be trapped as survivors described killings and other atrocities, an aid group said Sunday.

The Rapid Support Forces took control of the western Darfur region last week, after ousting the rival Sudanese army from the city that was besieged for 18 months. Since then, reports and videos have circulated of RSF atrocities against civilians including beatings, killings and sexual assaults, according to testimonies by civilians and aid workers. The dead included at least 460 killed in the hospital, according to the World Health Organization.

The U.N. migration agency said Sunday it estimates that more than 8,000 people were displaced from el-Fasher on Saturday and Sunday. A total of 70,894 people have been displaced since the RSF took control, it said.

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However, less than 6,000 have made it to the nearest camp in Tawila, 65 kilometers (40 miles) away, said Shashwat Saraf, Sudan director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, which runs the camp.

Almost 1,000 people arrived in the last three days, he said.

The numbers are still very few. We are not seeing the hundreds of thousands that we were expecting. If people are still in el-Fasher, it will be very difficult for them to survive, he told The Associated Press by phone from Tawila.

Survivors describe dodging gunmen as they fled el-Fasher

The fall of el-Fasher marked a new turning point in the war between the RSF and Sudans armed forces, which erupted in April 2023. More than 40,000 people have been killed, according to U.N. figures, but aid groups say the true number could be many times higher. The war has also displaced more than 14 million people and unleashed outbreaks of diseases, killing thousands.

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We feel that a lot of people are stuck in locations from where it is not safe for them to move, and they need to pay to move and they dont have money to pay, Saraf said.

Survivors who made the journey on foot have shared harrowing details of having to dodge gunmen shooting at them as they fled.

People arriving in the camp are mostly disoriented and dehydrated with bruises all over. Sometimes they do not even remember their names, they have to be taken to the hospital and have IV fluids, Saraf said.

Saraf also said that around 170 unaccompanied children, some of whom as young as 3 years old, trekked to Tawila without knowing where their family members were. They came along with older children or adults who were not their relatives.

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Sudan's official accuses UAE of backing a terrorist organization

In a news conference on Sunday, Sudans ambassador in Cairo, Imadeldin Mustafa Adawi, accused the RSF of carrying out war crimes in el-Fasher.

Adawi said that his government would not negotiate with the RSF, urging the international community to designate the group as a terrorist organization.

The government of Sudan is calling on the international community to act immediately and effectively rather than just make statements of condemnation, Adawi said.

Adawi renewed his governments accusations that the United Arab Emirates has been arming the RSF, insisting that the Gulf state should not be involved in any mediation efforts.

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The UAE has backed the RSF and opposed the Sudanese military, pointing to the army's ties to Islamic forces that Abu Dhabi has long opposed. The UAE has denied the accusations despite evidence to the contrary.

When asked earlier on Sunday about his countrys support for the RSF, senior UAE diplomat Anwar Gargash did not directly answer the question while attending the annual Manama Dialogue security summit in Bahrain. He said that the international community made a critical mistake in supporting both the military leader, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and his rival, RSF commander Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, when the army ousted a Western-backed power-sharing government in 2021.

We all made the mistake when the two generals who are fighting the civil war today overthrew the civilian government, Gargash said. That was, in my opinion, looking backward was a critical mistake. We should have put our foot down -- all of us collectively.

The UAE supports a three-month humanitarian ceasefire, with the two parties negotiating and a civilian transitional government formed in nine months, he said.

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There are mounting fears that the RSF may expand its military campaign toward the countrys center once again, buoyed by its seizure of the entire Darfur region.

Twelve people were killed, including at least five children, in RSF attacks on two camps sheltering displaced people in the central Kordofan region, the Sudan Doctor Network, a medical group tracking the war, said on Saturday.

___

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Fay Abuelgasim in Cairo, Egypt contributed to this report.
The Igas Bagwal festival is widely celebrated in Uttarakhand, following 11 days after Diwali.

The Igas festival, also known as Budhi Diwali, honours the Goddess Nanda Devi and celebrates harvest, fertility, and prosperity.

As part of the special cultural programmes being organised to mark 25 years of Uttarakhand's statehood, a series of art festivals is being held, bringing together popular comedians and film artists from all over India.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed and felicitated the artists.

He stated that the state government is continually working to add new dimensions to Uttarakhand's rich cultural identity, preserve local traditions, and showcase the state's innovation and tourism potential at the national level.

The participation of renowned artists in cultural events, he added, inspires the younger generation and helps Uttarakhand's art and culture gain global recognition.

The Chief Minister further said that the folk festival Igas symbolises Uttarakhand's faith, tradition, and community celebration. Through such festivals, our cultural roots grow even stronger. He also appreciated the contribution of comedy artists in spreading positivity, harmony, and enthusiasm in society through their art.

Among those present during the meeting were well-known comedy and film personalities, including Krishna Abhishek, Hemant Pandey, and Himani Shivpuri, as well as several other notable artists.

The artists engaged in a cultural dialogue with the Chief Minister, praising the natural beauty and vibrant culture of Uttarakhand. They expressed that the state's rich traditions, scenic landscapes, and spirited people have greatly inspired them.

The Chief Minister presented mementoes to all the artists as a token of appreciation and extended his best wishes for their future endeavours. (ANI)
LOS ANGELES (KTLA)  Federal agents were seen wearing Halloween masks while driving to and from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operational staging area in the Port of Los Angeles this week, according to volunteers with a local community patrol group.

The incident was documented Tuesday morning by the Harbor Area Peace Patrol, a volunteer organization that monitors federal immigration enforcement activity in the Harbor region. A community member, who asked to be identified only as Phoebe, told Nexstars KTLA that several masked agents were spotted leaving Terminal Island, where DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicles are often staged before morning operations.

They slowed down, rolled down the window, and stared directly into my camera wearing a Chucky mask, Phoebe said. Fifteen minutes later, another agent drove out wearing a Momo mask and did the same. It just reaffirmed that they really have fun doing this type of work, terrorizing our communities.

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Phoebe said she and other patrollers regularly document vehicles entering and leaving the Terminal Island lot, which she described as restricted DHS property located near a public memorial. She said her group cross-references those vehicles with ones later seen at immigration enforcement operations across Los Angeles County.

While Phoebe provided footage showing agents wearing the masks as they left the facility, she said there is no indication the masks were used during enforcement actions later that day.

DHS did not respond to KTLAs request for comment, which was submitted prior to publication.

The story was first reported on by L.A. TACO, an independently owned local newsroom that focuses on street-level coverage of Los Angeles communities. In its initial story, the publication said it received the following emailed statement from Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs: Happy Halloween!

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The statement was first obtained and reported by L.A. TACO reporter Aisha Wallace-Palomares.

According to L.A. TACOs report, one agent was seen wearing a Chucky mask around 7:23 a.m. Tuesday, followed by another wearing a Momo mask roughly 10 minutes later. The same van has allegedly been documented at multiple immigration raids across Los Angeles, including one in Van Nuys that same day.

According to Phoebe, the same white van seen leaving Terminal Island this week had been photographed several times before. On Oct. 20, the driver was seen wearing what appeared to be a Mr. Potato Head-style disguise  complete with glasses and a fake nose  as the vehicle left the DHS facility.

Phoebe said that although agents often conceal their identities, the masks this week appeared intentionally taunting.

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This felt different, she said. They went out of their way to make sure we saw them.

KTLA has contacted both DHS and ICE for clarification on the incident and will update this story if a response is received.

KTLAs Elizabeth Chapman contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said Sunday that Democrats need to own the current government shutdown amid a fight over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding.

Well, I mean, for me, fundamentally, Im deeply, deeply distressing to know that 42 millions Americans are going to lose their SNAP benefits, Fetterman told CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union.

And, now, thats one of the big reasons why I refused to shutting our government down. And, again, I feel like the Democrats really need to own the shutdown. I mean, were shutting it down. I know why  they claim  because they want to address the tax credits.

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Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and other Democrats went after the Trump administration on Friday in the wake of a judge directing the federal government to free up emergency funds for SNAP during the shutdown.

On Friday, a federal judge shot down arguments that the emergency funds can be employed only for hurricanes or other unmanageable catastrophes, ruling in favor of more than 20 states led by Democrats that sued the administration.

Two federal judges just ruled the Trump Admin MUST use emergency funds to continue providing SNAP benefits during the shutdown, Van Hollen wrote on the social platform X.

They tried to use hungry kids as political pawns instead of coming to the table to reopen the government. Shameful, he added.

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On Friday, President Trump signaled he would fund SNAP if pointed in the appropriate legal direction.

Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do, Trump posted on Truth Social.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Bill Maher is not the only prominent Democrat enjoying dinner with President Donald Trump.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) revealed he had a great time when he joined the president for supper, saying he would use the same word as his pal Maher and call Trump a gracious host. The senator shared a brief recap of his meal with the president  which happened in January, right before Trumps second inauguration  during an interview with Lara Trump on her Fox News program, My View, on Saturday night.

[For] that experience, I would use the same words my friend Bill Maher uses  gracious. Absolutely, Fetterman said. It was pleasant and it wasnt a show or anything. it was just a conversation, and we might could things we agree on, and I thought it was a good conversation.

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His words echoed those of Maher, after the comic went and had dinner with Trump at the White House in April.

Fetterman then asked Why wouldnt the senator of the state that carried him in the election have dinner with the president? If the answer is merely because he is a Democrat and Trump is a Republican, Fetterman said he is not buying it.

Its not about bending a knee. Its about having a conversation with the president, and I think thats entirely appropriate, Fetterman added.

The senator, at other points in his interview with Trump, criticized his own party  something he has been increasingly willing to do lately. He said Democrats did a bad job handling the border, which he said is undeniable.

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He also said he would never compare President Trump or other Republicans to Nazis, as some politicians like Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) have done recently.

Fetterman urged Democrats and Republicans to work together and get the government shutdown over with ASAP.

Watch above, via Fox News.

The post Fetterman Salutes Gracious President Trump  In Fox News Interview With Lara Trump first appeared on Mediaite.
Sunday marks the last day of in-person early voting in New York State, where the biggest race is mayor of New York City.

More than 584,000 people across the five boroughs have voted early so far, according to the NYC Board of Elections. Brooklyn had the highest turnout, with nearly 190,000 ballots cast.

2025 General Election- Early Voting

Day 8 Complete!

Manhattan: 174,708

Bronx: 46,259

Brooklyn: 189,606

Queens: 131,541

Staten Island: 41,991

Total # Early Voting Check-Ins: 584,105*

*Unofficial & cumulative as close of polls  NYC Board of Elections (@BOENYC) November 1, 2025

Polls will be open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. in New York City on Sunday.

On Saturday, Rev. Al Sharpton hosted Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani at the National Action Network, though he's not endorsing the candidate. Mamdani later appeared with NY Attorney General Letitia James, who has backed him.

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"We have more than 100,000 volunteers knocking on doors. We're hoping to break the New York State record of knocking 200,000 doors in a single day," Mamdani said.

James has led the charge to oust Independent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo after he was accused of sexual harassment when he was governor.

"He is not a Democrat. Yes he won the Democratic primary, but he has self-described as a socialist," said Cuomo about Mamdani.

Curtis Sliwa, who is the Republican mayoral candidate, has throughout his campaign rejected repeated calls to drop out.

"You can talk about the polls all you want, we know it's a 'get out the vote' effort," Sliwa said.

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Meanwhile, it is also the last day to vote early in the New Jersey gubernatorial race. Polls are open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli are both expected to be on campaign trail on Sunday.

Sherrill will be in Hudson, Camden and Burlington counties, while Ciattarelli hits up Monmouth and Ocean counties.

On Saturday, Sherrill joined former President Barack Obama in Newark, making her case to voters.

"When people across the nation look at me with fear and despair in their eyes. When they ask me, is New Jersey up for this moment?" Sherrill said. "You guys just stole my line, my answer is hell yeah!"

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Ciattarelli criticized the former president's endorsement.

"I call this the choreography of campaigns, it's not going to matter. At the end of the day, the candidate has to win the race. So when people ask me, who you're bringing in, I say Jack Ciattarelli," the Republican candidate said.

The latest poll from Atlas Intel shows Sherrill ahead of Ciattarelli 50% to 49%, suggesting the race is neck and neck.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  A fire in south Austin destroyed an Austin Independent School District board trustees home on Thursday.

Austin ISD Board Trustee Andrew Gonzales and his partner, LaRessa Quintanawho also serves on the boardwere coming from a board meeting when they opened the door to Gonzales home, finding it in ruins.

A wall of smoke just poured out of the house. And immediately we knew that there was a fire, Gonzales said. My family has always lived in this house. We are the first owners. The only owners. My parents passed it to me. I grew up here my entire life with my three siblings and my mom and dad.

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The Austin Fire Department told KXAN the fire was caused by an insulation issue. On Saturday, the house caught on fire again for the same reason, and Austin Fire had to put the fire out again as a result.

Gonzales had two cats that were in the house when the fire happened. The cats did not make it.

My heart is more broken than I could have ever imagined. I would trade the house and everything if I could have our pets back, Gonzales said.

Gonzales also said he lost a lot of his familys memorabilia and artifacts he had of Austin ISD history in the fire.

I have nothing but the shoes and the clothes that were on me, and thats it, Gonzales said. This is an abyss. Theres nothing but darkness ahead of us and we dont know what were going to need.

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There is a GoFundMe set up to help provide financial support. If you would like to donate, click here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Former Bihar MLA and Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, Anant Kumar Singh, who was arrested in connection with the murder case of Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav has shared a video message on his social media expressing "complete faith" in people's support ahead of the upcoming Bihar elections. Singh, who is contesting the Mokama Assembly seat this time, took to Facebook to share a video that features him being escorted by police personnel. He captioned the post, "Satyamev Jayate! I have complete faith in the people of Mokama!! That's why now the people of Mokama will fight this election!" On October 30, Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, was killed during firing between the two sides while campaigning for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections in Mokama. The Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma on Saturday said that Anant Singh and two o his associates Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram have been arrested . All three will be presented before the magistrate. "... On October 30, there was a clash between two groups of competing candidates. Stones were pelted resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident. The deceased, Dularchand Yadav, aged 75 years, was a resident of the village where this clash occurred... Both sides registered cases, and police started investigating the case... Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the postmortem report of the deceased, it appears that the Model Code of Conduct was violated, and it is a serious issue. It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested. His accomplices, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have also been arrested with him... All three will be presented before the magistrate, and due investigation will follow," SSP Patna, Kartikeya K Sharma told reporters.. He further said that the searches are being carried out to arrest others."Three people have been arrested on murder charges, and raids are being carried out to arrest others. Soon, more arrests will be made. CID has also started investigating the case... Cases have been registered under various sections... People from both groups have been arrested for misbehaving with the police and creating law and order issues... The three accused in the murder have not surrendered. They have been arrested," he said Jan Suraaj Party's candidate from Mokama, Piyush Priyadarshi told ANI over phone that Anant Singh should have been arrested sooner."This is a good gesture, but it would have been good had they taken action sooner. Today, he was moving around in a convoy of 50 vehicles and even participated in election campaigning. When an FIR was registered against him, he should have been arrested sooner... But better late than never. What is important now is how the police investigate the whole case... It is a relief for his family," Priyadarshi said after the arrest of Anant Singh. On Saturday, two station house officers (SHOs) were suspended in connection with the murder case, officials confirmed. According to the Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) of Patna, Ghoswari SHO Madhusudan Kumar and Bhadaur SHO Ravi Ranjan have been suspended in the case. Mokama, which will vote in the first phase on November 6, is once again set to witness a high-voltage electoral contest in the 2025 polls, as Janata Dal (United) has fielded strongman Anant Singh, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal has nominated Veena Devi, wife of former MP and influential leader Surajbhan Singh. Both candidates come from the Bhumihaar community, setting the stage for a direct clash of political legacies in one of Bihar's most volatile yet politically significant constituencies. Voting for Bihar's 243-seat Assembly will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14. (ANI)
BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  Boardman Professional Fire Fighters Local 1176 is expressing its concern regarding what it calls the collapse of the EMS system in the Township.

Read next: Little girl recovering after parked SUV hit with her inside

The union shared a letter of concern to local media as well as its social media pages on Saturday after it said Oct. 31 was a glaring example of the current collapse of the EMS system in Boardman Township.

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According to the letter, Boardman fire crews began Halloween day without the ability to staff its medical unit. After three medical emergencies between 10 a.m. and just after noon, the union said they began having issues with availability that continued through the evening. They credited mutual aid from neighboring agencies for their help with numerous incidents, including a fatal accident on Interstate 680.

At the time of writing this, we are having similar issues with coverage a day later. It is safe to say that yesterday was an outlier, but it is becoming increasingly more common, the union letter stated, in part.

The medical unit, known as Medic 71, is staffed only when personnel for the day are at or above 11 people, according to the union. However, on days like Halloween when staffing drops below that mark, it rules the medical unit out of service.

Boardman fire Chief Mark Pitzer stated the unions letter was accurate and acknowledged that EMS staffing is an ongoing issue.

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We have strived to improve services provided by our fire department to the Boardman community. We were unsuccessful last November with a levy. The EMS system continues to worsen, and we need a solution sooner rather than later, wrote Chief Pitzer in a statement to First News.  My personnel have been placed in a very bad situation with no resolution in sight.

The failed levy was 4.5 mills and 5 years, which would have raised $6.1 million per year for the department. At this time last year, Township administrators expressed concerns as to the sustainability of staffing its ambulances via firefighters working overtime.

For homeowners with a house valued at $100,000, if the levy had passed, it would have cost $158 a year. Some residents against the levy said they could not afford another tax.

The union says its hope is to secure some type of funding in the future to bolster staffing. It noted that even when fully staffed, the department is below the National Fire Protection Association 1710 standard of four firefighters per engine and five firefighters per ladder.

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Boardman Fire is attempting to prop up a broken system, and in doing so, we are crippling our Fire and Rescue coverage, the union letter stated. It was said during the levy that we need to do more with less by some of those against it. We are trying to do more with the same, and its not working.

First News reached out to Township administrators Saturday evening for comment and has not received a response at the time of publishing this report.

Marty Burke contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
With AI computing and its use exploding exponentially in recent years, so must the data centers that house them. Even with billions being invested in the tech companies that are developing the technology, this isn't as easy as it sounds, because data centers need a lot of space to operate. Because of this, the U.S. Department of the Air Force is putting out an open call for AI companies to lease land from five of its American bases for data center use.

The Air Force bases span the continental U.S. from coast to coast and include Arnold Air Force Base (AED) in Tennessee, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (DMA) in Arizona, Robins Air Force Base (WRB) in Georgia, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (WRI) in New Jersey, and Edwards Air Force Base (EDW) in California. Altogether, the Air Force is leasing about 3,100 acres of land on these sites, with nearly two-thirds of the offered property at Edwards Air Force Base alone. The California base, located on the edge of the Mojave Desert, is no stranger to advanced technology; it recently conducted dogfighting war games with AI-controlled fighter jets.

But the proposed data centers would not directly be for military use. While the government doesn't normally offer huge swaths of land to private companies  especially on highly secure military bases  the move is in line with the country's intent to stay atop any AI arms race with other nations. Earlier this year, the Trump administration ordered federal agencies to fast-track the use of AI and find suitable locations on military land where data centers could be built. Executive orders issued in January and July 2025 by President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to fast-track AI adoption and identify military installations suitable for high-energy data center construction.

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Read more: 11 Of The Most Iconic Ground Attack Military Planes In History

Private companies will likely take the Air Force up on its offer

Fighter jet flying over Edwards Air Force Base - Edwards Air Force Base

Any leases private companies make with the Air Force to use its land will run up to 50 years. The AI market shows no signs of slowing down, and tech companies will need as much viable land as they can get to continue building data centers. Both startups and industry giants like Meta are expanding their AI data centers to expand and refine their products. That's why it's likely that many of these tech companies will take the government up on its offer  especially if it's more affordable than paying for private land.

These companies must submit proposals for how exactly they'd use the land, which may lead to some competition between major AI players like OpenAI and Google. These private companies will be in charge of the financing and design of the data centers, as well as their operation  the Air Force is merely providing the land. Any proposed plans to build the data centers must require a minimum load capacity of 100 megawatts and a total investment value over $500 million, as well as compliance with Air Force leasing and environmental standards.

Companies have until November 2025 to submit their proposals, and the government will likely approve and lock in deals early next year. Leases will run for up to 50 years, though the government may allow extensions if it deems the data centers are advantageous for the government and/or national defense.

These data centers could potentially raise the utility bills of those living nearby

Exterior overhead view of a data center - Mario Tama/Getty Images

One consequence of massive data centers being built at these five Air Force bases may be increased energy bills for residents living nearby. Data centers -- and especially AI data centers  consume a very high level of electricity, as well as water to keep their servers cool. Between the advancing technology and the huge increase in the use of AI products by consumers and businesses alike, the energy being used by these data centers has become nearly insatiable.

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Data centers may be to blame for up to 30-40% of all produced electricity in the U.S. by 2030. New power plants will need to be built to meet these demands, but the growth of data centers will likely outpace their construction, which will strain the current grid. This, in turn, raises the energy bills for everyone in the affected area. In fact, this is already happening, with some residents seeing increases in utility bills by over 50%. It's quickly becoming a major concern for many Americans who are already struggling with rising costs elsewhere in their budgets.

Because much of the electricity these data centers are using is sourced from fossil fuels, greenhouse emissions are also increasing, leading to even more climate-related costs down the line. On top of this, a single data center consumes millions of gallons of water each day, which can also increase utility bills in areas where water isn't abundantly available. It's currently unclear where new data centers on Air Force bases will get their power, but it may very well be local grids in the area. This could exacerbate the issue, making it even harder for the tech industry to hide its environmental impact around the world.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.
The ghost of Aileen Wuornos still lingers at The Last Resort  the Florida biker bar where the serial killer drank her final beer before her arrest more than three decades ago.

Her framed mugshot hangs behind the bar. Her face appears on T-shirts and bottles of hot sauce. A makeshift shrine of her painted portrait lists the men she murdered and the bars slogan: Home of ice cold beer and killer women.

The story of Aileen Wuornos has long been the stuff of pulp lore, fictionalized and dramatized for TV and film multiple times, most famously by Charlize Theron, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of the killer in the 2003 movie Monster.

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And its a fascination with Wuornos, Americas most notorious female serial killer, that continues to attract people to the Port Orange bar from all over the world.

Owner Al Bulling, whos run the bar for 33 years, knew her well.

Aileen Wuornos was arrested at The Last Resort biker bar in Port Orange, Florida in January 1991 (Alan Campbell)

She wanted to be remembered and keep the memory going, Bulling told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Well, well keep it going for her.

Wuornos was a sex worker in Florida who carried out the fatal shootings of at least seven men between 1989 and 1990, dumping their bodies in remote wooded areas and stealing their possessions. She claimed she killed her victims in self-defense when the men became violent towards her.

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In 1991, she was arrested at the biker bar and convicted of murder the following year at the age of 35. After a decade on death row, she was executed by lethal injection.

Nearly four decades later, Wuornos name is back in the headlines with the release of a new Netflix documentary.

Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers, now streaming, reexamines the woman behind the murders. Directed by Emily Turner, the film blends never-before-heard audio, archival footage and rare prison interviews with Wuornos herself.

A new Netflix doc features a rare account from Aileen Wuornos herself, from a 1997 interview conducted by the artist and filmmaker Jasmine Hirst, who wrote to the serial killer while she was in prison (Netflix)

Her story, equal parts tragedy and terror, captivated the nation and redefined what a female serial killer could look like (Netflix)

Her story, equal parts tragedy and terror, captivated the nation and redefined what a female serial killer could look like.

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The real Aileen Wuornos is not a serial killer, she says in the Netflix documentary.

I was so drunk and so lost, so f***** up in the head, man, that I turned into one. But my real self is not one.

From sex work to murder

Born in Michigan in 1956, Wuornos childhood was a cascade of trauma: abandonment, rape and early exposure to violence.

Her father, Leo Wuornos, was jailed for raping a minor and hanged himself while behind bars. Her mother, who was only 16 years old when she gave birth to her, later abandoned her children, leaving them in the care of her own parents.

After becoming pregnant as a teenager, she was forced to give the child up for adoption and was kicked out of her grandparents home. Homeless by age 15, Wuornos then turned to sex work to earn money for food as she hitchhiked across the country before landing in Florida.

Despite her claims to not identify with the label of serial killer, Wuornos seemed to relish the attention that came with being associated with heinous crimes (Netflix)

The new Netflix doc blends never-before-heard audio, archival footage, and rare prison interviews with Wuornos herself (Netflix)

Throughout the 1980s, she was regularly in trouble with the law, engaging in armed robbery, car theft and disorderly conduct, as she drifted between bars and motels along Floridas highways, surviving off sex work.

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In 1986, she met Tyria Moore, a 24-year-old Daytona Beach motel maid, at a gay bar. They fell in love and Wuornos tried to support Moore.

But then her sex work took a dark turn.

The murders

Between 1989 and 1990, Wuornos shot and killed seven men  Richard Mallory, David Spears, Charles Carskaddon, Troy Burress, Charles Humphreys, Peter Siems, and Walter Antonio  claiming at least one was in self-defense.

All of the victims were motorists who had approached her as sex-work clients.

The first was Richard Mallory, a 51-year-old electronics store owner, who she shot dead on November 30, 1989. His body was found in a wooded area two weeks later, riddled with bullets.

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Wuornos claimed that Mallory had beaten and raped her after he picked her up. It later emerged that Mallory had a prior conviction for attempted rape in Maryland, adding credibility to Wuornos account.

During her trial, psychiatrists for the defense argued that she was mentally unstable and suggested that she may be suffering from borderline personality disorder (Netflix)

The bodies of five other missing men were discovered between June 1 and Nov. 19, 1990, all traced back to Wuornos.

The victims were construction worker David Andrew Spears, 47; rodeo rider Charles Edmund Carskaddon, 40; salesman Troy Eugene Burress, 50; retired US Air Force major and police chief Charles Richard Humphreys, 56; and trucker and security guard Walter Jeno Antonio, 62.

Wuornos is also believed to have killed and robbed a seventh man  retired merchant seaman Peter Abraham Siems, 67  during the same period. He was reported missing but his body has never been found.

A killers last stop

On Jan. 9, 1991, undercover detectives walked into The Last Resort bar and quietly placed Wuornos under arrest.

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Police had finally caught up with Wuornos when Siems car was found crashed along a roadside and her palm print was discovered on an interior door handle.

Her girlfriend was arrested the next day. But she was persuaded to turn on her lover and elicit a confession from her.

A framed mugshot of the infamous serial killer sits behind the bar where she ordered her last beer (Alan Campbell)

The bar still draws visitors from around the world  bikers, supporters, true-crime fans, and the curious (Alan Campbell)

During a taped phone call, Wuornos admitted to Moore that she had carried out the murders. That recording was played in court, shocking Wuornos who had no idea Moore had been recording her.

On Jan. 27, 1992, Wuornos was convicted of Mallorys murder.

During her trial, psychiatrists for the defense argued that she was mentally unstable and suggested that she may be suffering from borderline personality disorder. Despite this, Wuornos was sentenced to death for the murder.

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On March 31, 1992, she pleaded no contest to the killings of Spears, Burress and Humphreys, receiving three more death sentences. She later pleaded guilty to the murders of Carskaddon and Antonio and was again sentenced to death.

Siems murder is the only one she was not compelled to answer to, due to the fact that there was no body.

Home of ice cold beer and killer women

Nearly 24 years after Wuornos was executed, The Last Resort bar where she drank her final beer still draws visitors from around the world  bikers, supporters, true-crime fans and the just-plain curious.

They come from all over the world, Bulling said. They just come, ordinary people, because they know its all here. Everythings the same. Same pool table, everything.

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He said business has dropped some over the years, but some patrons believe it could spike again with the release of the Netflix documentary.

Alan Campbell, of Iowa, who visited the bar in 2023, told The Independent he didnt know there was a new documentary but said he is now eager to see it.

Best. Stop. Ever, he wrote on Facebook following his visit, with a post of photos from the bar.

Campbell told The Independent that he had been traveling in Florida and had researched the area and when he saw information about the bar and the story behind it, it piqued his interest.

I'd never seen the movie (Monster), but did remember it, and thought the bar would be an interesting place to visit.

Alan Campbell, of Iowa, who visited the bar in 2023, called the visit Best. Stop. Ever (Alan Campbell)

Michelle Forbes, however, did see Monster and traveled from New Orleans to Florida to check out the bar  which is featured in the movie.

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She told the New York Daily News that she remembers hesitating in the parking lot.

Its not the kind of place I would go under most circumstances, she said. But once inside, they were really happy to talk about it. They made me feel bad for cowering in the car! I think they were honoring her, and not just making a spectacle.

Just down South Ridgewood Avenue, another piece of Wuornos history still stands. The former Fairview Motel, now renamed the Scoot Inn, was where she stayed before her arrest.

The fascination with Wuornos continues to shape how people talk about women who kill. For some, shes a symbol of rage born from abuse  for others, shes simply a cold-blooded murderer.

The fascination with Wuornos continues to shape how people talk about women who kill (Netflix)

A killers last words

After spending a decade on Floridas death row, Wuornos was executed by lethal injection on Oct. 9, 2002. She was 46 years old.

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For her final meal, Wuornos skipped the normal prison food and chose to have just a cup of coffee.

Her final words are etched on the wall under her picture at The Last Resort Bar  where her memory lives on (Alan Campbell)

Just before she was put to death, she uttered her final words.

Yes, I would just like to say Im sailing with the rock, and Ill be back, like Independence Day, with Jesus. June 6, like the movie. Big mothership and all, Ill be back, Ill be back.

The words are etched on the wall under her picture at The Last Resort Bar  where her memory lives on.

Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers is now streaming on Netflix.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeiers demand that murder charges be dropped in an alleged Orlando road rage shooting, a case of political intervention in the justice system so unusual it was criticized by both prosecutors and defense attorneys, led to a plea deal Thursday on a lesser charge and a shorter sentence.

What was scheduled to be a hearing to decide whether Tina Allgeo defended herself under Floridas stand your ground law when she killed 42-year-old Mihail Tsvetkov in December instead resulted in Allgeo pleading no contest to aggravated battery with a vehicle. Tsvetkov had assaulted Allgeo after she ran into his car.

In exchange for her plea, Allgeo, 48, will serve a maximum 18 months in state prison, followed by a 10-year probation period that can be shortened to five years.

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The deal between Allgeos lawyer Mark OMara and Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell came together over two days.

Speaking to reporters in the courtyard of the Orange County Courthouse, Worrell pointed to Uthmeiers Sept. 8 ultimatum that the case be dropped entirely or she would face further intervention as the reason her office decided to quickly resolve the charges. Additionally, she said Uthmeier had not been in touch with her office to discuss the Allgeo matter, which would have given him a more informed process by which to comment on the case.

This is not the accountability that I would have liked to see in this case; however, based on the interference of the attorney general, this is the justice that this case has come to, said Worrell, who said prosecutors typically should not speak on a case in a manner that can influence the outcome.

OMara, who in the past has defended high-profile suspects like George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin, said he would have likely succeeded in arguing his motion to dismiss the case, though he admitted the aggravated battery charge was more appropriate than second-degree murder, the more serious offense of which Allgeo was accused.

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Uthmeier stepping in, however, was horrific  beneficial to my client, maybe, in some weird sense  but I dont think its appropriate for any politician to get involved in the system, said OMara, who had previously denied seeking the attorney generals involvement in the matter.

Allgeos case was among several mentioned in letters to Uthmeier and Gov. Ron DeSantis sent by Worrells office earlier this month, following a barrage of attacks against the state attorneys handling of certain cases in the months since Worrell was reelected. The letters accused Uthmeier of trying to manufacture a pretext to remove Worrell from office, as DeSantis did in 2023.

In a statement posted to X, Uthmeier reacted to the cases resolution: Were glad to see that Orlando State Attorney Worrell took our advice and dropped the unjust murder charge against Tina Allgeo this morning. Ms. Allgeo clearly acted in self-defense. In Florida, we will protect the right to stand your ground against violent aggressors.

Though Allgeo shot Tsvetkov as he attacked her in her car, prosecutors said that was the result of her own actions as she tried preventing him from leaving the scene of an accident involving their vehicles, and then followed him. The brief pursuit ended after Orlando police investigators said she side-swiped Tsvetkovs car, prompting him to leave the vehicle and open her door to beat her.

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I truly believe that we would and should have won this hearing this morning because it is a burden of the state to provide clear and convincing evidence that Ms. Allgeo did not have the protection of the (stand your ground) statute, OMara said. And there are no facts that would support anybody ripping open the car door and beating somebody in their own car for any reason whatsoever.

But Worrell insisted her office would have succeeded had the motion to dismiss been argued as scheduled, saying video of the moments leading up to the shooting would have proven this was not a self-defense case.

This is a case of road rage where two people made some pretty bad decisions in their driving, she said. Those decisions escalated act after act after act, leading up to Ms. Allgeo in this case intentionally ramming her vehicle into Mr. Tsvetkovs  and provoking a reaction from him.

Still, OMara said Allgeo has no plans to appeal: Though its troubling and difficult, she has come to terms to accept what shes done.

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After Thursdays hearing, Allgeo was released and was ordered to surrender herself at the Orange County Jail on Dec. 27, which OMara said will allow her to spend Christmas with her family before she begins her stint behind bars. Her loved ones sat in the gallery during the proceeding and joined her as she left the courthouse, walking together in tears ahead as they departed.

But before she was sentenced, Tsvetkovs sister, Daniela Cvetkova, spoke before the court. In her written statement read from the witness stand, she described her brother as a car lover who sought to enter the automobile industry in Germany  until Cvetkova needed help.

He came to support me during one of the hardest times in my life when I was pursuing my medical degree with a small child in my hands, Cvetkova said. He left behind his dreams and his familiar life to help build mine. That kind of loyalty and quiet courage was simply part of his character and was who he really was.

To Allgeo, she added, I have nothing to say to you.
Florida Polytechnic University President Devin Stephenson recently joined Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly and Secretary of State Cord Byrd on a two-week international trade and business development leadership mission to Taiwan and Japan.

The mission included Florida business, tech, space and academic fields and took place from Oct. 19 through 29, Florida Poly said in a news release. It was organized by SelectFlorida, a statewide network of businesses, government, and economic development partners dedicated to strengthening the states economy.

Florida Polytechnic Universitys participation in the SelectFlorida leadership mission to Asia underscores Floridas commitment to innovation, excellence and global partnership, Kelly said in the news release. Florida Polys leadership and engagement during this mission was an important demonstration of Floridas engineering focus, elevating key sectors like transportation, aviation and microelectronics  all key connective threads between Florida and Taiwans mutual focus on STEM-driven innovation and job creation.

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During the trip, the delegation met with counterparts in Japan and Taiwan to promote bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and advanced industry sectors.

We are honored to have participated in this strategic trade mission to Asia, said Stephenson, the states only university president in attendance. As Floridas premier STEM institution, our partnerships strengthen global research, innovation and talent development, reinforcing Floridas leadership in shaping high-tech, future-ready economies that will drive prosperity and opportunity for generations to come.

While in Taipei, Taiwan, the delegation visited National Taiwan University, the Taiwan Space Agency and the TSMC Museum of Innovation. Members also participated in seminars, roundtable discussions and cultural activities. Stephenson also met with officials from Fulbright Taiwan to discuss collaborations involving semiconductors and future scholar exchange.

Florida Poly in Lakeland is the states only university dedicated exclusively to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Florida Poly president completes trade trip to Taiwan and Japan
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  In this weeks edition of East Texas In Focus, KETKs Nolan Hoffman sat down with East Texas State Representative Cody Harris to discuss Proposition 4 ahead of Election Day, along with the ongoing water issues in East Texas.

IN FOCUS: Behind the scenes of historic growth at Stephen F. Austin State University

Proposition 4 is a proposal to amend the Texas State Constitution to create a Texas Water Fund that will fund various water infrastructure projects across the state with money from the State Sales Tax. Texas voters will be able to vote on Proposition 4 and several other proposed amendments in the upcoming statewide election on Nov. 4.

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The proposition came about after the passing of House Joint Resolution 7, which was authored by Harris as a way to ensure that Texas can keep growing economically without having to worry about where to find more water.

The State of Texas is facing $154 billion shortfall in water funding across the whole state, were the eighth largest economy in the world if we were our own country, Harris said. We have 1600 people a day moving to the state of Texas and so if we want to continue to be that hotbed of economic activity and where people want to come live, weve got to be able to provide the water for that and so thats why I wrote House Joint Resolution 7.

Harris also explained that part of what Proposition 4 will do is push future water projects away from harvesting fresh groundwater and towards projects that create new freshwater through desalination of seawater and brackish groundwater.

Controversial high-capacity well applications suspended by East Texas groundwater district

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Why it is so important in this fight that were having over our groundwater in East Texas is because the areas that need it are looking for the cheapest and easiest way to get water and right now thats drilling wells for in fresh groundwater, Harris explained. This this new fund helps push the market away from East Texas groundwater and towards water desalination along the coast or brackish groundwater desalination and the state of Texas is sitting on literal oceans of salty groundwater that we cant use right now unless we have desalination plants.

The harvesting of fresh groundwater has been controversial in East Texas recently with the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District suspending several applications for high-capacity water wells that would have tapped into the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer beneath Anderson and Houston counties.

Harris attended the districts meeting where they suspended those controversial permits until further studies can be done on the aquifer. Harris discussed the proposed Anderson County wells and the broader impact they could have on the state with Nolan.

East Texas representatives, residents react to failure of water bill

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The bigger picture is that the water coming down the Trinity River, thats surface water owned by the state of Texas, well this wellfield at Red Town Ranch in south Anderson County and bleeding over into Houston County, thats in the aquifer recharge zone, where that surface water goes and enters the aquifer and recharges the aquifer there, Harris explained. So if you have a wellfield pumping massive amounts of water out of the ground what youre going to do is start to deplete the water in the river. Well that that surface water in the Trinity River goes down and supplies the drinking water to the whole Houston region. Thats over 25% of the state population. So its not just a little East Texas issue.

To hear more from State Rep. Cody Harris about Proposition 4 and the fight to protect groundwater in East Texas, check out this weeks full episode of East Texas In Focus at the top of this article.

You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW)  Volunteers spent part of their Saturday at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank preparing disaster boxes filled with an assortment of healthy, non-perishable food.

This is an aggressive push to be prepared by the food bank as the government shutdown continues, and weve hit the first of November. The first time SNAP recipients havent received benefits since the shutdown began.

WATCH: Florida man wearing prison costume for Halloween gets arrested

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This is a project we havent had to do since the pandemic, but it is to prepare for a significant increase in need in the month of November, and one that we are very, very concerned about, Kristin Warzocha said. We are very concerned about the idea of a month without SNAP. For every meal provided by a foodbank nationwide, SNAP provides nine. SNAP is our first line of defense in the fight against hunger.

Warzocha is the president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, which is also sending out 6 million pounds of food, half of it paid for through donations, to its network of a thousand program partners across Northeast Ohio.

Theyre doing all they can to make sure people dont go hungry in what would be one of the food banks busiest months to begin with, along with SNAP recipients and federal employees going unpaid, all needing help.

Dont forget to turn back your clocks tonight: What time will sun set

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I mean, the fact is this is a disaster and the demand for food this month is going to be extraordinary, Warzocha explained. We need to make sure every SNAP recipient who is eligible for it gets that benefit. The answer to this is an end to the shutdown.

The Greater Cleveland Food Bank is always looking for more volunteers and asks anyone who is looking to donate to visit their website.

Warzocha says anyone who needs help finding food can visit their website and utilize their food finder to locate a nearby food bank.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Fort Worthians have a new local celebrity, and she's already stealing hearts and headlines. When the Fort Worth Report broke the news that the zoo's Asian elephant, Bluebonnet, had given birth, the city practically came to a standstill. At about 250 pounds, this little Texan is already making a big impression.

Born on August 18, the female calf is one of six Asian elephants at the Fort Worth Zoo. Her mother, 26-year-old Bluebonnet, made history in 1998 as the first Asian elephant born at the facility, and her father, Romeo, now proudly adds "dad" to his title. According to the zoo, Bluebonnet's newest baby is healthy, curious, and rarely leaves her mom's side as she learns the ropes of elephant life.

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Related: Toledo Zoo Makes Surprising Announcement About Their New Baby Elephant

The Fort Worth Report noted that the zoo's naming contest featured three Texas-inspired options: Yellow Rose, Black-Eyed Susan, and Lady Bird. After more than 18,000 votes, Lady Birdnicknamed Birdiecame out on top. Her name pays tribute to Lady Bird Johnson, the former First Lady and Texas native, who is celebrated for her lifelong love of nature and wildflowers.

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Zoo staff say Birdie is already full of personality. "She's spunky, confident, and curious, often mimicking the adults' trunk movements as she learns from them," one keeper told the publication. Guests can visit Birdie and her family in the zoo's Elephant Springs habitat daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"She's Spunky, Confident and Curious, Often Mimicking the Adults"

Forth Worth Zoo

Asian elephants are endangered, and each birth offers new hope for the species. The Fort Worth Zoo participates in global conservation programs that help protect elephants both at home and abroad, making Birdie's arrival more than just adorableit's meaningful.

Fort Worthians (which I love by the way) can now see Birdie in person, and honestly, who wouldn't want to meet a baby elephant named after one of Texas' most beloved icons? Whether you come for the history or the heart-melting trunk twirls, Birdie's story is already shaping up to be a Fort Worth favoriteand the start of a legacy Texans won't stop talking about anytime soon.

Related: Elephant Who Keeps Snatching Food Is So Precious

This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Nov 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev on Sunday expressed confidence in the National Democratic Alliance's victory in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections stating that it will be difficult for rival political parties to stand against the 'towering Himalayan personality' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In an interview with ANI, the yoga guru acknowledged the politically intense battle that Bihar is currently witnessing and asserted that such competition between the ruling and opposition parties is a testament to the beauty of democracy. "The struggle in Bihar is quite intense, but Modi ji has a personality as towering as the Himalayas, no one is able to stand against him. Modi ji's image, character, and his contributions are like a divine blessing, so naturally, the balance tilts in his favour right now. Still, the ongoing struggle is good in a democracy, such contests between the ruling party and the opposition are what make democracy beautiful," Baba Ramdev told ANI. Bihar goes to the polls in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting of votes to be held on November 14. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold election rallies in Ara and Nalanda today along with a roadshow in Patna, providing boost to the NDA election campaign. Mahagathbandhan, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal, includes Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani's Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP).NDA includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. The manifesto of the Mahagathbandhan, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, has in its manifesto titled 'Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran,' promised to pass a law within 20 days of forming the government, to provide government jobs to one member of every family in the state. The NDA election manifesto named "Sankalp Patra," promises providing one crore government jobs and other income opportunities to the citizens of Bihar. Voting for Bihar's 243-seat Assembly will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14. (ANI)
Fox News star Joey Jones challenged anyone to call him Islamophobic, saying it will not stop him from speaking up when he believes Muslims are engaged in terrorism or anti-American extremism.

Jones dared those who would be upset by his comments to reach out to him directly, during a segment on The Big Weekend Show on Saturday.

The panel was discussing the FBI thwarting a potential terror attack in Michigan on Halloween, where the suspects were connected to ISIS. They were also talking about residents of Dearborn, the first Arab-majority American city, being annoyed by the loud Muslim call to prayer, as well as Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud recently branding a constituent an Islamophobe because the citizen had the audacity to question why a local street was named in honor of a terrorist sympathizer.

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Listen, come at me in my email. I dont really care, Jones started off by saying.

He continued:

When I hear that prayer over that loud speaker, I go to a very specific place, and it includes people that want to kill our country, that want to kill us, that want to use children for weapons, that want to indoctrinate people. Islamism as terrorism is a thing. What happened on 9/11 happened in the name of Islam, in the name of spreading a specific religion around the world, in a crusade of their own. Does that mean Im Islamophobic? I really dont care if that label gets put on me or not.

Jones immediately added he does not believe everyone who is Muslim is bad or hates America. But he said when he sees expressions of death to America and hears the blaring call to prayer he has to ask How in the world did that happen?

Co-host Tomi Lahren, a moment later, said she was 100% with Jones.

Lahren said the recent headlines shined a light on the issue of mass immigration, both legal and illegal.

There are a lot of these individuals, by the way, who are not illegal immigrants, they are legal immigrants, or theyve been given asylum by the previous administration, Lahren said. And once theyve been given that asylum, it becomes so much more difficult to get some of these people out, even if they do have ties and connections to things that look a lot like terrorism.

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She added: Im with Joey, if you want to call us Islamophobic for it, have at it!

Fox News Contributor Kaylee McGhee White, when she kicked off the segment a moment earlier, said she grew up about 25 minutes away from Dearborn. She said many local residents are rightly nervous about their community turning into a hotbed for extremism.

Watch the discussion above, via Fox News.

The post Fox News Star Joey Jones Dares Critics to Call Him Islamophobic: Come at Me! first appeared on Mediaite.
Nov. 1Frank A Murray III Born: June 20, 1949 Passed away: October 16, 2025 Frank was born in El Paso, Texas but grew up entirely in Clovis, New Mexico with a two year younger brother, George, to parents Frank and Velma Murray. Both parents were generational residents of Curry County, NM. Frank began learning a strong work ethic beginning at age 12. He was put to work in his father's bowling alley in Clovis. In high school, he also worked for White's Automotive store. He acquired a private plane flying license at age 17. At age 18, he began insurance adjusting during the summer school breaks. He followed the storms in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. He married Minnie Anderson in February 1970. He acquired a BS degree in social studies with a teaching degree in secondary education from Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) in 1973. A professor at ENMU encouraged him to pursue a law degree. He attended Gonzaga Law School in Spokane, Washington in which he earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1976. Frank and Minnie bought a small farm close to Spokane and adopted a baby girl, Rainbow Leigh. However, his native state of New Mexico drew him home. He accepted the position of Assistant Attorney General in 1979. He and Minnie adopted a baby boy naming him Frank the same year. As a master attorney for the state, he also held the position of counsel for the NM National Guard and ended his career working with Child Support Enforcement. After retirement, he became a bill analyzer for the NM Legislature until the cancer, he fought courageously for 16 years, left him unable to do so. Frank was an excellent woodworker, artist and craftsman. He built his own home, much of it hands on, as well as a workshop, barn and terrace. His other activities were volleyball refereeing for 21 years, lifelong fishing and hunting activities, sporting clays, white water kayaking and horseshoes. Since he was a child he read several books a week including the entire World Book encyclopedia set, often reading with one or more cats in his lap and dogs at his feet. Several of his friends have said he was the smartest man they ever knew. Daughter Rainbow and husband, Billy Tinsley, were his and Minnie's support system during the last two years of his life as he grew weaker. He treasured his three grandsons, Alexander Murray, Hunter and Riley Higgins (sons of Rainbow) and later Kaylea and Brayden Tinsley (children of Billy). He owned numerous dogs and cats all of whom loved him to the same degree as he loved them. A special thank you during this difficult time goes to the Alberto Martinez family, close friend Larry Bair, and neighbor Christopher Warren. A mid-March Memorial service is planned.
Worst Governor in America Kathy Hochul was so badly damaged by endorsing radical socialist Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor that Democrats are champing at the bit to see the wildly unpopular incumbent booted from office, according to Rep. Elise Stefanik

Democrats are reaching out to us in droves, saying they will refuse to support Kathy, and they look forward to firing her next year, the upstate Republican lawmaker and prospective 2026 gubernatorial candidate told The Post.

Kathy Hochul bent the knee to the raging, antisemite, Defund The Police communist who is going to destroy New York City, said Stefanik of mayoral frontrunner Mamdani.

Rep. Elise Stefanik says Gov. Kathy Hochuls political reputation was so badly damaged by endorsing socialist Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor that Democrats are confiding to her about their desire to see the unpopular incumbent booted out of office. Getty Images

Hes going to make it more unaffordable, more unlivable, and dangerous, and she owns this lock, stock and barrel. It is catastrophic for the people of New York.

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However, Stefanik does see some light at the end of the tunnel if the silver-spoon socialist wins Tuesdays election  it could help Republicans in next years midterm elections and in other races nationwide, including for Hochuls seat.

Its a full-blown socialist takeover of the Democrat Party playing out for all to see in the most important city in the world, said Stefanik, who is one of President Donald Trumps top allies on Capitol Hill.

And it is going to be a significant drag on Democrat candidates up and down the ballot. Its why Kathys own Democrat State Party chair [Jay Jacobs] refused to endorse him  even though she did. You have members of Congress who are Democrats, refusing to endorse him, because it is existential.

Gov.Kathy Hochul hugging NYC mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani last month. Paul Martinka

Stefanik branded Hochul the worst governor in America, saying she is despised across the board by the far-left, far-right and moderates in between, and New Yorkers arent going to forget how Hochul backed an Israel-hating, anti-cop socialist.

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Shes disliked not just by Republicans and independents, but the Democrats, and even the socialists who heckled her off the stage, chanting, tax the rich, said Stefanik, referring to Hochul being heckled at a Queens campaign rally for Mamdani last week.

Stefanik said she plans to make a formal announcement on her expected gubernatorial bid shortly after Election Day on Tuesday.

Hochul endorsed Mamdani last month to appease the far-left in a desperate attempt to stave off a real primary challenge next year, insiders said. Paul Martinka

A Manhattan Institute poll released Tuesday shows Stefanik narrowly beating Hochul in a hypothetical 2026 matchup. The governor trails her firebrand GOP nemesis by 1%, according to the statewide survey conducted by the right-leaning think tank.

Hochul endorsed Mamdani last month to appease the far-left in a desperate attempt to stave off a real primary challenge next year, insiders said. Shes banking on Mamdani becoming NYCs next mayor and then endorsing her in the 2026 Democratic primary, where she expects to face a challenge from her estranged Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado.

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Mamdanis campaign did not return messages, and Hochuls campaign deferred comment to state Democratic Party spokesman Addison Dick, who accused Stefanik of running from a record of failure in Congress.

While she sells out New Yorkers to Trump, Gov. Hochul is cutting costs, protecting healthcare and keeping our communities safe.
A fundraising event helped raise money for a local woman fighting cancer.

Channel 11 told you the story of Cami McDonald, a New Kensington woman diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018.

McDonald relapsed in 2020, but experienced significant relief after being out on a one-month trial of the drug Lorbrena.

However, Medicare would not cover Lorbrena because it is not FDA-approved to treat breast cancer. The drug would reportedly have cost between $10,000 and $50,000 a month without insurance.

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 11 Investigates local woman denied life-saving cancer treatment

Not long after Channel 11 shared McDonalds story, Allegheny Health Network got the FDAs permission to essentially create a clinical trial just for her. McDonalds medical team will keep notes and records and report back to Pfizer.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Local grandmother featured by 11 Investigates granted access to breast cancer treatment

McDonald continues to fight the cancer, and on Saturday, the Linda Louise Foundation held a fundraising event for her in New Kensington.

There, McDonald gave some hopeful news about her battle.

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Ive been in the hospital three times, and Im just getting over pneumonia, and Im about to have what Im going to say by faith is going to be my last surgery on Nov. 24, McDonald said.

Also, McDonalds family is raising funds for her medical expenses via GoFundMe. You can also follow her journey at Camis Cure on Facebook.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

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It was designed to be the home of the future  steadfast against extreme weather and reliant only on the sun for power.

But first, the concept had to be put to the test.

Thats why developer Marshall Gobuty and his team at Pearl Homes chose hurricane and flood-prone Cortez, a coastal village in Manatee County, to bring their new idea to life.

There, they planned the worlds first community of homes certified as Zero Energy by the U.S. Green Building Councils Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program  a recognition of the homes ability to produce as much energy as they consume. They are also designed to withstand the impacts of a Category 5 hurricane, going above and beyond building code requirements.

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The development, called Hunters Point in a nod to the Cortez fishing villages original name, began construction in 2021.

Then, it got its trial in epic fashion.

After brushes with Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Idalia in 2023, last year brought one of Southwest Floridas most intense hurricane seasons on record. Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton walloped the region in quick succession with intense rainfall, flooding, storm surge and wind  a taste of the climate change-fueled super storms scientists say are the new norm for Florida.

Many local homes and neighborhoods were devastated. But at Hunters Point, the experiment in home design proved a success.

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In Milton, power around us was out for eight days. We had power during the storm, and every single day after, Gobuty said.

Structurally, the homes easily withstood the hurricanes lashings.

We had no problems whatsoever. Nothing blew off, nothing went away, said William Fulford, a retired Virginia homebuilder who lives at Hunters Point. Fulford and his wife purchased the very first home in the community, where theyve ridden out every hurricane since.

Hurricane Helenes storm surge, a record-breaking flood event for Manatee County that washed out many homes in Cortez, didnt even make it up the driveway of homes in Hunters Point, and the streets were dry by the next morning, Gobuty said.

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We didnt have one insurance claim, Gobuty said. Its supposed to be that way, but it was a great attaboy.

Its not just residents who are pleased with the thoughtful design of Hunters Point. The development has earned special recognition from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its resilience, national media coverage for its survival of last years hurricane season and several major homebuilding awards, including the Green Builder Home of the Year award in 2024.

Hunters Point meets net-zero challenge

The idea to build Hunters Point was sparked by a friendly challenge, Gobuty says.

In 2015, Pearl Homes broke ground on Mirabella Homes, a development in Bradenton featuring 160 eco-friendly villas for seniors.

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It became one of the first residential developments in the country to earn LEED Platinum status from the U.S. Green Building Council. The coveted title recognizes projects that incorporate water and energy efficiency, clean indoor air quality, responsibly sourced building materials, environmentally friendly design and other sustainable features.

After that recognition, Gobuty says then-president of the building council, Mahesh Ramanujam, challenged Pearl Homes to go a step further for its next project.

He said, Marshall, you have to build a net-zero home, Gobuty remembers. And I looked at him and I said, What? So he explained to me that would be a home that generates more power than it consumes.

Pearl Homes accepted the challenge.

The future of homes debuts in Cortez

Building the worlds first net-zero home might sound like a major feat of engineering.

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But Gobuty says it wasnt that difficult. Instead, he compares it to a kids toy. All the parts were there, just waiting to be assembled.

Its not that were that smart, Gobuty said. Its like Mr. Potato Head. We take the most important components and practices and put them together ourselves. We dont invent them, we just use them.

For design help, Pearl Homes turned to the Florida Solar Energy Center at the University of Central Florida.

The university researchers brainstormed a system that uses an array of solar panels on the roof of each home to provide daily power. The solar energy also charges a Sonnen ecoLinx energy management system. More than just a battery, the smart technology manages the homes energy use throughout the day, accounts for changes in the weather and collects extra energy while the sun is out to power the home during overcast periods and through each night.

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They also planned for maximum energy efficiency and airtight design to reduce air conditioning and overall power needs.

Before trying the new home design in the real world, Pearl Homes built a prototype in a Palmetto warehouse and tested the concept for 18 months.

It was a success, earning the first ever LEED Zero Energy certification for a residential home.

Now that design is being replicated at Hunters Point, where 50 homes like it have been built and another 36 are planned. The development is designed to meet LEED Platinum and LEED Zero Energy standards.

In practice, its working even better than expected, Gobuty says.

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How its actually worked out is that were generating 35% more power than the house is consuming, and were using 25% less, Gobuty said. So the excess goes back to the grid, and the utility is giving credit to the owner. So at the end of the year ... there really shouldnt be a bill.

We have no power bill, Fulford confirmed.

Residents also have peace of mind during power outages. The Sonnen system can keep a home powered for 10 to 14 days when the grid is down.

Manatee Countys storm-resistant community

Its not just the solar power that makes Hunters Point attractive to residents.

Fulford said he and his wife can enjoy the beauty of living on Floridas coast without worrying about what the next hurricane season might bring.

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The way theyre put together ... they went over and above what they needed to do, Fulford said. The whole house is put together the way it should be. Its done well.

For ultimate hurricane resistance, each home is built 16 feet above sea level on a solid concrete slab foundation. The first floor is a garage lined with flood vents, and its block walls are reinforced with extra rebar and poured solid with concrete. Atop the garage, the extra-thick walls of the two-story living space are reinforced by hundreds of steel strap connections and capped with a steel roof, and the homes are outfitted with windows and doors designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane.

Everything that we do is double code, said Alex Velichko, Pearl Homes director of construction. Thats why weve stood up to the last four hurricanes.

Fulford said all the extra safety measures at Hunters Point also made it easy to get affordable flood insurance. He still carries a minimal plan, just in case.

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This is what Florida needs, Fulford said.

Hunters Point earns praise from FEMA

After it breezed through last years hurricane season, Hunters Point earned some rare kudos  straight from the federal government.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency recognized the ingenuity of Hunters Point with a visit to tour the community after Hurricane Milton and, earlier this year, a news release praising its design.

Hunters Point serves as a model for integrating natural hazard-resistant construction techniques, the news release states. Its design and construction principles offer valuable insights for future developments in hurricane-prone regions, demonstrating that it is possible to build communities capable of withstanding extreme weather events.

Victoria Salinas, former deputy administrator for resilience at FEMA and a senior resilience fellow at the University of Miami Climate Resilience Institute, says Hunters Point is special for its combination of net-zero technology and storm resilience.

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If all they had done was net-zero, it would have been a great sustainability story. But it wouldnt have necessarily been a resilience story, Salinas told the Bradenton Herald. All the things they did so that you can not only have your power on, but you can survive  thats the distinction.

Can resilient homes be affordable?

While the design of Hunters Point can add up to major long-term savings for residents, the cost of the homes places it firmly in the luxury market, out of reach for many. Recent sales in the community have ranged from $1.1 million to $1.9 million.

But Gobuty says Hunters Point is just the beginning of his companys quest to build resilient homes.

We had to start somewhere, Gobuty said.

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He said it was important to test the concept in a high-hazard zone, and the cost of buying waterfront property and then elevating it resulted in a significantly higher cost for the end product.

Now, Pearl Homes has begun taking some of the resilient and sustainable concepts from Hunters Point and applying them to rental developments.

In Bradenton, affordable housing project The MET opened in 2024 with 199 units featuring energy-efficient design.

And in Ellenton, Pearl Homes is planning a new single-family rental community called OurLives.

Were trying something different. Its hard for people to buy right now, so were going to build to rent. But they will be built with the same sustainability and resilience, Gobuty said.

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The project is planned to include 600 homes, including townhomes, single-family homes, attached homes and homes with garages, all equipped with sustainable and smart technology.

Instead of packing in the maximum number of units, a common development practice, the Ellenton community will maximize space, with 15 feet between most buildings and ample community green space.

Gobuty estimates that OurLives will offer rates around $2,200 a month. Construction is planned to start in early 2026.

Building a sustainable future in Florida

On a Wednesday morning in October, a bus full of students from Roots Nature & Leadership Academy in Sarasota visited Hunters Point to learn about sustainable building.

They watched as concrete poured to form the foundation of a new home and toured the inside of a model house, getting an up-close look at its energy-saving technology.

Teacher Casey Gramaglia said he was aware of Hunters Point, but didnt learn until recently that it was a sustainable project. He said it made a perfect field trip for his classrooms unit on sustainable and disaster-resistant structures.

I was really stoked to find out what theyre doing here. This is great, Gramaglia said.

Gobuty says he wants to help get younger generations excited about the possibilities for a more sustainable future.

The more kids get these concepts early on, the more it becomes normal, Gobuty said.

Theyre not the only ones he wants to get onboard.

While pioneering a new type of homebuilding has its challenges, Gobuty says the outcome has been well worth the investment. Now that his team has proven it can be done, hes hoping that more homebuilders will leap into the future with them and give back to the planet.

Its a good feeling, Gobuty said. This is the future of homes.
Levin specified on Saturday night that the attorney-general is banned from engaging with the video itself, any alleged miscarriages of justice along the way.

In the wake of the resignation of IDF Maj.-Gen. Yifat TomerYerushalmi, as Military Advocate-General, a sharp dispute has erupted over the proper authority and remit of the investigation into the case.

On Saturday evening, Justice Minister Yariv Levin notified Attorney-General Gali BaharavMiara that she is prohibited from any involvement in the inquiry. On Sunday, Baharav-Miara responded: Your political involvement in the investigation is erroneous, baseless, and harmful.

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The friction concerns the ongoing probe into the leak of a video from the Sde Teiman detention facility (July 2024) depicting alleged abuse of Palestinian detainees by reservist soldiers. Six defendants were later sentenced in connection with that matter.

A separate video showing military-police officers arriving to arrest the reservists triggered riots and a mass break-in at the facility, involving several lawmakers.

On Friday, Baharav-Miara ordered the opening of a criminal investigation into the leak. At the same time, Defense Minister Israel Katz pressed Tomer-Yerushalmi - and she resigned before he formally dismissed her - after acknowledging in a letter that she had approved the leak of the video.

A-G to Levin: You have no authority to bar me from Sde Teiman investigations (credit: OREN BEN HAKOON/FLASH90)

Levin bars Baharav-Miara from interfering with appointing new MAG

Levin specified on Saturday night that the attorney-general is banned from engaging with the video itself, any alleged miscarriages of justice along the way, and the appointment or oversight of Tomer-Yerushalmis successor as MAG.

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Levin argued that the prohibition was justified by Baharav-Miaras personal involvement in the Sde Teiman case, and the high likelihood that you will be called to testify, citing responses submitted to the High Court of Justice that were later contradicted by Tomer-Yerushalmis actions.

In its update to the High Court on September 16, the legal advisory stated that the investigation into the leak was inconclusive and that there was no reason to continue with criminal proceedings.

In a counter-statement on Sunday, Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Gil Limon wrote that the authority Levin claims to wield lacks any factual or legal basis, and is an attempt to illegally influence law-enforcement proceedings.

Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.
Gardner Police are asking for the publics assistance in searching for a missing man.

Leonard Mercury, 57, was last seen around 2 a.m. on Friday, October 31, leaving Heywood Hospital in the direction of the bike path.

Mercury was wearing hospital clothing and no shoes, and is approximately 6 feet tall and weighs around 195 pounds.

Authorities are deeply concerned for Mercurys well-being and believe he may be in need of immediate medical attention.

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Community awareness and vigilance are crucial during this time, Gardner police said.

Anyone who has seen Mercury is asked not to approach him directly and call police immediately at 978-632-5600, or dial 911.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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(WKBN)  National Fuel Gas Company had a crew in the southwestern area of Mercer County on Sunday afternoon, as many residents were concerned about a gas smell in the area.

According to Mercer County Dispatch, calls started coming in early Sunday morning for reports of a gas smell in areas around Sharon, Farrell, Masury, and Hermitage.

Dispatch said National Fuel was trying to figure out the source of the smell, but was unable to find anything.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
George Clooney spoke out again on the 2024 presidential election while sitting with Seth Doane on CBS News Sunday Morning, positing that it was a mistake for Vice President Kamala Harris to run and that there should have been a primary to determine a replacement for Joe Biden.

We had a chance. I wanted there to be, as I wrote in the op-ed, a primary. Lets battle-test this quickly and get it up and going, the Jay Kelly star said Sunday. I think the mistake with it being Kamala is she had to run against her own record. Its very hard to do if the point of running is to say, Im not that person.

Its hard to do, and so she was given a very tough task, he continued. I think it was a mistake, quite honestly. But, we are where we are. We were gonna lose more House seats, they say. So, I dont know. To not do it would be to say, Im not gonna tell the truth.

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The topic of Harris came up after Clooney was asked about his July 2024 op-ed in the New York Times in which he questioned President Joe Bidens ability to run for re-election. The piece sparked outcry from the former presidents son, Hunter Biden, who expressed frustration.

Clooney admitted he saw that Hunter reacted, but decided against spending a lot of time debunking many of the things he said.

Watch the full extended interview below:

Many of the things he said were just outright lies. Obama didnt put me up to it. It wasnt my fundraiser. It wasnt my fundraiser  all the things, he explained. But the reality is, I dont think looking backwards like that is helpful to anyone, particularly to him. I dont think its helpful for the Democratic Party. So Im just going to wish him well on his ongoing recovery, and I hope he does well and just leave it at that. I have many personal opinions about it, but I dont find it to be helpful to have a public spat with him.

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Clooney previously downplayed the impact of the op-ed while speaking to CNNs Jake Tapper this summer. I dont know if it was brave. It was a civic duty, Clooney said in July. Im a Democrat in Kentucky, so I get it.

The post George Clooney Says Kamala Harris Running for President Without a Primary Was a Mistake | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Jennifer Lawrence doesn't talk politics anymore because she doesn't believe celebrities have any sway on who the public votes for.

Jennifer Lawrence says celebrities don't hold any power over who the public votes for

The 35-year-old actress previously penned an open letter in 2016, raising her concerns for the world after US President Donald Trump won his first term at the White House; however, she no longer sees the point in speaking out against his administration.

She told The New York Times: I dont really know if I should. The first Trump administration was so wild and just, how can we let this stand? I felt like I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. But as weve learned, election after election, celebrities do not make a difference whatsoever on who people vote for."

She added: So then what am I doing? Im just sharing my opinion on something thats going to add fuel to a fire thats ripping the country apart. We are so divided.

While raising her fears nine years ago, particularly for women and marginalised groups, Jennifer offered a "positive" outlook and suggested ways people can "educate" themselves to help the world be a better place.

She penned on VICEs feminist channel Broadly at the time: Is this the stark reality?

It doesnt matter how hard you work or how qualified you are, at the end of the day, youre not a man? Is that what we just learned? This country was founded on immigration and today the only people that feel safe, that their rights are recognized and respected are white men.

I want to be positive; I want to support our democracy, but what can we take away from this? Its a genuine question that we all need to ask ourselves. We shouldnt blame anyone, we shouldnt riot in the streets. We should think strongly and clearly about what to do next because we cannot change the past.

She went on: If youre worried about the health of our planet, find out everything you can about how to protect it. If youre worried about racial violence love your neighbor more than youve ever tried to before no matter what they believe or who they voted for. If youre afraid of a wall putting us all into another recession then organize and stand against it.

The Hunger Games star advised, "Don't be afraid, be loud!".

She continued: If youre a woman and youre worried that no matter how hard you work or how much you learn, there will always be a glass ceiling, then I dont really know what to say. I dont know what I would tell my daughter if I were you. Except to have hope. To work for the future.

Were all allowed to be sad that the present isnt what we thought it was. But we mustnt be defeated. We will keep educating ourselves and working twice as hard as the man next to us because we know now that it is not fair. It is not fair in the workplace, so you make it impossible to fail. And like Hillary [Clinton], it might not work.

Jennifer added: But like Hillary, you can still be an inspiration and get important things done. Do not let this defeat you, let this enrage you! Let it motivate you! Let this be the fire you didnt have before. If you are an immigrant, if you are a person of color, if you are LGBTQ+, if you are a woman, dont be afraid, be loud!
During her visit to the state, the President will attend the second convocation ceremony of the University of Patanjali in Haridwar.

On November 3, President Murmu will address the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly in Dehradun on the silver jubilee of Uttarakhand state, after which she will proceed to Nainital.

On the same day, she will attend a function to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the Raj Bhavan in Nainital.

On November 4, the President will visit the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram at Kainchi Dham. She will also grace the 20th convocation of Kumaun University at Nainital before finally departing from Uttarakhand.

Meanwhile, the State's Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence & Security), Abhinav Kumar, held a briefing for the officers on duty ahead of her visit.

During this session, the ADG instructed all officers and police personnel to remain alert and vigilant while performing their duties.

Earlier on Saturday, the President extended warm wishes to the people of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Puducherry on their Formation Day.

The President acknowledged the states' contributions to the nation's progress and development and prayed for the well-being of all on the social media platform X.

"Warm greetings to the people of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Puducherry on their Formation Day! Each of these regions has made remarkable contributions to India's progress. May these states and Union Territories continue to achieve new milestones in their journey of development. I extend my best wishes for the continued prosperity and well-being of all their residents," President Murmu wrote. (ANI)
A middle school student has passed away over the weekend, the school district announced.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Butts County School System stated the child was a Henderson Middle School student.

The school district expressed profound sadness over the loss and extended thoughts and prayers to the students family, friends, and the entire school community.

This is a devastating loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with the students family, friends and everyone in our school community who may be affected, said Brent Lowe, Superintendent of Butts County School System.

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In response to the tragedy, counselors and support staff are available at the Henderson Middle School media center to assist students and staff in processing the news.

The students age and identity were not released.

School officials said out of respect for the familys privacy, no additional details about the students death will be released at this time.

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COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  In a rare Saturday decision, a Georgia federal judge sided with an unnamed Mexican detainee at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Ga., ordering the man to be granted a bond hearing.

U.S. District Judge Clay Land of the Middle District of Georgia didnt mince words in his 15-page order from the Middle District of Georgia. The Executive Branch has broad discretion in the enforcement of the Nations immigration laws, he wrote. That discretion, however, is not unbridled.

The petitioner, identified only as J.A.M., is a Mexican national who has been living in the United States for over 20 years without having been legally admitted into the country. He was arrested and sent to the Stewart Detention Center, awaiting deportation.

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J.A.M. has been denied a bond hearing he claims hes due.

Judge Lands ruling rejects a 2025 Board of Immigration Appeals decision in Matter of Yajure Hurtado, which applied to all undocumented immigrants arrested in the U.S. Judge Land ordered a bond hearing for J.A.M. to assess release conditions.

This follows similar rulings in at least 12 district courts since September 2025, including Merino v. Ripa in Florida, which rejected the BIAs interpretation. The case is part of the challenges to a DHS policy expanding mandatory detention.

What the judge found here ultimately is that the law as written is requires that due process allow for a bond hearing, said Charles Kuck, an Atlanta immigration attorney. Now, the immigration judge can still deny this person a bond. They still have that authority. But immigration judges have been saying they dont have the authority to do this. Its not like somebody was denied a bond and they appeal to Judge Land.

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Kuck has had about 10 cases similar to the one Judge Land ruled on pending in the Middle District.

While Land is the first Georgia judge to issue this ruling, other federal judges across the country have been drawing the same legal conclusion.

There have been more than 200 of these rulings around the United States over the course of the last five weeks, and all but two have gone against the government. And even in those two cases, I believe they have now subsequently been reversed, he said.

Kuck argues that just because someone is not a United States Citizen, does not mean they do not have constitutional rights.

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The Constitution applies to people. It doesnt apply to citizens. Some basic fact of the Constitution, and its been part of our constitutional law for the last 200, 35, 40 years, Kuck said.

There are more than 2,000 federal detainees currently being held at the Stewart Detention Center. These detainees are coming across the country. He says one of his clients in the facility was arrested in Washington state.

Land has been on the U.S. District Court bench since 2001. President George W. Bush appointed him.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has spoken of "nervous optimism" in the Middle East after holding talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi in Cairo.

Steinmeier said people in the region are optimistic that the peace process in the Gaza Strip will continue after Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas reached a ceasefire last month.

"But many people are not underestimating the difficulties that still lie ahead, especially in this region," he added.

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The German president kicked off a nearly week-long trip to Africa with his arrival in Egypt on Saturday. Alongside numerous other world leaders, he attended the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which lies within sight of the Pyramids of Giza.

Steinmeier held bilateral talks with Salam on Saturday, and with al-Sissi on Sunday.

Before his meeting with al-Sissi, Steinmeier said: "We hope that the world will not just wait and see how the process unfolds, but will help to turn the fragile ceasefire into lasting stability."

He noted that the German government had already pledged to help with the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

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Steinmeier praised the Grand Egyptian Museum, saying "its significance cannot be overestimated."

"What the Egyptians have achieved here in just a few years is something great," he said.

The German president is scheduled to travel on to Ghana and Angola. According to his office, Steinmeier aims to acknowledge the regional commitment of both states to stability and peace in West Africa.

The political partnership with them is to be strengthened, and cooperation in the fields of economy, science and culture is to be expanded, it said.
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Fox Newss website is drawing heat from media industry observers for getting duped by an AI-generated video  and then failing to take sufficient accountability for the error.

In a piece published Friday to Foxnews.com, writer Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi posted about SNAP beneficiaries threatening to loot stores amid the government shutdown. The piece, originally headlined SNAP Beneficiaries Threaten to Ransack Stores Over Government Shutdown, quoted Black women claiming to be SNAP recipients complaining about the cutoff of benefits due to the shutdown.

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I have seven different baby daddies and none of em no good for me, one purported SNAP recipient said.

The site was promptly called out for running with a phony video. In a 7-minute video titled Fox News Got Duped by AIand Lied About It, The Bulwarks Tim Miller trashed the site for horrific news judgment in falling for the fake footage.

Fox News got fooled by a series of racist AI videos purporting to be Black women complaining about losing their SNAP benefits, and they reported those complaints made computers pretending to be humans as if they were real news, Miller said. Yikes.

After getting called out, the headline of the post was amended to read, AI videos of SNAP beneficiaries complaining about cuts go viral. The change was accompanied by a brief editors note at the bottom.

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This article previously reported on some videos that appear to have been generated by AI without noting that, the note read. This has been corrected.

CNNs Andrew Kaczynski posted screenshots on X showing the original and amended headlines side-by-side.

Not sure if Ive seen anything like this before  Fox fell for an AI video and basically rewrote their whole story when called out, Kaczynski wrote.

Not sure if Ive seen anything like this before  Fox feel for an AI video and basically rewrote their whole story when called out https://t.co/L7bVMpb4Dw pic.twitter.com/tr0XgzCSQX  Andrew Kaczynski (@KFILE) November 1, 2025

CNNs Brian Stelter delivered a similar condemnation in his Reliable Sources newsletter on Sunday.

Its gobsmacking, Stelter wrote. So is the editors note now tacked to the bottom.



The post Gobsmacking: Media Industry Observers Call Out Fox Newss Website for Getting Duped By AI-Generated Video, Then Attempting to Sweep it Under the Rug first appeared on Mediaite.
Atlanta-based Goodr Co. is stepping up for the community as millions are set to experience a pause in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

In an Instagram video shared Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, Goodr Founder and CEO Jasmine Crowe-Houston issued a call for help.

As many of you may have heard, millions of people will lose their SNAP benefits in just a few days, including hundreds of thousands right here in Metro Atlanta, Crowe-Houston said.

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What this means is that their grocery budgets will disappear overnight. At Goodr, were stepping up to fill the gap, she continued.

The tech-enabled sustainable food waste management company has launched the Goodr Community Fund, allowing the public to make a direct impact. For a $10 donation, donors can sponsor a grab bag meal that feeds a family of four. For an additional $5, Goodr will deliver groceries and meals directly to seniors and families.

Goodr is also accepting registration requests from families in need. By filling out an online request form linked in its Instagram bio, these families can receive priority as donations roll in.

People need to eat to live. Its that simple. And we need everyone to come together to show our neighbors that community and villages still exist, Crowe-Houston said in the post.

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Goodrs support comes as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the ongoing government shutdown will halt SNAP benefit distributions starting Nov. 1, 2025.

Government Shutdown: Why SNAP Benefits Are On Hold

As

AFROTECH

previously reported, the USDA confirmed that SNAPs November budget is depleted and the program cannot legally draw from emergency disaster funds to cover regular monthly benefits. Even if such funds were available, they could only supplement  not fully replace  standard payments.

The department added that the halt in benefits would continue as long as the government shutdown persists and warned that states wont receive reimbursement if they used their own funds to maintain payments.

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With the government spending an estimated $100 billion on SNAP annually, about $8.3 billion per month, suspending payments is expected to affect over 40 million Americans,

AFROTECH

noted.

The government shutdown started on Oct. 1, 2025, after Congress failed to extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, and has since become the second-longest shutdown in U.S. history.

Efforts to end the congressional impasse have stalled. The Senate has repeatedly rejected a House-passed, Republican-backed stopgap bill that would fund the government through Nov. 21. The most recent vote took place on Oct. 28, per CBS News.

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Republicans argue that Democrats should approve a short-term measure and resolve policy disputes later, while Democrats insist that any funding bill should include healthcare provisions.

Judges Order Trump Administration To Continue SNAP Benefits

On Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, two federal judges  Judge Indira Talwani in Boston, MA, and Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in Providence, RI  ruled that the Trump administrations efforts to suspend SNAP funding was unlawful. Judge McConnell went further and temporarily ordered the administration to reinstate SNAP funding using emergency reserves during the government shutdown, according to ABC News.

He required the USDA to distribute contingency funds timely, or as soon as possible.

There is no doubt, and it is beyond argument, that irreparable harm will begin to occur  if it hasnt already occurred  in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for food for their family, McConnell said, per ABC.

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He ruled on the grounds that halting SNAP funding was in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, stating that the decision was arbitrary and capricious, according to the outlet.

In a late Friday filing, the administration said it was expeditiously attempting to comply with the order.

Local governments, nonprofits, small businesses, and workers rights groups filed a lawsuit on Thursday, Oct. 30, asserting that the Trump administration had needlessly plunged SNAP into crisis by suspending benefits despite having emergency funds.

For the reasons stated below, Plaintiffs have standing to bring this action and are likely to succeed on their claim that Defendants suspension of SNAP benefits is unlawful, Judge Talwani wrote, ABC reports.

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Both judges allowed flexibility in whether the program is fully funded or will offer reduced November payments. They requested an update by Monday, Nov. 3.

The post Goodr, The Tech-Driven Food Waste Company, Launches Fund To Support Families As SNAP Benefits Face Pause appeared first on AfroTech.







The post Goodr, The Tech-Driven Food Waste Company, Launches Fund To Support Families As SNAP Benefits Face Pause appeared first on AfroTech.
LAS VEGAS  Republican Jews acknowledged antisemitism is cropping up in their movement during a conference this weekend, but were quick to blame left-leaning Democrats for fanning the flames.

At the Republican Jewish Coalition leadership summit, a string of recent high-profile antisemitic incidents  including a skirmish this week featuring Tucker Carlson and the Heritage Foundation  cast a long shadow. Even as many speakers denounced antisemitism among conservatives and said the GOP must root it out, nearly all their condemnations were quickly qualified by criticism of Democrats.

Republicans have a cold, and Democrats have a fever, Ari Fleischer, a former White House press secretary and RJC board member, told reporters. And Republicans are fighting the cold.

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The group's summit, held annually at The Venetian Expo, the late casino magnate and GOP donor Sheldon Adelsons convention center, occurs this year as the Republican Party is facing a barrage of pro-Nazi and pro-Hitler incidents within its ranks. Last month, a nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel withdrew his nomination after bragging of his Nazi streak in a text message; days earlier, POLITICO reported on a leaked group chat of Young Republicans who praised Hitler and joked about the Holocaust. The same week, a Nazi symbol was discovered hanging in a GOP Congressional office .

Then, this week, Carlson hosted Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes on his podcast; the guest claimed the big challenge to unifying the country was organized Jewry. Carlson, a former Fox News host who retains a large following, said Republican Israel supporters suffer from a brain virus.

RJC speakers took aim at Carlson starting on the conferences opening night. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said Thursday he has seen more antisemitism on the right in the past six months than I have in my entire life.

"If you sit there with someone who says Adolf Hitler was very, very cool, and that their mission is to combat and defeat global Jewry, and you say nothing, then you are (a) coward and you are complicit in that evil, Cruz said.

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But many speakers downplayed the concern, saying antisemitism is relegated to the fringes of the GOP.

Matt Brooks, CEO of the hosting organization, told reporters that antisemitism is a very small, limited problem in our party. On Saturday, RJC staffers gave attendees large placards reading TUCKER IS NOT MAGA to wave, suggesting that Carlsons antisemitic views stand apart from the GOP mainstream. Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), the longest serving Republican Jew in Congress, emphasized in his speech that antisemitism is an issue on the fringes of the Republican Party, and suggested that legacy conservative institutions like the Heritage Foundation are removed from the partys mainstream.

Heritage has to decide whether, in fact, they're going to be a serious conservative movement and think tank and resource for all of us, or whether they're going to pray to the fringes, Kustoff said in an interview.

Even Rep. Randy Fine (R-Florida), who denounced Carlson as the most dangerous antisemite in America in his speech, said in an interview that antisemitism is still on the fringes in his party.

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But if we don't deal with it, it could metastasize, like we've seen with the Democrats, Fine said. And I'm not willing to be a part of that.

The string of antisemitic incidents among Republicans in recent weeks has caused some top Jewish GOP donors to double down. "Antisemitism isnt a 'right-wing' problem  its a human one, festering across the spectrum, said Y. David Scharf, a GOP megadonor and grandson of Holocaust survivors. He noted the incidents dont shake my support for the RNC or GOP candidates  they fuel it.

The partys swift suspension of that Young Republicans chapter shows accountability, he added. I will back those who fight hate decisively."

Even so, the antisemitic incidents have yet to garner explicit condemnations from President Donald Trump or Vice President J.D. Vance, a fact RJC officials and Republican lawmakers downplayed in interviews. This is a decision every elected official gets to make, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) told reporters, when asked about Vances dismissal of Young Republicans rhetoric as edgy, offensive jokes.

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I believe the Republican Party stands for Israel. I believe we stand against antisemitism, Scott said.

Unless Trump, Vance and other Republican leaders condemn the incidents, it will only continue to fester, said Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America. If the president himself and Republicans were serious about combating antisemitism, they would condemn it when it emerges in their own ranks. And they do not, Soifer said in an interview last week. There's a permission structure within the Republican Party, and it comes from the top.

Joe Gruters, the chair of the Republican National Committee, mentioned antisemitism nine times throughout his speech Saturday, all in reference to universities or the political left. Antisemitism has found a home in the Democrat Party, he said.

Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) agreed, adding, Let's face it: Antisemitism is running wild on the progressive left,

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the highest ranking Jewish senator, encouraged Republicans to look inward, writing on social media Thursday, Every person who has aligned itself with the Heritage Foundation, including elected officials, must disavow this dangerous mainstreaming of these hateful ideologies."

CORRECTION: Matt Brooks' name was incorrect in an earlier version of this article.






YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK - Dan Davis watched as a group of young men leaped from Yosemite's Swinging Bridge into a shallow stretch of the Merced River.

A middle school science teacher chaperoning a school trip to the national park, Davis knew what they were doing last week was against Yosemite National Park's rules. Under normal circumstances, he would have alerted a park ranger. But this time, there was no ranger to be found.

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Yosemite has been staffed by a skeleton crew since the federal government shut down on Oct. 1, furloughing the majority of National Park Service employees. While the park has largely kept up appearances, the lack of staff has enabled some visitors to quietly bend its rules.

"I'm really surprised," said Davis, who lives in Paso Robles (San Luis Obispo County) and has regularly visited Yosemite for decades. "I think people are taking advantage of there not being that many rangers around, and they're taking liberties here and there."

With peak fall foliage coinciding with sunny weather, the park was buzzing with people on Thursday - more than usual for this time of year, by Davis' estimate. Golden leaves blazed against the gleaming rock formations in Yosemite Valley. National Park Service-run sites such as the Yosemite Museum were closed, but most cafes and shops were kept open by vendors. Restrooms, campgrounds and trash areas were all clean because maintenance workers are still on duty.

A sign at an unstaffed tollbooth at the south entrance to Yosemite asks for support during the federal government shutdown. Drivers haven't been charged the park's $35-per-car entrance fee since the shutdown began a month ago. (Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle)





For many visitors, the most visible evidence of the shutdown were the unmanned entrance stations at park gates. Drivers haven't been charged the $35-per-car entry fee since the government shut down a month ago, which some local business owners have credited with extending the tourist season into the fall.

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Ron Shortman, an 82-year-old visitor from Arizona, said he didn't know what to expect when he pulled up at the entrance.

"I had my senior citizen card out," Shortman said. "We got to the gate - hell, there's nobody here. I guess we just keep going."

Other signs of the shutdown were less glaring. Several people smoked cigarettes, which is verboten in most of the park due to wildfire risk. A few drones cruised around the rock formations, flouting a rule that punishes violators with penalties of up to $5,000 and six months in jail. Parking lot time limits of 30 or 50 minutes went widely disregarded.

Five visitors also said they had noticed cars and vans illegally parked overnight in general parking lots or along roads. One parking lot in Yosemite Valley had 11 small vans parked in it on Thursday afternoon. Some had been there for days, said frequent visitor Paul Kimbrough, 38, who was perched in a pop-up camper in the lot.

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"People are a little more bold," Kimbrough said. "None of it seems bad, per se. But people camping in this parking lot - I've never seen that before. I don't advise people to camp here. There's signs saying no overnight parking."

Emergency personnel, including members of Yosemite Search and Rescue, evacuate an injured climber Friday after a cliff rescue in Yosemite National Park. (Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle)





The small band of park service employees still in Yosemite has mostly been concerned with potentially life-threatening violations. Both Kimbrough and Davis said they had seen people BASE jumping off El Capitan in broad daylight last week.

The sport, which involves parachuting down from fixed objects, has long been illegal in national parks. Davis' colleague took a picture of one jumper and showed it to a ranger. The park later announced on social media that "vigilant visitors and coordinated ranger response" had helped rangers apprehend an alleged jumper that day. The park also announced last week that three others were convicted of BASE jumping - though for incidents that had occurred in 2020 and 2024.

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Another visitor, Mike Jeffries, saw a paraglider soaring off El Capitan when he was taking photos of his daughter and her friends climbing the peak last week.

"He went across the whole face, just doing all sorts of acrobatic stuff, and then went and landed over in a field," Jeffries said. About 10 minutes later, a ranger asked whether Jeffries had seen a BASE jumper. He told him no and did not mention the paraglider, adding, "I wasn't there to get anybody in trouble."

This shutdown is only a few days short of the 35-day record set during Donald Trump's first presidency. Yosemite was hit hard by that closure, which started in December 2018: Trash cans overflowed, and park officials closed several trails and campgrounds due to the presence of human waste. But a month into the current shutdown, visitors said the park appeared to be flourishing despite the casual indifference to some rules.

Yosemite visitors pose for photographs Thursday at the California Tunnel Tree in Mariposa Grove as the Oct. 1 government shutdown nears the one-month mark. (Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle)





"Yeah, there's probably a lot more people here that are camping in their cars when they wouldn't be allowed to, but I don't care," said Tricia Jones, 76. "They're not bothering us. They're not bothering the park at all. I haven't noticed any lack of services, and here we are in the fifth week."

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While few rangers were visible in Yosemite Valley or Mariposa Grove last week, plenty of other staff were at work - though many of them were employed by Aramark, Yosemite's concessionaire, rather than the park service. Tom, a shuttle driver who declined to give his last name, said his routine was unshaken by the shutdown.

"I'm not really affected by it," he said. "Maybe the park's a little busier, because people are taking advantage of the free admission. But other than that, I wouldn't say for me that there's really anything different."

Last month, businesses on the fringes of the park reported a spate of cancellations immediately after the government shut down, followed by a swell of reservations as people realized the park was still open. The business appears to have held strong: Monica O'Sullivan, a visitor from Wisconsin, said she and her husband had tried to get dinner reservations at the Ahwanee Hotel and were told the restaurant was fully booked for the entire week of their trip.

Yosemite visitors admire Yosemite's splendor Thursday at Tunnel View. The park remains open during the federal government shutdown but is operating with reduced staffing. (Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle)





The influx still hasn't brought the crowds up to their summer peak - parking spots and picnic tables were still readily available last week. Verne Bentley, a visitor from San Diego, enthused about the quiet Thursday afternoon. He's impressed by most visitors' willingness to protect the park even without the enforcement of rangers.

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"Most people who go to places like this care about it," Bentley said. "Everybody wants the same thing. A place like this is really unifying."

This article originally published at Gorgeous, free and free-wheeling: What Yosemite is really like a month into shutdown.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  New York Governor Kathy Hochul was in Buffalo Saturday morning to encourage voters to hit the polls ahead of Tuesdays election. WIVB News 4 cameras were there and also caught up with all three mayoral candidates for their final pitches to voters.

You have to gut it out til the very end just like Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills do, Gov. Hochul said to a packed room of voters at Babeville on Delaware Avenue.

Gov. Hochul was joined by Democrats from across Erie County to rally as part of a final push to get voters to the polls ahead of the election.

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A race many have been following with high anticipation is Buffalos mayoral race. This will be the first time the citys elected a new mayor since Byron Brown back in 2005.

This is an opportunity to propel a new leader into a position that is so critically important, Gov. Hochul said. Buffalo is a very significant city.

Gov. Hochul threw her support behind the Democratic-endorsed candidate for mayor, Sean Ryan, who has vowed to bring Buffalo back to the basics if elected.

The City of Buffalo, weve gone a little backwards, we seem to have forgotten about how to serve the people of the City of Buffalo, Ryan said. Weve forgotten how to fix the potholes, we forgot how to plow our streets, we forgot how to have our pools open, but were going to bring back the basics, and were going to bring those basics back to make sure we have top services for our people.

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News 4 also caught up with the other two candidates running for the top job in Buffalo, including Republican candidate James Gardner, who vowed to fix the potholes, combat crime, and bring change to the city if elected. He said its time a Republican is put in charge.

The Democratic Party has had 60 years and this is the result. In my lifetime, Ive only known three mayors  Im 41 years old, Gardner said. That is no way to lead a city. People want change. Theyve had 60, give me four.

Independent mayoral candidate Michael Gainer vowed to be a mayor who makes sure the city lives up to its nickname.

My duty and my responsibility is to create a community where were caring for one another, where were taking care of each other, Gainer said. Where were looking out for our neighbors, where were putting our businesses and our families and our communities first, and that is a comprehensive attitude and perspective that we need to set the tone for at the very top.

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Gov. Hochuls visit to Erie County came on the heels of a similar push by Republicans that saw RNC co-chair KC Crosbie in town last weekend to drum up support for the GOP ahead of the election.

The fact that the National Republican Party has been here in Erie County and the Governor has come here for one of the rare moments where shes even invited to rally with candidates shows you that these are going to be tight elections, said Michael Kracker, Erie Countys Republican Chairman.

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Rob Petree is an anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in 2025. See more of his work by clicking here.

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Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday reiterated the Election Commission of India's zero tolerance towards violence. He assured the voters of Bihar that the numerous police officials, returning officers, zilla parishad officials are ready to conduct a free and fair elections, which will set a benchmark for the whole world. "I want to appeal to everyone to come and participate in the election process, and everyone come to exercise their right to vote. On the topic of violence, Election Commission wants to make it clear that the Election Commission has zero tolerance towards violence. No incident of violence will be tolerated. The Election Commission is ready to make sure that the electors can peacefully vote. Our 243 returning officers, that many observers, every zilla's collectors, zilla adhikari, SP, SSP, police observers, everyone is ready," CEC Kumar told reporters here in Kanpur. The CEC's comments come amid the recent murder of politician Dularchand Yadav on October 30 in Mokama assembly constituency while he was present in the rally of Jan Suraaj candidate from the constituency, Piyush Priyadarshini. Following the murder, Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, has been arrested. CEC is on Kanpur to visit his alma mater Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur as the institute recently conferred him with the Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA), its highest award to its alumni in recognition of their achievements of exceptional merit. "Today I have come to IIT Kanpur as a former student, after they had decided to acknowledge and honour me. I have spent the most energetic years of my life in Kanpur city for four years, and I am really attached to it. This is my good luck that I get to be here and go to IIT Kanpur," he said. He also stressed on the neutrality of the ECI being an integral part of the poll body, amid repeated allegations of favouring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) "This is also that time when elections in Bihar are happening. In Bihar elections, every political party, in their own way, are asking for electors to vote for them. I want to say it once again that for Election Commission no one is in ruling, or opposition side, everyone is neutral. The first phase of elections will happen on November 6, second phase will happen on November 11, and counting will happen on November 14," he said. As he encouraged every elector in Bihar to exercise their franchise, he said that the elections, which will be conducted transparently, competently, and with ease will set a benchmark not only for Indian elections but world over. "The hope is that the Bihar polls will happen not only transparently, competently, with ease and not only be an example for the country but for the world," he said. Following the murder, the ECI on November 1 ordered the immediate transfer of key administrative and police officials posted from the Mokama Assembly constituency and directed disciplinary action against them. According to an official statement from the poll body, the Commission has approved the transfer of Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Barh-cum-Returning Officer, Chandan Kumar; Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Barh-1, Rakesh Kumar; and SDPO Barh-2, Abhishek Singh, in connection with Mokama Assembly Constituency. The poll body has also sought a detailed report from the Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) regarding the murder. Mokama, which will vote in the first phase on November 6, is once again set to witness a high-voltage electoral contest in the 2025 polls, as Janata Dal (United) has fielded strongman Anant Singh, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal has nominated Veena Devi, wife of former MP and influential leader Surajbhan Singh. (ANI)
Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris and a slew of other national and California Democrats on Saturday rallied supporters to stay fired up in seeking passage of a ballot measure to redraw the state's congressional districts ahead of the midterm elections.

While polling suggests Proposition 50 is likely to pass Tuesday, volunteers must continue knocking on doors, phone banking and motivating voters through Election Day, they said. Newsom told volunteers they ought to follow the model of sprinters, leaving it all on the field.

"We cannot afford to run the 90-yard dash. You Angelenos, you've got the Olympics coming in 2028. They do not run the 90-yard dash. They run the 110-yard dash. We have got to be at peak on Election Day," Newsom told hundreds of supporters at the Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles. "We cannot take anything for granted."

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Hours earlier, Republicans spoke out against the ballot measure at John Wayne Park in Newport Beach, before sending teams into neighborhoods to drum up votes for their side.

"What Proposition 50 will do is disenfranchise, meaning, disregard all Republicans in the state of California," state Assembly member Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach) said. "Ninety percent of 6 million [Californian Republicans] will be disenfranchised."

Prop. 50 would redraw California's congressional districts in an attempt to boost the number of Democrats in Congress. The effort was proposed by Newsom and other California Democrats in hope of blunting President Trump's push in Texas and other GOP-led states to increase the number of Republicans elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in next year's midterm elections. But even if voters approve the ballot measure that could flip five California districts currently represented by Republicans, it's unclear whether that will be enough to shift control of the House unless there is a blue wave in the 2026 elections.

Read more: Your last-minute guide to Proposition 50: California redistricting

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The party that wins control of the House will shape Trump's final two years in the White House and determine whether he is able to continue enacting his agenda or whether he faces a spate of investigations and possibly another impeachment attempt.

The special election is among the costliest ballot measures in state history. More than $192 million has flowed into various campaign committees since state lawmakers voted in August to put the proposition on the ballot. Supporters of the redistricting effort raised exponentially more money than opponents, and polling shows the proposition is likely to pass.

Read more: Who is spending money on Prop. 50, the redistricting measure on Californias November ballot

As of Friday, more than a quarter of the state's 23 million registered voters had cast ballots, with Democrats outpacing Republicans.

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Newsom was joined Saturday by Harris, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla of California and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, other Democrats and labor leaders.

Harris, in a surprise appearance at the gathering, argued that the Trump administration is implementing long-sought GOP goals such as voter suppression.

"This fight is not about sitting by and complaining, 'Oh, they're cheating,'" the former vice president said. "It's about recognizing what they are up to. There is an agenda that we are witnessing which feels chaotic, I know, but in fact, we are witnessing a high-velocity event that is about the swift implementation of a plan that has been decades in the making."

Several speakers referred to the immigration raids that started in Los Angeles in June and deep cuts to federal safety nets, including the nutrition assistance program for low-income families and healthcare coverage for seniors and the disabled.

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"We know there's so much on the line this Tuesday. And a reminder, Tuesday is not Election Day  it's the last day to vote," Padilla said. "Don't wait till Tuesday. Get your ballots in, folks.... As good as the polls look, we need to run up the score on this because the eyes of the country are going to be on California on Tuesday. And we need to win and we need to win big."

Padilla, a typically staid legislator, then offered a modified riff of a lyric by rapper Ice Cube, who grew up in South Los Angeles.

"Donald Trump  you better check yourself before you wreck America," said Padilla, who is considering running for governor next year.

Nearly 50 miles southeast, about 50 Republican canvassers fueled up on coffee and doughnuts, united over the brisk weather and annoyance about Newsoms attempt to redraw Californias congressional districts.

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Will O'Neill, chairman of the Orange County Republican Party, equated this final push against Prop. 50 as the California GOPs Game 7  a nod to Saturday nights World Series battle between the Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.

"Orange County right now is the only county in Southern California that has a shot of having more Republicans than Democrats voting," O'Neill said. "We expect that over the next three days, around 70% of everyone who votes is gonna vote no on 50. But we need them to vote."

Ariana Assenmacher, of California Young Republicans, center, organizes during a gathering of Republican Party members pressing to vote no on Proposition 50 in the upcoming California Statewide Special Election at John Wayne Park in Newport Beach on Saturday, November 1, 2025. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

O'Neill labeled the measure a hyper-partisan power grab. If Prop. 50 passes, it will dilute Republican power in Orange County by splitting communities and roping some residents into districts represented by Los Angeles County politicians.

Dixon also rallied volunteers  which included a handful of college students from across the state: Be polite. Just say thank you very much. Just like Charlie Kirk would. Don't [stimulate] an argument. Just be friendly.

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They're squeezing out what very little representation Republicans have in the state, said Kristen Nicole Valle, president of the Orange County Young Republicans.

We will not be hearing from 40% of Californians if Prop. 50 passes.

Randall Avila, executive director of the Orange County GOP, said the measure disenfranchises Latino GOP voters like himself.

Nationally, Trump managed to gain 48% of the Latino vote, a Pew Research study showed , which proved crucial to his second presidential victory.

Obviously our community has kind of shown we're willing to switch parties and go another direction if that elected official or that party isn't serving us, Avila said. So it's unfortunate that some of those voices are now gonna be silenced with a predetermined winner in their district.

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Not all hope is lost for Republicans if Prop. 50 is approved, Avila said. A handful of seats could be snagged by Republicans, including the districts held by Reps. Dave Min (D-Irvine) and Derek Tran (D-Orange).

"If the lines do change, that doesn't mean we pack up and go home," he said. "Just means we reorganize, we reconfigure things, and then we keep fighting."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL)  Three days away from Election Day in Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Republican Contingency spoke to Southwest Virginia voters.

During the Get out the Vote event, Youngkin warned those in attendance what he said would happen if Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger were elected and what that would do to the job growth in Virginia.

On the right path, we will continue to see that kind of opportunity right here in Southwest Virginia. We have over 4,000 new jobs because of the great work that all of you have done. Over $1 billion of investment, said Youngkin. But if we go down the wrong path, Abigail Spanberger will kill it all. And I dont mean that in a hyperbole. She will literally kill it all and drive it away. We lose right to work. We force every Virginian to join a union.

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Another Republican leader, Attorney General Jason Miyares, spoke about why he is fit for reelection, following the leaked text messages of the Democratic candidate Jay Jones.

My elections no longer about the politics. Its about decency. Weve never had anybody like Jones who is running for attorney general that has advocated for violence against children. And he told colleagues he wanted to see cops die. Your number one job as attorney general is to stop violence. Thats my job as the top prosecutor, said Miyares. I cant imagine somebody like Jay Jones, whos running for this office, whos literally advocated for children to die in their mothers arms, to die twice. Every single law enforcement organization in the state not only has endorsed me, but theyve said Jones is disqualified and should drop out of the race. But hes decided to stay in.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears also gave testimony to what she will do if she is elected as the first female governor of Virginia. Earle-Sears said they will continue to honor their law enforcement.

When Im governor, Im going to propose the first $20,000 of their salary wont be taxed. We need money for that. We need them. Need them, said Earle-Sears. The Democrats demoralized our law enforcement and Department of Corrections personnel. And so they left and because you hired us, they came back. Although some places theyre still short-staffed. But they came back because they see we care about them, too. We cant go back, folks.

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Earle-Sears went on and said that they will continue to encourage success for the Commonwealths growth in jobs.

This election is not really about the next four years. This election is about our future for our children and their childrens children. Thats what this is about. Weve had four glorious years where weve been creating jobs left and right, said Earle-Sears.

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Taxpayers are spending 200m on a scheme to help some of the worlds biggest companies achieve net zero, despite civil servants admitting it could be seen as greenwashing.

The climate aid money is going towards a carbon markets project, which will provide offsets to companies to compensate for the environmental harm they create, despite officials acknowledging that there is a reputational risk.

The biggest deal that the scheme has secured so far in the Brazilian state of Para, where Sir Keir Starmer will meet Cop leaders later this week, is currently caught up in legal action.

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Federal prosecutors say that the $180m (136m) deal  to purchase up to 12 million tonnes of forest carbon credits  should be cancelled as it does not comply with Brazilian laws and indigenous communities were not consulted.

The scheme is part of the Governments International Climate Finance (ICF) spending, which a Telegraph investigation has revealed has been mired in allegations of corruption and waste.

Projects under the scheme include a 52m road cutting through the Amazon jungle, solar panels for one of the worlds richest hotel chains, the rewilding of Ugandan wetlands that has left farmers on the brink of starvation, and a push to stop ocean plastic pollution in landlocked African countries.

Villagers in south west Uganda say their crops and homes were destroyed by officials carrying out a project for the UK-funded Green Climate Fund

The findings of the seven-month investigation by The Telegraph have been described as a major scandal by Richard Tice, the Reform deputy leader.

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Claire Coutinho, the shadow secretary for energy security and net zero, said: Our approach to net zero and climate aid is clearly not working. We cannot bankrupt Britain in the name of Net Zero.

The Government has pledged to spend 11.6bn on the ICF by the end of the financial year. The aid money aims to allow developing countries to access clean energy, avoid deforestation and build green infrastructure, and to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change.

One project that is central to this is the LEAF coalition, a partnership between governments and several major companies, which is said to be designed to accelerate climate action and reduce deforestation.

The coalition will create a carbon market, backed by taxpayers, in which companies can buy carbon credit offsets to compensate for the pollution they create in a drive to appear green. These credits are created by countries like Brazil, which put policies in place to plant trees or stop deforestation.

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Governments in the US and Norway are among a number to have signed up.

The ICF-funded road in Guyana goes nowhere other than a tiny village and has long been criticised by environmentalists - Paul Grover

As for the 200m aid donation, officials say that UK taxpayers money will add credibility to the coalition.

A large portion of that donation will be used to pay forest nations for their efforts in reducing deforestation if a private buyer for the offsets cannot be found, essentially guaranteeing the market.

But officials from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) admit in official documents that there has been a loss of confidence in carbon markets and there is a reputational risk that their involvement could be seen as greenwashing.

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There have been a series of scandals surrounding carbon offsetting amid claims that the schemes overestimate their impact and are a dangerous distraction from work to stop climate change.

REDD+ schemes are international efforts to create financial incentives for developing countries to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation, protect forests and enhance forest carbon stocks.

The DESNZ business case recognised the issues, noting that there are only tentative causal links between the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) schemes and actual reduced deforestation.

They add that at the impact level, after more than 10 years of REDD+ implementation, there is no consistent trends of falling deforestation rates across tropical forest basins.

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But still, 200m was signed off for the project.

Workers construct an avenue, named Liberdade, or Freedom, ahead of the Cop30 climate summit in Belem - Jorge Saenz/AP

Concerns over carbon markets have also led environmentalists to criticise LEAF.

Amazon Watch, a campaign group set up to protect the Amazon, has described it as the latest in a long line of pay-to-pollute greenwashing schemes pushed by corporations and wealthy governments.

Now the first major deal that the coalition is involved in  the biggest ever trade in carbon credits  is tied up in legal action.

Brazils federal prosecutors office has filed a lawsuit to block the carbon credit agreement between LEAF and the Amazonian state of Para, saying that it breaches laws on sales of carbon credits and consulting indigenous people.

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It is Paras capital, Belem, where the Prime Minister will attend Cop30 later this week, where he is seeking to establish himself as a world leader on climate change.

But the findings of The Telegraphs investigation have raised questions about how the Government is seeking to do this using ICF.

Cop30 will be held later this week in the city of Belem, known as the gateway to the Amazon - Anderson Coelho/Reuters

Ms Coutinho, the Tory MP for East Surrey, said: Wed be much better off doubling down on innovation and producing clean technology that we can sell to the rest of the world, not spending hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers money on bungs for multinational corporations. Thats the biggest impact Britain will ever have on tackling climate change.

A Government spokesman said the suggestion that the scheme was greenwashing was a mischaracterisation.

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The scheme is designed to prevent deforestation and protect the climate, they said. We only work with companies which have robust plans in place to reach net zero.

A spokesman for Emergent, which coordinates the LEAF coalition, said they believe the Para agreement is fully aligned with Brazils carbon market laws and that a judge refused a request for an injunction and immediate suspension of the agreement.

The comments were echoed by a spokesman for the state of Para, who said the agreement is being developed with transparency and social participation.

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This page reflects the news from the federal government shutdown on Sunday, Nov. 2. For the latest updates, read USA TODAY's live coverage for Monday, Nov. 3.

WASHINGTON  It's not clear when millions of families will receive their November food aid benefits, even after two federal judges ruled last week that the Trump administration needs to make at least partial payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as the government shutdown continues.

The payments appeared set to stop at the beginning of November, as the shutdown has stretched into a new week. But federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled Oct. 31 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture needs to use $5.25 billion in contingency funds to make at least partial payments.

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Both judges said the Trump administration has the option to use certain discretionary money to provide the benefits in full for November. They gave the administration a limited number of days to provide an update on what it's doing.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that President Donald Trump wants to hear from the courts about how to legally move money around to fund SNAP payments, but he noted during an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" that it "could" flow by Wednesday.

"There's a process that has to be followed," Bessent said. "So, we've got to figure out what the process is."

The Cabinet secretary also told the outlet that the Trump administration will not appeal the rulings.

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Keep up with the latest updates from the USA TODAY Network.

How is the government shutdown impacting national parks?

Federal funding for national parks effectively ran out Sept. 30, leaving the nations massive parks system in the lurch.

Yet the nations 63 national parks remain largely open, with many roads, trails, lookouts and wilderness areas still accessible. But the shutdown has turned most parks into ghost towns, with little to no staffing or access to amenities and facilities.

While open-air memorials will generally remain open to visitors, according to the National Park Services September funding report, indoor attractions such as visitor centers and exhibits remain closed, due in part to low staffing levels.

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From Yosemite to Acadia, the latest accessibility updates can be found on the National Park Service website.

Food items at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, including milk, pasta and frozen blueberries. Volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, load food into a waiting car on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, load food into a waiting car on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, load food into a waiting car on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, pause for prayer before loading food into waiting cars on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, pause for prayer before loading food into waiting cars on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, pause for prayer before loading food into waiting cars on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Former trucker Doug Wheeler, 56, waits to collect food at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Wheeler is among those whose benefits have been halted. A volunteer distributes food at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers distribute food at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. A volunteer at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, on Nov. 1, 2025, takes a picture of a heart-shaped potato before distributing food to people following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers distribute food at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers distribute food at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Thomas Booth, the site coordinator for Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site, and an elder with the Restoration Christian Fellowship, which hosts the distribution, helps hand out food to people on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Free food as SNAP benefits halted 1 of 14 Food items at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, including milk, pasta and frozen blueberries.

When was the longest government shutdown?

The current shutdown is now the second longest in history at 33 days.

The longest shutdown ever lasted 35 days, from December 2018 to January 2019, during Trumps first term.

That means that if the shutdown continues to Election Day, on Nov. 4, the record will tie. If the current impasse lasts longer, it will take the place as the longest shutdown in history.

Will I still receive my Social Security check?

Yes, Social Security payments, including Supplemental Security Income and benefits for retirement, disability and survivors, continue during a government shutdown.

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Because Social Security benefit programs are considered mandatory spending by law, they are not impacted by the lapse in funding appropriations. Payments are still distributed on a regular schedule during the shutdown.

Social Security offices are still open during the shutdown, but only some services are available.

 Sudiksha Kochi and Melina Khan

Are flights impacted by the government shutdown?

It's complicated. TSA officers and FAA air traffic controllers are considered essential employees. So they're required to work during the shutdown, even as they don't receive paychecks.

While delay numbers have been fairly low overall, staffing at some air traffic control facilities have led to issues. It's important to note that not all delays during the shutdown are attributable to the funding lapse. Weather is still a major driver of flight delays, regardless of what's happening in Washington.

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Still, in previous shutdowns, these essential workers have eventually started to call out from work in increasing numbers, which has led to longer security lines and delays at some airports.

 Zach Wichter and Kathleen Wong

A man holds a sign reading "SNAP Feeds Families," as food aid benefits will be suspended starting November 1 amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, during "A Rally for SNAP" on the steps of the Massachusetts Statehouse in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., October 28, 2025.

WIC and school lunches could be affected

SNAP is the largest food assistance program in the country, accounting for about 70% of USDAs nutrition assistance spending in fiscal year 2024, according to the agency.

However, there are also many other food assistance programs run by the government, such as:

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides services for at-risk children under 5 years old, as well as for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women. According to the USDA, WIC served about 6.7 million participants each month in fiscal year 2024, including an estimated 41% of all infants in the United States.

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free lunches to children. According to the USDA, NSLP provided more than 4.8 billion lunches in fiscal year 2024.



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The impacts of the government shutdown on programs like WIC, NSLP and the many others backed by the government vary depending on the program.

 Fernando Cervantes Jr. and Melina Khan

What have judges said about SNAP benefits for November?

Massachusetts federal Judge Indira Talwani said in a written decision that the government is required to use its contingency funds to the extent they're needed to keep the SNAP program funded. She also said the administration is allowed to transfer other funds that come from charges on imports to supplement the contingency funds.

Talwani ordered the administration to tell her by Nov. 3 whether it will authorize at least reduced benefits for November and, if it does, its timeline for determining whether it will also authorize full benefits.

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Meanwhile, in a short written entry on a case docket Oct. 31, following a court hearing, Rhode Island federal Judge John McConnell ordered the administration to distribute the contingency funds and update him by noon on Nov. 3 on the status of that distribution. The administration followed up on that order with a motion stating that the judge needed to include reasons and better explain what's required.

McConnell responded with a written order Nov. 1, saying the government needs to use the contingency funds to at least partially fund the November benefits, and has the option of using other available funds. McConnell told the administration to make full payments by Nov. 3, if it plans to use discretionary funds to make that possible. He said if the administration chooses to only make partial payments with the contingency funds, it needs to do that by Nov. 5.

McConnell may have provided an extended deadline for partial payments because the government has said implementing partial payments for the country would require re-working existing systems.

Why is there a government shutdown?

Large segments of the federal government shut down on Oct. 1 because Congress failed to pass a new spending bill to fund the government.

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The congressional fight centered on health care. Democrats wanted a bill that would extend subsidies that reduce health insurance premiums for millions of Americans. The subsidies are set to expire at the end of 2025.

When did the shutdown begin?

The federal government shutdown started on Oct. 1, after Congress failed to pass a bill continuing to fund government operations. Roughly 700,000 federal workers have been furloughed. Hundreds of thousands more are working without pay.

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Government shutdown recap: Latest on SNAP benefits and national parks
SAN DIEGO (KSWB/KUSI)  Governor of California Gavin Newsom made a stop in San Diego on Friday, speaking at the United Domestic Workers headquarters to rally support for Proposition 50, a statewide ballot measure he says will protect Californias voice in Congress.

Thank you for all that you have done to get us this close to victory, Newsom told the crowd.

Prop 50 would allow California to redraw its congressional maps mid-decade, a move Newsom says is needed to counter gerrymandering in other states that could shift political power in Washington.

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Everything to know about Californias special election on Proposition 50

This is a trigger in response to what occurred, which is simply not justifiable in Texas, he said.

At the event, Newsom called on UDW members to turn out and vote yes on the measure, saying its about defending democracy and protecting the states most vulnerable communities.

This is code red for our democracy. This is not about red versus blue; its about red, white and blue. Its about the fundamental principles of a fair and free election, Newsom said.

Home care providers like Veronica Salzar, who serves elderly clients through the In-Home Supportive Services program, say the stakes are personal. Salzar told us one of her clients, an 85-year-old woman, could lose the level of care she depends on if funding cuts or policy changes affect federal support programs.

Theyre impacted because some of their benefits are going to, theyre going to lose some of their benefits, theyre going to lose the care they normally have that they expect that they deserve.

Governor Newsom emphasized that measures like Prop 50 help ensure California maintains a strong voice in Congress to safeguard programs such as Medi-Cal and IHSS.

People have had it and theyre fighting back, said Newsom.

UDW leaders say they are mobilizing thousands of caregivers across the state to support Prop 50 ahead of Election Day on Nov. 4.

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Guest Opinion. I am calling on Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to follow Cherokee Nations lead and extend a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans who will lose food assistance in November.

On Nov. 1, over 922,000 low-income Oklahomans, mostly kids, will get kicked while theyre down. They will lose, on average, $184, in SNAP benefits because leaders of the worlds wealthiest and most powerful nation cannot seem to keep the federal government funded. It will cost between $130 million and $142 million to fund a month of SNAP, according to Gov. Stitt.

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On Oct. 26, in the midst of the second-longest federal government shutdown in American history, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was exhausted.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

This means millions of low-income Americans  mostly children, many elders and a lot of working families who struggle with low wages and high food prices  face a crisis in November. Among them are tens of thousands of citizens of the Cherokee Nation.

Because Cherokee Nation has laws on the books and funding in place to address emergencies, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and I had resources and legal authority at our disposal to address the SNAP crisis.

Two days after USDAs announcement that SNAP benefits were stopping, we announced a $6.75 million crisis response package. I issued an emergency declaration and we committed $4.5 million of the package to fund $185 payments in November to all Cherokee Nation citizens on SNAP living within our reservation and in surrounding counties. The balance of the package  over $2 million  funds food banks and other non-profits and will keep our Women Infant and Children (WIC) program operating should the federal funding dry up.

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Gov. Stitt has the same type of laws and budgets available as governor that I do as Chief. The difference is, he has exponentially more resources at his disposal. The state of Oklahoma enjoys budget reserves of over $3.69 billion, including the $1.32 billion Rainy Day Fund, which can be used for emergencies. The SNAP crisis is an emergency.

The governor needs to call a special session immediately. He and the legislature need to declare that the loss of SNAP funding is an emergency, just as Deputy Chief Warner and I did. He needs to utilize a small portion of the states surplus, less than 4%, and extend a helping hand to SNAP recipients.

There is no legal or procedural barrier to Gov. Stitt and the legislature taking this action. The only question is whether they have the will to do it.

The governor voiced objections to tapping state reserves that amount to hogwash, in my estimation. He fretted at a press conference that the federal government may not reimburse the state for sending replacement SNAP payments. Maybe, but that is a flimsy excuse when we remind ourselves that we are talking about giving low-income people purchasing power.

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It is worth noting that, according to President Trumps USDA, every dollar spent through SNAP generates more than $1.50 in local economic activity. That means the loss of SNAP robs from your local grocery store and the people who work there. Oklahomas budget will be fine and our economy stronger if we keep low-income Oklahomans shopping for groceries by tapping state reserves.

Gov. Stitt observed that the state cannot endlessly fund SNAP and that no one knows when the shutdown will end. Hes right, but that should not stop us from taking this SNAP crisis a month at a time.

Gov. Stitt says that the victims of this crisis should simply lean on food banks and churches. Food banks and church food pantries are already stressed and not all are within reach of all SNAP participants. Perhaps the state could use our plan as a template, providing cash assistance to SNAP recipients and donating to regional food banks.

For Cherokee Nation leaders, stepping up to help our citizens, friends and neighbors in need was a fiscal and policy choice. But, ultimately, it was question of right and wrong. Providing relief was a moral imperative. So, we met the crisis with bold action.

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Oklahoma is sitting on a $3.69 billion reserve. It has funds for unexpected crises, including a constitutional Rainy Day Fund for crises response upon the declaration of the governor that an emergency exists, with a supermajority of the legislature in concurrence.

Gov. Stitt, its raining. It is time to lead. It is time to follow Cherokee Nations lead and save SNAP for all Oklahomans in need.

Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.

About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
A new bill has been proposed to give the rabbinate new powers to investigate the 'Jewish status' of any Israeli citizen.

A new bill proposal could see a dramatic depositing of power in the hands of the Rabbinate on matters of Jewish identity, marriage, and aliyah. With the political and national turmoil smacking the country this week, this law couldve easily flown under the radar.

The bill, submitted by the Religious Services Ministry and the Rabbinical Courts, is an official government initiative and is expected to soon reach the Knesset for discussion and a first reading vote.

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The three-pronged proposal rests on severing a legal divide that has been set in place in the State of Israel since its founding: That between civil and religious authorities. The Jerusalem Post queried the Religious Services Ministry on the matter.

The proposal would grant the Chief Rabbinate and its courts authority to initiate investigations into the Jewish status of any Israeli citizen, even if that person has not requested such a review.

ITIM - The Jewish Life Advocacy Center, explained that this could create a new category of conditional Jews.

SETH FARBER (credit: David Itzhaki)

Under current practice, only individuals who wish to marry through the Rabbinate, or who voluntarily seek to clarify their Jewish status (birur yahadut), open such proceedings. The new measure would reverse that principle: Rabbis authorized to register marriages - more than a hundred across the country - or Rabbinical Court officials could trigger an inquiry on their own initiative.

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Supporters of the bill say it would help clarify cases of uncertainty and ensure the halachic integrity of Jewish personal-status issues. Ohad Weigler, the public policy center manager at ITIM, warned that it could easily become a tool of harassment or revenge, enabling individuals to damage reputations or disrupt life events such as weddings.

Reforms might not resolve uncertainty

Jewish-status investigations are often complex and emotionally fraught. Proof, according to the Rabbinates stringent evidentiary standards, can be extremely difficult to provide, especially for descendants of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, whose family documentation was often lost or incomplete. Although the vast majority of cases already end positively - with fewer than 5% rejected - the process itself can be traumatic. Rabbi Seth Farber, who heads ITIM, said, It opens the door to an inquisition.

Its deeply painful for people who have considered themselves Jews all their lives to suddenly be told they must prove it again, said Weigler, arguing that the reform would institutionalize suspicion rather than resolve uncertainty. Many, after facing rejection or bureaucratic hardship, ultimately abandon the process or turn to civil marriage abroad.

Farber explained further, We've already demonstrated, beyond a shadow of doubt, that the Department of Jewishness Investigations [in the Rabbinate] is corrupt and certainly not professional in the way they handle things.

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He continued, We've had tens of cases that we've appealed to the higher courts, and they've reprimanded the lower rabbinical courts for not doing their jobs when it comes to Jewish investigations. The higher rabbinical courts discovered that the lower regional courts were just rubber-stamping the decisions of the impressions made upon the investigators.

They are not acting in the interest of halacha, Farber said.

A second element of the bill would restore to rabbinical judges the authority to summon third parties - relatives of someone under review - for their own hearings on Jewish status.

Until a 2021 High Court of Justice ruling curtailed the practice, judges often listed family members names and ID numbers in Jewish-status files, effectively placing them under suspicion as well. The Court found no legal basis for such measures, and the practice largely disappeared, though, ITIM noted, not completely. The new proposal would re-empower rabbinical courts to do so, arguing that it is necessary to clarify the truth and prevent intermarriage mistakes.

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The danger, ITIM explained, is that this violates the basic democratic principle that the state must not impose religious inquiries upon its citizens. In a democracy, the burden of proof lies with the individual, not with the regime, Weigler warned, calling the measure an attempt to reverse judicial oversight and formalize what the High Court already ruled illegal.

Farber explained, They actually believe that they're doing something good for the Jewish people. They see their role as to weed out people whose Jewishness is questionable.

But, this doesn't only undermine the very ethos of the state of Israel, it also undermines the ethos of halacha, because halacha, when it comes to personal status, is based on status quo [chazaka in Hebrew], the presumption that unless we prove otherwise, there's no reason to start opening up Pandora's boxes.

He added, If you go back enough generations, to the one above Abraham, at that point, no one's Jewish. But we don't do that, because that's not the way Judaism works.

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Beyond marriage, decisions by the Rabbinate on Jewish identity reverberate across multiple government registries. Israel today effectively operates two parallel systems: a civil registry, where Jewish identity is defined by the standards of the Population and Immigration Authority; and a halachic registry, governed by the Rabbinate, which controls marriage and divorce.

The third aspect of the proposal states that only positive determinations by the Rabbinate - cases where a person is confirmed Jewish - would be shared with civil authorities. A negative finding, it claims, would remain internal. But legal experts and advocacy groups warn that once such a halachic standard exists in law, it will inevitably influence the civil system as well.

Itim sees the danger line being crossed, Weigler said. Even if the government promises not to apply negative rulings beyond the Rabbinate, in practice it will blur the boundary between religious and civil identity - eventually narrowing who is recognized as Jewish for the purposes of marriage, immigration, and even the Law of Return.

The groups this would mostly affect are those that might have a harder time meeting the Rabbinates standards of Jewish status, while the conditions for aliyah itself, based on the Right of Return, are less strict, like descendants of immigrants from states in the former Soviet Union.

ITIM argued that the bill represents a broader attempt by the Rabbinate to consolidate control over all aspects of Jewish identity, with far-reaching implications for Diaspora Jewry and immigration to Israel. It's against the ethos of the state of Israel as a refuge for all Jews, but it's also against the ethos of halacha itself, said Farber.
NEED TO KNOW

A teenage boy has been charged in connection with the death of his grandmother

Ollie Hamilton, 73, was found dead inside her local church in Athens, Ga., on Oct. 29

Her grandson, 17-year-old Jadynn Hamilton, allegedly confessed to the crime later that day

A Georgia woman was allegedly killed by her teenage grandson inside her local church.

The alleged incident occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Smith Chapel Holiness Church in Athens in Monroe County, per The Monroe Journal, The Independent and WTVA.



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Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley said the victim was 73-year-old Ollie Hamilton, according to The Monroe Journal. Police responded to a 911 call at about 5:45 p.m. local time, per Gurley. They subsequently found the victim in an area that led to the church kitchen. She was pronounced dead at the scene.



Google maps Smith Chapel Holiness Church in Athens, Ga. Smith Chapel Holiness Church in Athens, Ga.

The victims grandson, 17-year-old Jadynn Hamilton, was arrested and charged in connection with her death that evening after allegedly confessing to the crime, per the outlets.

The longer that investigation went, evidence started pointing in a certain direction. A young man had supposedly gone for help early on after the attack. We ended up bringing him [Jadynn] in last night, and he confessed to the crime, Monroe County Sheriff Kevin Crook said in a statement to the media, per The Monroe Journal, which reported that the teen was charged with first-degree murder.

Crook called the incident a tragedy of the worst kind.

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This is a tragedy of the worst kind because youve got a beloved church member, family member and community member killed, and you come to find out within 24 hours she was killed by another beloved family member, he continued in his statement.

He added, If somebody is not able to control their impulses and they reach that point, I dont think it really matters who the victim is at the time. If it got them to that level of anger, theyre going to lash out at whoever  it just happened to be his grandmother.

Larry W. Smith/Getty Police tape (stock image) Police tape (stock image)

Crook went on to urge members of the community to use the tragedy as a learning opportunity.

Try to learn from every tragedy. Were there signs? Were there things you can point back to and say, Maybe we could have gotten this information to the right people. A lot of stuff happens among our youth that isnt communicated a lot of times, he said.

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.

An investigation into the incident is still ongoing, per Crook, according to The Monroe Journal.

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PEOPLE reached out to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office and the Monroe County Coroner's Office for comment on Saturday, Nov. 1, but did not receive an immediate response.

Jadynn is currently being held on a $500,000 bond, per WTVA.



Read the original article on People
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  As immigration enforcement ramps up across the country, Evansvilles Latino community is feeling the impact.

November 1st is Day of the Dead, a time to celebrate Mexican culture. This year the 9th annual community celebration in Evansville was canceled due to fears of immigration raids. In response, Indivisible Evansville and the League Of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana launched Signs Of Solidarity.

Its an initiative encouraging local businesses and public spaces to support and welcome the immigrant community. Officials say the effort is meant to stand with residents and help them feel safe.

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I think theres a lot of hardship, and were trying to do what we can, President of Indivisible Evansville Wendy Bredhold said. You know a lot of people just want to take action. I think the number of people who came out today to show support, shows you how many people are really feeling that urge to do something, and so Im glad that were able to give people a way to channel that into action, do something meaningful to make change.

She says she doesnt know when residents will feel comfortable celebrating again but hopes to continue supporting them in any way possible.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Reacting to the arrest of JDU's Mokama candidate Anant Singh in connection with the murder case of Dularchand Yadav, Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) Chief Tej Pratap Yadav on Sunday said the arrest was inevitable, asserting that anyone with registered criminal cases will face legal action. "The arrest was bound to happen. A person against whom criminal cases are registered will definitely be arrested...," Tej Pratap Yadav told reporters here. Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, was arrested in the early hours today by Patna Police in connection with the murder case of a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, the Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said. On October 30, Dularchand Yadav, was killed during firing between the two sides while campaigning for the Bihar assembly elections in Mokama. SSP said Anant Singh has been arrested along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. All three will be presented before the magistrate. "On 30 October, there was a clash between two groups of competing candidates. Stones were pelted resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident. The deceased, Dularchand Yadav, aged 75 years, was a resident of the village where this clash occurred... Both sides registered cases, and police started investigating the case... Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the postmortem report of the deceased, it appears that the Model Code of Conduct was violated, and it is a serious issue. It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested. His accomplices, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have also been arrested with him... All three will be presented before the magistrate, and due investigation will follow," SSP Patna, Kartikeya K Sharma said while addressing the media on Sunday. (ANI)
Gunmen shot dead the mayor of a Mexican city during a public event on Saturday, authorities said, in an area plagued by violence and organized crime.

Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan in the western state of Michoacan, was killed in an attack in the city center, the national public security agency said in a statement.

"Two people involved in the incident were arrested, and one of the assailants had lost his life," it added.

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Michoacan state has for years suffered violence from powerful drug cartels operating in the agricultural region, seeking to extort farmers.

People gather to honor late Mayor Carlos Manzo Rodriguez, who was shot during Day of the Dead celebrations, in Uruapan, Michoacan state, Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. / Credit: Eduardo Verdugo / AP

Manzo was shot during an event marking the Day of the Dead.

Videos shared online showed people fleeing the crowded event after gunshots were heard.

Manzo became mayor in September 2024 and occasionally joined security patrols on the streets wearing a bulletproof vest.

In a video on his social media of one such patrol in June, he urged the federal government to do more to tackle violent crime.

His killing came days after Michoacan farmer representative Bernardo Bravo, who often spoke out against extortion by crime gangs, was also shot dead.

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Mexico, plagued by drug-related violence for nearly two decades, has seen numerous local politicians assassinated in recent years.

Last month, armed assailants gunned down the mayor of Pisaflores in central Mexico.

In June, armed men stormed a mayor's office in southern Mexico, killing her and a staff member. The following day, another mayor was murdered in the country's west along with her husband.

Earlier, in May, the personal secretary and an adviser to Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada were shot and killed by gunmen riding past on a motorcycle, in a central part of the capital, authorities said at the time. Brugada holds the most powerful political position in Mexico after President Claudia Sheinbaum, Brugada's predecessor as mayor, who stepped down from that role to run for president.

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The remains of three slain hostages crossed into Israeli territory on Sunday evening at around 9:30 p.m. and have been transferred to the National Center for Forensic Medicine for identification.

Omer Neutra was one of the three slain hostages whose remains were returned to Israel US President Donald Trump first announced on Sunday, this was later confirmed by Omer's parents. The National Forensic Center has still not made any public statement on the identities of the returned remains at this time.

Omer's father Ronen confirmed Trump's statement to Israeli media saying, "Our Omer is finally on the soil of Israel. So much pain and so much relief."

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Neutra was a lone soldier from New York, serving as a tank platoon commander in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Brigade. With Neutra's return, this would leave Itay Chen as the only dual US-Israeli national whose remains are still within the Gaza strip.

The remains of three slain hostages crossed into Israeli territory on Sunday evening at around 9:30 p.m. and have been transferred to the National Center for Forensic Medicine for identification according to the Health Ministry.

Hamas said earlier it would return the remains of three Gaza hostages at 8 p.m. Sunday. The actual handover to the Red Cross happened around 9 p.m.

The remains are now en route to the L. Greenberg Institute of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir for identification.

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Hamas claimed that it had located the remains of three hostages, sources within the terrorist organization told Al Arabiya on Sunday.

On Friday, Hamas returned the partial remains ofthree people, though forensic testing revealed that the remains did not belong to any of the remaining hostages in Gaza.

The Red Cross handed over the remains to IDF troops overnight, but Hamas had not specified whose remains it was handing over.

Hamas said in a statement on Saturday that it had initially offered three samples from unidentified bodies to Israeli authorities for testing.

Remains of two Gaza hostages returned on Thursday

On Thursday, the remains of Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch were returned after being held in Gaza for over two years.

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"We are determined to return all of our fallen hostages... We will not rest until we bring them all home," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday at an IDF combat officer graduation ceremony.

This is a developing story.
Notably, this indicated that the IDF is aware that there are still terrorists in tunnels in certain parts of Gaza, which would be a violation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas has demanded, through mediators on Sunday, temporary immunity for terrorists stationed in underground tunnels in Rafah to move to areas within the Yellow Line, a source familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post.

Israel is operating in the Rafah area where Hamas terrorists are underground.

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"For several months, the IDF has been surrounding and pursuing Hamas terrorists hiding in the 'enclave' in the Rafah area, terrorists who killed three of our brave soldiers just in the past few days," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, arguing that if the military allows them to leave safely before it has a chance to kill them, it is "security and moral stupidity."

"These terrorists deserve death," he argued.

Notably, this indicated that the IDF is aware that there are still terrorists in tunnels in certain parts of Gaza, which would be a violation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

The 188th Armored Brigade operates in Gaza's Khan Yunis. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

Israeli media reported that Hamas is seeking immunity for around 200 terrorists. Israeli officials did not comment on the matter at the time of publication.

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Army Radio reported that the group of three terrorists killed IDF soldiers in the past few weeks, and have also fired at IDF forces operating in Gaza.

Army Radio reached out to the Prime Minister's Office and the Defense Ministry for comment. At press time, neither has made a statement.

The Yellow Line is the line in Gaza that IDF troops have withdrawn to. Al Jazeera reported on Sunday that Hamas and Israel are engaged in direct talks.

Mediators are considering carrying out operations in Gaza to take the terrorists beyond the Green Line, Al Jazeera added.

The report stated that the terrorists would be taken out of the tunnels beyond the Yellow Line with Red Cross vehicles. The plan is allegedly waiting for Israeli approval.

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Last month, the IDF considered further encroaching into areas in the Gaza Strip it had previously withdrawn from and seizing further territory in response to Hamas's violations of the ceasefire.

IDF strikes terrorist beyond Yellow Line

This comes after a Palestinian terrorist crossed the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip and threatened IDF troops in the area, the military stated on Sunday.

The Israel Air Force struck and killed the terrorist after the incursion, the IDF added.

This comes after the IDF began marking the Yellow Line with markers throughout the Gaza Strip.

The withdrawal to this boundary was done in accordance with the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Hamas has denied accusations by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) that the Palestinian group looted aid trucks in the Gaza Strip.

CENTCOM had published drone footage that allegedly showed an aid truck being looted in the enclave. It said in a statement that the drone observed suspected Hamas operatives looting the truck that was travelling as part of a humanitarian convoy in northern Khan Younis on October 31.

On Sunday, Hamas called the United States accusations unfounded and part of an attempt to justify the further reduction of already limited humanitarian aid, while covering up the international communitys failure to end the blockade and starvation imposed on civilians in Gaza.

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All manifestations of chaos and looting ended immediately after the withdrawal of the [Israeli] occupying forces, proving that the occupation was the only party that sponsored these gangs and orchestrated the chaos, it added.





Hamas said more than 1,000 Palestinian police and security forces had lost their lives and hundreds were wounded while trying to provide protection for humanitarian aid convoys and ensure that assistance reaches those in need.

It affirmed that none of the international or local institutions, nor any driver working with the aid convoys, has filed any report or complaint about looting by Hamas.

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This clearly demonstrates that the scene cited by the US Central Command is fabricated and politically motivated to justify blockade policies and the reduction of humanitarian aid, it said, blaming the US for failing to document the ongoing Israeli attacks following the ceasefire agreement that killed 254 Palestinians and wounded 595.

Drone footage

CENTCOM said that the MQ-9 aerial drone was flying overhead to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

Over the past week, international partners have delivered more than 600 trucks of commercial goods and aid into Gaza daily. This incident undermines these efforts, it said in the statement.





Hamas said the average number of aid trucks entering Gaza daily does not exceed 135, while the rest are commercial trucks bearing goods that Gazas population cannot afford despite our repeated calls to increase the number of humanitarian aid trucks and reduce commercial shipments.

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The US adoption of the Israeli narrative only deepens Washingtons immoral bias and places it squarely as a partner in the blockade and the suffering of the Palestinian people, it said.

The ceasefire took effect on October 10 under US President Donald Trumps 20-point plan.

Phase one of the deal includes the release of the captives in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The plan also envisages the rebuilding of Gaza and the establishment of a new governing mechanism without Hamas.

Since October 2023, Israels war on Gaza has killed more than 68,500 people and wounded over 170,600 across Gaza.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is considered a landmark science-fiction film that fueled greater curiosities about the wonders and mysteries of extraterrestrial life.

Now more than 48 years since its release, the movie is sparking a question that doesnt have an answer. The latest mystery doesnt involve aliens, flashing lights or UFOs, but the fate of an old farmhouse where the movies alien abduction scene of a 3-year-old boy took place.

I think people are interested to know what is going on, said Fairhope City Council President Jack Burrell, unaware of the reasons for the issue.

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The developer has until November 21 to provide some information. The house, located in the middle of an evolving new 13-lot subdivision, was authorized to be moved by the council nearly a year ago. That has not occurred yet.

Hunter Simmons, the City of Fairhopes Planning Director, said the developers have one year since the councils approval to secure a building permit in order to commence the project. If not, the projects developer can request an extension from the council to have the house relocated at a future date.

Other than those timelines, there are no other requirements to update the city, Simmons said.

He said there has been communication between the development team and the city. The developers include Jade Consultants and the appropriately named Encounters Development. Neither returned a call for comment.

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Tim Herrington, a Realtor who is also working on the project, emailed AL.com to say there is no update at this time.

Simmons said there have been communications between the development team and the city about moving the farmhouse. However, no permit applications have been submitted to the city to do so.

I have not had anyone voice disappointment that it hasnt been done, said Erik Cortinas, the citys building official. Any calls I have received were mainly just curiosity, and people wanting to verify the developers intention is still to preserve and relocate the structure.

Simmons said he is hopeful that the development team is performing due diligence to ensure the preservation and move is successful.

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He added, We do not want to rush such an endeavor.

Projects are ongoing at and near the farmhouse. A new Sherwin Williams paint shop is under construction to the immediate south of the farmhouse. That project was approved by the council last October.

In addition, a new office building with an orthodontics practice is under construction near Route 118 and 104. The plans for that project were approved on April 14.

The farmhouses fate drew attention on social media, where fans of the movie gathered to discuss the need to preserve it. Fairhope city officials got in on the act as well during its Nov. 21, 2024, meeting by posting an alien face marker on a map to show where the house was eventually relocating.

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The developers had plans to utilize the house for office space, with access to Route 104.

However, city officials including Mayor Sherry Sullivan said they were hopeful the development team would create a historic marker or additional wayfinding information connecting the house to a movie considered among the best directed by iconic Hollywood director Stephen Spielberg.

The house where little Barry was abducted by aliens in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is for lease as office space. It's located on Alabama Highway 181 in Fairhope. (Photos by Mark Baggs)

Barry, played by Cary Guffey, opens the front door of the house after a UFO has landed in the yard in the movie "Close Encounters." (Screen capture from the film)

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The house where little Barry was abducted by aliens in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is for lease as office space. It's located on Alabama Highway 181 in Fairhope. (Photos by Mark Baggs)

The house where little Barry was abducted by aliens in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is for lease as office space. It's located on Alabama Highway 181 in Fairhope. (Photos by Mark Baggs)

The house where little Barry was abducted by aliens in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is for lease as office space. It's located on Alabama Highway 181 in Fairhope. (Photos by Mark Baggs)

The house where little Barry was abducted by aliens in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is for lease as office space. It's located on Alabama Highway 181 in Fairhope. (Photos by Mark Baggs)

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The house where little Barry was abducted by aliens in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is for lease as office space. It's located on Alabama Highway 181 in Fairhope. (Photos by Mark Baggs)

There is a history of the arts that people dont necessarily associate with Alabama, said Max Romanowski, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at the University of South Alabama. But to have something like this here is something that is very special. The preservation of stuff like this is culturally and historically valuable.

The potential also exists for an unexpected tourism boom connected to the publics fascination with aliens. In nearby Pascagoula, for instance, the city celebrates a wild story about a local alien abduction during the annual Goula Palooza, held downtown in early October.

Roswell, New Mexico, has been transformed from a small rural town to a tourism mecca for alien enthusiasts and curiosity seekers.

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The Fairhope farmhouse does not have an actual connection to alien activity, only the Hollywood kind.

In the movie, the farmhouse is portrayed as being in Muncie, Ind., and involved the alien abduction of a 3-year-old boy portrayed by child actor Cary Guffey.

The movie was also filmed in other Alabama cities in 1976, including Bay Minette and Mobile. The movie starred actor Richard Dreyfuss in the lead role of Roy Neary as well as the late actresses Melinda Dillon and Teri Garr.

At the time of the movies filming, Baldwin County had a population of around 106,000 residents. Since then, the county has more than doubled in size to a population of over 231,000 people.

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The farmhouse itself was surrounded by nothing but rural landscape. In recent years, Route 181 has seen extra traffic lanes added. A new Publix grocery store was built almost directly across the interstate from the farmhouse. A Wawa convenience store is a short walk from the house.

Simmons said last year that he was uncertain how the house would be relocated. At the time, he said the city had become inundated with calls and emails from the movies dedicated fanbase.

The lack of activity has caught some city officials by surprise and uncertainty on the next steps.

Everything is in the same place, said Fairhope City Councilman Jimmy Conyers. I know its expensive (to move it) but I dont know what happens.

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Editors note: KTLA reached out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for comment on this matter prior to publication. As of publishing, DHS has not responded. KTLA will update this article with any new information as it becomes available.

Federal agents were seen wearing Halloween masks while driving to and from a Department of Homeland Security operational staging area in the Port of Los Angeles this week, according to volunteers with a local community patrol group.

The incident was documented Tuesday morning by the Harbor Area Peace Patrol, a volunteer organization that monitors federal immigration enforcement activity in the Harbor region. A community member who asked to be identified only as Phoebe told KTLA that several masked agents were spotted leaving Terminal Island, where DHS and ICE vehicles are often staged before morning operations.

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They slowed down, rolled down the window and stared directly into my camera wearing a Chucky mask, Phoebe said. Fifteen minutes later another agent drove out wearing a Momo mask and did the same. It just reaffirmed that they really have fun doing this type of work, terrorizing our communities.

Federal officers are seen wearing Halloween masks while entering a Department of Homeland Security staging site in the Port of Los Angeles. October 2025. (Harbor Area Peace Patrol) Federal officers are seen wearing Halloween masks while entering a Department of Homeland Security staging site in the Port of Los Angeles. October 2025. (Harbor Area Peace Patrol)

Phoebe said she and other patrollers regularly document vehicles entering and leaving the Terminal Island lot, which she described as restricted DHS property located near a public memorial. She said her group cross-references those vehicles with ones later seen at immigration enforcement operations across Los Angeles County.

While Phoebe provided footage showing agents wearing the masks as they left the facility, she said there is no indication the masks were used during enforcement actions later that day.

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The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to KTLAs request for comment.

The story was first reported on by L.A. TACO, an independently owned local newsroom that focuses on street-level coverage of Los Angeles communities. In its initial story, the publication said it received the following emailed statement from Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs:

Happy Halloween!

The statement was first obtained and reported by L.A. TACO reporter Aisha Wallace-Palomares.

According to L.A. TACOs report, one agent was seen wearing a Chucky mask around 7:23 a.m. Tuesday, followed by another wearing a Momo mask roughly 10 minutes later. The same van has allegedly been documented at multiple immigration raids across Los Angeles, including one in Van Nuys that same day.

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According to Phoebe, the same white van seen leaving Terminal Island this week had been photographed several times before. On Oct. 20, the driver was seen wearing what appeared to be a Mr. Potato Head-style disguise  complete with glasses and a fake nose  as the vehicle left the DHS facility.

A federal officer is seen wearing a Halloween mask while entering a Department of Homeland Security staging site in the Port of Los Angeles. October 2025. (Harbor Area Peace Patrol) A federal officer is seen wearing a Halloween mask while entering a Department of Homeland Security staging site in the Port of Los Angeles. October 2025. (Harbor Area Peace Patrol)

Phoebe said that although agents often conceal their identities, the masks this week appeared intentionally taunting.

This felt different, she said. They went out of their way to make sure we saw them.

KTLA has contacted both DHS and ICE for clarification on the incident and will update this story if a response is received.

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Elizabeth Chapman contributed to this report.

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Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday welcomed the arrest of Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Assembly candidate from Mokama Anant Kumar Singh in connection with the Dularchand Yadav murder case. Maurya, who is BJP's Bihar co-in charge, said that the arrest sent a clear message to the people that there is no discrimination in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "The law and order situation is very good...The arrest of Anant Singh is a clear message that there is no discrimination under the leadership of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar," Maurya who is among the a star campaigners for the Bihar Assembly polls told ANI. Maurya also addressed the issue of Mahagathbandhan Chief Ministerial nominee Tejashwi Yadav's claim of giving representation to every section in the state. He noted that even if RJD make all of their winning candidates as Deputy CM, there is no future of their alliance with Congress. "Even if they make all the winning candidates of RJD as deputy chief ministers, the RJD-Congress alliance has no future in Bihar. If they manage to cross the figure of 50, that itself would be a big achievement," he said On Saturday night, Anant Kumar Singh was arrested by Patna Police in connection with the murder case of a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, the Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said. On October 30, a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, was killed during firing between the two sides while campaigning for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections in Mokama. SSP said Anant Singh has been arrested along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. All three will be presented before the magistrate. Following his arrest, on November 2, Anant Kumar Singh took to Facebook to share a video message expressing "complete faith" in the people's support ahead of the upcoming Bihar elections. The video features him being escorted by police personnel. He captioned the post, "Satyamev Jayate! I have complete faith in the people of Mokama!! That's why now the people of Mokama will fight this election!." Mokama, which will vote in the first phase on November 6, is once again set to witness a high-voltage electoral contest in the 2025 polls, as Janata Dal (United) has fielded strongman Anant Singh, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal has nominated Veena Devi, wife of former MP and influential leader Surajbhan Singh. Both candidates come from the Bhumihaar community, setting the stage for a direct clash of political legacies in one of Bihar's most volatile yet politically significant constituencies. Voting for Bihar's 243-seat Assembly will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14. (ANI)
Former Vice President Kamala Harris rallied with California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Saturday in support of redistricting in the Golden State.

So, listen, I wanted to just come by to, in particular, thank everyone here, all the folks who have been canvassing, knocking on doors, talking with your friends, talking with your neighbors, talking with your cousins, talking with your play cousins, talking with all the folks about the power of the people, because thats what this is about, Harris said at the rally backing Proposition 50.

It is about reminding folks that we refuse to kneel at the foot of a tyrant, she said about the redistricting push. Thats not what we do.

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Golden State voters on Tuesday will vote on whether the state will change up its congressional districts in a battle between Republicans and Democrats throughout the nation that could help determine the next House majority.

Selecting yes on Proposition 50 would let the redrawn congressional district maps become official in 2026, prior to new maps being drawn for the 2030 census, according to the California secretary of state. Choosing no would be in favor of keeping maps unchanged until the census five years from now.

The measure appears likely to pass.

Harriss Saturday appearance comes as high-profile Democrats are seeking to turn out voters for Tuesdays elections.

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On Saturday, former President Obama took to the campaign trail in support of Democratic gubernatorial candidates Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively.

Every day, this White House offers up a fresh batch of lawlessness and recklessness and mean-spiritedness and just plain craziness, Obama said Saturday.

The former president also previously backed Californias redistricting push, warning that Republicans want to steal seats to rig next years midterm elections.

Harris echoed this sentiment Saturday.

This fight is not about sitting by and complaining, Oh, theyre cheating, Harris said at the California rally. Its about recognizing what they are up to.

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The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Scott Bessent didnt miss his opportunity to take a dig at Ontario Premier Doug Ford and the Toronto Blue Jays after their heartbreaking World Series defeat during a Sunday morning appearance on CNN with Jake Tapper.

The U.S. Treasury Secretary pushed back when asked by Tapper about President Donald Trumps plans to levy additional tariffs against Canada after, accusing Ontario officials of election interference.

."He didn't put on a 10 percent tariff, he threatened to put on a 10 percent tariff," Bessent said. "And Jake, this is unacceptable. I read the premier of Ontario spent $75 million sending propaganda across the U.S. border "

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Tapper cut him off and reminded him that the "propaganda" he was mentioning was just former footage of Ronald Reagan speaking about tariffs in his own words. Bessent ignored the comment and did not engage with Tapper's clarification.

"It's the equivalent of election interference," Bessent continued. "Nobody likes foreign election interference, nobody likes foreign governments trying to sway public opinion for their own good."

Scott Bessent said that Ontario Premier Doug Ford was still smarting from the Blue Jays World Series defeat to the Dodgers. (CNN)

Tapper then sought clarification about the possibility of a 10 percent tariff, asking if there's a chance that Trump drops the idea entirely after he received an apology from Ford

"We'll see," Bessent said. "I do think it was a big setback for the Canadian government, and the premier of Ontario should be ashamed, he's probably still smarting from the Blue Jays' loss last night."

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"That's harsh," Tapper replied, before congratulating Los Angeles Dodgers fans.

Will Smiths homer in the 11th inning secured back-to-back World Series titles for the Dodgers, making them the first team to achieve the feat since the New York Yankees in 2000. Despite a fake Truth Social post suggesting otherwise, the president promptly confirmed they would be visiting the White House.

The ad at the center of the controversy that Tapper and Bessent were discussing contained a clip of Reagan explaining in 1987 that tariffs cause trade wars and economic crises. In response, Trump said he would increase tariffs on goods coming out of Canada by 10 percent, and Washington ended its trade talks with Canada.

The ads ran during World Series games on U.S. televisions.

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Trump claimed after the ad was released that it was intended to "interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court," which is currently reviewing a legal challenge to the president's tariffs.

Trump ends trade talks with Canada after an anti-tariff advert featuring Ronald Reagan was ran by the Ontario Premier (Ronald Reagan Presidential Library)

Canadian PM Mark Carney said on Saturday that he had apologized to Trump and told Ford not to run the ad.

The president was offended by the act, or by the ad, rather, Carney said. Its not something I would have done  which is to put in place that advertisement  and so I apologized to him.

Some Canadians liked the ad, and support its message. Wab Kinew, the premier of Manitoba, said he thought it was good that the ad made Trump "squirm," according to the New York Times.

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I think its good that President Trump has to squirm and that hes being reminded that Republicans and Mr. Reagan were totally against tariffs, Kinew told reporters earlier this week.

As of Friday, Trump said he has no plans to restart trade talks with Canada.
As a Jew and a New Yorker, Norman Needleman said he finds the citys mayoral election painful.

Waiting in line Friday to vote on Manhattans Upper West Side, the 77-year-old Needleman thought Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist, would be good for the citys social needs. But his positions on Israel were just too much for Needleman to accept.

If I try and bend that far, Ill break, he said, quoting the musical Fiddler on the Roof.

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His comments reflect what has been a fraught debate, among Jews in New York and elsewhere, ahead of the citys mayoral election Tuesday. Jewish voters have long reliably supported Democrats, and Mamdani won the Democratic primary, but concerns about rising antisemitism and Mamdanis sharp criticisms of Israel have opened up a generational split and raised deeper questions what it means to be an American Jew in 2025.

This election has shown clearly that Jews and Jewish voters are not a monolith, said Phylisa Wisdom, the director of the New York Jewish Agenda, an advocacy group promoting liberal Jewish New Yorkers.

Folks have been really trying to reckon with how much does it matter that they have a mayor that has their same feelings about Israel, she said. There are some who feel like its not the most important thing to me when Im voting for mayor, how they feel about Israel, and there are some who think its existential, and they couldnt vote for someone who disagrees with them on Israel or doesnt support Israel as a Jewish state.

The issue stems from Mamdanis history of pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel activism, from his college days when he started a Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, to his support for the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions movement against Israel, to his pledge to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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In more recent months, Mamdani has tempered some of his most controversial positions and tried to reassure Jewish voters worried about antisemitic attacks like the ones in Washington, DC, and Boulder, Colorado. Democratic Jewish politicians like City Comptroller Brad Lander and Rep. Jerry Nadler have endorsed him, though US Sen. Chuck Schumer remains a notable holdout.

Not everyone has been convinced.

Shabbat Shalom. To be clear, unequivocal, and on the record: I believe Zohran Mamdani poses a danger to the security of the New York Jewish community, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue told his congregation on October 18.

More than 1,100 rabbis and Jewish leaders across the US soon signed an open letter agreeing with Cosgroves message and calling on Americans to stand up for candidates who reject antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric.

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Mamdanis rise comes amid a growing split in the American Jewish electorate, particularly along age lines, about Israel in the wake of the war in Gaza the last two years. While 56% of Jewish Americans say they are emotionally attached to Israel, that number falls to 36% among those aged 18 to 34, according to polling from The Washington Post.

Its a tense time in the Jewish family group chats, Ezra Klein wrote in The New York Times this summer.

A participant waves an American flag while holding a large Israeli flag during New York City's Celebrate Israel Parade on May 18, 2025. - Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images North America/Getty Images

While Mamdani is ahead among likely voters in most public polls, recent polls from Fox News and Marist both had 55% of Jewish likely voters in the city backing former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running an independent campaign after losing to Mamdani in the June Democratic primary. Mamdani had 32% with Jewish voters in each poll.

For voters like Cosgrove, Mamdanis position on Israel is a dealbreaker. Others, like those in the progressive activist group Jewish Voices for Peace, see it as a positive. Still many other Jews see Mamdanis views on Israel as less important than his other proposed policies: freezing increases on the citys rent-stabilized apartments, focusing on affordability and standing up to President Donald Trump.

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Not to mention Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa have their own drawbacks.

I hate my choices, said Cydney Schwartz, a 33-year-old liberal Democrat who has lived in Israel.

What Mamdani has said about Israel and Jews

Mamdanis pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel advocacy have been a key throughline of his political beliefs.

Mamdani has declined to say he believes Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish state, saying the country should provide equal rights to all residents. He previously refused to condemn the phrase globalize the intifada, referencing an Arabic term used by Palestinians to describe their uprising against Israel. He has recently said he would discourage the use of the phrase.

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A day after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, which sparked the devastating war in Gaza, Mamdani issued a statement that did not condemn Hamas or the attacks. He has repeatedly criticized Israels actions as a genocide and said he would arrest Netanyahu if he visits New York, citing a warrant from the International Criminal Court, of which the US is not a member.

Zohran Mamdani speaks outside the White House to announce a hunger strike to demand that then-President Joe Biden call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and cut off military aid to Israel on November 27, 2023. - Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc./Getty Images

Earlier this week, a September 2023 video of him connecting New York Police Department oppression to the Israel Defense Forces spread widely online.

We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, its been laced by the IDF, he said then at a Democratic Socialists of America convention.

Asked about that line last week, he told CNNs Anderson Cooper, It was a reference to training exercises that have taken place between the NYPD and the IDF.

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So do you still believe that the NYPD is basically working hand in glove with the IDF? Cooper asked.

No. What Ive made very clear is those are training exercises that are of concern to me, Mamdani replied. And what my focus is, is on working with the NYPD to actually deliver public safety for New Yorkers across the five boroughs.

Still, after his victory in the Democratic primary, he pledged to understand the perspectives of those with whom I disagree and to wrestle deeply with those disagreements.

During Rosh Hashanah, Mamdani attended services at Kolot Chayeinu, one of Brooklyns most progressive synagogues. For Yom Kippur, considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Mamdani attended services at Lab Shul, a non-denominational Jewish congregation, accompanied by Jewish political allies in Nadler and Lander.

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He has met with Hasidic leaders, including two prominent rabbis from Williamsburgs Satmar community, an ultra-Orthodox sect with its own set of demands for city government.

He has promised he would keep in place police protection for the citys annual parade honoring Israel. And he has said he would not have an Israel-related litmus test for working in his administration.

Im going to have people in my administration who are Zionists, he said, according to The Free Press.

How Jewish New Yorkers feel

Two Jews, three opinions, goes the old joke, a play on the religions tradition of debate, and that was evident in conversations with liberal Jews voting for mayor Friday.

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Theyre figuring it out, Wisdom said. Theres a lot of out-loud figuring it out.

Schwartz, the 33-year-old liberal who has lived in Israel, said she feels a powerful connection to the country. Still, she said, she didnt agree with Israels politics or Netanyahu, similarly to how she disagrees with Trumps politics in the US.

A person receives an I Voted sticker after participating in early voting at a polling site in Manhattan. - VIEW press/Corbis News/Getty Images

She considered not voting, but ultimately picked a candidate, who she declined to share. I want to focus on the city I live in, she said.

David, a 29-year-old wearing a yarmulke who declined to give his last name, said the vote felt like an existential decision. He said he didnt particularly care about how the mayor feels about Israel, but Mamdanis focus on Israeli-Palestinian politics made it hard to believe hes not antisemitic, and he worried whether that could bleed into other policies.

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He said he planned to vote for Cuomo reluctantly. Hes bad on everything, David said of his preferred choice. Hes a bad person.

Eric Weltman, a 58-year-old wearing a suit and tie, proudly said he voted for Mamdani.

Hes smart, competent, principled and progressive, he said, adding he had no qualms about Mamdanis positions on Israel.

Hes going to be mayor of New York, not ambassador to Israel, he said.

As for Needleman, the 77-year-old who quoted Fiddler, he said he couldnt support Mamdani and felt Cuomo was too dishonest. So he decided to vote for Sliwa even though he disagreed with the Republicans politics, saying Sliwa seemed like a decent guy.

CNNs Gloria Pazmino and David Wright contributed to this report.

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The Office of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has disseminated a broad list of topics that Defense Department personnel are now required to seek prior approval on before engaging with Congress, which includes any and all sensitive military operations and US military strikes on suspected drug boats around Latin America, according to people familiar with the latest guidance.

The guidance was handed down following confusion over an initial memo issued by Hegseth that barred all Defense Department personnel, including military commanders, from talking to Congress or state lawmakers unless they have received prior approval from the agencys office of legislative affairs.

The list of topics that now require prior coordination with Hegseths office before engaging with Congress includes:

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DoW [Department of War] sensitive military operations

DoW Maritime activities in the SOUTHCOM [Southern Command] AoR [area of responsibility] (to include enhanced counternarcotics operations)

Golden Dome/Homeland Missile Defense

Acquisition Reform

Critical Munitions

National Defense Strategy

Other topics include budget and reconciliation spending plans; critical minerals; Foreign Military Sales reform; AUKUS, a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; anomalous health incidents also known as Havana Syndrome; and Spectrum, which refers to the electromagnetic spectrum that underpins military operations and other key US government functions.

A Pentagon spokesman told CNN in a statement that the memo is a pragmatic step to internally review the Departments processes for communicating with Congress.

The Department intends to improve accuracy and responsiveness in communicating with the Congress to facilitate increased transparency. This review is for processes internal to the Department and does not change how or from whom Congress receives information, said Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesman.

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Republican Rep. Don Bacon said on Saturday the policy amounted to another amateur move by the secretary that was resulting in military members being afraid to communicate with lawmakers.

I was a five-time commander & our leadership WANTED us to engage members of Congress, he posted on X. We wanted to share what our great airmen were doing. We were proud of our service. The new rules have put a large barrier between the military & Congress. Pentagon says the change is very small. But I already see the impact with military members being afraid to communicate. This is another amateur move.

This screengrab taken from a video posted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, shows two boats shortly before they are struck by a missile, in the Eastern Pacific on October 27, 2025. - Pete Hegseth/X

The latest guidance also comes as Congress has become increasingly frustrated with the lack of answers from the Pentagon on the US militarys operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

On Friday, the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Republican Sen. Roger Wicker and Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, publicly released two letters theyd written to Hegseth over the last month seeking clarity on the operations, both of which have gone unanswered, the lawmakers said. Democrats left a briefing on Thursday furious that Defense Department lawyers hadnt been present to answer basic questions about the legal justification for the strikes.

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Hegseth, whose tenure has been beleaguered by leaks, has taken a number of steps to more tighly control information since earlier this year, including barring most engagements between DoD personnel and think tanks, reporters, or other outside events and conferences. Dozens of reporters turned in their badges last month rather than sign a document the Pentagon had produced that included restrictions on their work.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said late Saturday that U.S. forces struck an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean and killed three after a string of similar strikes in the region in recent weeks.

Today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on another narco-trafficking vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) in the Caribbean, Hegseth said in a post on the social platform X.

Three male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the strike, which was conducted in international waters, Hegseth continued. All three terrorists were killed, and no U.S. forces were harmed in this strike.

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Saturdays strike is the latest in a series of U.S. military efforts targeting alleged narcotrafficking in the Caribbean Sea.

Since early September, the Trump administration has directed the Defense Department to carry out strikes against alleged drug smuggling, killing upward of 64 people in international waters. There have also been strikes in the East Pacific.

Americans largely oppose these operations. On Thursday, Democratic and Republican lawmakers were given a classified briefing on the strikes. Many left the meeting both irritated and frustrated.

House Armed Services Committee Democrats said they werent satisfied by the briefing and that they were unsure of the operations legality as well as the administrations endgame.

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Our job is to oversee the use of lethal force by our military outside of the United States, and Im walking away without an understanding of how and why theyre making an assessment that the use of lethal force is adequate here, Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) told reporters after the briefing.

Hegseths Saturday post featured a video of what appeared to be an object moving through water before a bright explosion.

These narco-terrorists are bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans at homeand they will not succeed. The Department will treat them EXACTLY how we treated Al-Qaeda, Hegseth said in his post. We will continue to track them, map them, hunt them, and kill them.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is working with his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Dong Jun, to create U.S.-China military communication systems aimed to prevent disagreements or misunderstandings from spiraling into unintended conflict in the Indo-Pacific.

Hegseth said in an X post Saturday that he had spoken with Dong on both Thursday and Friday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-PLUS in Malaysia about the need for peace, stability, and good relations between the U.S. and China.

Admiral Dong and I also agreed that we should set up military-to-military channels to deconflict and deescalate any problems that arise, Hegseth said.

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Hegseth added that U.S.-China relations had never been better and that President Donald Trumps meeting with Chinas leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday set the tone for everlasting peace and success for the U.S. and China.

The Chinese embassy didnt respond to a request for comment.

That messaging contrasted sharply with Hegseths warning to ASEAN defense ministers of Chinas sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea, per ABC News on Saturday . We must ensure that China is not seeking to dominate you or anybody else, Hegseth added.

Hegseth said he and Dong will hold follow-up meetings to flesh out the details of such ties. U.S.-China military communications channels are becoming even more important given rising friction across the Taiwan Strait and Chinas aggressive naval challenges of Philippine vessels in Manilas waters in the South China Sea.

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Dong suggested that Beijing sees value in forging such links. He told Hegseth that the U.S. and China should create a military-to-military relationship based on equality and respect, peaceful coexistence, and stable, positive development, Chinas Defense Ministry said in a statement Friday .

Quick results are unlikely. The U.S. has long struggled to foster reliable military-to-military communications with China, and Beijing cut off all U.S.-China military dialogues after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis Taiwan trip in 2022 . The Biden administration had managed to persuade Beijing to resume key military dialogues by the end of 2024 that connected high-level military officials in in-person discussions on issues of mutual concern.

They included the China-U.S. Theater Commanders Talks, China-U.S. Defense Policy Coordination Talks and the bilateral Military Maritime Consultative Agreement meetings by the end of 2024. However, these were seen as small steps because Chinese participation in those discussions was vulnerable to restrictions or outright cancellation by Beijing. They also didnt provide a reliable crisis communications link between the two militaries at either the most senior levels nor at the operational level on and above the high seas in the Indo-Pacific.
HANOI, Vietnam  U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was in Vietnam on Sunday, reaffirming a partnership built on healing the scars of the Vietnam War in a trip that will test whether Washington can reassure a vital but wary partner.

Hegseth said addressing the legacies of the war, which ended 50 years ago in April, remains the foundation of our defense relationship and a top priority for this administration and the Department of Defense.

Hegseths visit also marks 30 years of diplomatic ties between the former foes and two years since they upgraded relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Vietnams highest diplomatic status. He arrived in Hanoi from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he attended a meeting of counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

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Cooperation on postwar issues remains an emotional and political foundation of U.S.-Vietnam relations. Since normalizing ties in 1995, the two countries have worked together to clear unexploded ordnance, recover remains of missing service members and clean up dioxin  the toxic chemical used in Agent Orange  from former U.S. air bases that continue to affect communities.

There were concerns about the future of these efforts when U.S. funding for several programs was slashed, temporarily halting some cleanup work before resuming.

The visible recommitment to these projects could help stabilize relations and create space for further defense cooperation, said Nguyen Khac Giang, a visiting fellow in the Vietnam Studies Program at Singapores ISEASYusof Ishak Institute.

War legacy cooperation is the foundation enabling deeper defense ties, he said. For Washington, it demonstrates long-term responsibility and goodwill to solve lingering war consequences. For Hanoi, it provides essential political cover for expanding relations with a former adversary.

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Giang said the U.S. defense chiefs visit comes at a crucial moment. Vietnams Communist Party chief, To Lam, visited North Korea in early October  the first such trip in nearly two decades  while reports suggest Hanoi may pursue the purchase of 40 Russian Su-35 fighter jets. Vietnam is hedging against doubts about U.S. reliability in the Indo-Pacific, he said.

The Associated Press has previously reported that Moscow and Hanoi have explored ways to maintain financial transactions despite U.S. sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Hegseths visit demonstrates Vietnams deliberate deepening of defense ties with the U.S., but strictly on Hanois terms, Giang said.




PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Kenia Jackeline Jackie Merlos, a Portland woman with a pending immigration documents, was detained for four months by United States immigration authorities. But with help from a secret message in a coloring book and tenacity from her community, she was recently released from custody.

We became friends through a couple interactions and then have been like a sisterhood since, Mimi Lettunich told KOIN 6 News.

Merlos and her husband, Carlos, own a construction company that worked on Lettunichs Portland home and from that moment forward, Merlos and Lettunich have been friends for more than 20 years.

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DONT MISS: Outrage grows over cruel ICE detainments as Oregon lawmakers press for answers

(Were) very close. I mean, she helped with things with our kids, and I trust her implicitly. Shes an amazing person, Lettunich described. She looks at everything as a privilege, as an opportunity. Her glass is half full all the time and even during this crazy time, she says, Mimi, it will not be forever. Will not be forever. She kept her faith and it worked out.

That crazy time would involve Merlos and her U.S. citizen children being detained by immigration authorities and her husband being deported.

Nobody knew where she was or the children

On June 28, 2025, Merlos traveled from her Portland home with her nine-year-old triplets and seven-year-old son, along with Merlos mother, to Peace Arch State Park at the border between Washington state and Canada, according to attorneys and friends of Merlos.

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There, the family met with Merlos sister (a permanent resident of Canada), brother-in-law (a Canadian citizen) and their two children.

As the family said their goodbyes, thats when federal authorities moved in, according to court documents.

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While saying their goodbyes, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers approached and accused (Merlos) of attempting to smuggle her sister, niece, and nephew into the United States. (Merlos) and all accompanying relatives, including six children (were) taken into custody, court documents filed by Merlos attorney claim.

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At the time of the incident, Merlos had pending immigration documents  a U Visa for crime victims  not yet finalized by the federal government.

Court filings from Merloss attorney indicate that Merlos and her children were then held in CBP custody for two weeks, alleging that CBP officers repeatedly refused her requests to speak with counsel and sought to remove her and her children to Honduras, where Merlos is originally from, after leaving for the U.S. in 2003.

Rep. Maxine Dexter (OR-03) has advocated for the release of Kenia Jackeline Jackie Merlos from ICE custody after her removal proceedings were dismissed Oct. 16, 2025. As of Oct. 22, Merlos remains in custody, according to Oregon lawmakers (photo courtesy Oregon delegation members Reps. Dexter, Suzanne Bonamici and Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley).

My father had just passed away a few days before (Merlos) and her children were detained) and when I got back to Portland, I talked to (Merloss) husband and he said that she was detained. As soon as we heard that, we instantly put everything into trying to find her because it wasnt that she was detained and in most situations you can call an ICE facility. Nobody knew where she was or the children and that was incredibly alarming, Lettunich told KOIN 6 News.

So, we  within 24 hours  had hired attorneys and reached out to friends and family and got connected to (Congresswoman Maxine Dexter), she and her office were incredible, and national associations. I mean, we just put all feelers out and tried to put a plan together to find them, Lettunich explained.

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Lettunich noted in August during a congressional hearing where she shared Merloss story, It became painfully clear, without our tenacity and connections, Jackie and her family would have disappeared without a trace.

Report: Oregon among the worst states to find a job

Merlos and her children were taken by CBP agents to an immigration facility north of Bellingham, Washington, according to Merloss attorney.

Congresswoman Dexter learned of the familys detainment around July 8 and her team worked to determine their whereabouts. Two days later, Dexters team found the Merlos family at the Bellingham facility, claiming CBP initially misled them, about where the family was. According to Dexter, Merlos and her children were detained without cause.

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They have provided as humane as a possible situation in a small cell with a cement floor and theres some mats that are probably four inches thick for the family, Dexter previously said.

Lettunich noted she was not allowed inside the facility where Merlos and her children were being held, noting Congresswoman Dexter was allowed to see them through glass but could not speak to them.

A lot of what I know about those conditions are what we know from the congresswoman and what we know from the children and Jackie. We also know that this is not a facility where they hold people. We know that Jackie and her children were the only ones there. Its not set up to hold people, Lettunich claimed. It was all in secrecy. Theyre not set up to feed people, theyre not set up to have people have places to sleep. They were there for different reasons and were not totally clear why.

KOIN 6 News has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security about the claims of the facility conditions.

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According to Lettunich, while Merlos and her children were detained, federal agents questioned the children about their father. CBP agents then contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement and on Oct. 2, a judge reinstated Carlos Merlos prior removal order to Honduras. According to Oregon lawmakers, he was deported as his wife and children remained in the Washington immigration facility.

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A race against time

Oregon lawmakers advocated for Merlos and her childrens release from ICE custody. The effort included Congresswomen Dexter and Suzanne Bonamici along with Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, who helped Merlos receive an emergency order which temporarily halted the familys deportation.

On July 14, U.S. District Court Judge Tana Lin in Seattle found that the family was serially re-located and denied access with counsel. The judge issued an emergency order that halted Merlos deportation, prevented CBP from moving the Merlos family from the courts jurisdiction and allowed the family to access legal counsel, Oregon lawmakers previously announced.

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It was a close call, according to Lettunich, who testified during the congressional hearing about the race against time, to get the emergency order as immigration authorities got passports for the children and a plane was ready to take the family out of the U.S.

Once the order was issued, Lettunich said immigration officials called her and asked her to pick up the children from the airport.

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I picked the kids up at the airport moments before theyre getting on a flight with brand new passports. I mean, we got a temporary restraining order, and just in time, and all of that was based on hunches and Congresswoman Dexters office making calls, Lettunich said.

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While the children were being released, CBP served Merlos with a Notice to Appear, charging her under the Immigration and Nationality Act as an alien present without admission or parole, and no criminal charges were filed against her, court documents state. Merlos was later transferred from CBP custody to Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody where Oregon lawmakers said she remained despite her removal proceedings being terminated.

Lettunich described the wave of emotions while picking up the children, saying she was elated for the emergency order, but she still couldnt see her friend.

I was so nervous about how the kids would feel, every trauma they had gone through. We werent prepared to just have the four kids come back to the house, I mean what are they going to have for dinner? Im working tomorrow, theres so many emotions going on. And youre trying to process and Im also feeling terrible for Jackie. I still havent seen her, I havent talked to her and Im taking the kids and how horrible that has to feel for her too, Lettunich told KOIN 6.

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A hidden message

A secret message in a coloring book, however, would give Lettunich insight into how Merlos was feeling.

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We got in the car, and the kids shared a secret, Lettunich testified at the congressional hearing. They handed me this coloring book where Jackie had written me a note on the inside cover.

Mimi, thank you for everything, Jackies letter to Lettunich said. Hopefully, this will be over soon. I will miss my babies. Please take care of them. This is so hardI talked to them that they need to obey you. I miss them already. Everything works for good. We are on Gods hand. I have been praying so much about this. Love you all with all my heart.

A note at the end of the message explained that one of the children had an upcoming orthodontist appointment, adding, please call them. I havent been able to use my phone since they detained us. Love, Jackie.

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I think (Jackies message) was a punctuation on the fact that there was no communication, that they were purposely kept from the rest of the world and that the children were holding (the coloring book) close to them and then telling me Mom left you a note. The secrecy and the fear associated with that. They couldnt give that up. And the note was just a beautiful message, Lettunich told KOIN 6 News.

It was just (Jackie) being a mom and she was kept from doing that. And then four months in total, like this is our vicious criminal? Lettunich questioned. The secret note that she had to let me know was Thank you. Take care of the kids and dont forget the orthodontist appointment. It was a punctuation on the egregious behavior of our government.

It takes a village and the village won

After a judge dropped proceedings for Merlos to be removed from the U.S., immigration authorities did not release her and she remained in custody, according to Oregon lawmakers.

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When reached for comment, a spokesperson for CBP previously told KOIN 6 News Kenia Jackeline Merlos was arrested by Border Patrol agents in Peace Arch Park attempting to smuggle illegal aliens into the U.S. on June 28. Initially, the children remained with the mother  at her request  in Border Patrol custody. The agency declined to comment at the time on the ongoing litigation.

While speaking in front of lawmakers at the congressional hearing advocating for Merloss release, Lettunich shared a message from the children. I leave you with a request from these children: please help mom and dad get home.

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An attorney for Merlos filed a petition for habeas corpus, arguing for Merloss release from custody. Merloss attorney, Stacey Rogers with SRR Law Group, confirmed to KOIN 6 on Monday that the U.S. Attorneys Office conferred with Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the petition was filed and agreed to release Merlos.

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I think that thats what we want out leadership to be doing, Lettunich said of the efforts of Oregon lawmakers who advocated for Merlos. I think the other thing thats really important about this event, is that its bipartisan. Regardless of the way you voted, people over and over to us said, This isnt what we voted for. This was never part of the plan.

Alongside the support from some elected officials, Lettunich lauded the community support.

Thousands, literally thousands of people participated in one form or another, whether that was dropping something off here for the kids, or signing a petition or contributing to a GoFundMe or helping make sure that they were set up for school, buying them coats for winter. The outreach, the letter, it shows to me that were not as far apart as its presented to us in media, Lettunich said. Were all human and we all really believe that our families should be together, that love is the basis for choosing our communities and that we need to refocus what were doing.

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Jackie was release from custody on October 27 after four months in detainment. Lettuncih described receiving a text from one of Merloss attorneys announcing her release.

Theres a lot of people on many theads and texts and emails constantly all day, every day for four months and something came across that said from one of the many attorneys that said, ICE is letting her go today, Lettunich said.

We were in meetings, my husband and I, and we got up right then and got in the car and made phone calls along the way, Lettunich explained, noting they picked up Merlos from the Tacoma ICE facility while Merloss children were at school. Merlos was there to surprise her children when they returned.

Rep. Dexter calls for ICE oversight after being denied access to facilities

Im so grateful that she is home, I am so grateful that the children have their mom and that she has her beautiful babies, Lettunich said. Its hard to describe. We arent all parents but we all have one and we know what that feels like and that was amazing. It was an amazing dayit was magic.

Like Merlos, Lettunich embodied an attitude of not giving up.

We cant give up. We just literally cant give up, Lettunich said. Good and justice will prevail.

We need to lean into our leaders in every state and lawmakers, were humans. I keep going back to everybodys human. They want to break up families. They dont want to pull children apart from parents. They dont want to put people in jail, in prisons that they are contributing to society and have done all the things we require of them thats not what anybody wants, Lettunich told KOIN 6.

When asked whats next for Merlos, Lettunich said, Jackie will determine that, adding, Jackies a strong human, and shes passionate, and shes good, and Im confident that she will use this experience to help others that dont have the same connections and resources that she personally did.

It takes a village, Lettunich recalled her husband telling her of Jackies release. And the village won.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A year and a half ago, Black Men Organizing, led by Pastor Walter Lainer, aimed to address the challenges facing African Americans in Milwaukee across community building, youth and education, Black wealth and economics, and health and wellness.

On Oct. 25, the group met at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society to discuss their accomplishments and to hear from Shawn Dove, who led the Campaign for Black Male Achievement for a decade. This initiative is one of the largest national movements focused on improving the life outcomes of Black men and boys.

The meeting set a positive tone and reinforced to the men that their work is important and impactful.

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Dove, who is also the author of the book "I Too Am America: On Loving and Leading Black Men & Boys," addressed a group of about 100 men, explaining why they must continue fighting and challenge systems that negatively impact Black and Latino communities.

Dove, a product of the bustling streets of New York, has a deep understanding of the complex challenges involved in transforming systems to support Black men and boys rather than harm them. He recognizes the heavy burdens they bear, facing significant hardships and a pervasive sense of neglect from society, which often reduces their lives to mere statistics.

Black Men Organizing, celebrated a year and a half of service at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum on Oct. 25. The group formed to address the divides in housing, health, education, and wealth between Blacks and whites in Milwaukee. After the meeting, the men came together for a group photo.

At one time, I was that young man, Dove said. Where would I be if someone had given up on me?

Dove, who is currently a leadership team member and advisor for New Profit, a venture philanthropy organization that provides financial and strategic support to social entrepreneurs, emphasized to the men present that their efforts are crucial because many Black men and boys are frozen by circumstances such as poverty, racism, unemployment, and trauma. They need our help.

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In Milwaukee, having an organization like Black Men Organizing is essential because, despite many accomplishments over the past year and a half, the African American community still ranks near the bottom in household income, Black male incarceration rates, home ownership, and the widest reading and math scores between white and Black students in the nation.

While these statistics wont change overnight, Dove encouraged the men to stay committed to the fight for improvement. I know it can be frustrating at times, but look at how much you have accomplished in such a short period, he said.

Organization has accomplished a lot in over a year

Those in the audience who are part of the group range from publicly known figures to everyday community members who want to make a difference. To join, all you have to do is bring your expertise and a commitment to being a change maker.

Since it started, Lanier said the group has done the following:

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Had four successful conflict mediations among brothers and community partners

Partnered with Running Rebels for monthly intergenerational dialogues

Hosted two educational-focused webinars advancing policy literacy and advocacy

Supported Darryl Jacksons MPS resolution for Black student success

Hosted financial literacy webinars with CLIMB and Running Rebels

Advocated for Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development to release funds for housing equity.

Participated in Matthew Johnsons 5K Walk/Run, promoting health and community engagement

Organized mental health and fatherhood dialogues with community partners

Hosted four get-out-the-vote events

Built alliances with My Brothers Keeper and Project IMPACT, just to name a few.

Lainer highlighted that noting accomplishments can help prevent frustration when progress stalls.

I have been fortunate to participate in several events, and I have gained insights into the major challenges of changing established systems. One notable event was a Zoom discussion featuring members and prominent educator Howard Fuller, the founder and head of the Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy.

This conversation not only provided a historical overview of public education but also helped me understand why conditions in Milwaukee Public Schools deteriorated so quickly. Additionally, I attended a financial literacy event where I learned valuable investment strategies and discovered practical ways to save, even at my age.

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My only complaint aligns with that of many others in this struggle: we need more people to get involved.

Improving conditions requires a collective effort. As fellow participant Pastor Greg Lewis said, The cavalry is not coming. We will have to work together to change our conditions.

Black males are more than statistics

In Doves book, he points out that despite numerous reports detailing the state of Black men and boys in America, which often feature a long list of discouraging statistics, this data tends to overlook the everyday challenges and triumphs faced by this community.

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Black males in America are so much more than what the data points show. Its up to us to do a much better job of telling their individual stories, or the crushing narrative that swirls around them wont budge an inch, he said.

The Campaign for Black Male Achievement was established to change the current narrative by highlighting both the challenges and successes faced by Black males. Its goal is to create more pathways for them to navigate through the difficulties they encounter.

When you take on the task of reversing 400 years of intentional destruction, you will face many sleepless nights and bouts of crippling self-doubt. However, we have never had any choice but to keep moving forward, Dove stated in his book.

Journal Sentinel columnist James E. Causey, (right) takes a photo with the Shawn Dove, who led the Campaign for Black Male Achievement for a decade. Dove was the keynote speaker at the Black Men Organizing meeting on Oct. 25. Dove told the men to remain dedicated to improving the condition for Black men and boys in the city because nobody from the outside is coming to help.

Dove related his experiences to a game he played growing up in New York City called hot peas and butter. In this popular game, one player hides a belt in a wide-open area, while the designated safe area is called the base. One person is chosen as It and hides the belt, while the other participants search for it while chanting the magic words, Hot peas and butter, come and get your supper!

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The player who is It guides the searchers by indicating who is hot close to the belt  or cold far away from it. When someone finds the belt, the holder shouts, Hot peas and butter! and can chase the other players until they reach the base.

It was an oppressive game, Dove noted. He pointed out that some in the group are also facing oppression. He challenged them to consider whether they would be bold enough to search for the belt, knowing someone could be close enough to whip them back to base, or if they would choose to stay close to the base to avoid being beaten down and miss the opportunity.

The metaphor is strong and suggests that just because you possess the belt or the power, it doesnt mean you have to use it to dominate others. The goal is to be brave enough to seek the prize and do something positive with it.

My question for you is, who is stalling on your calling that God has given you on behalf of your people? You need to jump in, Dove urged.

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The men felt more empowered to continue their mission and concluded the event by locking arms in a large circle. Lainer encouraged each man to share one word that represented what they gained from the meeting.

Some of the words shared included Unity, Faithful, Inspired, Brotherhood, Empowered, Excellence, Action, Determined, Uplifting, Purpose, and Powerful.

My word was: Inspired.

Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@jrn.com; follow him on X @jecausey.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Advocacy group is essential for Milwaukee's Black men | Opinion
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A driver was killed Saturday in a two-vehicle crash in Chautauqua County.

It happened about 12:17 p.m. on U.S. Highway 166 at the intersection of Kansas Highway 99, just south of Sedan.

A Chevy Silverado pickup failed to stop at the intersection and hit a Peterbilt semi-truck, according to a report from the Kansas Highway Patrol.

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The driver of the pickup, 68-year-old Floyd Hull of Sedan, was killed in the crash, the KHP said.

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The driver of the semi was not injured, according to the report.

Check before you go: KanDrive, also known as WICHway in Wichita, is a website and app from the Kansas Department of Transportation that provides information about road conditions, traffic, and more. Viewers can access cameras along the highways and interstates for free. The KanDrive app is available in both Google Play and Apples App Store. To view the website, click here. Drivers can also call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside of Kansas.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
JD(U) leader Rajeev Ranjan on Sunday targeted the opposition parties (Mahagathbandhan) in Bihar stating that the arrest of the party's Mokama Assembly candidate Anant Singh highlights the stark contrast between the era of "jungle raj" in the State and the current Nitish Kumar-led government, which focuses on good governance. In an interaction with ANI, Ranjan stated that the NDA has taken action against prominent political figures on various occasions and Singh's arrest represents a significant step in this direction. "This is a befitting reply to the opposition. Those who constantly question the law-and-order situation in Bihar have realised that when such crimes occurred between 1990 and 2005, the police were unable to take action against political leaders. However, the NDA has, on various occasions, taken action against prominent political figures. The recent arrest marks a significant step in the same direction. It clearly highlights the stark contrast between the era of jungle raj and today's government of good governance... Instead of nitpicking, the opposition should accept that this is a government of good governance," Ranjan told ANI. Meanwhile, Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal, reacting to the Mokama murder case involving in the death of Jan Swaraj supporter Dularchand Yadav, stated that the police have full authority to take necessary action to ensure justice. The Bihar BJP President also stated that the law is doing its job, and the police will keep a close watch on all these developments and then take an appropriate decision. "There is a rule of law in Bihar and the police have full authority to take action to deliver justice. The law is doing its work; after that, there is the court, and the case will also go to the court. The court keeps a close watch on all these and then takes an appropriate decision," said Jaiswal. On October 30, a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, was killed during firing between the two sides while campaigning for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections in Mokama. The Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said that Anant Singh and two of his associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have been arrested. All three will be presented before the magistrate. The electoral battle in Mokama Assembly constituency in Patna district, Bihar, is centred around two Bahubalis - Anant Singh and Surajbhan Singh, who dominate the region's political narrative. Mokama, which will vote in the first phase on November 6, is once again set to witness a high-voltage electoral contest in the 2025 polls, as Janata Dal (United) has fielded strongman Anant Singh, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal has nominated Veena Devi, wife of former MP and influential leader Surajbhan Singh. Both candidates come from the Bhumihaar community, setting the stage for a direct clash of political legacies in one of Bihar's most volatile yet politically significant constituencies. Voting for Bihar's 243-seat Assembly will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14. (ANI)
SCRANTON  St. Lukes Episcopal Churchs six year journey of commitment and faith was rewarded recently with their acceptance to the National Register of Historic Places.

On Saturday the church took a moment to look back on that accomplishment and on the history of the church and the city.

Ella Rayburn, principal researcher of the project, looked back to 2018, when Rev. Rebecca Barnes met with a Louis Tiffany scholar who pointed out that the church wasnt on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Because Barnes knew Rayburn was an historian and museum curator, she asked for her help.

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The inside of St. Lukes Episcopal Church on Nov. 1, 2025. The church celebrated it acceptance on the National Register of Historic Places. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)

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Ella Rayburn, principal researcher behind St. Lukes application to be considered for the National Register of Historic Places, speaks before an unveiling on Nov. 1, 2025. (COURTESY CITY OF SCRANTON)

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Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti speaks at the dedication and blessing of a plaque honoring St. Lukes Episcopal Church being placed on the National Register of Historic Places on Nov. 1, 2025. (Courtesy the City of Scranton)

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Historic Tiffany stained glass window depicting the Nativity, gifted to St. Lukes in 1910. (COURTESY CITY OF SCRANTON)

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From left, Rev. Tyler Parry, principal researcher Ella Rayburn, the Rev. Rebecca Barnes, and Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti stand before a plaque honoring St. Lukes Episcopal Churchs addition to the National Register of Historic Places on Sat., Nov. 1, 2025. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)

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Rev. Tyler J. Parry says a prayer of dedication over a plaque reflecting the acceptance of St. Lukes Episcopal Church to the National Register of Historic Places on Nov. 1, 2025. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)

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Rev. Rebecca Barnes, dean of St. Pauls Cathedral in Buffalo, N.Y., and past pastor of St. Lukes Episcopal Church in Scranton, displays a photo of Louis Comfort Tiffany during her homily on Nov. 1, 2025. (COURTESY CITY OF SCRANTON)

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St. Lukes Episcopal Church on Wyoming Avenue, shown on Nov. 1, 2025. The church was recently named to the National Historic Registry, (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)

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The inside of St. Lukes Episcopal Church on Nov. 1, 2025. The church celebrated it acceptance on the National Register of Historic Places. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)

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I said I wasnt doing it. I said it was too hard, Rayburn said, laughing. But, weve seen what happened all these years later.

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And it was a long six years, she said.

Initially the Women of St. Lukes had gathered dusty, decrepit boxes of church records that dated back only to 1905, although the church building was completed in 1871.

We dealt with that and started organizing, she said.

Rayburn pointed out that the churchs history paralleled the history of the city itself.

The buildings location on Wyoming Avenue was a second one for the church, the first being on Penn Avenue.

The church broke ground for the new building in 1866, the same year Scranton was incorporated as a city.

The rector realized the city was growing, the congregation was growing, she said.

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When the building opened its doors in 1871, the city population was 35,000.

Richard Upjohn was the original architect of the building, followed by later changes by Louis C. Tiffany.

The altar, high altar and Accession stained glass window, plus a mosaic of Christ and John the Baptist are Tiffany Studio additions.

The Throop Memorial Parish House, opened in 1899, is included in the National Register recognition. Scranton architect Frederick Brown designed the Parish House. Both buildings are in Gothic architectural style.

The National Registry is the U.S. governments listing of sites, structures, districts and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical importance

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Celebrating a win

This is such a big day, Mayor Paige Cognetti told the crowd gathered for the dedication service. When we can celebrate these wins, we really need to because times are tough.

She credited those who worked on the project over its six years for making its completion possible.

We are grateful for everyone in this room who keeps the spirit of Scranton, the heart of Scranton in so many ways, she said.

In a closing prayer, Parry said the plaque was also a reminder of those who went before in their efforts at the parish.

Grant that we and all that gather at this memorial may remember their faith, courage and compassion as they sought to love you in world and deed, he said. And may we be inspired to continue in the paths of mercy, righteousness and humble service.
LE MARS, Iowa  Le Mars Fire & Rescue says two firefighters were injured while fighting a house fire in southwest Le Mars Saturday afternoon.

The Le Mars Fire-Rescue Department says crews were called to the 3300 block of Sadona Hills South around 6:43 p.m. Saturday on reports of a house fire. Upon arrival, fire crews found the west side of the home engulfed in flames and smoke.

The Le Mars FD says crews began a defensive attack in the back of the residence as the fire was spreading to the roofline of the home and covered the back deck. Firefighters knocked down the flames and made entry into the home, but were forced back outside when the main floor flashed over.

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Authorities say fire crews then fought the flames through windows and were able to again slow the fire and make a second entry. By initialing an aggressive interior attack, firefighters were able to get control of the flames.

The Le Mars FD says two firefighters were injured while battling the blaze. One firefighter sustained back injuries while the other fell partially through the floor. Both firefighters were treated at the scene and authorities say they are okay.

Authorities say the homeowners, Bryce and Janelle Raveling, were not home at the time. No other injures have been reported. A dog and a cat were able to escape unharmed.

The Le Mars FD says the fire originated in the master bedroom and the cause is believed to be lithium batteries that exploded while charging.

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Fire crews had to ventilate and overhaul the entire home. Authorities say the main floor and its contents are a possible total loss, and the home has been marked as unlivable. Le Mars FD crews were on scene just under four hours.

Iowa News:

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A nuclear plant radiation protection sign warns members of the public away from the site. (Nuclear Regulatory Commission)

Swords or ploughshares?

Thats the dilemma that has plagued us since the sudden dawn of the nuclear age. Should we split atoms for peace or to rain destruction on our enemies? In the space of a single human life weve done both, killing hundreds of thousands in two atomic bomb attacks on Japan and then building nuclear reactors to provide light, power and medicine.

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Radioactivity was discovered just more than a century ago, when Wilhelm Roentgen detected X-rays. In high school textbooks, most of us saw the ghostly radiograph of his wife Annas skeletal hand with wedding band, Hand mit Ringen. The image  the first X-ray  prompted Anna to remark, I have seen my own death. In 1913, science fiction writer H.G. Wells predicted both nuclear power and weaponry, in The World Set Free. In 1938, the trio of Hahn, Meitner, and Strassmann were first to recognize that uranium atoms split when bombarded by neutrons. When physicist Leo Szilard confirmed fission, according to author Edward A. Friedman, he said the world was headed for sorrow.

In 1939, Szilard and Albert Einstein sent a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt advising that fission could be used to create a powerful new bomb. The scientists feared the Nazis were already working on such a device, and their letter helped spur creation of the secret Manhattan Project, which eventually resulted to the test firing of the first atomic bomb in a remote part of New Mexico in 1945. Three weeks later came the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.

The Cold War began shortly after, and by 1949 our former allies, the Soviets, had their own nuclear weapon, too.

Later we created nuclear weapons stockpiles ready to kill hundreds of millions more and built dozens of nuclear generating plants to provide about 20% of the American electrical supply. One of those plants, Wolf Creek, owned by two regional utilities, has been online in Kansas since 1985.

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Now comes a firm founded by one of the worlds richest men, Bill Gates, with the lure of bringing advanced nuclear power to Kansas. TerraPower announced a partnership last month with the states Department of Commerce and Evergy, one of the owners of Wolf Creek, to explore placing a natrium reactor somewhere in the utilitys service area of eastern Kansas.

TerraPower is already building a $4 billion pilot natrium reactor site in Wyoming, with half of the funding from the US Department of Energy. Some of the projected energy may power AI data centers. The company promises clean and safe power through its innovative technology, which uses molten salt (natrium is Latin for sodium) to cool the 345-megawatt reactor instead of water, as is done at Wolf Creek and every other commercial nuclear plant in the U.S.

A few Kansas communities in Evergy country have already tossed their hardhats in the ring to host the natrium reactor, including my home city of Emporia. The city commission, along with the county board and a regional development association, signed a letter of support for the project. Commissioners in Coffey County, home to the Wolf Creek plant, have also expressed interest, as have officials in Hutchinson.

TerraPower claims it will only place reactors where they are wanted, but theres not been time for any substantive public discussion yet on the issue. Nobody asked Kansans whether we want a second nuclear plant or not. Another firm, Deep Fission, is working with an undisclosed partner to place reactors at the bottom of mile-deep holes in Kansas to supply power-hungry AI centers, but its not answering questions about details or whether it has sought state approval.

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The gold rush for new nuclear is on.

We are, according to current U.S. policy, on the verge of a new nuclear renaissance. Old fears spawned by Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Three Mile Island and Chernobyl are receding in popular memory. There is now public and bipartisan support for expanding nuclear power, according to a Pew Research Center poll.

It is understandable why leaders in a community like Emporia  which logged the states highest unemployment following the closure of Tyson meats  would find TerraPowers projected 1,500 construction and 500 permanent jobs attractive.

But those vying to bring TerraPower jobs to their communities might want to cool their enthusiasm long enough to consider the safety and security risks presented by natrium reactors.

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These risks were described to me by Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety for the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit science advocacy group. Lyman is an expert on nuclear proliferation, terrorism, and safety and security. Hes also one of the authors of Fukishima: The Story of a Nuclear Disaster.

I have signifcant concerns, Lyman said, related to safety and security as well as for the economics.  Its inexplicable to me why theres so much enthusiasm for this type of reactor.

When I spoke with Lyman on Tuesday, hed just finished monitoring a multi-day Nuclear Regulatory Commission advisory committee meeting reviewing the preliminary safeguard assessment of the TerraPowers Wyoming reactor.

It is important to note that TerraPower refused my repeated requests for an interview. TerraPower will have to politely decline participation in this opportunity at this time, public relations specialist Brooke Leader said on behalf of the firm.

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The problems with the natrium reactor, Lyman said, are inherent in the design of any sodium-cooled reactor. The molten sodium bursts into flame upon contact with air or water, he said, and these types of reactors have historically been expensive to build and prone to leaks. But, he said, the most worrying thing about the natrium reactor is that it uses fuel enriched to up to 20% of the isotope Uranium 235. This fuel is called HALEU, for high assay low enrichment uranium, and its just below the threshold for weapons-grade material.

Conventional nuclear reactors use fuel that is between 3 and 5% enriched.

Natrium reactors require HALEU to make them smaller and more efficient, Lyman said, but there is no domestic source of this fuel available in the quantities needed. In addition, security at natrium reactors would have to be beefed up compared with conventional reactors, because HALEU is attractive to terrorists and rogue states. Enriching uranium to 20% represents most of the effort required to make weapons-grade material.

In addition, theres the problem  inherent with every reactor currently operating or planned in the United States  that theres no long-term storage solution for spent fuel. Work on the Yucca Mountain geologic repository was halted in 2010. All waste is stored on-site, in cooling ponds and dry casks. It will remain hazardous for much longer than there has been recorded history  tens of thousands of years.

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We cant even keep the government running year-round or provide reliable food and health care to our poorest Americans. How can we expect to keep the distant future safe from us?

The immediate risk with a natrium reactor, Lyman said, is fire.

Molten sodium is a highly reactive material, so you have to keep it away from the air and water at all costs, Lyman said, or you could end up with a sodium fire. And having a nuclear reactor where the coolant itself can catch on fire just sounds like a bad idea. It really is. So they have to go to extraordinary lengths to prevent any exposure of the coolant to air or water.

This adds a level of unneeded complexity, he said. Even though TerraPower claims that natrium reactors are safer than light water-cooled reactors, Lyman said just the opposite is true. The time to respond to accidents is much shorter, he said, and there is no containment structure  the familiar dome-shaped vessel  as additional backup to contain leaks.

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The Department of Energy is trying, with Congresss help, to stimulate and stand up a whole production program for this kind of (HALEU) material, Lyman said. But the demand is very unclear. The investments are on the order of billions and billions of dollars for an infrastructure to make this fuel. Its a risky proposition, and its not clear that TerraPower is going to have the amount of fuel it needs just for the first plant.

Because TerraPower would not speak to me, I will rely on author Edward A. Friedman, in his 2025 book Nuclear Energy: boom, Bust, and Emerging Renaissance, to make the case for next generation reactor technology.

The promise for successful realization of (advanced) technology was significantly enhanced with the groundbreaking of the TerraPower sodium-cooled natrium reactor, Friedman writes. Bills Gatess company, TerraPower, began construction June 10, 2024, at Kemmerer, Wyoming, of the natrium fast-neutron, liquid sodium-cooled reactor (SFR) that uses an associated liquid salt storage system. This fail-safe, small modular reactor (SMR) will be the first model in the world for cost-effective replacement of a coal-fired power plant with a nuclear reactor.

The reactor is expected to become operational in 2030.

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Gates hopes for hundreds of coal-to-nuclear transformations in the future, according to Friedman. Indeed, the vision of replacing fossil fuel that drove Gates to found TerraPower in the first place.

Theres no scenario in which we keep adding carbon to the atmosphere and the world stops getting hotter, Gates wrote in his 2021 book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster.

The hotter it gets, the harder it will be for humans to survive, much less thrive, Gates wrote.

Nuclear is the only carbon-free energy source, he said, that can reliably deliver power day and night through any type of weather on a large scale. Its also one of the few practical ways to bring electricity to the poorest of countries, such as those found in sub-Saharan Africa. Access to energy is highly correlated to wealth and happiness.

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Its no secret that nuclear power has its problems, Gates wrote. Its very expensive to build today. Human error can cause accidents. Uranium, the fuel it uses, can be converted for use in weapons. The waste is dangerous and hard to store.

Yet, nuclear represented our best hope of stopping global warming, he claimed. There was nothing more important than halting the rise in temperature if we were to avoid catastrophe.

Recently, Gates has changed his tune on climate.

In a memo to COP30, the United Nations climate change conference scheduled for next week in Brazil, Gates abandoned his previous net zero views. He criticized doomsday climate scenarios and suggested that people will be able to live and thrive in most places on Earth for the foreseeable future. Its time to put human welfare at the center of climate strategies and improving agriculture and health in the poorest countries.

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Climate change is a serious problem, he said, but it will not be the end of civilization.

The memo sounds like nothing short of a retreat from climate activism from a man who had spent personal billions on a quest for net zero. In the case of his push for advanced reactors, Gates may have been so driven by his desire to stop global warming that he swallowed the nuclear pill.

His sudden redirection must be having some effect on TerraPower, the company he founded. But his memo will have no effect on the U.S. delegation to COP30, because there will be no official American presence there. Donald Trump had already pulled the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement. The world has now blown past the agreements 1.5 degree Celsius limit on global warming, with more climate suffering to follow.

Trump recently directed the United States to resume nuclear weapons testing, something we havent done since 1992. There is not yet a name for this arms race, but it is on as surely as the seas are rising. I am reminded of Damocles from Greek mythology, who was taught the dangers of power by the sword dangling above. So let us call this the Age of Damocles, because nothing is happy for those wracked by anxiety.

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It is no coincidence that we embrace a new arms race at the same moment we accelerate the regulatory process to approve and deploy new types of nuclear reactors that use disturbingly enriched fuel. While nuclear proponents like Friedman dismiss opposition to nuclear power as an artifact of the Cold War and media misinformation, there were reasons for those fears. Troubling issues remain.

Opposition to nuclear power that curbed the U.S. nuclear power program from the 1980s until recently was based not only on fictional movies like 1979s The China Syndrome but in real-life accidents like Fukishima in 2011, in which an earthquake and tsunami shut down the power grid and made it impossible to cool the reactors. More recently, Europes largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine, has caused alarm because its been damaged and sometimes cut off in the ongoing war with Russia. Movies that might contain some inaccuracies, such as the 2019 HBO miniseries Chernobyl, are not causes of our nuclear jitters but expressions of them.

This is the global context in which we find ourselves pondering whether a new type of nuclear energy is good for Kansas or just a costly experiment that will risk accident or murderous mayhem. We live in a new period of global instability, one driven by all the old forces  greed, ignorance, haste, denial  that have plagued us since the ice receded. The communications from TerraPower have been carefully curated to present a sanitized version of a techno billionaire philanthropists dream of a nuclear renaissance.

Im cold to the idea of spending billions on nuke plants to power, in large part, electricity-hungry AI data centers. It seems immoral when so many Americans go hungry and are without health insurance. Beyond that, theres just too many unanswered questions about next-generation reactors.

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But Im opposed to the TerraPower plan for a natrium reactor in Kansas not because of the unknowns  where, how much, how long?  but because of what we do know. The HALEU fuel, in the amounts needed, presents an unacceptable risk of nuclear proliferation.

Let us not unknowingly beat our ploughshares into swords.

Max McCoy is an award-winning author and journalist. Through its opinion section, the 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.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  One horse was rescued after a trailer hauling multiple horses overturned in northwest Charlotte, officials say.

Around 8:38 p.m. on Friday, Charlotte Fire and Medic responded to reports of a crash involving a vehicle towing a horse trailer in the 4600 block of Brookshire Boulevard. The trailer overturned and fell approximately 25 feet down an embankment with three horses inside.

Three engine companies, one ladder company, a rescue company, and two Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) vehicles responded.

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Firefighters worked through the night, using specialized tools, to cut parts of the trailer and extricate the animals inside. Three veterinarians, along with staff from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control, were on scene to monitor the horses condition and provide immediate care.

(Charlotte Fire Department)

Unfortunately, two horses did not survive the crash. A third horse was successfully rescued around 1:11 a.m. Video posted by the Charlotte Fire Department shows the horse walking up the embankment and being placed into another trailer for transport.

Charlotte Fire remained on scene until approximately 2:30 a.m. Saturday. After fire crews concluded, the horses owners brought in their own resources to recover the remaining animals.

This was a difficult and emotional scene, said Charlotte Fire Chief Reginald T. Johnson. Our firefighters, alongside the veterinarians and Animal Care & Control, demonstrated tremendous care, professionalism, and compassion throughout the night. Their teamwork reflects the very best of what it means to serve this community.

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The crash remains under investigation by CMPD. Police did not say what caused the crash.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
House Republicans are exploring ways to prevent Zohran Mamdani from ever being sworn in as mayor even if he prevails in Tuesdays election by using the Constitutions insurrection clause, The Post has learned.

The New York Young Republican Club is pushing to prevent the NYC mayoral frontrunner from taking the oath of office Jan. 1 under an idea floated this summer.

It cites language in the post-Civil War 14th Amendment to the Constitution barring from office anyone who engaged in insurrection or rebellion or who has given aid or comfort to the enemies. The group argues that Mamdanis own statements calling to resist ICE could violate the prohibition.

House Republicans are looking at proposed legislation what would try to bar Zohran Mamdani (pictured) under the Constitutions insurrection clause Getty Images

There is a real and legitimate push to see the insurrectionist Zohran Mamdani either a) removed from the ballot or b) removed from office if he is to win on Tuesday, Stefano Forte, president of the New York Young Republicans, told The Post.

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Republican lawmakers are keyed in on the idea and are considering rolling out legislation on it once the government shutdown ends, sources told The Post.

Its the same provision Colorado used to try to kick Trump off the ballot last year, only to get slapped down by the Supreme Court. The high court ruled that it was up to Congress to enforcement the amendment, giving majority Republicans a chance to test their authority.

Proponents would like to see a congressional vote on declaring Mamdani ineligible, although that would mean getting it through the narrow 219-213 Republican House majority and overcoming a Senate filibuster should leaders decide to put it on the floor.

It would also have to survive any court challenge to removing a popularly elected official. But it would create a political wedge that would force Democrats to vote either for or against a socialist who President Trump is eager to turn into a national foil for MAGA.

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The effort would come after the election, and only after Speaker Mike Johnson brings lawmakers back from an extended recess during the government shutdown.

Former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon predicted on his War Room Pandemic podcast last week that Mamdani would rebrand the Democratic party, in a signal of how MAGA allies plan to respond if the frontrunner prevails on Tuesday.

Republicans want AG Pam Bondi to probe Mamdanis path to citizenship AP

Meanwhile, House Republicans are doubling down on their effort to push the Justice Department to probe Mamdanis path to citizenship.

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) has goosed is own earlier campaign to prod the federal government to investigate statements the New York assemblyman made when he became a naturalized citizen in 2018. The lawmaker wrote Attorney General Pam Bondi Monday trying to spur action and urging her to uphold the integrity of its citizenship process.

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His idea has snowballed since The Post broke a story about his plan Sunday, as he booked a slew of media appearances and vowed to continue.

Ogles wrote the Justice Department Oct. 28, citing The Posts reporting and re-upping his call to have Mamdani deported over his refusal to disavow violent anti-American rhetoric. Current law bars membership in a communist or totalitarian party for people becoming citizens.

He accuses Mamdani, 34, of engaging in a broader pattern of conduct inconsistent with the oath of allegiance required of new citizens. He asks AG Pam Bondi for any update on the scope of any inquiry and the steps being taken to determine whether denaturalization proceedings are warranted. His comments were even more fiery on X, where he accused Mamdani of coming to the US from Uganda to turn America into an Islamic theocracy.

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) re-upped his request to the Justice Department and cited coverage in The Post. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) accuses Mamdani of having lied on his citizenship form when he failed to disclose his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America and statements in support of the Holy land five.

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New York City falls to communism next week, and they will have nobody but themselves to blame, Fine posted on X Thursday. Ogles initial letter to DOJ also references Mamdanis comments about the group  a reference to Palestinian-Americans who led the shuttered Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development Muslim charity. The feds shut it down in 2001 for funneling funds to terror group Hamas.

Mamdani has claimed he is not a communist in comments to The Post. No matter how many times these Republican Congress members or the president of this country calls me a communist, it doesnt make it true, he said last weekend. His campaign did not return calls for comment.

A Justice Department spokeswoman confirmed receipt of the letter, but said congressional correspondence was delayed due to the Democrats shutdown. The Department does not comment on the status of ongoing or potential investigations, said the spokeswoman.




Travelers are urged to arrive early at Houston Airports beginning Saturday as the time to get through security could last as long as an hour, according to the Houston Airport System.

At Bush Intercontinental, Transportation Security Administration checkpoints will only be open in Terminals A and E, while Hobby Airport will have fewer screening lanes, according to a news release from the Houston Airport System.

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United Airlines travelers at IAH are encouraged to check their luggage at Terminal C and then go to Terminal E for security screening by walking or taking the terminal subway, according to the news release.

MORE TSA: TSA has added new items to its list of things you can't pack in your checked bags

After warning on Friday of wait times longer than 30 minutes, Houston Airports said wait times at IAH could last more than 60 minutes and more than 45 minutes at HOU. In early October, when the TSA warned of lengthening delays during the government shutdown, the wait to get through security on a typical weekday were about 10 minutes.

"While TSA is prepared to continue screening about 2.5 (million) passengers a day, an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports," the agency said in an early-October statement.

The Houston Airport System has not said why security wait times have increased.

This article originally published at Houston Airports warns travelers to expect longer lines through security.
Nathan Sharp is trying to figure out how hell pay for health care now that the federal pandemic-era help that made his coverage more affordable is set to end.

The 49-year-old Crystal River resident learned this week the monthly cost of his Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, plan will more than double, jumping from $202 to $450. He said his co-pays are also increasing, and hes considering going without coverage next year.

I am not going to be able to afford my insurance, said Sharp, who does digital marketing and is self-employed. I am just going to have to self-pay.

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Millions of Floridians are facing higher Obamacare prices with the start of open enrollment Saturday. Costs are being driven up by the expiration of enhanced subsidies, enacted in 2021, that helped many people pay for health insurance  and are now at the center of the federal government shutdown dispute.

The Sunshine State has about 4.7 million people enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans, and its estimated as many as a third could drop their coverage given the higher prices.

There is going to be huge sticker shock, said Steve Freedman, a professor of health policy at the University of South Floridas Chiles Center. Its not going to be without real public outcry.

Rates will vary based on a persons age, income, coverage plan and location. Obamacare is meant to make health insurance more affordable and accessible to people who do not access insurance through an employer, and about 97% of Florida enrollees receive income-based discounts that make their premiums cheaper.

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But next year, many are slated to pay more for the same coverage, assuming Congress allows the extra subsidies to expire at the end of the year.

A 28-year-old person in Orange County who earns $35,000 a year will see the monthly cost of the typical silver-tier plan rise from $130 to $290, according to estimates from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. The typical family of four with a household income of $85,000 would see their monthly cost go from $489 to $901.

Despite the states rightward shift, Florida leads the nation for Obamacare enrollment with more people relying on this coverage than anywhere else in the country. One factor behind that is Floridas tourism and service-based economy where many workers dont have access to insurance through their jobs, Freedman said.

As a result, Floridians  from restaurant employees to gig workers to the self-employed  have turned to a plan long derided by the GOP to get health insurance.

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In 2021, former President Joe Biden signed legislation making Obamacare subsidies even more generous and, for the first time, offering discounts to people earning more than four times the poverty level  about $62,600 for an individual.

With those changes, Obamacare enrollment soared in Florida from 1.9 million in 2020 to 4.7 million in 2025.

Those additional subsidies are now at the center of a Washington, D.C. standoff with Democrats pushing for them to be extended as part of a deal to reopen the government. It would cost about $23 billion to extend the subsidies for a year and $350 billion to extend them over the next decade, according to an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office.

Long critical of Obamacare, many Republicans are pushing for a conservative overhaul of the 2010 law if not an outright repeal. But they havent coalesced around a detailed plan. Some conservatives argue extending the subsidies will drive health care costs even higher in the long run. Others, such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, have said they support extending the subsidies or coming up with a different plan to prevent dramatic price spikes.

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Health care is shaping up to be a dominant issue in next years midterm elections.

But State Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, said she is worried about what the immediate fallout will be for families.

They are about to get the shock of their lives when they open their premium notice, she said. Working families in Florida are at the end of their rope. They dont have any room in their budget. This is going to be a real problem.

Both outgoing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and gubernatorial front-runner U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds have said they think younger people could get by with bare-bones plans that provide coverage only for catastrophic costs instead of more expensive comprehensive coverage.

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DeSantis put blame on federal policy that he says has created a medical industrial complex, where patients are disconnected from the cost of health care billed to insurers.

Most people, particularly under 50, what they really need is a catastrophic plan thats affordable, where then they can pay whatever theyre doing out of a health savings account, he said during a discussion at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution earlier this month.

Food banks are preparing for a surge as federal food aid could be paused in the government shutdown

Meanwhile, Florida Blue, a leading insurance carrier, is warning its customers of the higher costs for those who buy insurance through the Obamacare marketplace and also highlighting the out-of-pocket expense of receiving treatment without insurance. The average emergency room visit at a Florida hospital costs $3,100, if you pay out of pocket, while a three-day hospital stay runs about $30,000, according to the insurer.

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Without the enhanced tax credits, millions of people will face higher monthly costs on the individual marketplace, said Michael Lawrence, a Florida Blue spokesman. They may no longer be able to afford their current coverage, and many may choose to go without it. This would reverse the tremendous progress  reduction in the uninsured  made since the Individual Marketplace began.

Florida is one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid, a joint state-federal insurance program for low-income people. The Affordable Care Act included funds for states opting to expand Medicaid to people with incomes up to 138% of the poverty level, about $21,500 for a single person. The federal government agreed to initially fund 100% of the cost and pick up a 90% share in subsequent years.

The Florida Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank, forecasts that the states uninsured could rise from 10.9% to 16.9% next year, writing that cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies set Florida up for an impending health care coverage disaster.

As healthier people drop their coverage, it could cause an insurance death spiral with a sicker, riskier insurance pool, driving premiums even higher, said Freedman, the health policy professor. Emergency rooms could see more uninsured patients who must be seen but cant pay, costs that ultimately get passed on to those with insurance.

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Xonjenese Jacobs, the director of the health care assistance program Covering Florida, encouraged people facing large increases to shop around. They may be able to find a lower-tier plan or a different carrier that is less expensive and meets their needs, she said.

Navigators are available to provide free assistance to consumers, but their numbers have been greatly diminished because of federal funding cuts. Jacobs oversees 75 navigators, down from about 200 during Bidens administration, even as many Floridians are expected to be scrambling for coverage.

Weve been fielding calls, she said. It has been off the hook with the phones ringing.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Despite rulings from two federal judges ordering the Trump administration to continue funding food stamps during the government shutdown, many families remain uncertain about when those benefits will resume.

That uncertainty prompted Feeding San Diego to hold an emergency food distribution event Saturday morning, drawing one of its largest crowds to date.

Organizers said many people who showed up have not seen their CalFresh EBT cards reloaded with funds for groceries.

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Its really hard because I have to feed my kids, said Collette Williams, one of many parents waiting in line. Among those in attendance were families of furloughed federal employees and military members struggling to buy food amid the ongoing shutdown.

The grocery stores here  the prices are astronomical, said Samantha Van Hubbard, a Navy spouse.

Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-San Diego, who represents the 51st Congressional District, volunteered at the event and praised the judges rulings.

We are hopeful those benefits will get passed out soon, Jacobs said. But in the meantime, people are really counting on their CalFresh benefits, and we can see by how many people are here that people are really worried about whats going to happen to them and their families.

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Feeding San Diego spokesperson Carissa Casares said the organizations social media post about the event received more than 10,000 engagements, a sign of widespread need.

We saw a lot of new faces, Casares said. This was really needed in the community.

Over a two-hour period, volunteers distributed enough food to feed more than 3,500 people  parents, children and service members  grateful for a helping hand as they wait for federal aid to resume.

For more information about local food resources, residents can call 2-1-1 or visit 211sandiego.org.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
As Hurricane Melissa neared the Jamaican coast, winds in the spiraling wall of clouds around its eye gusted to almost unimaginable speeds.

How fast? Faster than most tornadoes. Faster than a race car at Daytona. Faster than the fastest roller coaster and approaching some of the higher wind speeds in a jet stream.

As the fierce storm headed for Jamaica on Oct. 28, Andy Hazelton was aboard Kermit, one of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations reconnaissance aircraft. An associate scientist at the University of Miami, Hazelton was processing the data flowing in from the weather instruments being dropped into the storm. At one point, he watched a squiggly line showing a wind gust that veered right off the graph display.

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I couldnt believe it, he posted on X. The data point? A spot wind gust of 219 knots. Thats 252 mph.

Thats booking, said James Franklin, a retired former branch chief for the hurricane specialists unit at the National Hurricane Center. If the measurement verifies, as Franklin believes it will, it would be the highest speed ever recorded in a tropical cyclone by a dropsonde, one of the workhorse instruments used for decades to measure conditions inside the storms.

Melissa's extreme winds, periods of rapidly intensifying winds, and the way it skipped a typical replacement of its inner core amazed scientists who study tropical cyclones.

A resident stands at a flooded section of Port Royal in Kingston on Oct. 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. A man covers the windows of his home with corrugated iron ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on Oct. 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa strengthened Monday as it took aim at Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean as a top-level Category 5 storm, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to seek shelter immediately. After passing over Jamaica, the storm was forecast to head north and cross over eastern Cuba on Tuesday night, while continuing to bring rain and heavy winds to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. A man watches the waves crash into the walls at the Kingston Waterfront on Oct. 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. A motorist drives along flooded Michael Manley Boulevard in Kingston, Jamaica, as Jamaica starts to feel the effects of Hurricane Mellisa on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa, already a major category 4 storm, gathered steam Sunday as it took aim at Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to seek shelter immediately. A coconut tree sways in the wind at the Kingston Waterfront on Ocean Boulevard in Kingston, Jamaica, as Jamaica starts to feel the effects of Hurricane Mellisa on Oct. 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa was cutting a deadly path in the Caribbean on the night of October 25, with rapid intensification expected over the weekend as it took a worryingly slow course toward Jamaica and the island of Hispaniola, forecasters said. Waves crash onto the beach in Kingston on Oct. 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. Satellite image of Hurricane Melissa as of 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. People fill bags with sand in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Melissa, in Port Royal, Jamaica on Oct. 26, 2025. Alfred Veitch places concrete blocks on top of his chicken coop, in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Melissa, in Port Royal, Jamaica on Oct. 26, 2025. A person watches waves crash on the beach, ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa, in Port Royal, Jamaica on Oct. 26, 2025. Fishermen move a boat to higher ground, in preparation of Hurricane Melissa, in Port Royal, Jamaica on Oct. 26, 2025. Empty counters at the airport, in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Melissa, in Kingston, Jamaica on Oct. 25, 2025. People load sandbags onto a vehicle, in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Melissa, in the Harbour View neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica on Oct. 25, 2025. The National Hurricane Center reports Melissa has strengthened into a hurricane in the Caribbean on Oct. 25 and could soon rapidly intensify into a monstrous Category 4 or 5 storm, bringing perilous threats of rain, winds and storm surge to northern Caribbean islands.



A drone view shows a vehicle driving along a flooded street amid rain caused by Tropical Storm Melissa, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 24, 2025. People transit on a motorcycle through a street flooded by rains caused by Tropical Storm Melissa, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 23, 2025. People look on at the entrance to their homes on a street flooded by rains caused by Tropical Storm Melissa, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 23, 2025. A woman is standing on a street flooded by rains caused by Tropical Storm Melissa, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 23, 2025. A drone view shows water rushing through a spillway at the Sabaneta Dam as water levels are elevated due to Tropical Storm Melissa, in Sabaneta, Dominican Republic October 23, 2025. People walk through a flooded street amid rain caused by Tropical storm Melissa, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 24, 2025. A woman walks along a flooded street amid rain caused by Tropical Storm Melissa, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 24, 2025. A drone view shows a flooded area amid rain caused by Tropical Storm Melissa, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 24, 2025. Gas pumps are wrapped in plastic at a Texaco station as part of storm preparations, ahead of Tropical Storm Melissa, which is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the area, in Kingston, Jamaica, October 25, 2025. Workers board up a business ahead of the potential impact of Tropical Storm Melissa, in Kingston, Jamaica, October 24, 2025. Hurricane Melissa slams the Caribbean. See the floods and impact on residents in photos 1 of 23 A resident stands at a flooded section of Port Royal in Kingston on Oct. 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island.

With peak sustained winds of 185 mph, Melissa became one of the two strongest Atlantic storms on record to make landfall, according to the preliminary data. It is also tied for the third strongest hurricane on record in the Atlantic.

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If, as some suspect, the hurricanes wind speeds are adjusted upward during the hurricane center's post-storm review, Melissa could set a new bar for the fastest winds on record for a landfalling Atlantic storm.

The storm left more than 60 people dead in Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. Its winds, rain and storm surge damaged tens of thousands of homes, as well as hospitals and roads, marooning entire communities and leaving countless people with no electricity and in need of safe shelter. An international relief effort is underway, but social media posts still plead for assistance to reach some of the hardest hit areas.

In the minds of many  but not all  hurricane and climate experts, Melissas terrifying trip through the Caribbean also piled on evidence of the increasing influence of a warming ocean on an evolving hurricane landscape.

Warm waters fuel storms

For four days, Melissa drifted over the Caribbean, its peak sustained winds averaging 50 mph. Its meandering path took it over some of the warmest ocean water temperatures, said Claudia Benitez-Nelson, an oceanographer and senior associate dean at the University of South Carolina.

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Warmer water provides more energy for hurricanes, and temperatures in that area of the Caribbean were around 86 degrees, more than 2 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year, Benitez-Nelson said. Warmer oceans are really supercharging some hurricanes," she said, and theyre growing stronger and wetter.

Melissa ramped up quickly on the evening of Oct. 25. Its sustained winds rocketing faster by 65 mph in just 15 hours, taking the storm to 140 mph. It briefly plateaued, then the winds grew 35 mph over the next 24 hours.

Finally, as it closed in on Jamaica on Oct. 28, evidence collected by the crew on Kermit helped show the storm's increasing winds had reached an incredible 185 mph.

Dorothy Headley, 75, prepares a meal of cow liver over a wood fire as damaged property is seen in the background in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in the Watercress community of Westmoreland, Jamaica, on Oct. 31, 2025.

Haunting video: See inside the eye of Hurricane Melissa, a meteorological monster

Melissa's mysteries capture interest

Hurricane scientists watched with a familiar feeling of dread as Melissa traversed the Caribbean.

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But as the fearsome storm unfolded, perplexing science questions emerged, said Joshua Wadler, an associate scientist at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach who was aboard the flights on Kermit with Hazelton. He and others say answering such questions can continue improving forecasts and saving lives.

More: See how Hurricane Melissa, among strongest on record, compares with historic storms

On Oct. 26, "the storm felt like it had a perfect structure, everything you would think of as a rapidly intensifying major hurricane," he said. But it stopped intensifying at a Category 4 and stayed pretty "steady state during their entire flight."

It briefly stopped intensifying, then started rapidly intensifying again, Wadler said. "It's pretty rare for a storm to start rapidly intensifying when it's already a high-end Cat 4." Usually when there's a pause in intensification, it's an eyewall replacement cycle that's really noticeable, but that didn't happen here, he said. "So I think something else was going on."

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Eyewall replacement occurs in strong, well-formed hurricanes like Melissa, when a new eyewall forms and replaces the previous eyewall in a process that can weaken storms.

It would be nice to understand why that didnt happen" in Melissa, said Franklin, the retired hurricane center expert. What was going on in the center of the storm?

Hurricane scientist Andy Hazelton with the University of Miami took this photo inside the eye of Hurricane Melissa aboard a flight on the NOAA WP-3D hurricane reconnaissance aircraft dubbed Kermit, for Kermit the Frog.

Is climate change making some hurricanes worse?

Wadler believes storms will intensify "as much as they possibly can" if conditions are right, but he remains unconvinced that a single storm or season can be linked to warming.

"I still think it's just circumstance," he said. If there had not been a big trough over the United States, or if the steering flow had been just a little different, Melissa might have drifted over cooler water in the western Caribbean and might not have intensified as much, he said.

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Kerry Emanuel, an atmospheric science professor with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who specializes in hurricanes, agreed that it's hard to assess the role of climate change in a single season, but 2025 "was unusual in some ways," he said.

In just 4 years  since September 2022  seven Category 5 hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic basin, which includes the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of America, formerly the Gulf of Mexico.

Thats more than in any other period in recorded history except one. Seven Category 5 storms formed between September 2004 and September 2007. Four of those were in the hyperactive 2005 hurricane season. Category 5 is the highest ranking on the hurricane center's Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, reserved for hurricanes with winds of 157 mph or greater.

Category 5 hurricanes by decade:

Decade Category 5 hurricanes 1920 2 1930 5 1940 1 1950 2 1960 5 1970 3 1980 3 1990 2 2000 8 2010 6 2020 7

Even compared with that nightmarish season 20 years ago, 2025 stands out, Emanuel said. There were 28 named storms and 15 hurricanes in 2005. This year has produced only 13 named storms, and five hurricanes, but three of them reached Category 5.

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This and the rapid intensification of the other Category 5 hurricanes this summer is consistent with what we expect and predicted would happen in a warming world, Emanuel said. Theory, models and satellite observations all show that the proportion of storms that intensify rapidly and achieve high intensity is increasing.

Emanuel cautioned that warming does not mean more tropical cyclones. Even though that assertion is often repeated, he and others say its not yet supported by evidence. The total number of storms is fairly steady so far, he said, and some studies suggest continued warming could mean fewer storms.

Hurricane Melissa became one of the most powerful hurricanes in recorded history, its center core boosting the hurricane's highest estimated sustained winds to 180 mph on the morning of Oct. 28, and gusts to more than 250 mph.

In Emanuel's view, predictions that stronger storms will produce even more rain and higher storm surges aren't getting enough attention. He and other experts point out that greater flooding increases the potential for death and destruction like that seen in the Caribbean with Melissa.

It's also not only tropical cyclones that are growing more intense as they encounter warmer waters, said Michael Mann, a climate scientist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

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A study he coauthored earlier in 2025 concluded the strongest noreasters are becoming stronger. Thats because the offshore low-pressure systems that strike the nation's East Coast share characteristics with tropical systems, Mann said. They derive heat energy from evaporation of seawater, he said. So warmer oceans implies stronger noreasters.

A particularly strong noreaster in October along the Outer Banks of North Carolina caused the ocean to wash over the dunes in many locations, rushing down the main highway and flowing through yards. The nor'easter and the strong hurricanes passing offshore to the east this summer, have collapsed 16 houses along the stretch of islands since Sept. 16.

'We are seeing these impacts right now'

While many scientists say this run of Category 5 hurricanes in the Atlantic shows the growing influence of warmer oceans on tropical cyclones, they're growing increasingly frustrated by the Trump administration's attempts to downplay such evidence, climate science in general and action to address climate change, said Keith Seitter, a professor at the College of the Holy Cross and former executive director of the American Meteorological Society.

For example, the budget offered by the administration earlier this year proposed slashing NOAA research, including its hurricane research division in Miami.

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When President Donald Trump addressed the United Nations in September, he cast doubt on global warming and climate change. "It's the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion," the president said.

Melissa is a reminder that humans are causing the Earth to get warmer, Seitter said. "We are seeing these impacts right now," and already paying for them.

To see the nations officials deny the evidence is incredibly disheartening, leaving frustration, anger and disappointment "very close to the surface," Seitter said.

Stronger landfalling hurricanes leave more enduring impacts that take longer to recover from and put communities further behind, especially when they have one, two or three hurricanes within a matter of years, said Benitez-Nelson and Seitter. Puerto Rico, for example, is still recovering from Hurricane Maria in 2017, while along Melissa's path, both Jamaica and Cuba are still in recovery from hurricanes in 2024.

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Such disasters stress communities, states and countries, causing economic hardships and insurance industry woes, Seitter said, as well as posing individual hardships and humanitarian disasters that everyone pays for.

Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, has written about hurricanes, tornadoes and violent weather for more than 30 years. Reach her at dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X or dinahvp.77 on Signal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Monstrous Hurricane Melissa prompted renewed climate change questions
South Korean conglomerate HD Hyundai has teamed up with Germany's Siemens to modernize the US shipbuilding sector, the companies announced on Sunday.

The collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding, aims to revitalize the industry by enhancing design quality, reducing production risks, improving overall efficiency and lowering costs.

The partnership will focus on automating block assembly and installation processes, while leveraging data-driven solutions to optimize production, quality control and process management.

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These efforts are expected to foster gradual yet impactful technological innovation throughout the shipbuilding value chain.

HD Hyundai and Siemens will codevelop professional training programmes to cultivate a skilled workforce.

HD Hyundai plans to send instructors to over 30 Siemens training centres across the United States to deliver hands-on, field-oriented education.

In collaboration with top academic institutions like the University of Michigan and MIT, the company also intends to create specialized curricula in engineering, digital design and process automation.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Rashtriya Janata Dal, asserting that if Lalu Yadav's son Tejashwi Yadav manages to become Chief Minister it will mean that three new ministeries - of kidnapping, extortion, and promoting abduction and bloodshed will open up in the State. Addressing a public rally in Muzaffarpur, Shah recalled that the murder of G Krishnaiah, who was the District Magistrate of Gopalganj in Bihar by a mob in 1994 highlighted the "jungleraj" under the Lalu Prasad Yadav regime. "During Lalu-Rabri's administration, here in Gopalganj, the DM Krishnaiah was beaten to death; if Lalu's son becomes CM again, then three ministries will be created in Bihar: one to run the kidnapping industry, a second to collect extortion, and a third to promote abduction and bloodshed," Shah said. The Union Home Minister urged voters in the state to vote for the victory of NDA candiates in the upcoming Assembly elections to keep "jungleraj" away from the State. Further, he said that the "jungleraj" that Bihar had experienced for 15 years had returned in the current elections with a "changed" face. "On the 6th you must cast your vote. There are three NDA candidates here; one of them is also our minister -- you should vote to make them win. I want to tell the people of Muzaffarpur: don't give your vote to make any candidate a minister, but give it to save [us] from "Jungle Raj." The collapse Bihar suffered during Lalu-Rabri's 15 years in power -- that same "Jungle Raj" is returning today, only dressed differently, with a changed face," Shah said. The Union Minister hailed the governance of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi which he said helped Muzaffarpur's litchi gain global status. "It was Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi who steered Bihar away from Jungle Raj and toward development. Under Narendra Modi's rule, Muzaffarpur's litchis go across the country and the world, spreading their sweetness," Shah said. "The Modi-Nitish duo gave Bihar AIIMS, an airport, a metro, and a power plant. It is because of Modi's governance that Muzaffarpur's litchi has reached global markets," he said. Shah also slammed Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, stating that the Congress leader was concerned not abou the country but only about making her son, Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister of the country. He emphasised that the post of the Prime Minister will not be vacant until PM Modi is there. "Lalu Ji and Sonia Ji, both are concerned not about the country, but about their own families. Lalu Ji wants his son to become the CM, and Sonia Ji wants her son to become the PM. But let me tell both that neither Tejashwi can become CM, nor Rahul PM because the seats are not vacant. In Bihar, there is Nitish Babu, and in Delhi, there is Modi Ji!," Shah said. Asserting the achievements of the Union and the Bihar government, Shah mentioned that under the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme, the Bihar government would add Rs 3,000 to the Rs 6,000 that farmers receive from the Union Government. "We have decided in the manifesto that 1 crore youth of Bihar will be provided with government jobs. A mega skill centre will be established in every district. Under PM Kisan, the Bihar government will add 3,000 rupees to the 6,000 rupees that farmers receive from the Modi government... Now, Bihar's farmers will receive 9,000 rupees annually. Permanent houses will be built for 50 lakh poor people. Free education will be provided to poor students from KG to PG," Shah said. Shah announced that if the NDA returns to power, it will create a new ministry dedicated to making Bihar flood-free and continue its efforts toward infrastructure and safety. He also said that the Vande Bharat Express will soon connect Sitamarhi in Bihar with Ayodhya, further strengthening cultural and religious ties. Voting for Bihar's 243-seat Assembly will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14. (ANI)
At the time of publication, there was no clear lead candidate to replace Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi as the new chief lawyer of the IDF.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir and Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday met to discuss who will become the IDFs new chief lawyer following the sudden resignation of IDF Military Advocate-General Maj.-Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi.

At press time, there was no clear lead candidate. In a dizzying series of developments, Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned her post on Friday an hour after Katz tried to fire her for the leaking of a video in the Sdei Teiman abuse of Palestinian prisoners cases.

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In her letter of resignation, she stated, I approved the leaking of evidence to the media in an attempt to confront the false propaganda against the law enforcement officials in the military. I take full responsibility for all of the evidence which was sent out to the media by this unit. Based on this responsibility, I also have decided to conclude my role as the MAG.

This admission changed the legal and political picture, as initially it seemed that Tomer-Yerushalmi might only be a third-party witness in the case, but she has now emerged as a central defendant. Her admission and disappearance on Sunday also led to a search for her, where, for some hours, there were concerns she had committed suicide, though she was eventually found alive and physically healthy.

Two potential replacements for the MAG have already been disqualified, leaving Zamir and Katz to look farther afield for a qualified replacement who is regarded as detached enough from Tomer-Yerushalmi to handle her case and the IDF legal division decisions objectively.

IDF Military Advocate-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi seen at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, October 1, 2024 (credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

IDF Col. Gal Asahel initially expected to replace Yerushalmi

Originally, her deputy, IDF Col. Gal Asahel, was expected to be the lead candidate to replace her.

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However, there are increasing indications that he may also be probed in the case as part of an alleged cover-up for the leak. At the very least, the fact that Asahel cleared Tomer-Yerushalmi of any charges, when she now has openly admitted wrongdoing, draws into question his objectivity or competency.

Next, former deputy attorney-general Raz Nizri, who lost in a close race in the last round of running to become attorney-general, was floated publicly as a possibility. Nizri is part of the legal establishment but is considered to be representative of its right wing, notably since he opposed many of the charges filed against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and tends to defer heavily to the defense establishment on legal disputes.

However, Nizri confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that he was not considering the position.

In addition, despite his general right-wing bona fides, some members of the coalition, such as in the Otzma Yehudit party, still hold a grudge against him for supporting harsh detention measures and prosecutions against extreme right-wing Israelis in the murder of the Palestinian Dawabsheh family at Duma in 2015.

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Meanwhile, several of the Force 100 defendants in the Sdei Teiman case protested with their lawyer, Adi Keidar, in front of the High Court of Justice over the leak of the video and the case against them continuing. Keidar said that the exposure of the leak showed that the entire investigation and case were polluted by improper considerations and that the case should be dismissed.

Moreover, he said that the legal establishment should apologize to the defendants for initially accusing them of grave sexual crimes, something that the prosecution later backed off somewhat, reducing the description to shoving an object up a Palestinian detainees anus.

Likewise, the defendant-soldiers vowed they would be more public with their criticism of how they had been  in their narrative  mistreated by the legal establishment. While the Force 100 defendants did protest publicly, they kept their faces covered in order to maintain their anonymity, which the IDF prosecution and courts have preserved, though many defendants complain that their identities were partially leaked.

The defendants and their lawyers have claimed throughout that they were mistreated during the process of their arrest in order to frame them as criminals in the public eye before their trial. In contrast, the legal establishment has pointed out that it received weathering attacks from the political class for arresting the Force 100 defendants at all and later that many extremist right-wing activists broke into an IDF base to try to free them.

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There are multiple Sdei Teiman cases. On February 6, an IDF court sentenced a reservist who had abused Palestinian Gazan detainees in Sde Teiman to seven months imprisonment in the first major jail term handed down to a soldier relating to the war. Given that the defendant-soldier had spent around 80 days in prison after he was first arrested, he was sent back to prison for around four and half months.

In the large Sdei Teiman abuse case, five defendant-soldiers were indicted on February 19 for sexual assault.

Pre-indictment hearings were held in the large case in November 2024, and sources denied to the Post that there had been delays due to fears of political fallout from the right-wing coalition government, despite the case dating back to summer 2024.

However, in light of the latest developments, it is also possible that the indictments were delayed by the separate probe into the leaking of a surveillance video from the Sde Teiman detention facility, which allegedly showed soldiers severely abusing a Palestinian detainee.

The IDF legal division was at least partially motivated to probe the issue of detainee abuse at Sdei Teiman following a damning report by The New York Times on the issue in June 2024 after it received access to the base and some of the detainees.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir met US Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine in Tel Aviv to discuss Gaza, regional threats, and strengthening military cooperation.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir hosted US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, holding a situational assessment, discussing regional challenges, including the Gaza Strip, over the weekend, the military confirmed on Saturday.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir meets with US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine at the IDF's Kirya HQ in Tel Aviv, November 1, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

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The two military chiefs also discussed "future challenges in both nearby and distant arenas," the IDF announced.

The Israeli military highlighted that it places "great importance on its relationship with the US military and will continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation."

IDF (L) and US military (R) delegations hold a situational assessment at the Israeli military Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv, November 1, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Meanwhile, discussions continue regarding the implementation of the Trump plan. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is in the US to meet with senior American officials, and Caine will visit US Central Command (CENTCOM)' Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat in the coming days to discuss the continued implementation of the ceasefire and the formation of the international force.

Zamir's recent visit to CENTCOM's CMCC in Kiryat Gat

On Wednesday, Zamir accompanied Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a visit to the CMCC, where he spoke with CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper.

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CENTCOM posted a video of what it said was suspected Hamas operatives looting an aid truck traveling as part of a humanitarian convoy delivering needed assistance from international partners to Gazans in northern Khan Yunis on Friday.

This important development was posted on behalf of the CMCC, which was established this past month as an outgrowth of the ceasefire deal agreed to in Egypt.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that "Hamas continues to deprive the people of Gaza of the humanitarian aid they desperately need.

Amichai Stein and Seth J. Frantzman contributed to this report.
Four people were killed in a strike in Kfar Reman, southern Lebanon, Lebanese media reported, while IDF sources pointed out the assassination targeted a logistics commander of the Radwan force.

The IDF killed a terrorist from Hezbollah's Radwan Force in Kfar Reman, southern Lebanon, on Saturday, a military source confirmed.

However, the source did not address the number of confirmed kills during the assassination attempt.

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The strike targeted a vehicle with four people inside, with all of the passengers being killed, according to Lebanese reports.

The attack targeted a logistics commander of the Radwan Force, according to Army Radio's Doron Kadosh.

This comes as part of a wider operation performed by the IDF in recent days against Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon.

People inspect wreckage of a vehicle belonging to Hezbollah terrorists killed in an IDF airstrike in southern Lebanon, October 25, 2025; illustrative. (credit: MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel expands Lebanon's assassination operations

The IDF on Saturday confirmed that it had eliminated a Radwan Force terrorist that was operating in the Nabatiya area in southern Lebanon.

"The terrorist operated to advance many terror attacks against the State of Israel and operated to reestablish Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites," the statement said and added, "The terrorists' activities constituted a threat to the State of Israel and its civilians, and a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon."

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On Friday, the IDF also confirmed the elimination of a Hezbollah maintenance officer, Ibrahim Muhammad Raslan, in the Kounine area in southern Lebanon.

Raslan was attempting to rebuild Hezbollah infrastructure in the area, the IDF shared in a statement.
IDF observers noticed a foreign drone trying to cross one of Israel's western borders before shooting it down.

The IDF foiled a weapons smuggling attempt overnight "from the west," the military confirmed on Sunday morning.

IDF observers noticed a foreign drone trying to cross one of Israel's western borders before shooting it down. Later, it was discovered to have been carrying eight handguns.

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Additionally, the IDF killed a terrorist who crossed the Yellow Line in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday, the military confirmed.

The terrorist was advancing towards soldiers stationed in the area when the IAF struck him.

This is a developing story.
The incident may lead to unusual calculations, including the need to conduct Tomer-Yerushalmi's interrogation for the Sde Teiman leak while she is safely in custody.

Former IDF Military Advocate-General Maj.-Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi was found alive and unharmed on Sunday evening on a beach in north Tel Aviv after a widespread search lasting hours, following a report of her disappearance, and fears were raised that she might take her own life.

The embattled top military jurist, the second woman in the IDF to hold the rank of major-general, resigned on Friday after Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to fire her for allegedly leaking the Sde Teiman investigation video that shows soldiers using excessive force against a Palestinian terrorist in detention. She then apparently lied about not knowing the source of the leak.

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This afternoon, we received a report about a missing person with concerns for her life. With bolstered forces, we arrived in the area and deployed all the resources at our disposal  by sea, on land, and through technological means. I can say that after extensive searches, she is currently being escorted by soldiers and police officers for a physical examination, and she will be brought to us at the police station, the Tel Aviv District Police commander stated after she was found.

Tomer-Yerushalmis family initially reported her disappearance, prompting the polices search. Later in the day, the mother of three reportedly made contact with her husband and authorities brought her husband to her to talk to her, about a kilometer north of Hatzuk Beach.

Tomer-Yerushalmi expected to be interrogated for leaked video

She was expected to be interrogated regarding her admission to leaking the video of IDF soldier prison guards beating a Palestinian detainee at Sde Teiman prison last year.

Rescue and police forces search for Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi at Hof HaTzuk beach in Tel Aviv, November 2, 2025. (credit: Tal Gal/Flash90)

She might have only been questioned in the coming days, but the latest developments may lead to unusual considerations, including the need to expedite her interrogation while she is in the safety of custody, as opposed to risking her cooperation at a future date.

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For hours on Sunday, there were fears for Tomer-Yerushalmis life after she disappeared and her car was found abandoned, with a letter left inside.

Large numbers of police officers, the army, navy, and air force searched for her with the held of helicopters and drones. Her car was found near Hatzuk Beach, reportedly after security forces used various technological means to track her location.
"Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice [sic] Officers!" President Donald Trump blasted on Truth Social on October 8. "Governor Pritzker also!"

The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago filed suit against the Trump administration on October 6, arguing that the Defense Department's deployment of both Illinois and Texas National Guard members to Chicago is unlawful and unconstitutional.

The suit was a response to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth federalizing 300 Illinois National Guard members on October 4, and 400 from Texas the following day. Despite opposition from both Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, the troops arrived in Chicago on October 8.

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"The Trump Administration's Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will," Pritzker wrote in a statement condemning the "outrageous and un-American" deployment of the Illinois Guard. After the Texas National Guard was deployed, he added, "We must now start calling this what it is: Trump's Invasion."

Illinois' complaint closely resembles Oregon's lawsuit filed a week earlier, arguing that the Trump administration's action does not meet the prerequisites necessary to federalize the National Guard, violates the Posse Comitatus Act, and violates the 10th Amendment by infringing on "Illinois's sovereignty and right to self-governance."

On October 4, Judge Karin Immergut of U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon granted a temporary restraining order against the federalization of the Oregon National Guard. She rules that plaintiffs were "likely to succeed on their claim that the President's federalizationexceeded his statutory authority" and "violated the Tenth Amendment." She added, "Whether we choose to follow what the Constitution mandates goes to the heart of what it means to live under the rule of law in the United States."

The very next day, Trump attempted to send out-of-state troops to Oregon"in direct contravention of the court's order," according to Immergut, who issued a second order blocking the deployment.

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Illinois plaintiffs argue the same rationale articulated by Immergut should apply in their case. Laying out the long, hostile history between Trump and Chicago's leadersincluding Trump's "Chipocalypse Now" Truth Social post, which Pritzker took as a threat of warthe complaint asserts that the decision to deploy troops "was made long before recent events" of "small, primarily peaceful" protests outside the Broadview ICE facility in the suburbs of Chicago.

A few weeks later, Trump called Pritzker "incompetent" and "stupid" in a speech to hundreds of generals and admirals. He proposed using large Democrat-run American citiessuch as Chicagoas "training grounds" for the military.

Amid the escalating tensions and awaiting a court decision, Pritzker didn't mince words. "The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props," Pritzker wrote in a statement. "This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness."

The post Illinois Is Taking the Feds to Court Over 'Trump's Invasion' of Chicago appeared first on Reason.com.
Photos of shopping carts full of various foods being thrown away in a Walmart surfaced in a viral TikTok post, causing consternation and sadness among the commenters.

The images show shopping carts full of bacon and other meat, frozen pizzas, baked goods, and other items, all ready to be thrown in the garbage. The frozen food and refrigerated sections are blocked off with yellow caution tape.

"This is tragic in the USA to do this when so many [go] hungry daily," wrote TikTok user hurladenton (@redbirds29691), who posted the images. "Unbelievable and disrespectful  I called Walmart and complained that this could have been donated quickly. I was told they will NOT donate."

In the comment section, replying to a commenter who asked whether the power went out, they replied, "Not the power but they told us something with the temperature [gauges]." That means that the food was possibly still perfectly fine for consumption, but because of store policy, it ended up in a landfill.

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This is especially upsetting considering that food is the "single largest component of U.S. landfills," accounting for 22%, and around 119 billion pounds of food is thrown away annually in the United States.

"What the heck  " wrote another commenter. "Food Lion and Publix and Ingles donates to the food bank." (For the record, not all Publix, apparently, donate food that is going to be thrown away.)

While many stores have policies against giving away food if there have been any issues regarding refrigeration in order to avoid liability issues, these policies are not as clear-cut and ironclad as they seem.

For example, one Trader Joe's gave away thousands of dollars worth of food for free after its refrigerators broke. No one sued them, and Trader Joe's remains in business. In another instance, a Kroger in Arkansas donated 60,000 meals to a local food bank after it lost power.

Whether or not Walmart could have donated this food and simply chose not to is unknown in this case, but regardless, it's hard to see that much food go to waste.




After being sentenced to more than 10 years in state prison, Kristina Chambers will join the small population of incarcerated expectant mothers.

For pregnant women spending time in prison, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice maintains specialty programs and facilities to ensure that expectant mothers receive the proper care. A total of 7,995 incarcerated women were admitted in 2024, only 87 of whom were pregnant, according to last year's TDCJ report on pregnant inmates.

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Chambers, who is four months pregnant, was sentenced Monday to 11 years and 14 days in state prison for the 2023 death of a pedestrian she hit with her Porsche 911 Carrera while driving drunk. As of Friday, she was awaiting transfer to prison from jail.

Here's what to know about pregnant women in Texas's prison system.

Where do pregnant women sentenced to prison stay in Texas?

All pregnant women who are sentenced to state prison are housed at the Carole S. Young Medical Facility in Dickinson, near Texas City, said Timothy Fitzpatrick, director of classification and records for TDCJ. The facility opened in 1996 and was specially designed by the department's medical providers and health services team, he said. The air-conditioned facility is not solely for pregnant inmates.

Nurses are available 24/7, and medical providers are on-site five times a week at the facility, Fitzpatrick said. The facility is also equipped with an obstetrician clinic and provider, Fitzpatrick said.

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"The staff that are assigned to those facilities, this is stuff that they deal with every day," he said. "They go through specific training, dealing with all types of medical needs. They are not medically licensed professionals, but they work side by side with the medical team and the nursing staff and their providers."

'WHAT JUSTICE FEELS LIKE': Kristina Chambers convicted of manslaughter

Pregnant inmates are assigned to a bottom bunk, Fitzpatrick said, so they aren't required to climb up and down and ladder to get into bed. Women who may be experiencing complications or require a higher level of care are assigned to a hospital-like room with a medical bed, he said.

Are restraints used on pregnant women in prison?

Pregnant inmates are not handcuffed, Fitzpatrick said. The department's security and transportation staff are well-versed in procedures that ensure safety for the mother and baby when an inmate is transferred, he said.

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"There's never been an instance where public safety has been at risk during those types of transports," he said. "That stuff is closely monitored and evaluated, and we implement other practices with chase vehicles and things of that nature to where that individual does not have to be handcuffed."

Hand restraints in front of the body may be used on pregnant inmates when necessary, such as during escorts or transports, according to last year's TDCJ report on pregnant inmates. Though restraints are not used when compelling medical reasons advise against them, such as when a pregnant inmate is in active labor or in immediate post-delivery recuperation, according to the report.

What kind of programs are available for pregnant prisoners in Texas?

There are several programs available to pregnant inmates, including programs focusing on prenatal hygiene and parenting, according to the TDCJ report on pregnant inmates.

One of the programs available is the Baby and Mother Bonding Initiative, or BAMBI, which provides education on child development and parenting training. A total of 393 mothers and 396 infants had participated in the program as of September 2024, according to the report.

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Best for Baby is another program that focuses on childhood development and parenting skills through peer education. The program's topics cover the importance of prenatal care and how pregnancy occurs, with each session ending with physical stretches that can help alleviate the discomfort of pregnancy.

The Day with Mom Program allows incarcerated mothers to spend roughly six hours with their children and the children's guardians on a scheduled Saturday. Families can visit, eat and spend time with each other playing board games, musical chairs and participating in coloring competitions. The Women's Storybook Project of Texas is another program focused on strengthening incarcerated mothers' relationships with their children through literature.

These programs play a crucial part in ensuring all inmates leave the criminal justice system better than they came, Fitzpatrick said.

"We understand the importance of breaking generational incarceration and programs like the parenting programs or the storybook programs, Bambi, all those things all help toward that," he said.

This article originally published at Inside Texas' pregnancy care in prison: Where women such as Kristina Chambers stay and are treated.
Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The FBI, local and university police are investigating an "intentional" explosion that occurred early Saturday morning on the fourth floor of the Harvard Medical School building in Boston.

The explosion occurred at 2:48 a.m. EDT in the medical school's Goldenson Building and triggered a fire alarm that alerted university police, The New York Times reported.

A Harvard University Police officer responded to the building at 220 Longwood Ave. and saw two individuals running from it.

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The officer tried to stop the individuals but could not and then found evidence of an explosion on the fourth floor, according to The Boston Globe.

The Boston Fire Department and its arson unit also responded to the alarm and determined the explosion likely was intentional.

A second suspect is seen leaving the Harvard University Medical building following an explosion early Saturday morning in Boston. Photo Courtesy of the Harvard University Police Department

Boston police searched the building for explosive devices but found none.

No one was injured during the incident, and the FBI is assisting with the investigation.

University police released video stills of the two suspects, who appear to be young, white males wearing light-colored masks while fleeing the building.

One wore a brown sweatshirt with a hood and what looked like "NYC" printed on the front, khaki pants and gray Crocs.

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The other wore a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark plaid pajama pants, according to university police.

The university police released images of each suspect that were captured by surveillance cameras.

Anyone who has information regarding the incident or suspects can contact the Harvard University Police Department's detective bureau by calling 617-495-1796.
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dharmshila Gupta launched a scathing attack on the opposition against the arrest of Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama in the Dularchand Yadav murder case. She stated that under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar, criminals won't be spared. "Since the very beginning, our opposition has been involved in robbery, kidnapping, and creating criminals to commit corruption and rape women; these same criminals are carrying out such acts... Our NDA government, under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar, will not spare any criminal. Investigations are underway, and the truth will soon be revealed..," she said. Earlier today, Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, was arrested by Patna Police in connection with the murder case of a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, the Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said. On October 30, a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, was killed during firing between the two sides while campaigning for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections in Mokama. SSP said Anant Singh has been arrested along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. All three will be presented before the magistrate. "On 30 October, there was a clash between two groups of competing candidates. Stones were pelted resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident. The deceased, Dularchand Yadav, aged 75 years, was a resident of the village where this clash occurred... Both sides registered cases, and police started investigating the case... Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the postmortem report of the deceased, it appears that the Model Code of Conduct was violated, and it is a serious issue. It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested. His accomplices, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have also been arrested with him... All three will be presented before the magistrate, and due investigation will follow," SSP Patna, Kartikeya K Sharma said while addressing the media on Sunday. (ANI)
Nov. 2Rural telecommunication company InterBel has been serving the Eureka area since the early 1960s. Chris O'Boyle, sales executive and brand ambassador for the company, is new to the industry but understands the mission through and through.

"Fiber internet is the conduit of the future. I guess you could say it's the most up-to-date connectivity. And you know, InterBel's laying that fiber groundwork throughout the valley to bring that to people in underserved areas," O'Boyle said.

Bringing high-speed internet to rural areas has been the focus of many local telecommunication companies for several years now. But O'Boyle said InterBel's commitment to good customer service goes back decades.

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InterBel started offering telephone service in 1964, then evolved with the industry to offer dial-up internet in 1998. The company was the first in Montana to discontinue dial-up and convert all customers to broadband using DSL in 2011, according to its website.

The company made a commitment to lay fiber throughout Eureka several years later, then decided to expand its fiber infrastructure into the Flathead Valley over the last couple of years. O'Boyle said the service stretches down U.S. 93 into Whitefish and continues off Farm to Market Road, keeping projects concentrated in the West Valley for now.

"Laying fiber is relatively expensive. It kind of goes up and down depending on the cost of goods, but our CFO has told me it costs about $25,000 per mile," O'Boyle said.

These fiber infrastructure projects are paid through a variety of state and federal grants, which make it possible for companies to expand into rural areas. O'Boyle said the process can be a costly one.

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"There are so many people that live 10 miles down the road and they're the only ones there. It makes it tough for a company to invest in getting that person hooked up, if it wasn't for government grants and things of that nature to help offset that cost," he said.

Despite the uphill battle, which includes the difficulty of digging into Montana's rocky ground, O'Boyle said that fiber is the future. Maintaining good internet access is going to be imperative for people going forward.

O'Boyle joined the team at InterBel about three years ago. Before that, he worked in mortgage banking for about 14 years. After getting laid-off, he was approached by a friend who worked at the telecommunication company.

As brand ambassador, O'Boyle said he leads with what sets the company apart from others.

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"I think it's twofold  I think the product that we sell matches with our customer service and that's the most important thing," he said.

For more information about InterBel, visit interbel.com/.

Reporter Taylor Inman may be reached at 758-4440 or [email protected].
I've Had It podcast host Jennifer Welch, conservatives were Last time we talked aboutpodcast host Jennifer Welch, conservatives were calling her "disgusting" for comments she made about Vice President JD Vance and his treatment of his wife, Usha Vance.

Bravo / Getty Images

Now, she's getting backlash from MAGA once again for her commentary on former college swimmer and vocal anti-trans conservative Riley Gaines.

Bryan Bedder / Getty Images, Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

Related: Mike Johnson Just Got Completely Destroyed By A Furious GOP Voter About The Government Shutdown On Live TV, And The Video Is Brutal

If you missed it, Riley recently expressed her displeasure at seeing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez support NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on stage at a rally. "We're being destroyed from within," Riley wrote in response to a photo of the two and Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Well, Welch responded in a podcast episode.

Jennifer Welch on Riley Gaines: Youre an insufferable twat. Nobody likes you and no matter what you will always have been the dumb bitch that tied for 5th place. The only place you can get a job is at bottom-feeder Fox News you insufferable twat. Nobody likes you except for the pic.twitter.com/PkypbraHMg  Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) October 29, 2025

Twitter: @MarcoFoster_

"One thing I want to say about Riley Gaines as she sits there and has the moral high ground against AOC," Welch began. "If I were to say who's more Christ-like, I would pick AOC...a million times over you, Riley Gaines."

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Related: "He Killed Him On Live TV": The NYC Mayor Debate Just Delivered A Jaw-Dropping Line

"Riley Gaines, all you do is hate on people," she continued. "You are wound up like a cheap clock over trans people. You show them no grace, no compassion... And then you have the audacity to get on television and try to lecture people who fight for the people that are suffering."

"You try to act like you're better than they are," she continued. "You're an insufferable twat."

"Nobody likes you, and no matter what, you will always have been the dumb bitch that tied for fifth place , and the only place that you could get a job is at bottom-feeder Fox News, you insufferable twat. Nobody likes you, except for the other fake Christians... So fuck you, Riley Gaines," she concluded.

Related: Donald Trump Hated His Time Magazine Cover... But He'll Probably Hate These 16 Photos Wayyyyyyyyyyyy More

Online, some people condemned Welch...

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...and even went as far as to call her disgusting...

...others applauded her approach. "Holy shit," one person wrote on X. "we don't need the 'Joe Rogan of the left' we have her."

Related: Eric Trump Made An Unexpected Claim On Live TV About Trump And Melania's Marriage

"One of the fundamental political imbalances in America is that the far-right have taken over the GOP and spent the last 15 years telling everyone who's not them to get fucked, meanwhile the Democrats have been playing this 'can't we all just get along' shit. No more! Do this!" another said.

In response to Welch, Riley Gaines released the following statement: "They say these things about me merely because I said men are not women. That's it. If you share that belief, they think the same about you. Such harsh words. Praying for these women."

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What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

Also in In the News: Ariana Grande Just Shared This 1 Very Blunt Question For Trump Supporters

Also in In the News: Seth Meyers Uncovered A Truly Unhinged Trump Moment That Has Everyone Questioning His Mental State

Also in In the News: Gavin Newsom's New, Brutal Nickname For Trump Is Going Viral, And It May Be His Best One Yet

Read it on BuzzFeed.com
This interview is from Oct. 30, 2025, and has been edited for clarity.

Its hard to believe that were already two months into the new school year. But while students and teachers still have a while of learning left in the 2025-25 academic year, a Central New York superintendent is reflecting on the past and looking ahead to retirement.

On Oct. 31, Anthony Davis served his last day as the Syracuse City School District superintendent.

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NewsChannel 9 spoke with Davis, and the new superintendent to take over, Pam Odom.

Tony, I know youre excited about this, but weve got to ask about the timing. A couple of months into the new school year, and youve decided to retire. Why now?

Davis: Two really quick reasons. One, I wanted to help get the STEAM school open, that was a big venture for our community. I wanted to help get that done, and having Pam follow me, I knew it would be easier to start the school year with backfilling positions and everything. It would be much more disruptive if I waited until December to go.

Pam, congratulations to you as well. Youre obviously no stranger to the district. Youre a Nottingham grad, youre a deputy to Tony right now. What does it feel like, though, now, to be in the lead chair? Youre leading the district that you came up in.

Odom: I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to be the next superintendent in the Syracuse City School District. I publicly just want to thank the Board for giving me this opportunity. I grew up in Syracuse; Im a graduate of Syracuse, as youve already shared. and so I am just super excited. I started as a teaching assistant in the Syracuse City School District and worked my way up to the superintendent. So I am super thrilled to have this opportunity to be the next superintendent.

Im going to ask you about the transition. Its got to be seamless, seeing as theyre not doing a nationwide search, theyre not going outside of the district. Theyve found a person who is right next to you [Davis]. Thats got to make the transition a lot easier.

Davis: Yes, and one of the things I said to the Board when I took the initial job was it wasnt my intention to stay here a very long time. So I knew it was going to be close to three years or less. So I asked for a deputy superintendent, so that we can make sure somebody was in line, because its very difficult for a district our size to start over every two or three years. So we wanted to make sure we had somebody in place that understood everything that was happening and why.

Pam, for you, youre on a different side of that whole equation. How helpful for you has it been serving as a deputy superintendent, and then to know that youve got the job and two months to transition at the beginning of this school year; how helpful has that been to you?

Odom: I have worked closely with Superintendent Davis, so the transition is really going to be smooth. I think hes been helpful as a mentor and a colleague. But also what weve done that Im excited about is that weve actually gone out into the community and weve held community conversations to get feedback from the community. Weve shared some highlights, and theyve given us some things we need to work on. Weve also went to schools and weve had an opportunity to speak with students and teachers to get some feedback and see all of the wonderful things that are happening in our school buildings. Lastly, I am having Meet the Superintendent nights, where our Syracuse City School District employees can give feedback. The superintendent has always shared, and I believe, that we cannot do this job alone in order to serve our families well and our students well; we really need feedback from everyone. So thats how Im going to lead, and hes led by example, and I will continue to lead that way.

Youve been getting a lot of feedback, and Tony, obviously youre giving her input as well. What was the biggest takeaway from all the voices that you heard?

Odom: I think the biggest takeaway is pretty much just, Let us have our say. People want to be able to share not only the concerns and issues, but highlights. Were going to continue to do that.

Tony, youre not totally leaving education. Itd be easier to retire tomorrow or go fish somewhere or whatever you want to do (I dont even know if you fish). But you might actually be doing a great deal of consulting with the district. How did that all come together?

Davis: Actually, just a need. My area of expertise has always been secondary and high school, in particular. With a lot of the transitions that weve had, we have a lot of new young talent thats coming up that could use some mentoring and some help. With my background I think thats going to be a perfect place for me to be able to continue to help the district. Just from the distance.

When you look back at your time in the district, what stands out to you the most? Whats most memorable? Most proud accomplishment?

Im going to say two really big highlights for me:

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One is saying to young people that I sat in the same seats that you did. Extremely important. Im very excited to walk into a classroom and say, Hey, I went to this school. Im a Henninger [High School] graduate.

The second thing is, watching the district and the community become one again. At one point I think it was very separate. But, I look around these days and everyones trying to help educate our students. I think thats been the most impactful thing that weve done, to bring them both back together again.

Tony, youre looking at the rear view mirror; Pam, youre looking ahead. Whats your vision for the future?

My vision for the Syracuse City School District is: I am a firm believer that all children need equality education. Were going to continue to work chronic absenteeism. If the students come to school, it is our job to educate them.

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Secondly, were going to continue to focus on our literacy and our numeracy goals, making sure that students are improving with their reading and math skills.

And thirdly, we have over 40 CTE [Career and Technical Education] programs, so now our students can graduate from the Syracuse City School District and they can choose to go to college or go right into the workforce. These are huge, huge opportunities for students and were going to continue to focus on these areas.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.
SPENCER, Iowa (KCAU)  Dozens of locals gathered at Stolley Park Pond outside of Spencer on Saturday, hoping to catch rainbow trout.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released about 1,500 rainbow trout into the pond Saturday afternoon.

Previously, the trout release was held at Scharnberg Park in rural Clay County. The switch to Stolley Park was made because of the proximity to Spencer and to bring more people out to the park.

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Its just to help increase the fishing success, the fishing catchability, in these ponds. Weve actually, in the last three years, weve put a lot of work back into Stolley Park to increase the fishing success; weve been working closely with the DNR, the local fisheries biologists. It just adds in another element that really draws attention to the area when you do these urban fish stockings like this, and its really great success for people to come out and catch fish, said Spencer Parks and Recreation Director Bob Fullhart.

To fish for the trout, you will need to get a trout stamp on your fishing license, which you can get anywhere that sells fishing licenses. There is a daily bag limit of five trout, and children under 16 may fish for free if they fish with a licensed adult.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
DES MOINES, Iowa  The Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO announced Saturday that it is endorsing State Auditor Rob Sand for Governor and labor lawyer Nate Willems for Attorney General.

Charlie Wishman, President of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, said that Rob Sand will stand up for union workers.

Thats what Robs campaign is all about. Robs campaign is about, yeah, working together. Its about getting past all of the partizanship. Theres look, theres always going to be parties. But that doesnt mean we cant work together. Its about being part of something bigger than you are. So its real easy, and we are so proud to endorse Rob Sand, Wishman said.

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Reggies Sleepout holds 20th event to fight youth homelessness

Wishman said that typically the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO does not endorse candidates as early as it has with Rob Sand.

Its really not very often that the station operation does early endorsements, but these two, in our view, they are no brainers without without question, Wishman said.

Sand spoke at the event coitizing the current republican leadership in Iowa.

We are looking at the state government in the state of Iowa right now that is not focused on serving regular people. Its not. We know is its not focused on serving workers. Its a focus on solving the working class. What they want to do is they want to look out for special interest groups and insiders, Sand said.

Latest in Iowa Politics:

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Iran's nuclear facilities were targeted in Operation Rising Lion in June, leaving them "obliterated" according to Yossi Cohen, former head of the Mossad.

Tehran will rebuild its nuclear facilities "with greater power," Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told state media on Sunday, adding that the country does not seek a nuclear weapon.

US President Donald Trump has warned that he would order fresh attacks on Iran's nuclear sites should Tehran try to restart facilities that the United States bombed in June.

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Pezeshkian made his comments during a visit to the country's Atomic Energy Organization, during which he met with senior managers from Irans nuclear industry.

Tehran claims program for civilian purposes

"Destroying buildings and factories will not create a problem for us; we will rebuild and with greater strength," the Iranian president told state media.

Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is for purely civilian purposes.

"It's all intended for solving the problems of the people, for disease, for the health of the people," Pezeshkian said in reference to Iran's nuclear activities.

An Iranian missile system is displayed next to a banner with a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during Iranian Defence Week, in a street in Tehran, Iran, September 25, 2025. (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA)

Iran's nuclear facilities were targeted in Operation Rising Lion in June, leaving them "obliterated" according to Yossi Cohen, former head of the Mossad. Cohen claimed that he knows with certainty that "Iran cannot enrich any more uranium these days."

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In June, US President Trump said at a press conference that all the enriched uranium Iran had was inside sites bombed during the operation, calling Iran's nuclear program "completely and totally obliterated." At the time, Trump said he was unsure if the US needed to make a deal with Iran at all due to the levels of destruction at the Iranian nuclear facilities.

'Keep dreaming,' Ayatollah tells Trump

However, in October, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that the US had not destroyed Iran's nuclear industry, telling President Trump to "keep dreaming."

Iran has recently scrapped a cooperation deal that it signed with the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA in September, its Supreme National Security Council Secretary announced on the same day, according to state media.

This announcement comes after the US announced its intentions to resume nuclear weapons testing on Thursday, with Iranian officials condemning the decision.
Tehran aims to rebuild the nuclear facilities damaged by attacks by US and Israeli forces in June, President Masoud Pezeshkian has indicated, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.

"The government stands with all its powers behind the necessary competence to continue the nuclear reconstruction," Pezeshkian said according to the agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Pezeshkian stressed that Tehran was not pursuing a nuclear weapons programme, but wanted to use nuclear energy for civil purposes. He described allegations from the West in this regard as "a lie" aimed at blocking Iran's scientific progress.

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Israel regards Tehran's nuclear programme as an existential threat and waged a 12-day war against Iran in June to destroy it. US and Israeli forces bombed the installations, with US President Donald Trump claiming that they had been destroyed, while Tehran spoke of severe damage.

As Tehran has ceased all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), no information on the destruction or the reconstruction work from external sources is available.

Iran's leaders have repeatedly said that building a nuclear weapon is banned in the country on religious grounds, but fears remain that Tehran could build a nuclear weapon using its stocks of highly enriched uranium.

Tehran committed to limiting its nuclear programme under a 2015 deal with Western countries, but relaunched uranium enrichment after the United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018 during the first Trump administration.

UN sanctions on Iran were reimposed at the initiative of France, Germany and the United Kingdom under the "snapback" mechanism in late September this year.
The elections are important because Iraq is undergoing a transitional phase.

Iraq is preparing for elections on November 11. The elections are important because Iraq continues to transition from an era when it had to confront extremism in the form of ISIS to dealing with the fallout of Irans declining role in the region.

Iranian-backed militias play an important role in Iraq, and Shiite political parties aligned with the militias will dominate the electoral landscape. A total of 329 seats in parliament are being elected.

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Iraq also knows all too well that assassinations and bombings can be a threat during periods of political infighting. For that reason, a huge security presence is expected. Iraq is also inviting people to monitor the elections.

According to Al-Ain media, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, Major General Miqdad Miri, announced during a press conference that the ministry has allocated more than 185,000 security personnel to secure polling centers throughout the governorates, including about 10,000 officers.

'Strict security measures' to be taken for elections

Al-Ain based its information on a document from Iraq revealing a package of strict security measures taken by the High Security Committee for Elections.

Hadi al-Amiri, leader of the Badr Organization attends a campaign rally ahead of Iraq's parliamentary elections in the city of Hilla, Iraq, November 1, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/ALAA AL-MARJANI)

The article notes that Iraq is working to prevent internal and external threats.

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The document stipulates that election day be declared an official holiday in all governorates (except for the Kurdistan Region), while health, service, and security departments will remain operational. All military and security forces from the Ministries of Defense and Interior, the Intelligence and National Security Services, and the Popular Mobilization Forces will enter a state of maximum alert (C), and leave will be suspended starting from November 7th until further notice.

The plan also bans the movement of any vehicle weighing more than five tons, as well as motorcycles and some other forms of transport. There is also a ban on the use of drones without the Joint Operations Command's approval. All forms of demonstrations and public gatherings are also prohibited from the sixth of this month until further notice.

In addition, polling stations will be secured against mobile phone use, cameras, and weapons. Major General Miri confirmed during a press conference that early voting for security forces will take place on November 9, with more than 1.3 million voters from the security and military services participating.

Miri indicated that the ministry will secure 600 polling stations for special voting and 7,000 polling stations for general voting, noting that the security situation is stable and no violations have been recorded that could disrupt the electoral process, the Al-Ain report noted.

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There are 329 seats up for grabs in parliament, and 7,750 people are running for them. In the Kurdistan autonomous region, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani promised to secure a lasting settlement between Erbil and Baghdad if his party gains greater influence in federal politics, speaking at a campaign rally in Erbil on Saturday, Rudaw, a Kurdish channel, said.

Meanwhile, President Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), on Saturday met with religious figures in Duhok province, campaigning for the upcoming federal election with a focus on long-standing grievances over the Kurdistan Regions relationship with Baghdad.

Al-Hassan Qabas, a member of the Independent High Electoral Commissions (IHEC) media team, told Rudaw that invitations have been extended to 90 external Arab and foreign entities, including embassies, consulates, and organizations interested in electoral affairs, with the aim of participating in monitoring the upcoming electoral process.
The women travelled with other volunteers to Burin in the West Bank to participate in the annual olive harvest alongside Palestinian farmers as a "protective presence."

Two American Jewish women were banned from Israel for 10 years after they entered a closed military area in the West Bank to assist Palestinian farmers with their olive harvest, left-wing organization Achavat Amim announced on Instagram on Sunday.

The two women, who were not initially named, were deported on Sunday.

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The women travelled with other volunteers to Burin in the West Bank to participate in the annual olive harvest alongside Palestinian farmers as a "protective presence."

"While soldiers and police detained nonviolent volunteers, no action was taken against the settlers who attacked farmers and destroyed trees in the same areas on previous days. Violence goes unpunished. Peace is treated as the treat," Achavat Amim wrote.

Israeli forces intervene against Palestinian farmers harvesting olives in the village of Sa'ir in Hebron, West Bank on October 23, 2025. (credit: WISAM HASHLAMOUN/FLASH90)

The organization added that it would continue to aid Palestinian farmers in the West Bank. "to defend human dignity that belongs to us all."

The post added that Israeli left-wing organization B'Tselem reported 150 attacks on Palestinian farmers, olive groves, and homes during the 2025 harvest season.

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In late October, Walla reported that extremist settlers had attacked Palestinians more than 15 times in one week.

Command officials are analyzing the situation and refining the deployment of IDF, Border Police, and police forces in the West Bank to prevent further incidents.

The IDF operates routinely throughout the West Bank, both defensively and offensively. At the same time, it acts in a coordinated and secure manner to enable the olive harvest season, the military said.

Rabbis for Ceasefire accuses Israel of 'unholy transgression'

Another organization that participated, Rabbis for Ceasefire, called the two women "teachers of righteousness."

"Israel has decided to deport two Jewish American women for attempting this act of nonviolent co-resistance  these two women are teachers of righteousness. For Israel to deport them is an avera, an unholy transgression. We encourage all to join us in naming it as such," the organization wrote.

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"To deport solidarity workers is to reject a peaceful, just future. We see this act for what it is: an exertion of Israeli supremacy and intimidation.

"We encourage all who are able to head to the West Bank to aid in the olive harvest now and in future years," the Rabbis for Ceasefire statement finished.
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, attended the second convocation ceremony of the University of Patanjali at Haridwar, Uttarakhand on Sunday, as per an official release. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was also present at the event. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that India's great personalities have made invaluable contributions to the development of human culture. Maharishi Patanjali, the greatest of sages, removed the impurities of the mind through yoga, of speech through grammar, and of the body through Ayurveda. She was happy to note that the University of Patanjali is making the great tradition of Maharishi Patanjali accessible to society. The President noted that the University of Patanjali is advancing education and research in the fields of yoga, Ayurveda, and naturopathy. She said that it is an appreciable effort that is instrumental in building a healthy India. The President was happy to note the India-centered educational vision of the University of Patanjali. She said that education with the vision of the spirit of universal brotherhood, integration of ancient Vedic knowledge and cutting-edge scientific research, and resolution of global challenges is advancing the Indian knowledge tradition in modern contexts. The President said that students who have received education in accordance with the ideals of this university must have realized that protecting the environment and adapting their lifestyle to nature is essential for the future of humanity. She expressed confidence that they will always be ready to face global challenges, including climate change. The President said that the wish for universal well-being is the hallmark of our culture. This well-being paves the way for harmony and inclusive development. She was confident that the students of this University would put the life value of harmony into practice. The President said that nurturing individuals leads to nurturing families, which leads to society and nation building. She noted that the University of Patanjali has adopted the path of nation-building through individual development. She expressed confidence that the students of this university would make significant contributions to building a healthy society and a developed India with their righteous conduct. (ANI)
He was apprehended along with another suspect who also attempted to assault the arresting officers.

Israel Police arrested on Sunday morning a man in his 20s from Ramle, after he posted his intentions to carry out a terrorist attack in the city online.

During the arrest, the suspect set his dog on one of the officers, who, fearing for their life, killed the dog in self-defense.

He was apprehended along with another suspect who also attempted to assault the arresting officers.

The Israeli police pointing towards the inside of a car. (credit: ISRAEL POLICE)

40-year-old man killed in Kafr Kara, 215th victim of Arab crime in 2025

Ameen Agbariya, 40-years-old from the northern town of Kafr Kara, was killed in a shooting on Saturday night, Israel Police and the Abraham Initiatives, a co-existence NGO that tracks Arab sector crime rates, announced on Sunday.

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When police officers and emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene, an investigation was opened, and Agbariya was evacuated in critical condition to the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera.

His death was later pronounced.

Agbariya's death is the 215th victim of the Arab sector lost to criminal violence since the start of the calendar year. Of them, 182 were shot dead.

The crime rate has been on an unrelenting rise since 2022.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Israel has received the bodies of three more captives from Hamas and taken them to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine to be examined and identified, the Israeli Defense Forces said Sunday.

The IDF said in a statement that the bodies were presented by Hamas in three caskets to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which collected them and delivered them to Israeli soldiers inside Gaza. The bodies were then escorted across the border into Israel.

"The IDF urges the public to act with sensitivity and wait for official identification, which will first be communicated to the families of the deceased hostages," the IDF said.

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Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades said Saturday that it was ready to exhume the bodies of the three captives from inside the yellow line and had offered to hand them over to Israel.

Since entering a ceasefire with Hamas in October, Israel has carried out multiple operations beyond the yellow line, which marks the boundaries for Israeli troop deployment under the deal, shooting and bombing Palestinians in areas outside Israeli control.

Hamas has considered these to be violations of the ceasefire agreement.

On Friday, Hamas had returned the partial remains of three people, but Israel said that forensic testing revealed that the bodies did not belong to any of the Israeli captives.

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The United Nations agency for Palestinian affairs said Sunday that it continues to operate health facilities in Gaza, with work including the screening of young children for malnutrition.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Sunday that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which they agreed that "humanitarian aid must reach the people of Gaza safely and in sufficient quantities."

Meanwhile, the family of a Palestinian held captive by Israel for 27 years said he faced a severe health decline, Al-Jazeera reported.

He was arrested in April 1997 and received multiple life sentences.

Palestinian media also reported Sunday that Israeli forces continued to raid several areas across the occupied West Bank, detaining a child in Tubas, as Israeli settlers plowed through Palestinian land in the town of Idhna in preparation to seize and annex it.
Dermer told RJC CEO Matt Brooks that if Americans had to choose one country, it would be one that can defend itself, provide high-grade intelligence, excel in cyber, and produce advanced weaponry.

Israel is the single most important ally for American security and prosperity over the next half-century, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer argued during an on-stage interview during the Republican Jewish Coalitions (RJC) leadership summit in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Dermer told RJC CEO Matt Brooks that if Americans had to choose one country, it would be one that can defend itself, provide high-grade intelligence, excel in cyber, and produce advanced offensive and defensive weapons.

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Running through a list of US partners, he said Canada doesnt have that intelligence service, Australia lacks that cyber capability or weapons making, and that Israel has a larger standing army than France.

Germany, he added, doesnt have the Intel capabilities, noting, were selling Iron Dome to them, not the other way around. He put only Britain in the same tier, but concluded that in the Middle East, where you dont want to put your troops, Israels location and capabilities make it more important than Britain for US national security.

Dermer then shifted to economics and technology, framing the US competition with China as a race that will be decided by innovation. Whos your number one partner in the world for advanced technology, he asked, answering that Britains not in the same zip code as the State of Israel, citing Israeli strengths in AI and autonomous systems.

In terms of pure American interests, Israel is the most important ally in the world to sustain American national security and prosperity, he said.

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer at an on-stage interview with the Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks during the leadership summit in Las Vegas on November 1, 2025. (credit: The Jerusalem Post)

With a lighter aside, Dermer joked about Britains famed spy craft, recalling a meeting with the head of MI6. I said, arent you ashamed of yourself? How do you let James Bond die on your watch? he quipped, before returning to the core claim that Israels intelligence and cyber capabilities are world-class.

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Dermer also thanked Washington for recent B-2 deployments, saying, You sent the B-2s in, and were deeply grateful for that, while stressing that a lot of what happened happened because of the IDF and the leadership of Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu.

The Pentagon repositioned B-2 stealth bombers to the Indian Ocean in April amid tensions with Iran, and US media later reported B-2 operations connected to strikes this year, underscoring the bombers role in regional deterrence.

US-Israel relations, antisemitism, and a 'pro-Israel identity'

The RJC gathering, which drew Republican officials, donors, and activists to Las Vegas this weekend, unfolded as party leaders confronted internal debates overantisemitism and the US-Israel relationship on the right, a theme that has increasingly surfaced in recent months.

Dermer, a longtime confidant of Netanyahu and Israels minister for strategic affairs since late 2022, has been a central interlocutor with Washington throughout the Gaza war and the Iran file. He met with US officials multiple times this year and has been closely tied to ceasefire and regional diplomacy tracks, according to prior US and Israeli reporting.

Brooks, who led the interview, has repeatedly urged Republicans to push back against creeping isolationism and to reaffirm the partys pro-Israel identity, setting the stage for Dermers case that the alliance rests as much on interests as on shared values.
An Israeli air strike has killed at least four people in southern Lebanon, according to the countrys Ministry of Public Health, in an attack that put more pressure on a nearly yearlong truce with Hezbollah.

In a statement on Saturday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said the Israeli attack in the town of Kfarsir in the Nabatieh district also wounded three.

The state-run Lebanon News Agency reported that the strike, which involved a guided missile, targeted a car at about 2:15pm (16:15 GMT).

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The attack came a day after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of escalating strikes in response to his offer to negotiate a more lasting end to the cross-border attacks.

The conflict began in 2023 when Hezbollah began launching attacks on Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in the wake of the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on southern Israel. After more than a year of fighting, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire in November 2024.





Despite the truce, Israel has kept troops in five areas of southern Lebanon and has continued near-daily air raids, repeatedly violating the truce. Israel claims it is targeting Hezbollah, but civilians, first responders and journalists have also been killed.

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According to the United Nations, Israeli forces have killed at least 111 civilians in Lebanon since the ceasefire went into effect.

Aoun, who called for negotiations with Israel in mid-October, after United States President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire, said his proposed talks seek to end the Israeli occupation.

For its part, Israel has claimed Lebanons government has not upheld its side of the ceasefire by failing to constrain and disarm Hezbollah.

The armed group rejects the pressure for it to disarm.

In another sign of heightening tensions, Aoun earlier this week instructed Lebanons armed forces to confront any new Israeli incursion in the south.





The order came hours after Israeli soldiers entered the border town of Blida.

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They stormed the town hall, killing municipal worker Ibrahim Salameh, who had been sleeping there, the state-owned National News Agency (NNA) said.

Israels military said the operation was meant to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure, saying that soldiers had opened fire in response to an immediate threat.

They did not provide further details or evidence behind the killing.
Four members of the Hezbollah militia have been "eliminated" in a strike in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military reported early on Sunday.

The target of the attack, which took place on Saturday, was an officer in the Radwan elite unit of the Shiite militia, who was "involved in transferring weapons and in efforts to reestablish Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon," the Israeli military report said.

Three other members of the unit were also "eliminated" during the strike, it added.

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Lebanese media reported that a car had been the target of the drone attack. They confirmed that four people had died and a further three had been injured.

The Israeli military said the men's activities had "constituted a threat to the State of Israel and its civilians, and a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon."

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz wrote on X: "The Lebanese government's obligation to disarm Hezbollah and remove it from southern Lebanon must be implemented."

While a ceasefire between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel has been in force since late November last year, Israeli forces have repeatedly attacked targets in Lebanon. Israeli accuses the militia of seeking to rebuild its military capacities.

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In August, the Lebanese government agreed to a plan devised by the United States for disarming Hezbollah by the end of this year. Hezbollah has not agreed to this timetable.

The disarmament of Hezbollah is a fraught issue for the Lebanese government, as the militia enjoys widespread support in the country, particularly among its Shiite population.

The militia sees itself as the only true resistance against Israel, its arch-enemy. The Lebanese army has been tasked with carrying out the disarmament, but it is seen as weak and poorly equipped by comparison with Hezbollah.
Samuel Issac Nelson, III, a Douglas Anderson School of the Arts graduate, has been named a 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholar, one of the highest honors for high school seniors.

Nelson is one of just 161 students nationwide, and only 20 in the arts, selected this year by the U.S. Department of Education.

He is the only student from Jacksonville and one of three arts scholars from Florida to receive the award.

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While at Douglas Anderson, Nelson stood out as a musical theatre student, class vice president, and award-winning performer in shows like Hadestown and Next to Normal.

His journey was supported by the Developing Artists Foundation, which helps young Jacksonville artists get the training and experiences they need to succeed.

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Rescuers and aid workers fanned out across Jamaica on Saturday to distribute food and water and reach communities still isolated four days after Hurricane Melissa hit the island.

One of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes to make landfall, Melissa has been blamed for at least 19 deaths in Jamaica, 31 in nearby Haiti, and at least one death in the Dominican Republic. Melissa made landfall in southwest Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane with top winds of 185 mph.

An aerial view shows damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, Jamaica, on Oct. 31, 2025. / Credit: RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images

Health Minister Christopher Tufton recognized that the death toll in Jamaica was probably higher as many places are still hard to access, but said that it would be unwise to speculate.

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Less than half the island has communications, and nearly 400 water systems were knocked out by the storm.

The U.S. Army deployed three CH-47 Chinook helicopters to Jamaica Friday for humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, with another five helicopters on the way.

According to Agence-France Presse, Jamaican officials on Saturday also announced plans to set up multiple field hospitals after several hospitals in western Jamaica were especially hard-hit by the storm.

"That facility will come fully equipped, which will include an operating theater and other critical diagnostic equipment, and some team members to support the local team," Tufton said in a briefing Saturday, according to AFP, adding that officials expect the hospital to be up and running in the coming week.

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There were desperate scenes in Montego Bay, as residents lined up to get food, water and cash. Many U.S. tourists are still working to make their way home. The Florida-based nonprofit Gray Bull Rescue Foundation found a way to get 341 American citizens back from two very hard-hit Montego Bay resorts.

Essential relief supplies are now rolling into hurricane-stricken St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland, most of which had been cut off by fallen concrete posts and trees strewn across roads.

But in some parts, people were forced to dip buckets into rivers, collecting the muddy water for everyday use, while others have been drinking coconut water and roasting breadfruit.

In Westmoreland, mangled metal sheets, splintered wooden frames of houses and fragments of furniture littered the coastline.

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Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. was among several convoys of emergency responders en route to deliver ready-to-eat meals, water, tarpaulins, blankets, medicine and other essentials.

"The priority now is to get help to those who need it," said Charles Jr. during a brief stop en route to Black River for the first time with long-awaited relief supplies. Prime Minister Andrew Holness had declared Black River ground zero and said the town will have to be rebuilt.

The Jamaica Defense Force set up a satellite disaster relief site at the Luana community center near Black River where care packages are being dispatched to hurricane-stricken residents.

Many have been without vital supplies since Tuesday and quickly converged around a JDF truck as word spread that relief supplies were being distributed in the sweltering afternoon sun.

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"Everyone is homeless right now," Rosemarie Gayle said. "Thank you, thank you. I can't say thank you enough," she said, as she accepted a package of rice, beans, sardines, powdered milk, cooking oil and other essentials.

A vehicle drives through a damaged area in St Elizabeth, Jamaica, on Oct. 31, 2025, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. / Credit: RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images

Melissa has left devastation in its wake, snapping power lines and toppling buildings, disrupting food and water distribution and destroying crop fields.

Satellite photographs showed the southwestern Jamaican fishing village of White House and the nearby town of Black River before and after Melissa slammed into the island. Each pair captures a once vibrant-looking town reduced to dirt and rubble.

Some people have been walking for miles in search of basic goods and to check on loved ones, as more than 60% of the island remained without power. Helicopters have been dropping food in cut-off communities.

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"People are in shock and they're waiting on relief," said World Vision's national director of domestic humanitarian and emergency affairs Mike Bassett, who traveled to the town of Santa Cruz in St. Elizabeth on Friday.

"The biggest needs are clean water, tarps for roof damage, canned proteins, hygiene and cleaning supplies," he said.

On Saturday, the United Nations' World Food Program received 2,000 boxes of emergency food assistance shipped from Barbados, to be distributed in shelters and in the most-affected communities in the St. Elizabeth area.

"They will help meet the needs of 6,000 people for one week," said communications officer for WFP Alexis Masciarelli.

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Tufton also warned about the risk of increased mosquitoes, waterborne diseases and food poisoning. "Please discard spoiled food," he said.

A U.S. regional disaster assistance response team was on the ground after being activated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this week, the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica said.

"The United States stands with Jamaica as they respond to the impacts of the hurricane and remains prepared to swiftly deliver emergency relief items," it said.

Dorothy Headley, 75, prepares a meal of cow liver over a wood fire as damaged property is seen in the background in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in the Watercress community of Westmoreland, Jamaica, on Oct. 31, 2025. / Credit: RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images

Jamaica's Water and Environment Minister Matthew Samuda took to the social media platform X in a desperate bid to find tarpaulin after Melissa tore off scores of roofs on homes in western Jamaica. X users chimed in to help, indicating where they had seen supplies.

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Falmouth, a popular fishing spot on Jamaica's north coast, had suffered significant damage including flooding and flattened buildings, Holness said on Saturday.

"Our immediate priority is to restore electricity and telecommunications and to ensure that essential services, particularly at the Falmouth Hospital, are stabilized," he said on X, adding that Jamaica would rebuild "stronger and wiser."

Following the devastation, the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility said that it would make a record payout to Jamaica of $70.8 million.

The facility enables countries to pool their individual risks to provide affordable coverage against natural disasters. The payout will be made within 14 days, the group said on Friday.

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Finance Minister Fayval Williams said Thursday that the CCRIF insurance policy was just one part of the government's financial plan to respond to natural disasters. She pointed to a contingencies fund, a national natural disaster reserve and a catastrophe bond.

Government officials have said damage assessment is still ongoing.

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JD(U) candidate Anant Singh's lawyer, Naveen Kumar, on Sunday, alleged that the arrest of the Mokama candidate intends to influence the votes in the Bihar elections. The JD(U) candidate's lawyer further alleged that the opposition is behind this situation and expressed his condolences for the Jan Swaraj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, who was killed during firing between the two sides while campaigning in the Mokama Assembly seat ahead of the upcoming elections in the State. However, Kumar also expressed that Anant Singh will likely be remanded. "...Their only motive is to influence the vote, and there's no other intention. Dularchand's death was very tragic. We express our condolences, but he was unnecessarily targeted. The issue is related to the election...The opposition is behind this...The police officers will take further action. They have arrested him. After that, he will be presented before the judge. He will be remanded...," Kumar told ANI. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya welcomed the arrest of Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Assembly candidate from Mokama Anant Kumar Singh in connection with the Dularchand Yadav murder case. Maurya, who is BJP's Bihar co-in charge, said that the arrest sent a clear message to the people that there is no discrimination in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "The law and order situation is very good...The arrest of Anant Singh is a clear message that there is no discrimination under the leadership of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar," Maurya who is among the a star campaigners for the Bihar Assembly polls told ANI. Former Bihar MLA and Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, Anant Kumar Singh was arrested in connection with the murder case of Jan Swaraj supporter Dularchand Yadav on October 30. The Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said that Anant Singh and two of his associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have been arrested. All three will be presented before the magistrate. In the light of the recent murder of politician Dularchand Yadav on October 30 in Mokama assembly constituency, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar reiterated the Election Commission of India's zero tolerance towards violence.He assured the voters of Bihar that the numerous police officials, returning officers, zilla parishad officials are ready to conduct a free and fair elections, which will set a benchmark for the whole world. "I want to appeal to everyone to come and participate in the election process, and everyone come to exercise their right to vote. On the topic of violence, Election Commission wants to make it clear that the Election Commission has zero tolerance towards violence. No incident of violence will be tolerated. The Election Commission is ready to make sure that the electors can peacefully vote. Our 243 returning officers, that many observers, every zilla's collectors, zilla adhikari, SP, SSP, police observers, everyone is ready," CEC Kumar told reporters in Kanpur. (ANI)
JESSAMINE COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56)  Deputies in Jessamine County wrote that a juvenile had been severely injured on Saturday, with several others hurt after an 18-year-old allegedly assaulted them while armed with a gun.

Around 4 p.m. on Nov. 1, the Jessamine County Sheriffs Office posted on Facebook that 18-year-old Collin Poole had been arrested a short time after the alleged assault.

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He was charged with:

First-degree burglary

Second-degree assault

Third-degree unlawful transaction with a minor

Fourth-degree assault  minor injury

He was lodged at the Jessamine County Detention Center without bond on Saturday. Jail records indicate hell be due in court at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 3.

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The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has awarded an emergency grant to help families in need access kosher food.

The organization awarded the $10,000 grant to Jewish Family & Community Services, hoping to help provide kosher food to area families after November SNAP benefits werent issued due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The federation says the grant will allow JFCS to obtain additional kosher foods to distribute through its programs, ensuring vulnerable members of the Jewish community have access to culturally appropriate and nutritious meals.

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Thanks to the generosity of our donors who have contributed to the Federations Foundation, we are in a position to support JFCS as they step up to meet the urgent needs of our community, said Jeff Finkelstein, president & CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. We are proud to help JFCS reach more people who are struggling right now.

Federation officials said the funds were made available from a grant pool created to respond quickly to international, national or local disasters.

JFCS officials say the organization has already experienced the largest jump in demand for food in its 25-year history.

The loss of SNAP benefits will further exacerbate this, JFCS CEO Jordan Golin said. The Federations support will make it possible for us to meet demand by expanding hours and purchasing additional food.

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Click here to learn more about supporting kosher food initiatives or accessing JFCS services.

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JOPLIN, Mo.  A Joplin man is behind bars, after police say he hit a woman who was trick-or-treating with her family.

Chad Davis, 49, of Joplin, was taken into custody yesterday evening and is charged with driving while intoxicated and failure to yield.

Chad Davis, 49, of Joplin

Officers with the Joplin Police Department say shortly after seven yesterday evening, Davis was driving near the intersection of South Florida Avenue and East Markwardt Street.

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Witnesses tell us there were a number of children who witnessed the collision, and they appeared to be upset and crying, including the womans family. She was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Davis is being held in the Joplin City Jail on a $100,000 cash or surety bail.

FOUR STATES CRIME

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Several students said they ran after a reported shooting at the University of Dayton on Saturday.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, UD students were partying in the South Student Neighborhood when they heard gunshots.

As previously reported on News Center 7, the shooting happened on Evanston Avenue. Medics transported a student to a local hospital.

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John Hall told News Center 7s Malik Patterson that students ran away in fear after hearing several gunshots.

We ducked down, everyone was, he said. It was people at all the houses down there. Everyone was freaking out. Were texting everyone, making sure theyre okay.

Hall said the night started great.

Its pretty fun, he said. Personally, I like just the mixture of people, seeing everyone there. I mean, especially yesterday, everyone was in their costumes and everything.

Hall told Patterson that one of the biggest parties was on Kiefaber Street.

He said it was close to midnight when the shooting happened.

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Good news was when the incident happened last night, not that many people were outside, said Hall.

The university issued a shelter-in-place while police investigated.

In 911 calls obtained by News Center 7, UD students told dispatchers where it happened.

I just heard about half, at least half a dozen gunshots, a 911 caller said. The alley behind the house, between Stonemill and Kiefaber. Ive closed everyone blind, and Im just keeping everyone in here.

University of Dayton president Eric Spina released a statement to students on Sunday.

I received the phone call that every university president dreads. Hearing the words shots fired on campus caused my heart to sink.

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Last night, I received the phone call that every university president dreads. Hearing the words shots fired on campus caused my heart to sink. My immediate and overwhelming concern was for the well-being of our students and the safety of our entire community.

On behalf of University leadership, I want to provide additional information on the situation in the south student neighborhood late Saturday night and the ongoing investigation. I want to speak directly to our UD community about campus safety and stress the importance of being supportive of one another, as everyone will deal with processing this event differently.

First, the person injured was a UD student. We are grateful the students injury is not life-threatening and they are recovering with family. We are providing all available support for this individual and hold them in our prayers.

Student Development, the dean of students office, housing and residence life, and other campus offices reached out to the residents of the two homes on Evanston Avenue affected by shots fired, to provide support and make sure their needs are being met.

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UD Public Safety officers worked with the city of Dayton police through the night  and continue to do so  and have made significant progress on the investigation. They remain focused on bringing it to a conclusion and are using all investigative tools and resources at their disposal. At this point in the investigation, it appears there was a verbal altercation of some kind that escalated into multiple shots being fired. It does not appear the suspect(s) are affiliated with the University nor was anyone at the University a target. We do not believe there is any threat to our campus community at this time.

We once again ask anyone with information about this incident to call University of Dayton Public Safety at 937-229-2121. UD Public Safety and city of Dayton police are collaborating well and are increasing patrols in the student neighborhoods.

We unfortunately continue to hear of incidents of senseless violence, much of it involving firearms, happening on campuses nationwide. Serious incidents of this nature can shake our sense of security, but also underscore the importance of our shared commitment to one another.

We remind everyone in our community of the valuable resources available, if needed, to help process this type of incident:

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Counseling Center , 937-229-3141 and press option 2 to speak with an on-call therapist.

Student Development , after hours contact UD Public Safety at 937-229-2121.

Campus Ministry, 937-229-3339.

Campus safety is a partnership between UD Public Safety, the city of Dayton police, and our entire community. We want everyone to feel safe on campus. It is important that students take their personal safety seriously and are aware of who is inside and outside their residence, particularly in the student neighborhoods. As a reminder, if you observe anything on campus that seems strange, suspicious, or makes you uneasy, please call Public Safety at 937-229-2121.

While the neighborhoods are considered part of our campus, these are city of Dayton streets and are widely accessible.

University leadership, including UD Public Safety and the emergency management committee, will conduct a thorough review of this incident with the goal of providing additional guidance and education to our community. This will further inform two key working groups already in place that are exploring all aspects of campus safety, specifically surrounding large gatherings, the openness of our campus, and the potential for more controlled access.

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Because there are still a number of unknowns about this incident, we ask that you not spread misinformation and instead turn to trusted University sources for information. We must be careful not to allow fear or division to control our actions.

We also ask you to support one another during this time and seek support for yourself if needed. Our community is defined by its unity, respect, and care for one another. We must actively work to make our UD home an environment where every single student feels safe and valued. We are stronger together when we lean on our Catholic, Marianist values of community and inclusivity, two hallmarks of our university.

Provost Darlene Weaver, Vice President for Student Development Casey Gill, and representatives from UD Public Safety will attend the SGA meeting at 6 p.m. today in Kennedy Union ballroom.

The University will provide additional updates as needed. Join me in holding our community in prayer."

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 University of Dayton President Eric Spina

Hall told Patterson that he appreciates the universitys response.

This is a great school, and I have a lot of fun here, he said. Im happy to hear that the person is okay and doing well, and my prayers go out to their family.

The incident remains under investigation by UD Public Safety and Dayton police.

If you have information regarding the incident, contact UD Public Safety at 937-229-2121.

News Center 7 will continue following this story.

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A senior Justice Department official has told Congress that the Trump administration can continue lethal military strikes on alleged drug traffickers without congressional approval and that the administration is not bound by a decades-old war powers law, two congressional sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

The head of the Department of Justices powerful Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), T. Elliot Gaiser, told select Senate and House lawmakers on Thursday that the US strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean did not trigger the laws requirements because they dont meet the definition of hostilities and did not require a declaration of war from Congress, said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Gaiser was drawing on a classified legal opinion produced by his office that justifies the strikes by equating drug cartels with terrorists and focuses on the death caused by the drugs brought to American shores, the sources said. Gaiser emphasized the fact that the US military wasnt being attacked in response to the strikes as part his argument that America was not at war, the sources said.

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The US military has carried out at least 15 known strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels since early September, killing a total of 64 people, according to a CNN tally. The latest known strike occurred on Saturday in the Caribbean, killing three people.

Some legal experts have said the military strikes could violate US and international law. Democratic lawmakers, and at least one Republican, have criticized the administration for not being more forthcoming with details on the legal justification for the strikes.

The Trump administration notified Congress in early September that it had struck an alleged drug vessel. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, that notification started a 60-day clock, after which the administration has to either cease the use of military force, get an extension on the clock or a war authorization from Congress, according to legal scholars.

But Gaiser told lawmakers that the administration does not need to seek an extension of that 60-day clock, which expires on Monday, because the law doesnt apply in this case, the sources said.

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CNN first reported on the existence of the OLC opinion, which legal experts said appears to justify an open-ended war against a secret list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers. The opinion appears designed to give the president power to designate drug traffickers as enemy combatants and have them summarily killed without legal review, those experts said. Historically, those involved in drug trafficking were considered criminals with due process rights, with the Coast Guard interdicting drug-trafficking vessels and arresting smugglers.

CNN has requested comment from the White House and the Justice Department on the congressional briefings and the administrations legal rationale for striking the alleged drug boats.

The Washington Post first reported on Gaisers briefing of lawmakers.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on the first day of his second term designating certain drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, giving the US military greater leeway to attack them. The administrations strikes on alleged drug boats have coincided with increased pressure on the regime of Venezuelan autocrat Nicolas Maduro.

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Trump is considering plans to target cocaine facilities and drug trafficking routes inside Venezuela, though he has not yet made a decision on whether to move forward with them, CNN reported last month.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A juvenile was critically injured after being hit by a car Saturday evening, according to police.

The juvenile, whose age was not released, was hit just before 5:30 p.m. in the area of Cleveland Avenue and Windsor Avenue.

A white sedan was traveling south on Cleveland Avenue, which had a green light, when the juvenile was hit, police said. The juvenile was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

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The white sedan left the area after the crash, according to police. The vehicle has damage to the passenger side, including a broken mirror and cracked windshield. A photo of the vehicle was not provided.

No other details were immediately available. Anyone with information about the vehicle or the driver is asked to call 614-645-4767.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  JXN Water customers had the chance to ask questions about ongoing water projects and services during Saturdays public meeting.

The JXN Water quarterly meeting was held at the Jackson Medical Mall, providing an accessible location for residents to connect with staff from operations, billing and other departments.

Display boards highlighted current and upcoming water projects. Staff were on hand to answer questions about water quality, service disruptions and account management.

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Organizers said the meeting is part of a broader effort to provide accurate information and address misconceptions about the capital citys water system.

There is so much misinformation out there when it comes to water, in JXN Water specifically, but we have an amazing team of people from our operations team all the way to our billing staff that work very hard to ensure, the customer experience, said Aisha Carson, the Lead Communications Office for JXN Water.

JXN Water officials encourage customers to reach out with questions they might have regarding their water.

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KANSAS  Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has filed a new lawsuit against state Attorney General Kris Kobach.

The suit is aimed at answering one big question: Does Governor Kelly have the right to sue?

In recent months, Kelly has tried to sue the federal government over a number of issues.

PREVIOUS: Gov. Kelly sues Trump Administration for suspension of SNAP Benefits

Kobach has argued that only he, and not Kelly, can file a suit on behalf of the state. Kelly, on the other hand, argues that as the supreme executive of the state, she controls the decisions of the executive branch. This, as Kelly is attempting to sue the Trump administration, claiming theyre refusing to use billions of dollars in emergency funds covering SNAP benefits during the government shutdown.

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We spoke with the governor, who says shes frustrated with the federal government and believes Kobach should be, too.

They think its a leverage that they have against the congressional democrats. I do think that the money is there, and why you would withhold it now? To me, it just seems mean, said Governor Laura Kelly (D), Kansas.

PREVIOUS: Kelly talks SNAP risk, stadium spending, and 2026 Race: Its about the person, not the party

Governor Kelly is accusing Kobach of what she calls blatant partisanship.

She says he was quick to sue the Biden administration, but has shown an unwillingness to sue the Trump administration.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
The Kent Police Department (KPD) has updated its 21-year-old records system.

However, the new system had a glitch that caused several unsuspecting residents to receive emails about old cases.

According to Kent Police, the messages were not scams and were not sent intentionally.

KPD says it has worked with the systems vendor and believes the issue has now been resolved.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency ahead of Snap benefits being suspended due to the government shutdown.

Officials say the Governor is directing an initial $5 million from the budget reserve trust fund to Feeding Kentucky food banks.

While the Trump administration said it couldnt fund SNAP during the shutdown, two federal judges just said it can and should, said Beshear. Its my job as Governor to stand up for Kentuckians, and I am thankful todays rulings were in favor of helping the more than 40 million Americans and almost 600,000 Kentuckians many of whom are children access benefits that will provide them food and prevent hunger.

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In Kentucky, Snap recipients can continue using current benefits as normal.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday asserted that people and youth of Bihar want change, affirming Mahagathbandhan's victory in the upcoming state assembly elections. He noted that the youth of Bihar are pinning their hopes on the names of Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi. "The people of Bihar want change. For the last 20 years, the people have been tired of the same government. The youth of Bihar are seeing hope in Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav. The current government will be removed, and the Mahagathbandhan government will be formed," Sachin Pilot told ANI. He further slammed the state government, asking for accountability for "Gunda Raj" and the Dularchand Yadav murder case. "Who is responsible for Gunda Raj. The murder took place in front of the government. Who is responsible for it?," he said. Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the Rashtriya Janata Dal, asserting that if Lalu Yadav's son Tejashwi Yadav manages to become Chief Minister it will mean that three new ministeries - of kidnapping, extortion, and promoting abduction and bloodshed will open up in the State. Addressing a public rally in Muzaffarpur, Shah recalled that the murder of G Krishnaiah, who was the District Magistrate of Gopalganj in Bihar, by a mob in 1994, highlighted the "jungleraj" under the Lalu Prasad Yadav regime. "During Lalu-Rabri's administration, here in Gopalganj, the DM Krishnaiah was beaten to death; if Lalu's son becomes CM again, then three ministries will be created in Bihar: one to run the kidnapping industry, a second to collect extortion, and a third to promote abduction and bloodshed," Shah said. Voting for Bihar's 243-seat Assembly will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14. (ANI)
Officials investigating the March stabbing death of a man held at a federal prison in New Jersey know who killed him but have yet to file charges, according to a Native American spiritual leader assisting the victims family.

Markis Nathan Rattling Leaf, 42, of South Dakota, was stabbed in the head, neck and chest with a pencil on March 4 at the Federal Correctional Institution at Fairton, according to his death certificate.

His death was labeled a homicide on the death certificate, which his family provided to NJ Advance Media.

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Federal officials previously said Rattling Leaf, who was serving a prison sentence for molesting a child, was found unresponsive following a perceived altercation at the prison and later died. They did not say how he died or if his death was deemed a crime.

Authorities have repeatedly declined to comment on the case.

Rattling Leaf was Native American and a member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe in South Dakota, according to his family.

Shannon Rivers, a Native American spiritual leader for men and women incarcerated in California and Arizona, is assisting Rattling Leafs family in trying to get answers.

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The family and advocates spoke with officials from the FBI and the Office of the U.S. Attorney in New Jersey earlier this week, according to Rivers.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said investigators know who killed Rattling Leaf, Rivers said.

Their office is aware of who did the stabbing. They didnt share the name with us because they havent filed the case yet, he said.

The assailant will likely be charged with murder and could face the death penalty, Rivers said.

The family is not seeking death for the killer, according to Rivers.

We told him that within our Native American tradition and spiritual beliefs, the killing of one individual does not warrant the killing of another, Rivers said.

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Rivers and the family also want to know if the killing could have been prevented. They wonder if the suspect was prone to violent behavior that would have made him a danger to Rattling Leaf, Rivers said.

Rattling Leafs supporters are not accusing the Bureau of Prisons of wrongdoing, Rivers added.

For me, as a Native American spiritual leader, I want to make sure that all information is shared and that all aspects of this case are investigated, he said.

In 2012, Rattling Leaf pleaded guilty to a charge of abusive sexual contact with an 8-year-old victim in South Dakota and was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison, according to a press release about the case.

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He was serving his sentence in a federal facility in Arizona before he was transferred to New Jersey last year.

Rattling Leaf was an advocate for the queer and transgender communities in prison, according to his sister, Miranda Roubideaux. He co-founded Brave Hearts, a group of LGBTQ+ inmates focused on financial independence through art and ending violence against LGBTQ+ people in prison.

The family was told by someone at the prison that Rattling Leaf was trying to counsel the inmate who attacked and killed him, Roubideaux previously said.

While puncture wounds from a pencil caused his death, he also suffered blunt force trauma to his head and neck, the death certificate said.

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One of the stab wounds was to his eye, Roubideaux said in March.

In a letter to a South Dakota judge about Rattling Leafs death, the prison warden said the victim was found unconscious on the floor of a cell around 11 a.m. on March 4. He was treated by prison staff and EMTs who were called to the scene, then airlifted from the prison to Cooper University Hospital in Camden.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after 4:15 p.m. the following day. The letter, included in federal court records on Rattling Leafs South Dakota criminal case, included no details about how he died.

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NEED TO KNOW

A 2025 study explores ways to preserve King Tuts tomb

The iconic tomb  located in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, Egypt  is one of the most poorly preserved in the area

Flash flooding as well as fault lines have contributed to the degradation of the ancient tomb over time

The tomb of King Tutankhamun  better known as King Tut  is at risk of being destroyed, but one researcher is working to save it.

A 2025 study published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal NPJ Heritage Science by Seyed Hemeda, head of the Architectural Conservation Department at the University of Cairo, stated that the tomb has been subjected to long-term impacts from both flash flooding and major [earthquake] faults.

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Hemeda noted that the tomb is one of the most poorly preserved sites in the Valley of the Kings, a vast royal burial ground located on the west bank of the Nile River near Luxor, Egypt.

The study states that severe cracks in the ceiling of the tomb have allowed rainwater to seep in, which has endangered the structural integrity of the tomb. Additionally, the water has led to increased humidity levels within the structure, which causes fungal growth that affects ancient murals on the tombs walls. This, in turn, [presents] significant difficulties for archaeologists working to restore the artwork.

Getty Tomb of King Tut Tomb of King Tut

However, something is being done to help stave off further damage.

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.

Hemeda has utilized experimental 3D geotechnical modeling to locate the sections of the tomb most in need of reinforcing in order to prevent further cracks and flooding. He stated that the findings also offer a reference for the stability analysis of other similarly complex underground structures.

Getty Valley of the Kings near Luxor, Egypt Valley of the Kings near Luxor, Egypt

The studys findings could help archeologists better preserve the tomb  as well as the historically significant artwork within  for generations to come.

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King Tuts tomb was relatively unknown to the world until it was discovered by British archeologist Howard Carter in 1922, according to National Geographic.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

The tomb contained thousands of artifacts, a sarcophagus containing his mummy and a now-famous headdress, and it took Carter and his team nearly a decade to catalogue everything inside it.

Tutankhamen was born about 3,365 years ago around 1341 B.C. He assumed the throne at just 9 years old, known as the "boy king," after the death of his father.

The pharaoh ruled for only a decade, until his own death at 19.

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While historians long theorized that foul play may have played a role in the death of the ruler, more recent DNA analysis suggests that Tutankhamen likely died from a combination of malaria and a bone disorder, per Live Science.

Read the original article on People
Russia has joined the United States in publicly backing away from the idea of face-to-face talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to discuss the war in Ukraine.

There is "no need" for a hastily arranged meeting at this time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday, the state-run TASS news agency reported. "What is needed now is very careful work on the details of a settlement," he said.

Trump said after an October 16 phone call with Putin that he hoped to hold talks within two weeks in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, aimed at ending the war.

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But subsequent contacts between Washington and Moscow appeared to convince US officials that Russia was unwilling to soften its maximalist demands on Ukraine.

Trump has since postponed the summit indefinitely, saying it would be a "wasted meeting." He then, for the first time, imposed tough sanctions on two Russian oil companies on October 22.

Peskov reiterated Moscows position that Russia rejects calls from the United States, Europe and Ukraine for a ceasefire ahead of negotiations. The Kremlin maintains that a political agreement must first be reached before the fighting can stop.
There is "no need" for a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Nov. 2.

"Hypothetically speaking, (a meeting) is possible, but at this point there is no need for it," Peskov told the Russian state news agency TASS. "There is a need for very painstaking work on the details of the (peace) settlement issue."

When Putin called Trump on Oct. 16, the U.S. leader said that he would meet Putin in Budapest and talked about "progress" being allegedly made in peace talks.

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However, the plans for a Putin-Trump meeting were shelved on Oct. 21, with the U.S. president saying that he did not want a "wasted meeting" with Putin. He said that a key problem was Moscow's refusal to cease fighting along the current front line.

Trump went even further on Oct. 22, when he imposed sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil.

On Oct. 23, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said a TrumpPutin summit remained "not completely off the table."

Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev claimed on Oct. 24 that Russia and Ukraine were close to reaching a deal to end the war with U.S. mediation.

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The claim contradicts Moscow's actual stance, as Russia continues to reject any compromise and insists on its maximalist demands, including Ukraine's surrender of the entire Donetsk Oblast as a precondition for peace.

Trump also said on Oct. 25 that he did not plan to meet Putin unless he saw a clear path to a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

"We're going to have to know that we're going to make a deal," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "I've always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin, but this has been very disappointing."

Read also: These people just escaped Russian-occupied Ukraine  but some say they need to go back

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Moscow called on Sunday for the United States and Venezuela to avoid a fresh conflict in the region following attacks by US forces on alleged drug smugglers from the South American country.

"Of course, we want everything to remain in a peaceful context and not for fresh conflicts to arise in the region," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to a report by the TASS state news agency.

TASS described Peskov's comments as a response to a report in the Washington Post that said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had asked Moscow for military assistance, with the emphasis on air defences.

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Russia and oil-rich Venezuela have concluded a partnership agreement, which went into force last week but does not include military support, as far as is known.

Washington by contrast does not recognize Maduro's election and has put up a reward of up to $50 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction.

US forces have for weeks been attacking boats allegedly smuggling drugs in the Caribbean and the Pacific.

The US accuses Venezuela of being involved in the smuggling and has deployed a large naval force to the region. Venezuela and others have seen this as threatening possible military action.
The Department of Homeland Security, led by Kristi Noem, is considering whether to hire private contractors to track down immigrants, a new report reveals.

The Intercept described these contractors as private bounty hunters when it published a DHS document detailing the proposal on Saturday. The Request for Information document, which is intended for prospective vendors, states that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has an immediate need for Skip Tracing and Process Serving Services, which would use Government furnished case data, according to the outlet.

Skip-tracing involves gathering, analyzing, and verifying information to locate individuals who have disappeared, whether intentionally or unintentionally, according to Thomson Reuters.

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The agency says contractors could be given dockets of 10,000 immigrants at a time, with additional assignments given in increments of 10,000 up to 1,000,000, according to The Intercept.

ICE is also exploring an incentive based pricing structure, and could even provide monetary bonuses for performance, according to the obtained document. One way an ICE says contractors might get a cash bonus, according to The Intercept, is by identifying a persons correct address on the first try

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is considering hiring private bounty hunters to find immigrants, a new report reveals (AP)

The Independent has contacted ICE for comment.

Federal immigration activity has ramped up this year after President Donald Trump vowed to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. The uptick in immigration raids and presence of federal immigration agents in several major cities has sparked protests throughout the country, including in Los Angeles and Chicago.

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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker even appealed to the Trump administration this week, asking officials overseeing the federal immigration operations in Chicago to pause their activities during Halloween weekend

Illinois families deserve to spend Halloween weekend without fear. No child should be forced to inhale tear gas or other chemical agents while trick or treating in their own neighborhood, Pritzker said in a statement.

Illinois children should not be robbed of their innocence, he continued. Let them enjoy a time-honored American tradition safely and peacefully. Please let children be children for one holiday, free from intimidation and fear.

Noem slammed Pritzker for making the request at a press conference on Thursday.

The fact that Governor Pritzker is asking for that is shameful and I think unfortunate that he does not recognize how important the work that we do is, Noem said.
The Lake County Board of Elections and Registration voted to submit the boards proposed precinct consolidations to the states election division because the Secretary of States proposal created county council, county commissioners, school and city splits.

Secretary of State Diego Morales sent the county a letter in July stating that Indiana law dictates that after a presidential election, precincts with fewer than 600 active voters should be consolidated.

In the letter, Morales said that the election board should submit a proposed precinct consolidation plan with unanimous approval from the board members.

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In the alternative, individual members of the Lake County Board of Elections and Registration can present the office with a proposed precinct consolidation plan if an agreement between members cannot be made, Morales wrote in the letter.

During its July 30 meeting, the board unanimously approved 29 precinct consolidations, while five precinct consolidations were approved in a 3-2 vote along party lines and one precinct consolidation was approved in a 3-1 vote with one member abstaining, according to election board data.

Lake County ultimately sent in two reports for precinct consolidation, Lake County Board of Elections and Registration Director Michelle Fajman said, one by her on behalf of the board after it voted on the precincts and one by Republican assistant director Jessica Messler.

It was not a Democrat plan, it was a board looking at specific precincts that were under 600, Fajman said of the report she submitted.

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Messler said her report contained public record of the precinct consolidations the board discussed. Messler said she submitted a report after the Republican election board members asked her to.

Its been a standard practice that both sides submit a report, Messler said.

A precinct split would just add a step on Election Day as poll workers would have to make sure of the right encoder, which has the proper ballot, Messler said. The voters wouldnt see a shift in procedure, she said.

Mike Mellon, a Republican election board member, said at the boards Oct. 21 meeting that the Republican members can submit a separate report.

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The minority party obviously has the right and the obligation to submit information when theres a 3-2 vote against, Mellon said.

The election boards practice has been to submit one report approved by the board, Fajman said.

The Secretary of States precinct consolidations, which were established after the county board approved precinct consolidations, were mostly similar to the boards proposal but made eight changes that created various splits, Fajman said.

Further, Fajman said, the eight precincts that the Secretary of State established were taken from Messlers submission.

The eight impacted precincts were:

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*The Secretary of State merged Gary 5-13 with Gary 5-16, which created a county council split.

*The Secretary of State merged West Creek Township 01 with West Creek Township 02, which created a town boundary split.

*The Secretary of State merged East Chicago 02 and East Chicago 24, which created a city council and school board split.

*The Secretary of State merged East Chicago 22 and East Chicago 23, which created multiple splits.

*The Secretary of State merged Hammond 2-05 and Hammond 2-14, which created a county council split.

*The Secretary of State merged Hobart 19 and Hobart 21, which created a city council and school board split.

*The Secretary of State merged Gary 05 with Gary 07, which created a commissioner and county council split.

*The Secretary of State merged Merrillville 02, Merrillville 30 and Merrillville 30A, which created a county council split.

The Lake County board has been working to clean up precinct splits when reviewing precinct data, Fajman said.

Splits can be very confusing. Its confusing to voters. Its confusing to candidates, as they walk a precinct trying to get materials out, Fajman said.

The Secretary of States precinct consolidation went into effect when he issued it, Fajman and Messler said.

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When the election board met Oct. 21, it voted 3-2 to correct the changes made by the secretary of state for precinct consolidations. That means, Fajman said, the board directed the office to change the precinct consolidations back to what the board approved July 30.

Now, the election division will consider the proposals for approval. If everything is approved, Fajman said notices of precinct consolidations go out, and if not, the election division holds a hearing, she said.

akukulka@post-trib.com
Real estate sites are filling up with glaringly AI-altered images that dress up run-down properties as being in much better shape than they actually are.

Landlords are using AI to populate rooms with nonexistent furniture, move walls around, dream up imaginary facades, rooflines, and landscaping, and brighten up rooms that are in reality devoid of sunlight.

Case in point, a Zillow listing recently identified by childrens book illustrator DeAnn Wiley, recently interviewed by Slate, shows an AI-yassified facade of a rental property in Detroit, Michigan thats smoothed over to a comical degree. It was an astonishing makeover: rooms didnt show the grime the house had accumulated over the decades, thanks to an AI repainting the walls or refinishing floors.

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And as Wired reports, some AI companies are taking the trend even further. One firm called AutoReel, founded by a former Facebook product manager named Alok Gupta, turns static images of properties into short video clips, selling renters or buyers on a reality that arguably doesnt exist.

National Association of Realtors director of innovation strategy Dan Weisman told Wired that he observed a huge uptick in people using AI.

Ive been at a few conferences over the past few weeks, and just anecdotally speaking, well ask out of 100 people in the audience how many are using AI, and Id say 80 to 90 percent of people raise their hand, he said.

When we started this two years ago, we kind of got a no from customers, Gupta added. In 2024, they started saying tell us more. And then this year, theyve been asking, How do I get started?'

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Despite rising concerns among people looking for housing that theyre being sold on a fantasy, landlords and real estate professionals remain happy to cut costs with the help of AI.

Gupta told Wired that people could save anywhere from $500 to $1,000 by foregoing the need to hire a videographer. Others were even more blunt.

Why would I send my photos of an empty room to a virtual stager, have them spend four days and send it back to me at a charge of 500 bucks when I can just do it in ChatGPT for free in 45 seconds? American Real Estate Association founder Jason Haber told the publication.

Meanwhile, buyers are cursed with the task of distinguishing between an AI-rendered dream and a far messier reality.

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And experts recommend they keep their guard up for the foreseeable future.

The bigger risk isnt full fabrication; its subtle manipulation, real estate solutions company Cotality general manager Kevin Greene told Slate. Tools that can brighten a photo can also remove power lines, add trees, or replace grass with a pool  and thats where things start to cross the line.

What matters most is whether that content reflects ground truth data, which means the verified, factual attributes of a property drawn from public records, imagery, and on-site validation, he added.

At best, buyers waste their time finding out for themselves that theyve been misled by AI imagery. At worst, in case they decide to buy a property sight unseen, Carnegie Mellon University associate professor Derek Leben told Slate that they could make a case that they made that contract under misleading pretenses and for it to be null and void.

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To Wiley, the artist who spotted the yassified house on Zillow, the onus shouldnt fall on those looking for housing.

The focus shouldnt be on renters to have discernment but on these rental apps to regulate their platform so that users can avoid potential scams or manipulation during their search, she told Slate.

More on AI real estate: This Listing for a Rental House Is Mangled With AI So Badly That Youll Cackle Out Loud
Julia Fox has insisted her Halloween costume paid tribute to the "extraordinary bravery" of Jackie Kennedy.

Julia Fox faced a backlash over her Halloween costume

The 35-year-old star faced criticism after stepping out to Julio Torres' party in a blood-spattered pink skirt suit and hat with white gloves, which mimicked the then-First Lady's outfit when her husband, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in November 1963, but she has defended herself amid allegations of being "insensitive".

Sharing photos of herself in the outfit, Julia wrote on Instagram: "Im dressed as Jackie Kennedy in the pink suit. Not as a costume, but as a statement. When her husband was assassinated, she refused to change out of her blood-stained clothes, saying, I want them to see what theyve done. The image of the delicate pink suit splattered with blood is one of the most haunting juxtapositions in modern history. Beauty and horror. Poise and devastation.

"Her decision not to change clothes, even after being encouraged to, was an act of extraordinary bravery. It was performance, protest, and mourning all at once. A woman weaponizing image and grace to expose brutality. Its about trauma, power, and how femininity itself is a form of resistance. Long live Jackie O."

Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of John and Jackie - who died in 1994 aged 64 - was among those to criticise Julia.

He wrote on X: "Julia Fox glorifying political violence is disgusting, desperate and dangerous. Im sure her late grandmother would agree."

Jackie was photographed wearing the clothes in the immediate aftermath of her husband's death, standing with Lyndon B. Johnson, who was then vice president.

Historian Steve Gillon previously told People magazine in 2022: "They actually had another dress laid out for her to put on and she refused.

"She went out in her blood-stained suit and stood next to Lyndon Johnson. Despite these horrible circumstances, she was willing to stand for a photo because she understood what it meant for the nation to have continuity in government.

"She understood that she had a role to play in helping the nation transition to a new president."

According to The New York Times, the outfit, including her shoes, handbag and stockings, were "blood-covered and folded in a towel" following the fatal shooting.

The items are preserved at the National Archives and Records Administrations facility in Maryland.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has stated that the unseasonal rains that occurred over the past few days in various districts of the state have caused extensive damage to standing crops, according to a release from the CMO. During this unexpected natural calamity, the State Government stands firmly with the farmers with full sensitivity and support. CM, in a post on his social media account X, said, "Ministers of the state have personally visited various affected areas to understand the condition of the farmers. The administration has very swiftly initiated the process of reviewing and surveying the crop damage. I am in constant coordination with ministers and officials in this regard." He further stated that, giving top priority to the welfare of farmers, the State Government will soon announce a relief and assistance package to help farmers recover from this loss. Earlier on Saturday, CM Patel expressed deep concern over the damage caused to crops by the recent unseasonal rains and changing weather conditions across the state and has directed the government to extend complete support to farmers during this difficult time. This year, the state witnessed unseasonal rainfall under unusual circumstances, resulting in extensive damage to standing crops. In response, the state government has reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to a farmer-centric approach and is determined to extend all possible assistance to the farmers. Additionally, the state has not witnessed such unseasonal rainfall in over two decades. In these exceptional circumstances, where farmers have endured considerable losses due to this year's rains, the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, is committed to carrying out an immediate assessment of the damage and providing the most compassionate and comprehensive assistance to the farmers. CM Patel, taking note of the unseasonal rainfall and its extensive impact under these rare and exceptional circumstances, directed that utmost priority be given to safeguarding the interests of the state's farmers. (ANI)
Heavy rains have triggered landslides in Kenyas western Rift Valley region, killing at least 21 people and destroying more than 1,000 homes, according to officials.

Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for the Interior Kipchumba Murkomen, in a statement on X on Saturday, said at least 25 people with serious injuries have been airlifted from Elgeyo-Marakwet County to the city of Eldoret for medical attention, while at least 30 remain missing.

He said that rescue efforts would resume on Sunday, with help from the military and the police.

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Preparation to supply more food and non-food relief items to the victims is underway. Military and police choppers are on standby to transport the items, he added.

The landslide occurred overnight in Elgeyo-Marakwet Countys hilly area of Chesongoch in western Kenya, which has been battered by heavy rains amid the countrys ongoing short rainy season.

Local Stephen Kittony told the Citizen Television station that he heard a deafening sound and, together with his children, rushed out of his house and ran in different directions.

The Kenyan Red Cross shared aerial images from the region that showed massive mudslides and flash flooding stretching over vast distances.

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It said it was coordinating rescue efforts with the government, including air evacuations for the injured.

Access to some of the affected areas remains extremely difficult due to flooding and blocked routes, it said in a statement on X.

Aerial views show the extent of destruction in Chesongoch after heavy overnight rains triggered a landslide and flash floods. Kenya Red Cross teams, working with the National and County Governments, are coordinating rescue and relief efforts, including air evacuations for the pic.twitter.com/SrVmFYF5fr  Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) November 1, 2025

The hilly area of Chesongoch is prone to landslides, which left dozens of people dead in separate incidents in 2010 and 2012. A shopping centre was washed away in 2020 by raging floods.
(FOX40.COM)  Thousands of people across our community joined together along Power Inn Road Saturday for the Mid-Autumn Festival to celebrate Asian culture  and to light the sky with beautiful traditional lanterns.

Countries all throughout Asia celebrate the mid-autumn festival each year And here in Northern California, this event is expected to draw in more than 10,000 attendees over the course of two days.

For Kevin Phan, CEO of the Conference of Asian American Professionals, this is about more than event planning. He said he wanted to bring a piece of Vietnam to Sacramento.

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I want to keep this tradition alive, Phan said.

According to some attendees and performers, his mission was successful.

Its really, like, warm and welcoming so far, an attendee said.

For Katie Phan, this event takes her back to her childhood.

I remember I was with my friend lighting up and going around the neighborhood at night, eating mooncakes under the round moon, Phan said.

At Saturdays event, people sang together, danced and bonded. Around 30 organizers with CAAPS and 200 volunteers brought this event to life.

Im excited for the moment where we can light lanterns together, so its even more, more amazing at night, Katie Phan said. Lanterns in our culture represent our hope, unity and the new beginnings.

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This event allowed attendees to taste the culture, too. Jonathan Lam and Cynthia Aung-Lam with Pegasus Bakery and Cafe said food can help foster the spirit, unity and tradition this event is all about.

We have coconut cream buns, the mini size, Cynthia said while showcasing her teams wide array of baked goods. We have the red bean mini moon cake. This is the matcha mini moon cake

The duo described how grateful they are to be a part of events like Saturdays.

It makes us feel very blessed, actually, to be able to share culture and just keep keep it alive, Cynthia Aung-Lam said.

It is free to attend the event. Organizers told FOX40 they want to share the beauty of their heritage and history  giving Sacramento residents, what they hope, will be the experience of a lifetime.

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Im a proud Vietnamese American, Vincent Phan, CAAPSs Young Professional Alliance Chairman, said. I was born and raised this country, but obviously my parents, theyre refugees from a different country. So to have an event of this caliber, this nature, to preserve Vietnamese culture heritage means it means a lot to me.

If you missed Saturdays event, theres still time to experience the festivities! The festival goes from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
The Los Angeles Police Department on Saturday night responded to multiple street takeovers at intersections in neighborhoods including Pacoima and Echo Park as crowds of Dodger fans celebrated the team's World Series victory over the Blue Jays.

In the late afternoon, the LAPD declared a citywide tactical to prepare for any possible public response to Game Seven, an LAPD spokesperson said.

The precautionary tactical alert was issued at 5:45 p.m. Saturday as the winner-take-all game was underway in Toronto.

The Los Angeles police department issued a dispersal order in downtown as Dodger fans took to the streets to celebrate the team's World Series victory over the Blue Jays.

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After the Dodgers sealed the win in the 11th inning, fans took to the streets for revelry in downtown L.A. and other areas.

Video from AIR7 showed cars performing donut maneuvers at an intersection in Pacoima as onlookers ignited fireworks. No injuries or arrests were immediately announced.

LAPD officers issued a dispersal order at an intersection in Echo Park as throngs of fans took over an intersection, waving Dodger flags and shooting fireworks into the air.

Police also issued a dispersal order at the intersection of Figueroa Street and Chick Hearn Court in downtown L.A.

On nearby Ninth Street, between Main and Olive streets, the police department issued a traffic advisory due to a "large crowd in the area launching industrial size fireworks and vandalizing autonomous vehicles."
Earths lone connection to Venus is over. After losing contact a year ago, The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has officially declared the Akatsuki spacecraft dead, ceasing operations after coming to terms with the unlikelihood of a recovery.

Launched back in 2010, the Akatsukis mission was to study weather patterns on our hellish neighboring planet. The $300 million probe  also known as the Venus Climate Orbiter  suffered an engine failure during its initial approach to Venus and spent five years of drifting around the Sun before the JAXA figured out how to rescue the craft and finally insert it into Venus orbit in 2015.

Measuring at only five feet on each side, the cube-shaped probe launched with six instruments to execute its research, all of which survived that initial setback. However, two infrared cameras ceased working during 2016.

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Even with its early misfortune, the Akatsuki long surpassed its intended lifespan of 4.5 years. The 15-year mission collected eight years of data that has resulted in 178 journal papers and counting; the four remaining instruments stayed in operation until JAXA lost communication with Akatsuki in April of 2024.

It was the closest connection us earthlings had to Venus, and marks Japans first successful exploration of another planet. According to NASA, seven other orbiters have made successful trips around Venus  four from the USSR, two from the United States, and one from the European Space Agency. The ESAs Venus Express was the last probe to orbit the planet prior to Akatsuki; it arrived there in 2006, the agency lost contact with it in 2014, and the mission was officially ended the following month.

However, Venus may not stay alone forever.

NASAs DAVINCI mission, slated to launch in 2030, is designed to study the atmosphere with plans to land. And the agencys VERITAS, scheduled to launch in 2031, will orbit the planet to study its surface and interior, like Akatsuki. (The fate of each mission remains up in the air with Trumps ongoing and impending NASA budget cuts.)

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But even if they fall through, theres a backup plan: the ESA is planning to launch an orbiter called EnVision in the 2030s, designed to observe the planets atmosphere, surface and interior.

Until then, its ciao for now to Venus from us on Earth.

More from space: Space Junk Now Almost Constantly Crashing Down to Earth
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Latinos across generations have expressed their creativity through different mediums. Muralist Courtney Enriquez embodies this principle. She said her art has always been more than just paint on a wall  its a way for her to preserve history, spark joy, and speak truth, especially when words fall short.

Artist Courtney Enriquez showcasing her mural at east Austin restaurant Juan-In-A-million

Im a born and raised Austinite, and you can find my work in a lot of places, Enriquez said.

How it all began

Enriquez got her start in the professional muralist space in 1997 when she was asked to commission a piece for Arts in Public Places.

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With that commission, I was able to buy a home for my boys and my family at that time, which was kind of the jumpstart for me, she said.

With support from the Austin community and a deep connection to her roots, Enriquezs journey began to take flight. She credits both her grandmother and mother for always nurturing her creativity and giving her the push she needed.

My mother was a very active community member here in Austin, she said. She always encouraged me to do my work, you know, do what I love to do always taught me to give back to the community with whatever I did.

The footprints shes left behind

Giving back like her grandmother and mother once did has stuck with Enriquez, and it shows throughout her work. Some of her greatest murals can be found at the east Austin restaurant Juan in a Million and the Dove Springs Recreation Center. Her art often draws from Mexican traditions, especially the iconic imagery of Loteria  a game shes reimagined through jewelry, fabric, and upcycled crafts.

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Im also known as the Loteria lady because I do a lot of different arts or crafts or upscale or upcycle things to do with Loteria, Enriquez said. Its very historical, its over 100-years-old Our families will sit around tables during holidays and play Loteria. Its a great thing to do to bring people together.

Mural that Austin artist Courtney Enriquez created at restaurant Juan-In-A-million

Her vibrant style reflects the richness of Mexican culture, blending Otomi patterns, folkloric symbols, and personal storytelling. She said she enjoys bringing the vibrant colors you would see in Mexico to her art.

Life is colorful. You can either see the very bad parts of it or you can choose to see the good parts, she said.

Obstacles that have come with the journey

Enriquez said although her work is meant to spark joy and speak truth, not all her work has been universally embraced with open arms. She recalled her first mural proposal for the Dove Springs commission that was initially rejected.

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Art is very personal, it comes from within, and its your perception or way of thinking. At that time, the Dove Springs area was heavy, and the city was having a lot of issues with gangs, Enriquez said. With the story that I told, they felt like I was glorifying gangs, but I was actually telling a story of people breaking out of those things that held them back from becoming who they really wanted to be.

Even if her initial sketch was not approved, her resilience and her belief in her art as a tool for healing and activism always came forward.

Mens bathroom door mural that Austin artist Courtney Enriquez created at restaurant Juan-In-A-million

Her voice and impact

We definitely speak with our art, Enriquez said. Through art, through music, through prayer I believe that we do make a difference. We are strength as Latinos.

Enriquez hopes to continue expanding her reach, with upcoming shows in San Marcos and aspirations to exhibit at the Mexic-Arte Museum.

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I would love to be statewide and then to be known nationally, she said. I dont know how long Ill be here, but I know that Ill continue painting because it is my passion and my love.

As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, Enriquezs story is a reminder of how Latinos have long used creativity to fight for their rights, leave a mark on their hometowns, and preserve culture  one brushstroke at a time.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
State Rep. Greg Jamison, R-Sioux Falls, listens to a speaker during an interim legislative committee meeting on Oct. 29, 2025, in Sioux Falls. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

A South Dakota legislative leader predicted he can almost assure that every legislator will support reforms addressing inmate rehabilitation and recidivism during the legislative session that begins in January.

Sioux Falls Republican Rep. Greg Jamison, a House majority whip, made the comment as a legislative committee examining recidivism rates held a meeting Wednesday in Sioux Falls. Recidivism is the term applied to inmates who commit more crimes after being released from prison.

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Jamison is also a member of a new task force taking up the issue, appointed by the governor and dedicated to rehabilitation transformations in the system.

Lawmakers on the Initial Incarceration, Reentry Analysis, and Comparison of Relevant States Interim Committee meet in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Oct. 29, 2025. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Both groups came out of lawmakers disillusionment with the states rehabilitation efforts during discussions about the need for a new mens prison. Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden promised to form the task force in exchange for support for the $650 million project in Sioux Falls, which he and lawmakers approved during a special legislative session in September.

The legislative committee will finalize its list of recommended legislation at its next meeting, targeting rehabilitation, diversion and supervision issues that affect incarceration and recidivism rates. Diversion of nonviolent felony suspects into rehabilitative programming, sentencing reform, more support for inmates reentering society, and addressing why parolees return to prison are all pieces that could impact South Dakotas incarceration and recidivism rates, lawmakers on both groups said.

The new task force intends to look at rehabilitation throughout the remainder of 2025 and 2026. Task force chair and Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen said the task force will focus on short-term and long-term rehabilitation efforts happening with inmates while in prison.

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Representatives with the Council of State Governments Justice Center spoke to lawmakers about helping improve rehabilitation efforts based on data from South Dakota and other states. The nonprofit worked with several other states to study and suggest criminal justice and prison reforms.

The nonprofit is already partnering with the state Department of Corrections through next spring to shore up the data tracking offenders who reenter South Dakota communities and better understand outcomes of inmates after they are released from prison. The task force voted to explore working with the nonprofit on Wednesday.

A majority of South Dakota inmates stay in prison for a year or less, according to fiscal year 2025 data from the state Department of Corrections. (Courtesy of the South Dakota Department of Corrections)

Weve struggled to kind of chart our path and goals and now our time is up, Jamison said, but this next committee, really, is going to have another window of time to evaluate and lay out a timetable and goals.

A majority of inmates stay in the prison system for a year or less before being released. Ryan Brunner, senior policy adviser for the governor, said that timeline can limit the rehabilitation programs available to inmates. Upon admission, about 91% of male inmates and 97% of female inmates last year were diagnosed with a substance use disorder.

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The task force plans to dive more deeply into rehabilitation options and community partnerships connected to programming for education, faith, tribal and behavioral health needs. Venhuizen said the group will likely meet again in December.

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Multiple people were stabbed on a train service from Doncaster to London Kings Cross in England on Saturday, Nov. 1

Two British nationals were arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder

The British Transport Police said in a press conference on Sunday that two victims remain in a life-threatening condition following the incident

At least 10 people were rushed to the hospital after a stabbing spree on a train in the UK.

At around 7:42 p.m. local time on Saturday, Nov. 1, the British Transport Police (BTP) received reports that multiple people had been stabbed on a train service from Doncaster to London Kings Cross, according to a BTP news release. Armed police and paramedics arrived at the scene to find 10 people wounded.

JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Emergency services at Huntingdon Station, England Emergency services at Huntingdon Station, England

The victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Police confirmed in a press conference on Sunday that four people were later discharged, but two remain in a life-threatening condition. There have been no fatalities.

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Two British nationals were arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, the BBC reported.

Chris Radburn/PA Images via Getty British Transport Police at Huntingdon Station British Transport Police at Huntingdon Station

Olly Foster, who was a passenger on the train, told the BBC that he initially thought the incident was a Halloween prank. He saw people running through the carriage and urging him to do the same as the stabbing attack unfolded.

I put my hand on this chair just trying to push myself forward, Foster recalled. Then I look at my hand, its covered in blood. I look at the chair. Theres blood all over the chairs.

Foster said passengers pulled the emergency alarm as an older man tried to prevent the attacker from stabbing a younger girl.

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We ran up the platform, Foster recalled of the moment they escaped the blood-soaked carriage, per the BBC. We ran out of the station, as we ran out of the station, we saw blue lights, so [police] were there very quick.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as deeply concerning in a post on X.

My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response, Starmer added. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.

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.

King Charles said in a statement on his Instagram Stories that he and Queen Camilla are truly appalled and shocked by the incident.

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Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with all those affected, and their loved ones, the statement read. We are particularly grateful to the emergency services for their response to this awful incident.

Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Forensic investigators at Huntingdon train station Forensic investigators at Huntingdon train station

The British Transport Police are being assisted by the Counter Terrorism Police amid their investigation, according to the BTP news release.

This is a shocking incident and first and foremost, my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families, said Chief Superintendent Chris Casey in the news release.

Were conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further, he continued. At this early stage, it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

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Our response is ongoing at the station and will be for some time, said Casey. Cordons are in place and trains are not currently running through the area, and there are also some road closures.

I thank the public for their patience and their cooperation this evening, which has already greatly assisted our policing response, he added. We will update you again as soon as we have more information.

Huntingdon Station will remain closed, while there is an increase in police officers at other stations and on trains on Sunday, BTP said in an updated news release.

PEOPLE has reached out to the British Transport Police for further comment.

Read the original article on People
BATH TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW)  At least nine people, several of whom are juveniles, were injured early Sunday after a shooting at a party hosted at a local Airbnb home, police said.

The Bath Township community experienced a tragic and senseless act of violence this morning, Bath Township Police Chief Vito Sinopoli told reporters at a media briefing Sunday morning.

Officers responded just after midnight to the home, which is in the 900 block of Top Of The Hill Road, he said.

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Woman killed in Strongsville shooting; suspect hospitalized

Upon arrival, officers were met with a chaotic scene and administered life-saving aid to the injured, Sinopoli said.

Victims were transported to local hospitals. Police did not have an update on their conditions on Sunday morning.

Investigators learned a social media post had advertised a party at the home, and a large group of juveniles attended. Cars were parked up and down Top Of The Hill Road, Sinopoli said.

Most of the people who attended the party were juveniles, but they believe the victims include adults, he said. Its unclear whether all nine victims suffered gunshot wounds. At least one person suffered a leg injury in a fall, he said.

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An unknown suspect fired multiple shots inside the home, striking multiple victims, and then fled the scene. Sinopoli said most of the shots were fired on the first floor of the home. Investigators found multiple shell casings.

Responders from 11 local police and fire agencies, as well as the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, responded to the scene.

(WJW photo) (WJW photo) (WJW photo) (WJW photo) (WJW photo)

Man dies after crashing vehicle in Cleveland

Bath Township police are actively investigating and working to identify the suspect or suspects, Sinopoli said. Anyone with information or images, or video from the scene is urged to call 330-666-3736.

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Your information, no matter how small it may seem, could be crucial to this investigation, he said, later adding, This kind of violence is unacceptable in our community. Were committed to applying all available resources to this investigation.

Police are now reviewing surveillance footage from the area and interviewing witnesses  most of whom are the victims  and are in contact with Airbnb.

Zoning laws in that area of the township dont allow for short-term rentals, Sinpoli said. Theyre not illegal, but they are a zoning violation, he said. Police have also made contact with the homes owner about the violation.

The social media posts had advertised a birthday party at the residence on Nov. 1, Sinopoli said.

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Be mindful of where your children are. If they tell you theyre attending a large party they saw on social media, be wary of that, and I would caution them against attending, Sinopoli said.

An Airbnb spokesperson issued a statement on Sunday to FOX 8 News that read:

We are heartbroken by this senseless act of gun violence, and our thoughts are with the injured victims and all those affected by it. Unauthorized and disruptive gatherings are strictly prohibited on Airbnb and our Safety team acted immediately to remove the account of the individual who deliberately broke those rules by booking this stay. Our law enforcement response team is in contact with the chief of Bath Township Police Department to assist their ongoing investigation to ensure those responsible for this terrible incident are brought to justice.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A popular left-wing podcaster is being denounced on social media for posting an internet meme that depicts slain conservative activist Charlie Kirks wife as a fake grieving widow grifter.

Kyle Kulinski, the host of the Secular Talk podcast who boasts half a million followers on X, was widely condemned on Saturday after he posted the image of a fake Spirit Halloween costume package with the nasty message and a photoshopped image of Erika Kirk.

The nasty image is a play on the popular internet meme showing bogus packaging from the holiday pop-up chain that appears to be the real thing, as it includes the famed orange background and description of the contents inside the packaging.

Kyle Kulinski, the host of the Secular Talk podcast who boasts half a million followers on X, was widely condemned on Saturday after he attached to his page a mock-up Halloween costume that included a photoshopped image of Erika Kirk. Kyle Kulinski/X

The meme is often deployed to mock public figures or current events.

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In this case, Kulinski posted a generated image that showed Erika Kirk shedding fake tear drops that caused the eyeliner to drip all the way down to her torso.

The image also shows Kirk wearing what it called skin-tight black leather mourning pants while she holds what appears to be a bag or a hat that is overflowing with cash.

Kulinskis post sparked fierce backlash, with fellow podcaster Anna Khachiyan commenting: God some of you are awful. Idk how you negotiate your love for your family and friends with your nihilistic contempt for your ideological enemies.

Kulinski, host of the Secular Talk podcast, boasts a following on X of more than half a million users. Getty Images for Politicon

This is extremely ugly behavior, and you should feel ashamed of yourself, Charles C. W. Cooke, a conservative columnist, wrote on X.

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Carol Roth, the author and commentator, wrote: When one of your loved ones passes, someone will remind you of this.

The only person this reflects poorly on is you.

Colin Wright, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, wrote on X: Politics has rotted your brain and soul.

The Post has sought comment from Erika Kirk and Kulinski.

Kulinski is seen right alongside the late Charlie Kirk at Politicon in Nashville in 2019. Getty Images for Politicon

Charlie Kirk, the conservative influencer and activist who co-founded Turning Point USA more than a decade ago, was assassinated during an appearance on a college campus in Utah on Sept. 10.

In the wake of his killing, Erika Kirk has stepped in to her late husbands role of chief executive officer at TPUSA.

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But some voices on both the left and the right have taken issue with the very public nature of her mourning, including frequent podcasting appearances as well as mass-audience TPUSA events replete with pyrotechnics.

In the wake of Charlie Kirks killing, Erika Kirk has stepped in to her late husbands role of chief executive officer at TPUSA. AP

Erika Kirks public mourning of her late husband has sparked criticism from both the left and right. AP

Nick Fuentes, the far-right podcaster recognized as the leader of the Groyper movement made up primarily of young men who advocate for Christian nationalism and white nationalist ideas online, criticized Erika Kirk for her conduct in the wake of her husbands death.

I really dont like how [Turning Point USA] has been handling his death. Its gratuitous, he said on one of his broadcasts in late September.

Charlie Kirk, 31, is survived by Erika Kirk and their two young children. Instagram/mrserikakirk

Erika Kirk sat down for her first televised interview with Jesse Watters of Fox News during which she broke down in tears after viewing a video of her late husband.

The full interview, an excerpt of which aired on Friday, will be broadcast on Jesse Watters Primetime on Wednesday.

Fox News shares common ownership with The Post.
In Waterbury, in the first half of the 20th century, there were three newspapers: the Waterbury American, Waterbury Democrat, and Waterbury Republican, all printed on the same printing presses

One 1925 Sunday edition of the Waterbury American, featured a magazine section, a full-page picture and story was about my grandmother and her family. Eighteen children she bore. Every winter until spring she was the logistics expert, financial wizard, medic, chief cook and bottle washer of her brood and 35 Canadian loggers, typically 100 miles or so from civilization.

That story and picture have been reproduced countless times and usually saved in a plastic coating, hung on over many family rooms around the world. Each displayed in the home of a blood family member. She is so revered.

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She, her husband and her brood made many trips from Saint Eli De Caxton, PQ, Canada to Connecticut to harvest trees for local to Waterbury industries, then returned "home." They were itinerant, and eventually, migrants to Watertown.

The driving force for migration in 1914-1918 was World War I. Canadian boys were dying in large numbers for the killing of an archduke they'd never heard of. She had eight sons, from babies to 30 years old. She moved all except two to avoid them dying for a cause not their own. By Canadian records, 50 in one family clan, related to her, died in France. Three sons signed up for the American draft; her eldest son was taken. He survived 13 months on the front lines as an ambulance driver. He never fully recovered.

In World War II she had more than 45 sons and grandsons all over the world proudly representing the red, white and blue. In 1941, she died peacefully at home. Her funeral procession was miles long the largest collection of mourners at that point in Watertown history.

All this is to say: On the 100th anniversary of that edition, I and Alida Bellemare Lampron's decedents gratefully thank the Waterbury American for this lasting memory for a migrant family of Americans.

George Lampron

Watertown

This article originally published at Letter: Waterbury paper documented treasured family history 100 years ago.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who he alleged was being "controlled" by industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani. Addressing a rally in Begusarai for the Mahagathbandhan candidate and Congress leader Amita Bhushan, Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at "Modi's 56 inch chest" yet again and repeated the claim that Operation Sindoor was suspended after pressure from the United States. "Operation Sindoor happened, Donald Trump's phone comes, Modi ji, who says they have a 56 inch chest gets scared as Donald Trump says to shut this Sindoor, and within two days PM Modi stopped it. The truth is that Narendra Modi is not only afraid of the US president, but he is also being controlled by people like Adani-Ambani," Rahul Gandhi said here. "PM Modi has 56-inch chest, but the truth is that we don't get to know a person's courage with the size of the chest. (Mahatma) Gandhi ji fought against the Britishers, he didn't have a big chest but he was not afraid. There are many such people who do not have a big chest but are not cowards, but others are also there with 56-inch chest but are cowards," the Congress leader said. "During the 71 war happened, Indian army was fighting against Pakistan. American Navy came here, and the American President (Richard Nixon) threatened the Indian PM to stop the war, whatever is happening in Bangladesh. Indira Gandhi did not back down, she said that US should do what they want, India will do what we want, and we showed them." Continuing his tirade at the Bharatiya Janata Party, Rahul Gandhi hit out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah for saying that there is no land in Bihar to set up industries. The Congress leader claimed that it is due to making deals of "giving away" land at Rs 1 to industrialist Adani that has left no land for the State. "A few days ago Amit Shah said that there is no land to set up a company in Bihar. But I want to ask the Prime Minister that they say there is no land but you can give it to Adani Rs 1 after stealing it. There is land for that, but no land for Bihar's development," he said. The congress leader urging the voters to vote for the Mahagathbandhan alliance and promised the people the "best education". He said that if voted to power they will set up a university in par with the Nalanda University and promised to make Bihar a hub for international students too. "Our Mahagathbandhan will come to power in Bihar, and we will provide the best education to you. I give this personal guarantee to you that the day the INDIA alliance comes to power in the centre, we will open a university as good as Nalanda University. We will open such a university where students from across the world will come and take admission," he said. The Begusarai assembly constituency, one of the closely watched constituencies, is gearing up for a keenly contested fight between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, while the entry of Jan Suraaj adds a fresh dimension to the high-stakes battle in the State. Traditionally considered a BJP stronghold, dominated by upper-caste 'Bhumihaar' voters, Begusarai (Constituency 146) will witness the party's sitting MLA and a Bhumihaar leader, Kundan Kumar, seeking re-election. The Congress candidate Amita Bhushan, also a Bhumihaar face is looking an upset against the BJP candidate. Polling for the 243-seat Bihar Assembly is scheduled to be held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with counting set for November 14. (ANI)
ALEXANDRIA, Ohio (WCMH)  On Tuesday, voters will determine if two western Licking County communities will merge into one municipality.

Residents will get to vote on a merger between the Village of Alexandria and St. Albans Township. The idea came from a dedicated merger committee, which determined merging the two communities would offer protection against the rapid growth hitting largely rural Licking County.

In Ohio, municipalities are either cities, villages or townships. Cities and villages, like Alexandria, have the right to home rule, allowing them to pass laws to govern themselves. Some townships qualify for limited home rule, but St. Albans does not have enough residents to do so, and instead is subject to state and county authorities.

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Food pantries brace for demand amid SNAP uncertainties

Those in favor of the merger say combining into one village would offer St. Albans control over its own land. Ohio townships have far fewer protections against land annexation, and some residents worry neighboring New Albany will go back on promises to respect community boundaries.

While New Albany says that it is not growing beyond Mink Street, there is no guarantee

of that, and my taxes to Alexandria will be less than paying taxes to New Albany, St. Albans resident and commission member Ann Lodder said.

Groups like Licking County Conservatives and the Jersey Township Board of Trustees are encouraging St. Albans residents to vote against the merger. They argue St. Albans is in a better fiscal spot without combining, pointing to things like Alexandrias 1% income tax, which would be adopted if they merged.

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As firm believers in the township form of government, it is clear to us that the current board of trustees in St. Albans Township has done little-to-nothing to help its township, and has allowed fear and misinformation to spur the creation of perceived threats identified by the merger commission, Jersey Township trustees wrote in a formal, unanimous condemnation of the merger.

OSU surgeon sues doctor, hospital for sexual discrimination

The merger commission said Jersey Township officials have no authority, no stake and no justification for condemning the merger. The commission, made up of an equal number of stakeholders from both municipalities in the merger, said the formal opposition was an overstep and out of line.

The commission said annexation is a real threat, and that 6,000 acres of Jersey Township have already been annexed by New Albany. Commission members said the merger is an attempt to protect rural life and give residents more autonomy. They also noted infrastructure that would support Jersey Township is planned for land within St. Albans, which they pointed to as evidence that St. Albans needs more say over its land.

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The commission said growth is approaching rapidly, and merging will protect local autonomy and preserve the rural way of life. Opponents to the merger said it will increase taxes and restrict residents. If the ballot measure does not pass Tuesday, a new citizen-led initiative cannot be reintroduced for three years.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
JAMES FRANCISCO BONILLA: New York-born Puerto Rican author and Hamline University retired professor launches An Eye for an I: Growing Up with Blindness, Bigotry, and Family Mental Illness. He has written extensively on diversity, cultural competence, and leadership, especially on how to diversify environmental organizations. 6 p.m. Thursday, Next Chapter Booksellers, 38 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul.

OYINKAN BRAITHWAITE: Nigerian-British novelist author of My Sister the Serial Killer, discusses her work in a virtual event in the MELSA Club Book series. Noon Tuesday. Live streamed on facebook.com/ClubBook.

KUSUNOKI/WALKER: Minnesotans Stanley Kusunoki and Marg Walker read from their poetry. Kusunokis latest is Natural LIfe: A Poetic Field Guide, and Walkers is So Surprisingly Light the Small Suitcase of Certainty. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.

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KELLY FOSTER LUNDQUIST: Presents her debut memoir Beard, about the beard trope in literature in which the straight woman unwittingly marries a gay man. 7 p.m. Thursday, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.

MARY LOGUE: Award-winning Minnesota author of adult mysteries and childrens books launches Dreki: My Icelandic Dragon, a middle-grade fantasy novel in which a boy, his grandfather and a baby dragon set off on an international adventure that takes them from the Midwest to Iceland. 6 p.m. Wednesday, Red Balloon Bookshop, 891 Grand Ave., St. Paul.

MINNE-MYSTERY CON: Once Upon a Crime mystery bookstore hosts a one-day mini-convention for readers and writers featuring authors of crime/mystery novels. There will be five panels covering topics from keeping a series running, how to use setting effectively, and the joys and fails of co-writing. Presenting authors are Kristi Belcamino, Jessie Chandler, Tracy Clark, Matt Goldman, Judy Kerr, Jesse Lourey, Mindy Mejia, Josh Moehling, Katrina Monroe, Marcie R. Rendon, PJ Tracy and Frank F. Weber. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Nov. 9, Once Upon a Crime, 604 W. 26th St., Mpls. $11. Registration required at eventbrite.com.

CATHERINE NEWMAN: Discusses her latest book Wreck, a sequel to her bestseller Sandwich, in conversation with Kate Gibson. 6 p.m. Monday, Barnes & Noble, 3230 Galleria, Edina.

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ZIMMERN/SEAVER: In connection with the PBS docuseries Hope in the Water, celebrated chefs Andrew Zimmern and Barton Seaver present The Blue Food Cookbook, a guide to cooking food from oceans and waterways in a sustainable way. 7 p.m. Monday, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.

What else is going on?

The new film Nuremberg, opening in theaters Nov. 7, is based on Minnesotan Jack El-Hais fascinating 2013 book The Nazi and the Psychiatrist: Hermann Goring, Dr. Douglas M. Kelley, and a Fatal Meeting of Minds at the End of WWII. Now PublicAffairs ($21.99) has republished in paperback this story of Army psychiatrist Kelley (played in the film by Rami Malek) and his interviews with high-ranking Nazi Goring (Russell Crowe) as Kelley interviews Goring and other Nazi high officials in a prison in Luxembourg in 1945. Kelleys official job is to make sure the prisoners are mentally fit to stand trial for their war crimes. But his real interest is in learning what makes Nazis who they are. El-Hai provides a list of the books long cast of characters that will be helpful to anyone who wants to see the film. And if you arent a movie fan, the book is well worth reading.

University of Minnesota Press has announced the retirement of Douglas Amato as director after 27 years at the helm. His years of leadership at the University of Minnesota Press exemplify the vital and ever-evolving role of a university press within the global research ecosystem, wrote Shashank Pryia, university vice president for research and innovation, in a news release. Through his steadfast commitment to regional voices and multidisciplinary scholarship, his embrace of technical innovation, and his stewardship of essential research tools  Doug has (shown) how a university press can be be a dynamic force for disseminating knowledge Under Amatos leadership, the press revitalized its trade and regional publishing programs, expanding into cookbooks, memoir, fiction, childrens picture books and Minnesota history. These works garnered state and national recognition, including 24 Minnesota Book Awards, a National Book Critics Circle award and a James Beard award. He also acquired award-winning books in the areas of cultural and social theory and has led the presss translation program.

Minnesotan Alida Winterheimer has been named 2025 Best Indie adult fiction author by the Minnesota Author Project Award, presented by Minnesota Library Association and the Minnesota Library Foundation, in recognition of her novel Murder in Skoghall, first in her mystery series that blends small town gothic mystery, paranormal suspense and psychological depth. Winterheimer, a Twin Cities native, earned her MFA in writing from Hamline University and MLS from the University of Minnesota.

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Do you want to spend a day with more than 70 authors, including 50 from Minnesota? Would you like to hear them read from their latest works, engage in conversations and participate in panels? How about stories and activities for the kids?

If your answer is yes, youll want to be at the free Twin Cities Book Festival beginning at 10 a.m. Nov. 8, celebrating its 25th anniversary with a move from the Minnesota State Fairgrounds to Union Depot, 214 E. Fourth St., in St. Paul. This largest and longest-running book-related event in the state is expected to draw more than 7,000 attendees, according to organizer Eric Lorberer, publisher of the nonprofit literary journal Rain Taxi Review of Books, which hosts the event.

Among national and well-known authors will be Eoin Colfer, author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl series; Shannon Hale, graphic novelist; Jane Hamilton, The Book of Ruth; Alex Vernon, author of a biography of Minnesota-born author Tim OBrien; and Stephanie Burt, literary critic, poet and former Macalester College professor. Presenting authors and their topics include Susan Straight and Minnesotan Faith Sullivan discussing writing the lives of women; Minnesotan Sheila OConnor on family dynamics; and David Shields and Eric Lorberer on college-style projects. The Minnesota Author Showcase has too many participants to list, but among them are well-known names such as Frank Bures, Art Coulson, Peg Guilfoyle, Patrick Hicks, David Housewright, Rebecca Kanner, David LaRochelle, Kent Nerburn and Joyce Sidman.

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After listening to your favorite authors, you can take a stroll through the area where 140 exhibitors will show their wares, including small press publishers, literary organizations, magazines, writing programs, libraries, literary advocates and used/rare book dealers. Some publishers will host meet-and-greets with their authors at their booths.

The Book Festival began in 2001 to support the local literary community and celebrate the written word, attended by 1,000 people. It grew after moving to the Fairgrounds, where events took place in two buildings. Lorberer says this years move to the Depot offers more space to accommodate the festivals growing popularity.

Information you need, including a full schedule, author biographies, how to get there and parking options can be found at twincitiesbookfestival.com.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Alberta Rodgers marked a major milestone on Saturday as she celebrated her 100th birthday with a gathering of family, friends and city officials at the West Central Community Center.

Rodgers, a longtime nurse known for her dedication to elder care, was honored for her decades of service and community involvement. She offered simple advice when asked about the secret to a long life.

Be good, do good things for other people, Rodgers said.

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Rodgers has been a member of Macedonia Baptist Church for more than 40 years. She raised four daughters and one son and is the proud grandmother of 10.

In addition to her professional and family accomplishments, Rodgers has played a vital role in the John Barrow neighborhood. She is credited as a driving force behind several community projects, including the development of the West Central Community Center.

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CHICAGO  Local businesses and programs are offering some relief to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit recipients who have had their benefits halted due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Forty-two million Americans rely on SNAP benefits, two million of those in Illinois.

THE LATEST: New SNAP restrictions go into place amid shutdown drama

Mannys Deli, located at 1141 South Jefferson Street in the West Loop, is the latest Chicago restaurant offering to help people whove lost their SNAP benefits. Beginning Monday, Mannys Deli will offer free meals to anyone who presents a SNAP card. Families can choose to dine in or take their meal to go.

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Meanwhile, what happens next with SNAP is uncertain. Even if some funding is restored, there will likely be delays for people who rely on the program.

SNAP funding dried up Saturday due to the government shutdown, which is now entering its second month. Two federal judges gave the Trump administration until Monday for an update on funding SNAP, ordering the Department of Agriculture to pay benefits out of a contingency fund.

President Donald Trump, however, says government lawyers do not believe the government has the authority to pay until Congress ends the shutdown.

PREVIOUS: Trump signals hell fund SNAP

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Anticipating a surge in demand at food banks, the Greater Chicago Food Depository handed out several thousand boxes of food Saturday at six locations.

A government shutdown has never brought the end of SNAP, so this is unprecedented, Camerin Mattson with the Greater Chicago Food Depository said. Were disappointed were at this place, but were here and encouraged by all of the people whove reached out and wanted to volunteer, by all of our partners who are doing everything they can.

(Its) really ridiculous, because people do have children, and seniors dont have food, SNAP benefits recipient Gloria Mims said. Its really fortunate to have this program (the Greater Chicago Food Depository).

Several restaurants in the city and suburbs, including a group of Black-owned restaurants in the city, are offering free lunches, and other restaurants are offering free dinners.

Where can you find them?

Here is a list of some of those locations:

Mannys Deli (1141 South Jefferson Street, Chicago)

Free meals starting Monday to anyone who presents a SNAP card.

Tazza Italian Ristorante (14065 South Bell Road, Homer Glen)

Free salad, bread and pasta from Tuesday to Thursday during dinnertime for those who show a SNAP card.

Wooden Paddle (212 Stephen Street, Lemont; 23 Calendar Avenue, La Grange)

Free lunch for SNAP recipients during all of November.

Lou Malnatis/Lawndale Community Church (3827 West Ogden Avenue, Chicago)

Partnering with Lawndale Community Church, which is distributing $10 coupons for pizza until Nov. 16.

Chicago Black-owned restaurants

Watta Potato (5202 West Washington Boulevard), Jays Backyard BBQ (5604 West Division Street) and The SoulFood Lounge (3804 West 16th Street) are offering discounts/giveaways to SNAP recipients. Click on each link for more information.

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*Attached video: Local mom searching for missing necklace containing sons ashes

MEDINA, Ohio (WJW)  A Northeast Ohio mom says a necklace that means the world to her has finally been found. She was desperately searching for the simple piece of jewelry containing her sons ashes.

Tammy Ross said that after a friend used a metal detector to search her yard in Wellington, she found the teardrop necklace containing her sons ashes that she lost last Friday.

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Woman killed in Strongsville shooting; suspect hospitalized

Ross said after her son, Jarrod Lawrence, was born in Medina in 1994 with severe medical issues, doctors determined that he had a rare and deadly genetic disorder called 3p deletion syndrome.

FOX 8 asked what the doctors told her and what advice they gave.

They said take him home, hes going to pass, so I took him home, Ross said.

Local mom finds necklace containing sons ashes

She said Jarrod turned out to be a miracle child who somehow beat the odds. He brought joy to his family throughout his childhood and into his teenage years, even though taking care of Jarrod was never easy.

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He never talked, never walked, never crawled, never sat up really on his own. I never got to hear mom or I love you, never got to hear that, but I got to have him, she said.

In 2013, he became ill with the flu and passed away at the age of 18.

His mother was filled with competing emotions.

I felt that he was completely at peace and I knew that I was going to miss him for the rest of his entire life, she said.

Jarrod was cremated, and to keep him close, his mother placed some of his ashes in a cremation teardrop necklace that she has worn for the past 12 years.

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I felt like if I had him around my neck, he was close to my heart, and he was always warm and he was always with me, she said.

NTSB investigating near-miss at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

But last Friday, Tammy went on a shopping trip with her daughter in Medina, visiting five stores at the Medwick Marketplace shopping center on North Court Street.

She was devastated when she got home and discovered the necklace that honors Jarrod was gone.

It was just like I lost him again, and it was not a good feeling. Like, I just called my kids, just screaming and crying, what am I going to do? she said

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On Sunday, Tammy said she is grateful and overjoyed that her necklace was found.

She said she would like to thank everyone who took the time to help look for the missing pendant.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  While the fate of SNAP benefits still hangs in limbo, individuals and groups in Rochester are stepping up to help those worried about where their next meal will come from.

The Trump administrations plans to freeze payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, were halted by federal judges, but the delay in payouts has already left its mark on millions.

The need for food is obviously tremendous, and with grocery prices being insane as they are and with no end in sight, and then the loss of Snap benefits on top of that, people are just really worried about where their next meal is going to come from, Earl Johnston, a volunteer for Rochester Mutual Aid Network, said.

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Rochester Mutual Aid, along with the help of Flower City Pickers, Food Not Bombs, and Recovery All Ways, held a free grocery pop-up this afternoon as a way to help out those who depended on SNAP benefits.

Food for ROC: Guide to local food resources, pantries, pop-ups

Its just neighbors trying to help neighbors, Johnston said. Thats where all the help is going to come from. When. When you cant count on the usual institutional help.

Rochester Mutual Aid volunteers voted that a portion of their budget would go toward buying groceries to provide to the community for free. They then sent out a call to the community, asking for monetary donations- he told me the result was much greater than they anticipated.

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Were not able to feed everybody in the city, especially as a small volunteer organization, but we just wanted to do the best we could, Johnston said. And its good to see so many people turn up to help, you know, like, its a good sign. It can be easy to be cynical. But when you put the call out, people show up if theres something that they can do, and they know that they can do it, theyll still show up. Thats good.

In addition to several grocery pop-ups, Brighton Farmers Market is also offering SNAP customers the opportunity to purchase tokens using their SNAP benefits, which can be used to buy SNAP-eligible foods at the market.

Anyone who is facing food insecurity can visit foodlinkny.org to find more pop-up pantries, community food programs, after-school meals, and more.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
At the Nourish Food Bank, lines of people hoping to feed themselves and their families had started to build over the last couple of weeks.

This week, however, the need for food in Western Washington really started to show as the SNAP benefits that provide food for low-income people expired on Saturday, according to the manager of the Edgewater location, Julie Wiesen.

Every day its more and more people, Wiesman said, more and more people who are upset and desperate and dont know what theyre going to go. So this is where they go.

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She estimates a 30 percent increase in demand this week with as many as 40 more families each day coming in from the small suburb in North Pierce County.

We also are facing donations that are down and we dont have as much food as we normally do because were serving so many more people, Wiesman said, Food banks can only support so much.

Even before the government shutdown that led to SNAP benefits lapsing, Nourish Food Bank leaders say they were struggling to keep up, especially after emergency food funding was reduced through the USDA.

Organizations like the Salvation Army hosted 20 emergency food drives across Puget Sound Saturday in order to keep up with the need. Salvation Army captain James Parks expects a surge in people needing help as the holidays approach.

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The need might double overnight, Parks said, Were just not sure of whats going to happen and how many families in our communities are going to suffer from this loss.

Organizations like Nourish and Salvation Army hope people can donate cash, foods with a long shelf life, and time through the way of volunteering. Information on how to help each can be found at these links:

https://nourishpc.org/

https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usa-western-territory/northwest/
Tucked away on a small dead-end street near Roger Williams Park, right at the border where Providence meets Cranston, the line for a bag of groceries from the Interfaith Food Pantry stretches a few feet from the buildings entrance to the food pantry door. By the pantry managers estimate, there are about three times as many visitors there that morning than there usually is at this time of day.

Its 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 1. The pantry has been open for 15 minutes.

Were going to cope, were going to get through it, but were seeing a real surge in demand, the Interfaith Food Ministrys pantry manager, Kevin Phelan, said. Last week we did double our normal number of distributions, and this week we anticipate it to be even higher, but were prepared, and were going to get through it.

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The Interfaith Food Ministry is one of the handful of food pantries in Rhode Island that operate on Saturdays, but preparations for this particular Saturday began to take shape weeks before, Phelan said.

By Monday, Nov. 3, the federal government shutdown will have been in effect for 35 days, matching the record for the longest shutdown in U.S. history, which was set during the first Trump administration. Triggered by a congressional impasse over passing the next federal budget, the shutdown has already affected funding for several federal programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, payments for which were set to freeze on Nov. 1.

The line of people waiting to visit the Central Falls Foundation's pop-up food pantry on Nov. 1 stretched along Hunt Street, from the pantry entrance nearly to the intersection with Broad Street.

How many Rhode Islanders receive SNAP benefits?

Roughly one in eight Americans  including some 143,000 Rhode Islanders  receive SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, making it the nations largest food aid program. And while federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts have ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to tap into emergency reserve funds to continue SNAP benefits during the shutdown, relief is likely to be delayed due to anticipated government appeals. The possible loss of benefits is creating a sense of uncertainty for Rhode Islanders who rely on assistance to feed their families.

Comfort Bass was one of the many who obtained a pre-prepared bag of groceries at Interfaith Food Ministry the morning of Nov. 1. As she helped her family pack food and children back into their car, she said she wasnt happy with the possible loss of federal food assistance, as she uses SNAP benefits to help feed her children. However, she said she'll find ways to feed her family regardless, noting the number of food pantries and related assistance organizations available in Rhode Island.

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Well make it, Bass said. This is the first time its happened [to us], so well deal with it.

Phelan said he's received more calls for information about the food pantrys hours of operation during the week before Nov. 1 than at any other point that year. The organization is among the 137 food pantries partnered with the statewide Rhode Island Community Food Bank, which helps distribute food to roughly 89,000 Rhode Islanders each month through its partner organizations. Interfaith Food Ministry is also a joint effort between five member churches that Phelan said have been very generous with money and food drives.

Waiting in line hours early at pop-up food bank in Central Falls

Interfaith Food Ministry was not the only pantry having a busy Saturday. The Central Falls Foundation hosted a pop-up food bank on Nov. 1, the line for which stretched down Hunt Street for roughly half a block. Though it didnt officially open until 11 a.m., Central Falls Housing Authority Executive Director Bridgett Duquette said someone started waiting outside as early as 6 a.m., in hopes of getting food before their work shift began at noon.

Thats something to think about, right? Duquette said. You have a job and you have to go to the food pantry because youre not going to make it.

Volunteers at the Central Falls Foundation's pop-up pantry worked to get crates of food off trucks and into carts on Saturday, Nov. 1.

The Central Falls Foundation is an effort born out of the Housing Authority in 1995 to provide additional services to the surrounding community. With help from the City of Central Falls itself, the pop-up was organized in a little under a week.

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Mayor Maria Rivera was there Saturday, greeting visitors and helping a few volunteers. She said about a quarter of Central Falls residents, about 5,100 people, use SNAP.

The amount of people who are coming is overwhelming, because the need is overwhelming, Rivera said. Its also very hurtful that we have to do this because of the government shutdown. This isnt fair to the people, and this isnt about parties, this isnt about politics. This is about people, especially the senior community and the children that are not going to have the food they need.

Duquette and Rivera shared several stories from the pantrys operations that afternoon, including a story about one child who asked if the pantry had apples. The childs mother confessed to them that she hadnt been able to afford apples for the past two months.

The Central Falls pantry functioned differently than Interfaith Food Ministrys, likely due in part to the increased resources and space they were able to use. Using donated shopping carts from Price Rite and sectioning off a large paved area into food category-based sections, it allowed visitors to pick and choose the items they wanted, a distribution process Duquette said was designed as a way to preserve a sense of dignity and autonomy for those visiting the pantry pop-up. Duquette emphasized the foundations efforts to get familiar, shelf-stable products it knew its community members would use, such as tortillas, beans, rice and plantains.

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It was really important for everybody to focus on, What are the needs of this community? and What do we think people really need? and also getting food that is going to last, Duquette said.

On Saturday, the organizations goal was to provide between 800 and 1,000 people with enough food to last a little over a week. Duquette said that if SNAP goes unfunded, they plan to hold another pop-up pantry in about two weeks. She asked those interested in helping support their efforts to donate to the Central Falls Foundation online at centralfallsfoundation.org. She estimates that it currently takes about $50 to feed a family for a week.

Any donation helps, Duquette said. Were hoping every little bit comes in. I almost cried last night because somebody donated $25. I have no idea who they are, but to me, that meant more to me than the people donating hundreds. You knew that was a sacrifice for that person. Theyre giving back to their community, and thats all we asked for. Five dollars can help your neighbor, if you can spare five dollars.

While the Central Falls Foundation focuses primarily on Central Falls residents, dozens of other food banks and pantries throughout the state service other communities. Those interested in either receiving food from a local pantry, volunteering at one, or donating to one can find several using the Rhode Island Community Food Banks Find Food map at rifoodbank.org.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: SNAP benefits freeze brings crowds to RI food pantries November 1
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday asserted that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has "zero tolerance" towards violence and assured that the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections will be held in a completely "peaceful, law-abiding and transparent manner." The CEC said the polls will provide an opportunity for voters to celebrate democracy as a "festival". "The Election Commission has zero tolerance towards violence. Bihar elections will be conducted in a completely peaceful, law-abiding, transparent manner, and all voters will have the opportunity to celebrate it as a festival. The first phase of voting in Bihar is on November 6th. The second phase is on the 11th, and the counting of votes is on November 14th. I am hopeful that people will come out to cast their votes in large numbers," he said. His remarks came days after the murder of politician Dularchand Yadav on October 30 in Mokama constituency during a rally of Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshini. Following the incident, Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, Anant Kumar Singh, was arrested. Gyanesh Kumar, who is in Kanpur to visit his alma mater, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, was recently conferred with the institute's Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA), its highest honour recognising alumni for exceptional achievements. Mokama, which goes to polls in the first phase on November 6, is expected to witness a high-voltage contest, with JD(U) fielding Anant Singh and the Rashtriya Janata Dal nominating Veena Devi, wife of former MP and influential leader Surajbhan Singh. The voting for the 243-seat Bihar Assembly will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14. (ANI)
Nov. 2Two years after the surrender of the German Army ended World War I on Nov. 11, 1918, the first official parades to celebrate Armistice Day went to Wyoming Post No. 396, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and another in Plymouth when the Soldiers and Sailors memorial monument at Huber Field was dedicated.

Members of Post 396 gathered on Nov. 8, 1920, to plan the parade of WWI veterans that marched on Eighth Street through the boroughs of Wyoming and West Wyoming on Nov. 11, 1920.

"They appreciate the services rendered by the town councils of Wyoming and West Wyoming and also the school boards of said boroughs. They trust that all ex-soldiers, sailors and Marines will turn out on this day," the Wilkes-Barre Record reported Nov. 9, 1920.

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The first known local parade was a complete success, the Record reported Nov. 12, 1920.

More than a mile in length, veterans of WWI were joined by veterans of the Spanish American War and three veterans of the Civil War in the parade that began at Wyoming Hose House No. 1 and ended with a military ball at Shoemaker's Hall.

While the parade honored living veterans of foreign wars, Holy Trinity Lithuanian Church at North Main and Linden streets held a solemn high mass of requiem to honor six parishioners  Sylvester Ambrose, Anthony Dombrauskas, William Daniels, John Kavalauskas, Joseph Laskauskas and Joseph Snyder  who were killed in action during WWI.

"Mothers and other members of the families of the six men who were killed occupied the front seats on the left side of the church. Behind them were seated the families of the service men who returned," the Record reported.

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Nearly 300 people attended the mass at Holy Trinity.

In Plymouth, an overly large crowd gathered at Huber Field on Nov. 11, 1920, to dedicate the Soldiers and Sailors Monument that took a year to raise the necessary $6,500 cost.

"A fitting observance of Armistice Day was held at Plymouth yesterday when 10,000 persons assembled to pay homage to the soldiers of Plymouth and Plymouth Township, who gave up their lives in the defense of their country. Never before in the history of Old Shawnee has such an impressive scene been held," the Record reported Nov. 12, 1920.

A bronze tablet adjacent to the Soldiers and Sailors monument lists the names of 31 men from Plymouth and Plymouth Township who were killed during WWI.

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The monument's dedication was the finale of a parade that marched through Plymouth.

The American Legion Post 132, Wilkes-Barre, hosted their own Armistice Day celebration in Kirby Park on Nov. 10, 1920, when they ignited 2,000 pounds of fireworks.

"The fireworks were set off in Kirby Park, a short distance from where the boat house stands in the summer time, north of the Market Street Bridge," reported the Record on Nov. 11, 1920.

The first parade across the Market Street Bridge from Kingston into Wilkes-Barre took place on Nov. 7, 1924.

Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day in 1954.
Hollywood resident Peter Cicale says he was heading to the beach in January 2024 when he parked in an open parking space in a nearby lot.

He didnt expect to open the mailbox at his home four days later to find a parking charge notice from a company called Professional Parking Management Corp. stating that he owed $90 for failing to pay. The document included photos of his license tag and an offer to reduce the charge to $55, plus tax, if he paid within 15 days.

And while the invoice looked like a parking ticket, it did not say that failure to pay would jeopardize Cicales license or registration status or ding his credit score.

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There was no signage or attendant, Cicale recently told the South Florida Sun Sentinel about his decision to use the parking lot at 915 N. Ocean Drive. When I came back, I just drove off. I didnt know I was being surveilled.

Cicale, who paid the $90 bill, is the lead plaintiff in a civil lawsuit filed against Professional Parking Management Corp., a Georgia-registered company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale that manages privately owned parking lots in several states.

The lawsuit, which seeks class action status, is among dozens filed in South Florida courts that have listed PPM or other parking companies as defendants.

The latest suits claim the companies violated the federal Drivers Privacy Protection Act by obtaining vehicle owners names and addresses from a database operated by the states Department of Motor Vehicles based on photos of license tag numbers captured at the parking lots by automated cameras.

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Operators have fought hard in recent years to preserve their ability to send invoices to drivers homes.

Three years ago, PPM teamed with another company, City Parking, to lobby state lawmakers to enact a law barring local governments from prohibiting parking companies from issuing their own citations.

The effort was a response to ordinances passed by the city of Miami and Broward County because officials feared drivers would believe the citations could result in court hearings, license suspensions, booting, towing or impoundment.

Cicales lawsuit claims that the companys business model ostensibly involves charging drivers to park their vehicles in its facilities.

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It adds, In reality, however, PPMs business is about mailing parking citations to vehicle owners and threatening them with severe consequences if they do not pay exorbitant sums demanded in PPMs citations.

Cicales suit says PPMs invoices deceptively threaten to boot or tow vehicles of drivers who do not pay. Such a legal right belongs exclusively to the government or third parties acting on behalf of the government, the suit contends.

PPM defended its invoicing practice in a statement to the South Florida Sun Sentinel by invoking the law it lobbied lawmakers to create.

PPM complies with Florida law  which allows private parking lots to set rules for charging parking fees and parkers to be charged published violation fees, the company said.

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In an Oct. 3 pending motion to dismiss a revised complaint by Cicale, PPM called his invasion-of-privacy allegations flawed and argued that he ignored multiple signs and pay stations at the parking lot directing him to pay for parking. Further signs spelled out a parking contract warning that failure to pay would subject him to a parking charge plus taxes and surcharges.

By using the lot, Cicale granted PPM and its agents permission to obtain registered owner information for the vehicle you park in this parking facility, including the registered owners address for the purpose of issuing a parking charge notice, PPMs filing states.

In a 2021 article by the Miami New Times, lot owners said the invoicing model benefits consumers because fines are preferable to booting or towing.

PPM also contends that all of the parking lots they manage are marked with signage that spell out rates and fines.

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Frictionless parking is an honor system, the statement said. It relies on parkers to pay based on clearly posted rules, and to follow the clear signage about paying in advance. We rely on people paying for their parking as they park.

Court battles unfold

The lawsuits are among numerous legal fights underway across multiple states against operators of private parking lots.

They come as operators transition payment methods from meters, attendants, gates or tickets to cellphone apps.

Unlike when time purchased at a parking meter expires, drivers cant consider themselves in the clear if they find no ticket or tow truck when they return to their vehicles.

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Similar lawsuits are pending in Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, Colorado and California that claim parking management companies misuse their states motor vehicle registration databases.

Two federal judges in Florida recently declined to dismiss cases in response to filings by parking management companies claiming that the plaintiffs had no standing to sue. Those filings further contended that use of the databases was legitimate.

Both judges clarified that they werent ruling on the legality of the uses, but setting aside the question to be addressed at a later time. One of the rulings also dismissed the claims alleged by a co-plaintiff of Cicale. He followed it by filing a second amended complaint as the sole lead plaintiff, a matter thats still pending.

The other case, filed by a woman ticketed by Hollywood-based Vanguard Parking Solutions after using a parking garage in Miami, was soon settled.

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Four other lawsuits filed in federal court against Professional Parking Management Corp. were also settled in recent years. Terms are confidential.

Challenges to uses of the motor vehicle databases remain unresolved. No judge so far has issued definitive rulings on the merits of the cases  whether drivers private data is illegally breached when obtained by parking management companies.

In the suit against Vanguard, the court found that the plaintiff had sufficiently disclaimed Vanguards arguments that two of 14 exemptions to the DPPA in the federal code justified the companys use of the motor vehicle database. But the court also said that a substantive analysis of the plaintiffs claims was inappropriate at such an early stage of the case.

Janet Varnell, an attorney with Tampa-based Varnell & Warwick, P.A., who represents Cicale, along with Golden Beach-based attorney Bret Lusskin, says their case was the first to allege violations of the drivers protection act.

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She says defendants often settle claims early to avoid precedent-setting rulings.

Our case is different, Varnell says. Were seeking relief that protects everyone affected, not just one person, and we want a ruling that makes clear you cannot run a plate, pull DMV data, and use someones home address to send deceptive payment demands without a lawful basis.

Numerous private parking lots

Sixteen lawsuits filed since August against PPM by plaintiffs represented by Fort Lauderdale-based Patti Zabaleta Law Group in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade circuit courts with claims similar to Cicales, are currently the subject of a dispute over whether they should be consolidated and moved to federal court.

Those suits further argue that PPM had no way of proving who drove into and out of the parking lots before sending citations to registered owners of vehicles.

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Together, the 16 lawsuits and Cicales complaint identify numerous PPM-managed parking lots, including in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Wilton Manors, Delray Beach and others in Miami-Dade County.

The Broward County Property Appraisers website identifies a much longer list of potential revenue-generating parcels. The records dont indicate which are managed by PPM, its competitors, or owners of adjacent venues like hospitals, art centers and government buildings. Yet, 593 commercially zoned parking lots owned by 445 business entities are listed in Fort Lauderdale alone, while Hollywood has 243 lots and 234 owners.

Enacting privacy protection

Congress enacted the Drivers Privacy Protection Act in 1994 in response to a series of violent crimes by offenders who gained access to their states motor vehicle records. Victims included actress Rebecca Schaeffer, who was killed in her West Hollywood home by an obsessed fan who paid a private detective to find her address in Californias DMV records in 1989.

The DPPA prohibits obtaining, disclosing, or using personal information from a motor vehicle record except for the statutes enumerated permissible uses, one of which (requires) the drivers express consent, Cicale argues in the lawsuit.

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PPM, like other parking management companies, has argued in court records that its access to DMV databases is allowed under two permissible uses spelled out in the law.

One of the uses allows access in anticipation of litigation while the other allows it for reasons specifically authorized under the law of the State that holds the record, if such use is related to the operation of a motor vehicle or public safety.

In its statement to the Sun Sentinel, PPM contended that its legally permitted violation fees are comparable to what Florida municipalities charge for parking violations and, like cities fines, increase if they go unpaid. However, our percentage increase over the original parking fee is typically lower, the company said.

Hundreds of complaints

Floridas Attorney Generals Office has logged 556 complaints against Professional Parking Management Corp. since 2020, a spokesman for the office said. They peaked at 172 in 2023. So far in 2025, the company has generated 119 complaints.

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Over the past three years, PPM has been the subject of 1,542 complaints to the Better Business Bureau, according to its website. The consumer protection nonprofit gives the company an F rating for failing to respond to 779 complaints. In addition, 122 complaints have been filed against the company that were not resolved, while 397 have been closed in the last 12 months, the site states.

In complaints and one-star reviews on the site, consumers said that they received violation notices despite paying for time at lots managed by the company. Some said that they received notices in error and that they never parked where they were accused of parking. Some complained that their overstays did not justify the fine they are being told to pay. Others said the app they used didnt work. And a couple said they received invoices despite using valet services at restaurants.

Asked about the complaints, PPM said that their pace and volume has gone down dramatically over the past four years following significant investments in and improvements to our customer service and dispute resolution process.

A long-running dispute

Disputes involving citations from private parking lot management companies have been simmering for years.

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Responding to consumer complaints about violation notices, the city of Miami in 2019 and Broward County in 2022 banned operators of private parking facilities from issuing citations for violating facilities rules.

Lobbyists for the private parking industry failed to convince the local governments to rescind the bans. Then they turned to the state Legislature.

A bill prohibiting local governments from barring citations by private parking lot owners was enacted in 2022. Three weeks before Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law, PPM and City Parking each contributed $25,000 to a political action committee helping to fund DeSantis reelection campaign that year, Florida Division of Elections records show.

PPM responded to questions about donations to DeSantis and other conservative groups by the company with the statement, Like any industry, the parking industry seeks to educate the public and our elected representatives on issues of importance to the industry, our partners and our customers.

After the legislation was enacted years ago, complaints  and lawsuits  continued.

In 2024, two Miami-Dade County House members, state Reps. Vicki Lopez and Demi Busatta, co-sponsored a bill aimed at restoring some power to consumers by requiring parking companies to provide a dispute resolution system.

It established a 15-minute grace period preventing operators from charging drivers who enter a parking facility but do not park.

And it required parking operators to provide opportunities for drivers to dispute their citations, including requiring appeals to be decided by a third-party arbitrator.

But the law left it up to parking management companies to oversee the dispute process, including establishing criteria for selecting the arbitrators. Rep. Lopez confirmed to the Sun Sentinel that records of how disputes are resolved arent available for examination by the public.

Professional Parking Management Corp. declined to provide its dispute resolution data. The company said that it provides multiple, easy-to-access methods for people to dispute claims directly with PPM and with Effective Arbitration for impartial, third-party adjudication.

Varnell said her firm is determined to push for a ruling that settles whether private parking citations justify access to the states motor vehicle records.

This isnt abstract privacy theory, she says. The statute allows many legitimate uses  law enforcement, recalls, true safety needs  but revenue tactics that rely on unauthorized DMV lookups are not among them.

Regardless of whether courts ultimately strike down or uphold parking management companies use of the Drivers Privacy Protection Act to locate alleged scofflaws, South Florida drivers can take steps to ensure they wont receive parking violation notices and demands for money.

Parking will always be an issue in the area, and drivers shouldnt assume any empty spaces are free to use unless their availability is confirmed by owners of the lots or adjacent businesses.

Drivers whove recently received invoices should keep in mind that they cannot be taken to traffic court, have their drivers licenses or registrations suspended, or get pulled over because of an unpaid fine. No one associated with a private parking lot can come to drivers homes and boot or tow their vehicles.

And although the invoice threatens to turn unpaid fines over to collections, credit scores of drivers who fail to pay wont be affected.

Our parking notices are not reported to the credit bureaus, says a spokesman for Professional Parking Management Corp.

Cicale says he now approaches parking spaces with the question, Is it safe to park here?

Mainly, I know Im being surveilled in all these lots now and that makes me feel uncomfortable, especially when Im in a car with my family. I think its an invasion of privacy.

Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071 or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.
German pilots union VC is delaying strikes at Lufthansa in order to allow the airline to improve its offer in an ongoing pensions dispute.

VC has called on the carrier to present a new proposal as lengthy negotiations started in May have yet to be resolved, according to a letter to its membership obtained by dpa.

While not providing an exact timeframe, the union said it is "giving Lufthansa management sufficient time" to come up with another offer, meaning industrial action is not to be expected "for the time being."

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VC is asking for employer contributions to corporate pensions for some 4,800 pilots at Lufthansa's core business and its cargo division to be tripled.

Lufthansa has rejected the demands, claiming it does not have the financial means to supplement the "already very good" company pension scheme, according to chief executive Jens Ritter.

After no agreement was reached after seven rounds of negotiations, VC members voted in favour of industrial action.

Both sides have since held further talks, including on other contentious issues, but the negotiations are yet to see a breakthrough.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance have become each other's primary sounding boards in the West Wing as the pair work together to help shape and execute President Donald Trump's foreign policy, according to five people close to the two top officials.

Rubio  the nations top diplomat and Trumps national security adviser  spends most of his time not at the State Department but inside the White House, where he makes use of the NSA office, according to a person close to the secretary, granted anonymity to discuss his schedule.

From that perch, he and the vice president regularly meet, often with few others present, to discuss what has become an expansive foreign policy agenda. Their offices are literally feet apart, said a person familiar with the situation, noting that the corner of the West Wing has the offices of Rubio, Vance and chief of staff Susie Wiles.

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Marco, with years and years more experience, kindly helps JD  as he does all of us, the person added.

Rubio and Vance coordinated on the Israel-Hamas peace effort and their joint visit to the Vatican. The two worked closely during Iran and just about any high profile policy process, said a person close to the White House, who, like others in this story, was granted anonymity to discuss their relationship.

I think it's probably safe to assume they talk every day, said a White House staffer.

The face-to-face meetings offer a way for Vance and Rubio  who have not always been aligned on foreign-policy  to have candid conversations. And they have the added benefit of tamping down on leaks to the press, said the person close to Rubio.

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Their working relationship, always closely examined, is newly under the microscope this week after Trump again intimated that Vance and Rubio are his two most-likely successors.

Im not sure anyone would run against those two, Trump said.

Rubio and Vance have downplayed any inherent tension that would seem impossible to avoid, with Vance insisting on a recent podcast that Rubio is his best friend

President Trump has incredible confidence in Marco Rubio who dutifully supports the presidents vision and works tirelessly to accomplish our foreign policy goals, Vance said in a statement to POLITICO. Marco is reliable, incredibly competent and a true asset to the Administration.

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Rubio, who was not made available for this story, also sees Vance as his top confidant, the source close to the secretary said.

Their policy discussions are often joined by Wiles, Trumps chief of staff, who hosts them in her office ahead of key discussions with the president.

There's a natural alignment, right? You have the vice president, obviously, and the White House chief of staff, and then the secretary, who's national security adviser. And a lot of the biggest challenges the administration faces right now are these very thorny, complex foreign policy problems that we inherited, and that is a group of people who implicitly trust each other, the source close to Rubio said of the West Wing trio.

The Vance-Rubio relationship dates back to their days in the Senate, when the two worked on bills together, including The William S. Knudsen Defense Remobilization Act that called for a national strategy to revitalize defense production.

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Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), who came into the Senate with Vance in 2023, told POLITICO that Vance and Rubio relate to each others humble beginnings and shared sense of humor.

When you have lunch together every day, you tend to gravitate to people that are like you, he said. So we were often at the same tables and had a lot of, you know, similar ages, a lot of the same cultural references  but I think they're just both good guys who are in it for the right reasons, and are pretty aligned on a lot of issues.

He said the two also have a shared sense of humor: Rubio knows a lot of movie lines, and JD just has really good timing, he said.

Schmitt pointed out that they were all questioning additional funding for Ukraine when they were in the Senate, and had raised concerns that it wouldnt align with America-first principles.

There was money for Ukraine and and I think many of us were on the floor, into the late night, including myself, Rubio, and Vance, talking about, Hey, there's all this discussion about the sovereignty of other people's borders. What about ours? And what about the people affected in our communities? That's just kind of one example of where that alignment was, and they both brought very effective voices to the debate, he said.
MADISON, Miss. (WJTV)  After nearly three decades, The Ranch in Madison, a beloved daycare, was closed. According to Madison leaders, the daycare facility failed a Mississippi State Health Department (MSDH) inspection, which included fire code violations, like missing alarms and sprinklers.

On Saturday, a prayer walk was held in support of The Ranch. The owner, Austin OKelly, said the support from the community is appreciated.

I never dreamed that this many people would come together and and care about us and want us to keep going. And so, I felt like I needed to spend my Saturday and Sunday out here just letting them come pray for us in person opposed to online, he said.

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Mike Land, who lives in Madison, said The Ranch has always been a respectable place that promotes prayer.

I can tell you, from raising three children here from birth to now, all of them are around 30, we dont have enough in Madison for children, an atmosphere, a Christian atmosphere like this, Land said.

The city clarified that it did not shut down The Ranch, but they said it was informed by the facility last Friday that it could no longer operation. Officials said they regret that parents were not notified until this past Monday.

OKelly invited the community to come out and join him every weekend for more prayer walks.

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One idea seemed to be on everybodys mind during the Cumberland County Republican Committees Friends of Charlie Kirk event on Oct. 21: revival.

Roughly 200 people packed into Calvary Chapel of Greater Portland in Westbrook to learn more about Kirk, the right-wing activist assassinated on Sept. 10, and how the organization he founded, Turning Point USA, is working to expand its footprint in Maine.

Attendees spanned all ages, ranging from teens to seniors, and included Republican gubernatorial candidates Bobby Charles and David Jones.

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Travis Carey, senior pastor at Calvary Chapel, led the group in prayer and called Kirks work a reminder that there should not be a gap between politics and the church.

His church launched a Turning Point chapter in mid-October. And it isnt alone. At least 20 Turning Point chapters have been established at colleges, high schools and churches across Maine in the less than two months since Kirks death. Those involved say they hope to see the groups spur conversations about transgender athletes, abortion, free markets and other conservative policy ideas.

Pastor Travis Carey of Calvary Chapel Greater Portland prays during a Cumberland County Republican Committee Friends of Charlie Kirk event in Westbrook. Photo by Troy R. Bennett.

Kirk, who was shot while speaking at a college in Utah, founded Turning Point in 2012 when he was 18 to mobilize young conservatives across American college campuses. His online presence and openness to debate made him an influential figure in conservative politics, with his official memorial in Arizona drawing a crowd of around 100,000 people, and featuring speakers that included President Trump and many of his cabinet members.

In his debates and online videos, Kirk frequently invoked Christianity to oppose transgender rights and urge young women to prioritize marriage and have children before a career. He made a number of statements that provoked backlash, from saying some gun deaths were worth it to supporting the replacement theory, a once-fringe conspiracy theory positing that non-white immigrants are being planted as part of a plot to limit white Americans power, an ideology that motivated several mass shootings in recent years.

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While his group started with a focus on college campuses, it has since expanded. In 2021, the organization launched Turning Point Faith, a subset of church-based chapters focused on tying Christianity to American politics. And earlier this year, the organization branched into high schools, under the name Club America.

Club America representative Grace Mack said there are now 18 chapters at high schools in Maine. According to an archived version of the groups site, before Kirks assassination there were just three.

Representatives for Turning Points college and faith arms did not return requests for comment on the organizations growth in Maine. At least four colleges have recently taken steps to organize chapters: Southern Maine Community College established a new chapter in September, while the University of Maine at Orono chapter, which had lapsed, received official recognition from the university in mid-September.

Students have also received recognition from Turning Point for chapters at Thomas College and the University of Maine in Augusta this fall but do not yet have university recognition, organizers at each campus said.

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In addition to Calvary Chapel in Westbrook, Calvary Chapel Bangor also formed a chapter, doing so in the week after Kirks death. A staff member reported increased church attendance since then.

New Beginnings Church of God in Waterville also launched a faith chapter, one that grew out of a group led by Kristina Parker, the 19-year-old communications director for the Maine GOP. New Beginnings Pastor Alan Imes said a number of other Maine churches have asked for advice on starting their own faith chapters but declined to identify them by name.

Peter Bernaiche, a former Marine who enrolled at Southern Maine Community College to study computer science last spring, said he learned about Kirk a few years ago through work friends. He said he was drawn to Turning Points support of free markets, limited government and individual liberty.

After seeing clips of Kirks assassination on social media, Bernaiche said he took a few days to process his shock before creating the SMCC chapter, which currently has about a dozen members. A broader southern Maine chapter, also headed by Bernaiche, has almost 40 non-student members.

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Bernaiche plans to host regular public debates and meetings for chapter members with a focus on the goodness of conservative values, especially on fiscal policy, which he believes will lead to a lower cost of living in the state.

Southern Maine Community College Chapter President of Turning Point USA Peter Bernaiche stands on stage at a Cumberland County Republican Committee Friends of Charlie Kirk event. Photo by Troy R. Bennett.

Young voters aged 18 to 29 have historically favored Democrats by wide margins, but that lead has slackened in the past two years, according to Pew Researchs National Public Opinion Reference Survey. Pew found that men ages 18 to 29 now favor Republicans by 18 points.

Maine College Republicans has seen membership double since Kirks death, according to the groups president Zak Asplin. Taylor Grant, president of Maine Young Democrats, said shes also noticed an uptick in interest for Democratic organizing on college campuses since Kirks assassination, but said the party is decades behind in creating a unified organization to rally behind.

Young men today are looking for a purpose, Bernaiche said, pointing to Kirks focus on traditional family structures and becoming leaders in the community as ideas that resonate with him and others.

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His chapter at SMCC faced some pushback during its launch. Several students spoke against the organization during a public hearing of the student senate, citing concerns that the group would create a sense of fear and exclusion for minority students, according to News Center Maine. However, the chapter met the requirements for recognition and was ultimately approved.

At the October event at Calvary Chapel, speakers told the crowd that Cheverus High School, a Catholic school in Portland, had declined to officially recognize a Club America chapter, encouraging the audience to call the school and fight for the chapter. (Cheverus did not return requests for comment.)

Declan Teel, 8, hands out programs with his mother Brogan Teel at a Cumberland County Republican Committee Friends of Charlie Kirk event held at Calvary Chapel Greater Portland in Westbrook. Photo by Troy R. Bennett.

Conservative influencers and media organizations have pushed to fire or discipline people who have criticized Kirk since his death. In one case in Maine, a Kennebunk teacher resigned after allegedly making a post on social media criticizing Kirks statements on school shootings and the war in Gaza and writing, Rest in hell, Charlie Kirk, according to The Portland Press Herald.

Turning Point maintains public watchlists for professors and school boards that espouse views that go against the organization, and it gives report cards to colleges and universities. UMaine and Bowdoin College both received F grades based on factors like requiring diversity, equity and inclusion training for staff and using bias reporting systems. Bowdoin also received low marks for its ratio of right-leaning to left-leaning clubs and failing to require western civilization courses.

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Some events connected to Turning Point have led to safety concerns. Bowdoin College canceled a vigil planned for Kirk on Sept. 14, citing external threats flagged by the Maine State Police, according to reporting by the Bowdoin Orient. The Associated Press reported that a number of people across the U.S. have been arrested since Kirks death for threatening violence, both against vigils held for Kirk and against other groups as revenge for Kirks death.

Turning Point leaders in Maine have described Kirks death as the start of a spiritual reawakening. In late September, Parker, the Maine GOP communications director, led a memorial service for about 30 people in the basement of New Beginnings in Waterville, just over a week after the church paid her expenses to attend Kirks official memorial service in Arizona.

Were having a mini revival, if not a great big revival in America right now, Parker told the room. She pointed out the Christian music playing in the background of a tribute posted on the White House YouTube channel, calling it a sign that the Trump administration was stepping up in boldness for the Christian faith.

Zak Asplin, president of Maine College Republicans, speaks on stage at a Cumberland County Republican Committee Friends of Charlie Kirk event. Photo by Troy R. Bennett.

Pastors at New Beginnings and Calvary Chapel said theyve noticed an increase in new faces at their services in the weeks since Kirks death, particularly among college-aged people.

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Mark Brewer, a professor of political science at UMaine Orono, said in recent decades, denominations aligned with the left have declined as Evangelical Protestant churches aligned with the right have grown, noting that those religious institutions have helped increase conservative influence.

Kirks official memorial service in Arizona fit the typical elements of a Christian revival, Brewer said, with energetic speakers using religious imagery to stoke enthusiasm. Brewer said he expects conservatives to use Kirk as kind of a rallying cry moving forward to maintain energy and keep people committed to the cause.

At this point, Brewer believes Kirks legacy is pretty much set in stone as a hero for the political right and an incendiary figure for the political left. Even Kirks most inflammatory statements, on topics like the replacement theory, transgender health care and his belief that large dedicated Islamic areas are a threat to America, are unlikely to change minds, Brewer said.

Those ideas have come a long way from the fringe, Brewer said. Not only do I think that they are more widely held today, but I also think that it is seen as acceptable to state that you publicly hold those beliefs  We can put a lot of that at the feet of Trump and his allies.

Grace Mack and Colby DeLapp of Club America speak to attendees after a Cumberland County Republican Committee Friends of Charlie Kirk event. Photo by Troy R. Bennett.

Carey believes Christians in Maine are feeling emboldened to be more outspoken for their faith, he said, noting that he thinks the states policies on abortion, gender and cost of living should be addressed from a faith perspective.

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Imes, pastor at New Beginnings, said he believes that churches need to get more involved in the democracy process and the political process, and cited his opposition to transgender athletes, a key rallying point for conservatives in the past year.

As for Colby DeLapp, a high school student and president of the York County Club America chapter, beyond building community and hosting events like voter registration drives, his hope is to see Christianity take center stage in Maine.

Really, whats going to bring the most change in our country and in our state is bringing a revival of Christianity, DeLapp said during the Oct. 21 event, applauding the choice to hold the event at a church. Christianity is an American value, and we need to bring that back in our country.
The green label for gas and nuclear power continues to spark debate. While some support nuclear energy, others warn that it could weaken climate action credibility and slow the clean energy transition.

A recent ruling by the EU General Court has brought the debate on nuclear energy front and center. According to Virgule, the Luxembourgish government has decided not to appeal the court's ruling upholding the inclusion of nuclear power in the green investment taxonomy.

This inclusion means investments in nuclear power plants may qualify as sustainable. After most members of the European Parliament voted in favor of the European Commission's 2022 green investment classification, several countries, including Luxembourg, strongly opposed the move and took legal action.

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Last month, the EU General Court dismissed the suit, citing the nearly zero air pollution from nuclear power and the lack of renewable alternatives on the same scale  a claim supported by recent studies.

Data shared by the World Nuclear Association shows that nuclear energy produces up to 98.5% less harmful gases than natural gas and coal power sources.

The International Energy Agency also noted that nuclear power has curbed nearly 70 gigatons of heat-trapping gases over the past five decades. It also acknowledged the key role that this type of energy will play in reducing pollution by 2050.

Still, some argue that nuclear energy contradicts sustainability goals. For them, it is a blatant act of greenwashing from an institution advocating a clean future. "Leaving fossil gas and nuclear energy on the list of sustainable investments is a mockery of the original idea," Roger Spautz of Greenpeace Luxembourg said.

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Green MEP Tilly Metz echoed this criticism. Both Spautz and Metz argue that nuclear is slow, is costly, and produces long-term radioactive waste. Including it in the taxonomy would divert investments from safer renewable options.

These conflicting views underscore the importance for the public to explore critical climate issues.

Engaging in meaningful conversations helps individuals weigh the benefits and trade-offs of large-scale policies and clean financial choices. Public opinion can also guide policymakers toward climate-smart investments.

Awareness about nuclear energy and other sources is crucial because "it is the people themselves who decide what they want to invest in," as Metz told Virgule.

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.
Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy on Sunday visited the injured devotees at a hospital following the tragic stampede at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district, which claimed nine lives and left several others wounded. Speaking to reporters after meeting the patients, Minister Reddy expressed profound grief and outlined the government's response. "I visited both the temple and the hospital, and met with patients. It is an unfortunate incident at the newly constructed temple. Devotees faced difficulties due to long queues and cramped spaces. The Collector has ordered an investigation committee comprising retired judges, IAS officers, and technical experts," he said. "The committee will submit its report to the government, based on which appropriate action will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future," he added. On Saturday, President Droupadi Murmu expressed shock and grief over the tragedy. In a post shared on X, President Murmu said, "Shocked to learn about the loss of lives in a tragic incident at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the quick recovery of those injured." Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed condolences and announced ex-gratia of two lakh rupees each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has assured that strict action will be taken against those responsible for the Srikakulam temple stampede, which claimed nine lives. Naidu observed a moment of silence for the victims and expressed deep anguish over the tragedy. He instructed officials to provide prompt and proper treatment to the injured and requested that local officials and public representatives visit the site to oversee relief measures. Meanwhile, the opposition YSR Congress Party has hit back at the government, with former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy slamming the government over the incident. Reddy attributed the tragedy to the negligence of Chandrababu Naidu's government, questioning the preparedness and safety measures in place for large crowds. (ANI)
Radical socialist Zohran Mamdanis mayoral campaign hosted a closed-door roundtable to craft his prospective administrations education policy, and stocked it with anti-merit leftists  one of whom once bashed standardized tests as eugenics.

Groups pushing for academic rigor were left off the guest list, which contained a veritable whos who of radical advocates opposed to gifted and talented programs, as well as figures with troubling antisemitism accusations, critics said.

The floodgates are opening to radical indoctrinating propaganda coming into the classroom, said Karen Feldman, cofounder of New York City Public School Alliance  a group that fights antisemitism in city public schools.

Zohran Mamdanis campaign hosted a closed-door education roundtable. Gabriella Bass

Included at the roundtable was the Education Council Consortium, a group that once called NYCs gifted and talented programs an oddity in the nation and also accused them of systematically segregating black students.

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The ECC has hosted a rally featuring Linda Sarsour, an activist with a long history of antisemitic remarks and a mentor of Mamdanis.

Shino Tanikawa, ECCs treasurer, has ranted against toxic whiteness on social media.

The Alliance for Quality Education, which has similarly come out against gifted and talented programs, was also at the meeting, as was former Manhattan Panel for Educational Policy member Kaliris Salas-Ramirez, according to Chalkbeat.

Mamdani has vowed to end gifted and talented programs in schools. Stephen Yang for the New York Post

Salas-Ramirez is a member of Opt Out, an organization that advocates against standardized tests, which she has claimed originated as a part of the eugenics movement at a 2021 Chancellors Parents Advisory Council meeting. She has long faced accusations of antisemitism.

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Israel is a terrorist state, she posted Oct. 1.

The Rutgers University medical school professor was the subject of a parental letter-writing campaign urging Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine not to reappoint her to the PEP. She left the panel in 2024, according to her LinkedIn.

Anti-Israel Mamdani has faced criticism for not yet providing a detailed education policy, but has vowed to eliminate gifted and talented programs starting at kindergarten.

PLACE co-president Yiatin Chu said Mamdani would be worse than the second coming of De Blasio. Helayne Seidman

Parent Leaders of Accelerated Curriculum and Education, an organization that advocates for higher standards in the NYC public school system, was not given a seat at the table, nor was the New York City Public School Alliance.

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[Mamdani] is probably going to be worse than De Blasio 2.0 from all the signals that were seeing, said Yiatin Chu, co-president of PLACE.

Also in attendance was former Squad Rep. Jamaal Bowman, who is rumored to be in the running to be Mamdanis schools chancellor and has a history of antisemitism accusations.

Jamaal Bowman, which is kind of the scary one, Chu mused regarding Mamdanis potential chancellor picks, [He was] a middle school principal that really was kind of abysmal.

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Public school high-stakes standardized testing is a form of modern-day slavery, Bowman, former principal of Cornerstone Academy for Social Action, wrote in 2015.

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Bowman infamously pulled the Capitol buildings fire alarm in 2023 as Democrats attempted to delay a spending vote, and was subsequently censured by the House.

Hows he going to tell kids not to pull the fire alarm? wondered Chu.

Bowman and the Mamdani campaign did not respond to The Posts request for comment.
In the video, New York mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani makes a joke about knaffeh, claims his Arabic needs work, and smiles next to women in hijabs.

New York City's leading mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, asked for support from the city's Arabic-speaking community in an all-Arabic video posted on his social media on Saturday.

Now, I know what you're thinking. I might look like your brother-in-law from Damascus, but my Arabic needs some work, Mamdani started the video with. The election is scheduled for this Tuesday, although early voting has been ongoing.

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In his video, Mamdani promises to freeze rent for over two million city residents, make buses free and fast, and deliver universal childcare to all families in his efforts to make the city easier to live in and raise children.

And while I probably wont convince your uncle that the Nabulski knaffeh in Steinway is better than New Jerseys, I promise I will fight with my strength to make it easier to open your small business, pay your rent, and build your future in New York, he continues.

In the video, Mamdani is also seen petting a bodega cat, asking it in Arabic if it is doing okay, and laughing alongside women in hijabs.

Im from you, and for you, he concludes.

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Mamdani, set to be NYC's first Muslim mayor, is known for being a long-time critic of Israeli politics and an advocate for Palestinian rights.

Mamdani resurfaced videos spotlight anti-Israel sentiment

He claimed in a resurfaced video from September 2023 that the NYPDs boots are laced by the IDF," one month before condemning the IDFs response to the October 7 massacre.
NEW YORK  New York City mayors spent more than two decades fighting to keep a firm grip on Americas largest school system. Zohran Mamdani wants to let go.

The democratic socialist and mayoral frontrunner would scale back the sweeping powers mayors have held over public schools in New York since Michael Bloomberg centralized control in 2002  an extraordinary break from his predecessors and current rivals.

If elected, Mamdani says he would share authority with parents, teachers and local councils in a co-governance model that reimagines how the citys nearly 1 million students  in what remains the most segregated school system in the nation  are educated.

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He calls it a path to accountability and equity. Critics call it a recipe for dysfunction.

In a city as big and complex as New York, the leadership lines have to be really clear, said Crystal McQueen-Taylor, executive director of the pro-charter group StudentsFirstNY. If you divide that up amongst dozens of people across the city, you dont get collaboration. What you actually get is confusion and chaos.

The debate over control of New Yorks schools will be one of the first big tests for the 34-year-old state lawmaker if he wins Tuesdays election. So-called mayoral control is up for renewal in Albany next year  meaning Mamdani will have to persuade Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Legislature to accept his hybrid model. It will be just one of a long list of ambitious ideas for which hell need their blessing.

Mamdani argues the current system, while once a corrective to the corruption that plagued local school boards, has evolved into a culture of secrecy and patronage at the top. His campaign has promised to expand the role of parents, educators and the citys Panel for Educational Policy, while retaining mayoral power to appoint the schools chancellor and pursue major policy shifts such as ending kindergarten gifted-and-talented testing. But hes been vague about how all of that would work in practice.

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The New York City school system is grappling with big problems: chronic absenteeism, a record high number of homeless students, glaring racial disparities in student performance, a costly state law mandating lower class sizes and the Trump administrations federal funding cuts.

Past mayors  including incumbent Eric Adams, who suspended his reelection campaign  say mayoral control enabled them to implement key policies. Adams has cited a new reading curriculum and getting students back in classrooms during the Covid-19 pandemic as examples.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whos running as an independent, has said that ending mayoral control would be a terrible mistake." Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa wants to keep mayoral control but overhaul how the system operates.

Mamdani recently unveiled more specific ideas for revamping the school system, including cutting wasteful spending on DOE contracts and a teacher recruitment program. In a PIX 11 interview last week , Mamdani said hes in the process of building out his plan before the legislative session starts in January.

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The stakes of these things are such that you want to make sure that youre sure when youre laying out any one of these proposals, he said.

Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, co-executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education, a progressive advocacy organization that endorsed the democratic socialist, said tweaking the existing model wont be a cakewalk  but thats not inherently a problem.

The reason mayoral control existed in the first place was because of [former Mayor Michael] Bloomberg's desire to want to consolidate power.  Another thing we want to make sure [of] is that we have as much time to make it work and figure it out as they gave to mayoral control, Shaakir-Ansari said.

'Divided school system'

Mayoral control replaced a 32-school board system established in 1969 to give parents more control over schools following demands from Black and brown parents. In one of his first acts as mayor, Bloomberg convinced the Legislature to give him control over schools.

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The 32 districts operated like autonomous fiefdoms, according to a 16-page report released by StudentsFirstNYC, a pro-charter group, last year.



That setup led to poor education results, according to the group, including flat test scores and graduation rates. Even more troubling was lax hiring practices that saw gang leaders and drug dealers employed in schools and officials accepting bribes for jobs.

Under mayoral control, the city executive unilaterally runs the school system and has the authority to hire and fire the schools chancellor. Mayors also appoint the majority of the 24-member Panel for Educational Policy, which makes decisions on DOE policies and contracts.

Supporters say the system makes the mayor directly accountable and allows citywide reforms to move quickly.

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You cant advance a progressive agenda for the entire school system without running the entire school system, said David Bloomfield, professor of educational leadership at Brooklyn College and CUNY Graduate Center. If hes going to extend co-governance to its extreme, wed have a very divided school system.

Critics of mayoral control contend it concentrates too much power in one person and sidelines parents and teachers, turning the panel into a rubber stamp for the mayors policies. They also charged that it politicizes education, with contracts and policies shaped by political alliances rather than students needs.

While Mamdanis plans would mark a major shift in how the city operates, other big cities have already begun phasing out mayoral control. Chicago approved legislation in 2021 to transition toward an elected school board after decades of opposition from teachers union leaders, and Los Angeles and Detroit have experimented with hybrid models.

Gregory Faulkner, chair of the Panel for Educational Policy, argued that the mayor should have some level of accountability in the process, but supports the push for more engagement with parents. He described how while serving on a school board in Central Harlem in the 1980s, the chancellor frequently suspended the board over allegations of corruption.

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The mayor should appoint the majority, but it should be a completely independent group and once appointed they should have a fixed term without the ability to be reappointed," Faulkner said.

Some supporters of revamping mayoral control, however, pointed out that corruption has occurred under the current system, too.

NeQuan McLean, president of the Education Council Consortium  an organization made up of parent leaders  highlighted corruption investigations under Adams as well as a top DOE official during the de Blasio administration who was sentenced to prison in a tainted chicken bribery scheme .

They can talk about how corrupt school boards were, but we have seen corruption in this system, McLean said.

Albany debate looms

The issue will be especially prominent in next years legislative session.

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In recent years, lawmakers have demonstrated a desire to modify the governance structure, and have only given Adams two-year extensions. Legislators plan to draw from a 281-page report on mayoral control the state Education Department released last year, according to state Sen. John Liu, a Mamdani backer who chairs the Senates New York City Education Committee.

The state Education Department has not taken a stance on whether the current governance structure should remain in place. But officials reported finding widespread support for limiting the mayors authority.

State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa told POLITICO she shared the report with both Mamdani and Cuomos campaigns. She declined to weigh in on Mamdanis ideas given the lack of specifics.

It is so hard at this point, Rosa said following an event in Brooklyn last week, adding that she hopes the next mayor and state lawmakers will take the document and make it actionable.

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Lawmakers who play a key role in deciding whether to grant mayoral control have so far declined to weigh in on Mamdanis proposal. Liu said in an interview that he plans to discuss the issue with Mamdani after the Nov. 4 general election.

The biggest hangup right now is there is no agreement or consensus [on] what to replace mayoral control with other than the fact that were not going back to 2001, he said.

Michael Mulgrew, president of the citys powerful teachers union  which endorsed Mamdani in the general election  previously signaled his desire to discuss tweaks with Mamdani .

Hochul  who advocated for four-year extensions for Adams  has not yet spoken with Mamdani about the issue, according to Emma Wallner, a spokesperson for the governor.

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Governor Hochul has made mayoral control a significant priority throughout her time in office and remains committed in working with the next mayor to ensure school accountability so every New York City resident receives a high-quality education, Wallner said in a statement.

City-based legislators are divided on whether to adjust the present system.

Two Democratic lawmakers expressed enthusiasm about change, but Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny  a Republican who represents parts of southern Brooklyn  maintained that the current system allows parents to hold the mayor accountable.

Democratic Assemblymember Michaelle Solages  chair of the state Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus  said mayors have always negotiated for full control of schools.

Folks are open to having the dialogue and if we are provided with a substantial plan that would provide educational opportunity, maybe there would be a different story, Solages said.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  A man is booked into the Escambia County jail in Florida after being on the run for two weeks, accused of attempted murder. Jail records say 32-year-old Araujo Rojas Olvin-Adonay was arrested Saturday night.

A spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriffs Office says he is a suspect in a shooting that happened late at night on Friday, October 25th, on Arlington Drive. Deputies responded to that shooting scene and found a man shot in his chest and arm.

The jail log also indicates the suspect has a hold from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A spokesperson with the ECSO said they did not have information about his immigration status.

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YORK, Pa. (WHTM)  A man is in custody, accused of shooting a woman Friday night in York County.

York Police said they arrested Edward Vasquez-Quezada, 54, on attempted homicide and related charges.

The arrest is in connection with a shooting around 11:30 p.m. Friday night in the 700 block of West Poplar Street.

Police said a 31-year-old woman had been shot.

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Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the York City Police tip line at 717-849-2204, York City Police at 717-846-1234 or 717-849-2219, or emailing Detective Commander Andy Baez at abaez@yorkcity.org.

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HANOVER TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A man accused of robbing a Luzerne County Salvation Army has been arrested, according to police.

Hanover Township Police say The Salvation Army in Hanover Township was robbed on Saturday, September 26.

Crews respond to plane crash at airport in Bradford County

An arrest warrant was issued for the suspect, 54-year-old Daniel Behrman of Larksville.

Behrman was arrested on Tuesday and faces charges for burglary and other related offenses, according to police.

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A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday at Luzerne County Central Court.

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A Rhode Island man has been arrested and is facing multiple charges after fleeing the scene of a rollover crash on I-95 in Greenland.

According to State police at 12:52 a.m. on Sunday, troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash within an active construction zone on I-95 northbound in Greenland.

Upon arrival, Troopers located an unoccupied white 2018 Range Rover Velar, stopped in the center median near mile marker 10.8.

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Preliminary investigation determined that the Range Rover had been traveling northbound on I-95 when, for reasons that remain under investigation, the driver lost control of the vehicle and went through the center median before rolling into the southbound lanes of I-95 and ultimately coming to a stop in the center median.

After the crash, the driver fled on foot into the woods on the southbound side of I-95.

Around 1:53 a.m., troopers located the driver of the vehicle walking along a utility access road in a wooded area adjacent to I-95.

Troopers took the driver into custody and identified him as Oliver Denelle, 26, of Narragansett, Rhode Island.

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Denelle was arrested and charged with reckless conduct, reckless operation, conduct after an accident, resisting arrest, and operating without a valid license.

Denelle was held on preventive detention at the Rockingham County Jail pending an arraignment in Portsmouth District Court scheduled for Monday.

Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact Trooper Patrick Vetter at Patrick.R.Vetter@dos.nh.gov.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 36-year-old man is charged after making threatening statements at Kansas City International (KCI) Airport.

Platte County prosecutors charged Joseph Velasquez on Friday, Oct. 24, with second-degree terrorist threat.

Kansas City response team helps with Hurricane Melissa relief

According to court documents, KCI police officers responded to a harassment complaint on a Delta Airlines gate just before 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 24.

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When officers arrived on scene, a witness stated he overheard the suspect make several threatening comments, prompting him to contact airport police, according to court documents. The witness also stated that because of the suspects comments, Delta Airlines placed Velasquez on the Delta No Fly List.

According to court documents, KCI officers were then approached by several other passengers who reported that Velasquez made statements including, Im going to kill the Illuminati, and You guys know whats in my checked bag? Just wait until were up in the air.

Passengers also reported that Velasquez had been taking random photos of other travelers, court documents say.

Court documents say Velasquez stated to KCI police officers that he thinks the Illuminati should be dead and that he will killed them all. Officers also saw Velasquez making a finger-gun gesture and pointing it toward several nearby passengers.

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Due to the threatening statement, Delta Airlines operations at Gate B46 were temporarily interrupted and suspended, according to court documents. KCI officers and K-9 officers responded to the Delta Airlines baggage area and conducted a sweep of Velasquezs luggage, which was subsequently cleared and deemed safe.

Court documents say Velasquez stated to detectives that he had been staying at the Hilton Hotel near the airport, where he first encountered the Illuminati. He stated that the illuminati was following him, prompting him to leave the Hilton and take a shuttle to the airport.

Velasquez also stated that while waiting for his flight, eh laid on the floor and began speaking with a pastor, telling him he was being followed by the Illuminati. He later stated he went to his boarding gate and sat in the waiting area. When asked about the comments made, he denied making the statements and said he understood how threatening statements like that could cause panic and negatively impact airlines and the traveling public, according to court documents.

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He was informed that Delta Airlines had placed him on their No Fly List, prohibiting him from future travel with the airline, court documents say.

Velasquez is currently being held in the Platte County jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond. Hes scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 9 a.m. for a bond review hearing.

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A 59-year-old man is in critical condition after being found with gunshot wounds in a vehicle that crashed into a utility pole, according to Atlanta police.

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Just before 7:30 a.m., Atlanta officers responded to a person shot near 1198 Joseph E. Boone Blvd. NW.

Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim inside the vehicle, which had collided with a utility pole.

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Investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The identity of the victim has not been released, and the motive for the shooting is currently unknown. No information regarding suspects or arrests has been provided at this time.

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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday met with Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, to discuss expanding railway infrastructure in the state. The meeting resulted in several key decisions aimed at enhancing connectivity in the state. Three new Amrit Bharat trains will be introduced to and from Assam, improving connectivity and travel convenience for the people. A new rail link will be established between Umrangso town and Lanka in Hojai district, enhancing regional connectivity. Work will be expedited on the new railway line from Kokrajhar to Gelephu, enhancing regional trade and connectivity in Bhutan. More major trains will transit through Assam, stopping in the state, providing greater access to rail services for the people. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed satisfaction with the meeting's outcomes, highlighting the importance of these projects in improving connectivity and boosting economic development in the state. He thanked Minister Vaishnaw for his support and commitment to Assam's development. Taking to X, CM Sarma said, "Had a very productive meeting with Hon'ble Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw Ji this morning. We deliberated on the following key issues to expand railway's footprint in Assam to enhance overall connectivity for our people: 3 new Amrit Bharat trains to and from Assam, a new rail link from the picturesque Umrangso town to Lanka in Hojai district, expediting work on the new railway line from Kokrajhar to Gelephu Mindfulness City, Bhutan, and more stoppages in Assam of all major trains transiting through the state." Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a 50-bed AYUSH hospital at Mikirbheta in Morigaon district on Saturday. He also launched the distribution of the first instalment of seed capital under the Mukhyamatri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan (MMUA), presenting cheques worth Rs 10,000 each to 36,367 female beneficiaries from the Morigaon Legislative Assembly constituency, including 32,951 from rural areas and 3,416 from urban areas. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation for a new circuit house in Morigaon, involving an investment of Rs 15 crore. Built on 15 bighas of land in Mikirbheta, the 50-bed AYUSH hospital will feature a main multi-storey building with 40 beds in the general ward and 10 private rooms. Designed as a modern, fully equipped centre for traditional, holistic, and alternative medicine, the hospital aims to strengthen the AYUSH sector and promote health services focused on balanced lifestyles. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarma recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jorhat nearly two years ago. "The State government had taken several women belonging to self-help groups to that event. The Prime Minister there expressed his vision to empower three crore women across India as 'Lakhpati Baideos'. Inspired by this, the Assam government set a goal to create 30 lakh such women through self-help groups and launched Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan to fulfil that commitment," he said. (ANI)
Officials are investigating after a man was found dead following a fire at a Concord home early Saturday morning, according to the state Fire Marshals Office.

The Concord Fire Department responded to 2 Rhodora Court about 3:30 a.m. for a medical alert, officials said in a news release. Firefighters reportedly saw smoke coming coming out the front door and searched the home.

A woman was found sleeping and escorted out uninjured, officials said.

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A man was found dead on another floor of the home, according to reports.

Officials did not identify the man, pending the results of an autopsy, which was scheduled for Sunday, the release said. The woman was being assisted by the American Red Cross.

Investigators found there were no working smoke alarms on the floor of the home where the fire started.

The State Fire Marshal Toomey urged residents to ensure they have working smoke alarms and to contact their local fire department or the Fire Marshals Office at 603-223-4289 or fmo@dos.nh.gov. with questions about fire safety.
A man died in an early morning house fire Saturday in Concord, where investigators found no working smoke alarms on the floor where the blaze started, authorities said.

Firefighters responded to 2 Rhodora Court about 3:30 a.m. for a medical alert and found smoke coming from the front door, according to State Fire Marshal Sean P. Toomey.

Crews rescued an adult woman who was sleeping inside the home. She was not injured. A man was found dead on a different floor.

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His name was being withheld pending an autopsy scheduled for Sunday at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The woman was being assisted by the American Red Cross. No firefighters were injured.

The state Fire Marshal's Office, Concord Fire Department and Concord Police Department are investigating the fire's origin and cause. Anyone with information can contact the State Fire Marshal's Office at (603) 223-4289 or fmo@dos.nh.gov.

Authorities urged residents to install working smoke alarms and test them regularly.
A man in South Africa was found guilty of animal cruelty after a long period in custody following his horrifying attack on an owl.

The Cape of Good Hope Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, an animal welfare organization, helped officials track down and arrest Gustigu Mthini, who was accused of beating the owl, which later died from its injuries, according to the Cape Times.

The 38-year old was caught on camera "violently beating the owl with a stick in full view of horrified onlookers," the news outlet reported.

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While the spotted eagle owl isn't endangered or threatened, the species is still broadly protected by law. The needless and violent harming of the owl was horrific, and officials at the SPCA immediately began their investigation.

Mthini was located, arrested, and brought to trial, where he was found guilty on several animal cruelty charges. The owl died from its injuries.

"This is a victory for the animals we serve and protect. Animal cruelty has no place in our society. We all have a moral and legal duty to protect our wild animals and report acts of cruelty wherever they occur," SPCA Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse told the Times.

While animal cruelty may be unimaginable, "an estimated 10 million animals die from abuse or cruelty every year in the United States," according to Shelter Animals Count.

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As we grow to understand animals' capacity to feel and think, lawmakers continue to enact stricter regulations to prevent animal cruelty, such as banning dolphin shows. They're also imposing harsher fines and sentences for deliberate acts of cruelty, which include running over animals and littering (since it can lead to entanglement).

Pieterse said the conviction serves as a warning to others who think they can get away with hurting innocent creatures.

"This outcome sends a strong message that those who harm animals will be held accountable," he said, per the Times.

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A Newton County man will spend years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

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On Thursday, Matthew Bruce Burley pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, distribution of fentanyl, and trafficking fentanyl in connection with the overdose death of James Nail, Jr.

According to authorities, Nail died from an overdose on December 30, 2022, after Covington police responded to a possible overdose call on Hannah Street.

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A toxicology exam was completed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation after Nail was found with drug paraphernalia, according to police.

The toxicology report showed he had both Xylazine and fentanyl in his system, a combination known as Tranq, which causes fentanyl to be more deadly.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid, significantly stronger than morphine and heroin, with legitimate medical uses. However, illegal use has surged over the past decade. Xylazine, known as tranq, is an animal tranquilizer not approved for human use, often mixed with fentanyl to prolong its effects.

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Narcan, typically used to counteract fentanyl overdoses, does not reverse the effects of Xylazine, complicating overdose treatment, according to authorities.

Covington investigators conducted an extensive investigation into Nails death, uncovering evidence that he obtained the deadly drugs from Burley.

Burley was arrested in June 2023.

A search of Burleys home on Highway 81 in Newton County revealed six grams of fentanyl, which constituted a trafficking amount under Georgia law.

Burley was sentenced to 15 years in prison without parole, followed by 15 years of probation.

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This tragic case demonstrates the DAs Offices commitment to prosecuting those that distribute deadly drugs like Fentanyl. In 2023, there were over 70,000 overdose deaths in the United States from synthetic opioids, with about 70% attributed to Fentanyl. Those that sell and distribute these drugs need to be aware of the harsh consequences they face for spreading this poison in Newton and Walton County, District Attorney Randy McGinley said.
A man was sentenced to life without parole after being found guilty of rape and other charges in Coweta County Superior Court last month.

The conviction stems from a March 2020 incident where Brett Tyler Brown, now 40, assaulted a 17-year-old girl in Sharpsburg, Georgia.

Brown had access to the victim through her mother, with whom he was in a relationship. Over a 48-hour period, Brown provided the victim with alcohol laced with pills, leading to her incapacitation and subsequent assault.

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The victims mother and grandparents initially did not report the crime, despite a recorded conversation where the victim recounted the abuse. The victim eventually reported the crime with the help of her friends mother.

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Evidence presented at trial included a text message from Brown to the victim apologizing for his actions, which he attributed to alcohol. The investigation also uncovered Browns internet search history related to emergency contraception during the time of the assault.

Browns criminal history includes multiple felony convictions, which contributed to the imposition of a life sentence without parole under Georgias Recidivist statute.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A suspect is in custody after a man was shot to death in a Southeast D.C. home Sunday morning.

Police responded to the shooting in the 3000 block of P Street SE just minutes before 9 a.m. There, officers found a man inside a residence who had been shot, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Medics tried to save the man, who was not conscious or breathing, but he died.

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5 injured in Northeast DC shooting; police searching for gold sedan

Police said a suspect was arrested; however, it is unclear if the two knew each other. As homicide detectives continue to investigate, officials urge anyone with information to contact MPD at 202-727-9099 or text 50411.

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A Manchester woman was arrested early Saturday morning after driving the wrong way on Route 101 in Candia, New Hampshire.

Savannah Leigh McClaughry-Bertelsen, 18, was charged with multiple offenses, including:

reckless conduct

aggravated DUI

DUI

reckless operation

open container of alcohol

transportation of alcoholic beverages by a minor

The incident occurred at 3:22 a.m. on Saturday, when State Police dispatch began receiving reports of a wrong-way driver on Route 101 in Raymond.

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Troopers responded and safely stopped McClaughry-Bertelsens vehicle near mile marker 64.6 in Candia.

She was held in protective custody at the Rockingham County Jail and later released on personal recognizance bail.

McClaughry-Bertelsen is scheduled to be arraigned in Candia District Court on Monday, November 17.

Route 101 eastbound was briefly closed during the investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday was honoured at the 66th Foundation Day ceremony of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. Kumar is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur. He was honoured and felicitated by his alma mater, among other former students. The CEC, during his visit to Kanpur, visited his alma mater as the institute had recently conferred upon him the Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA), the highest honour given by IIT to its alumni in recognition of their achievements of exceptional merit. "Today, I have come to IIT Kanpur as a former student, after they had decided to acknowledge and honour me. I have spent the most energetic years of my life in Kanpur city for four years, and I am really attached to it. This is my good luck that I get to be here and go to IIT Kanpur," he said. Kumar on Sunday reiterated the Election Commission of India's zero tolerance towards violence. He assured the voters of Bihar that the numerous police officials, returning officers, and zilla parishad officials are ready to conduct free and fair elections, which will set a benchmark for the whole world. "I want to appeal to everyone to come and participate in the election process, and everyone come to exercise their right to vote. On the topic of violence, the Election Commission wants to make it clear that it has zero tolerance towards violence. No incident of violence will be tolerated. The Election Commission is ready to make sure that the electors can vote peacefully. Our 243 returning officers, that many observers, every zilla's collectors, zilla adhikari, SP, SSP, police observers, everyone is ready," CEC Kumar told reporters here. The CEC's comments come amid the recent murder of politician Dularchand Yadav on October 30 in Mokama assembly constituency while he was present in the rally of Jan Suraaj candidate from the constituency, Piyush Priyadarshini. Following the murder, Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, has been arrested. (ANI)
(FOX40.COM)  A man was sent to a local hospital after being shot in Dixon on Friday night by an unidentified suspect wearing a mask and black clothing.

Video Above: Stockton Police investigate deadly shooting near Country Club Blvd

Around 11:55 p.m., the Dixon Police Department received notice of a shooting in the 100 block of South 1st Street. At 11:57 pm., when officers arrived at the scene, a 36-year-old man was located with a gunshot wound.

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Officers administered first aid to the victim until fire personnel arrived at the scene. DPD said that the victim was transported to a local hospital and is expected to recover.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have information is urged to contact the Dixon Police Department at (707) 678-7080 or investigations@dixonpoliceca.gov.

This is an active and ongoing investigation.

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One person was killed and four others were injured Saturday evening when gunfire broke out at a memorial gathering honoring a homicide victim in Gretna, Florida, according to the Gretna Police Department.

Gretna Police and the Gadsden County Sheriffs Office responded to the shooting, which police say occurred at the community gathering around 9:18 p.m. near 181 Beech Avenue. After receiving multiple reports of gunfire, officers found several people suffering from gunshot wounds.

Here's what we know so far:

One person dead, four injured in Gretna shooting, according to police

Gunfire broke out shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 when a group of suspects approached the attendees of a community memorial for a recent homicide victim and opened fire, according to local authorities.

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The shooting injured four people who sustained major injuries, and killed one victim who suffered from life-threatening wounds and died at a local hospital.

One victim was struck by a fleeing vehicle, but was treated at the hospital and released, Gretna Chief of Police Brian Alexander told the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network. Other questions were referred to the departments press release.

The deceased victim's identity has not been released

The identity of the deceased victim has yet to be released by authorities.

Police said in a statement Sunday that the investigation "remains active and ongoing. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is leading the investigation in coordination with local agencies.

Authorities ask for information in connection to Gretna, Florida shooting

No suspect information has been made public, but authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Gretna Police Department at 850-856-5257 or submit an anonymous tip through Big Bend Crime Solvers at 850-574-TIPS.

Where is Gretna, Florida?

Gretna is a city in Gadsden County, Florida, considered to be part of the Tallahassee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Gretna is about 33 miles northwest of Tallahassee.

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The small city has a population around 1,300 people, according to World Population Review.

Contributing: Tallahassee Democrat

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida mass shooting kills 1 at Gretna memorial
Should the next mayor cede control of New York Citys public schools? Its a contentious idea that front-runner Zohran Mamdani supports  and his opponents have seized on in the final stretch of the race.

The reason that I remain opposed to mayoral control is because of a critique of how it keeps many parents, students and teachers out of  decision-making about their lives, Mamdani told PIX11 ahead of early voting. Theyll come to forums, theyll testify for hours on end, and the decision was actually made weeks, if not months ago.

Both Andrew Cuomo, the former governor and independent candidate, and Curtis Sliwa, the GOP nominee, back a renewal of mayoral control.

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Mamdanis seemingly contradictory position  an interest in giving up power over the largest agency by budget in the city he hopes to lead  isnt just theoretical. Regardless of whos elected, the next mayor is due in Albany next year to make his case for or against mayoral control, with profound implications for over 900,000 schoolchildren.

Mayoral control, promise and peril

The citys educational system, the largest in the nation, is an outlier in terms of school governance.

The vast majority of school districts across the country are governed by elected school boards, who hire and evaluate the superintendent, adopt policy and oversee the budget.

But in New York City, the mayor controls the schools, with the power to pick the chancellor and pack the Panel for Educational Policy or PEP  the citys version of a school board  with his appointees.

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When you have a system where everybodys in control, then nobodys in control. Somebody has to be held accountable for the system, and thats the main reason why I believe very much in mayoral control, said David Banks, Mayor Adams former schools chancellor and the most recent to secure a renewal, in 2024.

The model was first implemented in 2002 under former Mayor Bloomberg and, in the more than two decades since, has been met with a mixed response.

Proponents of mayoral control say it gives New Yorkers one individual to hold accountable for the quality of the public schools, whos able to cut through bureaucracy and implement citywide changes.

The argument for it is efficiency, said Jonathan Collins, a professor of political science and education at Columbia University Teachers College. He pointed to recent curricular mandates that, in just a couple of years, changed how all city students learn to read.

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If you are an education reformer and you want to implement some really major seismic overhaul of the way some or multiple aspects of your school system operates, then mayoral control is the golden tool for you.

But critics of the model, including Mamdani, say it shuts students, parents and teachers out of educational decision-making and comes with accountability concerns of its own. They point to a number of difficult choices  such as school closures or mergers and budget cuts  where people turned out in droves to public hearings and protests, but felt their concerns werent taken into account.

While you can push reforms through really big reforms very quickly, its only at the next mayoral election where we get to hold that agenda accountable, Collins said. The issue with relying on the mayors election as the source of accountability or as the referendum on education (is) the mayor is responsible for a plethora of other issues.

The candidates weigh in

While education issues were largely on the sideline for much of this mayoral race, the subject picked up steam ahead of Election Day on Tuesday around the future of Gifted and Talented programs and more recently, mayoral control.

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The three leading candidates vehemently disagree on both topics, but they share one point in common: The old way of school governance  consisting of a citywide Board of Education and 32 local school boards often plagued by corruption and cronyism  wasnt working.

What Ive said time and time again is we cannot go back to what existed before mayoral control, Mamdani said during the PIX11 interview.

Long-time observers of the school system described a degree of patronage and nepotism that, while not everywhere, was pervasive in corners of the city. The allegations abound: some people who got principal positions by paying for them, others who were appointed superintendents by relatives who sat on the board.

I would still look to be accountable, Mamdani said. New Yorkers should know that whatever happens in this city, if its city government thats involved, the mayor has to answer for it at some level. Its possible, however, to build a system that has more involvement of the people its looking to serve as well.

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What would that system look like? Thats not quite clear.

Thats exactly what were in the process of building out past this election, before January, the front-runner said.

That process appears to have begun.

New York State Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa said the Mamdani campaign requested a copy of a 2024 report on mayoral control, which did not explicitly endorse or reject mayoral control, but presented a history of school governance in the city and other models across the country.

The nearly 300-page document did, however, summarize recommendations from the public, including fewer mayoral appointees on the PEP and a commission to propose more comprehensive reforms. And in an analysis of the available research, it found no conclusive evidence as to whether mayoral control leads to better student performance.

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My hope is that we can take the document and make it actionable, Rosa said. Its going to be up to the mayor, but I would offer to be helpful in the redesign or however they want to partner and think about it.

Earlier this month, Mamdanis campaign convened dozens of education advocates for a virtual meeting, which included a breakout session on school governance, according to sources in attendance. The discussion centered around ways to share power with parents, including those serving on councils like the Panel for Educational Policy.

Among the ideas pushed by advocates are to change the composition of the panel so that the majority of members are not appointed by the mayor, while a commission considers more substantive changes over a multiyear period, sources said. One proposal is to make the chancellor search a collaborative process that involves families, teachers and city officials.

Cuomos platform argues that mayoral control is an imperative to ensure accountability for students academic performance. In the last debate, he called mayoral control the single most instrumental reform in education in decades, attacking Mamdani for seeking to undo it.

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It is wholly inconsistent to say, I think its a top priority, but I want to give up mayoral control. But I want to be a mayor who runs grocery stores,' Cuomo said, contrasting the front-runners stance on school governance with his campaign promise to open city-run supermarkets. Forget the grocery stores  run the Department of Education.

Sliwa on his campaign website says he would keep mayoral control of NYC public schools, but overhaul how the system operates. He called for the creation of a school governance model that is more transparent, with clear goals and measurable outcomes.

Even with his full-throttle endorsement of the model, Banks, the former chancellor, said hed like to see some changes to mayoral control, such as representation for high schools on the Panel for Educational Policy and changes to the law that would allow parents to speak virtually.

It is not a perfect system, but there is no perfect system that exists, he said. But on balance, this is much better than the system that we had before.
Theres a rubric Ive been using to maintain perspective on President Donald Trumps second term: Imagine if the dumbest person in the world and humanitys biggest asshole were the same person, and that guy was president. Its a pretty simple lens through which to both view Trumps lawless, Constitution-shredding rampage of revenge and self-enrichment while never succumbing to the idea that whats happening to the country is somehow within bounds. It is only from this standpoint that one can write the straight story about this administration.

Meanwhile, how are the View From Nowhere folks faring these days? Somehow, in 2025, the media is still struggling with what is plainly in front of its face, demonstrating the same coherence bias that I and others had reason to complain about in the run-up to the 2024 election and its immediate aftermath.

Behold, the departure. Back on September 10, The New York Times used the term in their report of the Trump administrations extrajudicial killings on the high seas. Their sources, per the report, provided new details about a military operation that was a startling departure from using law enforcement means to interdict suspected drug boats. More recently, a CNN report on Trump having collected a $130 million private donation to pay military service salariesa highly impeachable offense for what is a comically paltry sum of moneyexplained that the move marks a striking departure from government procedure for funding the military, which traditionally relies on public funds appropriated by Congress.

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Well, lets give credit where due. The media is at least startled; they are struck. But these actions are not mere departuresa term that suggests a slight change of frame; unorthodox maneuvers that are nevertheless within the parameters of acceptable. Behind the sugarcoating are offenses that can be related in plain English, if anyone wants to take a stab at it. Here at TNR, for example, Matt Fords piece about how Trumps military payroll gambit was a baldly illegal seizure of power got this headline: Trumps Military Payroll Gambit Is a Baldly Illegal Seizure of Power. See, folks, it can be done.

Suffice it to say, avid readers of political news should be on their guard for other things Trump does that get labeled as departures or otherwise presented in a more anodyne frame. Just as TNRs Tim Noah instructed that any time the media refers to someone as fiery what they really mean to say is bugfuck nuts, any time you see the word departure invoked, they are referring to a crime. And Trumps crimes, in particular! Im not sure youll see a bank robber assessed as having made a startling departure from traditional cash withdrawals.

Its been something of a bleak period, watching the press make startling departures from telling the straight story about the Trump administration. TNR contributor Parker Molloy noted that, after Trump responded to the No Kings protest with an AI-generated video depicting him dumping gallons of shit on the protests from a fighter plane, the media was at great pains to sand off the edges of the story. There was a time when even the perception of this kind of antipathy toward ordinary citizenssay, when you label them as deplorable?would invite the fury of the media. (Heck, there was a time when the political media launched a fatwa against Howard Dean for shouting at his own rally.) But this never became much of a scandalthough I will concede that Democrats could have done a better job pushing the issue.

And as we learned this week, pushing the issue can work wonders. Steve Bannon, as is his wont, seeded the media pasture with his announcement that there is a plan in place to run Trump for a third term. From there, an entire news cycle blossomed, one in which reporters peppered Trump with questions about his plan to run again, all of which he sidesteppedand so those same reporters told their readers that he is not ruling it out. Perhaps my favorite piece from this Will Trump do a new crime? boomlet was a Time magazine piece titled Why Trump Keeps Talking About a Third Term that suggested, Whether Trump actually plans to run again for President, in defiance of the Constitution, merely bringing up the possibility so much, some observers say, may be strategic in its own right.

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The one problem with that contention is that Trump wasnt bringing it upa bunch of reporters were, and in so doing turned what should have been a confrontation (Why do your allies keep saying you plan to abrogate the Constitution?) into a jocular spitball session where they help Trump go over his options. (We are reliably informed that the president finds the maneuver where he runs as vice president too cute.) Trump, for once, seemed to understand what game was afoot. Am I not ruling it out? he responded to one inquiry, I mean, youll have to tell me. And so they did, in the pages of their publications.

If youre wondering what is causing the media to fall down on the job in this manner, and infect coverage of a constitutional crime wave with limp euphemisms, I think its very much akin to the reason Democratic senators keep voting for Trumps judicial appointments: Its an act of desperation; a frantic need to suggest that our democratic institutions are still in proper working order and the duly elected president isnt guiding the ship of state into tyranny. For if the members of the fourth estate were ever forced to report the truth of whats happening, they would also have to confront how their own neglect helped pave this path. Based on the number of startling departures that are piling up, I reckon that day will come soon enough.

This article first appeared in Power Mad, a weekly TNR newsletter authored by deputy editor Jason Linkins. Sign up here.
SPRINGFIELD  Real Estate broker Edward Nunez is running for election for the first time and hoping to unseat incumbent Lavar Click-Bruce for the Ward 5 seat.

Ahead of Tuesday, The Republican reached out to all candidates for the opposed City Council seats to answer a short questionnaire.

Find more candidates and responses in the past weeks print editions or online at masslive.com/topic/election.

Name: Edward Nunez

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Age: 50

Address: 49 Aberdale Drive

Profession: Real estate broker

Position sought: Ward 5 City Council

Im running because I have a strong desire to serve my community. I believe my decades of experience in banking and real estate are skill sets that can be invaluable if elected to the City Council. Im not a politician  Im a sole proprietor, a family man and a fellow neighbor. I have a new way of looking at issues facing our city that I feel would benefit our neighborhood as a whole. Residents deserve a fresh voice and community advocate that will fight for them. The role of government is to be the voice of its constituents. Throughout the last several months, Ive gone on a listening session throughout Ward 5 and Ive learned a great deal from the residents as to what their concerns are. If elected, I will fight to address these issues and maintain the open lines of communication.

What is the biggest problem in the city and how would you address it?

Crime is still the biggest problem facing our city. Springfield still has the highest crime rate in the state, and its held that unfortunate distinction now for at least three years. I would advocate for a community policing program that has police officers walking and riding their bicycles through our neighborhoods and parks. Having the same police officers consistently walk through our neighborhoods will deter crime and will also build trust within the community.

The City Council always struggles to keep taxes low while providing needed services and making advancements. How specifically will you balance the three?

We must figure out a way to provide some economic relief to our residents. I am a strong advocate of reducing property taxes for our residents who are 70 or older, with no further increases. The City Council needs to dissect the city budget (which is their primary job function) to ensure prudent spending and make cuts as deemed necessary. The loss of revenue can be offset by creating a sliding scale to tax nonprofits.

The housing crisis continues to take a toll on residents and those who want to move to the city. How should Springfield attack the problem?

For starters, we need to address the antiquated zoning laws that the city currently has in place. Springfield has about 2,800 vacant lots. Why arent we looking at creative ways to build on some of these lots? In addition, we should be incentivizing developers to rehab the plethora of dilapidated buildings we see throughout the city. Its the law of supply and demand. By adding more affordable rental units, rents will stabilize.

What types of development would you like to attract to the city and how would you do it?

I would like to see the development of economic hubs throughout the city as opposed to the focus being just downtown. Ive spoken to many residents who want to be able to go out in their own backyard. We should analyze the commercial lots we have and work with the owners to strategically attract key businesses. We should also seek input from the community by having listening sessions to see the types of developments they would support.

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Mel Leipzig, a painter and art educator born in Brooklyn, based in Trenton and known by the art world for his realist portraits of family, friends and other subjects in their everyday settings, rendered in an impressionist style and unflinching detail, died on Saturday, his daughter said.

He was 90 and died in his sleep, said his daughter, Francesca Leipzig Picone.

He lived a really long, good life, Picone said. Recalling her fathers last birthday, on May 23, she added, He even said himself, I cant believe I made it to 90.

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Picone said her father died 18 years to the day after her mother  his wife  Mary Jo, who passed away on Nov. 1, 2007, at age 68.

In another timely twist of fate, Leipzig died amid a retrospective of his work, A Community Celebrates an Icon: Mel Leipzig at 90, at the Trenton City Museum at Ellerslie, that on opened on Oct. 24 and will run through Jan. 4.

It was almost poetic that my dad had that show and passed after, Picone said.

Leipzigs paintings are in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the National Academy Museum and the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York City, where Gallery Henoch was his longtime dealer.

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In New Jersey, his works are at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton; the Montclair Art Museum; the Morris Museum in Morristown; the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Museum at Rutgers University in New Brunswick; and the Jersey City Museum, among others. Museums in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Utah, and elsewhere, also have Leipzig works in their collections.

Dan Bischoff and His Family by Mel Leipzig

For 45 years, from 1968 to his retirement in 2013, Leipzig was a professor of fine art and art history at Mercer County Community College in Trenton, where he sometimes painted his students.

Leipzig embraced New Jerseys capital city as his workplace, artistic community, and home.

He and his wife raised their two children in a house in the citys Glen Afton neighborhood, and Leipzig founded the Trenton Artist Workshop Association, or TAWA, based at the Trenton City Museum.

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My father loved that city, I would call him Mr. Trenton, said Picone, a graphic designer, illustrator and painter who lives in Roxbury.

Leipzig finally moved out of the Trenton house four months ago, into a nursing home in Princeton, Carnegie Assisted Living, where he died Saturday, his daughter said.

Dan Bischoff, an art critic for The Star-Ledger and NJ.com, was someone Leipzig knew and painted. There is a portrait of the critic and his family on the stairway of their house in West Orange, the woodgrain of the oak floorboards as much a focus of the work as the three Bischoffs.

Writing in The Star-Ledger in 2008, Bischoff suggested that Leipzigs paintings  typically in acrylic on canvas  were as much about the backgrounds they are painted against as their human subjects: artists in their studios; actors in tech rehearsal under a grid of spotlights; academics in offices piled to the ceiling with books and crumpled papers  everything in a Leipzig is painted with an almost hallucinogenic intensity of detail, just as he sees it.

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Leipzig is survived by his daghter and her husband, Louis Picone; a son, Josh Leipzig, and his wife, Martha Leipzig (nee Schultz); grandchildren Vincent and Leonardo Picone, and Rayona, Zev, and Ami Leipzig; a niece, Nicole Sage, and her daughter, Georgia Leipzig Kayes.

Two of Leipzigs well-known works are paintings of his daughter and son. Both are set in their rooms at the familys Trenton house, and capture the cluttered exuberance and introspection of real-life youth.

I was a messy teenager, that was my room, Picone said. And when it came time to paint her in it, she added, He did not want me to clean it up.

Francesca's Room by Mel Leipzig

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DENVER (KDVR)  Exactly 70 years after their loved ones departed on an ill-fated flight from Stapleton Airport in Denver, relatives gathered at the site of the former airport to witness the unveiling of a monument dedicated to the victims of the bombing of United flight 629.

Descendants of the 44 killed on Nov. 1, 1955, as well as relatives of the FBI agents, police, first responders and prosecutors connected to the first-ever act of sabotage on a U.S. commercial airliner, were on hand for the unveiling Saturday afternoon.

Wreckage from bombed airplane on display at Denver museum, 70 years after unprecedented air tragedy

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Among the featured speakers at the program was Susan Morgan of Sonoma County, California. Her parents, Stewart and Suzanne Morgan, were both killed in the bombing.

Since that bomb went off, Id had the sense of being alone, different from normal people. I had become that scary term: an orphan, Morgan said.

For my first time in 70 years, the private has become public as I stand here telling you my story. I think in cases of deep grief, you lose the dead and you lose whoever you were in relation to that dead person. You lose your own identity, Morgan said.

Flight 629 exploded in a fireball over a Weld County farm field 11 minutes after takeoff, brought down by a dynamite bomb placed in the suitcase of passenger Daisie King of Denver by her own son, John Jack Gilbert Graham, who was trying to collect on her life insurance. He was executed at the state penitentiary in Canon City, months after a murder trial that garnered for him unprecedented international publicity.

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All the while, the names of those killed were barely known.

A turning point: How airliner bombing in Colorado 70 years ago set the tone for FBI investigations

This weekends events, organized in large part by Michael Hesse and the Denver Police Museum, were aimed at giving long-overdue recognition to those killed, and bringing together those who share a common and tragic bond.

That sense of something shared in this group is a remarkable feeling. It is almost like what I imagined it would feel like to belong, Morgan said,

In addition to the memorial at the tower in Denvers Central Park neighborhood, theres also an effort underway to build a monument near the spot in Weld County where the plane went down.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  As the temperatures begin to drop, a group of volunteers are doing what they can to make sure one of the communitys most vulnerable population stays warm.

Members of the Game Over Motorcycle Club were on the move Sunday morning and they werent on the road riding their motorcycles.

WREG

They were at Morris Park moving blankets and plates of warm food into the hands of those in need.

Its getting cold out here, said Edwin Carr. Somebody got to take care of our homeless.

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Carr says for years Game Over MC has been coming to the park to make sure those experiencing homelessness have what they need for the fall and winter seasons.

You can never know when your situation may change. It takes one incident, and I could be out here feeding you or you could be feeding me, he said.

Carr says their goal is to feed and provide clothing to hundreds of people each year.

WREG

I see everyone feeding everyone thats in the government shutdown, Carr explained. Thats a good thing, but what about the people who are not working or are just out here on the streets, nowhere to go, shelters turning them down. What about them?

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Donations of clothing, blankets, and other necessities are being accepted to help the cause.

Through the initiative, Game Over MC hopes to make a positive impact on the lives of those in need in Memphis.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Menards built its empire on razor-thin margins and tight internal control. With more than 300 locations across the Midwest and as one of America's largest privately owned hardware chains, Menards has never had to answer to shareholders  just to customers, employees, and regulators. But over the past two decades, Menards has become nearly as well-known for legal trouble as it is for stocking tools you didn't know you needed.

Every big retailer faces lawsuits. Menards, however, keeps ending up in public courtrooms. From labor law violations and wage disputes to workplace accidents and controversial marketing tactics, Menards has shown up in courtrooms across multiple states. The company has won some cases and settled others; some of those fights stayed quiet, others exploded into major headlines, state penalties, or multimillion-dollar class actions. Among them, labor lawsuits have claimed the company docked workers for short breaks, required off-the-clock training, and skirted overtime pay rules. Other cases center on in-store safety, including fatal accidents involving forklifts. Customers have sued Menards as well, arguing that its long-running 11% rebate promotions  later matched by Home Depot  mislead shoppers about their actual savings.

Menards keeps facing the same lawsuits in different places  and for the same reasons. Its lean, cost-driven model may boost efficiency, but it also invites recurring risk. For a company built on control, its growing courtroom record tells a far messier story.

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Read more: 6 Ryobi Tools You Should Avoid (According To Users)

Employee lawsuits: unpaid breaks, overtime gaps, and workplace safety

Employee injured while operating a forklift - Charnsitr/Getty Images

Menards' most persistent legal troubles come from within its own workforce. Employees describe a system that feels built to extract extra labor at no cost. In two multi-state class actions, hourly workers alleged they had to attend mandatory meetings and complete "In-Home Training" off the clock  including passing required tests  without pay, violating federal and state wage laws. Those lawsuits also allege Menards made hourly workers clock out for sub-twenty-minute breaks and miscalculated the regular rate used to calculate overtime wages.

In 2024, the Minnesota Department of Labor found Menards had deducted wages from an employee 103 times for pumping breast milk on the clock, then suspended her for speaking up. The agency issued a consent order requiring Menards to pay back wages and damages, implement policy overhauls, conduct a statewide audit, and pay a $15,000 penalty. It was a rare example of Menards' internal policies catching up with them in full public view.

That's just the wage side. Menards' safety practices have come under fire, too. In 2017, a 27-year-old worker at a Minnesota store was killed when his forklift tipped over, trapping him underneath. Four years later, another tragedy struck when a 19-year-old trainee at a different Minnesota location was crushed by a collapsing stack of lumber during a forklift operation. His family's wrongful death lawsuit claims he was left unsupervised to manage a load far beyond what his forklift could handle. Minnesota OSHA later fined Menards $25,000 after the 2021 case, a small penalty for two fatal accidents in just four years.

Customer lawsuits: fatal accidents and the legal firewall of arbitration

Warehouse worker approaching injured man - Klingsup/Getty Images

Customers have taken Menards to court  and sometimes won big. In Illinois, a shopper struck by a forklift received a six-million-dollar jury verdict. The case didn't end there; Menards' insurer sued the company to get its share of the payout back, but lost. In Michigan, a St. Joseph County jury found Menards negligent after an employee attempted to retrieve large plastic bins from a high shelf, which fell and struck 79-year-old Bill McBride, who later died from a brain bleed. The jury awarded $4.58 million to McBride's estate, assigning 99% of the fault to Menards. As of October 2025, the company's appeal is still pending.

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Menards' "11% Off Everything" rebate program has been a magnet for lawsuits of its own. Customers claim the rebate's actual value drops once you factor in mailing costs, delays, and unclear rules. In Rikkers v. Menard, a Wisconsin federal judge dismissed the claims in Menard's favor, calling the dispute "a math problem masquerading as a lawsuit."

After being sued over hidden pickup fees on online orders, Menards began leaning on arbitration to keep similar disputes out of public court. Arbitration is a private legal process that resolves disputes without a trial and usually leaves no record open to the public. Big retailers like Menards include arbitration clauses in their terms and conditions  both for employees and online customers  and because most people don't read the fine print, they often don't realize what rights they've signed away. In May 2025, the Sixth Circuit applied the same reasoning to a former forklift driver's sexual harassment claim, ruling that she had "repeatedly and unequivocally" agreed to resolve her case in private arbitration.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.
Following the arrest of JDU's Mokama candidate Anant Singh in connection with the murder case of Dularchand Yadav, Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar said that more than 80 people have been arrested, linked to these cases, including the clash on October 30 and investigation was being conducted. DGP Vinay Kumar said, "SSP Patna made it clear in the press briefing how the arrests were made. This is now a matter of investigation. Only after the investigation will we know whose intentions were what. In the incident that occurred, Dularchand Yadav died. A clash occurred there. Supporters of both candidates, who were travelling in vehicles, clashed with each other. There was stone pelting as well. Cases have been registered in connection with all of these, and more than 80 people have been arrested in all of these cases, including this murder case. "Those found involved in the incidents are being arrested. Arrests are based on evidence. The weapon has not been recovered yet. Efforts are underway to recover it. First, it's being established who fired the shots. Once the weapon is recovered, forensic investigations will be conducted," he further said. Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, was arrested in the early hours today by Patna Police in connection with the murder case of a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, the Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said. Jan Suraaj Party's candidate, Piyush Priyadarshi, told ANI over the phone that Anant Singh should have been arrested sooner, as he added, "This is a good gesture, but it would have been good had they taken action sooner. Today, he was moving around in a convoy of 50 vehicles and even participated in election campaigning. When an FIR was registered against him, he should have been arrested sooner. But better late than never." On October 30, Dularchand Yadav was killed during firing between the two sides while campaigning for the Bihar assembly elections in Mokama. SSP said Anant Singh has been arrested along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. All three will be presented before the magistrate. "On 30 October, there was a clash between two groups of competing candidates. Stones were pelted, resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident. The deceased, Dularchand Yadav, aged 75 years, was a resident of the village where this clash occurred... Both sides registered complaints, and the police began investigating the case... Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the post-mortem report of the deceased, it appears that the Model Code of Conduct was violated, which is a serious issue. It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested. His accomplices, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have also been arrested with him... All three will be presented before the magistrate, and due investigation will follow," SSP Patna, Kartikeya K Sharma said while addressing the media on Sunday. On Saturday, two station house officers (SHOs) were suspended in connection with the murder case, officials confirmed. According to the Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) of Patna, Ghoswari SHO Madhusudan Kumar and Bhadaur SHO Ravi Ranjan have been suspended in the case. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered the immediate transfer of key administrative and police officials posted from the Mokama Assembly constituency and directed disciplinary action against them. According to an official statement from the poll body, the Commission has approved the transfer of Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Barh-cum-Returning Officer, Chandan Kumar; Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Barh-1, Rakesh Kumar; and SDPO Barh-2, Abhishek Singh, in connection with Mokama Assembly Constituency. (ANI)
The Met Police has accused Apple of failing to stop stolen iPhones from being traded in as the two sides clash over an epidemic of phone thefts.

The London police service told MPs that the tech giant neglects to use a national database of stolen devices that could stop it from accepting snatched phones.

Apple allows people to trade in old iPhones and get credit towards new devices, with people able to get up to 670 off using this system.

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The Met said Apple had access to the National Mobile Phone Register (NMPR), a database of stolen devices used to return recovered phones to their owners, but claimed the tech giant did not monitor the register for traded in devices.

Apple already have access to NMPR and use it every day to check the network status of trade in devices, but they do not check for theft or take action, it said.

It comes after Apple urged the Met to focus on traditional policing by following up on reports of stolen phones made by the company.

More than 80,000 phones were reported stolen in London last year, up from 64,000 the prior year. More than three quarters of stolen devices end up abroad, with many stripped for parts.

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The Met Police has estimated the cost of replacing stolen phones, borne by users and their insurers, at 50m in 2024.

In response to the Mets claims, Apple highlighted systems it had introduced to crack down on phone thieves.

The company has launched a stolen device protection feature that blocks criminals from wiping phones even when they have learned a phones passcode, and a setting that locks iPhones to the original owners Apple account.

Apple said it was considering whether to block the use of a phones IMEI number  a unique 15-digit identifier that can connect that phone to an overseas mobile network  once the device was registered as stolen.

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Police believe up to three quarters of stolen phones are moved abroad, with 28pc ending up in China or Hong Kong and many in Algeria.

But the company has warned that IMEI number blocking could still be abused by people impersonating the phones owner and making false claims of theft.

It has also said that these measures would not stop phones from being broken down for parts.

Mobile networks have separately accused Apple of undermining efforts to stop phone thefts from retailers by refusing to brick devices that are stolen from operators own stores.

Around 80pc of smartphones reported as stolen to the Met Police are iPhones.

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Apple has previously accused the Met Police of failing to fully investigate those thefts.

Apple executive Gary Davis told MPs in June: I would want to make sure that as part of all of that the Met Police continues to do traditional policing, which means sending requests to us for stolen devices and Apple responding to those requests for stolen devices. We are not seeing that.

Chi Onwurah, the head of the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, has written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood criticising Apple, Google and Samsung for their approach.

The Met has warned that there are growing links between knife crime, child exploitation gangs, drugs and mobile phone theft, with some gangs pivoting from selling illegal drugs to stealing handsets.

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A Neighbourhood Watch survey released last week found that 28pc of phone thefts were snatched from a users hand, pocket or bag.

Another quarter were covertly pickpocketed, while 22pc had been left unattended. Two thirds of thefts happened in the afternoon or evening.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Uncertainty about the federally funded food aid program SNAP  continues as the Government Shutdown stretches to day 32.

Businesses around the Kansas City metro have stepped in to help since the temporary suspension of SNAP was announced last month due to the shutdown.

Christmas tree lightings, holiday displays across Kansas City area 2025

Throughout November, Ate 1 Six BBQ in Raymore, is offering free meals for children impacted by cuts to SNAP benefits.

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Over the course of the last week and a half, weve had interactions with people who have come in, and they have openly spoken about how its going to affect them. It was kind of like, Oh, wow. Like we realized, just how many people really depended on them (SNAP), said LaTijerra Davis, a co-owner of Ate 1 Six BBQ.

Restaurant owners Martin and LaTijerra Davis say it was an easy decision to support their community in this way.

We have been in a situation like this before growing up. We grew up on SNAP benefits, food stamps, and that type of thing. When we were younger, our moms, even if you gave us $2 off, we really just still couldnt afford it, or if we could, it was still hard on us, even with that discount. So thats kind of why we decided just to go ahead and give free meals. There is nothing like giving back to a community that has given to you, said Martin Davis, co-owner of Ate 1 Six BBQ.

Since the BBQ restaurant announced it would offer free meals for children, there has been an outpouring of support and people asking how they can help.

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I know that so many people in the community will absolutely support what hes doing, and there will be families in here having meals that might not have gotten that hot meal otherwise. I think having members like Martin and Ate 1 Six in our Chamber shows exactly what our communitys made of. Its not just a business. These are businesses with heart, said Belton Chamber of Commerce president Diane Huckshorn.

You can find more information about Ate 1 Six BBQ and the restaurants effort to help children impacted by the temporary suspension of SNAP benefits here.

Other restaurants around the KC metro announced similar initiatives. Including Lillys Cantina in Kansas Citys Westside neighborhood, which is offering free meals for children throughout the month.

I dont want anybody to go to bed hungry. Ive been there. I know what its like, and its not a good feeling, said Teresa Grado, owner of Lillys Cantina.

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Grado said the decision to offer free meals for children was easy, as Lillys Cantina strives to serve the community in whatever way is needed.

So it really was instilled in us, from my parents, my mom and dad, Lilly and Bobby. So theyve always given, weve always done for people, regardless of whatever your situation is, Grado explained. The reason why we did it was because this is what we do anyway. It didnt have to be SNAP. It just happened to be that, and I said, Oh my gosh, we have to do something, and am I in a predicament that I can do that? No, not really. But I told God just lead the way.

Grado wants families in need to know they arent alone, and a hot meal is waiting for them at Lillys Cantina.

I think everybodys just kind of waiting. But I dont want to wait. I dont want anybody to be hungry. I just want to be able to help. But this is what we do every day. We help. If youre hungry and you dont have any money, you can come here and Im going to feed you, Grado explained. If we talk, and I talk to all my customers. So I get to know you one-on-one.

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Lillys Cantina is open from 11:15 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday-Saturday.

The restaurant is accepting donations to continue offering free meals for children and their parents. You can find more information about the cause and how to get involved here.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Police are searching for a driver who hit a woman earlier this week. The victim says she was out on a morning walk when someone hit her.

The car just came out of nowhere, he just like sped up and hit me, said Jazlyn Thomas, victim of a hit-and-run.

A morning walk ended abruptly for Thomas after someone hit her with their car and took off.

I dont know how fast he was going, but all I know is that he hit me extremely hard, said Thomas.

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Thomas says she takes morning walks often. She was crossing the road from CVS towards the Caseys near Reno Ave and Mustang Rd when someone hit her.

Child found unresponsive in pond at Edmond apartment

I took the safety measures that I needed to take to get off the road as fast as possible, said Thomas. I just told Siri to call 911. I actually dont even really remember being hit.

She says she does know that the driver kept going.

Actually, no one stopped to help me; everyone just sat there and stared, honestly. I even heard a few people ask me whats wrong, but I cant think when I just got hit by a car, said Thomas.

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Oklahoma City Police say there is no information as to who could have done this.

Now Thomas is left with pain and a lot of questions.

I just have a bruise right here on my leg, under my rib cage, said Thomas. To find out who this was, and to at least get some type of questioning on why they did it.

News 4 reached out to businesses near the intersections to see if anyone caught the incident on camera, and we are waiting to hear back.

If you have any information, call OKC Police.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
URUAPAN, MEXICO  A mayor in Mexico s western state of Michoacan was shot dead in a plaza in front of dozens of people who had gathered for Day of the Dead festivities, authorities said.

Local politicians in Mexico are frequently victims of political and organized crime violence.

The mayor of the Uruapan municipality, Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, was gunned down Saturday night in the towns historic center. He was rushed to a hospital, where he later died, according to state prosecutor Carlos Torres Pina.

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A city council member and a bodyguard were also injured in the attack.

The attacker was killed at the scene, Federal Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch told journalists Sunday.

The attack on the mayor was carried out by an unidentified man who shot him seven times, Garcia Harfuch said. The weapon was linked to two armed clashes between rival criminal groups operating in the region, he added.

No line of investigation is being ruled out to clarify this cowardly act that took the life of the mayor, Garcia Harfuch said.

Michoacan is one of Mexicos most violent states and is a battleground among various cartels and criminal groups fighting for control of territory, drug distribution routes and other illicit activities.



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On Sunday, hundreds of Uruapan residents, dressed in black and holding up photographs of Manzo Rodriguez, took to the towns streets to accompany the funeral procession and bid farewell to the slain mayor.

They chanted Justice! Justice! Out with Morena!, a reference to the ruling party of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

In recent months, the Uruapan mayor had publicly appealed to Sheinbaum on social media for help to confront the cartels and criminal groups. He had accused Michoacans pro-government governor, Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla, and the state police of corruption.

At the head of the procession, a man led Manzo Rodriguezs black horse, with one of the mayors signature hats placed on the saddle. A group of musicians, also dressed in black, followed and played mariachi songs.


URUAPAN, MEXICO (AP)  A mayor in Mexico s western state of Michoacan was shot dead in a plaza in front of dozens of people who had gathered for Day of the Dead festivities, authorities said.

Local politicians in Mexico are frequently victims of political and organized crime violence.

The mayor of the Uruapan municipality, Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, was gunned down Saturday night in the towns historic center. He was rushed to a hospital, where he later died, according to state prosecutor Carlos Torres Pina.

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A city council member and a bodyguard were also injured in the attack.

The attacker was killed at the scene, Federal Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch told journalists Sunday.

The attack on the mayor was carried out by an unidentified man who shot him seven times, Garcia Harfuch said. The weapon was linked to two armed clashes between rival criminal groups operating in the region, he added.

No line of investigation is being ruled out to clarify this cowardly act that took the life of the mayor, Garcia Harfuch said.

Michoacan is one of Mexicos most violent states and is a battleground among various cartels and criminal groups fighting for control of territory, drug distribution routes and other illicit activities.

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On Sunday, hundreds of Uruapan residents, dressed in black and holding up photographs of Manzo Rodriguez, took to the towns streets to accompany the funeral procession and bid farewell to the slain mayor. They chanted Justice! Justice! Out with Morena!, a reference to the ruling party of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

In recent months, the Uruapan mayor had publicly appealed to Sheinbaum on social media for help to confront the cartels and criminal groups. He had accused Michoacans pro-government governor, Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla, and the state police of corruption.

At the head of the procession, a man led Manzo Rodriguezs black horse, with one of the mayors signature hats placed on the saddle. A group of musicians, also dressed in black, followed and played mariachi songs.

In the narrow streets of the agricultural town, where avocados are the main crop, dozens of police and military officers stood guard around the area.

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The attack on Manzo Rodriguez, a former Morena legislator, was captured on video and shared on social media. The footage shows dozens of residents and tourists, some in costume and with painted faces, enjoying the event surrounded by hundreds of lit candles, marigold flowers and skull decorations. Then several gunshots ring out and people run for cover.

In another video, a person is seen lying on the ground as an official performs CPR while armed police officers guard the area.

Manzo Rodriguez had been under protection since December 2024, three months after taking office. His security was reinforced last May with municipal police and 14 National Guard officers, Garcia Harfuch said, without specifying what prompted the measure.

Manzo Rodriguez, who some nicknamed The Mexican Bukele in reference to the tough security policies of El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, took office as mayor of Uruapan after winning that years midterm elections with an independent movement.

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The mayors killing follows the death of Salvador Bastidas, mayor of the municipality of Tacambaro, also in Michoacan. Bastidas was killed in June along with his bodyguard as he arrived at his home in the towns Centro neighborhood.

In October 2024, journalist Mauricio Cruz Solis was also shot in Uruapan shortly after interviewing Manzo Rodriguez.
Carlos Manzo was famous in Mexico for saying what few other politicians would: That cartels operated with impunity and needed to be confronted with brute force. The mayor of a city in an avocado-growing region beset by crime and violence, Manzo suggested authorities should beat criminals into submission  or simply kill them.

It was a provocative message that resonated in some sectors of a country long afflicted by drug war bloodshed. Many here viewed Manzo, with his trademark white cowboy hat, as a hero.

Read more: Inside the bloody cartel war for Mexico's multibillion-dollar avocado industry

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But his iron fist rhetoric and criticism of the federal government's security strategy also earned him enemies. Manzo acknowledged as much, saying he knew he could be targeted by organized crime. "I don't want to be just another murdered mayor," he said last month. "But it is important not to let fear control us."

Manzo, 40, was gunned down Saturday night as he presided over a public celebration of Day of the Dead in a central square in Uruapan, a city of 300,000 in the western state of Michoacan. One suspected gunman was killed and two others arrested.

The slaying, captured on video, provoked outcry throughout Mexico and in Washington.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, with whom Manzo often sparred on issues of security, mourned an "irreparable loss." U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau posted a photograph of Manzo smiling and holding his young son just moments before the attack. "The U.S. stands ready to deepen security cooperation with Mexico to wipe out organized crime," Landau wrote.

On this All Souls Day, my thoughts are with the family and friends of Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico, who was assassinated at a public Day of the Dead celebration last night. The US stands ready to deepen security cooperation with Mexico to wipe out organized pic.twitter.com/hf8XObasHf  Christopher Landau (@DeputySecState) November 2, 2025

Manzo was a part of a new wave of leaders throughout the Americas who have called for a hard line against criminals.

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It's a club that includes President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, who has locked up tens of thousands of people accused of gang ties, with little to no due process, and President Trump, who has pushed a more militaristic approach to combating cartels, saying the U.S. should "wage war" on drug traffickers.

Read more: U.S. official says drone flights over Mexico may signal future strikes

The U.S. military has killed 65 people in recent months who it alleges were smuggling drugs in the Caribbean and the Pacific, including several attacks off Mexico's coastline. Trump administration leaders have warned of the possibility of U.S. attacks on cartel targets on Mexican soil.

Calls for a violent crackdown on organized crime are at odds with the security strategy embraced by Sheinbaum and her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Both emphasized the need to address root causes of violence, including poverty and social disintegration.

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Lopez Obrador, especially, vowed to break with the confrontational approaches of past Mexican administrations, whose military operations he said failed to weaken cartels and only fueled violence. What Mexico needed, Lopez Obrador often said, was "hugs, not bullets."

Read more: Mexican president condemns U.S. strikes that killed 14 alleged drug traffickers

Manzo  who got his start in politics as a member of Lopez Obrador and Sheinbaum's Morena party but later became an independent  fiercely criticized that mantra.

"Hugs ... are for Mexicans who live in extreme poverty," Manzo said. "Criminals, assassins ... they deserve beatings and the full force of the Mexican state." He encouraged police officers in Uruapan to use lethal force against criminals who resist arrest.

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The mayor frequently criticized Sheinbaum for not doing more to confront cartels, even though there has been a decrease in homicides and an uptick in drug seizures and arrests since she took office. Sheinbaum has said that security in Mexico depends on reinforcing the rule of law, including giving suspects a fair trial.

The son of a community activist, Manzo became mayor of Uruapan in 2024. The city has been the site of some of Mexico's worst drug war atrocities  kidnappings, bombings, bodies hung from highway overpasses  as a volatile mix of criminal groups battle for control of trafficking routes and profits from the lucrative avocado industry.

Manzo appeared Saturday with his family at a crowded public event in Uruapan's central plaza to mark the Day of the Dead holiday. He posed for photographs with fans and broadcast the candle-lighting event live on social media, sending blessings to all."

When a journalist asked about security at the event, Manzo responded: There is a presence from different levels of government. We hope everything goes well, is peaceful, and that you enjoy the evening.

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Minutes later, shots  then screams  rang out. Manzo lay on the ground, bleeding. Nearby lay his white cowboy hat.

Security consultant David Saucedo, who said Manzo was accompanied at the event by local police and 14 members of Mexico's national guard, described the killing as a "kamikaze attack," saying it was clear the shooter would be killed.

Manzo, Saucedo said, had been "brave but reckless" in his quest to confront organized crime. "Carlos lacked the human, financial, and material resources to defeat the cartels," Saucedo said. His killing "makes it clear that even with political will, defeating the cartels at the municipal level is an impossible mission."

The mayor's slaying was the latest in a string of violent incidents in Michoacan. Last month, officials announced they had discovered the body of Bernardo Bravo Manriquez, the head of a lime growers association who had repeatedly denounced extortion demands against agricultural producers.

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Cecilia Sanchez Vidal in The Times' Mexico City bureau contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Michael Che is using his platform to address the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) cutoffs that went into effect Saturday due to the government shutdown.

The Saturday Night Live cast member took to Instagram on Saturday, where he wrote that hes seen videos across social media of people celebrating (mostly black) families not being able to buy groceries.

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This snap freeze is really fucked up, Che started. And I keep seeing a lotta racist videos celebrating (mostly black) families not being able to buy groceries.. theres this weird idea that since some people have taken advantage of welfare benefits in the hood, NOBODY should receive help, at all..?

Amid the ongoing government shutdown, the Trump administration planned to halt SNAP payments, however, a judge ruled that the administration has to continue paying for the program despite the shutdown with emergency reserve funds. Despite the ruling, payouts have still been postponed due to the shutdown.

The Weekend Update segment co-host wrote that the United States is built on greedy motherfuckers taking shortcuts and gaming the system to their benefit, but for some reason, when poor people find a way to turn nickel into a dime, theyre judged more severely, especially Blacks.

He then called on the public to come together instead of against one another for a common cause: I kno [sic] the whole hustle is to hate each other here so we can fight in the comments and up our engagements.. but lets draw the line at feeding the poor.

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I grew up on free cheese and powdered milk and waiting for your friends to leave the store so they wont see me pay with stamps, he wrote. That shit aint as glamorous as it sounds. I promise.

Earlier this year, Hollywood stars signed an open letter opposing the Trump administrations Big Beautiful Bill, which outlines proposed cuts to SNAP and Medicaid. Celebrities including Scarlett Johansson, Matt Damon, Kristin Chenoweth and more asked Congress to reject cuts to these vital programs that help millions put food on their tables and provide access to health care in the letter.

Ches Instagram post comes just ahead of Miles Tellers hosting appearance on Saturday Night Live.

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Saturday Night Live star Michael Che is speaking out against the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which began on Saturday as a result of the now month-long government shutdown.

This SNAP freeze is really fucked up, Che wrote in an Instagram post Saturday. And I keep seeing a lotta racist videos celebrating (mostly black) families not being able to buy groceries. Theres this weird idea that since some people have taken advantage of welfare benefits in the hood, NOBODY should receive help, at all? This country is built on greedy motherfuckers taking shortcuts and gaming the system to their benefit, but for some reason, when poor people find a way to turn a nickel into a dime, theyre judged more severely, especially Blacks.

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He continued, I [know] the hustle is to hate each other here so we can fight in the comments and up our engagements, but lets draw the line at feeding the poor. I grew up on free cheese and powdered milk and waiting for your friends to leave the store so they wont see me pay with stamps. That shit aint as glamorous as it sounds. I promise.

The government shut down on Oct. 1 after Republicans and Democrats failed to pass a funding bill for government services as the previous federal budget expired. In the Senate, Republicans are short 60 votes to pass the proposed bill, which gives Democrats a chance to fight back on key issues.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP, sent out a memo on Oct. 26 stating that benefits would be halted on Nov. 1. However, two federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island both ruled on Friday that the Trump administration, by law, is required to use contingency funds to pay out for at least a portion of SNAP benefits. The Trump administration has until Monday to respond to the ruling.

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Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, warned a friend years ago that he feared for his life, a prediction that surfaced after he was fatally shot at a Utah campus event on Sept. 10.

The messages, shared publicly by his former colleague, have renewed attention on his final days and the inner circle around the conservative group.

Candace Owens released screenshots of a text exchange from April 6, 2018 on her podcast, showing what she says were messages from Kirk in which he foretold a possible violent end because of his political work.

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According to the New York Post, in the texts, Kirk wrote: "If I tell you the true prophecy I know in my gut it's really sad," and added, "But I hope its wrong." He continued, "Anyway I am not sure if I will live to see the end of this revolution." He also said, "Since the beginning of TPUSA I knew in my gut that I might get wiped out at any time," and, "I cannot explain it."

Also Read: Charlie Kirks Last Interview Highlighted Entrepreneurship and Musk  Elon Says Your Memory Lives Strong

Owens posted another passage she attributed to Kirk: "But I dream about it all the time. Like all the time."

Kirk also tried to downplay alarm in the exchange: "Not really afraid of it but I'm just telling you what I know to be true," he told Owens, who served as communications director for Turning Point USA from 2017 to 2019.

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In separate messages, Kirk compared his role to a biblical leader: "I might be Moses tho. I might not see this whole thing through lmao." He was later shot through the neck in front of hundreds of attendees during a Turning Point event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, reports the outlet.

On her podcast after the shooting, Owens urged unnamed people she said betrayed Kirk to come forward.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a strong attack against the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, slamming Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's "drama" remarks against the BJP's Chhath Puja celebrations. Hitting back at Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi invoked 'Surya Dev' and lauded the floating solar plant in Nawada. Addressing an election rally in Nawada, he said, "RJD and Congress members call the worship of Chhathi Maiya a gimmick, a drama. These people have no idea about Surya Dev's powers. It's our government that's engaged in generating electricity from Surya Dev's energy. Those who have come from Delhi and other major cities to enjoy the election season, I'd also like to tell them to go and see the floating solar plant in Nawada." This comes after the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in Darbhanga, said that the BJP staged a "drama" and built a separate pond for PM Modi to take a dip in during Chhath Puja. "PM Modi said that he will bathe on the Yamuna for Chhath. The Yamuna has dirty water. If someone drank it, they would either get sick or die. No one can go inside. The water is so dirty that if you enter it, you would get sick or get an infection. But Modi staged a drama. He built a small pond there. They will show you anything for elections. A pipe is installed from behind. Clean water is poured into it. The problem arose that someone took a photo of the pipe," the Congress leader said. Further, terming "'katta' (guns), cruelty, and corruption" as RJD's identity, PM Modi reiterated the "jungle raj" jibe. "RJD's jungle raj had only one identity. As I say this, each one of you will believe that your Modi is telling the truth. They had only one identity: 'katta', cruelty, bitterness, bad manners, bad governance, and corruption. The signs of jungle raj stained Magadh's pride with massacre and social division. If someone's salary increased in Bihar, he would get worried because a higher salary meant paying more extortion to the RJD," he said. "The urban naxals living in cities have lost their sleep at night seeing that Maoist terrorists, who once carried weapons in their hands, are now carrying a Constitution in their hands," he added. Asking the gathering to switch on the torchlight in their mobiles, PM Modi took a dig at RJD and said, "Now tell me, when you have such a bright light in your palms, then who needs the lantern?" He also hailed the NDA's poll promise to provide Rs 3,000 in addition to the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi to farmers in Bihar, saying 'jinhe koi nahi poochhta, Modi unhe poojta hai' (Modi worships those whom no one else cares about). He said, "The governments after independence did not prioritise small farmers. But this is Modi, 'jinhe koi nahi poochhta, Modi unhe poojta hai' (Modi worships those whom no one else cares about). In the last 11 years, our government has brought small farmers to the centre of the agriculture policy." "Farmers and people indulged in animal husbandry will receive double the gift as per the NDA's manifesto. They will receive Rs 6,000 under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, and the Bihar NDA has announced Rs 3,000 over that," PM Modi added. NDA, in their manifesto, has promised an annual benefit of Rs 3,000, totalling Rs 9,000 for farmers, under the 'Kapurgari Thakur Kisan Samman Nidhi'. PM Modi was campaigning for the NDA's candidate in Nawada, Vibha Devi from JD(U). Devi is contesting against RJD's Kaushal Yadav, Jan Suraaj's Arun Singh and AIMIM's Naseema Khatoon. Nawada will undergo polling in the second phase on November 11. The polling for the first phase will take place on November 6, with results to be announced on November 14. (ANI)
A critically missing 22-year-old woman was found and is safe, according to the Milwaukee Police Department.

She was last seen on the afternoon of Nov. 1 near the Milwaukee Public Museum. About 12 hours after police sent the alert, MPD said she was located and thanked the public for their assistance.

"Critically missing" is a label police apply to people who may be especially vulnerable due to a variety of factors.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police say critically missing 22-year-old woman found safe
Nov. 1---- Starting a business is a large and expensive endeavor. For many entrepreneurs, financial support helps open doors, and it can also help keep those doors open.

The Promise Act, passed in 2023, is one of several grant and loan programs designed to help small businesses across the state of Minnesota.

By offering grants and loans to small businesses, the program helps to grow Minnesota communities economically. Loans and grants were distributed by the Department of Employment and Economic Development through the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations serving greater Minnesota, including the local Southwest Initiative Foundation.

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The bill's author, Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, visited Willmar on Monday as part of a tour to meet with aid recipients face-to-face.

"We want to hear from Minnesotans all across the state, not just from my wonderful area but from other places as well," Champion said.

A member of the Democratic  Farmer  Labor Party, he represents District 59 in the city of Minneapolis.

"We got a chance to see a cross-section of business leaders and owners and dreams. To me that is always an important thing. To hear the stories of how the Promise Act helped benefit their businesses in this area," Champion said in an interview.

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According to Champion's team, loans totaling $595,000 have been distributed to businesses in the Southwest Initiative Foundation's service area. For grants, 292 applications were submitted from across those 18 counties, and 41 were awarded.

These loans and grants were distributed as part of the first wave of the program. Currently, applications are open for the second wave, according to the Promise Act's website.

The first business visited Monday by Champion and his group of staffers was Happy Halal, a sheep and goat processing facility which opened this fall. According to co-owner and company president Rebecca Wierschke, the business would not have been able to open without the Promise Act.

"This would not be possible without that. It felt like a life-and-death situation for us. We were able to cross that bridge and get through it, but a lot of other businesses I feel are still in that situation," Wierschke said in an interview.

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Happy Halal received a $400,000 loan with a 10-year repayment period. This allowed the company to buy the land needed in the Willmar Industrial Park. It was a last-minute saving grace: Had the company not gotten the funds, the business would have lost much more than the $400,000. Happy Halal had used the funds to replace a less favorable loan, which had interest adding up. Had the Promise Act Loan not gone through, the company would have paid far more in interest.

"It saved us tens of thousands in interest payments that had been accrued through that construction phase. ... It was literally the last minute we were able to get this, to get things situated and set forward so that we could finish what we needed to do to get onto phase two," Wierschke said.

The longer repayment period was a last-minute change made to the bill as it was being passed. According to Champion, this change stemmed from businesses' concerns about not having enough time to repay loans.

"We know that there was a cap of a million dollars, we did 1.5 million. We looked at how long loans could be done for. We heard them say 'if the repayment was a shorter period of time, we wouldn't be able to do it.' Because we made that tweak, we made that change, it was helpful," Champion said in an interview.

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But the Promise Act doesn't just help businesses with getting off the ground. Many recipients are existing small businesses that need support in order to grow or be maintained.

By setting aside funds for different regions in the state, the Promise Act is able to serve many communities.

"The reason why we made sure that there were various pots of money is so every community would have an opportunity to benefit. And, so one area like the metropolitan area wasn't sucking up all the money," Champion said.

Champion and his team also visited Mubarak Food and Grocery in downtown Willmar. This community grocery store received a grant through the Promise Act. This money was used to grow the store and ensure that Somali community members could buy more of the goods they need locally, rather than having to drive to the Twin Cities.

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While the economic impact of a grant or loan program like the Promise Act can be measured through numbers, the community impact is something that is often overlooked.

is a gym on U.S. Highway 71 in Willmar, which has been part of the community for over a decade. Around 200 people utilize the gym and the culture established there has helped form a community, according to the owners.

"People are checking in with each other outside of here, they're becoming friends. Their kids are playing with each other and people that had never met before are getting married because they met their spouse here. We have had all of it," said Bar Path Crossfit co-owner Lourdez Schwab.

However, in all that time they had to rent their space and owners Schwab and her husband, Jason Schwab, were considering moving out of Willmar. At the last minute, they were able to secure a loan for $100,000 and buy the building.

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"We were in a position where we were either going to stay or go. Personally we were going to be OK whatever route it was," Lourdez Schwab said. "But there was still something that kind of nudged us  we weren't ready to not do this or do this somewhere else. Our roots are here. This allowed us to stay here. It allowed us to stay in business in town."

During his time in Willmar, Champion got to see the impact of the Promise Act beyond the numbers  meeting face-to-face with people hearing the stories to learn the real impact of the legislation and possible changes that need to be made.

"We don't just want to think about this important work on a sheet of paper. We want to get out and meet and see exactly how the Promise Act is really affecting the lives of Minnesotans," Champion said.

With wave two of the Promise Act open, more businesses are able to receive needed funds to continue their growth across the state of Minnesota. For more information on the available funds visit the Promise Act website at

or contact the Southwest Initiative Foundation through its website at
Police asked for the public's help to locate a missing teen girl who was last seen on the evening of Nov. 1.

Yolyn Hermios, 16, was last seen around 6:50 p.m. near Dobson and Broadway roads in west Mesa, the Mesa Police Department posted on social media and in a Turquoise Alert sent overnight to cell phones.

Hermios was last seen wearing a black shirt, red shorts and black shoes, according to police.

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She is a Pacific Islander, stands at 4 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 110 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone who sees Hermios should call 911.

An emergency alert was issued overnight on Nov. 2 for Yolyn Hermios, who went missing in Mesa.

What is a Turquoise Alert?

A Turquoise Alert is deployed when a person goes missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances and is believed to be endangered, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The alert is issued when there is a report of a missing or endangered person, including a tribal member, who is under age 65. There must be sufficient descriptive information available to assist in the person's recovery.

There are also other types of emergency alerts that Arizona authorities can send out.

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The Arizona Republic's Wren Smetana contributed to this article.

Rey Covarrubias Jr. reports for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email him at: rcovarrubias@gannett.com, and connect with him on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) at @ReyCJrAZ.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Turquoise alert issued for Mesa teen who went missing on Nov. 1
I am writing this on a plane between New York City and Detroit, which is fitting, because I have lived in both places. Each of them will elect a new mayor this week, and traditionally if Americans assumed which one would be facing major ugly issues at election time, from crushing economics to homelessness to nasty accusations between the candidates, they might assume Detroit.

Not anymore.

At the quarter pole of the 21st century, it is New York City in the spin cycle of chaos, with a mayors race that is ugly and roiling the populace. The Big Apple, which has been dealing with a population exodus over the last five years while remaining the most expensive city in the nation, may be on the precipice of electing Zohran Mamdani, a controversial 34-year-old with no real experience in running anything.

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This would follow three different mayors over the last 12 years: Michael Bloomberg, criticized for favoring the rich, adopting a stop and frisk police policy, and regulating sugary drinks; Bill DeBlasio, who was seen as arrogant, bad on the homeless issue and police, and more interested in running for president, and Eric Adams, so embroiled in a federal indictment for bribery and fraud, and too-cozy criticism with the Trump administration, that his bid for reelection fizzled quickly.

During that same time, Detroit has had just one mayor, Mike Duggan, who led the city out of bankruptcy, heavily eliminated the blight issues, brought down crime, brought up investment, and recently boasted an 84% approval rating.

Slight difference, huh?

The Best of New York?

In New York, Mamdani has divided the voters  and in many ways, the nation  as to his intentions, his qualifications and his honesty.

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His proponents see him as a fresh face unbeholden to the political machine, an advocate for the poor and the marginalized, a Muslim man who knows what it means to battle hate, and a young guy who gets that the cost of renting an apartment in New York is insane, like pretty much everything else there.

His critics see him as a slick product of the social media age, an anti-rich, antisemitic activist with unworkable ideas borne from the Democratic Socialist party to which he proudly claims membership. They paint him as a hypocritical poser, claiming to be marginalized when his father is an Ivy League professor and his mother an Oscar-nominated film director.

Many New Yorkers dont like Mamdani, but their alternatives are hardly exciting: Theres former-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in disgrace over sexual harassment charges and seems to be running for the last office he can, or Curtis Sliwa, the omnipresent founder of the Guardian Angels, who ran four years ago and had no chance, and has no chance this time, either.

The real question in New York may not be why Mamdani is leading, but why, in a city of 8.5 million people, are these three the best they can come up with?

Detroit gets public support

Now consider Detroit. Duggan, a White mayor in a city that is 77% Black and 8% Latino, has led for a dozen years of relative calm. When other cities  including New York  raged, burned and saw massive looting during the George Floyd aftermath, Detroit held steady. It endured COVID-19 better than many major metropolises. Businesses continued to invest in downtown. And after years of diminishing population, the numbers are going the other way.

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A recent poll shows that 76% of Detroiters think the city is heading in the right direction. Seventy-six percent?

Yes. A similar poll in NYC found that only 31% feel that way about their city.

Detroit mayoral candidate Mary Sheffield, left, receives Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's endorsement on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2025 outside a home she helped obtain a repair grant.

Which may be why our mayoral race feels almost sleepy  especially compared to the rancor of the Big Apple. Our City Council president, Mary Sheffield, has a big lead in the polls and is the presumptive winner. And while she is not without her critics, she certainly makes more logical sense as a successor to Duggan, someone she has worked closely with for years in a power position just a slot below his, than a total outsider like Mamdani, a disgraced former governor like Cuomo, or a controversial crime-stopping organizer like Sliwa.

Now, Detroit is far from perfect. Our crime is still too high, as is our unemployment. And our school system seems to be in perpetual turmoil, although, in fairness, unlike in other cities, that is not controlled by the mayor.

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But given their traditional reputations, and the national disdain often hurled Detroits way, its worth noting that the bigger mess right now seems to be in The City That Never Sleeps, which could take a few lessons from the civility, cooperation and pride that Motown has been cultivating. As someone who spent his early career in the former and will finish his career in the latter, I can tell you, the difference is substantial.

Also, $4,000 a month will pay the mortgage on a nice house here.

It gets you a studio apartment in Greenwich Village.

Take your pick.

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Contact Mitch Albom: malbom@freepress.com. Check out the latest updates with his charities, books and events at MitchAlbom.com. Follow him @mitchalbom on x.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Albom: Detroit and New York electing mayors in different moods
An Isanti County man charged with hiding a Forest Lake teen in a tent in rural Pine County, Minn., for months was sentenced to four years in prison Friday.

Shawn Patrick Bellach, 39, of Dalbo, Minn., pleaded guilty in August to felony charges of kidnapping and second-degree criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced in the 10th Judicial District Court, which includes Pine County. Each count includes a sentence of four years, which will be served concurrently. Bellach was credited for 25 days served.

One count each of soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct, deprivation of custodial or parental rights, and second-degree criminal sexual conduct were dismissed as part of a plea agreement Bellach reached with the prosecution in August. Bellach is required to register as a predatory offender for the remainder of his life.

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Bellach was arrested in July 2023 after the teen girl, who was then 14, was found living in a tent north of Grasston, Minn., late that month. She had been missing since May after leaving her house on a bicycle with an attached trailer, taking her cat and $3,000 in baby-sitting money.

The girls mother told the Pioneer Press in June that the girl left a note saying she was going to be traveling around the United States with her boyfriend.

Bellach knew the girls mother and agreed to help the girl run away to a home belonging to friends of his in Grasston, according to the complaint. The friends agreed to let the girl stay in a tent on the property temporarily after Bellach told them that the girl was abused at home, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, a search of the girls cellphone showed videos of Bellach and the girl living together in the tent. In one video, Bellach asks the girl what it is like dating someone who is 20 years older than her.

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A young boy's parents and grandmother have been charged with his murder and torture

The boy, identified as 8-year-old Isaiah H., was found dead in a cooler filled with ice" in a Lynwood, Calif., apartment complex on Oct. 28

Isaiah's mom, Destiny Luckie Harrison, hid her face while appearing in court in Compton, Calif., on Oct. 31

The parents and grandmother of a young boy in Lynwood, Calif., have been charged with his murder and torture. The boys father and grandmother didnt show up to their first court appearance. His mother did, but she obscured her face from view.

The boys parents, Destiny Luckie Harrison and Daniel Alberto Monzon, and paternal grandmother, Ana Carcamo Zarceno, have been charged with one felony count each of murder, torture and child abuse resulting in death with allegations that they caused willful harm resulting in death, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

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Monzon and Zarceno also face charges of being accessories after the fact, the office said.

Authorities found the body of the young boy, identified as Isaiah H., in a cooler filled with ice, the district attorneys office said. The body was discovered in a Lynwood apartment complex on Tuesday, Oct. 28, after a resident of the building requested a welfare check, according to NBCLA.

Isaiah was allegedly abused by his mother, father and paternal grandmother over a long period of time, the district attorneys office said, citing a criminal complaint. Court records indicate that the torture dated back to April 2025.

The boy succumbed to his injuries early on Friday, Oct. 24, days before his body was found in the cooler, the release states.

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Isaiahs parents, Harrison and Monzon, both 25, and grandma, Zarceno, 45, were arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 29, according to court records viewed by PEOPLE. They were charged on Friday, Oct. 31, the same day the three were scheduled to be arraigned in Compton, Calif., the district attorneys office said.

Monzon and Zarceno did not show up before the judge on Friday, NBCLA reported, citing a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy. Monzon refused, and Zarceno claimed she was sick, according to the outlet.

Harrison did appear in court, however, though her defense attorney used manila file folders to cover her face from view of the press, NBCLA reported, including footage of the moment.

gorodenkoff/Getty Stock image of police caution tape Stock image of police caution tape

The district attorneys office stated that Isaiah is believed to be 8 years old. Identifying the boy has proven difficult because both of his parents are accused of the murder, according to NBCLA. Authorities could not find any record that the child ever attended school, according to the L.A. outlet.

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.

After Isaiahs body was found, three other children  ages 16, 14 and 9 months  were taken from the same Lynwood apartment complex where it was discovered, according to NBCLA. One of the children was a witness in the case, the outlet reported, citing prosecutors.

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Bail for Isaiahs parents and grandmother is listed at $2 million, per court records viewed by PEOPLE. They are each facing 32 years to life in state prison, the district attorneys office said.

Read the original article on People
Amid chaos over the murder of political worker Dularchand Yadav, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani on Sunday blamed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the "collapsing" law and order situation in the state. Sahani said that the Bihar government's remote control remains in Delhi. "'Sushasan Babu' should respond to what they have made of Bihar. He is only a so-called 'Sushansan Babu'. Delhi has the remote control of the Bihar government. Bureaucrats consider themselves more powerful than the Chief Minister because they know he's unwell. People of Bihar have made up their mind to bring about a change," Sahani told ANI. Sahani, who has been named as Deputy Chief Ministerial candidate by Mahagathbandhan, said, "Law and order situation is a failure. The system has collapsed." On October 30, the man, identified as Dularchand Yadav, was found dead, and several others were injured following a clash between alleged supporters of the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) and the Janata Dal (United) in Mokama assembly constituency. Following the arrest of JDU's Mokama candidate Anant Singh in connection with the murder case of Dularchand Yadav, Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar said that more than 80 people have been arrested, linked to these cases, including the clash on October 30, and an investigation was being conducted. DGP Vinay Kumar said, "SSP Patna made it clear in the press briefing how the arrests were made. This is now a matter of investigation. Only after the investigation will we know whose intentions were what. In the incident that occurred, Dularchand Yadav died. A clash occurred there. Supporters of both candidates, who were travelling in vehicles, clashed with each other. There was stone pelting as well. Cases have been registered in connection with all of these, and more than 80 people have been arrested in all of these cases, including this murder case. "Those found involved in the incidents are being arrested. Arrests are based on evidence. The weapon has not been recovered yet. Efforts are underway to recover it. First, it's being established who fired the shots. Once the weapon is recovered, forensic investigations will be conducted," he further said. DGP Kumar said that the death of Dularchand Yadav in Mokama was caused by cardiac and respiratory failure, and not by a gunshot injury, as per the post-mortem report. While addressing the press conference in Patna, the DGP informed that a bullet mark was found on the leg of the deceased, but it was not the cause of death. "An FIR has been lodged in this matter, and a detailed post-mortem examination was conducted, including videographic documentation. A bullet mark was found on the leg of the deceased, but it was not the cause of death. The primary cause was determined to be cardiac and respiratory failure," DGP Vinay Kumar said. He added that a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team has been constituted to probe the incident. "A CID team has been formed to investigate the incident. Preliminary findings suggest that the vehicle may have rammed into the deceased during the scuffle. Whether this was intentional or accidental will be determined after a thorough investigation," he said. Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, was arrested in the early hours today by Patna Police in connection with the murder case of a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, the Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said. Jan Suraaj Party's candidate, Piyush Priyadarshi, told ANI over the phone that Anant Singh should have been arrested sooner, as he added, "This is a good gesture, but it would have been good had they taken action sooner. Today, he was moving around in a convoy of 50 vehicles and even participated in election campaigning. When an FIR was registered against him, he should have been arrested sooner. But better late than never." SSP said Anant Singh has been arrested along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. Singh was taken before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Patna. Mokama is infamous for being a stronghold of influential and often controversial "strongmen" or "bahubalis" in Bihar politics, most notably Anant Kumar Singh, his brother Dilip Singh and Surajbhan Singh. Mokama is now once again in the limelight after the murder of Dularchand Yadav, as the vote battle may be influenced because of the incident. This year, the electoral battle in Mokama Assembly constituency in Patna district, Bihar, is centred around two Bahubalis - Anant Singh and Surajbhan Singh, who dominate the region's political narrative. Mokama, which will vote in the first phase on November 6, is once again set to witness a high-voltage electoral contest in the 2025 polls, as Janata Dal (United) has fielded strongman Anant Singh, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal has nominated Veena Devi, wife of former MP and influential leader Surajbhan Singh. Both candidates come from the Bhumihaar community, setting the stage for a direct clash of political legacies in one of Bihar's most volatile yet politically significant constituencies. Voting for Bihar's 243-seat Assembly will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14. (ANI)
Nov. 2The effects of the monthlong government shutdown have come home to roost in the most repulsive way.

The well-being of more than 80,000 low-income Montanans  including 4,500 households in Flathead and Lincoln counties  was put in jeopardy after the federal government opted to cancel Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits during the shutdown. Thankfully, two federal judges ruled Friday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture must partially fund the program through an emergency account while the government remains closed. Residents with SNAP debit cards should see deposits within a few weeks.

While the rulings  which the Trump administration is likely to appeal  offer temporary relief to families and seniors who rely on the safety-net program, there is no guarantee SNAP will be funded if the shutdown drags on and the $5 billion emergency fund is depleted.

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Local food pantries sounded the alarm last week, warning that their resources will be overwhelmed if SNAP goes unfunded or even underfunded.

SNAP benefits are for individuals and families with incomes below the federal poverty line. Nearly 40% of SNAP recipients are children, and another 20% are seniors.

"It's going to hit people who are already hit hard. If they're getting SNAP benefits, they're not well off financially," said B Bradford Fenchak, who runs the nonprofit Community Kitchen-Feeding the Flathead.

North Valley Food Bank in Whitefish typically serves between 1,200 and 1,500 people a week. The nonprofit expects that number to spike by as much as 200% if SNAP is canceled. To prepare, the food bank has expanded hours and reserved more warehouse space.

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"I think we're ready. As ready as we can be," said Director Sophie Albert.

It's deeply troubling how callously the nation's most vulnerable are used for political theater. Congress would rather force families to choose between skipping meals and paying rent than negotiate a deal to fund the government.

Enough is enough. It's time for lawmakers to set aside partisan gamesmanship, find common ground and end this shutdown embarrassment once and for all.

If that doesn't happen and SNAP goes unfunded, Montana must follow the lead of dozens of other states and be prepared to tap into its own emergency account to ensure recipients get the benefits they need.

In the meantime, Northwest Montana food pantries need help now  especially as they prepare for the holiday rush. Consider making a donation or volunteering your time. Every dollar and extra pair of hands will help meet the unprecedented demand.
Americas brand is fading from within.

In a bitterly divided country, pessimism and cynicism reign supreme: Two-thirds of Americans say it is at least probably true that the government often deliberately lies to the people. That distrust cuts across partisan lines: Strong majorities of Donald Trump voters (64 percent) and Kamala Harris voters (70 percent) agree.

Nearly half of Americans, 49 percent, say that the best times of the country are behind them, according to The POLITICO Poll by Public First. Thats greater than the 41 percent who said the best times lie ahead, underscoring a pervasive sense of unease about both individuals own futures and the national direction.



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The exclusive new poll, conducted nearly one year after Trumps reelection, reveals a deep strain of pessimism across the electorate  but especially for Democrats.

People who voted for Harris last year are twice as likely as Trump voters to say the United States best times are in the past.

America, as a country, is like someone who is feeling lost, confused, or beat up  or uncertain of what to do, and looking around and saying this isnt right, this isnt the way, said Maury Giles, the CEO of Braver Angels, a nonprofit that works to bridge partisan divides.

Democrats are more pessimistic than Republicans

Asked about the best times in the United States, only a small number of people cited the present moment.

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Instead, nearly two-thirds of Harris voters said the best times in the U.S. were in the past, double the share of Trump voters who believe that. A 55 percent majority of Trump voters said the best times still lie ahead.

Thats likely at least partly a reflection of a partisan pattern of expressing optimism when one's party is in the White House, and pessimism when it is not.

Americans will divide on how they view the country's doing depending on who is in office and which party they identify with, said Jennifer McCoy, a political scientist at Georgia State University who focuses on political partisanship.

Americans views may flip in the future, when control of the White House and government next change  but for now, Democrats negative views are pervasive.

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More than half of Harris voters, 51 percent, say that America is not a functioning democracy, while 52 percent of Trump voters take the opposite view and say the U.S. is a model.

The view from Democrats is so gloomy that a solid majority of Harris voters  70 percent  say the quality of life in the U.S. is at least somewhat worse than it was five years ago, a period that was marked by the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread racial justice protests and a contentious presidential election. Meanwhile, a 42 percent plurality of Trump voters say the quality of life in the U.S. is at least somewhat better than it was five years ago.

That dynamic even extends to views of the world at large: More than three-quarters  76 percent  of Harris voters say the state of the world is at least somewhat worse than it was five years ago, compared to 44 percent of Trump voters who agree.

Many people dont believe the American Dream exists

On a personal level, faith in the American Dream has also fallen. The idea  once considered a national ethos about the ability to better ones life through hard work and discipline  was not specifically defined in the poll, which asked more generally about the statement that the American Dream no longer exists.

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Overall, almost half  46 percent  of Americans said that the American Dream no longer exists. That was by far the most common answer, far greater than the 26 percent who disagreed.

A slight majority of Harris voters, 51 percent, agreed that the American Dream no longer exists, while last years Trump voters were even split, with 38 percent agreeing and 38 percent disagreeing.

The declining belief in the American Dream, which has been mirrored in other national surveys, reflects a pessimism about todays economy, said McCoy.

Theres also a stark age divide, with younger Americans more likely to say the American Dream no longer exists. More than half of Americans 18-24  55 percent  agree, compared to 36 percent of Americans over 65.

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In economic terms, social mobility has been getting worse and worse, and that social mobility is basically the indicator of the American Dream, she said. And young people especially ... are feeling that, feeling that they can't buy a house, they can't afford to have children, they still have student debt, all of these things, she continued.

Americans know theyre polarized, and say its getting worse

The sense of pessimism about the future comes amid a widening perception of political polarization.

More than half of U.S. adults, 59 percent, said that political polarization is much or somewhat worse than it was five years ago, with Americans over 65 much more likely to hold that view, according to the survey.

Americans divisions are also reflected in their personal lives, with 61 percent of Americans saying that most of their friends share their political views. That cuts across party  65 percent of Trump voters, 67 percent of Harris voters  and age and gender divides, according to the survey.

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Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) warned in an interview last week that American politics had been degraded by the internet and a culture of anonymous vitriol.

"Anonymity makes anger worse and gets people really ginned up," Paul told POLITICOs Dasha Burns for The Conversation. He faulted people whose "expertise and ... excellence is in anger and emitting anger."

Forty-one percent of Americans say they do not have a close friend at all who votes for a different party than them, with younger Americans and those who supported Harris more likely to say that is the case.

The increasingly segmented society has exacerbated Americans pessimism, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a frequent critic of the Trump White House, told POLITICO.

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We have a crisis of connection and meaning in this country, and Trump is a symptom, not the cause, of that crisis, he said.

We are built to want to feel a sense of common purpose, but we live in a world today in which we spend less time with our family and our friends and our peers than ever before, he added.

Americans say radical change is needed

Americans general malaise has fueled an appetite for overhaul in the country, with a slight majority (52 percent) believing that radical change is necessary to make life better in America.

Younger Americans are particularly likely to hold that view, and more Harris voters agree with the need for radical change than Trump voters.

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Roughly one-third of Americans go even further: Thirty-five percent say the U.S. needs a revolution  a view that, broadly, cuts across party lines, with 39 percent of Harris voters and 32 percent of Trump voters holding that view.

But even as pessimism about the future persists for many Americans, pride endures. Almost two-thirds of Americans  64 percent  say they are proud to be an American, according to the poll.

Americans need hope and they need confidence, Giles said. The vast majority of this country understands that what is happening right now is not healthy, it is not sustainable.


Mouldy military homes are to be upgraded as part of a 9bn housebuilding drive, the Government is to announce.

Some 40,000 homes used by Armed Forces families will be refurbished under the 10-year pledge to be unveiled by Downing Street on Monday.

Around 1,000 of the worst homes  some of which are infested with mould or have collapsing walls and leaky roofs  are already being fixed, and will be finished by the end of the year.

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But Labour says its new Defence Housing Strategy will see a further 5bn invested in the next parliament for sweeping improvements.

A large portion of the 9bn plan has already been revealed previously; 4bn of an earlier 7bn announcement, for instance, forms part of the latest scheme.

It is unclear how many homes from the 40,000 scheduled to be upgraded will be fixed before the next general election, which will be held no later than Aug 15 2029.

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, will reveal details of the plans - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

However, the Government insists it is committed to the new strategy, which it says will turbocharge efforts to improve the quality of life for military families.

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John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said that as part of the programme, surplus land on military bases had been identified to build an additional 100,000 homes. This would be for both civilian and military families.

The Government has not revealed which plots of land could be developed.

Under a separate scheme, seen some military sites, such as Cameron Barracks in Inverness and Crowborough Army training camp in East Sussex, have been earmarked to house hundreds of asylum seekers.

Cameron Barracks, Inverness, will be used to house asylum seekers to cut down on the use of hotels

Speaking of the plan to overhaul military homes, Sir Keir Starmer said: Our Armed Forces families make extraordinary sacrifices for our country, and they deserve homes that truly feel like home.

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This record investment will deliver modern, safe and comfortable housing for tens of thousands of service families. This is a plan for generational renewal that puts forces first, giving those who serve, and those who support them, the security and respect they deserve.

The strategy is based on feedback from thousands of service families and led by an expert, independent review team, the Government said.

Thousands of military homes will receive a complete makeover  new kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems  as part of the 10-year generational renewal of forces properties.

About 14,000 of the planned 40,000 will have substantial refurbishments.

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Mr Healey said: Every day, our British forces personnel  and their families  help to keep us all safe. In this new era of threat, we rely on them more every day. The least they deserve is a decent home.

The Defence Housing Strategy has been developed by an independent review team chaired by Natalie Elphicke Ross, a former MP and housing expert.

She said: Our pride in our Armed Forces must include pride in our military homes. For too long service personnel and their families have had to put up with substandard housing.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, said that over the last 16 months the Government had ripped up regulations and slashed red tape to get Britain building more homes.

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CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (WROC)  Multiple fire and emergency crews responded to a fire in the town of Naples on Saturday.

Officials at the scene confirmed the fire prompted the response of multiple agencies, including the Cheshire Fire Department, Cohocton Fire, East Bloomfield Fire District, Atlanta Fire Department, Bristol Fire, and the Veterans Administration.

Naples Fire Department closed County Road 12 at Rhine Street as they addressed the scene.

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At this time, no information has been provided on injuries or the cause of the fire.

News 8 will update this post as additional information becomes available.

This is a developing story.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Nine people suffered life-threatening injuries on Saturday night after a stabbing attack on a train in central England that Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as deeply concerning.

Two people were arrested after the attack, which British Transport Police (BTP) declared a major incident, adding that counterterrorism officers were supporting the investigation. BTP also declared Plato  the national codeword when responding to a marauding terrorist attack  before later rescinding this.

Police said 10 people were taken to hospital, nine of whom suffered life-threatening injuries. No fatalities have been reported from the incident.

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Officers were called at at 7.42 p.m. to a report of the attack on the service from the northern city of Doncaster to Londons Kings Cross. Armed officers were deployed to Huntingdon station, where the train made an unplanned stop and the two people were arrested, police said.

More than 12 hours after the incident, police had yet to reveal details about the suspected attackers.

Britains Defence Minister John Healey told Sky News on Sunday that the incident appeared to be an isolated attack.

Passenger saw suspect tasered

Wren Chambers, who was on the train when the attack happened, told the BBC she initially heard some screaming and shouting coming from a carriage or two down.

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A minute or so later a man was running down with a very clear wound, bleeding quite badly on his arm. And I thought it was like some sort of Halloween prank at first. But then hes shouting that someones got a knife, he was stabbed, she said.

After seeing more people running down the train, Chambers grabbed her bag and coat. I got up and moved forward down the train after them, trying to get far down the train as they can.

Another witness who was traveling on the train said he saw an extremely bloodied victim. The man, who gave his name as Gavin, told Sky News he believed he saw a suspect tasered before he was arrested.

He said police shouted Get down, get down as they got closer to him.

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He then was waving a knife, quite a large knife, and then they detained him, the eyewitness said.

I think it was a Taser that got him down in the end, he said.

Another male passenger, Olly Foster, told the Daily Mail hed been listening to an audiobook when the attack happened. A young girl was distraught as the attacker tried to stab her, but a hero of an older man got in the way taking a gash on his forehead and I think another on his neck, he said.

Forensic police officers attend the scene at Huntingdon Station on Sunday. - Leon Neal/Getty Images

Video shared on social media of the immediate aftermath of the incident showed a bloodied person rushing out of Huntingdon station and dozens of police and emergency vehicles with flashing blue lights gathered outside. In one video armed officers were seen sprinting down a platform at the station toward the front end of a stationary train.

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British Transport Police Chief Superintendent Chris Casey called it a shocking incident and said his thoughts were with those injured and their families.

Were conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further, he said. At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

Large-scale response

Emergency first responders said they had mobilized a large-scale response to the stabbing attack, including sending several air ambulances.

In a statement on X, the East of England Ambulance Service said it had sent numerous ambulances, tactical commanders, our Hazardous Area Response Team, and critical care teams, from several regional jurisdictions.

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Starmer said on social media: My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police, he said on X.

Police officers and members of the emergency services at Huntingdon Station on Saturday night. - Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was deeply saddened to hear about the stabbings, and that her thoughts go out to all those affected.

Mahmood said she is receiving regular updates on the investigation and urged people to avoid speculation at this early stage as to what was behind the stabbings.

The rail company that operates trains on the East Coast Main Line, London North Eastern Railway (LNER), said that it was experiencing major disruption across the LNER route.

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The East Coast Main Line is one of the UKs busiest and most important railway routes. It connects major cities, running from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverly in Scotland.

Our advice is Do Not Travel. Please defer your travel where you can, LNER said.

It remains unclear at this stage what crimes the attackers will be charged with. Homicide rates in the UK are low compared to other Western nations. Gun crime is particularly low, with the country recording 5,103 offenses involving firearms over this past year, according to government statistics. In comparison knife crime has risen overall since 2011, although a 1% decrease was recorded over the past year.

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NEDERLAND, Colo. (KDVR)  More than a dozen businesses remain unable to reopen in Nederland after a massive fire destroyed a local shopping plaza in October. As the buildings owner faces the challenge of rebuilding, community members are continuing to raise money for the businesses that were impacted.

On Saturday, dozens of people flocked to a block party in town, raising money for the town to the scene of live local bands and food trucks.

Nederland fire spares century-old carousel that survived many fires in history

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On Oct. 9, the Caribou Village Shopping Center caught fire, burning down the home of 18 local businesses and displacing nearly 80 employees. Locals refer to the building as the heart of Nederland.

It was like the last place in Boulder County where you just have all small businesses trying to live their dreams, said Ben Myers, who helped organize a community fundraiser.

But the flames couldnt burn out the communitys determination to rebuild.

That spirit, that heart, is something no fire can destroy, said Stephen Tebo, who owns the Caribou Shopping Center.

Tebo told the crowd at the fundraiser Saturday that he plans to rebuild the plaza and make room for every business the building once housed.

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The road ahead will not be easy, but with this community behind us I have no doubt we will come back stronger than ever, Tebo said.

Tebo and his real estate team hosted the free block party to serve as a fundraiser for the Boulder County Community Foundation. That money will then be distributed to the town of Nederland, which will allocate funds towards fire recovery efforts.

Communities, when the chips are down, really tend to come together, said resident Holly Widdowfield. I mean, we argue, we complain, everything. But when the chips are down, people come together.

To support Nederlands recovery efforts, visit the Boulder County Community Foundation website for donation information.

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Plans for a Dollar General market years in the making in Myersville could have a new twist, with a possible alternative that would add residential and commercial properties.

The mixed-use project along the towns Main Street would be located on an area known as the Waters Property, and include 37 townhouses and 16 single-family homes, as well as two retail or commercial parcels, as well as two areas of park or open space.

Part of the site has already been approved for the development of a DG Market store, the plan for which is awaiting review of a hearing in the Appellate Court of Maryland.

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A hearing in the appeals court has not been scheduled yet, Natalie McSherry, a lawyer for town resident Carol Eichelberger, who challenged the Planning Commissions 2023 conditional approval of the project, said Friday.

The towns Planning Commission approved a proposal to build a 12,700-square-foot DG Market store, with off-street parking for 54 vehicles, at 12 Main St. in Myersvilles Village Center zoning district.

The approval included a condition that the projects then-developer either meet the towns parking requirements  which would have required more spaces than the site plan requested  or have the town change the requirements.

The town council approved an amendment on Nov. 14, 2023, that allowed the parking requested in the site plan.

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Frederick County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen D. English ruled in June that Eichelbergers objection to the projects approval came too late for reconsideration of the project.

DG Market stores stock perishable food such as produce and meats, in addition to the packaged and preserved food sold at retail Dollar General stores.

While the fate of that project is awaited, the Planning Commission has been asked to review another possibility for the property, Planning & Zoning Administrator Brandon Boldyga wrote in a memorandum to the commission in September.

The town will not be able to issue any formal new approvals for the property while the DG Market project still holds approvals for the same site, Boldyga wrote.

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The projects new developer, a company associated with Fredericks Verdant Development Group, would likely develop one project or the other, or a combination of both, he said Friday.

Verdant has taken over the project from the developer Rowland, LLC.

Verdant President T. Wesley Poss could not be reached for comment Friday.

I think naturally, one plan would dethrone the other, Boldyga said.

Among other factors to be considered for the new proposal, each commercial use would need to have its own site plan approved, and the intersection for the access road to the townhouses is located too close to the existing intersection with Cedar Street, Boldyga wrote in the September memo.

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The State Highway Administration will also probably require the project to limit road access to one access point, he wrote.

The new developer will also have to figure out with the Maryland Department of the Environment where the water it will use will come from, he said Friday.

The final design of the project will depend on the water allocation, he said.
News 8 is producing a series of stories that will be published in the days leading up to Nov. 10, the 50th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. It will culminate with a WOOD TV+ special called: The Fitz: 50 Years Later. That will air at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Nov. 10 will mark 50 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald was lost on Lake Superior. Its one of the regions most popular shipwreck tales, in large part thanks to Gordon Lightfoots haunting lyrics, but also because of the ships mysterious story.

Just like the song says, the Edmund Fitzgerald was the pride of the American side. It was one of the most popular freighters on the Great Lakes; a common sight coming in and out of the Soo Locks. To this day, the freighter remains the largest known ship lost on the Great Lakes and stands as a symbol of the lakes true power.

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But its the mystery that has given the ship an enduring legacy. The Fitzgerald went down quickly and took all 29 of its mariners with it. Despite plenty of evidence, with no survivors to verify any one of the several theories, historians will never know for sure what caused it to capsize.

THE FATEFUL FREIGHTER

The ship started as a business idea from the people behind Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance in Milwaukee. It was named after Edmund Fitzgerald, the president and chairman of the board at Northwestern Mutual.

Great Lakes Engineering Works in Ecorse was selected to build the ship. The keel was laid Aug. 7, 1957, and the Fitzgerald was formally launched June 8 the following year at River Rouge.

Measuring in at 729 feet long, it was briefly the largest freighter in the Great Lakes. The ship was built to maximum size  as large as possible while still being able to fit through the Soo Locks. The locks have since been expanded and longer ships have taken the record from the Fitzgerald.

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The Fitz was always known as a tough, hard-nosed ship. It had its share of scrapes in the years before its fateful trip. In a 12-month stretch covering 1969 and 1970, Fitzgerald researcher Tim McCall noted, the ship was damaged three different times.

Meet Milo: The Michigan man who was a key figure to ending the McCarthy era

The ship suffered internal and external damage after striking ground near the Soo Locks on Sept. 6, 1969. Nearly eight months later, it collided with another ship, the SS Hochelaga. The following September, the ship hit a lock wall. Three notable incidents, but nothing that slowed down the Mighty Fitz.

The Edmund Fitzgerald had sailed for 13 years under three different captains before Ernest McSorley took the mantle in 1971. He was widely considered a good captain, but he wasnt afraid to push the ship and its crew to the limit.

A 1958 file photo of the Edmund Fitzgerald on its maiden voyage. (Courtesy Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society)

In his book, Tattletale Sounds: The Edmund Fitzgerald Investigations, shipwreck historian Ric Mixter spoke with former Edmund Fitzgerald cook Red Burgner, who called McSorley one hell of a skipper who didnt mind rough weather.

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McSorley was a rough weather skipper. He wouldnt haul up for nothing, Burgner told Mixter. He says, We dont make no money sitting at anchor, you know!

THE FITZGERALDS FINAL JOURNEY

McSorley and the Fitzgeralds final trip started under sunny skies. The National Weather Service had forecast that a storm would track toward the Great Lakes, but there were no active warnings when the Fitz pulled out of the docks in Superior, Wisconsin.

Loaded up with more than 26,000 tons of taconite pellets, the Edmund Fitzgerald departed at 2:15 p.m. With a similar payload, the Arthur M. Anderson pulled out of Two Harbors, Minnesota, about two hours later.

The two ships would go their separate ways on the other side of the Soo Locks, but for their trip across Lake Superior, they planned to follow the same standard route established by the Lake Carriers Association. Because of the head start and its faster top speed, the Fitzgerald was around 20 miles ahead of the Anderson for the start of the trip.

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Mixter highlighted an interview between Capt. Bernie Cooper of the Anderson and Tom Farnquist, the former executive director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, in which Cooper said neither he nor McSorley had any notable concerns about the weather when they left.

We did see there was going to be a northeast wind, but it was a fringe gale, 32 to 38 knots. Thats nothing. Any ship thats out there should be able to take a 38-knot wind, Cooper said.

The Nelson: 125 years later, one of Lake Superiors darkest tales retold

As they carried along, the storm started to catch up. By 7 p.m. Nov. 9, the NWS had issued gale warnings for the region. The alerts were upgraded to storm warnings on the morning of the 10th.

An undated file photo of Capt. Jesse. B. Bernie Cooper, the captain of the Arthur M. Anderson, the last ship to contact the Edmund Fitzgerald. (Courtesy Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society)

At the start of the day, conditions were rough, but nothing to worry seasoned mariners. By the afternoon, however, things started to deteriorate. Winds were gusting up to 50 knots and waves were regularly reaching 16 feet.

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The first real sign of trouble came around 3:30 p.m. Both ships had been dealing with rough water for hours at that point, and McSorley passed the north side of Caribou Island near the Six Fathom Shoal, something that Cooper noted to investigators in the wake of the wreck.

Great Lakes deadliest wreck: What brought down the Eastland

McSorley radioed the Anderson and told them that the Fitzgerald had lost a fence rail, had either lost or damaged two vents, and was starting to list.

Im checking down. Will you stay by me till I get to Whitefish (Bay)? McSorley asked.

Cooper approved of the new plan in part because he was worried that the trip across the shallow waters may have damaged the ship. He asked if the Fitzgerald was running its pumps to dispel any water that was coming in. McSorley confirmed that he had both pumps on.

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In that interview, Cooper said he believed the shoals must have caused some form of damage to the Fitz.

(An) immediate list tells me he either had a stress fracture or he bottomed out, Cooper said. I asked him if he had his pumps on, and he said yes. He said, later on, he wasnt gaining anything by pumping out; so, the water was coming in the hull as fast as they were pumping it out. Those were two big pumps he had on. So the stress fracture or him bottoming out, had to happen at that time. From that time on, he was sinking.

1883: The logjam that nearly sank Furniture City

Less than an hour later, McSorley asked for more help. The Fitzgerald had lost both of its radars and requested help from the Anderson to keep them on course.

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As the evening stretched on, the conditions got worse. The Anderson was reporting steady winds at 58 knots and gusts topping 70. Waves were reaching 25 feet and one did major damage to the Andersons starboard lifeboat.

An undated photo shows the Edmund Fitzgerald unloading its cargo in Toledo, Ohio. (Courtesy Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society)

By 7 p.m., the Anderson had made up some ground on the Fitzgerald and was now only 10 miles behind. Coopers First Mate Morgan Clark checked in one last time with McSorley. The two confirmed their approximately locations and their planned route toward calmer seas in Whitefish Bay.

By the way, Fitzgerald, how are you making out with your problems? Clark radioed.

McSorley infamously responded, We are holding our own.

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Clark said, OK, fine. Ill be talking to you later, then signed off.

132-year-old shipwreck discovered in Lake Superior

In the minutes that followed, Clark noticed that the Fitzgeralds radar signal was cutting in and out. That wasnt a huge surprise. It happened once in a while, especially with radars getting battered by the rain and spray. Around 7:15 p.m., the signal dropped and never returned. Log records show Clark called the Fitzgerald at 7:22 p.m. There was no answer.

The men on the bridge kept a close eye on the waters while they tinkered with their instruments. They had reached a point where they thought the Fitzgerald should have been coming into view. In a statement to investigators, Cooper shared a haunting possibility.

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(At one time), the wheelsman (Robert May) thought he saw a light over towards Copper Mine Point, but Morgan and I didnt see it, Cooper said. He swears he saw a light It might be entirely possible it could have been the stern light of the Fitzgerald as she was going under.

This story is Part 1 in a three-part series breaking down the story of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Part 2 and Part 3 will be published in the coming days  along with many other stories  leading up to the shipwrecks 50th anniversary.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, graced the second convocation ceremony of the University of Patanjali at Haridwar, Uttarakhand, today, as per an official release from President's Secretariat. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that India's great personalities have made invaluable contributions to the development of human culture. Maharishi Patanjali, the greatest of sages, removed the impurities of the mind through yoga, of speech through grammar, and of the body through Ayurveda. She was happy to note that the University of Patanjali is making the great tradition of Maharishi Patanjali accessible to society. The President noted that the University of Patanjali is advancing education and research in the fields of yoga, Ayurveda, and naturopathy. She said that it is an appreciable effort that is instrumental in building a healthy India. According to the release, the President was happy to note the India-centered educational vision of the University of Patanjali. She said, "Education with the vision of the spirit of universal brotherhood, integration of ancient Vedic knowledge and cutting-edge scientific research, and resolution of global challenges is advancing the Indian knowledge tradition in modern contexts." The President said that students who have received an education in accordance with the ideals of this university must have realised that protecting the environment and adapting their lifestyle to nature is essential for the future of humanity. She expressed confidence that they will always be ready to face global challenges, including climate change. The President said, "The wish for universal well-being is the hallmark of our culture. This well-being paves the way for harmony and inclusive development." She was confident that the students of this University would put the life value of harmony into practice. The President added that nurturing individuals leads to nurturing families, which leads to society and nation building. She noted that the University of Patanjali has adopted the path of nation-building through individual development. She expressed confidence that the students of this university would make significant contributions to building a healthy society and a developed India with their righteous conduct. (ANI)
A 38-story, 417-unit luxury apartment community near the Jersey City waterfront has been sold to a Boston-based real estate firm.

Rockpoint bought The Morgan Provost Square at 160 Morgan Street for an undisclosed price.

The Oct. 15 transaction marks the largest multifamily deal in New Jersey so far this year, according to a statement by JLL Capital Markets, which brokered the sale.

Hudson County online records show a previous mortgage on the property for $133 million was settled this week, though that does not indicate the new sale price.

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JLL represented the seller in the joint venture that also includes Toll Brothers Apartment Living.

JLL also secured financing for the new owner.

Built in 2016, the 38-story high-rise spans 365,361 rentable square feet and maintains over 97% occupancy.

The property features market-rate units ranging from studios to three-bedroom residences.

Penthouses occupy the top two floors.

The building includes approximately 12,700 square feet of retail space and a seven-story parking garage with 372 covered spaces.

The seller was led by JLL senior managing directors Jose Cruz, Michael Oliver and Steve Simonelli, senior director Ryan Robertson and directors Elizabeth DeVesty and Austin Pierce.

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Some Catholic parishes in four northern New Jersey counties may be consolidated as soon as 2027, church officials said.

The discussion in the Archdiocese of Newark is the latest challenge facing Catholic leaders in New Jersey. While the state still has one of the highest percentages of Catholic residents in the nation, church attendance has been falling and more than 30 Catholic schools have closed in the past five years due to declining enrollment.

The possible parish consolidations stem from an ongoing review launched in June by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin with the aim of strengthening the Catholic faith amid a changing Church landscape, a spokesperson said.

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The review, called "We Are His Witnesses," includes considering new partnerships between parishes.

As the initiative progresses, viable parishes may choose to merge beginning in 2027, based on readiness, Maria Margiotta, executive director of communications for the Archdiocese of Newark, told NJ Advance Media on Friday.

The possible parish mergers were first reported by The Record of Bergen County.

Mergers will focus on parish governance rather than church buildings, and any property decisions will rest with the local parish community, Margiotta said.

The Archdiocese of Newark serves 1.3 million Catholics at 211 parishes in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties, spokesperson Sean Quinn said.

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Two longtime Catholic schools in the archdiocese  Aquinas Academy in Livingston and Visitation Academy in Paramus  closed at the end of the 2024-25 academic year.

In his June 8 letter to Catholics announcing the review of parishes, Tobin outlined challenges facing the church.

Yet, the realities we face as a Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Newark are both urgent and undeniable: parish membership, Mass attendance, and sacramental participation have declined. The number of priests to serve as pastors is decreasing. And still, the population of our region continues to grow, offering new and fertile ground for evangelization, Tobin wrote.

The review is expected to result in a unified pastoral plan by next summer, Margiotta said.

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Parishes will be holding meetings to offer feedback that will guide Cardinal Tobins decisions, Margiotta said.

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The owners of the 270-acre Van Wagoner Farm in Burlington County have reached a land preservation deal that will prevent development on the land.

The Burlington County commissioners recently announced the deal after voting on resolutions authorizing a final contract agreement with the Van Wagoner family for the property in Springfield.

Once finalized, the agreement will bring Burlington Countys total preserved farmland to more than 67,000 acres.

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The Van Wagoner Farm sits along Arneys Mount-Birmingham Road in rural Springfield, adjacent to Arneys Mount, Burlington Countys highest elevation point, and the countys 200-acre Arneys Mount Park.

This farm was on the countys list for preservation for decades, Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel, the liaison to the Department of Resource Conservation, Parks and Farmland Preservation, said in a statement. Its a beautiful property and were thrilled to finally be able to take this action to keep the land as agriculture and open space forever.

The late John Van Wagoner, a fourth-generation farmer, purchased the property in 1962 and initially operated a dairy farm before transitioning to grain and corn production.

The farm now grows pumpkins, hay, and grain, making it one of the 10 largest farms on the countys preservation target list.

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Elsie Nicolette, Van Wagoners daughter, said her father continued working the land into his 90s and would have supported the preservation effort.

We know that, like us, he would have been very grateful to see the tradition of farming continued through the preservation of the land, Nicolette said in a statement.

The property had previously been targeted for a large housing community.

The project stalled after Springfield Township won a legal battle over the developers attempt to force approval.

The township successfully argued that high-density housing would contradict Burlington Countys efforts to preserve contiguous farmland areas and that the location lacked adequate public transportation and infrastructure.

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Under the preservation agreement, Burlington County will preserve 239 acres through its Farmland Preservation Program, allowing the Van Wagoner family to retain ownership while permanently restricting the land to agricultural use.

The county will purchase an additional 30 acres outright, which will be added to Arneys Mount Park.

With the Van Wagoner Farm addition, Springfield will have more than 6,100 acres of preserved farmland, the most of any Burlington County municipality.

The county has also reached tentative agreements this year with six other farms totaling 741 acres.

Burlington County is eligible for 80% reimbursement of the farmland easement expense through New Jerseys Farmland Preservation Program.

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NASA has been slashing programs all year, including throwing the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) out of its building, asking employees to take buyouts, and defunding some of its most important research centers. Given that the Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget called for a 24% budget cut for NASA, including a 47% cut to its scientific endeavors, this might seem like something the space agency just has to do. Funny thing, though: it's a proposed budget. The actual budget has to be passed by Congress. While we're going to have to wait for the legislature to negotiate an end to the government shutdown, early indications are that it won't end up slashing NASA's budget at all. In other words, all the damage this year might be for nothing.

Space.com has an excellent report on what's been going on, indicating that Trump appointees have been directing NASA to remake itself in the proposal's image. It's a devastating outlook  custom hardware that can't easily be replaced is simply gone, and along with them, key scientists with both deep institutional and technical knowledge. These are potentially permanent blows that can't easily be undone, if at all.

The real tragedy, though, is that this wasn't merely avoidable, it really shouldn't have happened at all. As Space.com's report reveals, much of this was explicitly stated as aligning with the proposed budget. Yet the Appropriations Committees in both the House and Senate  with Republican majorities in both chambers  have already advanced bills that keep NASA funding at last year's level. In other words, Republican Congress has already quietly rejected the Trump administration's proposal. So why are the cuts happening anyway?

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Read more: Ford Once Made A Mile-Long Factory To Build Bombers Faster Than Anyone Thought Possible

In for a penny, in for an impounding

OMB Director Russell Vought against a green background - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The Trump administration has been moving fast to break stuff in the federal government all year long. A key weapon in that arsenal has been something called "impoundment," in which the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the executive branch agency that's supposed to actually spend the money in a Congressional budget, simply chooses to... not. In September, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) openly accused OMB Director Russell Vought of using impoundment to execute the proposed NASA budget, even though it is still just a proposal (that Republican Congress seems likely to ignore).

Is that legal? Under any current understanding of the law, the answer is no, as Cantwell states. Of course, questions around impoundment will almost certainly make their way through the courts, and eventually the Supreme Court. Whichever way that goes, in the meantime, Vought is using the procedure like a cudgel. Among others, it's NASA getting bashed.

But we're going to win a Moon race, supposedly

The NASA logo displayed at JPL in Pasadena, CA - Mario Tama/Getty Images

It sure sounds like this administration has it out for NASA. Except, it also seems to believe that America is going to win a race to the Moon against China, put a nuclear reactor on the Moon for its base, and put up new space stations. The theory seems to be that the federal government can cut NASA to the bone and also maintain its status as humanity's premiere space exploration agency. Sounds like even Congressional Republicans aren't buying that.

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It's hard to see exactly what the goal is here; one might argue that it seems to be chaos for chaos' sake. Meanwhile, Congress has passed no budget of any kind, so nobody at NASA is getting paid. The Space.com report also mentions that President Donald Trump removed their right to unionize in an executive order earlier this year. Unless there's a radical change in direction, it seems like the agency is going to keep reducing down for the foreseeable future, in ways that cannot simply be fixed.

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National Guard troops deployed to Washington, D.C. will remain in the nations capital for another four months. The Trump administration extended the orders for the mission through at least February 2026.

The extension was first reported by CNN and confirmed by multiple other outlets. Currently more than 2,300 National Guard troops are in the district, with approximately 960 of them coming from the District of Columbia National Guard. The rest are from seven Republican-led states that have sent their military personnel to Washington at the request of the Pentagon.

The extension comes as the mission into D.C. approaches the three-month mark. President Donald Trump announced plans to activate the D.C. National Guard in August to aid local and federal law enforcement fight allegedly high crime  federal crime data showed the city is seeing record lows in violent crime. Due to D.C.s unique status, the president directly oversees the National Guard and they were activated under Title 32; as a result they can support local lawn enforcement and temporarily limit peoples movement but cannot arrest them. The troops from outside states were also sent under Title 32, rather than federalized under Title 10.

Top Stories This Week

News Marine Corps fires senior officers and top enlisted leader of Osprey squadron By Jeff Schogol News Female drill sergeants will soon wear the Armys iconic campaign hat By Jeff Schogol News Hegseth wont meet troops with beards during South Korea trip By Jeff Schogol

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Soldiers, who largely have patrolled federal parks and Metro subway stations, have been spotted over recent weeks picking up trash in Washington or being heckled by city residents, including some who have played the Imperial March from Star Wars at them.

Orders initially called for the mission to end in November, and some states previously announced plans to pull their troops from D.C. by that window. D.C. leadership has opposed the deployment, with D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filing a lawsuit seeking to end the mission. A federal judge has not yet ruled on issuing a temporary restraining order against the administrations deployment.

A post to the SAM.gov website for federal government contracting in September said that the National Guard Bureau was doing market research to find a vendor to feed troops in D.C. through January. At the time the National Guard said the post did not constitute an official extension of the deployment to the nations capital.

The extension comes the same week that a memo leaked confirming plans for the National Guard to set up quick reaction forces in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. The plan also calls for a specialized military police battalion to be set up inside Washington, D.C., according to information obtained by Task & Purpose.

Washington was the second city the Trump administration sent troops into, following Los Angeles in June. The administration federalized members of the California National Guard under Title 10 to go to Los Angeles and has attempted to make similar moves in Portland and Chicago, although those are held up by legal challenges.
Native American leaders warned senators last week that mass layoffs and potential benefit lapses are making this government shutdown more painful for their communities and insisted that the federal government fulfill its treaty obligations with tribal nations.

The shutdown reductions in force have crept into our classrooms, our early childhood programs and our homes. What began as a budget dispute in Washington has become a daily crisis in Indian country, Kerry Bird, president of the board of directors of the National Indian Education Association, told senators during a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

Bird and other witnesses were invited by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee to testify about how layoffs, also called reductions in force or RIFs, and the shutdown have affected their communities. They emphasized that in reducing the number of the federal employees who interface often with tribes, especially on issues of education, economic development, health and food security, the administration has left Native communities isolated and unsupported at a time when many federal benefits like SNAP are delayed.

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GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has long been critical of the Trump administrations mass layoffs, chaired the hearing, and was the only Republican in attendance.

The loss of employees with deep institutional knowledge and long standing relationships with Native communities, weakens the effectiveness of these crucial federal programs, Murkowski said as the hearing opened.

As the hearing began, Bird told senators that he had just been told that seven of nine employees at the Office of Indian Education under the Department of Education had been laid off.

That means no one to process grants, approved budgets or support in tribal education departments and Indian parent committees. If these terminations are allowed to go into full effect, Indian education programs as we know them would be functionally eliminated, said Bird.

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When our ancestors signed treaties with the United States, they did so in exchange for certain guarantees. One of these was that our children and our childrens children would be educated this obligation is not a discretionary choice, it is the payment on a debt owed, he added.

Sarah Harris speaks during a hearing at the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on October 29, 2025. - Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who has been one of the few Democrats to break with her party and vote for the GOP-backed stopgap funding resolution to reopen the government, told CNN last week that she believes this shutdown is potentially more harmful to Native communities than past shutdowns have been.

Yeah, I think, what I hear from the tribes are because of the RIFs, because of the lack of a federal workforce, theyre already getting hit, and now, if some of them are being impacted by the shutdown because they dont have access to SNAP funding, like some of my tribes, yeah, its a double whammy, said Cortez Masto. There is a concern that weve got to live up to just our existing obligations to the tribes, that the federal government doesnt and weve got to do more.

We have a trust and treaty obligation to the tribes, whether theres a government shutdown or not, and the federal government has a role to play, and we have to continue to support that obligation, she said.

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Sarah Harris, the vice chairwoman of the Mohegan Tribe and the secretary of the United South and Eastern Tribes, said that the uncertainty surrounding the shutdown has been particularly harmful.

I think that one of the things that has been incredibly challenging for tribes during shutdown and with the RIFs is just the complete lack of transparency, said Harris.

A 'We Accept Food Stamps' sign hangs in the window of a grocery store on Friday in Miami, Florida. - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Theres no end in sight, and theres no information. I mean, tribal governments are resilient and resourceful, and we are problem solvers, but its difficult to know what youre even solving for  if its short term or if its long term  and so I think everyone right now is just, you know, dealing with whats in front of them and trying to find stopgap measures to provide for our tribal citizens, until, you know, theres more clarity, she added.

Two federal judges ruled on Friday that the administration must use emergency funds to continue paying for some SNAP benefits, however that doesnt cancel out the uncertainty for Native communities.

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Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, the top Democrat on the panel, emphasized the governments obligations to Native American communities in his opening remarks at the hearing, saying, when the federal government shuts down, our trust and treaty and legal obligations do not vanish, but they are put at risk. Promises to provide health care, housing, education and public safety, among so many other critical services, are all on the chopping block.

Schatz added, Native programs are not DEI spending, they are not charity, they are the law; attempting to cancel funds for Native programs, RIFing more than 4200 federal employees and eliminating tribal consultation policies, thats not the United States government meeting its trust and legal obligations.

GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska speaks during a hearing Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on October 29, 2025. - Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

Murkowski, who represents a state with a large Native America population, emphasized that federal layoffs and potential benefit lapses are disproportionately affecting Native communities, even when they arent carried out in agencies specifically tasked with working with tribal nations.

I think they kind of like, block them off  Its the Bureau of Indian Education, its the Bureau of Indian Affairs, its the Indian Health Service. And so, its like, okay, but what theyre failing to recognize, perhaps, is how many other programs are serving tribal citizens across this country. And so whether its SNAP or whether its LIHEAP or whether its Head Start, none of those programs have the word Indian in them, but the impact to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians may be, may be disproportionate, she told CNN.

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Murkowski also noted that her Native constituents are particularly concerned about having to choose between food and fuel as winter sets in. The damage from the remnants of Typhoon Halong, which hit Alaska around two weeks into the shutdown, has also complicated matters.

I think its something that for many, is really frightening, she said, adding Theres a lot of anxiety when it comes to food security right now. And again, in Alaska, this is the time of year where, okay, nothing is growing. Youve either, youve either gotten your moose or your caribou or your fish, or you havent. And for those who were impacted by this, this devastating typhoon two weeks ago, almost all those in those villages have lost their food supply for the winter, the power out, and so food security is a is a big, big deal right now, as we enter wintertime.

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WASHINGTON  In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently. Today marks 33rd day federal goverment partial shutdown. In all probability, this shutdown will become the longest in the country's history, which was 35 days long during the first Trump administration.

Mother Kuskokwim Statement Condemning Donlin Gold Project's FAST-41 Designation

The Mother Kuskokwim Tribal Coalition condemns the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Councils decision to add the Donlin Gold project to the FAST-41 list.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

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The Councils decision disregards widespread opposition from Alaska Natives in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

The tribal coalition says this action is especially inappropriate as regional Tribes await federal agencies responses to court-identified permitting flaws and recover from the devastation of Typhoon Halong. Fast-tracking the process threatens vital environmental protections and silences Yukon-Kuskokwim communities that rely on healthy rivers for survival.

The Donlin Gold project endangers the Kuskokwim River and the communities sustained by it for millennia. It could raise residents utility bills by up to $265 a year, produce massive cyanide-laden tailings, and require a 316-mile gas pipeline through untouched landsfurther jeopardizing already struggling salmon runs and subsistence resources.

FAST-41 was meant to streamline transportation infrastructure, not push through controversial projects that fail environmental review. The Councils decision disregards widespread opposition from Alaska Natives in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

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While project sponsors claim to value community input, their rush to accelerate permitting despite unresolved issues shows otherwise.

Medicare Enrollment is Open

Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15, 2025, through December 7, 2025. During this period, beneficiaries can review and make changes to their Medicare coverage for 2026, including switching plans or updating prescription drug coverage. Although under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA), special enrollment periods have been changed, members of federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation shareholders can still enroll year-round. We encourage everyone to take this opportunity to compare options and ensure their plan meets their current health needs. The changes made during Open Enrollment are effective January 1, 2026. Read about your options and find more information here.

N.M. Delegation Condemns Trump Administrations Move to Begin Reversing Protections for Chaco Canyon

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) released the following statement condemning President Trump and U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum for initiating the process to fully revoke the protections around Chaco Canyon by reversing Public Land Order No. 7923.

Located in northwestern New Mexico, the Greater Chaco landscape is a region of great cultural, spiritual, and historical significance to many Pueblos and Tribes that contains living sacred sites. Chaco was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and is one of only 24 such sites in the United States.

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In 2023, the Biden Administration announced it would commence a 20-year Administrative Withdrawal of non-Indian federal lands in the 10-mile buffer zone. That welcome step has been successful and was in place until today.

In June, the N.M. Delegation sent a letter inviting Secretary Burgum to visit Chaco Canyon before deciding its fate and engage directly with Tribal leaders and local communities to hear directly about the profound cultural and spiritual significance of this sacred landscape. Secretary Burgum issued the directive to begin revoking the protections and decided the fate of Chaco Canyon without experiencing it firsthand.

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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
This is part of a monthly series highlighting Arizona's climate leaders and answering readers' climate-related questions. The stories aim to help to connect and inspire Arizonans who care about protecting a livable climate and may be struggling to find hope in that effort lately. You can nominate an Arizona climate leader for a story or ask a question by filling out the form at https://forms.gle/QCCxBPSHGy1bUJQ99.

The Arizonans leading on climate are not always those holding protest signs outside polluting corporations, introducing regulatory legislation or planting shade trees in overheated neighborhoods. They can also be the people quietly counting snake and conifer species deep in the woods to shine a new light on unappreciated ecoregions.

When he's not writing books about nature, teaching environmental science at Prescott College, directing biodiversity art installations, leading ecological immersion trips to Ecuador or playing drums in his improv band, Moving Edge, Tom Fleischner is doing that slow, tedious science necessary for Southwest climate resilience.

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When he arrived in Prescott 37 years ago, after growing up in Ohio and studying marine mammals and seabirds in western Washington, he didn't know much about the region. But having accepted a job teaching students about their natural surroundings, he figured he'd better dive in and learn all about it.

What he found shocked him. The diverse habitats along the geologic shelf that cuts diagonally from southwest New Mexico up through the Prescott area of Arizona along parts of the Mogollon Rim seemed "perfectly adapted for climate resilience." Yet, there were no books about it. And ecologically, it didn't even really have a name.

"It's right where the Sierra Madre feeds in all this incredible biodiversity. You have genetic stocks from plants all over North America and Mesoamerica meeting here," Fleischner said. "Part of what makes this such a rich area is all the topographic (elevational) diversity, but you could have that at another place and it wouldn't be nearly as rich."

Naturalist author Tom Fleischner holds open the door of the Natural History Institute in Prescott, which he founded as part of his work as an environmental studies instructor at Prescott College. It became a nonprofit organization in 2017.

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The region, sometimes referred to as the Arizona Central Highlands, encapsulates the edge of many species' ranges, he said (it also inspired his band's name, Moving Edge). It's the northern limit of the alligator juniper, Juniperus deppeana, common in Prescott. It's the southern limit of Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and white fir. It represents the westernmost occurrence of some great plains grasses as well as the edge of many Rocky Mountain species.

"When you zoom in and start looking at it and thinking about it, it becomes this incredibly biodiverse and continentally significant ecotone," Fleischner told The Arizona Republic, adding that such range limits are often valuable for studying how species respond to environmental shifts like the average temperature increases brought by climate change.

"It's this incredible mixing and this big spot of rumpled Earth, a biogeographic crossroads," he said. "That's all been true forever, but people just weren't paying attention to it."

He hypothesizes that's because this area has been skipped over as a result of where all the big research institutions were "plunked down." Scientists from universities in Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff and Salt Lake City fanned out to study the landscapes surrounding those places. But they largely overlooked the band of highly diverse ecosystems cutting between them.

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Right away, Fleischner felt like part of the problem was that the Arizona Central Highlands name wasn't catchy. And it didn't even reference its defining, elevated landscape element, which extends well into New Mexico.

"People perceived this region as a line on a map, a boundary between two places," he said. "So I came up with this name, the Mogollon Highlands, which I think is just a beautiful word and also highlights the central feature of the Mogollon Rim. It's kind of like, if you build it, they will come. Or if you name it, they will come."

Tom Fleischner, founding executive director of the Natural History Institute in Prescott, points out the Mogollon Highlands region of Arizona and New Mexico on a map of ecoregions hung on the wall at the institute. He named the region and has studied its biodiversity.

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The next step was to get that name enshrined in the scientific literature. Fleischner teamed up with other biologists in the area to pull together data on snake, conifer and bird species inhabiting the Mogollon Highlands in greater numbers than in nearby, more homogenous landscapes. They published their first paper using the name in 2017, and Fleischner has continued to study and speak about the region ever since, most recently at a science conference hosted at Northern Arizona University in September. The hope is that funding to study more species across the unique geologic band will follow.

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"Names can frame our way of thinking in incredibly important ways," he said.

Taxidermied bird specimens, used mostly for teaching purposes, are preserved and labeled in drawers at the Natural History Institute in Prescott, which started as a program of Prescott College in 2012 and became its own nonprofit organization in 2017.

In 2017, Fleischner's other major project to encourage recognition of the Mogollon Highlands advanced from a program through Prescott College to a full-blown nonprofit organization dedicated to the region's biodiversity. As founding executive director, he first launched the Natural History Institute in 2012 with a vision to integrate art, science and humanities.

In 2025, the mission continues in a regal, historic building with a stone exterior, a few blocks from downtown Prescott. Once a meeting house for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it now opens into an airy, bright venue for public science talks and displays designed to connect visitors to the natural world.

A "manzanita ball," made from tree roots woven tightly together and shaved into a glossy sphere, sits in the foyer below a painting of a California Condor. A gallery space down a short hallway recently hosted an exhibit titled "Field Studies" that featured maps built into accordion books by Arizona artist and educator Daniel Mayer.

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Fleischner's wife, Edie Dillon, is also an artist in the Prescott community. So he inhabits a life surrounded by intricate, beautiful things. His favorites are housed upstairs in drawers, jars and cabinets lining a climate-controlled room.

Reptile specimens, used mostly for teaching purposes, are preserved in labeled jars on the counter of the Natural History Institute in Prescott, which started as a program of Prescott College in 2012 and became its own nonprofit organization in 2017.

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Most of the institute's 12,000 biological specimens are plants, some assembled as a series from sites before and after wildfire. Others are even more historic, having been pressed for posterity by the famous botanical explorer Cyrus Pringle, who made a career of documenting North American plants in between being drafted (as a pacifist Quaker) into the Union Army during the American Civil War and his death from illness in 1911.

The collection, used primarily to train future generations of naturalists, also features various reptile species that sit labeled and preserved in jars on the counter of the teaching space. Wooden drawers with glass lids in a side room display taxidermied songbirds and hawks. Others showcase pinned butterflies, moths, wasps and bees.

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With the help of student summer interns, the specimens have now all been digitized, their information put online as a backup preservation method. Arizona is a particularly hard place to keep biological collections in good condition, Fleischner said, because the humidity varies so dramatically. A facility like this also costs a lot to maintain and there aren't many ways for it to generate income.

A Sugar Pine cone, Pinus lambertiana, sits next to microscope equipment on a shelf at the Natural History Institute in Prescott, which was founded by Tom Fleischner as part of a program for Prescott College in 2012 and became its own nonprofit organization in 2017.

While Fleischner has been developing the Natural History Institute and writing books about appreciating nature (his fifth, "Astonished By Beauty: A Field Guide to the Practice of Paying Attention," is due out in Spring 2026), national natural history collections have been in decline. Funding cuts and a shift to genetic studies have caused young researchers to see little promise in the work, as trained naturalists retire.

For the past decade, scientists have been raising the alarm about this "institutional and ethical" concern and urging the public to support collections before their loss limits the ability of future generations to compare past samples to better understand global change.

That change is coming ever faster now, with atmospheric warming caused by burning fossil fuels resulting in heat waves, wildfires and storm surges that break new records nearly every year. The Trump administration recently suspended the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's calculation of billion-dollar weather disasters.

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Meanwhile, the cost to taxpayers of climate-intensified weather events has spiked from about $22 billion per year in the 1980s to $149 billion annually since 2020. Naturalists argue that maintaining and expanding collections would cost a tiny fraction of this amount while greatly improving scientists' ability to track and plan for related ecosystem collapse.

Standing amid the relatively small but enduring collection he's assembled within the previously overlooked Mogollon Highlands to which he gave name and recognition, Fleischner called the decline of past, present and future biodiversity records a "crisis." He worries about protecting the knowledge, funding and tools needed to study and respect the natural world. With the odds against him, he's placed his bet on human nature.

"I think there's a natural human inclination to be fascinated by biodiversity," he said. "And I think it's really easy to recharge that in people. That's kind of what the institute and my life's work is all about."

Pinned butterfly and moth specimens, used mostly for teaching purposes, are labeled in drawers at the Natural History Institute in Prescott, which was started by Tom Fleischner as a program of Prescott College in 2012 and became its own nonprofit organization in 2017.

Joan Meiners is the climate news and storytelling reporter at The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Her award-winning work has also appeared in Discover Magazine, National Geographic, ProPublica and the Washington Post Magazine. Before becoming a journalist, she completed a doctorate in ecology with a focus on native bees. Follow Joan on Twitter at @beecycles, on Bluesky @joanmeiners.bsky.social or email her at joan.meiners@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tom Fleischner promotes biodiversity on Arizona's Mogollon Highlands
Marshall Hardy, a retired statistician and an activist for human and civil rights, regularly walks to the entrance of Central Prison in Raleigh, the site of North Carolinas Death Row, to join a group that protests against the death penalty.

This week, he didnt go. He was absorbing the shock of receiving another kind of death sentence. A few days before, a doctor had diagnosed him with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrigs disease.

The incurable and fatal disease hit Hardy late at age 76, but at his age it will proceed quickly, eventually taking away his ability to walk, swallow or even to breathe.

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Ive just got the shakes, and Im very weak and dont sleep that well, Hardy said. My diaphragm muscles are pretty paralyzed.

He is taking the brutal news bravely, but he also wants an option that is not yet available in North Carolina  medically assisted death.

Eleven states and the District of Columbia provide the option under what are known as medically assisted death or MAID laws. New York has passed one that is awaiting the governors signature.

Hardy doesnt want to commit suicide. He wants to live as long as he can without severe mental or physical anguish, but he also wants the option of controlling when dies. In hospice, he said, patients can lose access to treatments for their conditions, and they can die unconscious or in a fog of pain medication.

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I would get treatment even up to the time that I die, Hardy said. If my pain and suffering get so bad, Im going to make that decision (to die). But people can get prosecuted for murder without a MAID law.

State Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, has sponsored a MAID law for 10 years, but it has received little support in the Republican-controlled General Assembly. This year, two prominent Republicans, Reps. Donny Lambeth and Julia Howard, have joined her in sponsoring a bill that seeks $150,000 for a study of MAID laws. Still, House Bill 410 has been marooned in the Rules Committee since March without a hearing.

So many people are passionate about this choice, said Harrison, who lost a sister to a brain tumor and a cousin and nephew to ALS. Were just trying to have a hearing so people can speak.

In North Carolina, opposition to MAID laws is strongest among religious groups, medical organizations and advocates for disabled people. They fear that legalizing medically assisted death devalues life and could lead to the euthanasia of vulnerable people.

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Ed Tiryakian pushes back against what he says are misplaced fears about medically assisted death. Hes the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Dying Right NC, a group run by all volunteers.

Medically assisted death  a process in which a terminally ill patient consumes a lethal combination of five drugs  is not what its opponents call a suicide, Tiryakian said. Rather, he said, it is a choice to have control over what doctors have assessed is inevitable within six months.

We cant choose how were born or where were born, he said. But we can choose how we die and where we die.

MAID laws bar the medically assisted death for people with dementia, intellectual disabilities or mental illness, and the drugs must be taken by the patient, not administered by a doctor or someone else.

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The option of controlling the time of ones death allows a patient to draw loved ones close, Tiryakian said, where they can say I forgive you, I love you, or forgive me.

For all the controversy, the record in states that have MAID laws show that many who have access to the option dont take it.

A 2023 review of Oregons Death with Dignity Act, the nations oldest MAID law enacted in 1997, reported that since the inception of the law a total of 4,274 people have received prescriptions under the DWDA and 2,847 people (67%) have died from ingesting the medications.

Hardy doesnt know that he would ingest the drugs, but he would like to have the option as a source of comfort.

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Theres much to be debated about the legal and moral aspects of giving the terminally ill control over their death. But theres no harm in having a debate. Legislative leaders should allow House 410 to have a full hearing.

Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@newsobserver.com
Justin Baldoni has missed a deadline to appeal his lawsuits against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and the New York Times.

Justin Baldoni didn't launch an appeal

The 41-year-old actor-and-director and his production company Wayfarer Studios had filed a countersuit against the couple for $400 million and the newspaper for $250 million after alleging he had been defamed in an article by the outlet about drama on the It Ends With Us movie set, which he claimed was part of a smear campaign against him, but a judge previously dismissed the lawsuits back in June.

And according to legal documents obtained by TMZ, the final judgement on the case has just been entered and all of Justin's claims have been thrown out of court because he has let the deadline for launching an appeal pass without making a fresh bid.

The judge had dismissed Justin's claim after noting Blake had included her own allegations of her co-star causing her "severe emotional distress" and instigating a smear campaign against her had been included in a civil rights case and therefore she couldn't be held liable for them, while the New York Times' reporting was based on the legal complaint.

Justin had argued the newspaper had selected certain emails and texts to make him look bad but the court ruled their reporting had closely tracked the former Gossip Girl's version of events.

And while Justin accused Ryan of falsely branding him a "sexual predator", the judge also found the statement consistent with Blake's allegations and her husband had no reason to believe them to be untrue, so the comment couldn't be part of a defamation claim.

Following the judge's ruling, Blake vowed to keep fighting for other women.

She wrote on Instagram: "Last week, I stood proudly alongside 19 organizations united in defending womens rights to speak up for their safety. Like so many others, Ive felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us.

"While the suit against me was defeated, so many dont have the resources to fight back.

"Im more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every womans right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity and their story.

"There are protections out there. Check out some of the incredible organizations below for resources and information.

"With love and gratitude for the many who stood by me, many of you I know. Many of you I don't. But I will never stop appreciating or advocating for you.

"- B (sic)"

Blake's post featured links to organisations such as the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, New York Cyber Abuse Task Force, Women's Equal Justice, and Women's Justice NOW.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a roadshow in Patna after multiple rallies at Arah and Nawada. He was accompanied by BJP State President Dilip Jaiswal and Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan. Notably, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was not seen at the roadshow. PM Modi also paid floral tributes to the statue of noted Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister addressed an election rally in Nawada and hailed the NDA's poll promise to provide Rs 3,000 in addition to the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi to farmers in Bihar, saying 'jinhe koi nahi poochhta, Modi unhe poojta hai' (Modi worships those whom no one else cares about). Prime Minister Modi took a jibe at the Opposition, claiming that the previous governments did not prioritise small farmers. He said, "The governments after independence did not prioritise small farmers. But this is Modi, 'jinhe koi nahi poochhta, Modi unhe poojta hai' (Modi worships those whom no one else cares about). In the last 11 years, our government has brought small farmers to the centre of the agriculture policy." He claimed that the government has provided Rs 650 crore to the 2 lakh farmers in Nawada. "We opened bank accounts for farmers, and they get the amount for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi in those bank accounts. The poor farmers have received Rs 20,000 crore. In Nawada, Rs 650 crore has been deposited in the accounts of 2 lakh farmers," he said. The Prime Minister invoked former PM Rajiv Gandhi and targeted the RJD-Congress-led Mahagathbandhan, alleging corruption under "jungle raj." "The amount reaches the accounts of the farmers without any cut, commission or corruption. If there was the 'jungle raj', they would have filled their own pockets. Congress' PM once said, 'If Re 1 is sent from Delhi, only 15 paisa reaches the villages.' What was this 'panja' which turned Re 1 into 15 paisa?" he said. "Farmers and people indulged in animal husbandry will receive double the gift as per the NDA's manifesto. They will receive Rs 6,000 under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, and the Bihar NDA has announced Rs 3,000 over that," PM Modi added. Meanwhile, Nawada will undergo polling in the second phase on November 11. The polling for the first phase will take place on November 6, with results to be announced on November 14. (ANI)
LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  The future of SNAP benefits is uncertain while the federal government remains shut down. Its causing many people to worry about how they will get their food. Some local businesses are stepping in to help however they can.

28/22 New Reporter Colby Hughes spoke to those businesses making an impact on their community. Those businesses in Lackawanna County posted messages online asking for donations, and their communities certainly showed up.

Just a few days ago, Zummos Cafe in Scranton decided to launch a baby formula drive since SNAP benefits for families were expiring for November. But since then, the drive has evolved into so much more.

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Were collecting all throughout November, whether it be diapers, wipes, formula, really anything that you are able to give to the mothers, fathers, and children who need support during this hardship, Zummos Cafe Barista Lauren Uricheck told 28/22 News.

The donations have already piled up thanks to the generosity of others.

Theyre definitely willing to lend a helping hand, which is so wonderful to see because times are very hard right now, you know? Whether it be financially, mentally, whatever kind of situation youre in, its so great to see the community coming together and to support one another, Uricheck explained.

Wheels hit concrete at new skate park in Scranton

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In another part of Lackawanna County, Pete N Reenies Main Street Grill is also accepting donations from the community, and they are blown away from what theyve received so far.

With their Brown Bag Meals initiative, anyone in need can get a full meal made with care and no questions asked.

There was a 99-year-old gentleman in here today. He got to fill up his bags, he got a hot meal, and we even watched one of our customers stand up, walk up, and hand him 20 dollars to help him further if he needed more. So, it was just really nice to see everybody band together and help those that need it, Pete N Reenies Co-Owner Justin Ciesielski stated.

The owners are overcome with emotion watching a little go a long way in this time of need.

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When I saw the 99-year-old man, I couldnt just send him off with one meal; I gave him two. Yeah. Its heartwarming, its very touching. Were a community, and were all in this together, Courtney Ciesielski, Co-Owner of Pete N Reenies, said.

Both Zummos and Pete N Reenies are accepting donations during their normal business hours.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News.
Following a US-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah, only state security should bear arms. However, Hezbollah insists on disarmament being limited to the country's south.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Hezbollah was seeking to rearm and that Israel would exercise its right to self-defense under last year's ceasefire accord if Lebanon failed to disarm the militant group.

At the start of a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Israel would "act as necessary" if Lebanon does not take steps to prevent its territory from becoming a renewed front.

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The US brokered a truce in November 2024 between Lebanon and Israel after more than a year of conflict sparked by the war in Gaza, but Israeli strikes across the border have continued sporadically.

The Israeli military said in a statement on Sunday that it had killed four Hezbollah members.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also said the Lebanese government must fulfill its commitment to disarm Hezbollah and remove the group from southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah supporters gather to mark the first anniversary of the assassinations of Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, in Tehran, Iran, October 2, 2025. (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA/REUTERS)

Katz said maximum enforcement efforts would continue and intensify to protect Israeli residents in the north.

Under the ceasefire accord, Lebanon agreed that only state security forces should bear arms, which means Hezbollah must be fully disarmed.

Hezbollah weakened from Lebanese army attacks, war with Israel

Lebanese army sources told Reuters that they had blown up so many Hezbollah arms caches that they had run out of explosives, and that they expect to complete their sweep of the country's south by the end of the year.

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Once the dominant political party in Lebanon, Hezbollah was severely weakened by the war with Israel, which killed thousands of fighters and longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Hezbollah has publicly committed to the ceasefire and has not opposed the seizures of unmanned weapons caches in the south. It has not fired on Israel since the November truce.

However, it insists that the disarmament, as mentioned in the text, only applies to the south of Lebanon and has hinted that conflict is possible if the state moves against the group.
NEED TO KNOW

Flights bound for New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport were temporarily halted amid staffing issues due to the government shutdown

On the morning of Sunday, Nov. 2, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted departures bound for Newark and later switched the advisory to a delay program

The average delay time was 116 minutes, with a maximum delay of 212 minutes

Flights bound for New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport were temporarily halted over the weekend  marking the second time in one week that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop at the airport.

According to an ATCSCC (FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center) advisory issued on the morning of Sunday, Nov. 2, the FAA temporarily halted departures bound for Newark.

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At around 9 a.m. local time, the ground stop was changed to a ground delay program, which is set to run through 12:59 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 3.

According to FOX 5 New York and ABC 7 New York, the delay will require flights departing from major regional air traffic centers  including all flights from the contiguous U.S. and Canada bound for Newark  to hold or delay their departures based on assigned slots.

In its advisory, the FAA wrote that the reason for the stop was a staffing shortage in the control tower, and the average delay time was 116 minutes, with a maximum delay of 212 minutes.



Getty Interior of Newark Liberty Airport. Interior of Newark Liberty Airport.

NYC Emergency Management wrote in a statement shared on X that "arrivals are being limited to as few as 20 planes per hour through this afternoon, with higher rates later tonight."

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"FAA planning notes show a possibility of a full ground stop later if staffing shortages or demand increases," the agency said.



"Flights headed to Newark may be held on the ground at their origin airports, and departures from Newark may be delayed because gates stay occupied when arrivals are backed up," the agency added.

The FAA issues temporary ground stops to halt or restrict flights headed to a specific airport. Planes bound for that airport remain at their origin airport until the FAA clears them to fly. The program is meant to manage air traffic when the airport is facing unsafe or inefficient conditions, such as staffing shortages, severe weather, runway closures or equipment issues.

FOX 5 New York reported that the status of the ground delay could likely change as a new shift of staff members report to work in New Jersey.

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"Delays at EWR often spread to JFK and LaGuardia so travelers flying to, from, or through NYC should expect schedule changes, gate holds, and missed connections," Emergency Management advised. "Anyone flying today should check flight status before heading to the airport and expect longer waits."



This delay marks the second time this week that Newark has been shut down amid staffing issues. On Oct. 29, a ground stop was issued, and delays lasted nearly 90 minutes, per NBC New York.



The staffing shortages come amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.

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The shutdown began on Oct. 1, after Congress came to a standstill on passing a spending bill that would finance the government beyond Sept. 30.

Some nonessential federal agencies that rely on congressional funding have been put on hold, and thousands of federal workers have been furloughed without pay  including air traffic controllers  until Congress can agree on a plan to fund the government.

Amid disagreements on how federal funding should be allocated, President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans failed to change the minds of Democrats, who held the line on their demands for the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) tax credits.

On Nov. 3, the shutdown will tie for the longest funding lapse in U.S. history since 2019.



Read the original article on People
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has a sharp message for Americans as millions gear up to hit the polls in several states Tuesday: "Wake up."

Speaking with NBCs Kristen Welker on Sundays Meet the Press, Newsom appeared confident in his partys ability to win races in places like Virginia and New Jersey, in part because of threats made by the Trump administration to implement strike teams across U.S. cities.

Newsom said: What the hell do we need to tell people to get them off their couch, to say, "Well, hold on, I may have liked his bluster, I may not have liked the last guy, but I didn't sign up for this?

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According to a Washington Post report of a leaked memo, the National Guard is creating a quick reaction force of thousands of troops to be trained in crowd control and civil disturbance, ready to deploy to U.S. cities by early 2026.

President Donald Trumps attempts to crack down on crime and illegal immigration continue in Democratic-controlled cities and states, including California. Thousands of National Guard troops have been deployed to cities to assist immigration officers in arresting and detaining individuals.

Newsom, who has previously indicated he is considering a White House bid in 2028, accused Trump of assaulting all institutions that stand in his way.

The California governor this month joined a pending lawsuit filed by Oregon leaders, asking a U.S. district judge to block the presidents effort to deploy California troops to Portland. Californias attorney general has already warned that he will sue the Trump administration if the president follows through on threats to send the National Guard to San Francisco.

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But Newsom on Sunday told Welker that he doesnt trust Trump's Department of Justice to handle the cases.

Are you kidding? Newsom said when Welker asked if he had faith in the DOJ. I have confidence in the lower courts, and I'm holding hope that there's one co-equal branch of government left, and that's the judiciary.
BEIJING (Reuters) -Dutch chipmaker Nexperia's China unit said on Sunday that it had established "sufficient inventories of finished goods and work-in-progress" and that its supply chain remained secure and stable after its parent halted wafer supplies.

The Dutch company suspended supplies of wafers to its Chinese assembly plant on October 26, calling it "a direct consequence of the local management's recent failure to comply with the agreed contractual payment terms," Reuters reported on Friday.

Its China unit called Nexperia's suspension "unilateral" and "extremely irresponsible", adding the Dutch parent's claim about contractual payment was "misleading and highly deceptive", according to a statement Nexperia China released early on Sunday.

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Nexperia China had asserted it had the right to operate independently of Nexperia Netherlands after Dutch authorities in September took over control of Nexperia from its Chinese owner Wingtech, citing concerns about possible technology transfers.

Beijing responded by blocking the company's products from leaving China.

"We have proactively initiated multiple contingency plans and are accelerating the qualification of new wafer supply sources," the Chinese unit said on Sunday on its Chinese social media account, adding that it expected to meet all customers' demands starting next year.

Existing inventories would sustain the Chinese unit's order fulfilment "through year-end and beyond," it added.

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Nexperia makes basic, inexpensive power-control chips such as transistors and diodes that cost only a few cents to buy.

However, such chips are needed in almost every device that uses electricity, and automakers that use Nexperia's chips have also warned of potential production disruptions.

The White House is expected to announce that Nexperia's China facilities will resume shipments, Reuters reported on Friday, after a trade truce was struck at a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in South Korea.

China's commerce ministry said on Saturday it would consider exemptions for Nexperia's chip exports from the country.

(Reporting by Xiuhao Chen and Ryan Woo; Editing by Jamie Freed)
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  Salt Lake City resident Mike McMonagle had some free time on Saturday morning before attending a family wedding.

So he entered Morleys Run, a 5-mile fun run/walk that raises money for The Tribune-Democrats Newspapers in Education program.

And he won.

McMonagle covered the course that went from The Grove to Stackhouse Park and through Cambria City before concluding at Peoples Natural Gas Park in a time of 28:21.03.

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It was a nice way to get some exercise this morning, he said.

McMonagle was very happy with his time, adding that he felt about as good as I could have expected, I think.

Heather Nugent won the women's race in 41:51.98.

Brittney Thompson, from Johnstown, took second in the womens field, posting a time of 43:25.07.

Ive just been using my kids (Tanner and Mattie) as motivation, Thompson said. I want them to see me achieve my goals so that they will have the urge to do so themselves in the future.  It means the world to me. My kids are my biggest motivation in everything I do in life.

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The funds raised support the NIE initiative in which The Tribune-Democrat provides daily newspapers to 24 school districts throughout Cambria, Somerset and Bedford counties to use as living textbooks.

We need to continue to teach our young people the importance of local journalism in print and digital, said Tribune-Democrat Regional Director of Audience Development Sue Sheehan, who co-organized the event with Customer Service/Sales and Marketing Manager Shelby Kause-Bowser. Educators can use The Tribune-Democrat to teach their young learners about the news of the day  local, national and international  and implement other daily content into their instructional day.

Sam Barry, a Southmont resident who finished third in the mens race, added that Supporting something that benefits schools and something like that in the area, I know its much-needed, necessary.

Im glad to help out something that supports the community.
Nicki Minaj has thanked President Donald Trump for speaking out about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

In an X post Saturday, the rap superstar said Trumps comments condemning the ongoing murder of Christians in the West African country gave her a deep sense of gratitude.

Politics: The 2025 Elections Have A Trump-Shaped Trap For Republicans

No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. We dont have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other, she wrote alongside a screenshot of Trumps comments.

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Minaj, who reportedly dedicated a performance of her 2014 tune Anaconda to Trump in the past, added, Thank you to The President & his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian. Lets remember to lift them up in prayer.

In an Oct. 31 Truth Social post, Trump called the mass slaughter in Nigeria an existential threat.

Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter, he wrote.

Noting that the United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other countries, Trump added, We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world!

Rapper Nicki Minaj thanked President Donald Trump and his administration for speaking out about the ongoing massacre of Christians in Nigeria. Getty Images

Following the songwriters post, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz thanked Minaj, born Onika Tanya Maraj, for using your platform to speak out in defense of the Christians being persecuted in Nigeria.

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We cannot allow this to continue, Waltz wrote in a Saturday X post. Every brother and sister of Christ must band together and say, Enough!

Life: Trump Used Charlie Kirk Eulogy To Brutally Attack Opponents. A Christian Leader Has Thoughts.

Waltz went on to invite the musician to meet with him in the U.S. Embassy in New York to speak further about the matter.

I would love to speak with you in more depth about what our administration is doing to protect Christians freedoms all over the world, he added, to which Minaj replied in a separate post she would be honored for the opportunity.

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Meanwhile, in another Truth Social post, Trump threatened to withhold aid from the Nigerian government if it continues to allow the killing of Christians.

He also told the U.S. Department of Defense to possibly prepare to go into the country guns-a-blazing to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.

I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST! he wrote.

Related...

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Nigeria has said it would welcome assistance from the United States in fighting armed groups, as long as its territorial integrity is respected, as US President Donald Trump continued to threaten military action in the West African country over what he claimed was the persecution of Christians there.

Officials and experts in Nigeria on Sunday denied Trumps claims of mass killings of Christians, noting that Boko Haram and al-Qaeda-linked groups target people of all faiths in Africas most populous country.

But Trump  who has directed his government to prepare for possible fast military action in Africas most populous country  doubled down on the threat on Sunday, saying he was he was considering a range of military options in Nigeria,

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When asked by a reporter if he was considering US troops on the ground in Nigeria or air strikes, Trump replied: Could be, I mean, a lot of things  I envisage a lot of things.

Theyre killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. Were not going to allow that to happen, he added.

Nigeria, a country of more than 200 million people, is divided between the largely Muslim north and mostly Christian south. Armed groups have been engaged in a conflict that has been largely confined to the northeast of the country, which is majority Muslim, and has dragged on for more than 15 years.

Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, a spokesman for Nigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an interview with Al Jazeera on Sunday, denied Trumps claims of mass killings of Christians.

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We are not proud of the security situation that we are passing through, but to go with the narrative that only Christians are targeted, no, it is not true. There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria, he said.

Weve continuously made our point clear that we acknowledge the fact that there are killings that have taken place in Nigeria, but those killings were not restricted to Christians alone. Muslims are being killed. Traditional worshippers are being killed The majority is not the Christian population.

Imomotimi Ebienfa said Nigeria was ready to work with its partners to fight this scourge of terrorism, but not any passive action that will undermine the sovereignty of our country.

He also vehemently denied that the Nigerian government has allowed the killings to take place.

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The killings are not sanctioned by the Nigerian government, he said. The killing of any Nigerian in any part of the country is a loss to the country  The perpetrators of these killings are terrorist groups Boko Haram and other al-Qaeda and [ISIL] ISIS-affiliated groups that are perpetuating this crisis.





An adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also echoed the sentiment.

Daniel Bwala told the Reuters news agency on Sunday that the country would welcome US assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity.

Bwala sought to play down tensions between the two states, despite Trump calling Nigeria a disgraced country.

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We dont take it literally, because we know Donald Trump thinks well of Nigeria, Bwala said.

I am sure by the time these two leaders meet and sit, there would be better outcomes in our joint resolve to fight terrorism, he said.

Trumps threat of military action came a day after his administration added Nigeria back to a Countries of Particular Concern list of nations that Washington says have violated religious freedoms. Other nations on the list include China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia and Pakistan.

Tinubu, a Muslim from southern Nigeria who is married to a Christian pastor, on Saturday pushed back against accusations of religious intolerance and defended his countrys efforts to protect religious freedom.

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When making key government and military appointments, Tinubu, like his predecessors, has sought to strike a balance to make sure that Muslims and Christians are represented equally. Last week, Tinubu changed the countrys military leadership and appointed a Christian as the new defence chief.

Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions, Tinubu said in a statement.

The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.

No Christian genocide

While human rights groups have urged the government to do more to address unrest in the country, which has experienced deadly attacks by Boko Haram and other armed groups, experts say claims of a Christian genocide are false and simplistic.

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All the data reveals is that there is no Christian genocide going on in Nigeria, Bulama Bukarti, a Nigerian humanitarian lawyer and analyst on conflict and development, told Al Jazeera. This is a dangerous far-right narrative that has been simmering for a long time that President Trump is amplifying today.

It is divisive, and it is only going to further increase instability in Nigeria, Bukarti added, explaining that armed groups in Nigeria have been targeting both Muslims and Christians.

They bomb markets. They bomb churches. They bomb mosques, and they attack every civilian location they find. They do not discriminate between Muslims and Christians.

Data by ACLED, a US crisis-monitoring group, backs Bugattis assertion.

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ACLED research shows that out of 1,923 attacks on civilians in Nigeria so far this year, the number of those targeting Christians because of their religion stood at 50.

Insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa often present their campaigns as anti-Christian, but in practice, their violence is indiscriminate and devastates entire communities, said Ladd Serwat, a senior Africa analyst at ACLED.

The violence in Nigeria, he told Reuters, is part of the complex and often overlapping conflict dynamics in the country over political power, land disputes, ethnicity, cult affiliation, and banditry.

Serwat said the recent claims circulating among some US right-wing circles that as many as 100,000 Christians had been killed in Nigeria since 2009 are not supported by available data.

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Ebenezer Obadare, a senior fellow of Africa studies at the Washington, DC-based Council on Foreign Relations, agreed and said the Trump administration should work with Nigerian authorities to address the common enemy.

This is precisely the moment when Nigeria needs assistance, especially military assistance, Obadare told Al Jazeera. The wrong thing to do is to invade Nigeria and override the authorities or the authority of the Nigerian government. Doing that will be counterproductive.
A veteran New Jersey cop committed suicide in a state park Tuesday, nearly nine months after his arrest for sharing images and videos of himself and his wife having sex alongside their two kids.

Brian DiBiasi, 40, was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in Lower Park in Hopewell Township shortly before 1 a.m., police confirmed to The Post.

Both DiBiasi and his wife, Elizabeth, also a police officer, lost their law enforcement jobs following their troubling February arrests.

Brian DiBiasi and his wife, Elizabeth, were arrested in February 2025 for having sex in front of their kids and sharing the videos in a private chat. Monmouth County Sheriff's Office

DiBiasi had been facing four criminal counts, including possessing fewer than 1,000 images of child sexual abuse; distributing images of child sexual abuse; and possessing images of child sexual abuse with the intent to distribute.

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The former cops were both charged with engaging in sexual conduct that would debauch the morals of a child.

His wife is shocked, said her attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, adding she was wholly unaware of her husbands incest fetish and actions.

Nobody saw this coming, Ballarotto told The Post. Brians case wasnt that bad, because what he did was not good, but it wasnt nearly as serious as what he was accused of doing.

Brian DiBiasi committed suicide in a state park Tuesday, nearly nine months after his arrest for the lewd acts. Facebook/Bri DiBs

This could have been worked out.

In early January, DiBiasi shared 36 media files containing nude pictures and videos of his wife, allegedly with their two young sons nearby, authorities alleged. Investigators also accessed chat logs where DiBiasi allegedly mentioned children being present while he and his wife had sex.

The couple lost their law enforcement jobs in the wake of their arrests. Facebook/Bri DiBs

DiBiasi had been part of an online fetish group, and used an artificial intelligence program to generate the perverse images he later shared with the group, sources told The Post.

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He was never formally indicted, as prosecutors were still investigating the allegations, sources said.

Ballarotto said he is not sure what DiBiasis suicide will mean for the case, but he anticipates his client will be cleared soon.

DiBiasi served with the Hamilton police for 21 years, while his wife spent 18 years working for the Mercer County Sheriffs Office.
BJP leader Janak Ram on Sunday praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the state's development, saying that progress from airports to highways reflects the development. He also said that unlike the Mahagathbandhan, the NDA holds even powerful people accountable for their actions. Speaking to ANI in Patna, Janak Ram said, "... There's a difference between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. In the NDA, even high-profile people accused of wrongdoing are held accountable and face legal action, whereas in the Mahagathbandhan, no action is taken, as in Lalu Prasad Yadav's case. Nitish Kumar's governance ensured law and order in the state. From airports to highways, credit goes to the leadership of Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi..." Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a rally in Hajipur, Bihar, as part of the NDA's campaign for the upcoming elections. Shah emphasised the strength of the NDA coalition, likening it to the five Pandavas, and asserted that the alliance is determined to stop the return of "Jungle Raj" in the state. He highlighted the unity and strength of the NDA coalition, comprising the BJP, JD(U), Chirag Paswan's party, and others. "In Bihar's elections, the NDA's coalition, like the five Pandavas, entered the election battle with strength. The Bharatiya Janata Party, JD(U), Chirag Paswan's LJP (Ram Vilas) Party, Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM Party, and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) Party are united and determined to stop the Jungle Raj. All the parties in front of us, there is a fight going on," said Shah. He questioned the opposition's ability to keep Bihar united when they cannot maintain unity within their own alliance. Shah accused the opposition of wanting to bring back the days of "Jungle Raj" and emphasised that only Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar can make Bihar a prosperous state. Polling for the 243-seat Bihar Assembly is scheduled to be held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with counting set for November 14. (ANI)
NEW JERSEY (PIX 11)  Immigration advocates rallied outside Delaney Hall in Newark Saturday, calling for the release of Ruperto Vicens Marquez, an Atlantic Highlands restaurant owner, who they said has been detained since Oct. 19th despite his pending immigration case and legal work visa.

The whole situation is outrageous, said Rhoda Sims, who attended the rally.

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There are many, many ways to do this, but just pulling people off the street, I dont think thats the way.

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The husband and father of three is originally from Mexico.

Atlantic Highlands Mayor Lori Hohenleitner tells PIX 11 News that Marquez holds a legal work visa and has been seeking relief from deportation. The Executive Office for Immigration Reviews website shows that Marquez has an active immigration case, with a court hearing set for May 2028. Given that, Hohenleitner and his advocates said theyre uncertain why he was detained.

Ive seen his employment authorization myself, Hohenleitner said. Its been renewed multiple times.

She added, They were looking for somebody else, thats from his attorney. Somebody who was possibly going to work in the restaurant, and they were in the car together, and they were waiting for this other person.

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As advocates rallied and distributed supplies to families waiting to visit loved ones in custody, they reflected on Marquez, someone they said was beloved in the Atlantic Highlands community.

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He was a lovely man, very pleasant, very friendly, he seemed very proud, said Kathy Rasa, who attended the rally.

PIX11 News reached out to ICE for more information regarding Marquezs detainment and is waiting to hear back.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said there is currently no need for a meeting between Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump to discuss the settlement of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS, as reported by European Pravda

Quote from Peskov: "Hypothetically speaking, such a meeting is possible, but at this point there is no need for it. What is needed now is very meticulous work on the details of the settlement issue."

Background:

In October, Trump cancelled a planned meeting with Putin in Budapest, saying he was disappointed with the pace of negotiations with Russia.

Putin himself, commenting on Trump's announcement that the bilateral meeting had been cancelled, said it had likely been "postponed".

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused the "pro-war political elite" of trying to derail the Budapest meeting.

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SNAP food assistance benefits are running dry this weekend for millions of Americans due to the government shutdown. It's creating a crisis for many Bay Area families who depend on the monthly benefits. Many in the North Bay businesses are stepping up to help.

A Thanksgiving food drive outside Pini Hardware in Novato evolved into something much bigger as SNAP benefits run out for millions of recipients.

"I believe that we are the change, and if everybody can come together as a community and come together to help," said Michelle Whiteside, food drive organizer.

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Celia Cuomo wants to help families, and she's donating what she can.

LIVE UPDATES: Impact of government shutdown on Bay Area, California SNAP benefits

"I find it cruel and heartless. I feel like, since I can make a little contribution, I'm happy to do that," Cuomo said.

Much of the non-perishable food donations will go to help local food banks. During our visit, Enchandra Johnson's family showed up with their donation, even though their SNAP benefits are running out.

"This is really sad, very impactful to families. I'm a single mother myself. Around the 7th I get mine. If I don't get them this month, I don't know what's going to happen on Thanksgiving," Johnson said.

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At Tommy Salsa restaurant, owner Javier Sanchez doesn't want anyone to go hungry. He's letting kids eat free for the next two weeks.

Families can come over and show us their card. We just give the burritos. it doesn't matter if it's four kids or 10. I don't come from a rich family. I know what I feel like not having anything to eat," Sanchez said.

MAP: Bay Area residents set to lose CalFresh benefits Nov. 1 amid government shutdown

"If you are food insecure, I can help," said Tony Adams.

Adams posted that message on Instagram. He's the founder of Mill Valley Pasta Company. He's offering to help anyone needing food at his stores or pop-ups, no questions asked.

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"We launched something called the Uncle Tony Program. People can come in, mention they're there to pick up an order for Uncle Tony. It's coded language for us, that they may be food insecure and need help. Sometimes the biggest barrier to getting help is having to ask for help," Adams said.

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank posted on its website that due to SNAP benefits running out for thousands, all monetary donations up to $80,000 will be matched thanks to several anonymous donors.

END HUNGER IN CA: How to help those in need in your community

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Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian defence forces in Russia's Kursk Oblast in January have asked to be transferred to South Korea and reportedly attempted to harm themselves.

Source: Barron's citing AFP and Yonhap

Details: The two prisoners of war made the request to be sent to South Korea during an interview for a documentary held on 28 October, Barron's reported.

"The two (POWs) asked the producer at the end of the interview to take them to the South," said Jang Se Yul, the head of an organisation that supports North Korean defectors and himself a defector from North Korea.

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The video interview has not yet been released, but according to Jang, it is expected to be made public in the coming weeks.

Yonhap also quoted Jang as saying that both prisoners expressed a desire to go to South Korea, a change from February, when only one of them voiced such a wish during a meeting with a South Korean lawmaker.

Photos show that a jaw wound one of them sustained during capture has now healed, though some bone deformation remains.

It was also noted that hand-drawn portraits of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were hanging above one of the prisoners' beds.

The prisoners reportedly asked the producer to provide eye medicine, knitted clothes, trousers, cigarettes, pens and books, Jang said.

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He also relayed statements from Ukrainian officials saying that the North Korean captives were in a state of psychological instability and had attempted self-harm.

Under South Korea's constitution, all Koreans are regarded as citizens, including those living in North Korea, and Seoul has stated that this applies to any North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine. South Korea has informed the Ukrainian government of its readiness to accept the prisoners if their intentions are confirmed.

Background:

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Cresson volunteer firefighter Richard Ward was the first person to arrive at the scene of the crash, three minutes and 53 seconds after receiving the dispatch on Labor Day evening.

Debris and human remains were scattered across the roadway. One vehicle was in flames.

Seventy-five seconds later, Ward pulled the driver out of the burning vehicle. Then he started triaging other victims and calling for additional crews to respond.

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For his actions on the night of the crash, Ward was honored Saturday with the Chisholm Trail 100 Clubs Lifesaver Award.

The club, founded in 2009, provides $80,000 benefits to every first responder in its service area in Johnson, Somervell and Parker counties, member Tom Cowan said.

The club started presenting Lifesaver Awards in 2022 to individuals who unquestionably saved the life of another person  who was in real and imminent danger of dying, Cowan said.

Wards nomination for the honor was approved unanimously, fire chief Ron Becker said.

Four people were killed, and four others injured in the Sept. 1 crash, Cowan said. The driver Ward pulled from the burning vehicle survived, and is still in the hospital.

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Ward said he doesnt remember much of the work he did that night.

When he arrived on scene, his years of training took over. Ward got involved with firefighting at age 16 and has been at it ever since.

I went up there, I saw what I saw, and I just kinda went to work, Ward said. Eventually, he turned around and Becker was there.

When Ward reviewed time logs of the incident, he realized how long he had been working the scene on his own before reinforcements arrived, he said.

Im one that likes to put recognition where its due, Ward said. He and Chief Becker both pass the recognition down to other firefighters, and to a group of bystanders who jumped in to help.

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Ward credits the witnesses help with allowing him to provide aid so quickly.

With everything that was going on at the scene, Ward said, he never got the Good Samaritans names; one was a nurse.

Without their help, this wouldve been a completely different scenario, Ward said.

If the bystanders come forward, Becker said in an email, they also deserve commendation.

The most precious gift a person can receive is the gift of time with which to live their life, Cowan said as he presented the fire department with the Lifesaver Clock trophy. Operations Chief Richard Ward was able to give the gift of time back to the individual and the surviving families.
Nov. 2TAOS  Can a line of computer code be a work of art? Agnes Chavez certainly thinks so.

Chavez is the mind and new media artist behind STEMarts Lab, a Taos-based nonprofit that teaches young people to connect the dots between the seemingly disparate worlds of science, technology, engineering and math  subjects often abbreviated under the acronym STEM  and art.

"I started it off as a research and development project in 2009, because it was just when the STEM movement was starting," Chavez told the Journal. "It's a term so ingrained in the culture now, but back then there was a push towards putting money into innovative solutions to close the gap in science and math scores in the United States."

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When that renewed emphasis on STEM led many schools to deemphasize art, Agnes saw an opportunity to blend the two disciplines with newly affordable digital art technologies, like computers, virtual reality, augmented reality and robotics.

Since becoming a nonprofit in 2020, STEMarts Lab has evolved into a robust youth leadership program and is considered one of the vanguards of STEAM in the Southwest, teaching students in their mid-teens to early 20s how science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics intersect.

Every year STEMarts Lab provides dozens of northern New Mexico students with educational experiences, funding and early-career opportunities that can be hard to come by in New Mexico schools, where STEM learning outcomes consistently lag behind national standards, especially in rural areas.

"Our mission is really to serve the rural communities of New Mexico," Chavez said. "That's really who we are, but this year we've come together and found a way to create remote learning so that our students are now from all over New Mexico. They don't just have to be from Taos."

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Google also made STEMarts Lab an affiliate of its Code Next program this year, awarding the program with $50,000 in funding over three years in addition to providing curriculum support and professional development training.

Students participate in STEMarts Lab ambassador and paid apprenticeship programs, the latter of which is designed exclusively to introduce young women into the historically male-dominated STEM field. These tracks can lead to full-time work with the nonprofit, which continues to expand its team.

Zion Flores, for example, is a senior at Cimarron High School. She began as an apprentice in 2023 and over the last two years has learned everything from basic computer skills to how to create custom language learning models in ChatGPT.

"Agnes specifically went over how to make these like really intricate models and teaches how to be creative in a way that I had never really thought about before, how to take your ideas of creativity, of art, and how to integrate that to science," Flores said. "I had never really thought about the two going together before I started working with the program."

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"Space Messengers" is one of the ongoing art projects Chavez created with the help of her students. The immersive, mixed-reality installation incorporates many of the concepts Chavez teaches about how STEM, art and even AI can be grounded in a community-minded ethos.

The piece has been a returning attraction at The PASEO, a street art festival in Taos that Chavez helped found in 2014.

"It's not just hard STEM," Chavez said, "like, 'Oh, let's build a robot, or let's just learn how to code.' Students really apply those STEM and digital art skills to communicate to the public a greater purpose, a greater concept about the world, our place in it or how to make the world a better place. There's the humanitarian side of it."

Following PASEO this fall, Chavez hosted a roundtable discussion, "A.I. in Action: Community Voices for Social Good." The forum showcased community projects that demonstrated how AI can be used to positively serve communities, such as through modeling how environmental disasters might play out using Google Street View.

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"AI, for me, is like any other technology," Chavez said. "I'm always interested in emerging technologies, and technology just means wherever humanity is at right now. It's a manifestation of the next step in our evolution."

But beyond the tech, Flores said STEMarts Lab surprised her for its dual emphasis on developing students' "soft skills," such as interviewing and presenting concepts to the public.

"What I've really learned is the value of communication, the value of learning to not only speak to people, but to teach," she said. "It really helped me learn how to interact with people in general, especially having gone through covid through a lot of my childhood. I was able to push myself out of my comfort zone."

Flores is now an ambassador for the program and is about to begin an internship with the nonprofit.

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STEMarts Lab is currently recruiting for its 2026 STEAM Teams. The deadline to apply for the girls apprenticeship program is Nov. 15.

Ivan Rodriguez, a graduate of the program who Chavez eventually hired as a video editor on her social media team, said STEMarts Lab offered him a pathway that changed his career trajectory for the better.

"These kinds of opportunities are rare in New Mexico," he said. "There's a lack of resources here and a lack of knowledge of what's available for students to expand their career or get into a new one. Everything I've learned here has been essential for making a leap from mathematics into a video editing career."
ASHLAND

American Legion Post 434, Fifth and Center streets, meets at 6 p.m. the first Thursday of the month; the bar opens at 5 p.m. Attendance and memberships are open for all military veterans. For more, call Harry Hause at 570-205-6550 or Fred Klock at 570-985-1026.

ORWIGSBURG

Free clothing and shoes are available 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Wednesday via Gods Helping Hands at Grace Bible Church, routes 61 and 895 East at 12 Molino Road. Donations in good condition are appreciated. For more information, call Sandy Kupres at 570-386-5893.

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POTTSVILLE

A Christmas pysanky egg workshop is set for 11 a.m. Nov. 22 at the Schuylkill County Historical Society headquarters, 305 N. Centre St. In the hands-on workshop, participants will learn to make their own pysanky (intricately decorated) egg with a Christmas twist under the direction of folk artist Georgine Postupak-Borchick. The cost is $30 for society members and $35 for nonmembers. Registration is required by calling 570-622-7540 or going online to the events page at schuylkillhistory.org.

POTTSVILLE

Ongoing programs at the Pottsville Public Library, 215 W. Market St., include teen gaming at 5 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays for ages 13-18 to play Dungeons and Dragons and other games, no experience necessary. Open arcade is featured at 9 a.m. Saturdays to play pool, foosball, shuffleboard and other games. For more information, call 570-622-8880. To register for programs, email to potchild@pottsvillelibrary.org with name, age, phone number and number of participants.

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SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

A concert remains on the agenda for Jerusalem Lutheran Church, 252 Dock St. At 3 p.m. Dec. 28, The Marimba Sextet will be featured in a Christmas concert; all are welcome. For more information, email to sandlslusser@comcast.net.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating a close-call incident near an Ohio airport.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On Saturday, Nov. 1, the NTSB shared on social media that they were going to send a team to investigate a loss of separation event between an inbound Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 and a Eurocopter helicopter near the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

NTSB is sending a team to investigate a loss of separation event between an inbound Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 and a Eurocopter helicopter that occurred on Oct. 29 near the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in Ohio.  NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) November 1, 2025

TRENDING STORIES:

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The close-call incident occurred on Oct. 29, according to the social media post.

A loss of separation occurs when two aircraft come closer together than the minimum safe distance, CBS affiliate WOIO-19 reported.

On Friday, Oct. 31, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shared a social media post ensuring safety amid staffing shortages related to the ongoing Government shutdown.

As we continue to reiterate, we will never compromise on safety. When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety, the FAA said in the post. This may result in delays or cancellations.

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Air traffic controllers have been working without pay for the past 31 days due to the shutdown, according to the FAA.

Nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks, ensuring the safety of more than 50,000 daily operations across the national airspace system (NAS).



As we head into this weekend, a surge in callouts is straining staffing levels at multiple  The FAA  (@FAANews) November 1, 2025

WOIO-19 reached out to the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, which shared the following statement:

The airspace is the FAAs jurisdiction. I recommend reaching out to them or NTSB for further information. Spokesperson for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

When reaching out to Southwest Airlines regarding the incident, WOIO-19 received the following statement:

Southwest Airlines Flight 1333 landed safely at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport on October 29 after the Pilots discontinued their initial approach to the runway due to the presence of another aircraft. The Pilots were in contact with Air Traffic Control throughout the event, and the Boeing 737-700 landed uneventfully a short time later. Southwest appreciates the professionalism of our Crew in responding to the situation. We are engaged with the National Transportation Safety Board and will support the investigation. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees." Spokesperson for Southwest Airlines.

The close-call event remains under investigation by the NTSB.

News Center 7 will continue following this story.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
New Yorks largest police union is demanding that the head of the citys police watchdog group step down because of an alleged rules violation  though the group denied hes in voilation, The Post has learned.

Civilian Complaint Review Board Chair Mohammad Khalid is violating the City Charter by holding a seat on Staten Island Community Board 2, the Police Benevolent Association claims. The CCRB investigates complaints against police officers and makes disciplinary recommendations to the police commissioner.

Your appointment at the same time that you serve a New York City community board is not only a direct violation of the City Charter, it defies all appearances or expectations of fairness for police officers who are subject to CCRB, the PBA wrote in letters to Khalid, Mayor Eric Adams and the Staten Island City Council Delegation.

The citys largest police union claims CCRB Chair Mohammad Khalid is violating the City Charter by holding a seat on Staten Island Community Board 2. nyc.gov

PBA President Patrick Hendry has been outspoken against the CCRB, which investigates complaints against police officers and makes disciplinary recommendations. Stephen Yang

Willful disregard for these rules represents a gross double standard, signaling that CCRB Board members do not hold themselves to the same rigorous standards to which they purport to hold police officers.

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The letter, which was dated Friday, goes on to claim the undisclosed conflict of interest invalidates the CCRBs disciplinary recommendations since Khalids appointment last year.

To remedy these violations and restore integrity in CCRBs decision-making process, you must resign from the agency immediately, the letter concludes.

The CCRB, however, said that Khalid is not on the community board, and hasnt been since he first got on the cop watchdog body.

The CCRB received correspondence from the PBA, which it forwarded to the New York City Law Department for review. The Law Department informed the CCRB that Dr. Khalid was removed from the Community Board by operation of law when appointed to the CCRB, Dakota Gardner, spokesperson for the Civilian Complaint Review Board, said in a written statement.
Following the recent murder of Dularchand Yadav in Mokama, Congress leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of establishing "hooliganism" under his rule. On October 30, Dularchand Yadav was killed during firing between the two sides while campaigning for the Bihar assembly elections in Mokama. Speaking to ANI, the Congress leader said, "Hooliganism was established under the rule of Nitish Kumar. In 17 years, 53-54 thousand murders have taken place. Over 130 murders took place even in the capital city, Patna." Singh further criticised the government, pointing out that despite the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), such incidents occur frequently. "Despite the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, police are frequently checking vehicles for weapons and money, yet shootouts occur with people arriving armed, which means the government is protecting such activities," he stated. The Congress leader added, "Nobody has the permission to murder someone." Meanwhile, following the arrest of JDU's Mokama candidate Anant Singh in connection with the murder case of Dularchand Yadav, Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar said that more than 80 people have been arrested, linked to these cases, including the clash on October 30, and an investigation was being conducted. DGP Vinay Kumar said, "SSP Patna made it clear in the press briefing how the arrests were made. This is now a matter of investigation. Only after the investigation will we know whose intentions were what. In the incident that occurred, Dularchand Yadav died. A clash occurred there. Supporters of both candidates, who were travelling in vehicles, clashed with each other. There was stone pelting as well. Cases have been registered in connection with all of these, and more than 80 people have been arrested in all of these cases, including this murder case." "Those found involved in the incidents are being arrested. Arrests are based on evidence. The weapon has not been recovered yet. Efforts are underway to recover it. First, it's being established who fired the shots. Once the weapon is recovered, forensic investigations will be conducted," he further said. Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, was arrested in the early hours today by Patna Police in connection with the murder case of a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, the Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said. Jan Suraaj Party's candidate, Piyush Priyadarshi, told ANI over the phone that Anant Singh should have been arrested sooner, as he added, "This is a good gesture, but it would have been good had they taken action sooner. Today, he was moving around in a convoy of 50 vehicles and even participated in election campaigning. When an FIR was registered against him, he should have been arrested sooner. But better late than never." Earlier, SSP said Anant Singh has been arrested along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. All three will be presented before the magistrate. "On 30 October, there was a clash between two groups of competing candidates. Stones were pelted, resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident. The deceased, Dularchand Yadav, aged 75 years, was a resident of the village where this clash occurred... Both sides registered complaints, and the police began investigating the case... Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the post-mortem report of the deceased, it appears that the Model Code of Conduct was violated, which is a serious issue. It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested. His accomplices, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have also been arrested with him... All three will be presented before the magistrate, and due investigation will follow," SSP Patna, Kartikeya K Sharma said while addressing the media on Sunday. On Saturday, two station house officers (SHOs) were suspended in connection with the murder case, officials confirmed. According to the Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) of Patna, Ghoswari SHO Madhusudan Kumar and Bhadaur SHO Ravi Ranjan have been suspended in the case. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered the immediate transfer of key administrative and police officials posted from the Mokama Assembly constituency and directed disciplinary action against them. According to an official statement from the poll body, the Commission has approved the transfer of Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Barh-cum-Returning Officer, Chandan Kumar; Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Barh-1, Rakesh Kumar; and SDPO Barh-2, Abhishek Singh, in connection with Mokama Assembly Constituency. (ANI)
A Queens principal who counts former Jay-Z manager Damon Dash and his wife as close pals turned her school into a slush fund for friends, whistleblowers charge.

Aneesha Jacko of PS 35 Nathaniel Woodhull in Hollis has spent tens of thousands in taxpayer funds to buy books published by pals, hired others as consultants, and boldly touted their brands on a sprawling lobby mural that is practically a billboard, staffers said.

It absolutely blows my mind that she is still allowed to run our school, a faculty member said of the principal, who took PS 35s helm in October 2020.



PS 35 Principal Aneesha Jacko is under scrutiny for purchases with school funds, including $10,000 for clothing from music mogul Damon Dashs company, Poppington, and hundreds of books by his wife, Raquel Horn. Obtained by NY Post

The Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools has been probing complaints about Jackos spending for more than three years, spokesman Jason Brooks confirmed.

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The case is still open, and therefore the SCI cannot comment, he said.

Officials have not accused Jacko of any criminal wrongdoing.

The SCI issued a report in 2022, faulting Jacko for granting excess overtime to a teacher she favored, costing $10,500 in improper payments.

The independent agency referred three other complaints to the city Department of Education to investigate.

PS Principal Aneesha Jacko, at right, used taxpayer funds to buy 1,285 books authored by a friend, Brianna Greenspan, left, in early 2022 at a cost of $61,000, records show. Whistleblowers complained to the citys Special Commissioner of Investigation. Obtained by NY Post

Jackos closest associates include Dash, who is Jay-Zs ex-business partner and co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, and Dashs wife Raquel Horn.

Dash, a controversial figure who overcame drug dealing in his youth, recently filed for bankruptcy to avoid $5 million in lawsuit debts.

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He currently owes New York $2.1 million in back taxes.

Horn last visited the 642-student PS 35 in February to celebrate her new book, Dusko Goes to Sea.

Jacko used school funds to buy some 500 copies, which retail for $14.95 each in paperback, according to insiders familiar with the purchase.

In 2022, the school bought similar boxloads of Horns first book, Dusko Goes to Space.

The total cost could not be learned.

Dash defended the purchases and blasted the SCI probe.

Theres a budget for them to buy books. So why is it a problem? he asked The Post, saying PS 35 tested the books first and found them beneficial.

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I think its a racist thing that shes even being looked at and scrutinized, he said.

Its just because shes a black woman that has good reading scores for her kids and gets more for her money. Shes trying to help these kids learn how to read.

Principal Aneesha Jacko had murals painted throughout the PS 35 lobby displaying the titles or words from friends books that she bought by the hundreds, sparking a probe of her spending practices. Obtained by NY Post

On state reading exams last year, 40% of PS 35 students in grades 3 to 5 tested proficient, below the 47% citywide average, the DOE reports.

On Jackos Instagram account, the principal cites a paid partnership with Poppington Clothing & Dame Dash Studios, the embattled moguls apparel line and music company.

Dash said the studio dissolved several years ago, and no partnership exists.

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Jacko used school funds to pay Poppington LLC $10,000 on March 9, 2022, according to school records reviewed by The Post.

The purchase was for t-shirts, Dash said, adding that he sold the clothes to Jacko at cost so she could get more for her money.

Staffers at PS 35 in Queens complained that Principal Aneesha Jacko purchased hundreds of books by friends, but hardly buys any other books for children to read. A series of books titled Everything is Right About You  435 copies  piled up. Obtained by NY Post

Jackos Instagram photos show the principal with Dash and Horn in social settings, including a birthday celebration at their home in Queens with the hash tag family in the caption, and a visit to a Legoland theme park with their kids.

Of course, once you start doing business with somebody, you get to know them, Dash said.

So we know her, but the only way we know her is from her educating us and telling us how to help her.

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Dash said he met Jacko through education consultant Dennis McKesey, founder and CEO of In Our Best Interest, and Off School Grounds, companies working with principals to reform urban education.

School records show $49,100 in payments to In Our Best Interest LLC. in early 2022.

Staffers say Jacko hired McKesey at least two years in a row before the SCI probe began.

Nobody knew what the hell he did for us, a teacher said.

There were no visible signs that this man was helping our school in any way. He was hardly ever there.

Jackos Instagram page features many photos and videos suggesting a friendship with McKesey along with Dash.

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The OSG website  currently down  promoted Jackos book, Audacity to Speak: Finding the Power to Be Your Most Authentic Self, which she self-published in 2022.

McKesey declined to comment on his role at the school.

Jacko also favored A. McClarty, a fellow member of Delta Sigma Theta, an African-American service sorority, tapping the school budget to buy about 100 copies of her book Reaching for the Stars: 10 Secret Steps to Connecting with Celebrities and Building Your Brand for all PS 35 fourth graders, insiders say.

The book encourages students  no specific age recommended  to reach out to celebs and learn about their careers.

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Jacko paid McClartys non-profit, Young Faces Smiling, $26,877 in 2022, school records show.

Other purchases, records show, include a jaw-dropping 1,285 books by Jackos friend Brianna Greenspan.

One purchase order lists 435 copies of Everything is Right About You with three different subtitles; 200 copies of I Am the Best Me; 630 copies of The Miracle Morning Art of Affirmations, which is a $20 coloring book; and 35 copies in Spanish.

Jacko used school funds to pay Sussman Education Inc., which publishes those books, $61,000 in early 2022, the records show.

She hardly buys any other books for children to read, a teacher said of the massive purchase.

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Instagram photos show Jacko and Greenspan as chums in one, smiling side-by-side in a hair salon captioned Sunday Funday in Queens.

According to DOE procurement rules, employees who spend taxpayer dollars shall encourage competition, prevent fraud, favoritism, and corruption, and obtain the best value in the interest of the DOE and the taxpayers.

Irking insiders, Jacko had a vast mural painted in the school lobby which displays the titles or words from books by Greenspan, McClarty, another friend Amen Rahhs Revolutionary, the letters OSG, Horns Dusko and the logo of Horns YouTube channel, Apple Fish Kids.

This is free advertisement for your friends with taxpayer dollars, a staffer complained.

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PS 35 staffers who spoke to The Post requested anonymity because they fear retaliation.

DOE spokeswoman Nicole Brownstein refused to answer any questions about Jacko. The principal did not reply to a request for comment.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown and a lack of funding, SNAP benefits have been delayed.

There is no exact date for when the government shutdown will end or when November SNAP benefits will be paid out.

More Local News

Due to the federal government shutdown, November SNAP benefits will not be issued at this time, reads the website for the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

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This includes regular November benefits, and any other expedited or prior month SNAP benefits issued after November 1. SNAP benefits cannot be issued until the federal government shutdown ends or other federal funding is provided.

New Yorkers who have exhausted any of their leftover SNAP funds from past months, which are still expected to be available, can use a variety of tools to find food.

On Saturday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced an initiative to support New York City SNAP recipients amid the ongoing federal shutdown.

New Yorkers who lack access to food can turn to these places, according to the city.

City Harvest

City Harvest distributes food across the five boroughs. You can use their food pantry map here to find a food pantry.

Food Bank for NYC

This food bank delivers food across the city and collaborates with over 800 community partners.

Lemontree

Lemontree makes it easy to find the best food pantries near you. You can find their map here.

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Make PIX11 your preferred news source on Google: Heres how

These are other resources in the City

The Campaign Against Hunger

The program is one of the most trusted anti-hunger nonprofits, working vigorously to end hunger and build health in NYC, according to its website. Information on their community distribution center can be found here.

The New York Family

A local publication has compiled a list of resources for individuals struggling to afford food without SNAP benefits.

Hunger Free America

Helps Americans anywhere find food resources. Their website is here.

For more information on SNAP benefits and resources, please visit this link.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
The NYPD detective who has been stationed in Israel for nearly two decades as part of the departments international liaison program has been removed from the post, The Post has learned.

Veteran detective Charlie Benaim was the departments eyes and ears in Israel as a member of the International Liaison Program, formed after 9/11, as part of a department initiative to create a worldwide security network.

Det. Charlie Benaim, a veteran NYPD detective and foreign liaison, has been stationed in Israel since 2007. Courtesy Charlie Benaim

It is unclear when Benaim left Israel but he is already back in the U.S. after 18 years at the post in the Holy Land, according to police sources.

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The liaison post is going to be filled, an NYPD spokesperson said in a statement. The process is ongoing.

The spokesperson refused to explain why the change was being made.

The liaison program, funded by the nonprofit New York City Police Foundation, had 18 officers operating in 14 locations around the globe as of late last year. It was not clear if there had been any shakeups at other bureaus.

The Post reported last year that some of the officers in the program were having tax trouble in foreign lands, and the NYPD was closing the Toronto bureau and others.

Benaim was moved out of his post for unknown reasons, police sources said. Courtesy Charlie Benaim

Benaim has been in charge of gathering intelligence, investigating events and sharing information with the NYPD to keep the city safe since 2007, he told The Post last year. When the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks happened, he was working with local authorities in Israel and sharing information with the NYPD, he said.

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Whenever theres a terror attack in Israel, I respond to the scene, Banaim said after the terror attacks by Hamas in southern Israel. He then sends his assessment back to the department.

The priority is to identify these trends and stop them before they have the potential to come to our city, he said.

Detectives with the NYPDs foreign liaison program are in posts around the world. Paul Martinka

NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner said last year that she learned about the 2023 surprise attacks in Israel during a phone call from Benaim while she was on a trip to Colombia with Mayor Eric Adams to discuss migration.

Weiner and Adams in 2024 announced that the NYPD was expanding the liaison program and sending officers to Tucson, Ariz., and Bogota, Colombia, to help address the migrant crisis and the flow of drugs and guns pouring through the southern US border.

The liaisons are in Paris, Jodan, London and the Netherlands among other locales. New York CIty Police Foundation

Were not going to wait for the problem to come to us, Weiner said at the time. Were not going to say this is someone elses responsibility. Its our job to protect our city.

City Hall refused to comment.
Former President Barack Obama called New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Saturday to praise his campaign and offer to be a "sounding board" in the future, two sources confirmed to ABC News.

In the 30-minute phone call, first reported by The New York Times, Obama said he was invested in Mamdani's success and the two discussed the challenges of staffing a new administration and accomplishing Mamdani's campaign promises.

"Your campaign has been impressive to watch," Obama told Mamdani, according to the sources.

Kylie Cooper/Reuters - PHOTO: Campaign rally for Democratic candidate for New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill, in Newark

NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani blasts 'shocking' remarks from JD Vance about his aunt

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It was the second phone conversation the two have had, and they also discussed potentially meeting after the election, the sources said.

The call came amid Obama's East Coast tour on Saturday to rally with gubernatorial candidates Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey.

Stephanie Keith/Getty Images - PHOTO: NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Campaigns Ahead Of Next Week's Election

NYC mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo calls opponent Mamdani divisive: 'You can be a New Yorker and not understand New Yorkers'

In contrast to statewide contests, Obama doesn't tend to endorse in municipal elections. But his silence on the New York City mayoral race was notable as he had weighed in on every other major contest ahead of Tuesday's election. That included publicly supporting voting "yes" on California's Prop 50 redistricting measure and even weighing in on Supreme Court retention races in Pennsylvania .

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In 2022, Obama endorsed then-Rep. Karen Bass for Los Angeles mayor in a competitive race against billionaire developer Rick Caruso.

Mamdani, a New York state assemblyman and self-described democratic socialist, has racked up endorsements from other establishment Democrats in the state heading into Election Day, including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Curtis Sliwa doesn't hold back on his thoughts for New York City as he vies for mayor's office

Mamdani faces former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Former US president Barack Obama phoned New York mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, offering support and guidance ahead of the November 4 election.

Former Democratic president Barack Obama called New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani Saturday and offered to be a sounding board if the 34-year-old frontrunner wins the election. He also praised Mamdani's campaign.

The call, first reported by the New York Times, was confirmed by Mamdanis spokesperson.

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"Zohran Mamdani appreciated President Obamas words of support and their conversation on the importance of bringing a new kind of politics to our city, said Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec.

Mamdani, a Uganda-born state assembly member, has polled well ahead of his main rival, former New York state governor Andrew Cuomo, ahead of the November 4 general election.

Cuomo is running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary. Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa is the Republican nominee.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI, Democratic candidate (R), during a mayoral debate with Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa (C) and Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, in New York City, Oct. 16, 2025. (credit: Angelina Katsanis/Pool via REUTERS)

Mamdani has won endorsements from other senior Democrats

Mamdani shocked political observers on June 24 with a convincing victory in the mayoral primary. Since then, his candidacy has won endorsements from party holdouts such as former vice president Kamala Harris and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and he has received a steady stream of financial backing from small donors.

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Mamdani's policies range from hiking taxes on New York City's wealthiest, raising the corporation tax, freezing stabilized apartment rental rates and increasing publicly subsidized housing, raising worries among the finance community that the city's competitiveness will suffer.

His rise presents both risks and rewards for the national Democratic Party, which acknowledges the need to appeal to young voters but could become more vulnerable to Republican attacks due to Mamdanis criticism of Israel and his democratic socialism.

On Saturday, Obama rallied alongside New Jersey Democrat gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill, who is competing in a closely contested race against Republican Jack Ciattarelli. He also attended a rally for Virginia Democrat gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Former President Barack Obama called mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani to praise his campaign, The New York Times first reported Saturday evening.

According to The Times, the former president spoke with Mamdani on the phone for nearly half an hour.

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Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist and Assemblyman from Queens, is favored to be the next mayor of New York City according to recent polls. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa are also running for mayor.

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The former president stated that Mamdanis campaign has been impressive to watch and indicated he is invested in Mamdanis success beyond the election.

PIX11 News contacted Mamdanis campaign, and a spokesperson confirmed the reporting in The New York Times about the call.

Zohran Mamdani appreciated President Obamas words of support and their conversation on the importance of bringing a new kind of politics to our city.

The New York City General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Barack Obama praised Zohran Mamdani in a private telephone call on Saturday, with just days to go before the New York City mayoral election.

The former US president described Mr Mamdanis campaign as impressive to watch in the call and offered his services as a sounding board, according to The New York Times.

Mr Obama, still a highly influential voice in the Democratic party, has avoided intervention in municipal contests since he left office and has not endorsed any candidate publicly in the New York race, which will go to the polls on Tuesday.

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In the phone call, which lasted roughly 30 minutes, Mr Obama expressed his support for Mr Mamdanis success beyond the election and discussed the challenges of staffing a new administration and how to enact the frontrunners policies of affordability in the city.

The 34-year-old relative newcomer in politics has seen a meteoric rise in the polls since his shock victory over Andrew Cuomo, the former governor, in the Democratic primary in June, and has long been widely projected to triumph in the race.

Mr Cuomo is running against him again as an independent candidate, while Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, is the Republican nominee.

But Mr Mamdani has been slow to attract endorsements from major holdouts in his party, who have attempted to sidestep association with his radical, far-Left policies.

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After distancing himself from Mr Mamdani for several months, Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, finally endorsed the Democratic nominee on Oct 24.

The division is also symptomatic of the rudderlessness of the Democratic Party, which is suffering from a crisis of identity as it continues to reel from sweeping losses in 2024, which saw it squeezed out of power in the federal government.

But the Democrats have been flocking to lend their support to a knife-edge vote in neighbouring New Jersey.

Mr Obama made an appearance at a campaign rally there on Saturday evening in support of Mikie Sherrill, the Democrat running for governor against Jack Ciattarelli, a Trump-endorsed candidate.

Barack Obama has praised Zohran Mamdanis impressive campaign - Michael M Santiago/Getty Images

Mr Obama used his speech to attack the Trump administration, saying: Its hard to know where to start, because every day this White House offers up a fresh batch of lawlessness and recklessness and mean-spiritedness and just plain craziness I mean, its like every day is Halloween, except its all tricks and no treats.

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Mr Mamdanis flagship policies include increasing taxes on New York Citys wealthiest, raising corporation tax, and promoting affordable housing through freezing stabilised apartment rental rates.

He has attracted particular admiration among young voters with a viral social media campaign, including a popular stunt which involved walking the length of Manhattan  around 13 miles  to speak to dozens of New Yorkers on the streets.

His supporters have contrasted his grassroots efforts, which included sending a 50,000-strong army of volunteers door to door, with the establishment status of Mr Cuomo, who has attracted financial backing from rich donors.

However, he has drawn criticism for comments about 9/11, which were mocked by JD Vance, as well as for likening the New York police department to the Israel Defense Forces in 2023.

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Mr Mamdani, a strident Israel critic, was also criticised for refusing to condemn the phrase globalise the intifada, which many view as a call to violence against Jewish people.

He would be the first Muslim mayor of a city thats home to almost 900,000 Muslims and has campaigned at 60 mosques across the city, delivering a viral address about his experience of Islamophobia at the Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx in the final weeks of his campaign.

Recent polling suggests Andrew Cuomo has halved Zohran Mamdanis lead in the race with just a week to go until the election - Jeenah Moon/Reuters

Mr Cuomo, who was forced to resign as governor of New York four years ago after the state attorney general found that he had sexually harassed around a dozen women, has trailed behind Mr Mandani by double-digit margins for the entirety of the election.

A raft of billionaire New Yorkers, as well as Donald Trump, have urged that Mr Sliwa drop out of the race to avoid splitting the anti-Mamdani vote with Mr Cuomo.

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Recent polling suggests that Mr Cuomo had halved the gap between himself and Mr Mamdani to 10 points a week before the election, but Mr Mamdani is still widely projected to forge his way to victory on Tuesday.

Early figures suggest the race could attract the highest mayoral election turnout in decades.

But the Democratic nominee warned voters on Thursday morning not to become complacent, saying that the billionaires who rigged our economy and tried to buy an election dont give up easy.

Mr Trump has called Mr Mamdani a communist and vowed to send troops onto the streets of Manhattan in the event of his victory, while Republicans pledged this week to make the frontrunner synonymous with the Democratic Party nationwide.

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Mr Obama first called Mr Mamdani in late June after his primary victory, as Patrick Gaspard, a Mamdani adviser and former political aide in the Obama administration, said the former head of state had initiated the discussion unsolicited and unprompted.

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Former President Barack Obama talked with mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani by phone Saturday but withheld endorsing him  after publicly backing even widely ridiculed Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2013.

The Democratic ex-prez was just across the Hudson River at a last-minute rally for New Jersey Dem gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill at Essex County Community College in Newark on Saturday, but he didnt venture into New York City to lobby for the partys mayoral hopeful in person  much less throw his public support behind him before Tuesdays election.

Mamdani campaign adviser Patrick Gaspard, who served as director of White House Office of Political Affairs and US Ambassador to South Africa under Obama, futilely tried to downplay the former presidents lack of endorsement as one of the races latest polls showed Mamdani foe Andrew Cuomo closing in.

Former President Barack Obama joins a long list of mainstream Democrats who have not publicly thrown their support behind lefty Zohran Mamdanis bid for New York City mayor. AP

President Obama doesnt endorse in local races. Thats a longstanding rule post-presidency, Gaspard claimed to The Post. He endorses in general election races for federal office and governors. His call to Zohran is a huge boost at a critical moment and a signal to New Yorkers.

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But Obamas so-called endorsement rule is apparently plenty bendable.

In fact, the 44th president has endorsed numerous candidates for mayor over the years, including the unpopular de Blasio.

Other mayoral candidates endorsed by Obama also included beleaguered Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, as well as her predecessor Eric Garcetti, and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, who later served as Obamas White House Chief of Staff.

The former prez has even waded into mayoral contests in smaller cities, endorsing Rick Kriseman for mayor of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Caroline Simmons for mayor of Stamford, Conn.

Mamdani is ahead by 6.6% leading into Election Day, according to a new AtlasIntel poll. Getty Images

Mamdani spokeswoman Dora Pekec meanwhile tried to equally explain away the non-endorsement in a statement to The Post.

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Zohran Mamdani appreciated President Obamas words of support and their conversation on the importance of bringing a new kind of politics to our city, Pekec said of the pairs phone call.

But Republican strategist Rob Ryan said, Even Barack Obama realizes Mamdani is bad for New York and the Democratic Party.

Obama is trying to protect other Democrats from the stain of supporting a communist for mayor in Americas greatest city, Ryan said.

Veteran political consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who worked on Democrat Bill Clintons presidential re-election campaign, added to The Post, Obama is being very careful.

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An Obama endorsement of Mamdani could be used against Democrats across the country next year in close elections when theyre trying to back the House.

Far-left politicians such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have been on the campaign trail with Mamdani, but mainstream Dems including Obama have conspicuously avoided throwing their support behind the radical Democratic Socialist.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) have declined to endorse anyone in the contentious mayors race, and Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries only publicly backed Mamdani on Oct. 24, a day before early voting in the city began.

New York Rep. Tom Suozzi, a moderate Democrat, even announced he was backing former Gov. Cuomo  a Dem who is now running as an independent after Mamdanis stunning primary victory.

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Im a Democratic Capitalist, not a Democratic Socialist. I endorse Andrew Cuomo, Suozzi said in a social-media post.

I can not back a declared socialist with a thin resume to run the most complex city in America, Suozzi said of Mamdani.

Obama appeared at a campaign rally in Newark for New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill on Nov. 1, 2025. Aristide Economopoulos

In addition to the 34-year-old Mamdanis lack of executive experience, he once backed the controversial Defund the Police movement and has pledged to raise taxes on businesses and wealthy New Yorkers to help fund his socialist agenda, which includes city-run grocery stores and free buses, the latter of which critics have warned would be magnets for drug users.

Mamdani still leads Cuomo by 6.6 percentage points with 72 hours to go until Election Day, but it represents the slimmest edge hes had since July.

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According to a new AtlasIntel poll released Saturday, Mamdani is in the lead with 40.6%, compared to 34% for Cuomo and 24.1% for Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.

But the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate currently has Mamdani ahead by an average of 14.5%, leaving him well-positioned to be named the Big Apples next mayor.
A minor argument took a violent turn in Delhi's Govindpuri area when a man opened fire, leaving two people injured, including a bystander. The accused, identified as Abdul Kadir alias Lalla, was arrested within two hours of the incident, and police recovered blood-stained clothes and an empty cartridge from his possession, according to an official Delhi Police release. According to the press release, a PCR call was received (DD No. 9A) on November 2 at 1:00 AM at PS Govindpuri. The caller reported that her brother-in-law had been shot near Sant Nirankari School and is on the way to the hospital. Upon arrival at the scene, police staff ascertained that the victim, Rajkumar, was present on the back side of a Jagran chowki when the accused, Abdul Kadir alias Lalla, also arrived. An altercation broke out & escalated between them. After that, the accused allegedly fired three rounds at Rajkumar, during which he sustained gunshot wounds. Aman Joshi, a bystander, also sustained a gunshot injury to his hand below the elbow. The injured were initially rushed to Mazidia Hospital and were later shifted to AIIMS Trauma Centre. A case FIR No. u/s 109(1) BNS & 25/27 Arms Act was registered at PS Govindpuri, the press release said. The release further added that, sensing the gravity of the offence, a dedicated team comprising Insp. Vineet Malik, HC Jaibhagwan, HC Dinesh Chand, HC Dinesh, and Ct. Deepak was assigned to work out the case. The team developed local intelligence, and through technical analysis, the accused, Abdul Kadir alias Lalla, who had fled the scene after the incident and was planning to flee Delhi, was apprehended within two hours by the team. Further investigation into the case is underway to recover the weapon used in the commission of the offence. During interrogation, it was revealed that the accused runs a meat shop at his residence. He also revealed that he was involved in a heated altercation with the victim. In a fit of anger, he fired upon the accused, resulting in the victim sustaining serious injuries. The police have recovered blood-stained clothes and one empty cartridge. The accused Abdul Kadir alias Lalla has a significant criminal record and is a BC of P.S. Govind Puri. He was recently released on bail two months ago in a case (FIR No. 380/13 u/s 302 IPC, PS Govindpuri) and was last arrested in the same case on a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW). He is previously involved in 07 criminal cases, the press release said. (ANI)
Former President Barack Obama campaigns for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mikie Sherrill in Newark on Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Reena Rose Sibayan for New Jersey Monitor)

[2025 governor's race Voter Guide: Where NJs governor hopefuls stand on the issues]

NEWARK  Former President Barack Obama made a push for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rep. Mikie Sherrill during a raucous campaign rally just days before Election Day.

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If you meet this moment, if you believe change can happen, you will not just elect Mikie Sherrill as your next governor, you will not just put New Jersey on a brighter path, you will set a glorious example for this nation, Obama said Saturday to a packed house in the Essex County College gym.

More than 2,000 people attended the rally, cheering for the former president, chanting in support of Sherrill, and holding blue-and-white signs reading, Hit the road, Jack, and Lets land this, a reference to Sherrills background as a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Navy. Hundreds who couldnt snag tickets watched on a screen outside.

Saturdays event was the latest in a string of events to boost voter turnout ahead of Tuesdays election, where Sherrill and Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli are on the ballot. Polls show Sherrill ahead with a narrow lead, and Ciattarelli has been holding his own campaign stops with high-profile guests.

New Jersey is one of two states with a gubernatorial election this year, and they are often framed as a signal of voter sentiment one year after the presidential race and a year ahead of congressional elections.

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Democrats from across the state came out to support Sherrill, including Sen. Cory Booker, Reps. LaMonica McIver, Rob Menendez, Frank Pallone, and Nellie Pou, and local lawmakers like state Sens. Teresa Ruiz and Vin Gopal. Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy, also spoke to the crowd in advance of the ex-presidents remarks.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and former teachers union chief Sean Spiller  who all ran against Sherrill in the June Democratic primary  also attended.

Sherrill, who walked on stage to Bruce Springsteens Born to Run, was greeted with a standing ovation and chants of Mikie! Mikie!

She largely repeated her standard stump-speech promises, saying she would stand up to President Donald Trump, make New Jersey more affordable, and fight for the middle class. She also restated her pledges to freeze utility rates on her first day in office, lower prescription drug costs, and improve public schools.

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Sherrill attacked Ciattarelli for aligning with Trump, who held a tele-rally in support of the GOP nominee last week. The crowd often booed at the mere mention of Republicans.

Im feeling nothing but courage. New Jersey will need courage, courage to make a change, Sherrill said during her 20-minute speech. Anger and courage are the daughters of hope.

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mikie Sherrill greets a crowd in Newark on Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Reena Rose Sibayan for New Jersey Monitor)

More than 1 million people have already cast ballots in New Jersey, either through early in-person voting or using mail ballots. Sherrill encouraged everyone to get their friends, family, and frenemies to get out and vote.

Obama took the stage at around 7 p.m., hours after appearing in Virginia to support Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee in that states governors race. During his 40-minute speech, during which the audience in Newark remained standing, Obama told voters they have a candidate worth being excited about.

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He slammed Trump for unleashing masked law enforcement to enforce immigration laws, wreaking havoc on federal workers and people dependent on food stamps during the government shutdown, and weaponizing the U.S. Department of Justice to go after his political enemies.

Obama said the country and our politics are in a pretty dark place right now.

The good news is there is something you can do about it, New Jersey, right here, right now. Youve got a candidate for governor  someone who sees you and knows your struggles, he said.

Obama said Sherrill, if elected, would work with anyone if it helps the people of New Jersey, and she will listen to everyone too, whether they voted for her or not.

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He also took aim at Ciattarelli for running for governor three times  Obama joked he believes in persistence, but at a certain point  and said that during Ciattarellis current campaign, he had to suck up to Trump.

At the end of the day, what this election is about, what politics in a democracy is always about, is values, he said. What do we care about? What are we voting for? What do we prioritize? What are our core convictions?

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After considerable work from multiple stakeholders, South Carolina is set to open its first new state park in 20 years.

As local station WPDE ABC 15 reported in late August, Georgetown County, situated between Myrtle Beach and Charleston, will be the site for the park. Coming in 2026, the effort has been a joint venture between the Open Space Institute; the state's Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism; and the North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Program.

About 300 acres of riverside land conserved by OSI will be joined with 850 acres of the Mingo and Cold Creek tracts transferred to SCPRT.

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"I am so happy to see the permanent protection of land that will safeguard delicate aquatic environments," said Erik Smith, a research coordinator with the NERR Program.

When it opens, the Black River State Park will offer outdoor recreation and serve as a haven for plants and wildlife. It's part of the broader Black River Initiative, which seeks to establish a network of conserved lands along the river and its tributaries.

The river is home to a rich array of species. Among these are the bald cypress trees, some of which may have stood for over 1,000 years. Many more, however, were previously harvested for timber.

The spotted turtle is another iconic resident, so-called for its distinctive yellow dots. This endangered semi-aquatic species relies on wetland habitats, which are steadily decreasing.

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The establishment of the park will help to protect natural resources and vulnerable species while providing opportunities for the public to connect with the outdoors and learn about the value of local conservation. It's just one of many similar developments taking place across the United States and around the world, where investments in the footprint of public lands can double as investments in local economies, community health, and resilience.

Since parks can draw both residents and tourists, small businesses often benefit from foot traffic and local travel. Support for tree populations, meanwhile, can result in cleaner air for neighborhoods nearby. And living shorelines of wetland plants can store water and reduce erosion, helping to mitigate floods.

Under the current administration, public lands seem to be facing challenges in the U.S. A recent proposal, for example, would have some lands used for coal mining, gas and oil drilling, timber production, and agricultural grazing instead of conservation, recreation, and renewable energy. Meanwhile, state-level projects like Black River State Park could still take flight, especially when championed  and funded  by multiple stakeholders.

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In a statement, OSI's Maria Whitehead described the effort to open the park as "time well spent" and thanked the other groups involved.

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"We are deeply grateful to our partners for their invaluable contributions," said Whitehead, "and we could not be more excited to join the community in celebrating the opening of the first Black River State Park property next year."

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Hikers were shocked to discover a giant invasive species of lizard  the Argentine tegu  in a California park.

What's happening?

An article in Smithsonian magazine revealed that the Argentine tegu was spotted in Joseph D. Grant County Park, not far from San Jose.

After the invasive species was discovered by hikers, park rangers began to search for the lizard and told members of the public to keep an eye out. Though the Argentine tegu does not pose a physical threat to humans, these lizards are not meant to be in the United States and can cause serious harm to local ecosystems.

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This tegu could be an escaped pet, according to the Smithsonian. "Please do not go searching for the tegu or trap it," Santa Clara County Parks stated on Facebook. "If you see it, back away safely and notify rangers as soon as possible."

The Sacramento Bee later reported that park officials had captured the tegu, ending the concern with the hope that it was an isolated case of an escaped or released pet. Even such cases can be dangerous for leading to invasive species problems, however, if two or more in the same area find each other and breed.

Tegus can grow up to 5 feet long, and they eat eggs and hatchlings of native species, such as ground-nesting birds, snakes, alligators, and tortoises.

Why are invasive species such a problem?

Often, invasive species are introduced to ecosystems by humans, and their presence has the potential to decimate native ecology. They are fast to reproduce and make survival difficult for the plants and animals that naturally are part of the habitat.

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By competing with native species for food and water, the whole balance of the area can be thrown into chaos and endangered species can be pushed closer to extinction.

What's being done about invasive species?

Protecting native species by prioritizing native plants, animals, and habitats can conserve natural resources and ensure food security, and it can also limit the spread of diseases among both animals and humans.

In Florida, it's illegal to own tegus because of how invasive they are, and officials are in the process of trapping and euthanizing as many of these lizards as they can.

"We can slow them down, but we can't stop them. They're here and they're reproducing," Kevin Donmoyer, an invasive species biologist at Everglades National Park, said, per Smithsonian.

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Though tegus are illegal to own and breed in many parts of the U.S., including Florida, they are legal to own in California. Perhaps if the invasive species problem gets worse, local governments will consider tightening the laws around owning these lizards.

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An elk hunter survived an animal attack in southeastern British Columbia, according to the CBC. Conservation officers believe the hunter's elk calls may have attracted the bear, leading to the encounter in early October.

Instead of beckoning game, the hunter's calls  mimicking the sounds of a bull to lure a female elk  may have caught the attention of a grizzly bear and her cubs. The attack occurred in the East Kootenay area of British Columbia, a mountainous region of Canada.

"We believe the hunter was calling and we believe the calls attracted the grizzly bear family group towards him," said Tobe Sprado, B.C. Conservation Officer Service inspector, per the CBC.

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Grizzly bears can be not only large but also aggressive, fast, and unpredictable, making them an apex predator at the top of the food chain. The hunter reportedly managed to fire one shot in self-defense, which scared the bears off and allowed him to wait for rescue.

CTV News later confirmed that the adult grizzly bear was found dead, noting that officials were "able to confirm the deceased bear was the same one involved in the attack through DNA analysis."

As of October 18, the cubs had not been located, but the hunter's condition had stabilized and he was recovering in the hospital.

As human activity encroaches on green spaces, people and wildlife are pushed closer together. Sprawling construction and bright, noisy cities are bringing animals into greater proximity with humans and altering their behavior.

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This human-wildlife encounter, however, seemingly saw the human enter more of the animal's realm. And while the hunter should not be blamed for his own terrible injuries, the serious situation has provided an educational opportunity in letting the public know that use of animal calls could bring danger.

Outdoor activities that bring people into close proximity with wildlife  from hiking to camping, fishing, and hunting  require heightened vigilance. Outdoor enthusiasts will want to be prepared with information about any recent bear sightings and with tools they know well how to use, such as bear spray.

Sprado underscored this essential item, telling the CBC, "Sometimes you might get separated from your firearm, or the predator may be too close for you to use the firearm so they need to have access to bear spray."

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Outdoor enthusiasts should also let friends or family know about their plans, including details about where they are headed and when they plan to return. This information can support search and recovery efforts should anything go awry. According to the CBC, the authorities were aware of the hunter's location, which expedited his rescue.

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In the long term, supporting the conservation of public lands as protected, uninterrupted habitats for wildlife can also help to improve safety for humans and for animals.

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A ban has been proposed on discharging firearms for waterfowl hunting in the Grassy Point area of Superior, Wisconsin, according to the Superior Telegram. Once a popular hunting spot, the area is undergoing new development, prompting officials to consider it no longer suitable for hunting.

The recommendation was made on Oct. 16 by Jason Sereck, the city's planning, economic development, and port director. As reported by the Superior Telegram, he wrote in a memo to committee members that "the huntable area has been condensed."

Sereck also expressed concern for the safety of his workers, noting that more than 60 employees are assigned to work in the area.

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Councilor Nicholas Ledin told the Superior Telegram that the ban makes sense since there are other areas where hunting waterfowl with firearms is still allowed.

Hunting in the region has been a practice since the 1750s, when French Canadian settlers arrived. It was once a method of survival; however, today it is primarily done for sport.

While enjoyed by many, hunting can threaten species with extinction. The survival of waterfowl is essential to maintaining healthy ecosystems. When one species declines, it can trigger a cascade of effects that disrupt the entire ecological balance. When hunting is overdone, it becomes increasingly unsustainable.

A hunting ban can also encourage more community use of the area, as safety concerns may have previously deterred visitors. It can also boost ecotourism and recreational opportunities that don't interfere with local biodiversity.

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Additionally, conservation of wildlife allows future generations to enjoy the outdoors, boosting overall well-being.

Similar bans on hunting migratory birds are being enacted worldwide, as well as bans on hunting other animals, including bears and turtle doves.

Conversely, some argue that regulated hunting does not disrupt ecological balance. They claim that such bans can instead lead to habitat loss, as developments are taking over these lands.

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On a Reddit thread, commenters shared their opinions on hunting.

One user said, "I support hunting as long as it's not [an] endangered species."

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Another comment read, "No, it shouldn't be illegal for invasive species."

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German authorities have sparked an uproar after greenlighting a controversial project near a popular tourist destination and protected nature reserve.

What's happening?

As detailed by the Guardian, after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Germany began exploring alternative gas suppliers and considering domestic dirty fuel projects to meet energy demand.

Recently, regional authorities approved a Dutch-German venture to extract 13 billion cubic meters of gas just outside the Wadden Sea nature reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site along the coasts of the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark.

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As the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world, the one-of-a-kind reserve attracts millions of visitors to the Wadden Sea islands and the surrounding area every year, generating significant economic revenue for residents, according to UNESCO.

Jurgen Akkermann, the mayor of Borkum  the island closest to the greenlit gas platform  told the Guardian that residents view the project, headed by One-Dyas, as "a punch in the face."

Borkum hopes to end its reliance on polluting fuels for heating by 2030. It has plans to use geothermal energy  one of the most reliable types of clean energy because the heat powering it, which is produced and stored within the Earth, occurs around the clock.

"You're taking care of it, you're engaged  and then you get a gas platform shoved in front of your nose," Akkermann said.

Why is this important?

While oil, gas, and other fossil fuel projects have historically been a driver of rising prosperity, resulting in social, economic, and technological development, they also have significant drawbacks. For one, air pollution from these fuels causes millions of annual premature deaths.

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Offshore fossil fuel projects also pose a significant threat of spills or leaks. Recovery efforts can take years, leading to long-term health consequences and disrupting tourism and the marine food web. The Walden Sea also hosts millions of migratory birds every year, supporting biodiversity on a global scale. A biodiverse ecosystem is crucial to healthy communities.

"We've been confronted with the 'not in my back yard' argument  that everyone wants gas but nobody wants to be affected by it," Akkermann told the Guardian. "But I always say: This isn't just any backyard."

What can be done about this?

Because of the aforementioned risks, among other consequences, there's a global push to transition to cleaner, safer forms of energy, including solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal, and hydropower. In the not-so-distant future, the "holy grain" of clean energy  fusion, which doesn't have long-lasting radioactive waste  may also become a reality.

As for the Walden Sea project, a spokesperson for One-Dyas said the company behind the venture would take steps to minimize its impact, including electrifying the platform, which can be powered by clean energy, according to the Guardian.

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"The inconvenient truth is that there are not yet enough renewable energy sources to meet the growing demand for energy," the spokesperson said in defense of the project.

However, Germany has indicated it may scale back renewable growth after a Deutsche Bank report suggested electricity consumption might grow more slowly than previously believed. Critics fear this will be used as an excuse to set back progress toward cleaner energy.

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One California town has initially approved a ban on the sale of all tobacco and nicotine products, including vapes and electronic cigarettes.

As the Press Democrat reported, the Tiburon Town Council has unanimously voted to enact the sweeping tobacco ban.

First introduced by Tiburon Mayor Holli Thier, the measure will require additional readings before eventually being finalized.

Once the ban is official, Tiburon will join Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach as just the third California municipality to completely outlaw the sale of tobacco products.

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Leading the charge for the support of the ban were a collection of area high school students, who presented their case for the measure before the Tiburon Town Council.

"We're going to talk about tobacco and nicotine use in Marin," said Rhett Krawitt, a senior at Redwood High School, per the Press Democrat. "Twenty-five percent of Marin [County] seventh-graders said it was easy to obtain vape products. Comparatively, 62% of ninth-graders and 70% of 11th-graders said that it was easy to obtain these vape products. So that means that Marin needs to take actionable steps."

Vaping among underage users can lead to a number of significant negative impacts, including severe health issues.

A study published in the Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives noted that hindered brain development, increased addiction, and a higher likelihood of using other tobacco products are particular concerns for young people, in addition to potential respiratory and cardiac concerns.

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In many cases, flavored vape products and vape vending machines have increased the accessibility of vape products to underage users.

Jaime Rojas, a lobbyist for the National Association of Tobacco Retailers, voiced his concerns regarding the overreach of the ban.

"This ordinance simply isn't necessary," Rojas said, per the Press Democrat. "Tiburon has no retailers selling tobacco products. That makes this solve a problem that does not exist."

Rojas explained that passing an ordinance would primarily affect businesses in the community.

Bob Curry, co-chair of Smoke-Free Marin Coalition, said that while Tiburon has banned the sale of tobacco products in the past, the new ban would erase any doubts about the town's direction and help set a precedent.

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"Many people may ask, why would the town of Tiburon be looking at this since they don't have any tobacco retailers?" Curry told the publication. "I think the main reason is the whole goal of our tobacco program in Marin County and the state is to change social norms."

Banning vape products can also lead to a reduction in electronic waste, decreasing the number of single-use, disposable vapes entering landfills and the environment.

By restricting access to single-use devices, communities are able to limit the amount of plastic, lithium-ion batteries, and toxic chemicals that have the potential to leak into the soil and local waterways.

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.
As Election Day approaches, the mayoral race for the new Ogden Valley city, set to materialize next January, is intensifying.

Campaign signs have been defaced, backers of each hopeful  Shanna Francis and Janet Wampler  have taken to social media to praise those they back and criticize those they oppose alternately.

Facebook has gotten really nasty and dirty, and its really sad. Like I said, you would think this was Chicago or Detroit or New York or L.A. Its little Ogden Valley, Francis said.

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The would-be mayors of what will be one of Utahs newest cities, meantime, say theyre staying above the fray. Aside from selecting the citys first leader, voters will also elect five city council members to help run the new Weber County city in municipal voting that culminates next Tuesday, Nov. 4.

I run, and Ive been determined to run a clean campaign from the very beginning, and I believe that Ive maintained that, said Wampler. Ive been very clear with myself and my team and everybody that I have no interest in flinging mud or even talking about my opponent.

Among other things, critics of Francis point to her leadership of the Ogden Valley News, the local newspaper, and maintain that shes used it to promote her candidacy to lead the new city, yet to be named. Critics of Wampler point to what they believe to be her ties to a local developer.

The two candidates, for their part, keep a focus on their key messages.

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Francis, who helped spearhead the effort leading to the vote last year to turn part of the Ogden Valley into a city, stresses the importance of keeping a check on development. Concern that Weber County commissioners have been too lenient with developers and that locals didnt have enough say in development figured big in the push to incorporate a 63.3-square-mile swath of the Ogden Valley.

We need to go into a different direction, where we have a level playing field for everyone and were not subsidizing development, Francis said. The new city, to take shape in January, is a picturesque zone that encompasses the Eden, Liberty and Wolf Creek areas along with the Nordic Valley ski resort and an expanse east of Huntsville.

County commissioners, Francis charges, have permitted use of tax-increment financing in connection with development projects in the Ogden Valley that probably dont need it. Under tax-increment financing, property tax revenue on new development that would otherwise go to the county, schools and other taxing entities is instead used for public infrastructure that typically serves a private investment project.

Such funding has historically been used to entice developers to invest in an area to combat blight and encourage growth, she said, and the Ogden Valley doesnt need such inducements. Development interest, she says, is strong. Development should just be natural, according to free-market principles, and if it can pay its own way, then great, let a developer come and put it in. Dont ask the taxpayers to pay for it, Francis said.

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Wampler, for her part, says her focus is on making sure the new city can stand on its own as it takes shape starting next January. Its one thing to be elected to lead an established city. Serving a city thats just taking shape  making the necessary arrangements to make sure that snow is plowed, that bills are paid, that revenue is coming in  is something totally different.

Ive been working on that with a talented group of citizens for the last year-and-a-half, she said, alluding to a transition team of a cross-section of Ogden Valley residents tasked with preparing for incorporation. It is complicated. It is all-encompassing, so I put my name in because I was already aware of these things.

Ogden Valley mayoral hopeful Janet Wampler with pen markings on her face to resemble a defaced sign in a bid to add levity to the intense campaign. The photo comes from one of Wampler's campaign videos. | Janet Wampler

Wampler previously worked in the corporate sector, giving her managerial and leadership experience necessary to help run a new city, she said. Beyond that, she doesnt have the fraught relationship with Weber County commissioners that she says Francis has, in part due to Francis role in a lawsuit filed against Weber County over an Ogden Valley development project.

The new city may rely on contracts with Weber County to provide certain municipal services, Wampler said, and to successfully negotiate agreements, youre going to need someone who you know doesnt have an animus relationship.

Always been open and honest

As for the criticism partisans of the candidates have launched, some point to what they believe to be Francis use of her newspaper to promote her candidacy, in part via the selection of what letters to the editor are published. She rejected the charge, saying shes published letters that criticize her and that she retains the right not to publish letters that contain blatant untruths and defamatory and anonymous submissions.

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The last two editions of the Ogden Valley News have contained 10 letters to the editor or commentary pieces supportive of Francis and five that back Wampler. Two additional letters have called into question Francis simultaneous roles as newspaper publisher and mayoral candidate. Both mayoral hopefuls have had ads in the newspaper.

Wampler has most notably been criticized for what some believe to be her cozy ties to a developer active in the Ogden Valley, in part because of a working relationship her father previously had with the man.

She counters, saying shes never worked with him or had an investment with him and that her fathers investment relationship  which shes publicly acknowledged  occurred 20 years ago. Moreover, as a member of the Ogden Valley Planning Commission, an advisory body to Weber County commissioners, she voted with the majority on Nov. 14, 2023, in recommending denial of a zoning change for a project the developer was involved with.

Its never been a gotcha moment. Ive always been open and honest about it, Wampler said.
One person was injured in a stabbing in west Charlotte Saturday night, MEDIC said.

ALSO READ: 1 sent to hospital in northeast Charlotte stabbing, MEDIC says

MEDIC responded to a call in the 2100 block of Heyward Avenue around 6 p.m.

When they arrived, they found one person with non-life-threatening injuries.

No additional details have been made available.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

VIDEO: Blue Alert issued for suspect in NC grandmothers murder and deputy stabbing
RJD leader Sanjay Yadav on Sunday criticised the NDA government over the deteriorating law and order situation in Bihar. Reacting to the arrest of JDU's Mokama candidate Anant Singh in connection with the Dularchand Yadav murder case, Yadav questioned the NDA's credibility to lecture others on law and order. Yadav cited the NCRB report, which shows that states with the highest crime rates are ruled by the BJP. He suggested that the NDA should introspect on its own performance rather than criticising others. Yadav highlighted recent incidents of violence in Bihar, including the murder of a father-son duo in Ara and firing incidents in Rohtas. He questioned the NDA's moral authority to criticise others on law and order, given the state's poor record. Yadav mentioned that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has been releasing a crime bulletin every week, which has been acknowledged by the Bihar government. He emphasised that crimes, including murders, have been occurring regularly in the state. Speaking to reporters, Sanjay Yadav said, "The entire country knows about the law and order situation in Bihar. A father and son were murdered yesterday in Ara, and several rounds were fired in Rohtas, and they (NDA) are giving lectures on Jungle Raj. BJP-NDA should introspect on this. For one year, LoP Tejashwi Yadav has released a crime bulletin every week, and the Bihar Govt and police has also agreed that murders have taken place every week in Bihar. According to the NCRB report of 2023, the top five states with the highest crime rate are BJP-ruled states." He further stated that Uttar Pradesh is ranked at the top in terms of crimes, followed by Bihar. "Bihar is at the top in poverty, unemployment, migration, and school dropout rate. Per capita income is lowest in Bihar. For the last two decades, there has been an NDA government here. Whatever jobs were created were given when Tejashwi Yadav was Deputy CM. On November 2, 2023, 1,20,000 appointment letters were distributed. NDA spoke about 19 lakh jobs in 2020. What is the report on it? PM Modi could not give 1 crore government jobs in the last 11 years in the country, and they are saying that they wil give jobs in Bihar? The Home Minister is sitting in Bihar, and their candidate is committing murder in Bihar. They have created a manifesto in 26 seconds and not speaking about their vision," he added. Earlier, Anant Kumar Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate from Mokama, was arrested in the early hours today by Patna Police in connection with the murder case of a Jan Suraaj supporter, Dularchand Yadav, the Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said. Jan Suraaj Party's candidate, Piyush Priyadarshi, told ANI over the phone that Anant Singh should have been arrested sooner, as he added, "This is a good gesture, but it would have been good had they taken action sooner. Today, he was moving around in a convoy of 50 vehicles and even participated in election campaigning. When an FIR was registered against him, he should have been arrested sooner. But better late than never." On October 30, Dularchand Yadav was killed during firing between the two sides while campaigning for the Bihar assembly elections in Mokama. SSP said Anant Singh has been arrested along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram. All three will be presented before the magistrate. "On 30 October, there was a clash between two groups of competing candidates. Stones were pelted, resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident. The deceased, Dularchand Yadav, aged 75 years, was a resident of the village where this clash occurred... Both sides registered complaints, and the police began investigating the case... Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the post-mortem report of the deceased, it appears that the Model Code of Conduct was violated, which is a serious issue. It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested. His accomplices, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have also been arrested with him... All three will be presented before the magistrate, and due investigation will follow," SSP Patna, Kartikeya K Sharma said while addressing the media on Sunday. On Saturday, two station house officers (SHOs) were suspended in connection with the murder case, officials confirmed. According to the Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) of Patna, Ghoswari SHO Madhusudan Kumar and Bhadaur SHO Ravi Ranjan have been suspended in the case. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered the immediate transfer of key administrative and police officials posted from the Mokama Assembly constituency and directed disciplinary action against them. According to an official statement from the poll body, the Commission has approved the transfer of Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Barh-cum-Returning Officer, Chandan Kumar; Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Barh-1, Rakesh Kumar; and SDPO Barh-2, Abhishek Singh, in connection with Mokama Assembly Constituency. (ANI)




One person was killed and three others injured in separate overnight accidents Friday.

In the first incident, police were called around 7:24 p.m. to the intersection of West Harding Boulevard and Commercial Avenue on the city's South Side, just east of Interstate 35 South near South Park Mall.

When they arrived, officers found a man lying in the roadway with severe head trauma, according to a preliminary San Antonio police report. Police believe the man may have been struck by a vehicle. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Police said they have no additional information and are investigating.

READ MORE: 6 people injured in separate shootings at Halloween parties, including 4 teens

The second accident occurred about 7:55 p.m. in the 9300 block of Monsanto, in the vicinity of Stinson Airport on the city's South Side.

Three pedestrians were injured, including a 27-year-old man, a 27-year-old woman and a juvenile, according to a preliminary police report.

According to the report, Raul Trevino, 61, was driving a Red 1996 GMC Sierra. As he attempted to leave the location, police said the driver of the GMC struck a parked car, jumped a curb and then struck the pedestrians who were on the sidewalk.

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Police said Trevino attempted to flee and traveled about 40 feet, striking another parked vehicle and a fence.

The three pedestrians were taken to a hospital to be treated for the injuries. Police said one sustained serious bodily injury.

Trevino was taken to the magistrate's office on intoxication charges.

This article originally published at One person killed, three pedestrians injured in separate overnight accidents.
To date, the U.S. has conducted airstrikes against 14 boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, killing at least 57 alleged drug smugglers. We going to kill, you know, President Trump declared. Theyre going to be like, dead. The attacks, he added, are intended to serve notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States. BEWARE!

A land attack, the president indicated, presumably on Venezuela, home to Tren de Aragua, which the United States has labelled a narco-terrorist organization, is going to be next. A few days ago, Trump insisted he wasnt planning ground strikes, even as the Venezuelan government braced for an attack.

Trump maintains he doesnt need to ask Congress for a declaration of war to conduct a non-international armed conflict with drug cartels; his administration cites legal authority George W. Bush claimed to justify the global war on terrorism he launched following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Many legal experts, however, believe the U.S. strikes violate United Nations charter rules governing the use of force and constitute extrajudicial killings, in violation of both international and U.S. law. The attacks, we believe, are also unethical and ineffective.

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Under the U.N. charter, states may not use force against other states absent a Security Council authorization or an armed attack triggering the right of self-defense. The Trump administration claims the U.S. is at war with Latin American drug cartels because they illegally and directly cause the deaths of tens of thousands of American citizens each year. But smuggling drugs is criminal activity that calls for a law enforcement response, not an armed attack justifying military strikes in self-defense. And transnational criminal activity has historically been handled much differently than war-related violence by virtually all countries, including the U.S.

The administration calls drug traffickers enemy combatants, a law of war label intended to justify killing them. Under international humanitarian law, a states military forces have the combatants privilege to attack and kill enemy forces. This privilege, however, applies only in the context of an ongoing armed conflict.

The Trump administration insists that the U.S. is in a non-international armed conflict with drug cartels. That assumes the U.S. is engaged in hostilities with an organized, armed group possessing a command structure sufficient to enable it to comply with the laws of war. Few if any independent experts believe drug cartels meet that criterion, or that the violence they generate is sufficiently intense or protracted to constitute an armed conflict.

Since the law of war does not apply, human rights norms govern. Human rights treaties, which the U.S. has ratified, mandate that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of life. Nations cannot make exceptions to this, even in times of public emergencies. The International Criminal Court, it is worth mentioning, has issued an arrest warrant for former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte for extrajudicial killings of drug suspects.

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Human rights norms also require officials engaged in law enforcement, including military personnel, to minimize physical injury and use force only against imminent threats to life.

U.S. law prohibits the targeted killing of individuals outside of an armed conflict. But the idea of indiscriminately killing people without knowing their names, without seeing any evidence, without making a formal accusation, as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has implied, sets a new precedent of shoot first and ask questions later  or not at all.

Individuals accused of maritime drug trafficking are entitled to due process under the U.S. Constitution, and many bilateral agreements require the U.S. to provide suspects with trials in federal courts and the possibility of extradition. After all, many boats boarded on suspicion of drug trafficking turn out not to contain any drugs. And the vast majority of fentanyl and cocaine that enters the U.S. is brought in from Mexico by U.S. citizens.

The U.S. Coast Guard, which Congress has empowered as the lead agency for interdicting drugs at sea, has strict guidelines for dealing with suspicious vessels. These involve warning shots, disabling fire, boarding ships, seizing evidence, and arresting crew members. In contrast to, at best, taking out low-level operatives, this approach helps build cases against drug-smuggling enterprises and their leaders.

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The airstrikes on alleged drug dealers in international waters set a dangerous precedent. They risk war with Venezuela, even though in a memo declassified in May, U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that President Maduros government does not control Tren de Aragua. The strikes might also, for example, encourage China to use drug smuggling as a pretext to bomb Taiwanese fishing vessels or lead other countries to execute foreigners without trial for drug dealing or other crimes. And they send a clear message that the United States flouts international law because it can.

Meanwhile, in October, only Paul and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined Senate Democrats to vote for a resolution to stop attacks in the Caribbean. As one critic put it, the path of least resistance for Republicans who once insisted on Congresss constitutional role in approving military interventions abroad is a shrug.

Glenn C. Altschuler is The Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of American Studies at Cornell University. David Wippman is an emeritus president of Hamilton College.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Across Utahs Mighty 5, the state has stepped in to keep parks operating during Washingtons latest shutdown. Its a reminder that when partisan gridlock closes the government, its often the parks  and the people who love them  that pay the price. While imperfect, President Donald Trumps decision to use entrance fees to sustain basic park operations points in the right direction. But if we truly want to insulate our parks from political dysfunction, we should go a step further.

By expanding park revenue through user fees and giving park superintendents greater flexibility to deploy those fees, we can free our parks altogether of the acrimonious congressional appropriations process and shield them from government shutdown drama entirely.

Shutdowns expose a deeper flaw in how we fund and manage our national parks. For decades, our parks have been tethered to the whims of congressional appropriations  a process marked by brinkmanship, stopgap funding and last-minute deals. The result is an unpredictable, unstable system that leaves park rangers, visitors and vital maintenance work at the mercy of partisan politics.

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It doesnt have to be this way. Every year, millions of people willingly pay fees to experience our parks. Those revenues are steady and apolitical. If park managers had greater authority to retain and spend the fees they collect, they could keep parks open, clean and functioning during shutdowns and better maintain them year round.

Americas national parks are straining under the weight of their own success. Visitation has soared, but funding and flexibility havent kept pace. The result is a $22 billion maintenance backlog, aging infrastructure and managers constrained by red tape that dictates how and where visitor fees can be spent. Likewise, international visitors, who account for millions of annual park visits, pay the same entry fees as domestic tourists, leaving untapped potential to fund needed repairs and improvements.

Its a system that leaves superintendents waiting for Washington instead of addressing urgent needs on the ground.

Beyond simply keeping parks open during a shutdown, we can make their funding model more resilient by getting creative with how we use and collect visitor fees. Modest surcharges for international visitors, for instance, could generate dedicated revenue for park maintenance and improvements without deterring travel. Research shows such fees would have minimal impact on visitation but could nearly double current revenues.

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Parks could also experiment with pricing models that better reflect local conditions  charging more during peak seasons or for large groups, offering discounts for off-peak or shorter visits, and testing new fee structures at heavily trafficked parks like Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon before expanding elsewhere.

At the same time, park superintendents should have far greater flexibility to decide how those revenues are used. Today, rigid federal rules dictate that more than half of all user fees must go toward deferred maintenance, even when local needs might be more pressing. Removing those one-size-fits-all mandates would let superintendents direct funds where theyre most needed, whether thats fixing a heavily used trail, hiring seasonal rangers or upgrading restrooms.

Giving local managers real authority would mean more responsive stewardship, better visitor experiences and parks that can take care of themselves.

Shutdowns come and go, but our national parks are meant to endure. If we want to safeguard them for the next generation, we must get politics out of our parks once and for all. Empowering park managers to fund and care for their lands through creative, reliable revenue streams is the best way to ensure these special places remain open, accessible and resilient  no matter what happens in Washington.
A weeks-long Game of Thrones struggle for control of NASA is still ongoing. In one corner is Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. In the other corner is billionaire private space traveler Jared Isaacman.

It all started when President Trump abruptly withdrew the nomination of Isaacman to be NASA administrator. A month or so later, Trump appointed Duffy, the secretary of Transportation, to be acting NASA administrator pending the selection of a permanent space agency chief.

Duffys tenure as a caretaker administrator continued for a time without controversy, with him occasionally showing up on television to tout the Artemis program and express confidence that NASA would beat China back to the moon. He also announced an initiative to build a small nuclear power plant on the lunar surface.

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Things began to change when the media reported that Isaacman had met with Trump several times to discuss space policy and the possibility of the billionaire space travelers renomination for NASA administrator. Duffy interviewed Isaacman too, a meeting described as a tense examination of the fintech billionaires vision for the agency and the role companies like Elon Musks SpaceX will play in its future.

Duffy suddenly appeared on television to announce that the contract for the Human Landing System that will take Americans back to the lunar surface will be reopened. SpaceX is taking too long to develop its version. Moreover, the Starship-based Human Landing System was too complex to be ready for a lunar surface mission in time to beat a presumed Chinese moon mission.

This announcement caused Musk to hit the roof. He posted a number of insulting messages on X, attacking Duffys intelligence and claiming that, compared to other companies, SpaceX was moving at lightning speed to develop the Human Landing System.

Curiously, White House insiders began to turn on Duffy, blaming him for starting a fight with an on-again-off-again Trump ally whose deep pockets would be needed during the 2026 midterms. The rift that occurred in the late spring between Trump and Musk has largely been healed.

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Duffy stirred the pot further by proposing that NASA be folded into the Department of Transportation. The move would allow him to continue determining broad space policy. But it was considered by many a dumb idea, because much of what NASA does has nothing to do with transportation.

In the meantime, Isaacman was playing things low key. Although he had given some interviews when his nomination was withdrawn that suggested a lack of acrimony, he has said nothing about the prospect of his being renominated once the rumors started in September.

Others, however, were quite vocal in their support for Isaacman as NASA administrator. Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and MAGA influencer Laura Loomer have been conspicuous in advancing Isaacman. The billionaire private space travelers credentials spoke overwhelmingly in his favor, just as they did when he was first nominated.

Trump is the only person who can determine the winner of the space-oriented race to the Iron Throne. He is said to personally like Duffy. But he also seems to have warmed to Isaacman, whom he once disdained, incorrectly, as a Democrat.

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The argument for choosing Isaacman, the sooner the better, is overwhelming. Having built two multibillion-dollar companies and privately financed two space flights, he has a proven record of making the near impossible happen. As he explained to Ars Technicas Eric Berger back in June, Isaacman has a vision for NASA and the Artemis program that is at once awesome and doable.

Trumps withdrawal of Isaacmans nomination was a serious mistake. It has caused months of uncertainty and turmoil at NASA that it can ill afford with China surging ahead in the new race for the moon. His renominating Isaacman will go a long way toward rectifying that mistake.

The second race to the moon is important because of who gets bragging rights. A Chinese win will be a huge embarrassment for the United States in general and Trump in particular.

Isaacman may or may not be able to avoid an American defeat in the new moon race. But he will almost certainly be able to enable what follows, a permanent NASA lunar base and all that implies, not to mention American boots on the Martian soil sometime in the 2030s.

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And Duffy will still be able to do great things as Secretary of Transportation, particularly fixing the ailing air traffic control system; which is no little thing.

Mark R. Whittington, who writes frequently about space policy, has published a political study of space exploration entitled  Why is It So Hard to Go Back to the Moon?  as well as  The Moon, Mars and Beyond  and, most recently,  Why is America Going Back to the Moon?  He blogs at Curmudgeons Corner.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Im a law-abiding citizen who never thought Id be of such interest that the U.S. government would use my tax dollars and yours to try to send me to prison, but there I was in Washington, D.C., at the end of July being manhandled by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent trying to remove my phone from my hand.

And there I was in court last month being tried  and quickly acquitted by a jury of my peers  on the false charge that Id forcefully pushed an FBI agents hand against a cement wall and caused lacerations. All Id done that night in July was stand outside the D.C. jail so the families of the men being detained for possible deportation would know what had happened to them. I wanted those men and their families to be treated fairly in this unjust time we are living in.

But as he threw me against a wall and handcuffed me, the agent who arrested me said, If you just minded your own f---ing business, this wouldnt happen.

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If I had minded my own business. Observing and recording what my government does  which is what I was doing when I got arrested  is my business.

Heres what sticks out about my experience: being put in the back of an unmarked SUV and with handcuffs that were put on so tight, I have permanently lost feeling in my thumb; not being read my rights or being told what I was being charged with beyond not minding my business.

Shortly before my arrest, I had just gotten a new job working at an animal hospital and moved into a new apartment in a part of the city Ive always wanted to live in. Things were going great. But would I even have a job to go back to now?

Im glad I did. My supervisor actually thanked me for doing what I did, for standing up for a group of people being targeted in this country. And I cried. I believe that filming what federal agents were doing that day counted as basic human decency.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Sept. 2, 2025, at the White House. (Alex Wong / Getty Images)

After days of not knowing why I was being held, my public defender, Tezira Abe, told me the government wanted to charge me with felony assault of a federal agent, a crime that carried up to eight years in prison. I was dumbfounded.

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Three grand juries refused to indict me after the government presented its case against me. That should have been the end of it. But then U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirros office decided to charge me with a misdemeanor, which doesnt require a grand jury. I dont know which was greater, my fear or my disbelief. I was still facing a year in the county jail.

But Im grateful that on Oct. 16, jurors saw through what our government was trying to do to me and quickly acquitted me.

As I said in a statement that day, Knowing that I can stand in front of 12 of my fellow citizens and be found not guilty for standing up for basic human rights makes me feel like, despite the scary times we live in, we have hope for the future.

My attorneys, Tezira Abe and Eugene Ohm, added, We are pleased with the verdict but this is a trial that should never have happened. Twelve D.C. residents, numerous taxpayer-paid court staff and public defenders had to spend time and resources on trying a case that has no place in a free democracy. They also said: The Department of Justice can continue to take these cases to trial to suppress dissent and to try and intimidate the people. But in the end, as long as we have a jury system, our citizens will continue to rebuke the DOJ through speedy acquittals.

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Though I was ultimately acquitted, I should never have been arrested and should never have been charged. The governments unfair prosecution of me caused my life to be at a standstill for three months. I stopped unpacking my apartment and closed myself off from everything. Why would I keep on unpacking my apartment if I would have to empty it back out? How could I overcome the sadness I felt toward my country and enjoy my life? I kept my head down and worked. That was the only escape I had.

I was taught that you dont have to make a scene or shout to be heard and that sometimes the quiet actions speak for themselves. This is not one of those times. We should all be screaming. We should all be taking action. This is our country. We are greater and stronger than this administration.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court quietly refused to take up Doe v. Grindr, a case that could have been the first real test of Big Techs legal immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

This decision closed the door on justice for my client, who was raped at age 15 by four adult men he met through Grindr. By refusing the case, it also guaranteed injustice and harm for millions more.

This was not a random crime. It was the predictable result of Grindrs reckless business model that prioritizes profit over child safety. Grindr deliberately targeted young audiences on Instagram and TikTok, running content on its own pages that featured teenagers in high school and junior high settings, including in PE class.

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The app requires no photo, name or age verification and recommends young members to anyone nearby. That anonymity makes it easy for minors to blend in and for predators to find them. Researchers have found that half of all sexually active gay kids have their first sexual experience with an adult they met on Grindr.

Our lawsuit presented evidence that Grindr knew children were using its platform and that predators were targeting them. The company chose to ignore these dangers because underage users increase engagement and ad revenue.

There has been a national reckoning with other institutions that turned a blind eye to child exploitation. But what will it take to provide justice to more recent victims?

Three of the adult men who assaulted my client are now serving federal prison sentences. But Grindr, the company that connected them with a child, faces no consequences. The perpetrators are behind bars, while the platform that enabled their crimes remains untouchable.

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Grindrs defense rests on Section 230, a 1996 law originally intended to protect internet companies from being sued for defamatory words that users post. That narrow protection has since expanded into a near-blanket immunity that covers almost every aspect of how platforms operate.

In other words, what began as a law to nurture the early internet has become a legal shield for billion-dollar corporations.

At my firm, we have seen Section 230 used again and again to block survivors from pursuing justice. In instances where judges refused to dismiss tech cases, we have been able to enter the discovery phase of litigation to see the extent of the corporate misfeasance, such as a case that shuttered the child trafficking platform Omegle and our lawsuit against Amazon for selling and delivering a suicide drug to children.

In many cases, though, judges have said their hands are tied. Once Section 230 applies, the company is untouchable.

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With Doe v. Grindr, we were not asking the Supreme Court to erase Section 230 or restrict online speech. We were asking that the black letter law be followed. Section 230 protects platforms for their editorial decisions about how they moderate content, but not for their boardroom decisions about how their product functions. The code and design choices behind an app are no different from the engineering decisions behind a product. When those choices put people in danger, product liability law ought to provide a path to justice.

Some members of the court have acknowledged that Section 230s reach has gone too far. Justice Clarence Thomas has indicated that courts have expanded the law well beyond Congresss intent. Yet by refusing to hear Doe v. Grindr, the court left victims like my client without recourse and further empowered tech companies to design products without concern for who gets hurt.

Theres little hope these companies will self-regulate. So unless the Supreme Court steps up, reform is a job for Congress.

The good news is that there is bipartisan agreement that Section 230 is overdue for reform. Last year, the House introduced a bill to sunset Section 230. The EARN IT Act, led by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), would hold platforms accountable when they facilitate child sexual exploitation. Another recent bill, the AI LEAD Act allows victims to sue AI companies as products.

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Moreover, in 2020, the Department of Justice proposed a set of updates to Section 230, including carve-outs for platforms that knowingly facilitate child abuse, terrorism or cyberstalking. These changes would preserve the internets openness while ensuring companies cannot profit from negligence or exploitation.

The Supreme Court should seize the next opportunity to define the limits of Section 230. In the meantime, Congress should pass meaningful legislation to ensure that companies like Grindr can no longer profit from endangering children.

Both branches have the power to protect families and restore justice to those harmed by technology. They have a moral obligation to act before more children are harmed.

Carrie Goldberg is the founder of C.A. Goldberg, PLLC, a law firm that litigates against Big Tech companies and powerful predators. She is the author of  Nobodys Victim  (2019), a New York Times Editors Choice.

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Florida may be nicknamed the Sunshine State, but for thousands of retired Connecticut state employees, it's the "pension state."

According to state records, Connecticut's retirement system paid out $2.7 billion in pension checks in 2024, and nearly one in every four dollars - $677 million - went to retirees living outside Connecticut.

While most pension checks still land in Connecticut mailboxes, a large share now supports economies elsewhere. Florida leads the list, receiving about a quarter-billion dollars, followed by Massachusetts, South Carolina, North Carolina, and New York. Other top destinations include Georgia, Maine, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Rhode Island.

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Roughly 25% of Connecticut's pension spending leaves the state each year - supporting restaurants, housing markets, and tax revenues far from home.

The legacy burden

Connecticut's earliest pension tiers, created before the 1990s, still drive much of the cost. Tier I plans feature the most generous formulas and earliest retirement ages, producing higher average payouts than later tiers. Even with more moderate formulas for newer employees, total costs continue to rise.

Today the state spends about one-quarter of its entire budget - roughly $6 billion a year - on retired employees, the highest share in the nation. Reforms have slowed the bleeding, but costs still grow faster than taxpayers can fund them.

A pension system that exports wealth

When pension payments flow out of state, Connecticut loses more than residents - it loses local economic activity. Each check drawn from Connecticut's treasury and cashed elsewhere represents dollars not circulating through local businesses and property markets. As more retirees relocate, fewer pension dollars remain to support the communities that fund the system.

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Coincidentally, retirees fleeing Connecticut's high cost of living are fleeing the very system that helped create it. According to Pew, the state's unfunded pension obligations totaled $40.6 billion in 2022 - 148% of annual revenue, fourth-highest in the nation. By mid-2025, the Lamont administration estimated liabilities had fallen to $35.1 billion, thanks to $8.6 billion in supplemental deposits under the state's fiscal guardrails.

Despite that progress, Connecticut still faces one of the largest pension burdens in America, with $61.8 billion in combined unfunded obligations for pensions and retiree health care - leaving each taxpayer $44,500 in the red, according to Truth in Accounting.

The cost of growing old in Connecticut

It's easy to see why so many retirees head south. Retirement Living's 2025 Best and Worst States to Retire ranked Connecticut 44th, citing high property taxes, steep living costs, and a heavy income-tax burden.

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Florida, by contrast, ranked third-best - offering lower taxes and warmer weather, a combination that explains why it's the top destination for Connecticut pension checks.

The same tax policies that make it difficult for working families to stay in Connecticut also drive retirees out. Pension checks funded by Connecticut taxpayers are being cashed by people who find it too costly to spend them here.

The tax line Connecticut can't cross

Some wonder whether the state could recoup lost revenue by taxing pension income paid to out-of-state retirees. Federal law prohibits it.

Under 4 U.S.C.  114, states may not tax "retirement income" received by nonresidents, including public pensions, IRAs, and deferred-compensation plans - preventing states from reaching across borders to tax former residents.

The policy trap

Even with progress in paying down pension debt, Connecticut's outlook remains precarious. Fiscal guardrails have helped, yet calls for new spending and higher taxes persist.

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Some union coalitions, including SEBAC, continue to advocate for higher tax rates on top earners and new spending tied to collective-bargaining agreements. While meant to strengthen services and worker security, such proposals risk undermining the discipline that made recent progress possible.

Each new tax hike aimed at covering long-term obligations may offer short-term relief but accelerates the outmigration of working-age residents and businesses - shrinking the base that funds the system.

Connecticut cannot tax its way back to solvency. Sustainable reform means keeping the fiscal guardrails that reduced debt, aligning public-sector benefits with private-sector norms, and resisting the temptation to reopen settled fiscal debates.

Disciplined, data-driven budgeting works. Preserving that progress - and ensuring Connecticut's financial future - depends on staying the course.

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Meghan Portfolio is the manager of research and analysis at the Yankee Institute, a Hartford-based think tank.

This article originally published at Opinion: One in four state-employee pension dollars flow out of state.
Politicians love to say, We must protect our children. They are our future. But looking at whats happening in Congress right now, children are not being protected. Families are not being prioritized. Instead, lawmakers are locked in a standoff, waiting to see who blinks first as they fight over who gets the last word and how big of a tax break they can give the wealthiest Americans.

Meanwhile, families  especially families of color and low-income families  are left to hold their breath and wonder what this shutdown means for them. As members of Congress keep making their rounds on television, babies still need formula, toddlers still need health screenings, children still need breakfast and lunch at school and in their child care programs, and parents still need child care so they can work. Amid extreme stress, families are left, wondering how they will be able to take care of their children.

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The demands of children and their families do not stop just because Congress is at a standstill.

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According to Kids Share 2024, an annual report published by the Urban Institute about federal expenditures, children received only about 9% of all federal spending in 2023, while about 43% of federal spending went toward health and retirement benefits for adults 18 years and older. Thats a very small percentage for a nation in which politicians on both sides of the aisle have expressed interest in increased government investment in children. These numbers contradict the narrative that claims children matter because they are our future.

That 9% starts to feel even smaller during a government shutdown. Some programs, like Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, are mandatory, meaning they dont require annual congressional approval. But others, including a number of crucial childrens programs, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), are funded through the annual appropriations process, which Congress must approve. This means when lawmakers cant agree on a budget, these critical programs are left in limbo.

The fallout on the horizon from this needless dysfunction is becoming clearer.

In September, the National WIC Association reminded the public that WIC only had enough funds to temporarily remain open during a government shutdown. Now, according to Reuters, at least two dozen state websites warn there could be an unprecedented benefit gap for more than 41 million people in America who get aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the nearly 7 million people who rely on WIC.

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Georgia Machell, president and chief executive officer of the National WIC Association, delivered this sobering news last week.

Without additional support, State WIC Agencies face another looming crisis, she said. Several are set to run out of funds to pay for WIC benefits on November 1 and may need to start making contingency plans.

Related

Parents Worry as WIC Funding Dwindles During the Government Shutdown

Many families in historically marginalized communities, who already face greater barriers to health care, housing and early education, will feel this impact even more sharply. For example, we know that tens of thousands of young children and families rely on vital support received through Head Start, a service that promotes early learning and development, health and well-being. The shutdown is already in its fourth week, and, according to a statement issued on Oct. 16 from the National Head Start Association, if the government shutdown doesnt end by Nov. 1, more than 65,000 children and families will be at risk of losing critical services.

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A missed doctors appointment, a delay in SNAP benefits or a gap in child care isnt just inconvenient. It can destabilize a family and hinder a childs development, especially in the classroom.

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A research brief published by The Food Research & Action Center highlighted the links between hunger and learning, stating that behavioral, emotional, mental health, and academic problems are more prevalent among children and adolescents struggling with hunger and that young people experiencing hunger have lower math scores and poorer grades. The shutdown will have real and lasting consequences on the learning, development and well-being of Americas children because these programs are being impacted.

Its frustrating to watch lawmakers stand at podiums and declare how much they care about children while their actions  or inaction  puts children at risk.

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Words dont put food on the table. Words dont pay rent. But actions do.

And right now, the actions coming out of Congress are sending an unfortunate message to families: protecting children is not the priority.

If children truly are our future, then they cannot be treated as bargaining chips. Children deserve more than 9% of Americas federal spending budget. We need federal budgets that reflect childrens needs and protection for essential services. Critical programs that protect child health and well-being should never be disrupted by a government shutdown.

Finally, Americans deserve government accountability. Policymakers should be held responsible for their words and actions, especially when they fail to deliver on the promises they make about protecting children.

Children cannot wait. They are growing, learning and developing right now. The choices we make as a country today will shape their tomorrow.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, entrenched in a long-standing brawl with Brussels and Kyiv, found an unexpected obstacle  U.S. President Donald Trump's U-turns.

Trump's expected Budapest summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin  which was to be Orban's crowning achievement  has been canceled.

Adding insult to the injury, it is Orban who now feels the sting of Trump's foreign policy zigzags, facing pressure to cut off Russian energy imports and fearing the impact of new U.S. sanctions on Moscow.

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Trump's sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia's leading energy companies, prompted rare criticism from Orban, who said on Oct. 27 that the step went too far.

Hungary's leader is set to travel to Washington to meet with Trump on Nov. 7 to explore ways to mitigate the impact of sanctions on his country.

As Russian supplies cover most of Hungary's oil and gas demand, experts say that Orban is likely to stand his ground, especially with the election season heating up.

"Despite mounting pressure from the United States and the European Union, the Orban government appears determined to continue buying energy from Russia," Richard Demeny, an analyst at the Political Capital think tank in Budapest, told the Kyiv Independent.

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Read also: Trump says Orban requested exemption from US sanctions on Russian oil but hasnt been granted one

Seeking a way out of Trump's sanctions push

When Trump won the U.S. election last year, Orban was jubilant.

Hungary's leader hoped the U.S. president  who has endorsed him and shares his conservative, anti-immigration views  would disrupt Western unity on continued support for Ukraine.

However, the latest Trump policy shift does not seem to align with Orban's expectations.

Washington imposed sanctions on Moscow while urging European nations  including Hungary  to cease importing Russian oil and gas, a strategy designed to force Moscow into peace talks.

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This puts Orban into a tight spot, as his government has declared that swift decoupling from Russian imports without endangering its energy security is impossible, namely due to its geographical location.

"We can't ensure a safe supply for our country without Russian oil or gas sources," Hungary's chief diplomat, Peter Szijjarto, said in September. "For us, energy supplies are a purely physical question."

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrive to deliver a joint press statement following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 5, 2024. (Photo by Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images)

The landlocked Central European country is one of the two remaining EU members  alongside Slovakia  still buying Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline.

Unlike much of the EU, Budapest made no steps to reduce its reliance on Russian imports.

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Quite the contrary, it increased the dependence on Russian crude from 64% before the full-scale invasion to 86% in 2024, the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) reported.

Hungary also signed a 15-year deal with Russia's Gazprom in 2021 to purchase natural gas mainly via the TurkStream pipeline, seeking increased volumes as the war rages on in Ukraine.

"Orban desperately tries to maintain ties with Russia, repeatedly declaring he would be the first one to return to Moscow," said Pavel Havlicek, a research fellow at the Association for International Affairs in Prague, underscoring Budapest's political  rather than just economic  motivations.

Experts say that shifting to alternative supplies  such as oil via Croatia and liquified natural gas via Poland  is fully feasible.

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Though options exist, "it's also the question of political willingness and the financial cost of this choice," says Andrej Nosko, an energy policy expert and visiting researcher at Matej Bel University in Slovakia.

A comparable example is Czechia, another landlocked country that used the Druzhba pipeline until declaring itself free of Russian oil this April.

Orban, in turn, has shown no inclination toward abandoning Russian energy, which has driven massive profits for Hungary's MOL oil and gas company.

Cheap utilities could also offer valuable political leverage ahead of the upcoming elections. However, as Nosko notes, MOL's profits have not translated into lower fuel prices for Hungarian consumers.

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While Trump could use the threat of secondary sanctions to pressure Orban, it seems Hungary is instead seeking "waivers from new U.S. sanctions and leveraging its strong ties with Trump to avoid having to diversify away from Russian supplies," Nosko told the Kyiv Independent.

According to Demeny, Orban might also use a new plan from Hungary's Energy Ministry, which suggests reducing dependence on Russian energy, to show at least some progress toward diversification and thus appease Trump.

The summit that wasn't

When Trump unexpectedly announced on Oct. 16 a summit with Putin in Budapest in the coming weeks, Orban was quick to welcome the initiative.

But the hastily announced plan was scrapped mere days later, reportedly after Washington realized Moscow was not ready to concede on its maximalist demands on Ukraine.

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In spite of this, Hungary's foreign minister promptly flew to meet his U.S. and Russian counterparts to assure the public that the summit is still very much on  only the date is yet to be set.

Hosting the summit  the second meeting between Trump and Putin since the former returned to office  would allow Orban to portray himself as a peacemaker, experts say.

It would bolster Orban's "position on the international stage and against his rising domestic challenger, the Tisza Party's Peter Magyar," Demeny noted.

According to Pavlicek, the Hungarian prime minister also seeks to legitimize his foreign policy stance by having other world leaders, namely Trump, share and amplify these views.

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Orban's image as a leader who kept his country out of the war while ensuring energy security through "pragmatic" ties with Moscow has been a prominent feature of the Fidesz campaign.

The Hungarian strongman needs every advantage for the April 2026 vote, which presents the most serious challenge to his rule in years.

Read also: The past Putin cant let go

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I hope you enjoyed this article. In our team, we believe fact-based and truthful reporting should be available to all  that's why we don't use any paywall.

If you'd like to help us provide you with more in-depth coverage of Ukraine's struggle against Russian aggression, European politics, and other topics, please consider joining the Kyiv Independent community.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregons senior senator is refusing to back down as the Trump administration tries to bring troops to Portlands streets.

Sen. Ron Wyden is the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee and is also on the Budget, Natural Resources and Intelligence Committees.

He returned to Eye on Northwest Politics to talk tariffs, immigration, and the effects of the government shutdown on Oregonians.

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Watch the full interview in the video above.

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Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan addressed the International Conference on "Libraries Empowering Communities - Global Perspectives" organised by the P N Panicker Foundation at Kanakakkunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram, through a video message on Sunday. The event marks the 80th year of the organised library movement in Kerala, inspired by the vision of PN Panicker, revered as the Pioneer of India's Library and Literacy Movement. In his message, the Vice-President commended the PN Panicker Foundation for its sustained contribution to promoting reading culture, digital literacy, and community empowerment through knowledge dissemination. He noted that the Foundation's motto -- "Vayichu Valaruka" (Read and Grow) -- continues to guide the society towards enlightenment and inclusion. CP Radhakrishnan hailed libraries as temples of learning, describing them as spaces that nurture critical thinking, and empower individuals and communities. The Vice-President said that Shri Adi Shankaracharya travelled across Bharat to awaken spiritual awareness and unify diverse thoughts. He noted that countless other sages and thinkers have enriched our civilisation with their wisdom, compassion, and vision. Reflecting on India's ancient civilizational ethos, the Vice-President observed that the country's tradition of learning -- from the Epics to modern libraries -- continues to inspire the nation's pursuit of wisdom and social progress. CP Radhakrishnan also underlined that in today's digital age, libraries serve as knowledge hubs that enable people to access authentic information and counter misinformation. He observed that while technology offers easy access to information, libraries cultivate depth, reflection, and meaningful dialogue in society. The Vice-President lauded Kerala's exceptional legacy in education and literacy. He paid rich tributes to PN Panicker, whose vision transformed libraries into vibrant community centres that brought books and learning closer to every citizen. Concluding his message, the Vice-President said that libraries are dynamic spaces of learning, inclusion, and innovation. He emphasised the need to strengthen the network of public and community libraries across the nation by empowering people through the power of knowledge. The International Conference on "Libraries Empowering Communities - Global Perspectives", organised by the PN Panicker Foundation from 2nd to 3rd November 2025 at Kanakakkunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram, brings together experts, policymakers, library professionals, academicians, and digital innovators to deliberate on the evolving role of libraries in the knowledge society. The conference celebrates the enduring legacy of Kerala's library movement and explores strategies to enhance community participation, digital access, and sustainable knowledge ecosystems. (ANI)
FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY)  The Osiris Shrine, based out of Wheeling, hosted its first-ever 5k in Fairmont Saturday morning, seeking to raise money for the national philanthropy organization.

The race welcomed more than 80 runners and walkers, including its virtual and in-person participants. Osiris organized it with the help of the Marion County Race Series and the Marion County Running and Walking Club. The event helped raise money to assist the Osiris Shriners in their philanthropy work.

The clubs main form of philanthropy is supporting Shriners Hospitals for Children, which has 22 hospitals and 150 clinics in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The hospitals have cared for more than 3 million children, regardless of their ability to pay.

(WBOY Image)

WVU Medicines Spooky Sprint 5K raises funds for United Way campaign

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In 2025 alone, Osiris has already raised more than $100,000 for the hospitals, which has been allocated to locations in Erie, Lexington, Dayton and Philadelphia. The organization holds events like the 5k to help them help others.

Bill Cummings, the potentate for Osiris Shrine, spoke with 12 News about the clubs mission.

Our major concern is taking care of the kids, and we like to have fun doing it and what a great way to do it. A 5k race and a lot of people coming out, Cummings said.

In addition to raising money and assisting patients of Shriners hospitals, Osiris also does plenty of work for its local communities.

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Dustin Blankenship, the race director and Shriner, spoke with 12 News about the more recent ways Osiris has shown up for others.

As our organization here locally, we do also support local causes. So, we did, over the summer when the flooding occurred, we opened up our center in Wheeling, Blankenship said.

Osiris Shrine holds numerous events throughout the year to raise funds for both the club and Shriner Hospitals specifically.

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HANOVER, Pa. (WHTM)  Local communities are voicing their concerns after photos were posted to Facebook of a Hanover Area Jaycees Halloween parade float that depicted Holocaust symbolism in Hanover Thursday night.

The float, entered by St. Josephs Catholic School in Hanover and towed by Metcalf Cleaning LLC, depicted a replica of an Auschwitz concentration camp gate with the phrase Arbeit Macht Frei, which is translated to Work sets you free.

The phrase is a prominent symbol of the Nazi concentration camps that killed over six million Jewish people during the Holocaust, according to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum.

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The Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior, Bishop of Harrisburg, said in a statement, The inclusion of this imageone that represents the horrific suffering and murder of millions of innocent people, including six million Jews during the Holocaustis profoundly offensive and unacceptable. While the original, approved design for this float did not contain this imagery, it does not change the fact that this highly recognizable symbol of hate was included.

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The York Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and the Jewish Federation of Harrisburg also released a joint statement in response to the incident:

These acts, intentional or not, cause fear and pain for Jewish individuals and all who understand the weight of these symbols. We appreciate Bishop Seniors acknowledgment of the harm caused and his apology on behalf of the Diocese. Recognizing the impact of such imagery is a vital step toward understanding, healing, and preventing similar incidents in the future. YORK JCC, JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA, AND JEWISH FEDERATION OF HARRISBURG

Galen S. Shelly, who identified himself as the creator of the float in the comment section of the original post, wrote a lengthy statement apologizing for the incident, saying, In that I have erred and will gladly offer this apology for not realizing there were other ways to interpret a part, especially without knowledge of the whole.

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Metcalf Cleaning LLC also apologized for pulling the float that contained the Nazi imagery and slogan, saying, At the time, we were unaware of its meaning and significance. We recognize that we should have taken a closer look at the float prior to the parade, and we are truly sorry for that oversight.

The Borough of Hanover also released the following statement:

Hanover Borough has received a multitude of correspondence regarding the Hanover Jaycees Halloween parade. We thank those who reached out to share their deeply felt concerns. In addition, we want to assure you that your message has been heard and that Hanover Borough elected officials and staff share your sentiments regarding the imagery associated with Nazi Germany which was depicted on the St. Josephs School float. The portrayal of such a hateful symbol is not reflective of Hanover Borough or of our community values and does not align with our commitment to fostering an environment of safety, respect, and inclusivity for all. We recognize the pain and distress that such imagery can cause and stand firmly against hatred in any form. We met with Fr. Michael Rothan, the Pastor of St. Josephs Church, who likewise condemned this symbol on the float and conveyed his remorse for the process failures which unfortunately led to its inclusion. He also expressed his deepest apologies to all those who were justifiably horrified by it. As a Borough, we will also look to the future and continue to build a community defined by understanding, compassion, unity and forgiveness, in which we all stand together in rejecting hatred, antisemitism and bigotry in every form. Thank you once again for your advocacy and commitment to the well-being of our community. We continue to strive to ensure that Hanover remains a place where all residents can feel safe and respected.

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FORT DODGE, Iowa  The Fort Dodge Fire Department says an investigation is underway after an early morning fire scorched a Fort Dodge home.

According to the Fort Dodge FD, fire crews were called to a home in the 1300 block of N 22nd Street around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. Crews arrived and found an active fire with heavy smoke and flames.

Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO endorses Rob Sand for Governor, Nate Willems for AG

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Fire crews initiated an attack using a single handline and were able to bring the flames under control within 20 minutes of arrival. Crews stayed on scene for around three hours.

Authorities say no injuries have been reported from the fire. The Fort Dodge FD says property records state the home belongs to Christian and Miranda Menke.

The Fort Dodge FD says the cause of the fire is under investigation. Fort Dodge crews were assisted by the Fort Dodge Police Department and MidAmerican Energy.

Iowa News:

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DENVER (KDVR)  Police are investigating a vandalism incident in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver.

A Denverite told FOX31 that they were walking their dog around 7 a.m. Saturday when they came across the vandalism, which apparently included white spray paint saying Palantir out, red spray paint and broken front glass doors.

Aurora police chief talks about Flock, shows how it works in real time

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The source said they saw spray paint and broken glass, but said the doors leading into the building were unscathed. The source said security workers confirmed that the owners had been notified of the vandalism.

Vandalism reading Palantir out as seen by a FOX31 viewer in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver the morning of Nov. 1, 2025. Vandalism as seen by a FOX31 viewer in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver the morning of Nov. 1, 2025. Vandalism as seen by a FOX31 viewer in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver the morning of Nov. 1, 2025.

A spokesperson for the Denver Police Department told FOX31 that it is investigating the incident as criminal mischief.

No further information about the investigation was immediately available.

Palantir Technologies, which is headquartered near downtown Denver, develops data software that powers real-time, AI-driven decisions in critical government and commercial enterprises in the West, according to the website.

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Business Den reported earlier this year that Palantir was set to move its headquarters to the location that was vandalized.

FOX31 has reached out to Palantir Technologies and has not heard back as of this publishing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Israeli forces have killed another Palestinian in Gaza despite a United States-brokered ceasefire, bringing the toll since the truce to 236, as Hamas handed over the remains of three more captives.

Medics said on Sunday that the Palestinian man was killed in an Israeli drone attack on the Shujayea neighbourhood of Gaza City, where Israeli forces have been carrying out building demolitions since the morning.

The Israeli military said the man had crossed the yellow line marking the ceasefire boundary and approached its troops, without offering evidence.

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According to Gazas Ministry of Health, Israeli forces have killed at least 236 Palestinians and wounded 600 others since the ceasefire took effect last month.

It said the bodies of 502 Palestinians have also been retrieved from under the rubble of destroyed homes and buildings since the truce, taking the overall death toll from Israels war to 68,856 people.

Hamas, meanwhile, announced handing over the remains of three captives to Israel via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office confirmed receiving the bodies.

The Times of Israel said the remains will be examined at the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv and that the identification process could take up to two days.

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Israel must now return the bodies of 45 dead Palestinian prisoners, 15 for each Israeli captive returned.





Al Jazeeras Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman in neighbouring Jordan, said the recovery of the bodies followed a complex search operation.

The search is currently happening beyond the Yellow Line, with Hamas fighters entering with ICRC staff, aided by outside heavy machinery as these bodies lie under the rubble, Odeh said.

Now, the Israeli destruction of homes continues in those areas, whether its in Bani Suheila, where the bodies of the three captives were found this Sunday, or in the Shujayea neighbourhood, east of Gaza City, where the search continues for more bodies of Israeli captives, she said.

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Experts and US officials expect the search for the remaining eight to be even more complicated.

There are hundreds of tonnes of rubble in Gaza, and it is not going to be sure whether Hamas will be able to locate all of those bodies, Odeh said. It will be up to the [US President Donald] Trump administration to steer the ceasefire forward, because Israel conditions moving to phase 2 [of the ceasefire] on the return of all the bodies of Israeli captives.

Accusations of US disinformation

The developments came as tensions heightened in Gaza after the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) accused Hamas of looting an aid truck in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, without providing evidence. The claim followed the release of drone footage allegedly showing suspected Hamas elements commandeering humanitarian supplies.

Gazas Government Media Office dismissed the allegations, accusing Washington of spreading disinformation to smear Palestinian authorities.

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This accusation is completely false and fabricated from its very foundation, and comes within the framework of a systematic media disinformation campaign aimed at distorting the image of the Palestinian police forces, the media office said.

It added that Gazas police are carrying out their national and humanitarian duty in securing aid and protecting relief convoys, despite Israels continued interference.

The police system is making every effort to control matters despite continued Israeli meddling in the internal arena, with several objectives, including engineering starvation by obstructing the delivery of aid, the statement added.





Health crisis worsens

Hospitals in Gaza, already crippled by months of war and blockade, remain overwhelmed. More than 16,500 patients in need of specialised treatment remain trapped inside the besieged enclave, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

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A recent United Nations update showed that by September, Egypt had taken in the largest number of Palestinian evacuees for medical care  nearly 4,000 people. The United Arab Emirates received 1,450 patients, Qatar received 970, and Turkiye took in 437.

In Europe, Italy treated 201 Palestinian patients  the highest among European states  but thousands more, including 3,800 children, are still waiting for urgent medical evacuation abroad.

A study published in The Lancet medical journal this week underscored the human toll of Israels genocide in Gaza. The report found that Gaza has lost more than a staggering three million years of human life since the start of the conflict in October 2023.

Researchers Sammy Zahran of Colorado State University and Ghassan Abu Sittah of the American University of Beirut analysed data from 60,199 recorded deaths between October 2023 and July 2025. Each death, they calculated, represented an average of 51 years of life lost  the majority being civilians.

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More than one million of those life-years were lost among children under the age of 15. The authors noted that their estimates were conservative and excluded deaths caused by starvation, lack of medicine, and the collapse of infrastructure under Israels siege.





Race against winter

With winter approaching, Gazas displaced families are scrambling to rebuild any form of shelter amid Israels restrictions on building materials, Al Jazeeras Ibrahim Al Khalili reported from Gaza City.

In Gazas largest urban centre, the focus of Israeli carpeting bombing from August to October this year, 42-year-old Khalid al-Dahdouh, a father of five, has turned to traditional methods to erect a small mud shelter for his family, using bricks salvaged from the rubble.

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We tried to rebuild because winter is coming, al-Dahdouh told Al Jazeera. We managed to lay just a few rows of bricks  we dont have tents or anything else. So, we built a primitive structure out of mud since theres no cement. As you can see, it protects us from the cold, insects, and rain  unlike the tents.

Were just trying to survive the cold and the hunger. Ceasefire or not, Gaza is still under attack, al-Dahdouh said.

Inspired by him, his relative, Saif al-Bayek, attempted a similar effort but ran out of usable materials before finishing.

The whole neighbourhood is in ruins, al-Bayek said. We made the shelter out of mud using traditional methods, using whatever stones we could salvage, since there werent enough to build a full room. Because of this, the structure is uneven, and the roof is full of gaps  if it rains heavily, water will come through.





There are severe challenges to reconstruction efforts. Many families are forced to rely on primitive building methods because they have no other choice, Alessandro Mrakic, the UN Development Programmes representative in Gaza, told Al Jazeera.

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With hundreds of thousands of people still displaced, aid agencies warn that the situation could deteriorate further as temperatures drop.

While the ceasefire has halted large-scale bombardments, Palestinians in Gaza say their suffering continues  through hunger, homelessness, and the constant fear that Israels war could reignite at any moment.




BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  A Panama City woman was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Friday for shooting and killing a Chipley man in a Holmes County hotel room two years ago.

According to State Attorney Larry Basford, Lois K. Merkel was facing trial for the May 29, 2023, shooting death when she entered a plea to manslaughter with a firearm on Sept. 22.

Callaway woman charged with murder in Holmes County

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Officials said the charge is a 1st-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

After hearing from both sides, Judge Roberts handed down the 25-year sentence to Merkel, officials wrote.

Overstreet was prepared to call witnesses and present evidence showing that Merkel, who was married to another man, was doing methamphetamine and having an affair with the victim.

The night of the shooting, officials said the two were in a Bonifay hotel room and had been arguing and using drugs.

Texts from the victim earlier showed he was afraid Merkel was going to hurt him.

Officials stated pictures that the victim took secretly on his phone in the minutes leading up to his death showed Merkel appearing angry and pointing at him with one hand while hiding her other hand behind her back.

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Less than a minute after the last picture was taken, Hall was shot, officials confirmed.

The evidence and the states case were that Merkel was angry at the victim, and the victim told others he feared she would hurt him. Officials said she was standing over an open gun safe with her hand behind her back, arguing with him moments before the shot was fired, and it was clear she fired the shot.

Officials said Merkel admitted firing the shot but claimed it was an accident.

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New Yorkers panicked Saturday as their SNAP benefits officially ran out  making the prospect of going hungry very real for millions, as the government shutdown approached its second month.

Cash-strapped shoppers tried to stretch their dough as best they could as they faced the reality of shopping without government assistance, after Senate Democrats blocked a government funding bill 13 times in six weeks  keeping the critical food program offline.

SNAP is the backbone of the urban bread basket. When you choke that, you choke everything, everybody, Shamika Hough told The Post as he shopped for his family at E & Y Deli in the Bronx Saturday morning.

SNAP benefits were set to expire on Saturday amid the government shutdown. TOMAS E. GASTON

Sausages and orange juice at the supermarket cost him $28  a hardship since the personal care assistant was already stretching a $500 monthly allowance to cover his family of four and their dog, saying he could usually only make it last three weeks.

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Hough, 41, was hoping the benefits would roll in for the month, but his balance read zero when he checked it that morning.

Im going to the pantry on Wednesday. I went there last week. I get up at 5 a.m. to get a spot and then my wife comes and I get to go to work. The line is long. Its around the corner, he said.

We dont waste anything. Canned foods go a long way. My wife rations the food  she cooks for several days at a time and this was before they cut SNAP, so it really helps.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as food stamps, was expected to run out of funding this weekend amid the ongoing government shutdown  leaving an estimated 42 million people across the US, 3 million in New York , and at least 1.75 million in Gotham wondering how they will pay for their next meal.

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On Friday, federal judges in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts issued temporary orders ruling that the Trump administration must continue administering benefits, with Bostons US District Judge Indira Talwani calling the suspension unlawful.

The administration said it didnt want to tap the fund for about $5 billion for the program, but Democratic officials are claiming that it must be used during the shutdown.

SNAP benefits about 42 million people across the US. AP

Many food pantries across the Big Apple are expanding their service to accomodate SNAP users. TOMAS E. GASTON

The Trump administration did not immediately reveal whether it would appeal the two orders. Both judges asked for progress reports by Monday.

The President posted Friday night following the dueling court rulings that he had instructed his lawyers to ask how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible, saying it would be an honor to provide the funding.

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Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a food emergency across the state Thursday and funneled $65 million for food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency food providers that needy New Yorkers will be forced to turn to during the absence of SNAP.

Squad Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Saturday launched a fundraiser to benefit the Elmcor, RAP4Bronx and City Harvest food pantries, which announced they would be increasing their capacity to accommodate SNAP beneficiaries.

Tatiana Harris, 38, was on her way to a food distribution truck on Saturday because her $298 in monthly SNAP benefits were never delivered.

I dont have any food in my house at all. I have a dog and I have no idea what Im going to do if I have no food for him, Harris, 38, who is unemployed and HIV-positive, said, adding that because of the weekend, she has no one at the benefits center she could call for help.

I dont have any food in my house at all, said Tatiana Harris. ALLISON DINNER/EPA/Shutterstock

Im waiting until Monday to see what happens. I am hoping something happens. This cannot continue.

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Laura Diaz, 45, was left wondering how she would get her 5-year-old son through the winter without their SNAP benefits as she shopped in Antillana Superfood Marketplace in the Bronx.

The pair receives $180 per month, which she sometimes uses to supplement their rent and other bills.

I have a growing son. I have to feed him. Right now, Ill go without to make sure he eats, said Diaz, who cleans houses for a living.

Im going to reduce what I give him for lunch or I will have to work more hours.

The SNAP crisis was sparked after Democrats refused to drop their demands to extend ObamaCare subsidies due to expire at the end of this year.

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Democrats have instigated a disgusting dereliction of duty unlike anything I have seen in all my years doing this work, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Friday at a Capitol Hill press conference with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

We, the poor people, are suffering the consequences. They are living their same lives but us  the poor people  our lives have been disrupted, said Diaz, who cleans houses for a living and blamed both Dems and GOPers.

I think about the people who cant work. What are they going to do?

One senior citizen, who declined to share her name, indicated she only had enough savings to get through November without government assistance.

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Me getting mad makes it worse. Im disappointed but I have to keep a positive attitude or Ill crash out and lose my mind, the woman, 66, said.

We definitely need it and what they are doing is wrong.
It was a windy Saturday at Lesters Farm Market in St. Johns, where Oshane Barrett is a seasonal worker, but his mind was on a much more destructive wind thousands of kilometres away at his home in Jamaica.

Hurricane Melissa tore through the Caribbean island nation last week as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes to make landfall.

Melissa battered the country with sustained winds of up to 295 kilometres per hour, leaving massive destruction in its wake.

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As Jamaicans we try our best to be in high spirits, but at this point now were in low spirits to know that the devastation has really affected us, Barrett told CBC News on Saturday.

We're just trying to be strong, trying to do as much as we can to help and assist back at home.

To that end, Barrett said a recent fundraiser at the farm gave the Jamaican seasonal workers a big boost.

Oshane Barrett is a seasonal worker at Lesters Farm Market in St. Johns. (Juanita Mercer/CBC)

On Saturday and Sunday, admission fees for the farms field of fun were all donated to help the Jamaican employees and their families. The farm also accepted donations at its craft fair on Saturday.

Meanwhile, an online fundraiser through Lester Farm Markets website was set up for anyone who couldnt make it to the farm in person.

Jamaica and Newfoundland always had good ties

Farm owner Susan Lester Ryan says they employ about a dozen Jamaicans every year as seasonal workers. She says the farm wouldnt run without them.

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Most of the veggies that you see here on our shelves have been harvested by them or grown by them.

Susan Lester Ryan is one of the owners of Lesters Farm Market. (Juanita Mercer/CBC)

Barrett has been working at the farm seasonally for five years now, and describes working in Newfoundland as a good fit for him.

It just feels like home to me, he said, noting the similarities among the two island cultures.

Jamaica and Newfoundland always had good ties  when you gave us the cods, and we gave you the Screech rum  so, it's always been like that.

As for Lester Ryan, she said the farm wanted to help in any way possible.

We want to try to give something back to them because anyone who works here, but especially these guys who come up from Jamaica for months of every year, they're certainly a part of our family.

Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
NEED TO KNOW

Jesse Farber, 29, of Tamaqua, Pa., vanished on Aug. 11, 2015

This past July. a group of ATV riders came across human remains close to the path they were riding on, according to the Pennsylvania State Police

Those remains were positively identified as belonging to Farber

Partial human remains discovered over the summer have now been identified as a Pennsylvania man who had been missing for 10 years.

In July, a group of people in Walker Township came across the remains while riding ATVs, the Pennsylvania State Police told PEOPLE in an email. They contacted police, who later recovered the remains.

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"As a result of laboratory analysis, the remains were positively identified as belonging to Jesse Lee Farber who was listed as a missing person from Tamaqua since 2015," state police wrote, adding that his family members had been notified.

Authorities noted that additional searches of the area uncovered more remains and that their investigation is ongoing.

Rachel Carroll, the mother of Farbers children and his girlfriend at the time, also shared the news in a message on the Facebook group page Find Jesse Farber, the Times News reported.

A few weeks ago, while searching for Jesse with a group of dedicated volunteers, we discovered several bones. Law enforcement was immediately notified, and the coroner later confirmed the remains were human," Carroll wrote. "We have since learned that a few additional bones had been found in the same area a couple of months earlier. Together, these partial remains have been positively identified as Jesse."



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In an interview with NewsNation, Carroll said the last time she saw Farber in person was on Aug. 8, 2015.

He said to me he had to do something on his own and basically, when he dealt with that, that everything would be okay and hed come back home and wed be back together again," Carroll recalled. "Which made me worry even more because it seemed like there was definitely something going on.

Carroll spoke with him on the phone three days later, the night he vanished.

"He was really scared, and as the phone call went on, he got worse and more terrified. He told me to bring guns, and he was in a tree with 10-11 coyotes after him, she said during an interview over the summer with local station WOLF.

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I didnt hear any animal noises, and it was very quiet in the background. It didnt sound like he was running or even in the woods," she added. "You couldnt hear the wind, or bugs or leaves brushing."

"He described being on two separate mountains before the call dropped," according to a message on a GoFundMe created to help cover search expenses after he disappeared "under mysterious circumstances."

"He was never heard from again," the message continued

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) said that Farber wore a black hoodie and a backpack containing boots and work clothes at the time of his disappearance.



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Over on the Facebook page dedicated to finding Farber, Carroll said that while she's grateful for the closure, "it's also heartbreaking to let go of that small hope that he might still return to us someday.

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.

A celebration of life is being planned but details have yet to be announced. PEOPLE contacted Carroll on Friday, Oct. 31, for comment.



Read the original article on People
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Running shoes were tied tight Sunday morning in Austintown for the fire departments Axe Run 5K.

Runners met at the 9/11 Memorial Park to participate in Sundays race. This is the 6th year for the event, and organizers are hoping that this years run is the best one yet.

The event is being put on by Austintown Professional Firefighters IAFF Local #3356.

The goal was to raise between $4,000-5,000. Money raised will go back into the community.

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The school has a bunch of athletic programs and the little kids, said Lt. John Ragan. We [help] needy families, we do scholarship funds, a multitude of different things. But its here for the township residents from our union.

This event is for all ages, whether you run, jog or walk. Around 60 people took part.

Awards will be given to the top male and women contestants, as well as the top three participants in age groups.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the successful launch of India's heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03. Sharing an X post, PM Modi lauded India's space scientists, saying the country's "space sector has become synonymous with excellence and innovation." "Our space sector continues to make us proud! Congratulations, ISRO, on the successful launch of India's heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03. Powered by our space scientists, it is commendable how our space sector has become synonymous with excellence and innovation. Their successes have furthered national progress and empowered countless lives," the Prime Minister wrote. Earlier today, Union Minister Jitendra Singh lauded the successful launch of the Indian Navy's GSAT 7R (CMS-03) by the LVM3 launch vehicle, terming it as "Bahubali." Sharing an X post, the Union Minister hailed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a string of successful space missions. "India's Bahubali scales the skies with the successful launch of LVM3M5 Mission. "Bahubali", as it is being popularly referred, the LVM3-M5 rocket is carrying the CMS-03 communication satellite, the heaviest ever to be launched from Indian soil into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). ISRO continues to script one success after another. Thanks, PM Modi, for the unflinching government support," Jitendra Singh wrote. ISRO launched the Indian Navy's GSAT 7R (CMS-03) communication satellite. The indigenously developed satellite is India's heaviest communication satellite to date, weighing around 4,400 kg. The launch took place from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Station in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 5:26 pm. The satellite would enhance the Navy's space-based communications and maritime domain awareness capabilities with indigenous, state-of-the-art components developed specifically to meet the Indian Navy's operational requirements. "This satellite is India's heaviest communication satellite to date, weighing approximately more than 4,400 kg, and includes many indigenous state-of-the-art components developed specifically to meet the Indian Navy's operational requirements," the Indian Navy said.CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite that will provide services over a wide oceanic region, including the Indian landmass, according to ISRO. The satellite was launched by the famous LVM3 launch vehicle, which successfully landed India on the lunar South Pole in the Chandrayaan-3 mission. This will be the vehicle's fifth operational flight."CMS-03, weighing about 4400kg, will be the heaviest communication satellite to be launched to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from Indian soil. The previous mission of LVM3 launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission, in which India became the first country to land successfully near the lunar south pole," ISRO said in a statement. The launch vehicle had been assembled earlier and had been on the launch pad since October 26 for pre-launch operations. The LVM3-M5 launch had eight sequences, with the CMS-03 being separated from the vehicle at an altitude of approximately 179 kilometres at a velocity of around 10 km per second. (ANI)
NEW JERSEY (PIX11)  A devastating fire late Halloween night has left the Paterson community in mourning after a family of five, including three children, tragically lost their lives.

Shortly before 10 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to 15 Emerson Avenue in Paterson, New Jersey, after reports of a structure fire.

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The blaze quickly erupted, fueled by strong winds that caused the flames to spread rapidly from the first floor to the upper level of the house. The fires intensity was so great that it melted part of the siding on the neighboring home.

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The five victimsa 39-year-old man, a 38-year-old woman who were the parents, and three children aged 14, 12, and 7were found together on the second floor, where they sadly succumbed to the fire.

Neighbors watched in shock as residents tried to gather what belongings they could from the charred remains of the home. The displaced residents sifted through the wreckage, trying to salvage whatever pieces of their lives survived the blaze.

Neighbor John Miller, who has known the family for over a decade, described them as kind and friendly. They were very good people. Every time I drove by, they would always wave, he said emotionally.

Fatima Ali, who lives next door, recalled the terrifying moments when the fire started. The kids were playing when suddenly we saw smoke. I ran to the first floor to warn them, but the people on the second floor were trapped and couldnt get out because the stairs were on fire.

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Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh expressed his deep sorrow, saying, This one really hurts my heart. Now you have a neighborhood grieving, and you have to think about the children and their friends.

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Fire crews battled the blaze and searched the home, confirming the tragic loss. Two firefighters were treated at a local hospital after the intense firefighting effort.

The community is now left to mourn, with the American Red Cross providing assistance to displaced residents. Efforts are underway to provide support to the families affected, including plans for school services for the childrens classmates.

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The cause of the fire remains under investigation as Paterson continues to grieve the heartbreaking loss.

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A Catholic diocese in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has condemned Holocaust imagery that appeared on a Catholic schools Halloween parade float on Thursday.

The St. Joseph Catholic Schools float at a community Halloween parade included a replica of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp gate bearing the words Arbeit Macht Frei. The German phrase translates to Work sets you free, according to the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum website.

The motto is one of the symbols of the camp, and was used to greet people arriving at other concentration camps in Germany, according to the website. The slogan above the Auschwitz Concentration Camp gate was made by prisoners, who deliberately reversed the letter B as a camouflaged mark of disobedience, the website says.

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The school in Hanover, Pennsylvania, is part of the Diocese of Harrisburg, which called the imagery a notorious symbol of hate in a statement Friday.

Bishop Timothy C. Senior, who said he was shocked and appalled by the incident, apologized to the Jewish community on behalf of the Catholic diocese.

The original approved design for the float did not contain that imagery, Senior said.

The inclusion of this imageone that represents the horrific suffering and murder of millions of innocent people, including six million Jews during the Holocaustis profoundly offensive and unacceptable, he said in the statement.

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I strongly condemn the inclusion of this symbol on the float. As Catholics, we stand firmly against all forms of antisemitism, hatred, and prejudice, which are rampant in our society, Senior added. The Churchs relationship with the Jewish community is one of deep respect, friendship, and shared faith in the one true God.

CNN has reached out to the St. Joseph Catholic School for comment.

The incident comes amid a surge in recent reports of antisemitic acts. Days ago, a man was arrested with body armor and a suitcase filled with ammunition after threatening multiple synagogues in Alabama and surrounding states, officials said. A month earlier, a late-night fire was set at a synagogue in Florida.

The Anti-Defamation League says antisemitic incidents in the US rose in 2024 for the fourth year in a row, reaching their highest level since the organization started tracking them.

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The diocese will work with the school to learn from the incident and review approval processes to prevent it from happening again, Senior said. The diocese will also work with the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition and the ADL to provide information about the Holocaust to the school, Senior added.

Let us continue to pray for healing, understanding, and unity among all of Gods people, Senior said.

CNNs Cindy Von Quednow contributed to this report.

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(WHTM)  Pennsylvanias months-long budget delay and the depletion of SNAP benefits amid a federal shutdown collided last week as lawmakers scrambled to find solutions to help those who will feel an immediate impact.

On Friday Governor Josh Shapiro announced the direction of $5 million worth of state funding to Feeding Pennsylvania to distribute through its network of food banks.

The governor also signed a declaration of disaster emergency to expedite the funds and announced a private sector fundraising effort thats raised more than $1 million from individuals including Mark Cuban.

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Nearly two million Pennsylvanians rely on SNAP every month  and they shouldnt have to wonder where their next meal will come from because of the dysfunction in Washington, said Governor Shapiro. There is no substitute for the federal governments decision not to release SNAP benefits, but my Administration is stepping up to use every tool we have  state resources, private sector support, and the compassion of our communities  to make sure our food banks are fully stocked and our families are fed. The federal government has the money to keep people fed  theyre just refusing to use it. In Pennsylvania, I wont let our families or food banks shoulder that burden alone, and Im not going to stand by while the federal government lets Pennsylvanians go hungry.

Shapiro and 24 other states have sued the Trump Administration over the suspension of SNAP benefits during the government shutdown.

Every week, This Week in Pennsylvania gives a comprehensive look at the weeks biggest news events in Pennsylvania, provided by the abc27 News team, along with the latest updates on local stories.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A homicide investigation is underway after police say a person was found dead in a downtown Portland parking lot early Sunday morning.

At around 4:30 a.m., officers responded to reports of someone down on the ground in a parking lot in the 300 block of Southwest 3rd Avenue.

Appears to be Halloween related: 13-year-old boy wearing costume hit by car, seriously injured in SE Portland, police say

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Officials say they found a male victim there, and he was declared dead when paramedics arrived.

Police said evidence from the scene suggested he was shot. But the cause and manner of death have yet to be determined by the medical examiner.

Any possible suspect or suspects left the scene before police arrived.

No arrests have been made at this time, police said.

Anyone with information in this case is encouraged to contact Portland police.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
The appalling knife attacks aboard an LNER train from Peterborough to London have sparked an inevitable debate about security on our transport networks.

While the causes and motives of Saturdays distressing events shouldnt be speculated about, they have nevertheless revealed a fundamental vulnerability of passengers using a system that was never designed to anticipate such appalling violence. In fact its the vulnerability of the travelling public that illustrates the importance with which we regard the social contract in Britain: why make provision to combat unimaginable violence when it is universally accepted that, we Britons being the civilised people that we are, are perfectly capable of going from A to B without being placed in any danger?

Such assumptions were destroyed on July 7, 2005, with the Islamist terrorist attacks on Londons transport system. A year later, after Tony Blair had appointed me minister for the railways, I spent much time fretting about the possibility of a similar attack on our own inter-city network, including the then GNER (whose East Coast Mainline services are now run by LNER) and Virgin West Coast (now run by Avanti).

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But even after 7/7, few in the Department for Transport nor in the British Transport Police  nor even in our own domestic security services  felt that a fundamental shift in security arrangements was warranted.

Once more, attention is turning to the possibility of introducing airline-style security scanning  similar to those that have been operating on the Spanish high-speed network for years  at UK stations. The Defence Secretary, John Healey, left that option open when he was asked about possible measures to protect railway passengers in future.

I was able to experience the Spanish system myself in 2018 when on a business trip from Madrid to Granada. Given my loathing of the Heathrow experience with its interminable queuing and obligations to remove belts, shoes, coats and even watches before stepping through the scanners, I was not looking forward to the experience.

Yet at both ends of my journey, the security process was hardly noticeable. There were no queues because passengers walking along the platform simply dropped their luggage into a scanner and picked it up at the other end without the need to slow down.

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Perhaps I am jaded by my time as a transport minister and my four years on the board of HS2 Ltd, but I have little faith in the ability of British railway bosses to be able to replicate such a fast and efficient security system here. Network Rail, the government arms-length body that owns most of our larger stations, is not known for its speed when it comes to innovation, preferring the years-long process of careful and methodical assessment before any change is recommended.

If it were to receive ministerial instructions to implement Spanish-style security measures at mainline stations in Britain, Network Rail would doubtless recommend a trial period at one or two stations lasting up to two years before any recommendation for nationwide roll-out was made. And instead of merely duplicating the technology already proven to work in Spain and making an order with whichever company already supplies the scanners, Network Rail might be expected to re-invent the wheel and seek to develop its own bespoke  and inevitably vastly more expensive  system.

Other short-term measures to improve passenger security are available. But ensuring a guard is on each train, for example, would be no silver bullet and would provide no more than a placebo effect, offering reassurance to those passengers who were aware of his presence but providing no genuine protection in the event of an attack. It is not (nor should it be) in the job description of train guards to tackle knife- or gun-wielding assailants.

Even state-of-the-art security scanning equipment at stations cannot guarantee the on-board safety of every passenger if there exist individuals determined, for whatever reason, to wreak havoc and violence against their fellow citizens. Increased numbers of British Transport Police patrols aboard trains could be mandated, but that would come at a cost which would have to be passed on to passengers or to tax-payers.

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At a time when the LNER incident may already be dissuading people from using the rail network, any increase in fares can only further reduce patronage at a time when it is already struggling to return to pre-pandemic numbers.

The dismal, inevitable fact is that in a free society where freedom of movement within our borders, free of the need for official approval is (rightly) seen as sacrosanct. No level of extra security measures can offer 100 per cent guarantees of individual safety, either on our trains or on any of Britains assorted underground, tram and bus networks. More CCTV cameras  including more widespread use of facial recognition technology  and vigilance by passengers themselves can make a contribution, either to deterrence of violence or to subsequent investigations.

But the degree of state intrusion, and the cost of that intrusion, that would be required to remove all risk from our daily lives would be unacceptable to the very public who would most benefit from such measures.

Tom Harris has served as Minister for the Railways

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On Friday afternoon I thought Id had a particularly grim train journey travelling from Newcastle to Doncaster on the 14.35 after staying with a Geordie friend.

The service had been wildly oversold and there were people jammed hip-to-hip in every bit of spare space, to the point four lads were standing upright in the tiny, swaying chamber between automatic closing doors  we had to keep our hands on the green buttons to stop them asphyxiating.

The train kept stopping and all of us in the corridors between carriages couldnt tell if these were further delays or scheduled stations as there were no windows. Others yelled to confirm stops and luggage was passed down a human chain of people, so owners could disembark.

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Id paid 142 to be pressed intimately against scores of other hyperventilating humans, including a lovely lecturer at Newcastle University who was escorting her teenage son to a swimming contest in Sheffield. We knew everything about one another after three hours chatting and rolling our eyes in the most swaying part of the train.

Finally, we reached Doncaster where I disembarked for the second, smoother leg of my Split Saver journey to Kings Cross. A route that  as we all know now  was tragic for passengers on Saturday evening.

I was first alerted to the horror after four friends texted me to ask if I was ok. My friends know Im a frequent train user and a Cambridgeshire resident, although my usual rat run is the Cambridge-London commute. The news solidified a growing sense of hypervigilance and dread Ive been experiencing in recent years when using our railways.

Guards, platform attendants and travel police are an ever rarer phenomenon, while nervy-looking blokes in hoodies and ragged jeans, sitting with knees jolting up and down in a tell-tale tic  often in near deserted first-class carriages  are an ever-more common sight. Its no secret that stations like Cambridge and Peterborough are now a frequent county lines route for drug pushers. Drunks suddenly pitching forward to pick a fight or spew vomit are an every-day occurrence on late-night services.

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Then theres basic rail maintenance worries. I am a big fan of Britains leading civilian disaster expert Prof Lucy Easthope, author of When the Dust Settles, who deals with the best ways of preventing catastrophes as well as how to cope with the aftermath and the pressures on emergency services.

Shes been warning for some while now that her tribe of well-informed whistle blowers fear that neglect of our ancient tracks, signalling services and attendant infrastructure mean that its more a case of when rather than if in terms of a derailing, crash or similar.

I think of this every time my Cambridge train seems to semi-bounce off the tracks around the Foxton and Shepreth level crossings. On one memorable trip the driver warned us just before this stretch to hold onto your hats and your hot drinks. Its not an encouraging thing to hear. And all of this is before you consider the dangerously real terrorist risks to our rail network, whether those be track-based, on board, or hate-filled lunatics running amok at a major station.

I hate the fact that part of my normal for rail travel is avoiding milling crowds, sticking to the fringes of stations and keeping my eye out for anyone who looks threatening.

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I was hurtling back from a work trip to Bath three weeks ago after talking at the citys marvellous Persephone bookshop. At Swindon a large, over-muscled man, who appeared to be having an aggressive phone conversation got on the train and settled a couple of seats down from me. After a while I realised he was arguing with himself and then he started to broadcast a range of YouTube videos, which all focussed on ever wilder conspiracy theories. When a male commuter asked him politely to lower the volume, the conspiracy lover swore loudly and threatened violence. The commuter moved seat and then I heard a weird metallic sound that reminded me of a butcher sharpening a knife on a rod of steel. Using the window reflection and my phone to spy, I decided it was probably part of a video.

Either way, the man was clearly suffering from mental illness and violent delusions and should not have been travelling. Furthermore, I felt it was my civic duty to keep my eye trained on him for the rest of the journey just in case a knife did appear and someone needed to call the police. I even trailed him down the station platform at Paddington just to check he wasnt going to lurch after the hapless commuter.

If this makes me sound like a paranoid, cut-priced Miss Marple, I can assure you I am the very first to go jaccuse, Pelling! But whether I was overreacting or not, it shouldnt be my job to semi-police a train journey and wonder if its going to end in a blood bath.

When I told the story to my husband later, I freely confessed to having an overactive imagination. OCD runs in the family, which can involve intrusive, doomy thoughts about impending disasters. And yet here we are, only a month later, and the scenario I feared has become a horrifying reality.

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The measure of a civilised society is that people can travel thoroughfares and use public transport in every expectation of safety. When that disappears, our faith in institutions and the ruling classes vanishes too.

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It will have come as no consolation to the passengers stabbed on a train from Doncaster to London on Saturday evening to be told that this was not considered a terrorist attack. Terror is what many of them will have undoubtedly felt.

A national security protocol called Plato was activated when first reports came in, which means a marauding terrorist assault was taking place. The police and emergency services responded rapidly and in great numbers to a relatively remote location.

Arrests were made within 10 minutes of the alarm being sounded. There were stories of heroic acts by travellers and a member of the train crew trying to protect others from the assailant, with some getting severely wounded as a result.

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The Plato designation may have later been rescinded, but the implications of the incident were no less traumatic for apparently lacking a terrorist motivation. The problem is that while the police have supplied the ethnicity and nationality of the suspect, we are still ignorant of a motive. What was behind a seemingly unprovoked knife attack on passengers trapped in carriages unable to flee other than further down the train?

We are told the remaining suspect is a British passport holder but was this act carried out in the name of a religion? The police said that at this stage there was no indication of the attack being a terrorist incident, so what was going on? Beyond being open about ethnicity and nationality  which after the Southport debacle was essential  questions still need to be answered if the public is to be satisfied that there was no sectarian reason.

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Former President Barack Obama joined Abigail Spanberger, Virginias Democratic Party nominee for governor, in Norfolk on Saturday, Nov. 1, for a rally at Old Dominion Universitys Chartway Arena ahead of Tuesdays election.

Lieutenant governor candidate Ghazala Hashmi and attorney general candidate Jay Jones also addressed the crowd before Spanberger took the stage.
Pierce County is building partnerships with service providers and agencies to support a vulnerable population  homeless veterans.

Pierce County Human Services is partnering with WorkSource Pierce to expand the Veterans Housing Options Group (VHOG), providing more support for veterans experiencing housing instability.

Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 5, VHOG will meet weekly at 10 a.m. at WorkSource Pierce, 2121 S. State St., Suite 300 in Tacoma.

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According to Human Services spokesperson Kari Moore, VHOG started in 2016 before being paused in 2020 due to the pandemic and was relaunched in 2022.

The biggest change is the new location and time, Moore told The News Tribune. VHOG now operates out of WorkSource, which better connects unhoused veterans to the services theyve said they need most, such as employment opportunities and DSHS support.

Through WorkForce Pierce, veterans also can be connected to employment opportunities, as employment is a common factor for those experiencing housing insecurity. The event will be held adjacent to the Department of Social and Health Services office  to allow veterans opportunities to access the full host of services offered to them.

In an interview with The News Tribune, Robert Sheetz, veterans assistance manager for Human Services, said VHOG is being revamped as the county will partner with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, Catholic Community Services, NineLine Veteran Services and other veteran-services providers to connect veterans experiencing or at-risk of homelessness in one location.

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VHOG provides veterans experiencing homelessness with information about local housing resources, Coordinated Entry assessments and connections to other veteran-housing programs in Pierce County. Coordinated Entry is the countys front-door to homeless and housing services.

Some of them are unhoused. Some of them are looking for resources to help with rent, he said. So theyre anticipating that they might be unhoused if they dont get assistance.

Sheetz said VHOG gives veterans a chance to access a host of services all in the same place. At the event, they can ask questions directly to representatives of the VA  the agency through which veterans often have the most access to services and support.

He said veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness can be a difficult demographic to connect with and often struggle to navigate the system of services available to them.

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The VA is really good at some things, and, you know, mediocre at a lot of things, Sheetz said. But sometimes when veterans experience challenges with the VA, they become reluctant to utilize the VA again.

Following each VHOG session, participants can meet with representatives from service organizations to take steps toward securing housing.

According to Pierce County, of the 168 veteran households that have exited homelessness and moved into housing this year, 74 were housed through VHOG.

Since launching VHOG in 2022, weve seen how powerful these connections can be for veterans seeking stable housing, Sheetz said. Expanding to a larger space and partnering with WorkSource Pierce helps us reach more unhoused veterans and their families where they are, directly connecting them to resources that will improve their lives.

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According to Moore, VHOG doesnt require any additional funding beyond staff time. The only expense is printing outreach materials, which is covered by the Veterans Relief Fund.

Sheetz said veterans face increased rates of housing insecurity for a number of reasons, including mental health obstacles, substance abuse and distrust of public agencies. He said resources available to them have improved over recent decades.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides housing choice and project-based vouchers specifically for veterans.
Under the leadership of AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Edappadi K Palaniswami, a consultative meeting of district in-charges was held at the party headquarters, Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Maaligai, in Chennai on Sunday, a release said. The meeting brought together district in-charges actively involved in forming booth (unit) committees across Tamil Nadu. Discussions focused on strengthening grassroots-level organisational work and ensuring coordination across districts. During the session, Palaniswami noted that the Election Commission is currently conducting a special intensive revision of the electoral rolls, with January 1, 2026, as the qualifying date. He emphasised the importance of ensuring the accuracy of voter lists and directed party functionaries to act swiftly to address any discrepancies. The AIADMK chief instructed district secretaries to extend full cooperation and directed district in-charges to personally visit their respective districts to oversee the voter list revision process. He also stressed that this exercise is crucial for the party's preparedness ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Palaniswami further instructed that detailed reports on the progress of the voter list verification be submitted to the party headquarters to ensure timely and comprehensive completion of the task. Meanwhile, on Friday, the AIADMK expelled senior party leader KA Sengottaiyan from the party. AIADMK General Secretary and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has announced the expulsion of KA Sengottaiyan, MLA from the Gobichettipalayam constituency, from the party's primary membership and all other posts. The decision was made following allegations that Sengottaiyan had acted in ways contrary to the party's principles, policies, and code of conduct. Sengottaiyan was accused of maintaining contact with individuals who had previously been expelled from the party, thereby violating party discipline and bringing disrepute to the organisation. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday accused former state education minister KA Sengottaiyan of acting as a B-team for the DMK on Sunday. "Sengottaiyan has never spoken against the DMK, not in the Assembly, not in public meetings, not in the media. This clearly proves he has been acting as the B-Team of the DMK. That cannot be hidden. That's why, after his removal, AIADMK functionaries in the Gobichettipalayam constituency celebrated by distributing sweets. If someone claims to have been in the party for 53 years, they should have worked hard for the people and the movement. If they had done so, people would have celebrated them not their removal. Betraying the movement brings about such consequences. AIADMK is no ordinary party. It's a movement with two crore dedicated workers. Those who deliberately act against it will not be tolerated," Palaniswami said. (ANI)
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A busy To The Point for you this weekend as we discuss the state budget, ranked choice voting and the U.S. Senate race.

State Rep. Phil Skaggs, D-East Grand Rapids, described a fairly chaotic process that produced a state budget past deadline and only after extensive negotiation between the Republicans leading the Michigan House, the Democrats leading the Senate and the governor.

We had a new speaker who I think really wanted to centralize power around himself and not really empower his own members, the members of the appropriations committees and the chairs of the subcommittees.

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To The Point: Whats in Michigans new budget?

Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican again running for U.S. Senate, discussed the long road to the November 2026 election.

It is a long haul and if you dont believe you can make a difference when you get there, I dont know how youd do this. But everything has shifted to the left: Think about voting started last year in the middle of September, right? So now everything shifts to the left and one of the things we knew we didnt do last time right is we got in too late, Rogers said.

Also above on this Nov. 1 and 2, 2025, episode of To The Point, we talk to the Rank MI Vote organization, which is working to get a proposal to implement ranked choice voting on the ballot. Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons discussed why every county clerk in the state has opposed that proposal.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Police are searching for the culprit who shot a teenager in Columbia County.

Police say a shooting occurred on Saturday around 11:30 p.m. on East Street in Bloomsburg. A 16-year-old boy was shot at least once.

The victims condition is not known at this time, but the Bloomsburg Police Department told 28/22 News that the injuries were non-life-threatening.

Homicide investigation after teen found shot in street

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According to the release, surveillance video shows the suspect running on East Street towards East Third Street. The suspect appears to be a male wearing a dark-colored sweatshirt, red pants, black-and-white sneakers, and a black beanie.

Evidence found at the scene indicates at least three rounds were fired from a handgun during the shooting, according to Bloomsburg Police.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Bloomsburg Police Department at (570) 784-6300.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The murder of a 25-year-old man in southeast Columbus remains unsolved five years later.

Columbus police are seeking assistance in solving the fatal shooting of Jaleel Carter-Tate, who was shot and killed on Sept. 29, 2020. Officers responded to reports of a person shot in the 800 block of East Whitter Street in the Karns Park neighborhood.

Carter-Tate was found lying in the street and unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at 9:52 p.m. at the scene.

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Adult killed in Weinland Park hit-and-run crash

Police said several individuals were seen with Carter-Tate, just before the shooting occurred; however, no suspects have been named, and there are no reports of witness statements.

A little over 10 months later, Carter-Tates brother, 23-year-old Jerick Jacobs-Tate, was shot and killed at the former location of the Whittier Food Mart, about 10 blocks east on East Whittier Street.

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for any information leading to the arrest and/or indictment of the person(s) responsible for this crime. Anyone with information is asked to call 614-461-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrime.org to submit your tip.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
A man is dead following a shooting in West Philadelphia.

Officers responded to the 5200 block of Walnut Street around 11:15 a.m. Saturday.

Upon arrival, they found a man with several gunshot wounds.

He was taken to a hospital where he later died.

So far, no arrests have been made.
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  Authorities in North Charleston are investigating an early morning homicide outside a Rivers Avenue lounge.

Officers with the North Charleston Police Department responded to a reported shooting in the parking lot of the Aqua Event Center (Aqua Lounge and Nightclub) at 5624 Rivers Avenue around 2 a.m.

A male victim was found dead at the scene, and a second victim, a female, was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

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Police have not made any arrests and the investigation is ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
A police officer and several other people were injured in a shooting in Lima late Friday night.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Around 10:44 p.m. Friday, a Lima police officer conducted a traffic stop in the area of St. Johns Avenue and Second Street, according to a press release from the City of Lima.

TRENDING STORIES:

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During the stop, shots were fired from the vehicle, causing a gunfight to ensue.

The police officer and multiple people inside the stopped vehicle were injured as a result.

Everyone who was injured was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

No fatalities have been reported at this time, according to the city.

The shooting remains under investigation at this time.

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A top French prosecutor leading the inquiry into the alleged rape of a 26-year-old woman in a courthouse cell in northern Paris by two police officers confirmed on Sunday that one of the men filmed the incident with a phone.

"These are all elements that lend credibility to her account," Paris public prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, told French broadcaster France Info.

"And they raise questions about the reality of consent when one considers that this woman was being held in a courthouse holding cell  deprived of her freedom of movement and therefore in a situation of physical constraint  which must be taken into account when assessing this alleged consent."

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The officers, aged 23 and 35, have been charged with rape and sexual assault by persons abusing the authority conferred on them by their positions. The men have admitted sexual relations but claim they were consensual.

The existence of the video was revealed by the newspaper Le Parisien. The four second-long film shows a sexual act, a source close to the case told the French news agency AFP.

French police officer jailed for 10 years for raping drunk prisoner

The woman who accused the two officers said the alleged assault took place on Tuesday night in Bobigny, prosecutor Eric Mathais said on Thursday.

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She had been brought before the Bobigny public prosecutor's office for "acts of parental neglect," he added.

'Serious and unacceptable' actions

France's internal police investigation service, the IGPN, is investigating the case.

The Interior Minister, Laurent Nunez, who is in charge of the country's police forces, has described the officers' actions as "extraordinarily serious and unacceptable" and promised the utmost firmness if they are proven.

In a separate incident, a police officer is due to stand trial next year for raping a woman inside a police station in the Seine-et-Marne region, also near Paris.

The plaintiff, an undocumented woman of Angolan nationality, reported being raped twice by the officer in 2023.

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She had gone to the station to file a complaint for domestic violence, French daily Liberation reported.

France has been rocked by a series of high-profile rape cases in recent months, notably the case of Gisele Pelicot, that have sparked a debate about consent.

On Wednesday France voted to change its criminal code to define rape as sex without consent  a vote hailed by supporters as a move from "a culture of rape to a culture of consent".

(with AFP)
Nov. 2Law school classmates called him shy and sweet.

His obituary described him as "a gifted academic and thoughtful soul."

On an otherwise quiet Saturday morning in May, Andrew Bockemeier shot and killed his parents, Marcia and Stephen Bockemeier, 76 and 77, and his 48-year-old brother, Erik. He then set a portion of the family home on fire before killing himself outside of the New Mexico State Bar Association.

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His parents were devout Christians who ministered at several churches in Albuquerque, while his brother, Erik Bockemeier, owned a local karaoke business and held several small acting roles in television shows like "Breaking Bad."

After the shooting, former classmates, colleagues and Andrew Bockemeier's only remaining brother were left to put together the pieces and reconcile the person they knew with his final acts.

Police reports obtained last week via an Inspection of Public Records Act request revealed that the 35-year-old former attorney grew increasingly erratic in the last year of his life, filing false and "malicious" reports with the Albuquerque Police Department and the state Children, Youth and Families Department.

Andrew Bockemeier accused his family members, colleagues and church leaders of sex crimes and attempted to blackmail his boss at the law firm where he worked, according to police records. He left threatening notes and emailed district judges with disparaging claims about other attorneys.

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The records state that Bockemeier doubled down on accusations police said were unfounded and delivered a letter to his former boss demanding $465,000. That letter specified that Bockemeier believed he had evidence of crimes his boss had committed and would sue if he wasn't compensated.

By that time, Bockemeier was no longer an attorney.

In June 2024, three years after passing the bar exam, Bockemeier's law license was suspended due to unpaid fees to the state bar and failure to complete continuing education requirements. In the months to come, Bockemeier experienced what his brother Philip Bockemeier described in an online video as a "severe mental collapse."

"I am a licensed mental health counselor and there is a hole inside of me that my brother wasn't able to get the help that he desperately needed," Philip Bockemeier, who lives in Florida, said in a YouTube video following the deaths of his immediate family.

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Philip Bockemeier did not respond to a request for comment.

It's unclear from police records and Philip Bockemeier's statements what mental disorder Andrew Bockemeier may have suffered from, although both described his actions as irrational.

In police records, a former boss describes him as "a good man who sadly took a turn for the worse."

Andrew Bockemeier lived alone in a Northeast Heights apartment, where police found four cellphones, ammunition and many handwritten notes, some of which had been burned.

In a video update published on YouTube last month, Philip Bockemeier read some of the notes found in his brother's apartment.

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"He dissociated from reality," Philip Bockemeier said. "...He felt he was in a false reality he was attempting to break free or wake up from. Things like 'That's not your brother, your brother's in the real world,' 'Don't hate yourself Andrew, they tried to kill you.'"

It is unclear if Andrew Bockemeier ever sought mental health treatment and there are no court records to indicate that anyone tried to get him help.

In the wake of tragedy

Months after the shooting, in the church where both Marcia and Stephen Bockemeier were ministers a dimly lit library holds what remains of their belongings.

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Paperbacks on philosophy, hardcovers on Christian theology and children's books all crowd under makeshift labels on shelves and spill out of cardboard boxes in the hundreds.

Books of every genre, including antique and rare editions, were all a part of Stephen Bockemeier's personal collection, said members of Heaven's Door Ministries.

The books were nearly thrown away in the aftermath of the Bockemeiers' deaths and the fire that ensued. That is until the church stepped in to help, members said.

Today, a selection of books sits on a black shelf adorned with white tulle bows below a metal plaque that reads "Bockemeier Library."

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"Steve and Marcia are deeply missed by all of us that knew and worked with them," said Ed Cook, a friend of the couple, in a statement.

Lifelong ministers at several churches in Albuquerque, Cook said the couple dedicated their retirement years to providing street outreach for homeless people and those suffering from drug addiction in the International District.

Once a week the church opens its doors for service and also allows anyone to take what they want from the library.

Seeing people walk out the doors with arms full of the Bockemeiers' books is a silver lining in an otherwise dark situation.

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On Dec. 6, Full Throttle Ministry will host a book giving and sorting event in honor of the Bockemeiers at the Highland Baptist Church, friends said.

Philip Bockemeier is also looking for the light, hoping that telling his family's story online will spur change in the mental health system that, he said, let his brother slip through the cracks.

"We need to do better," Philip Bockemeier said in his video.
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) says they are searching for the person who fired a gun during an argument after smashing a pumpkin on Thursday.

The argument and subsequent shooting happened in the evening in Lower Queen Anne on Roy Street near 2nd Avenue North during a pumpkin-themed competition at a bar.

As the suspect left the business, they were followed by multiple patrons, which led to an argument.

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According to police, the suspect pulled out a gun and began threatening others, firing a single round into the ground.

No one was injured, and no property damage was reported.

An area check conducted by authorities was negative, and the Gang Violence Reduction Unit (GVRU) reviewed the incident.

The suspect remains at large, and SPD says the motive behind the argument and the shooting is still unknown.
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) says they are investigating a shooting that happened outside a nightclub, leaving a 27-year-old man seriously injured.

Police say a 25-year-old security guard was involved in the incident, which occurred around 1:45 a.m. on South Washington Street in Pioneer Square.

Officers from the Joint Enforcement Team (JET) heard gunshots and responded to the scene.

When they arrived, witnesses told police they saw the security guard shoot the victim.

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Police detained the security guard without incident.

The 27-year-old victim was found with a gunshot wound to the leg and was taken to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition.

The suspect was interviewed and later booked into the King County Jail on assault charges.

SPD is asking anyone with information about the shooting to call their Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday said that his government's primary goal is not only to end Naxalism but also to bring holistic development to the regions affected by Left Wing Extremism. Speaking to ANI on the 25 years of the state's formation on November 1, 2000, Sai emphasised that new welfare schemes are being implemented and security camps are being regularly established to ensure both "safety and growth" in the Naxal-affected areas. "The major task is not just ending Naxalism, but also developing the areas affected by it. For this, we are launching various schemes and security camps are opening regularly. The Union Home Minister has even expanded its area with development constantly happening there," Sai said. The CM said day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a day-long visit to the state inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for developmental and transformative projects worth over Rs 14,260 crore, covering key sectors such as roads, industry, healthcare, and energy; and announced "that day is not far when our Chhattisgarh and our nation will be completely free from Maoist terrorism." Highlighting the rapid pace of industrial progress, the Chief Minister noted that Nava Raipur is emerging as a hub of growth and opportunity. "The Prime Minister inaugurated the new Assembly building yesterday (Saturday). New Raipur is being developed at a great pace, with industries moving there under our new industrial policy. We have received investment proposals worth Rs 7.5 lakh crore in the last ten months, and work has already started on the ground. We have also arranged special incentives for industrialists providing employment to over 1,000 people, and the state is benefiting from it," he said. Marking 25 years since Chhattisgarh's formation, Sai said the state is celebrating its Silver Jubilee Year by paying tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who created the state on November 1, 2000. "We pay homage to the revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji, the creator of Chhattisgarh. Since its formation, the state has been progressing rapidly towards development," he added. On the Special Investment Region (SIR) issue, Sai said his government fully supports the initiative, while dismissing opposition criticism. "We welcome SIR. The opposition is opportunistic and they don't hold any stance," he said. The Chief Minister's statement comes days after over 300 Naxalites laid down their arms and opted for rehabilitation last month, marking a major step toward restoring peace in the Dandakaranya region and a landmark development in Chhattisgarh's long battle against Left Wing Extremism (LWE) or Naxalism. With the move, most of Abujhmad has been freed from Naxal influence, bringing an end to the decades-long Red terror in North Bastar. The surrendered group includes over 100 women, representing various ranks of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) organisation. Among them are one Central Committee Member (CCM), four Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) members, one Regional Committee Member, 21 Divisional Committee Members (DVCMs), 61 Area Committee Members (ACMs), 98 Party Members, and 22 PLGA/RPC/other cadres. The Maoists surrendered 153 weapons, including 19 AK-47 rifles, 17 SLR rifles, 23 INSAS rifles, one INSAS LMG, 36 .303 rifles, four carbines, 11 BGL launchers, 41 twelve-bore or single-shot guns, and one pistol. Officials hailed the surrender as one of the most significant breakthroughs in recent years, saying it underscores the growing success of the government's Naxal Eradication and Rehabilitation Policy 2025, which combines development, dialogue, and trust-building measures to encourage militants to return to the mainstream. This large-scale surrender is expected to accelerate peace and development efforts in the region and further weaken the Maoist network in the Bastar division -- once considered the stronghold of Left Wing Extremism in India. Among the top Maoist leaders who surrendered were Rupesh alias Satish (Central Committee Member), Bhaskar alias Rajman Mandavi (DKSZC Member), Ranita (DKSZC Member), Raju Salam (DKSZC Member), Dhannu Vetti alias Santu (DKSZC Member), and Ratan Elam (Regional Committee Member). Besides, 10 senior Maoist operatives also surrendered, including top commander Satish alias T Vasudeo Rao (CCM), Ranita (SZCM, Secretary of Maad DVC), Bhaskar (DVCM, PL 32), Nila alias Nande (DVCM, IC and Secretary of Nelnar AC), and Deepak Palo (DVCM, IC and Secretary of Indravati AC). Rao carried a reward of Rs 1 crore, while others had bounties ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Officials said the mass surrender represents a decisive step towards lasting peace and inclusive development in Bastar and the broader Dandakaranya region, once considered the epicentre of Naxalism. Since the formation of the new government in Chhattisgarh in January 2024, a total of 2,100 Naxalites have surrendered, 1,785 have been arrested, and 477 have been eliminated. The recent wave of surrenders marks one of the most significant setbacks to Naxal insurgency in recent years and underscores the government's intensified efforts to restore peace and development in Naxal-affected regions. In a major achievement towards the Modi government's vision of a "Naxal-free Bharat," the number of districts most affected by LWE has been reduced to just three from six. As per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) fresh data, only Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh remain in the "most affected" category. The number of districts classified as LWE-affected has also declined significantly--from 18 to 11 districts, states the MHA data. The security forces have recorded "unprecedented operational successes" this year by killing a total of 312 Naxals, including the CPI (Maoist) General Secretary and eight other Politburo or Central Committee members. A total of 836 cadres have been arrested, while 1,639 have surrendered and joined the mainstream, including one Politburo and one Central Committee member. Once described as India's biggest internal security challenge by the then Prime Minister in 2010, Naxalism is now in visible retreat. The Maoists had envisioned a so-called "Red Corridor" stretching from Pashupati in Nepal to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. (ANI)




WINDSOR LOCKS - Police have obtained an arrest warrant for a woman who was so focused on her phone that she didn't notice when her young child fell into a hotel pool and was underwater for more than one minute, a detective said Sunday.

Kayla Sally Padilla, 23, of Springfield, Mass., is wanted on charges of risk of injury to a minor and first-degree reckless endangerment, Windsor Locks Det. Sgt. Jeff Lampson said.

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"The kid basically died," Lampson said. "If it wasn't for a custodian who was working there, this would be a much different story."

Padilla was presented in Massachusetts court last week as a fugitive from justice after the Hampden County Sheriff's Department took her into custody, Lampson said. She was released on a $1,000 bond after a judge told her to report to Windsor Locks police, he said.

Padilla, however, still has not turned herself in. Now, the sheriff's department will have to track her down again and alert Windsor Locks police when she is in custody, Lampson said.

On Aug. 12 at about 3:15 p.m., police and medics were called on a report of a child nearly drowning in the indoor pool at the Ramada by Wyndham Hartford North on South Center Street, according to a police report.

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First-responders found the two-year-old girl conscious, alert and crying in the arms of hotel custodian Yordy Sanchez, who had performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the child, Officer Marc Hughes wrote in the report.

Two other people who were with Padilla at the pool told police "they had repeatedly told Kayla to watch her baby," the police report says.

Motion activated surveillance video showed the child running around the edge of the pool at 3:05 p.m. and entering the water at the shallow end, at one point sitting in water up to her neck while Padilla looked at her phone, the report says.

Video beginning at 3:12:24 p.m. shows the child underwater in the shallow end by the stairs, Hughes wrote.

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"Kayla, however, is still focused on her phone and does not notice" that the child is underwater, Hughes wrote.

One minute and nine seconds later, the baby girl is still underwater, but Padilla finally realizes the crisis and pulls her out at 3:13:38 p.m., meaning the child was underwater for at least one minute and 14 seconds, the report says. The video shows Padilla handing the child to Sanchez, Hughes wrote.

"Throughout the majority of the videos," he wrote, "Kayla seems to be solely focused on her phone and does not appear to watch (her child) who is often dangerously close to the edge of the pool or is in the water."

Hughes submitted a report to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families on Aug. 12, the report says. He wrote that Padilla did not come in for a scheduled interview.

This article originally published at Police seek arrest of mother whose child nearly drowned in Windsor Locks pool.
Police are seeking the public's help as they continue to investigate a homicide from last spring.

"Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 8:05 received call of man with gun on highway," says Santo Montecalvo of the Citizens Crime Commission.

Authorities are talking about the shooting death of 42-year-old Alexander Gary.

When officers arrived on the scene on the 3400 block of Hope Street in North Philadelphia, they found evidence of a crime, but no victim.

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"He was taken to the hospital by private auto, but by time they got there he had succumbed to his injuries," says Montecalvo.

Police recovered six gun shell casings at the scene.

But nearly six months later, they still have no leads on a suspect in the case.

"Anybody with information in the shooting death of Alexander, contact the Citizen Crime Commission. There's a $20,000 reward," says Montecalvo.

If you have any information that can help police solve this murder, you're urged to give them a call and receive that award.
AI-generated content is increasingly widespread in politics.

It's raising concerns among lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

"When I'm on my feed today, I'm scared to death," Sen. Chris Murphy told BI.

If you're worried about the growing use of hyperrealistic AI-generated content in politics, you're not alone. Some politicians feel the same way.

"When I'm on my feed today, I'm scared to death," Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut told BI. "I have no idea what's real and what's not, and I don't understand how we have a meaningful political dialogue in this country when there is no way for voters to distinguish between what's real and what's not."

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Everywhere you look online, politicians and political groups are using AI to make a point.

Most recently, President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video in which the president is depicted dumping a brown substance widely assumed to be feces onto protestors out of a fighter jet.

"I think it was mud," Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming told BI. "But maybe not."

But while Trump and his administration are some of the more consistent distributors of AI-generated content, some Democrats are using AI too.

In the New York City mayoral race, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has posted several AI-generated videos on X attacking Zohran Mamdani, while Gov. Gavin Newsom's X page is also filled with over-the-top AI-generated images, many of them mocking Trump and other Republicans.

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Even Trump himself has said he thinks the proliferation of AI-generated content online is "a little bit scary, to be honest with you."

"President Trump is the greatest communicator in American history," White House spokesperson Liz Huston told BI in a statement for this story. "No leader has used social media to communicate directly with the American people more creatively and effectively than President Trump."

Lawmakers say that as long as those AI-generated videos and images are clearly recognizable as parodies, it's not a huge deal. But in some cases, it's not as clear.

"I think it's a shocking message he was sending to the American people by reposting that, and it's ridiculous that he did that," Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona told BI, referring to Trump's fighter jet video. "But what I'm concerned about are those videos where you can't tell."

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One recent example: Senate Republicans' campaign arm posted an AI-generated video of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declaring that "every day gets better for us" amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Week 3 of the Schumer Shutdown:



"Every day gets better for us." pic.twitter.com/1qeNKhvcfI  Senate Republicans (@NRSC) October 17, 2025

It was a real quote, said during an interview with Punchbowl News. But the video, which included a small, transparent disclaimer in the bottom right corner, was not.

"These were Chuck Schumer's own words celebrating the shutdown he has voted for 13 times and the real-world consequences impacting American families," said Joanna Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which produced the video. "He may wish people didn't know he said them, but he did  and for $0 our video took a print quote seen by '100,000+' Punchbowl subscribers to over 1.8 million views."

"I think it's worrisome. I think it's something we're gonna need to think through really hard," Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri told BI, referring to the general spread of AI-generated political content. "Otherwise, everything you see on TV is gonna be fake."

'Regulation of AI is really hard'

Not everyone is worried about AI-generated content. Lummis, who said she was the subject of a parody when she first ran for the office for the first time in 1978, says we're simply seeing a technologically advanced version of a long-standing practice.

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"It's more sophisticated, just the way movies are more sophisticated than even the original Star Wars movie," Lummis said. "But it's not new."

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee who's positioned himself as an ally of the burgeoning AI industry, says he doesn't see the need for specific regulation around political deepfakes.

"I think the protections on free speech are at their height when it concerns political speech," Cruz told BI, saying that "existing laws concerning fraud" can address the issue. "We need to make sure we're protecting against real harms, but at the same time, not strangling the development of AI in the cradle."

Cruz specifically praised Cuomo's use of AI-generated content to attack Mamdani in the NYC mayoral race, saying that it's "really effective" even though "nobody on earth" would think that it's the real Mamdani appearing in the videos.

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Even among those who want to see something done, there's no easy answer available, given free speech protections.

"Regulation of AI is really hard, admittedly," Murphy said. The Connecticut senator said he was open to trying to ban fake political content "or at the very least requiring clear, indelible watermarks" on AI-generated content.

Hawley is one of several cosponsors of a bill called the "Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act," which would ban the use of deceptive AI-generated material for the use of influencing elections or raising campaign cash.

"To the extent we can as allowed by the First Amendment, I think we ought to prohibit most of the AI-generated totally fake stuff on TV in elections when it's meant to influence the outcome of an election," Hawley said.

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For Kelly, the use of AI by American political campaigns is just the beginning of his concerns.

"We need to figure out, how do we make sure that this technology isn't used against us by our adversaries," Kelly said. "Forget about how political opponents could use it."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Voters say President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are more to blame for the ongoing government shutdown, according to a new NBC News poll. But their verdict on the spending stalemate includes more blame for Democrats than some past shutdowns, part of a growing collection of data outlining negative views of both parties.

The survey, conducted Oct. 24-28, finds a combined 52% of voters blame Trump and congressional Republicans for the stalemate, while 42% blame Democrats in Congress and 4% blame all of the players.

The share of voters who blame Democrats is the highest for the party when compared to other shutdowns or potential shutdowns measured in NBC News polling over the last 30 years.

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Meanwhile, voters negative views of the Democratic Party, including among Democrats, are relatively unchanged from record-low ratings in the March NBC News poll. The Republican Party is underwater with voters too, though not to the same degree. And in another poll question, voters responded positively to the idea of booting every member of Congress.

At the same time, the poll also finds that both parties core supporters are on their side in the shutdown standoff  perhaps explaining why it has carried on for a month with few signs of a resolution.

The groups most likely to blame Trump and Republicans for the shutdown include core Democratic constituencies like self-described liberals, young voters, those in urban areas, Black voters and higher-educated voters. Those blaming Democrats include self-identified MAGA supporters, white men, and rural and older voters.

Each party could look at this data and say, Lets not blink, said Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies, who conducted the survey with Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates.

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Neither party has blinked yet, as Democrats oppose government funding bills unless a deal is reached to extend expiring health care subsidies.

Health care, a central focus of the government shutdown debate, is an area where Democrats continue to hold the upper hand, said Horwitt.

The survey also finds 34% of voters say they or someone in their family have seen their employment, services or benefits affected by the shutdown  the highest share in NBC News polling covering other shutdowns in 2019, 2013, 1996 and 1995.

Those personally affected are also among the voters more likely to blame Republicans for the impasse and align broadly with Democrats, including young women and Black voters, 50% of whom say they have been affected.

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Historically, Republicans are perceived as not being as supportive of government, said McInturff, also noting the federal layoffs driven by Trumps Department of Government Efficiency that have driven voter views of his presidency. The Republican pollster added that even though Democratic votes are needed to advance legislation in the Senate thanks to the 60-vote threshold to end debate, voters may broadly view Republicans as controlling the government.

Given those factors, I think the default for people is that its a Republican effort in terms of who gets the blame.  Weve had 30 years of shutdowns, and this is the highest number of blaming Democrats. So both things can be true at the same time, McInturff said.

Although voters place more blame on Trump and the GOP for the ongoing shutdown, the survey does find a deep well of ill feeling toward both parties, as well as negative views of members of Congress.

Democrats are 25 points underwater, with just 28% of voters viewing the party positively, near a record-low positive rating of 27% in March. A majority of voters (53%) say they have a negative view of the Democratic Party.

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Republicans have a net-negative rating of 9 points, with 46% viewing the party negatively and 37% viewing it positively.

And according to these results, Democrats shutdown standoff has not boosted views of the party within their own ranks.

The gap between the two parties ratings persists in part because 22% of Democrats say they view their own party negatively, while just 8% of Republicans say the same of the GOP. Back in March, 19% of Democrats said they had negative views of their party.

The new poll also finds 59% of Democrats view their own party positively  unchanged since March. (The remainder said they were neutral or not sure.)

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Asked how they would vote if they could choose to defeat and replace every single member of Congress, including their own representatives, 57% of voters say they would vote to do so  the highest share in NBC News polling since October 2013. Forty percent said they would not oust every member of Congress if given the chance.

Similar shares of Democrats (57%) and Republicans (55%), as well as 62% of independents, say they would vote to replace every lawmaker.

The findings come as more candidates consider primary challenges against sitting lawmakers in the 2026 election cycle and as both parties confront the prospect of generational change following the results of the 2024 election.

The NBC News poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters Oct. 24-28 via a mix of telephone interviews and an online survey sent via text message. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A Pontiac couple is dead after what Oakland County Sheriff's Department said it believes to be a homicide and suicide.

On Thursday, Oct. 30, Latrece Shanna Harper, 33, was found dead with a single gunshot wound to her head around 7:30 p.m. in the couple's home on the 300 block of South Marshall Street, according to a news release from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. She was discovered sitting on a couch by her stepdaughter who had gone to check on her.

About 15 minutes later, Bloomfield Township police were called to Square Lake Road near Telegraph and found Harper's boyfriend, Clifford Torrell Noel Jr., 41, slumped over behind the wheel of a car from a self-inflicted shot from an AR-15 style rifle, according to Oakland County Sheriff's Office. Noel was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.

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More: Rash of killings tied to domestic violence prompts calls for stronger protections

Harper and Noel had been together for about 10 years, according to police. Five children, ages 4-15, lived with the couple, police said. The children were not home at the time of the shooting and were found unharmed in a Rochester Hills motel.

It is unknown how the children arrived at the motel or if the children were the couple's children, Oakland County Public Information Officer Steve Huber told the Free Press on Saturday, Nov. 1.

The stepdaughter who found Harper was older than the other children, and it is not known if she lived with the couple, Huber said.

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Police believe the homicide followed an argument between the couple, according to the news release.

"It breaks my heart when relationships turn violent," Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in the news release. "If you're in an abusive one, get help. There are people and groups ready to guide you to safety."

Domestic violence resources

Places across metro Detroit and Michigan offer those affected by domestic violence advice, resources and places to stay:

First Step is a Wayne County agency providing free and confidential help. It's 24-hour helpline connects callers with staff and volunteers trained to provide crisis intervention, support, information and safety planing at 734-722-6800. The organization can also help with transitional housing, emergency shelter and household goods, according to its website firststep-mi.org.

HAVEN is an Oakland County organization supporting children, adults and families experiencing domestic violence and/or sexual assault. It provides intervention, treatment, prevention and education. It's 24-hour crisis support lines are 248-334-1274 and 877-922-1274.

Turning Point is a Macomb County organization with free and confidential services like an emergency shelter, transitional housing, forensic nursing and more for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence or human trafficking. Its hotline is 586-463-6990.

The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) in Detroit has an interim 67-bed house providing families, women and children temporary emergency shelter and up to 90 days of comprehensive services like food, clothes, social work advocacy, case management, referrals and assistance in getting personal protection orders. Its 24-hour crisis helpline is 313-861-5300. The YWCA also has locations in West Central Michigan (616-454-9922) and Flint (810-238-7233).

The state of Michigan's 855-VOICES4 (855-864-2374) hotline is an anonymous hotline staffed all day, every day with advocates ready to provide crisis counseling and referrals to local service providers. There is also a text line at 866-238-1454 and an online chat option.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available for calls at 1-800-799-SAFE and through text to "START" or 88788 any time. StrongHearts (844-762-8483) offers help to Native Americans and Alaska Natives. The Deaf Hotline (855-812-1001) offers a video phone for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline (866-311-9474) is for "young people experiencing abuse or curious about healthy relationships."

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This is not a complete list of organizations or hotlines providing domestic and sexual violence support. Many organizations in municipalities, counties and universities around Michigan and the U.S. have resources available.

For those not affected by domestic violence but looking to help others, many organizations collect donations in support of their services and offer preventative and how-to-help information on their websites.

Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Homicide-suicide suspected in Pontiac couple's deaths, police say
The chaotic riots that consumed Portland, Ore., during the summer of 2020 reverberated through a trial over President Trumps efforts to send National Guard troops into the citys streets.

Federal officials and government lawyers have portrayed Portland as under siege in seeking to persuade a judge that Trumps takeover of the states soldiers and plans to deploy them are lawful and necessary to protect federal immigration facilities.

But local police officers testified that, already, the presence of federal officers has inflamed tensions with demonstrators.

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Protests have been mostly peaceful, they said, and improved local policing tactics have helped keep it that way  unlike during the months-long protests five years ago, which some of them helped quell.

It was just an entirely different type of disorder, Portland Police Bureau Cmdr. Franz Schoening said.

Trump called up Oregons National Guard in September, vowing to protect war-ravaged Portland and its U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities.

The move prompted a swift lawsuit from state and city officials seeking to block the presidents efforts. They argue that Trump should not be allowed to put military boots on U.S. soil to remedy a situation stoked by federal agents.

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The president initially federalized and moved to deploy 200 Oregon National Guard members, but after U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut temporarily blocked the effort, he sought to send in troops from California and Texas, causing the judge to bar the deployment of any troops. The administration has appealed.

Though the case has little to do with the 2020 protests, spurred by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, it took an unexpected focus as Immergut heard evidence about the citys protest scene and whether National Guard interference is warranted.

I want to understand the time period thats at issue in this case, and perhaps, as compared to 2020, the judge said. So, if you could frame it as two things, time frames, that are pertinent to what I need to decide.

In 2020, what began as peaceful demonstrations against police violence turned into nearly 200 days of sustained protest, devolving into riots as Black Lives Matter protesters clashed with law enforcement and counterprotesters. Images showed cars, dumpsters and police barriers ablaze and streets fogged by tear gas.

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Schoening, who was the public order unit team commander throughout the unrest, recalled significant criminal conduct, particularly arson and the prolific use of commercial fireworks. He said the protests outside Portlands ICE facility in recent months pale in comparison.

The level of violence, criminal conduct, we saw in 2020 was markedly different, he said.

Portland Police Bureau Assistant Chief Craig Dobson testified that law enforcement saw a fair amount of illegal behavior at the ICE facility in June, which he said lasted about a week before petering out.

Local police declared a June 14 demonstration a riot but have not done so since.

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Portland Police Bureau Cmdr. Brian Hughes called 2020 much more widespread and large scale than the ICE facility protests, describing them as incomparable.

In the years since, the Portland Police Bureau has overhauled its policing, the officers said.

Hughes said the bureau has worked to build more trust and legitimacy among organizers, and since 2020, has seen demonstrations with tens of thousands of people lawfully protesting yield few to no arrests.

The bureau also changed how it trains to avoid indiscriminate use of force or aimlessly targeting an unruly crowd to attempt to bring things into control, said Dobson, who was the overall incident commander amid the 2020 protests.

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Theyve received hundreds of emails thanking them for their new approach.

Are you saying that police activity can inflame a crowd? asked Caroline Turco, a lawyer for Portland.

Yes, Dobson replied.

Did it in 2020? Turco followed up. Dobson answered affirmatively again.

Five years ago, Trump sent federal officers into Portland amid the riots to curb nightly protests at the federal courthouse, where the trial is now underway. But instead of stamping out the riots, the level of conflict grew significantly between community members and local police following the surge of federal law enforcement, according to an independent firm hired to assess the citys response to the 2020 demonstrations.

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Dobson said he shares the reports assessment and expressed concerns about the National Guard being deployed to Portland.

My concern again is, what is their training? Dobson said. Crowd management is complex and depending on how you show up and what you do, can affect negatively the crowd.

Schoening described two incidents last month that raised alarm of a repeat on the horizon.

He said protest groups from whom police had previously gotten good compliance refused to abide by their request to let traffic move through on Oct. 4 after federal officers used tear gas earlier in the day.

On Oct. 18, federal officers aimed tear gas at protesters in the ICE facilitys driveway but missed, bouncing the canister onto the roof of the building. Other federal officers posted there retaliated by shooting peppers balls and tear gas into the crowd; police and protesters alike were hit, Schoening said.

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Brian Marshall, a senior assistant attorney general in the Oregon Department of Justice, noted that the crowds unrest, even if spurred by federal officers, is one of the factors the administration has used to justify sending in the troops.

And I think that theres a serious legal question, whether that inappropriate use of force that then generates a crowd response  whether that response can then be considered a good faith basis for the deployment of the National Guard, he said.

The federal officials who testified in the governments case took different lessons from the 2020 protests.

Maj. Gen. Timothy Rieger, acting vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, testified that when the National Guard was sent to Los Angeles amid the 2020 protests, the impact was immediate.

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Fires, pillaging, plundering  when we showed up, that stopped, he said. The result was that people lawfully gathered to protest were able to engage in their constitutional right to object and demonstrate, Rieger continued.

Lawyers for the state and city officials pushed back that, when the National Guard was sent to Oregon in 2020, they were under the governors control  not Trumps  and they questioned the relevancy of his testimony about the California city.

Rieger doubled down that hes never seen the National Guard aggravate or inflame a situation.

Two Federal Protective Service supervisors, who testified anonymously, also asserted that the National Guard would alleviate strains. Though they had no role in Trumps decision to call up the troops, they said help sought from local police went unanswered.

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One of the officers, called Commander, said he has witnessed peaceful protests at the ICE facility, and thats not what worries him. Instead, its that the facility is not staffed with adequate numbers to prevent a possible breach, even as people have roamed the property looking for ways into the building.

When federal officers themselves attempt to enter, they risk being harmed, he said.

Its been pretty constant out there that we deserve to die, the official said.

Turco, the lawyer for Portland, argued Wednesday that a manufactured crisis underpinned Trumps efforts to send in the National Guard, contending the protests have not been so violent that deployment is justified.

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But the Justice Department contends that, at the end of the day, the status of the protests matters not. Trumps decisionmaking is owed great deference, and Immergut, the judge, must only determine whether the presidents bid reflects an honest judgment made after fairly assessing the law and facts before him.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Editor's Note: This is a developing story.

An oil depot in the Russian-occupied city of Shakhtarsk, Donetsk Oblast, was attacked on the evening of Nov. 2, according to footage posted to social media.

Powerful explosions rocked the facility, which was struck shortly before 8 p.m. local time, the Telegram channel Exilenova-Plus reported, citing video of the alleged attack.

Air defenses continue operating in the region, according to local footage.

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The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims at the time of publication.

Strikes on the Shakhtarsk oil depot have been reported in the past. In July 2023, a fire broke out at the facility due to an alleged missile attack. The oil depot was also reported to be in flames in October 2022.

Russian proxy officials claimed the 2022 fire was caused by Ukrainian shelling of a nearby railway station.

The city of Shakhtarsk has been under Russian occupation since 2014.

Ukraine regularly carries out strikes on Russian oil facilities, though authorities do not always comment on or confirm reported attacks in Russian and Russian-occupied territory. Kyiv considers these facilities to be valid military targets, as fossil fuel profits fund Moscow's war machine.

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Vasyl Maliuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said on Oct. 31 that Ukraine has carried out nearly 160 successful strikes against oil extraction and refining facilities across Russia in 2025.

Read also: These people just escaped Russian-occupied Ukraine  but some say they need to go back

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
As the recently installed editor-in-chief of the BYU Studies academic journal, Ive appreciated even more deeply the contributions the journal has made to understanding the history, scripture and lives of Latter-day Saints. Even more so, Ive appreciated the writers who have made those contributions.

Whenever we read an article that inspires new ways of understanding ourselves and the world, we rightly hold that article in esteem, often returning to it to recapture the insights first gained. Beyond that, we also feel gratitude for the heart and mind of the individual who put their pen to paper (or fingers to keys) to offer such a gift to us.

Following President Dallin H. Oaks appointment as the 18th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I revisited his four BYU Studies articles.

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As a professor focusing on Latter-day Saint teachings on the family, I have long appreciated President Oaks conference talks on the family. But as I read through these four articles, an even deeper appreciation for President Oaks grew. In some small way, they capture some of the heart and mind of this new prophet and provide a wider view of him. Below, I summarize four themes of these impactful articles.

Society-wide morality starts in the home

Notably, then-BYU President Oaks first article in BYU Studies was a talk he delivered exactly 50 years ago last month, at the dedication of the J. Reuben Clark Law Building. In this talk, he relates a poem which asks the question: Why does the hearse horse snicker hauling a lawyer away?

President Oakss answer: the lack of ethical and moral training of lawyers. While he recognizes the general goodness of those in the profession, he notes that law schools are not organized or conducted to inculcate such [ethical] standards.

This, he says, is where BYU will differ: Religious commitment, religious values and concern with ethics and morality are part of the reason for this schools existence, and will be in the atmosphere of its study. Yet he places the primary source of this religious influence not within the law school, but within the home.

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As he says: fairness, decency, integrity, virtue and love of truth are truly inculcated at the hearthstones of thousands of homes throughout the land, suggesting that mothers and fathers may well be the most important teachers our graduates will ever have.

The integrity of Joseph Smith

President Oakss next two articles address the life of Joseph Smith, one published in 1979 and the other published 27 years later in 2006. Many Latter-day Saints may be unfamiliar with some of President Oakss pathbreaking research and analysis on the Prophet. In his 2006 piece, President Oaks referred to himself as a 50-year student of the life of Joseph Smith. Yet student hardly seems to cover it, as President Oaks summarized some of his research: For over 10 years, we scoured libraries and archives across the nation to find every scrap of information about this trial and those involved in it.

President Oakss 1979 article was written with co-author Joseph Bentley. The article is framed by the story of Peter Haws, an early Latter-day Saint, purchasing a steamboat in 1840 using a promissory note signed by two business owners along with Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Unfortunately, those hired to run the steamboat wrecked it and then absconded before they could be brought to account, leaving promissory note signers with a debt on the steamboat they were unable to pay.

This article details Josephs financial difficulties during this time and his attempt to use newly created bankruptcy laws in the wake of the steamboat accident, as well as in the context of the more than $2 million worth of property the saints never recovered in the unlawful Missouri expulsion. The article is a fascinating analysis and a well-researched piece, concluding that amid the many complaints brought against Joseph Smith, no judicial officer made any findings of fraud by Joseph Smith and that in no legal proceeding resulted in any findings of improper conduct by Joseph Smith.

The personal impact of Joseph Smith

While the 1979 article is fascinating for its legal analysis, the 2006 article strikes a very different tone  transcribed from a talk President Oaks gave 20 years ago at a Library of Congress conference honoring the bicentennial of Joseph Smiths birth.

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Compared with the highly detailed, more lawyerlike account of an aspect of Josephs life, this talk was about Joseph Smith in a personal world, as then-Elder Oaks puts it. In addition to delving deeper on the prophets own personal interactions, President Oaks explores how Joseph Smith has impacted him personally.

I am a product of the teachings of Joseph Smith, he says. In this more personal talk, President Oaks explains that the teachings of Joseph Smith have expanded my concept of my personal potential and the potential of every living person. His teachings have also disciplined and given significance and joy to my marriage relationships and to my relationships with my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

In this talk we also sense President Oakss feelings toward the Filipino and other Pacific Islanders he served alongside for two years from 2002-2004 in a special assignment from President Gordon B. Hinckley. He relates their burning testimonies of the Prophet and how Joseph Smiths teachings had changed their lives.

President Oaks ends this talk where the life of the Prophet ended, with the words to A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief, concluding with the words of the Savior to one who sought to serve those in the greatest need around them: Fear not, thou didst them unto Me.

Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

A better way to resolve disagreements

The final article was a lecture at the University of Virginia given in November of 2021 entitled: Going Forward with Religious Freedom and Nondiscrimination. In reading this piece, I burned through more highlighter than the other three articles combined.

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Its relevance seems to have only increased since it was given. This talk appears born out of President Oaks feeling distressed at the way we are handling the national issues that divide us.

He advocates for us to make every effort to understand the experiences and concerns of others, especially when they differ from our own and that we should accept the reality that we are fellow citizens who need each other.

Given his judicial background, it is notable that President Oaks advocates against settling differences through the justice system; rather, he encourages us to resolve them though mutual respect, shared understanding and good faith negotiations.

Indeed, he cautions that the courts are ill-suited to the overarching, complex and comprehensive policymaking that is required in a circumstance like the current conflict between two great values.

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At the same time, President Oaks reminds us that seeking harmony by finding practical solutions to our differences, with love and respect for all people  does not require any compromise of core principles. Leaving our core principles intact, we may accept some laws we dislike and  live peacefully with some persons whose values differ from our own. President Oaks recalls the instructions from the apostle Paul that we should live peaceably with all men.

Despite his distinguished career, to his audience at the University of Virginia, he says: I come to you not as a lawyer  but as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

From lawyer to prophet

In my own review of President Oakss BYU Studies articles, there seems to be a change from more lawyerlike treatises in the 1970s to more apostle-like testimony in the 2000s.

Elsewhere in describing his resignation from the Utah Supreme Court after his call to the apostleship, President Oaks recalls: I loved my profession, but, as it turned out, I left without regret.

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My most important duty is to serve as a witness of the life and mission of our Savior, Jesus Christ, he explained.

Of his calling to the apostleship he said: If the Lord wanted me to function as a lawyer  he would have called me to be general counsel. Since he called me to be an apostle, I am determined to be an apostle.

President Oaks, now leading the Church of Jesus Christ, has provided us for decades with insights of both scholarly and spiritual stripes that elevate us all.

For more BYU-related works by or about President Dallin H. Oaks, see: byustudies.byu.edu/dallin-h-oaks-collection
The Frederick County NAACP and some pro-Palestine groups are alleging in a complaint that the City Council did not give proper consideration to a resolution that called for a ceasefire in Gaza and elsewhere.

The complaint calls attention to the Councils refusal to allow discussion of a resolution drafted by Council Member Donna Kuzemchak and supported by months of community advocacy.

Kuzemchak put forward the resolution to the council in August. It called for a ceasefire in Gaza and other parts of the world where U.S. military aid is involved.

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Kuzemchak attempted twice to move for the resolution to be added to a City Council agenda for discussion, but did not receive a second from another member of the council, so her motions failed.

She later said she would not keep moving for the resolution without support.

Kuzemchak is set to leave office in December after losing in the citys Democratic primary for council seats in September.

The complaint was made to the citys Office of Equity and Inclusion by the Frederick County NAACP, Frederick for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace D.C. Metro and the Council on American-Islamic Relations Maryland branch.

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It called for, among other things, a formal racial equity review of the Councils handling of both Kuzemchaks resolution and a ceasefire resolution put forward by Frederick Ceasefire Now, an organization now called Frederick for Justice in Palestine.

The complaint also requests the city look at whether the procedures and processes utilized in this instance created barriers to participation for marginalized communities.

The city stated in a response to the complaint, however, that the Office of Equity and Inclusion does not have the authority to compel the City Council to act on any specific topic or resolution.

The citys statement, written by City Attorney Rachel Gray and provided to The Frederick News-Post by the citys spokesperson, said that because the council never formally took up the issue, it was never subject to an equity review or equity impact statement.

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The city in a 2020 resolution committed to adopting equity as a fundamental value.

In practice, this has meant looking at legislation passed by the council and how it could impact equity. Most City Council agenda documents contain a sentence or paragraph saying how a piece of legislation will impact equity and various marginalized or underrepresented communities.

Additionally, while Resolutions 20-15 and 20-17 reflect the Citys broader commitment to equity, they do not impose procedural requirements on Council actions in this context, nor do they override the Councils discretion in setting its agenda, the statement from the city reads.

Willie Mahone, the president of the Frederick County NAACP, said on Friday that the organizers behind the complaint need to ask all the signatories before giving a formal response to the citys statement.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow in Patna, describing it as "incredible". Prasad highlighted the enthusiastic reception accorded to PM Modi, with women showering admiration and performing 'aarti', which he termed an emotional moment for the party workers. Speaking to ANI, Ravishankar Prasad said, "It was incredible. The women showered their admiration and offered 'aarti'; it was an emotional moment for us. People of Patna hold him in high regard. Earlier, he came when I was contesting from here. As MP from Patna Sahib, I bow down before the people of my constituency." PM Modi held a roadshow in Patna on Sunday, following multiple rallies in Arah and Nawada. He was accompanied by BJP State President Dilip Jaiswal and Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan. However, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was not seen at the roadshow. PM Modi also paid floral tributes to the statue of noted Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister addressed an election rally in Nawada and hailed the NDA's poll promise to provide Rs 3,000 in addition to the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi to farmers in Bihar, saying 'jinhe koi nahi poochhta, Modi unhe poojta hai' (Modi worships those whom no one else cares about). PM Modi took a jibe at the Opposition, claiming that the previous governments did not prioritise small farmers. He said, "The governments after independence did not prioritise small farmers. But this is Modi, 'jinhe koi nahi poochhta, Modi unhe poojta hai' (Modi worships those whom no one else cares about). In the last 11 years, our government has brought small farmers to the centre of the agriculture policy." He claimed that the government has provided Rs 650 crore to the 2 lakh farmers in Nawada. "We opened bank accounts for farmers, and they get the amount for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi in those bank accounts. The poor farmers have received Rs 20,000 crore. In Nawada, Rs 650 crore has been deposited in the accounts of 2 lakh farmers," he said. The Prime Minister invoked former PM Rajiv Gandhi and targeted the RJD-Congress-led Mahagathbandhan, alleging corruption under "jungle raj." "The amount reaches the accounts of the farmers without any cut, commission or corruption. If there was the 'jungle raj', they would have filled their own pockets. Congress's PM once said, 'If Re 1 is sent from Delhi, only 15 paisa reaches the villages.' What was this 'panja' which turned Re 1 into 15 paisa?" he said. "Farmers and people indulged in animal husbandry will receive double the gift as per the NDA's manifesto. They will receive Rs 6,000 under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, and the Bihar NDA has announced Rs 3,000 over that," PM Modi added. Polling for the 243-seat Bihar Assembly is scheduled to take place in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with the counting set for November 14. (ANI)
Rabbi Angela Buchdahl addressed growing turmoil within New York's Jewish community over the upcoming mayoral election.

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, one of New York Citys most prominent rabbis, addressed the growing turmoil within New Yorks Jewish community over the upcoming mayoral election, delivering a sermon at Manhattans Central Synagogue Friday night that included her most pointed comments yet about frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, while reaffirming her refusal to endorse or oppose any political candidate.

I fear living in a city, and a nation, where anti-Zionist rhetoric is normalized and contagious, Buchdahl said during services at her synagogue, one of the countrys largest Reform congregations. Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has contributed to a mainstreaming of some of the most abhorrent antisemitism.

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She cited Mamdanis 2023 remark, surfaced this week, saying the New York Police Department had learned aggressive policing tactics from the Israeli army and his past reluctance to label Hamas a terrorist group.

Pressure on Jewish community leaders

Yet even as she condemned the rhetoric, Buchdahl rejected calls from some in the Jewish community to endorse in the mayoral race a demand that has placed her, and other prominent New York rabbis, under intense pressure in recent weeks.

The citys Jewish institutions, already reeling from a war in Gaza that led to intense anti-Israel protests, have been alarmed by the rise of Mamdani, a progressive state assemblyman from Queens and anti-Zionist critic of Israel. Jewish leaders across the denominational spectrum have debated whether rabbis should publicly oppose his candidacy, citing fears about the normalization of anti-Zionism in politics and worries that if elected, Mamdani will not protect Jewish interests.

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl speaks during a Hanukkah reception with President Joe Biden in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. (credit: JACQUELYN MARTIN/POOL/REUTERS)

Last month, over 1,100 Jewish clergy signed a letter denouncing Mamdani and the normalization of anti-Zionism, quoting another prominent Manhattan rabbi, Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue, who in a recent sermon endorsed Mamdanis independent opponent, former N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo. In a sign that Jews are not of one mind on Mamdanis candidacy, more than 200 rabbis, at least 40 located in or near New York City, signed a second letter charging that the first letter was divisive.

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Buchdahl, who has a national profile as the countrys first Asian-American woman rabbi and as a sought-after spokesperson on Jewish affairs, had previously written to her members to explain why she would not endorse any candidate or sign public political letters, despite her steadfast support of Israel and Zionism.

After Buchdahl declined to sign the rabbinic letter, she drew withering attacks on social media from those who said she was failing to advance Jewish interests, some from her own congregants.

In her latest remarks, Buchdahl said she felt so compelled to address the tension directly that she returned during a sabbatical taken to promote her new book.

I knew I needed to be here with my Jewish family, she said. Some of you agreed with my position. Some of you, very emphatically, did not.

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She continued, I was flooded with emails of support, and I want to thank all of you who shared those words with me. But I want to offer even more thanks to those of you who privately and respectfully shared your disagreement with me. I have been listening, and I want to respond in person tonight because that is what you do when you care about your family.

'An existential moment for our Jewish community'

Buchdahl framed her sermon around Lech Lecha, the Torah portion in which Abraham and Sarah leave the familiarity of home for a place they do not know. The story, she suggested, mirrors the communitys uncertainty about its place in a shifting political and moral landscape.

She spoke both to those who see the election as an existential moment for our Jewish community and to younger Jews who fear that our community has become too focused on fear and what can be done to us.

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She acknowledged that Mamdani has recently met with Jewish civic and business leaders and has softened some of his language. I would not quickly trust a campaigning politician changing his lifelong positions, she said. But I hear those who believe we must engage even with those we deeply disagree with, or risk isolating ourselves from the broader good of this city.

Drawing on an idea from Israeli writer Yossi Klein Halevi, Buchdahl described the communitys divide as between Purim Jews, who prioritize vigilance and self-protection, and Passover Jews, who emphasize empathy and justice for the vulnerable. Both memories are sacred, and both are necessary, she said. Compassion without caution is reckless naivete; vigilance without empathy is paranoia or despair.

While acknowledging that she is terrified by how anti-Zionist rhetoric and antisemitic tropes have led to some deadly violence against Jews, Buchdahl also turned her concern inward to talk about the internal Jewish tensions. It endangers all of us: the way we are trying to impose a litmus test on other Jews, essentially saying youre either with us or youre against us, she said. Pitting Jew against Jew. Rabbi against rabbi.

She warned that such divisions could do more damage than any outside threat. Both Temples were destroyed because of sinat chinam senseless hate, she said. We can argue robustly and should. But disputation does not require defamation.

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Buchdahl also defended her decision not to make political endorsements, invoking both the federal Johnson Amendment, the decades-old ban on political campaigning by religious institutions that the IRS recently announced it would stop enforcing, and Central Synagogues own policy of non-endorsement. Once a rabbi can tell you how to vote, imagine donations being given, or withheld, in exchange for a rabbis thumb on the scale, she said.

Instead, she pledged to continue speaking on moral issues that unfold in the political realm, regardless of partisanship. I thanked President Biden for standing with Israel after Oct. 7, and I thanked President Trump for helping bring home the hostages after others failed, she said.

Buchdahl concluded with a message of hope, describing meetings with Jewish students at Yale, Brandeis, and Harvard who, she said, dont want to be defined by fear.

They want a Jewish community where disagreement doesnt mean disconnection, she said. We will find our way forward if we walk it together.
When the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was debated in the House of Lords last month, the Bills sponsor, Lord Falconer, argued that it would improve palliative care.

That view isnt shared by Toby Porter, the CEO of Hospice Care UK. He testified before the Terminally Ill Adults Bill select committee in the House of Lords last week and warned that hospices are facing significant cuts. The last thing they need is for NHS funds to be diverted to an assisted dying service.

The NHS already struggles to provide enough GPs, consultants, nurses and psychiatrists to meet demand. Yet the Bill assumes there will always be qualified professionals on hand to assess patients, confirm mental capacity, and prescribe life-ending medication. In reality, those resources are already stretched to breaking point.

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The Royal College of Psychiatrists has stated repeatedly, including last week in the special committee set up in the Lords, that it also doesnt support the Bill. It doesnt feel psychiatrists will be able to properly assess mental capacity and consent in their proposed roles on the panels.

Wes Streeting has repeatedly emphasised that the budget for the assisted dying service  the Bills name for the proposed suicide unit  would come out of the NHS budget, meaning other services would have to be cut to fund it, at least in the short term.

There are also practical questions that no one seems to have answers to. The Bill insists patients must self-administer the life-ending drugs  one of the so-called safeguards. But many patients in palliative care  those with Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinsons, or simply very advanced illnesses  cant even self-administer their regular painkillers. Nor can they walk to a pharmacy to pick up a prescription. Would the life-ending drugs be delivered by post? If relatives collect them and hand them to their loved ones, would they risk prosecution? Or would they need to be handed to patients by doctors who would then be required to stand over them while they swallow the lethal pills?

That last method is the one suggested by the Bill, with doctors being allowed to assist [the patient] to ingest or otherwise self-administer the substance, i.e., they could spoon the poison into their mouth. They will also be permitted to prepare a device which will enable [the patient] to self-administer the substance i.e., set up an intravenous line with an infusion which the patient would then have to activate.

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In practice, this would create a system very similar to how euthanasia works in Canada where the majority of deaths are by IV infusion, with the only difference being that in the UK the patient presses the button. Doctors who administer or help administer the lethal drugs in this way are also required by the Bill to stay with the patient until they die and its worth bearing in mind that in Oregon deaths have taken up to 137 hours to occur after the suicide pills have been taken. Needless to say, this would eat into other clinical commitments.

Or would the assisted dying service insist the drugs are taken under supervision in a hospital or a special dying clinic? These questions matter because the vast majority of patients in palliative care  according to the doctors and nurses Ive spoken to  want to die at home.

Then theres the effect on ongoing treatment. Would patients who express a wish to die still be eligible for chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or hormone treatments if they have already embarked on the pathway set out in the Bill? Would those patients be reluctant to undergo treatments designed to prolong their lives if they know they have to secure a prognosis of having less than six months to live to be eligible for the service?

Patients with a prognosis of more than six months to live will be able to shorten their life expectancy by refusing treatment that might extend their lives. Although the Bill now prohibits a person from qualifying by stopping eating and drinking, it does not make reference to refusing medical treatments such as insulin for a patient with diabetes or chemotherapy for a patient with cancer. How are palliative care doctors and nurses supposed to help patients who have an incentive to reject their advice?

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Im also told by people in the sector that a wish to die is rarely fixed. Many patients voice it at some point  when pain feels overwhelming, when care isnt in place, when they fear being a burden on their loved ones. Indeed, its common for patients when first diagnosed with a terminal illness to be in a state of shock, and thoughts of suicide peak at that point, often when theyre relatively well. This suicidality usually recedes when they get used to their new reality and have the right support.

According to one experienced palliative care doctor, having the option of assisted suicide at that low point would be a catastrophe. He says that with good symptom management, reassurance, and the right support, patients find renewed hope and cherish the extra months  in some cases years  they have with their loved ones.

It is providing terminally ill patients with these opportunities that makes the work of people in hospices so rewarding. It is why many of them do it. Their sense of vocation comes from wanting to improve the health and extend the lives of their patients, not accelerating their deaths.

Amendments tabled in the Commons to allow hospices to opt out of providing assisted suicides were rejected, so although individual palliative care doctors will not be forced to help patients commit suicide, the organisations they work for will. This will make life extremely difficult for medical professionals whove spent their careers establishing trust with the public that palliative care is about giving people good deaths, not bumping them off  work that will be undone if the Bill becomes law.

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Those hospices that cannot or will not help patients kill themselves may have their funds withdrawn and end up closing. As hospices derive most of their funding from donations, its likely that donations will fall as donors will not want their money going towards killing patients.

The Bill talks about a maximum prognosis of six months, but doctors struggle to make such predictions with any accuracy. According to one study, 20 per cent of patients predicted to die within one year by their GPs are still alive three years later. The upshot is the six-month prognosis is no kind of safeguard at all. A doctor who facilitates the death of their patient, having predicted they have less than six months to live, cant be proved wrong about their prognosis once theyre dead. Indeed, a doctor who makes such a prognosis and then realises theyve underestimated how long their patient has left has an incentive to hurry them along so they cant be proved wrong.

And while were on the subject of perverse incentives, I worry that the long-term savings the NHS stands to make by removing patients in their last years of life (when they tend to have the most hospital admissions, as well as the most social care needs) will incentive hospitals to push the service on patients in a way that wont apply to private healthcare providers. They want to keep their customers alive, but NHS managers will have an incentive to kill the patient to reduce the burden on the system.

What about a minimum prognosis? Even if theres no statutory minimum, the time it will take to jump through all the hoops before a patient can be prescribed life-ending drugs will mean theres a minimum in effect if not in law. By the time committees have met, forms have been filled out, calls returned, and boxes ticked, it will be too late. What are doctors supposed to say to the dying man or woman who wants to avail themselves of the service but has no chance of navigating the process before their illness overtakes them?

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In theory, the Bill provides for a fast track for patients who are thought to be very close to death  theyll be eligible for the lethal cocktail nine days from their initial request once it has gone through the first assessing doctor. That allows for just seven days of reflection, a second doctor to confirm the request, then the panel stage and a 48-hour reflection period before D-Day. However, the likelihood of all that happening in time  have you tried to book a GP appointment recently?  is slim. The majority of cases are expected to take a minimum of 21 days, but are likely to face delays.

Lets be clear. The NHS is overwhelmed, palliative care is under-resourced and dying patients and their families are desperate for support. Introducing a highly bureaucratic, medically complex assisted dying service into this environment wont relieve suffering  it will compound it.

As Dr Skowronski, who works in palliative care and hospital medicine in Sussex, told me: Fundamentally, no matter how many apparent safeguards and hoops are put in this Bill, accepting the principle that intentionally ending life (a.k.a. killing) is sometimes a good thing that will do irreparable harm to healthcare. By making suicide a therapy option rather than a tragedy to be prevented, we will not only undermine suicide prevention, but will end up pushing suicide on many more vulnerable patients who would never have considered it. They will far outnumber the privileged few who see it as the final act of autonomy in a life they have always lived on their own terms.

Then theres the risk Im most anxious about  patients being coerced into killing themselves by relatives anxious to inherit their estates. Theres no way doctors or nurses will be able to detect any but the most egregious forms of coercion, where the greedy relation is foolish enough to demonstrate that behaviour in front of them, or the patient themselves says: Help, Im being bullied into this! Campaigns by those who stand to inherit are usually subtle and waged with patience  see Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens. Its inevitable that the NHS will end up killing people for their relatives benefit, not theirs.

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I know the fear of a painful or lingering death is real. My mother died from ovarian cancer at the age of 63 and at times worried she would be overwhelmed by pain and the indignity of dying with cancer. But the answer is surely to strengthen palliative care, not to shift focus toward facilitating earlier deaths.

For those dedicated professionals who work in this sector, their purpose is clear: to relieve pain, extend life where possible, and give people the chance to spend as much time as they can with those they love, as my mother was able to do  dying at home surrounded by her family. Id like to see more people given that chance, not fewer.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Tuesday, Nov. 4 is election day, and on the ballot, El Paso homeowners will have the opportunity to vote on multiple proposed amendments to the Texas constitution that could have a significant impact on their property tax bills.

I would say these propositions are more important to El Paso than almost any other county in the state, due to the high tax rate, Richie Gill, a tax expert with Gill, Denson & Company Tax Advisors, said. Many property owners (in El Paso) are paying upwards of two and a half, to 2.7% to 2.8%, on their property taxes, which is very high compared to other parts of the state.

There are 17 total proposed amendments on the ballot for Texans to vote on. Ten focus on tax policy, and Gill said seven are related to property taxes.

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Gill said the most important and impactful of those seven propositions is Prop. 13, which would increase the property tax exemption for school district property taxes from $100,000 to $140,000 of the market value of a homestead.

Its definitely a positive for anyone thats a homeowner in El Paso. Its going to save them money. My estimation is the average homeowner in El Paso is going to save around $432 if it gets approved, based on the increase from the previous $100,000 to $140,000 exemption, Gill said.

Gill said that Prop. 13 wont cost school districts revenue they would otherwise collect from these taxes, because the state will be reimbursing them for the loss.

Schools will actually not lose funding for this proposition. In particular, the state will reimburse the schools. Now, whether the state can sustain that indefinitely is another question. Currently, the state does have the funds in the foreseeable future to fund this, Gill said.

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El Paso County Commissioner for Precinct 2, David Stout, said that courtesy wont be extended from the state to the county for several propositions which he said could cost the county millions of dollars.

I really wish that the state would do that for the county as well when it comes to propositions seven and nine, Stout said. Seventy percent of the countys budget is already going to what we call unfunded mandates. That means the state forces us to do certain things, provide certain programs and services at the local level, but they make us pay for it locally. They do not reimburse us. They do not give us money to pay for those things.

Stout said those two propositions combined could cost El Paso County over $4 million to their budget, while not actually benefiting all El Paso homeowners.

When you give a homestead exemption to a certain group, that group will receive that. But if youre not part of that group, then the amount of money that the county will miss out on because of that exemption that is given, will have to be spread out amongst the rest of the taxpayers who are not part of that group, Stout said.

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If approved, Prop. 7 would establish a property tax exemption for the spouses of military veterans who died from a service-related disease. Prop. 9 would provide a tax exemption of up to $125,000 of the market value of businesses inventory or equipment.

Stout said that the county could also have to spend up to about $14 million dollars if Proposition 3 were approved  Prop. 3 would deny bail to individuals accused of certain violent or sexual offenses punishable as a felony.

Then you add on the bail denial proposition three, which is going to increase our jail costs because were going to have to have about 300 more people in our jail, on our dime. The state is not reimbursing us for that, Stout said.

If all the propositions were approved, Stout said it would further strain the countys budget. He said that during the latest budget cycle they already had to cut all the departments operating budgets by 5%.

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It puts us in a very difficult situation in the commissioners court because, as our discretionary funds begin to shrink when those unfunded mandates continue to grow and further burden our budget. We have to make difficult decisions as to whether we start cutting personnel and we start cutting services, Stout said.

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In the middle of a six-lane interchange at the main entrance to Jerusalem, 200,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews are beseeching God for protection  not from Hamas or Hezbollah, but from the state of Israel.

In particular, from Israels godless army.

My family came here 240 years ago and have studied the Torah ever since, a young man called Chaim shouts above the din. Now they want to call me into the army? Its not happening. Im going to continue studying Torah. The army can die.

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Someone with a tallit over his head and a book of psalms in one hand raises his arms to the sky, but his anguished prayers are drowned out by the blast of a rams horn.

Swarms of protesters have climbed on to the roofs of the nearby petrol stations.

Dozens are stuffed into, and standing precariously on top of, the motorway gantry, their banners obscuring the signs to Tel Aviv.

The heavily armed police have long since given up trying to stop the crowds accessing the famous Chords railway bridge. Coils of razor wire have been swept aside as if by an omnipotent hand.

Its chaos, which, you get the feeling, is exactly what this loose federation of sects known collectively in Israel as the Haredim is aiming for.

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Defined by intensive, almost hourly prayer and the study of scripture, they have been exempted from mandatory military service since the birth of the Jewish state.

This has been accompanied by a range of government subsidies to fund the yeshivas, religious education institutes that are central to Haredi life.

The protests come amid a growing feeling in Israel that military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish sects should end - Eyal Warshavsky for The Telegraph

In 1948, the community only made up 3 per cent of Israelis. Today, they constitute roughly 14 per cent of the general population and nearly one in five of all Jews in Israel, thanks mainly to their prolific birth rate.

With the army exhausted after two years of war in Gaza and short of approximately 12,000 full-time soldiers in the immediate term, a consensus is hardening that the historical anomaly of exemption has to end.

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Moshe Tur-Paz, a member of the opposition Yesh Atid party in the Knesset who sits on the foreign and defence committee, said the military failure of Oct 7, plus the slow progress of the subsequent campaign, shows that Israel needs tens of battalions more to meet its security needs.

A paratrooper and one of two Knesset members to have served in the Gaza conflict, albeit in a headquarters role, he said: There are 100,000 Haredi boys between 18 to 37 who have never served in the army.

If they served, that would solve all our human resources problems. If even 50 per cent of them serve, that would cover most of our needs.

Police have given up trying to stop the crowds accessing the Chords railway bridge - Eyal Warshavsky

An opposition Knesset member said 100,000 Haredi boys between 18 to 37 have never served in the army - Eyal Warshavsky

In June last year, the Supreme Court ruled the exemption to be unlawful.

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Technically, ultra-Orthodox men who refuse their mandatory call-up can now be jailed, although in practice this has not yet been widely enforced.

Knesset members are currently wrangling over a new legislative package of sanctions against those who refuse to serve.

However, its authors have been accused of watering down the bill at the behest of Benjamin Netanyahu, who relies on the ultra-Orthodox bloc to stay in power.

The successful passage of this particular bill is uncertain.

It means that, as well as the threat of jail time, financial sanctions plus others such as travel bans and a prohibition on obtaining a driving licence are all up for debate.

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The result is that no one is happy: not the generals; not the hundreds of thousands of young Israeli reservists whose lives have been put on hold by multiple traumatic tours of duty; nor the Haredim themselves, who feel persecuted by the threat of being dragged into the IDF.

The Haredim feel persecuted by the threat of being dragged into the IDF - Eyal Warshavsky

Men in ultra-Orthodox sects who refuse their mandatory call-up can now be jailed - Eyal Warshavsky

Contrary to some stereotypes, many are not pacifists.

They simply cannot reconcile their religious way of life with membership of an institution which  despite becoming steadily more religious  is still seen as a symbol of secular Israel, a legacy of the political secularism of the countrys socialist founders.

Michail Fux, 22, said he currently prays or studies the Torah and other sacred texts and laws for nearly eight hours a day.

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Of course we need people in the army, but Im afraid that if I go in, I will come out secular, he said.

Routh Rathleen, a middle-aged woman, angrily interjects, explaining that two of her sons had joined an IDF unit specially tailored for ultra-Orthodox recruits, but that they had become less godly the longer they served.

It was a disaster, she fumed.

According to IDF figures, 2,940 Haredi men were drafted in 2024, of whom 1,300 entered through dedicated ultra-Orthodox schemes and the rest through general service.

Worried and angry, the Haredi community is unafraid to show its power.

Thursdays protest, in which a young man died after falling from a building, paralysed Israels capital, shutting down the highway to Tel Aviv and forcing the citys main railway and bus stations to close.

Protesters are angry and unafraid to confront law enforcement - Eyal Warshavsky

The fact is, while many demonstrators expressed polite admiration for the men and women who serve in the IDF, they believe that they are protecting the Jewish people every bit as much through prayer.

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Some say it more explicitly than others, but the underlying theme is that if more people pleased God by living as the ultra-Orthodox do, Israel would not require an army because they would not have enemies.

Its the Torah that has the power to protect, said Mr Fux.

Shlomo Cohen, originally from South Africa, made a similar point. God looks after us; prayer protects us, he said. If you have a religious identity you dont have to worry about Hamas.

The sense of resentment among the ultra-Orthodox at the prospect of mandatory service derives, in part, from a feeling that they live lives of profound sacrifice on behalf of the wider Jewish people, keeping the flame of what they see as authentic Judaism alive.

The Haredi community feel that they live lives of profound sacrifice on behalf of the wider Jewish people - Eyal Warshavsky

Many are extremely poor, thanks to the large amount of economically inactive time they spend studying scripture, coupled with the number of children they have.

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The live birth rate was 6.4 per Haredi woman in 2020-22, according to the Israel Democracy Institute, compared to 2.5 among Jewish women in Israel more broadly.

Therein lies the Haredi dilemma.

The ultra-Orthodox community has increased its political power thanks to the growth of its voter base.

Mr Netanyahu currently relies on it for 18 Knesset seats in his 67-member coalition majority. In parliamentary terms, they are unignorable while Israel continues its steady shift to the Right.

But as the community grows, it also becomes increasingly unignorable as a source of military manpower.

A young man fell from a building and died in Thursdays protest, paralysing Israels capital - Eyal Warshavsky

Secular commentators are framing the conscription issue as a fundamental fork in the road for the Zionist project.

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Does Israel move forward on the basis of its founding ideals, as a nation of immigrants bound together by both racial Jewish identity and the democratising shared bond of military service?

Or does one part of society continue to shoulder an increasingly heavy burden for another?

Writing in the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper this week, veteran journalist Ari Shavit described the situation as us or them.

Either the Haredi are absorbed into the military, he argued, or the nation will implode. Israel will become a benighted third-world country.

Mr Tur-Paz told The Telegraph that he hoped to see a truly Zionist government following future elections  the next of which must take place by the end of October 2026.

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I hope there will be a consensus that you cant form a government with the ultra-Orthodox if they are not willing to pass legislation [for mandatory conscription] and go into the army.

Some within the Haredim go against the grain of their community.

They see military service not only as a moral necessity, but as an opportunity to better integrate what has always been quite an isolated community into Israeli society.

Some within the Haredim see military service as a moral necessity and a route to better integration - Eyal Warshavsky

Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer is chairman of the Netzach Yehuda Association, which aims to encourage young Haredi men into the IDF, and has helped pioneer tailored units that allows them to continue living as religiously as possible.

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We want to produce the role models that come out on the other side as good religious voices, to demonstrate that it can be done, he said.

The fact that Haredi society is becoming so large requires it to take responsibility. You have to pay the price of your success.

He believes that the most gifted yeshiva students should continue to be exempt, but that threatening the rest with jail is a waste of time.

Economic incentives and disincentives, even quite punitive, are more effective, the rabbi believes.

The profoundly secular nature of the army has shifted a lot in recent years. Its a very different place, he said, adding that ultra-Orthodox Jews are already increasingly exposed to mainstream society through technological and economic change.

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My argument is that if you are going to enter [society] it is better doing it from a position of strength and confidence, rather than just being dragged in.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Protesters gathered in Lansing on Sunday for the ICE out of Home Depot rally.

(WLNS) (WLNS)

According to Disappeared in America, the rally seeks to honor immigrant workers who have been detained by ICE on Home Depot properties.

The rally was scheduled to last from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Home Depot located at 936 South Waverly Road.

Even during the government shutdown, ICE operations continue. While essential services are being slashed, ICE agents remain on the job, paid to detain and deport our neighbors, event organizers said in a news release sent to 6 News.

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Cassie Davenport, an organizer and protestor, made her voice loud and clear.

Because Home Depot is profiting off of day laborers, but also allowing for raids in their parking lots and also inside the stores, said Cassie Davenport.

Davenport says theyve written letters to the CEO of Home Depot, hoping that the corporation will not be complicit during ongoing raids.

The immigration system as a whole needs to be revamped, said Davenport.

Protestors say the rally is also to remember the life of Carlos Roberto Montaya, a day laborer from Guatemala who was killed while fleeing an ICE raid at a Home Depot in California. He ran into the freeway and was struck by a car.

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Susan Jackson, another protester, handed out flowers to drivers, reminding them of the people who died in ICE custody.

We picked Home Depot because Home Depot has no policy against allowing ICE to raid their facilities, said Susan Jackson.

We have such a beautiful, rich, diverse culture that is honestly being destroyed, and people who make America great are being taken and disappeared.

As immigrant communities continue to live under rising ICE raids, Davenport urges people to stand up.

Its time for people with white privilege to be standing up, said Davenport. What is happening is wrong. Its dangerous.

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In a statement sent to 6 News, Home Depot says that we arent notified that immigration enforcement activities are going to happen, and we arent involved in the operations. Were required to follow all federal and local rules and regulations in every market where we operate.

Organizers encouraged attendees to bring non-perishable food items for those affected by the SNAP interruption due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Protests were held nationwide throughout the weekend in honor of Dia de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
In 2015, actor Jon Bernthal appeared at New York Comic Con soon after the announcement that he would portray Marvel Comics' famous vigilante the Punisher in the Netflix series Daredevil. "I know how important he is to law enforcement, to the military," he told the crowd. "I look at this as a huge honor, a huge responsibility. And I give you my absolute word, I'm gonna give everything that I have."

Since then, Punisher iconography has only continued to proliferate among police officers. The character's skull logo has become synonymous with uncritical support for police. Even FBI Director Kash Patel is a fan. In October, MSNBC's Ken Dilanian shared a photo of a challenge coin Patel had given out featuring a skull that greatly resembled the Punisher symbol. That trend is disheartening, both for fans of the comics character, like me, and for Americans who want a sane law enforcement apparatus dedicated to serving citizens rather than unleashing violence.

Unlike most of his superhero compatriots, the Punisher is an unrepentant murderer, focused less on restorative justice than on simply massacring his enemies. He is quite possibly the worst role model comics have ever produced. While sometimes a thrilling story of a man able to right the wrongs he sees in the world, the Punisher also functions as an indictment of feckless or corrupt police and a military that sends people off to kill but does too little when they come home damaged. Some of the people who lionize the character these days miss that pointto our detriment.

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As a teenager, I found the Punisher's brutally uncompromising Manichaean worldview a fascinatingly stark contrast to other, more optimistic comic book heroes. The Punisher inhabited that same world but seemed to flout all its rules and conventions: He had no superpowers other than military training, a seemingly unlimited arsenal, and tenacity. I've accrued numerous issues of Punisher comics and collectibles and multiple T-shirts bearing his signature skull logo.

But in the more than two decades since I picked up my first issue at the local grocery store, the character's cultural meaning has shifted. For years, the people most likely to wear the skull logo were comic fans like me; then, over time, it became noticeably more popular among police officers. Custom shops such as Etsy and Redbubble, and mass retailers such as Amazon, carry thousands of items printed with Punisher skulls, often combined with American flags and pro-police iconography.

"There has to be a recognition that while he's doing what they want to fantasize about doing, that he's wrong," Punisher co-creator Gerry Conway tells Reason. "He is breaking the very laws, for example, that cops are supposed to uphold. So, putting a Punisher decal on your cop car is saying you want to break the rules and you want to be outside the law."

A Unique Character in Superhero Comics

"He's this normal street-level guy in this world of gods and monsters and marvels," says David Pepose, who wrote the 2024 Punisher comic series. While benevolent heroes fly through the sky overhead, "the Punisher's the guy in the gutters. He's seeing the worst of the worst."

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The character, born Frank Castle, debuted in a 1974 issue of The Amazing Spider-Man as a mercenary hell-bent on killing criminals"a warrior fighting a lonely war," as he put it, who "kill[s] only those who deserve killing." Conway, the series' writer at the time, saysthat "he had a purpose" and a "sense of honor. There was something behind his motivation that we didn't know.Something terrible had to turn this very straight-laced, rules-bound guy into the Punisher."

Later issues filled in his backstory. Castle received numerous medals for meritorious service in Vietnam, but his final tour went badly and the experience haunts him. He survived combat and returned home to Queens, only to see his wife and children murdered in Central Park after they accidentally witnessed a Mafia hit. When corrupt cops and courts fail to bring the killers to justice, Castle declares war on all criminalsfrom terrorists to muggers and everyone in between. "Frank Castle died with his family," he corrects a villain while pulling the trigger. "I'm the Punisher."

Initially planned as a one-off henchman type, Conway liked the Punisher so much that he brought him back as a recurring character. Audiences also responded positively, and he soon appeared in other characters' series as well. He did not get his own solo title until 1986, a dozen years after his debut. Writer Steven Grant said he had "been trying to get a Punisher series off the ground for years and no one [at Marvel] was interested." But Grant's five-issue Punisher limited series sold well and led to an ongoing comic the following year. That series ran for eight years and launched multiple spinoffs; from 1992 through 1995, three monthly Punisher titles were running concurrently.

Comic book heroes were traditionally inherently benevolent: Though they operated outside the law and spent much of their time beating criminals into submission, they usually refused to kill. The Punisher not only had no compunction about killing, but it was his singular purpose. Other comic heroes face many of the same villains again and again over their many decades in print; by definition, the Punisher's roster of recurring foes is rather short. Marvel senior editor Stephen Wacker said in 2011 that since debuting, Castle had killed 48,502 people.

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His murderousness also puts him at odds with other heroes, who can see him as little better than the crooks and killers they encounter. As a result, he has battled fellow heroes such as Daredevil, Spider-Man, and Wolverine (and also, for some reason, Archie).

Cops Heart the Punisher

In 2017, Catlettsburg, Kentucky, Police Chief Cameron Logan commissioned vinyl decals for the department's cruisers: Punisher skulls that read "Blue Lives Matter."

"I consider it to be a 'warrior logo,'" Logan told local media. "That decal represents that we will take any means necessary to keep our community safe." Logan spoke as if he were commanding troops in a war zone, but Catlettsburg employed only eight full-time officers for a town of 2,500. According to the app Nextdoor, "Catlettsburg is considered a safe place to live," with violent and property crime rates below state and national averages. After a public backlash, Logan had the decals removed.

That same year, the Solvay, New York, Police Department drew criticism for similar decals. "The Punisher symbol on the patrol vehiclesis our way of showing our citizens that we will stand between good and evil," according to a statement credited in part to Solvay's police chief. "There is clearly a war on police and the criminal element attempting to infiltrate and destroy our communities, lifestyles and quality of living requiring men and women willing to stand up to evil and protect the good of society." (Solvay, a village of about 6,500, is "known for its clean streets and welcoming community," declared Nextdoor. At the time, its police department employed only 16 people, including the chief.)

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Taken at face value, these police departments see themselves as under assault from unchecked criminal forces. In that mindset, the only way to survive is to treat the community like an occupied territory, seeing civilians as potential threats and displaying a decal that signals your willingness to use unconstrained violence.

Solvay's decals, in particular, featured a thin blue line in the skull design. As noted in Errol Morris' documentary of the same name, the phrase refers to the concept of "the 'thin blue line' of police that separate[s] the public from anarchy." While now ubiquitous, the design of a thin blue line on an American flag originated in 2014, three years before it was incorporated into Punisher skulls on police cars in Solvay.

In 2019, St. Louis barred 22 city police officers from submitting cases for prosecution after they were found to have posted racist content on social media. Ed Clark, president of the city's police union, published a letter on the union's Facebook page "asking all officers and supporters to adopt the Blue Line Punisher symbol as their profile symbol in a show of solidarity."

"The Blue Line symbol and the Blue Line Punisher symbol have been widely embraced by the law enforcement community as a symbol of the war against those who hate law enforcement," Clark added. "It's how we show the world that we hold the line between good and evil."

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But it's more complicated than that.

"The thin blue line narrativehighlights the assumed differences between officers and citizens and further progresses an 'us versus them' mentality among officers," criminologists Don L. Kurtz and Alayna Colburn wrote in 2019.

Kurtz and Colburn found that the thin blue line narrative "relates to the idea that death surrounds officers as they go about their daily job," though statistically that's not necessarily true. As a result, the narrative "pushes a limited subset of society into seeking the professionpeople that are more likely to be conservative, justify physical violence and deadly force, are distrustful of the community, and generally suspicious of those outside of law enforcement."

Now imagine what that same symbol signifies when paired with the skull logo of an extrajudicial murderer.

Why Police Adoration of the Punisher Matters

One could argue that police adopting the cartoonish logo of a fictional character is no big deal. Nobody would bat an eye at police officers with Superman patches. But the Punisher specifically contradicts what the police should represent.

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"While tamer vigilantes complicate the job of law enforcement, they accept the legitimacy of the justice system and supplement rather than deconstruct the political order," Kent Worcester, a political scientist at Marymount Manhattan College, wrote in A Cultural History of the Punisher. "Frank Castleoperates under the assumption that the law itself is a fraud and a fiction."

All too often, an embrace of the character demonstrably coincides with a proclivity to abuse one's power. "Frank Castle does to bad guys and girls what we sometimes wish we could legally do," Jesse Murrieta, a security official who had worked in federal law enforcement, told Vulture in 2020. "Castle doesn't see shades of grey, which, unfortunately, the American justice system is littered with and which tends to slow down and sometimes even hinder victims of crime from getting the justice they deserve."

In 2004, numerous off-duty Milwaukee police officers accused Frank Jude Jr. of stealing a wallet and badge at a house party. Though they searched him and didn't find either, they then assaulted Jude so badly that an emergency room physician resorted to taking photos because "there were too many [injuries] to document" in writing.

Milwaukee Police Captain James Galezewski later discovered the officers involved in the assault belonged to a "clique" within the department who called themselves "the Punishers," who "wear black caps with a skull on them" and "get carried away" while on duty. "This is a group of rogue officers within our agency who I would characterize as brutal and abusive," Galezewski noted in a 2007 report.

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In 2009, Sgt. Brent Raban of Florida's Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office repeatedly bragged on Facebook about beating suspects in the course of his work. He wore a skull cap with the word "punishment" on it. Raban told investigators he was inspired by comic book characters like the Punisher. He was demoted and reassigned, and he would be fired the following year. An arbitrator later ordered the department to reinstate Raban and pay him $150,000 in back pay.

As actor Bernthal alluded, the Punisher is also popular among members of the military. This makes sense, given Castle's status as a war hero and his overtly militaristic worldview. But it also fits another troubling aspect of the police/Punisher intersection.

The Punisher as Symbol of a Militarized Police

The 9/11 attacks inspired a patriotic and nationalistic fervor and ushered in an era of unchecked police militarization. Such militarization was already on the rise over the previous few decades, but 9/11 created an atmosphere in which no method of retaliation was off limits. In 2003, as a means of fighting terrorism, the Department of Homeland Security began dispensing military weapons and equipment to police departments throughout the country.

When protests broke out after a police shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014, officers responded wearing camouflage, brandishing military surplus shotguns and M4 rifles, and driving armored vehicles designed to withstand mines and roadside bombs. In 2020, similar scenes took place across the country: As Black Lives Matter demonstrators protested police brutality, officers outfitted in combat gear deployed brutal and violent tactics to put down demonstrations that often warranted little or no force. Some protests did turn violent, marked by rioting and looting, but reports later found that across the country, police largely responded in excess of what the situation requiredironically validating many of the protesters' concerns.

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As both the 2020 protests and the police response made international news, commenters noted the presence of Punisher skulls on officers' uniforms. Sadly, neither trend was new. A 75-second video uploaded to YouTube in 2009 depicts a police training exercise in Doraville, Georgia. In the video, several heavily armed SWAT officers pile out of an M113 armored personnel carrierdesigned to safely transport up to 11 soldiers at a time to the front lines of a combat zonewith "Doraville Police Department SWAT" printed on the side. The video starts and ends with flashes of the Punisher skull, set to the industrial metal song "Die Motherfucker Die." The city didn't add these flourishes, but as Radley Balko wrote in 2014 in The Washington Post, "At least as of this writing, the video was posted on the front page of the Doraville Police Department Web site."

Doraville, a suburb of Atlanta with about 10,000 residents, has crime rates higher than the state and national averages. But most of that crime is property-related, hardly the kind that would require an armored vehicle. In emails exchanged after Balko's article, city officials chose to take the video down from the police department's website, and city manager Shawn Gillen noted, "We no longer own the tank." But the emails also showed the vehicle's primary usefulness was not in stopping or solving crime: A city councilmember asked if the city should create a "presentation" to "show how the tank has helped in the past, specifically during the ice storms."

"The Department of Defense's 1033 program, which offers free surplus military equipment to police departments, has transferred at least $1.6 billion worth of equipment to departments across the country since 9/11, compared to just $27 million before the attacks," Reason's C.J. Ciaramella wrote in 2021. That was in addition to another $24.3 billion in grants that city and state governments used to purchase additional military-style equipment.

"When controlling for other variables, counties who received the highest amount of military equipment through the 1033 Program recorded twice as many police killings than counties that did not receive any equipment," according to a 2020 article in the Georgetown Security Studies Review. "A report on Georgia law enforcement agencies discovered that participating police departments and sheriff offices who took in more than $1,000 in 1033 money, on average, had four times as many fatalities as non-participating agencies."

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Given what the Punisher represents, and how police departments have militarized over the last few years, it's unfortunate but perhaps unsurprising that police have adopted the character's iconography as their own. Comics writers have increasingly contended with the Punisher's popularity among policeeven adapting it into the pages of the comics. In a 1993 storyline, Castle travels to Baltimore to find and kill a major drug distributor. While there, he is stopped by two local copsbut instead of arresting him, they encourage him to finish the job and marvel at his freedom to operate with "no courts, no warrants, no rules." They even threaten him with reprisal if he doesn't kill his target. Castle bristles at doing the officers' bidding, even indirectly, but he decides that unless they're "dirty," they aren't his concern.

In a storyline from the early 2000s, the New York Police Department (NYPD) names its most ineffectual detective to head the Punisher task force, because the other detectives not so secretly prefer the Punisher's method of handling criminals to their own. Over time, as life began to imitate art, writers took a different approach, openly confronting whether cops should support Frank's mission. Matthew Rosenberg tackled the issue most directly when writing the character in 2018 and 2019. In one issue, NYPD officers argue over Castle's methodswhether he "does more to clean up the streets than we'll ever be allowed to" or if he's just "a frickin' Nazi."

Later in the same series, when two officers spot Castle on the streetblood on his gloves, still fresh from a recent killthey get excited and try to take selfies. While most of the NYPD "want[s] you in the ground," they tell him, they belong to a small but vocal contingent who "believe in what you do" and sport his skull logo as a decal on their car.

Castle peels off the decal and rips it up. "We're not the same," he admonishes them. "You took an oath to uphold the law. You help people. I gave all that up a long time ago." When the officers protest that he "started something" and "showed how it's done," Castle replies, "If I find out you are trying to do what I do, I'll come for you next."

The Punisher as a Creature of His Time

As a longtime fan of the character who is uncomfortable with the way the police and military have co-opted him, I have to ask myself: What should he represent?

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The Punisher was a product of his time. He debuted in February 1974, just five months before the theatrical release of Death Wish, in which Charles Bronson wages a one-man war on crime after a gang murders his wife and brutalizes his daughter. The film had so much prerelease hype that Paramount Pictures raised ticket prices for its premiere screening. Three years earlier, Clint Eastwood starred in Dirty Harry as a San Francisco detective willing to break any ruleincluding limitations on the use of forceto catch a killer. Each film would spawn four sequels.

Americans were concerned about crime, and for good reason. "Between 1960 and 1980, the homicide rate doubled, and the violent crime rate, as measured by police reports, more than tripled," according to Alex Tabarrok of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. "The violence of the 1970s was also more impersonal than previous violence. Homicide rates doubled, but homicide rates by strangers increased much faster, especially in the big cities."

The same was true when the Punisher's first solo series debuted in January 1986. The previous year, "the number of crimes reported in the United States rose 5 percent," including "increases in all major categories of crime," The New York Times reported. "The numbers showed that violent crime, including murder and rape, was up 4 percent in 1985."

Just like Death Wish, Dirty Harry, and other revenge thrillers from the era, the Punisher reflected people's concerns about crime, meeting the senseless violence they feared with a brutally effective counterresponse. "I've heard people call me crazy, and maybe they're right. I can't judge something like that," Castle says in a 1975 issue. "I only know there's a war going on in this country between citizen and criminaland the citizens are losing."

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Marvel ended all Punisher series in 1995 amid declining sales throughout the industrythe company would file for bankruptcy the following year. When the Punisher returned in 2000, the U.S. looked very different than it had when the character debuted.

"Homicide rates plunged 43 percent from the peak in 1991 to 2001, reaching the lowest levels in 35 years," economist Steven Levitt wrote in 2004. The FBI's "violent and property crime indexes fell 34 and 29 percent, respectively, over that same period. These declines occurred essentially without warning: leading experts were predicting an explosion in crime in the early and mid-1990s, precisely the point when crime rates began to plunge."

That included Castle's home city: From 1990 through 1998, New York City's homicide rate plummeted, falling from 30.7 per 100,000 people to 8; the city hadn't seen a rate in the single digits since 1967. New York City, portrayed as a dystopia in films like Death Wish and The Warriors, was somehow becoming one of the safest cities in America.

The Punisher had thrived in an era of seemingly unchecked crime. What does a writer do with him when, statistically, Americans are safer than they've been in decades?

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Garth Ennis is often named as one of the Punisher's greatest writers. He is credited with revitalizing the character's popularity in the 21st century, starting with the 2000 miniseries The Punisher: Welcome Back, Frank. While never shying away from the character's proclivity for violence, Ennis also depicted the mental and emotional toll Castle's experiences had on him.

Ennis "tended to write Castle as a man who was mentally destroyed during his service in Vietnam," Abraham Josephine Riesman wrote for Vulture in 2015, "and who has become a dangerous psychopath." Ennis' 21st century Punisher is not a badass hero or an avenging angel; he is a killer for the sake of killing. He is less ideological than pathological, a textbook case of PTSD. More broadly, he is a casualty of America's reckless warmaking abroad and its spiraling crime rates at home: Vietnam traumatized him, and the deaths of his family radicalized him to seek retributive violence.

Handling the character through the PTSD lens may be unsatisfying for those who look to Castle as a heroor worse, as a role model. But it's perfectly in keeping with his history, and what has always made him work as a character. "The attraction to me back when I was creating the character was that complexity, that layer of semi-justification, but still [being] on the wrong side," Conway says. "It's a tough thing to unravel, but it's worth unraveling.It is complex, and the complexity is what we should be interested in."

Rethinking a Complex Legacy

People who should know better continue to pattern themselves after a comic book character who is definitively not to be emulated. In addition to cops and soldiers, the character has also proven popular among President Donald Trump's supporters and the paramilitary rightgroups who want to convey strength over all else. Some of the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, wore Punisher skulls. "These people are misguided, lost, and afraid. They have nothing to do with what Frank stands for or is about," Bernthal tweeted at the time.

After January 6, Mike Avila wrote in SYFY WIRE that perhaps Marvel should retire the character. Is there another optionone that doesn't mean giving up on the Punisher altogether? Conway thinks so. For the past few years, the Punisher's creator has spoken out against the character's misuse, including by police. In 2020, he raised over $75,000 for Black Lives Matter in Los Angeles, selling T-shirts with artists' designs of the Punisher skull with BLM symbology. But he isn't ready to give up on the character.

He points to a scene in the Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again, where Castle directly confronts and repudiates police who have taken up his mantle, in a way that feels authentic to the character.

"You don't embrace his attitude, but you recognize it. You see it for what it is," Conway says. "This is a guy who is in terrible pain.And I think that's something that should be addressed. I think that's some way toward a healing of the readership or the viewership, and an introduction to the complexity of the character going forward. Don't be afraid of this guy as a publisher, or as a studio. He asks you to think, he asks you to feel. And that's a valuable thing to do. I think that's justification for keeping the character alive."

I agree the Punisher still serves a legitimate purposenot as a role model, but as an examination of our own impulses, and our desire to do the right thing even if in the wrong way. "As long as there are innocents who need avenging, the Punisher will never die," Pepose's 2024 series says in its closing panel.

I still like the character. I'll keep reading his comics and watching him on TV and in movies. But perhaps the days of wearing the skull are behind me.

The post How the Punisher, a Murderous Anti-Hero, Became the Mascot for Increasingly Militarized Police Forces appeared first on Reason.com.
Qatar's prime minister said in an interview that aired Sunday that violations of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire are occurring constantly but that his country continues to work to keep the agreement from collapsing.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, who is also Qatar's foreign minister, told CNN's Fareed Zakaria: "The violations are happening every day. And we have, like we have in the de-confliction room, the operation room that we did together with Egypt and the United States. We register everything over there. ... We work together very closely with them in order to make sure that the ceasefire stay intact."

Alongside President Donald Trump, Qatar was a major player in efforts to bring an end, or at least a temporary halt, to the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

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Speaking on "Fareed Zakaria GPS," the Qatari leader said that when it comes to an international presence to keep the peace in that embattled area, "there should be a defined mandate."

He added: "Basically the international forces' role should be securing the Palestinians and the Israelis that both of them doesn't, don't pose a threat for each other."

Al-Thani, speaking in broader terms, told Zakaria that his tiny nation has adopted conflict mediation as its own special role in world affairs.

"From our perspective," he said, "each country in the international community needs to contribute something to the international community. We found ourselves that we are able to convene between conflicted parties and understand the grievances."

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Al-Thani said that Qatar, a country approximately the combined size of Connecticut and Rhode Island, tries to address the issues in world conflicts "step by step."

He added: "We've built a track record of credibility and honesty."

But Qatar has been disparaged not only for maintaining contacts with Hamas but also with Iran, another outlaw on the world stage. Al-Thani swatted aside that criticism.

"Iran is my neighbor," Al-Thani said. "Iran is just 150 miles away from me. I share with them the largest gas field in the world. Iran is part of our region, and I have to deal with them. And we would like to see Iran flourishing and developing and prospering and, of course, we don't want to see an arms race in our region. We don't want to see a nuclear race in our region. That's why we've been supporting diplomacy all the time."

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The Qatari leader also rejected the idea that the Trump administration provided security guarantees to Qatar only because it gifted Trump with a plane that is to serve as Air Force One and later as a plane for his presidential library.

"There is no relation at all between those two topics," he said. "First of all, this plane issue, I've been answering it like many times. U.S. is our partner and our ally, and this plane happened. It's a government-to-government agreement, which is normally happening between us and any other governments also around the world."
Jennifer Lawrence thinks having kids is "sacrificial".

Jennifer Lawrence has shared her experience of motherhood

The 35-year-old actress - who has Cy, three, and a son called Louie who was born earlier this year - has opened up about her struggles with postpartum depression, explaining that motherhood is "not not sacrificial".

Speaking to the New York Times newspaper, Jennifer explained: "Having kids is sacrificial. Its gratifying and its amazing and rewarding, but its not not sacrificial.

"Id never had to say no to something before that I really wanted to do."

Jennifer actually felt "vain and selfish" at one point in time, because she wanted to continue her acting career while her family were all at home.

The Oscar-winning star - who has been married to Cooke Maroney since 2019 - shared: "My kids and my family are more important, obviously, but they feel like an equal part of me.

"I would not be complete if I couldnt make movies. I just wouldnt."

Meanwhile, Jennifer previously admitted that she suffered self-doubts before giving birth to her first child.

The Hollywood star conceded that she didn't know what to expect from motherhood and how she would cope with the challenge of raising her child.

The film star - who is one of the best-paid actresses in the world - told Vogue magazine: "Its so scary to talk about motherhood. Only because its so different for everybody.

"If I say, It was amazing from the start, some people will think, It wasnt amazing for me at first, and feel bad. Fortunately I have so many girlfriends who were honest. Who were like, Its scary. You might not connect right away. You might not fall in love right away. So I felt so prepared to be forgiving.

"I remember walking with one of my best friends at, like, nine months, and being like, 'Everyone keeps saying that I will love my baby more than my cat. But thats not true. Maybe Ill love him as much as my cat?'"
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the national capital and sought greater expansion of the railway network in Assam to improve connectivity across the state, according to an official press release. During the nearly 25-minute meeting held at the Railway Minister's official residence, Chief Minister Sarma requested the introduction of three new Amrit Bharat trains to and from Assam. He also proposed the creation of a new rail link connecting scenic Umrangso town in Dima Hasao district to Lanka in Hojai district. The Chief Minister further urged early completion of the proposed railway line between Kokrajhar and Gelephu Mindfulness City in Bhutan, aimed at strengthening cross-border connectivity. In addition, he appealed for more stoppages of major trains passing through Assam to benefit local passengers. Sarma said that the Railway Minister had 'kindly consented' to the action items discussed during the meeting, including the introduction of three new Amrit Bharat trains, the Umrangso-Lanka rail link, expediting work on the Kokrajhar-Gelephu line, and additional train stoppages in the state. The Railway Minister responded positively to the proposals and assured that his ministry would implement the suggested measures. Later, taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Chief Minister Sarma wrote: "Had a very productive meeting with Hon'ble Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw Ji this morning. We deliberated on key issues to expand railway's footprint in Assam to enhance overall connectivity for our people." "3 new Amrit Bharat trains to and from Assam; A new rail link from the picturesque Umrangso town to Lanka in Hojai district; Expediting work on the new railway line from Kokrajhar to Gelephu Mindfulness City, Bhutan; More stoppages in Assam of all major trains transiting through the state," CM Sarma further said on X. https://x.com/himantabiswa/status/1984879785781481620 "Happy to share that the Hon'ble Minister has kindly consented to these action items," he further said. (ANI)
Rapper Meek Mill was handcuffed early Saturday morning outside a Midtown Manhattan nightclub as police searched his car for a gun, according to police sources.

Cops searched the car of the Philadelphia-born rapper, whose real name is Robert Williams, 38, around 4 a.m. after stopping three men in the vehicle, which matched the description and license plate in a tip they received about a man with a gun, according to TMZ.

They just pulled me out the car and cuffed me in front of the whole club embarrassed the shit out of me in nyc! Im not scared to go outside without a gun  they had guns in my face for no reason smh I thought it was a prank, the rapper said on X shortly after the incident.

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Cops were tipped off to search Williams car for a firearm after he was patted down at the club, according to police sources. A bouncer thought he felt a gun on Williams and told the rapper to get rid of whatever he had. Williams put something in his car before returning to the club, according to the sources.

Cops did not find a gun in Williams car.

In 2008, Williams was convicted of possessing a loaded gun in Philadelphia.
On a beautiful Saturday in October, Realtors, industry-affiliated business professionals, community leaders and local residents gathered at Grings Mill Recreation Area in Spring Township for the 6th annual 5K Run for Shelter, hosted by the Reading-Berks Association of Realtors (R-BAR).

Two things stand out from this years 5K  we raised the most sponsorship money ever and had the most registered runners ever, said Darren Kostival, chair of the 5K Run for Shelter Task Force and Realtor with RE/MAX of Reading. Mother Nature gave us a pretty amazing day!

Proceeds from the 5K Run for Shelter benefit Habitat for Humanity of Berks County and Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks Inc.

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The Run for Shelter 5K hosted by R-BAR is a great example of organizations recognizing the importance of giving back and engaging with their community, said Tim Daley, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Berks County. Habitat Berks uses these funds to support our workforce housing projects, as seen in the work being done through the Buttonwood Gateway Project.

Both NHS and Habitat play vital roles in educating prospective homebuyers, expanding access to financing, building and restoring homes and creating pathways to generational wealth within Berks County communities. The funds donated to NHS go directly toward closing cost assistance grants for low-income homebuyers.

Habitat for Humanity and NHS both work hard to make a real difference, said Lacey Pennypacker, a member of R-BARs board of directors and Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty. This event helps raise money and awareness for their efforts. Plus, it brings people together for a good cause  and a good run!

Who better than Realtors to understand the importance of homeownership! Daley said.

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R-BAR members are passionate about supporting Habitat and NHS year-round, but their commitment is especially evident in October, which marks Realtors Reach Out month, a statewide initiative that highlights volunteerism and community impact.

Throughout the month, Realtors and affiliated business partners across Pennsylvania give back through collective efforts in volunteerism, donations and fundraising.

Lisa Tillman, Brittany Whitford and Callan Cress, team members of Daryl Tillman Realty Group, were all smiles as they crossed the finish line. (Courtesy of the Reading-Berks Association of Realtors)

Last years 5K raised $9,421.52, split evenly between NHS and Habitat. This years event raised nearly $9,600, with the final total to be announced at R-BARs year-end brunch in December.

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Fulton Mortgage Co. team members Mel Ficarro, Pam Goldsborough and Brenda Baer-Edsall celebrate earning medals at the 5K Run for Shelter. (Courtesy of Reading-Berks Association of Realtors)

Congratulations to the overall winners, Christian Cortes-Nunez, top overall male winner, and Jess Hetrich, top overall female winner.

R-BAR thanks everyone who supported this years 5K Run for Shelter, including 21 generous sponsors, who raised the most ever for this event  $8,950.

Gold: Breidegam Family Foundation, Fulton Mortgage Co., Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks Inc., Rivera-Leinbach for Commissioner

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Silver: Caring Transitions of Reading, Habitat ReStore, Jason Burkholder Team with Hometown Property Sales, Stewart Abstract of Berks Co. Inc., Sun Federal Credit Union, Truist

Bronze: Bright MLS, Burg Restoration Service, Darren Kostival, Realtor, RE/MAX of Reading, Dierolf Plumbing & Water Treatment, Reading Fightin Phils, Univest Bank and Trust Co.

Brass: Alyssa Damiani, Realtor, Coldwell Banker Realty, Fidelis Mortgage Corp., Jersey Ink, Julies Olde-Tyme Cho-chos, Muhlenberg Greene Architects

Donations: Berks Fire & Water, Darren Kostival, Realtor, RE/MAX of Reading, Lending Heights Mortgage  Todd Hummel Team, Unique Pretzels

The 7th annual 5K Run for Shelter will be held on Oct. 3, 2026.
Your homes and garages may be hiding more than just clutter.

They could contain products removed from store shelves for safety reasons.

From tainted makeup wipes to adulterated prescription drugs, recalled items stay in circulation long after the news about them fades into obscurity.

Here are seven of the latest recalls across food, consumer goods, and automobiles that made headlines this week  and how to spot these risky items to stay safe.

7 food and product recalls between Oct. 27 and Nov. 2

Item Detail Start Date Week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2 Whos affected? Drivers of Tesla Cybertruck vehicles, consumers of taco dinner kits and mixed nuts, users of chainsaws, users of dining chairs, patients taking certain statin drugs and users of Neutrogena makeup wipes Whats changing? See each specific food, car or product recall for more information. What will happen? People will have to stop consuming or using the products, return them to their place of purchase, and/or throw the products out.

Neutrogena recalling these popular beauty products: Throw out ASAP

Neutrogena has announced a voluntary recall for several lots of its Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes.

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The company is recalling the wipes after company testing found the potentially harmful bacteria Pluralibacter gergoviae, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Kenvue Brands out of Summit, N.J., removed the affected wipes from shelves after involvement by the FDA.

No other Neutrogena products tested positive for the bacteria.

The makeup wipes that are subject to the recall are the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes.

It involves 1,312 cases of the 50-count, 25-pack towelettes with Lot Number: 1835U6325A on the package, according to the FDA.

The FDA classified this recall as a Class II recall, meaning the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.

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The affected wipes were sold in several states, including Texas, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled wipes and throw them out in a way that doesnt spread the bacteria.

For more information about this recall, you can check out our published article.

FDA recalls more than 140K bottles of this common statin: Is your medication one of them?

More than 140,000 bottles of a commonly prescribed statin have been recalled due to failed dissolution specifications, according to FDA.

The New Jersey-based Ascend Laboratories recalled Atorvastatin Calcium, a statin drug sold as a generic form of Lipitor because the drug failed to dissolve properly according to federal standards.

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Alkem Laboratories of India manufactured the recalled drug and distributed nationwide.

The recall was first initiated on Sept. 19, and covers tablets bottled in 90-count, 500-count and 1,000-count quantities with expiration dates as far out as Feb. 2027.

Although the drug companies and the FDA have not released information on what to do with the recalled statins, there are some steps people with these medications can take to stay safe.

Anyone who takes medicine that is part of a drug recall should check the medication lot number, contact their pharmacy and their physician and then, dispose of the recalled medication, according to GoodRx.

Milwaukee Tool recalling 90K top handle chainsaws sold at Home Depot due to laceration hazards

Milwaukee Tool is recalling more than 90,000 top handle chainsaws because the chain brake may not activate, causing laceration hazards, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

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The recall covers all battery-operated M18 FUEL Top Handle Chainsaws with catalog number 2826-20.

The company has received two reports of the chain brake not activating, with one reported injury resulting in a lacerated finger.

The chainsaws were sold at Home Depot and other home improvement stores in-person and online from March 2023 through Sept. 2024 for about $350 (tool only) or $790 with batteries and charger.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled chainsaws and contact Milwaukee Tool for a free repair.

Before sending the recalled product for repair, the company wants consumers to visit this website to register their products and get a prepaid shipping label.

Crate & Barrel recalls nearly 55K Ana dining chairs due to fall hazard

Crate & Barrel is recalling nearly 55,000 Ana Dining Chairs due to a fall hazard, according to the CPSC.

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The legs of the dining chairs can break, causing the possibility of a fall risk.

The recalled Crate & Barrel Ana Dining Chairs have the following SKU numbers located under the chairs: 108-976, 109-100, 109-117, 109-123, 121-287, 436-035, 436-074, 436-096, 436-123, 686-763, 686-774, 387-127, 387-135, 387-141 and 387-166.

The recalled chairs were sold in charcoal, gray, ivory, navy, gray velvet, camel velvet and olive-green velvet.

Any chairs sold after Jan. 23, 2025, are not part of the recall.

The affected chairs were sold at Crate & Barrel online and in-store from January 2021 to January 2025, ranging in price from $300 to $350.

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Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled dining chairs. They can contact Crate & Barrel to get replacement chairs and have the store haul away the old ones.

FDA is recalling mixed nuts sold at Stop & Shop in 5 states due to life-threatening allergen

Mixed nuts sold at Stop & Shop locations in five states have been recalled due to a life-threatening allergen, according to the FDA.

The reason for the recall is that hazelnuts are listed as an ingredient in the mixed nuts, but there is no allergen warning listed on the packaging.

No illnesses have been reported to date, but people with hazelnut allergies can be at risk for developing a reaction.

The products affected include the following:

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Mixed Nuts Roasted Unsalted, 8-ounces, with a use-by date of Aug. 18, 2026, and a UPC code of 8 10111 02237 8.

Mixed Nuts Roasted and Salted, 8-ounces, with a use-by date of Aug. 26, 2026, and a UPC code of 8 10111 02236 1.

The two products had a lot code of 23025.

The products were distributed between Sept. 2 and 9, 2025, and sold in Stop & Shop stores in the following five states:

Massachusetts

Connecticut

New Jersey

New York

Rhode Island

The FDA is urging consumers who purchased the nuts to throw them out or return them for a full refund.

Those with questions can contact Hampton Farms at 1-800-313-2748.

Taco kits sold at Aldi in multiple states recalled due to life-threatening allergen not listed on packaging

Texas-based company Teasdale Foods, Inc. is recalling some of its Taco Dinner Kits due to a milk allergen not listed on the packaging, according to the FDA.

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The recall was initiated after some consumers complained that the Taco Dinner Kits contained cocoa mix packets containing milk instead of taco seasoning packets, and were distributed in packaging that did not declare milk on the label.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The following products are subject to recall:

Martins and Giant Crunchy Taco Dinner Kit, packaged in a purple box with UPC: 68826757516 , with lot code 25257 and Best if used by date: MAR 13 26 printed on the back of the package.

Casa Mamita Soft Taco Dinner Kit, packaging in a blue and yellow box with UPC: 4099100318715, with lot code 25259 and Best if used by date: MAR 15 26 printed on the back of the package.

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The products were distributed to Giant, Aldi and Martins stores in the following states and territories:

Alabama

Connecticut

District of Columbia

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Iowa

Illinois

Indiana

Kentucky

Louisiana

Massachusetts

Maryland

Michigan

Mississippi

North Carolina

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia

Vermont

Wisconsin

West Virginia

The FDA is urging consumers who have bought the product to return it to its place of purchase for a full refund.

Those with questions may contact the company at teasdalecomplaints@teasdalefoods.com.

More than 6K Tesla Cybertrucks recalled due to loose light bars

More than 6,000 2024 Tesla Cybertrucks have been recalled due to loose light bars that could detach while driving, causing a road hazard, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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The agency issued the recall on Oct. 27, 2025, and it involves 6,197 Cybertrucks made between Nov. 13, 2023, and Nov. 5, 2024.

The off-road light is mounted to the top of the Cybertrucks to help driver visibility.

The service-installed optional off-road light bar accessory may have been inadvertently attached to the windshield using the incorrect surface primer, the recall notice said.

No injuries, deaths or accidents have been reported to date.

Cybertruck owners affected by the recall can go to a dealer to have their light bars inspected and, if necessary, replaced for no charge.

Tesla owners affected by the recall will get a letter in the mail notifying them about the recall around Dec. 26, 2025.

More Food Recalls

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DES MOINES, Iowa  This weekend Reggies Sleepout is holding its 20th anniversary event to raise funds for the fight against youth homelessness.

Reggies Sleepout honors Reggie Kelsey, who aged out of foster care at age 18 but was found dead within a year due to lack of resources and support. Held by Iowa Homeless Youth Centers, the event raises money and awareness by putting participants in someone elses shoes.

Ankeny family hands out hot dogs for Halloween

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Participants build cardboard shelters or pitch tents and spend the night on the Drake Stadium field. Food vendors, yard games, and speakers will be set up along the field for participants.

President and CEO of YSS Andrew Allen sat down with WHO 13s Erin Kiernan to discuss this years event and how things have changed since the sleepouts commencement.

WHO 13s Erin Kiernan will deliver opening remarks for the 20th anniversary event. While WHO 13s Skyler Stamps will be partaking in the sleepout. Tune in to the WHO 13 News at 10 p.m. on Sunday to see Stamps journey.

Metro News:

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
Voters fill out ballots at the polling site at George Hanaford School in East Greenwich on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Rhode Island has not sent a voter list maintenance mailing to all active registered voters in over 15 years. That changes as early as Monday, Nov 3, when voters across the state should start receiving a notice in a white envelope with yellow markings and an Official Election Mail decal.

The enclosed letter asks recipients to review the information on their voter record and update any inaccurate or outdated information online at vote.ri.gov or by mail using the form on the back of the letter.

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Reviewing and responding to the mailing will help ensure the accuracy of Rhode Islands voter list and that voters are eligible to vote in the 2026 elections, according to the office of Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore.

If voters receive a letter addressed to someone who does not live at their address, they are asked to write Not at this address above the address on the envelope and return the envelope to their mail carrier.

State and local election officials receive voter list maintenance information from several agencies, including the Division of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Health, and the U.S. Postal Services National Change of Address program.

A voters registration becomes inactive when a piece of official elections mail is returned to the sender as undeliverable. If an inactive voter does not cast a ballot in one of the next two federal elections, their voter registration can be removed from the voter list, according to federal and state law.

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Election officials have removed 107,738 voters from the states voter list through these voter list maintenance processes since Amore took office in January 2023.

Voters who need assistance updating their record can call the Department of State Elections Division at (401) 222-2340 or their local Board of Canvassers office. For more information on the mailing and a list of frequently asked questions, visit sos.ri.gov/mailing.

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The Texas Supreme Court has updated ethics rules, saying judges across the state may refuse same-sex weddings if they violate their conscience.

The Supreme Court unanimously added a comment to judicial ethics rules on October 24, saying they do not prohibit a judge from refusing a same-sex marriage due to religious beliefs.

It is not a violation of these canons for a judge to publicly refrain from performing a wedding ceremony based upon a sincerely held religious belief, the comment reads.

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The court added this comment to Canon 4 of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct, a set of ethical rules on judges extra-judicial activities to minimize the risk of conflict with their duties.

The justices directed the clerk to file this comment with the secretary of state, publish it in the Texas Bar Journal to be mailed to every state bar member, submit it to the Texas Register, and send it to Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and every state legislator.

In North Texas, Jack County Judge Brian Umphress sued the State Commission on Judicial Conduct in 2020 for disciplining judges who express opposition to same-sex weddings or conduct, according to Courthouse News Service. He claimed that this was a violation of judges rights under the 1st Amendment, which protects freedom of speech and religion.

The commission sanctioned McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley in 2019 for declining to officiate same-sex weddings, according to KWTX. Officials claimed this cast doubt on her ability to act impartially due to her sexual orientation.

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Meanwhile, the commission has seen around 27,000 complaints over the last 20 years, as The Dallas Express reported. This resulted in approximately 250 public sanctions and around 550 private sanctions, with the judge remaining unnamed. In January, one unnamed judge denied a litigants attorney the right to be heard. Texas voters will decide on transparency reforms on November 4.

The U.S. Supreme Court nationalized same-sex marriage in 2015, in Obergefell v. Hodges. The court ruled 5-4 that denial of same-sex marriage breaks the 14th Amendments guarantee to equal protection under the law. Previously, states had decided on the matter for themselves, with Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee explicitly defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

The Supreme Court will decide on November 7 whether to take up the case of former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who was briefly jailed after refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses following the Obergefell decision, as The Dallas Express reported. Davis case directly challenges Obergefell.

A joint brief from The Claremont Institutes Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence and the National Organization for Marriage compared Obergefell to Roe v. Wade before its reversal, as The Dallas Express also reported. It called the ruling manifestly erroneous, and said it cut off a robust, democratic debate and threatened religious liberty.

If the Supreme Court overturns the 2015 ruling, it would send the matter of same-sex marriage back to the states. The 10th Amendment dictates the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Opinion. This fall, as Ive introduced myself to college students during lectures, I begin by saying, Im here because my grandmother survived an Indian boarding school.

Its more than an introduction  its the truth. I exist because my grandmother didnt die at the boarding school where she was sent as a child.

My grandmother, Ellen (Moore) Whitepigeon, a citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, was taken from her home in Mayetta, Kan, and sent 250 miles away to the Genoa U.S. Indian Industrial School in Nebraska.

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While young Ellen survived, 87 Native children who attended Genoa during its 50 years of operation never made it home. She eventually returned to Mayetta, and a few years later, my grandfather, Levi Whitepigeon, traveled from Michigan to marry her. They settled in Grand Rapids and spent 50 years together before my grandfather passed two months after their golden wedding anniversary. Together they had 10 children  the roots of our family tree.

Grandma passed away 30 years ago. Last Wednesday, my daughter, artist Monica Rickert-Bolter, texted our family a photo of her latest rendering It features Grandma Whitepigeon. The rendering, called "Gizhenam: The Greats (WIP)," is part of the "Sight of Resistance" exhibition that is up until January 2026 at the Center for Native Futures in Chicago, a gallery Monica co-founded.

Monicas text gave me goosebumps. Her rendering captures Grandmas contagious laugh perfectly  a laugh I can still hear. The laugh on Grandmas face took me back to my childhood, when the Whitepigeon family would picnic at local parks on Saturday evenings. Those gatherings were full of Indian humor and loud laughter.

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One evening, a park attendant rolled up on a mower and barked, You Indians cant drink in this park. There wasnt a drop of alcohol among the Whitepigeons  just hamburgers, potato salad and faith. My grandparents were Pentecostals; I never once saw them drink. After the park employee left, Grandma laughed so hard it echoed across the park.

That laugh, that resilience  thats what survival looks like.

Monicas text came a few days before November, which is celebrated as Native American Heritage Month. It arrived one day after I spent time with Dr. Anton Treuer (White Earth Ojibwe), who visited Grand Valley State University to lecture.

During his lecture, he reminded us that storytelling and memory are powerful medicines. He spoke for almost two hours about his upbringing and how, during his youth, he never had a Native American teacher during his K12 years. He didnt have one until he was in a doctoral program. He reminisced that he seldom encountered a Native American professional as he grew up, though his mother became an attorney and then a tribal judge. He talked about how his mother and her law partner, who was also Native, were the only two Native professionals in the courtroom.

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Listening to him, I thought about how resilient Native people are  and how hard weve worked to break barriers to advancement in todays society where a lot more Natives hold professional positions.

Treuer also spoke about his extensive work in Native language revitalization. He said those who return to the languages stripped from our ancestors in Indian boarding schools find that embracing Native language is life-changing.

Seeing Monicas painting of Grandma Whitepigeon and hearing Treuers lecture served as a fitting prelude to Native American Heritage Month. They both reminded me of our histories, our culture, and our truths.

Native American Heritage Month gives us a moment to pause, remember and celebrate who we are as Indigenous peoples. Its not just about cultural pride or recognition  its about reflection.

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For Native people, our very existence is an act of resilience. We descend from ancestors who endured policies designed to erase us  removal, forced assimilation, boarding schools and termination. Yet were still here. Our languages are being spoken again, our ceremonies practiced openly, and our children are growing up learning that being Native is a strength, not a burden.

This month invites us to honor that legacy. Its a time to reflect on the courage of those who came before us  those who walked the Trail of Tears, who resisted at Wounded Knee, who survived the boarding schools and who stood up at Standing Rock. Each generation has carried the fire forward so the next could live with more dignity and pride.

But reflection doesnt mean nostalgia. It means accountability  to continue what our ancestors started. We must confront the inequities that still persist: underfunded health care, the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people, threats to our land and water and the ongoing struggle for tribal sovereignty.

Resilience isnt just surviving  its thriving in the face of systems that still test our endurance.

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Native American Heritage Month is also a time to tell our own stories, on our own terms. For too long, others have defined us  through textbooks, mascots, and myths. Today, Native writers, artists and leaders are reclaiming the narrative, reminding the country that we are not relics of the past but living nations with wisdom and vision for the future.

When I think about resilience, I think of my grandmother, who survived Genoa. Because she lived, I live. Her laughter  even after what she endured  is the sound of resistance.

My daughter painting her great-grandmother is a testament to the strength Grandma Whitepigeon passed down through her genes.

Because she survived Genoa, Monica and I live.

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During this Native American Heritage Month, let us all celebrate our ancestors and the strength they gave us.

Thayek gde nwendemen - We are all related.

About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
On Nov. 9, 1975, the Great Lakes freighter Edmund Fitzgerald left port from Superior, Wisconsin, bound for Detroit's Zug Island with a load of 26,000 tons of iron ore pellets.

The day was relatively warm and the waters of Lake Superior calm.

By the evening of the next day, Nov. 10, the Edmund Fitzgerald's crew of 29 men were all killed, the ship at the bottom of Lake Superior amid a raging storm.

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In the 50 years since this tragedy, the last major maritime disaster on the Great Lakes, much was learned about that fateful voyage. But mysteries remain.

The Edmund Fitzgerald was so impressive, crowds would gather to watch it go through the Soo Locks.

The bell of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank in Lake Superior on Nov. 10, 1975, is on display at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point.

What sank the Edmund Fitzgerald? Examining the theories

Modern technology provides the ability to learn more definitively what sank the Edmund Fitzgerald  if the restrictions over. Read the story

How that 1975 storm reached its peak fury on Lake Superior

The Edmund Fitzgerald changed its route across Lake Superior to protect themselves from the violent storm that was coming. It proved fatal. Read the story

It's one of the most dangerous scuba dives in the world. But meet the men who dove to the wreckage.

Terrence Tysall set a record scuba diving to the Edmund Fitzgerald. Ric Mixter dove in a submersible, finding a missing body. Here are their stories. Read the story

How Great Lakes shipping has changed today

With the weather forecasting capabilities of today, the captain of the Edmund Fitzgerald may not have even embarked from port. Read the story

Honoring the 29 crew members who died aboard the ship

The men  sons, brothers, fathers, husbands and friends  were connected to dozens of families and a number of comrades in the shipping and freight industry. Read the story

The song: How Gordon Lightfoot's 'Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' became an unlikely hit

On paper, it should never have been a hit record. But despite the odds stacked against it  the 6-minute length, the somber subject matter, the last-minute recording session  The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald went on to become one of the defining singles of the 1970s. Here's how it came together

In photos: The SS Edmund Fitzgerald

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 50 years after the storm: The sinking of Edmund Fitzgerald
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The federal government shutdown is on track to become the longest shutdown in U.S. history, as Sunday marks day 33, with 13 unsuccessful votes to reopen the government so far.

DC News Nows Tosin Fakile spoke with Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Va.) about when people can expect to see an end to the shutdown, the impacts on the federal food assistance program SNAP, and what Virginians are now experiencing as open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act is underway in the Commonwealth.

Were on track for this to break the record of the longest shutdown in history, with the record [that] was established in President Trumps first term, and it seems like he wants to beat that record. Now Im very hopeful that it will end soon, said Walkinshaw. The Senate will return next week. Unfortunately, the House speaker has established the seventh week of the congressional Republican vacation in the House, but Im hopeful that next week well start having real bipartisan conversations to address the healthcare crisis and bring the shutdown to an end, he added.

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New Emerson poll finds Spanberger leads Earle-Sears in Virginias governor race

Walkinshaw says there are more conversations along the line of ending the shutdown in the Senate, but unfortunately, there havent been serious conversations about a timeline for a vote to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, a real crisis families in Virginia and across the country are facing.

I heard last week from a young father, he and his wife had a newborn child. Theyre on the affordable care act exchange. they logged in to see what their premiums would be next year and it is so expensive that theyve made the decision that Mom and their baby will be covered with health insurance next year, but dad will go without health insurance, and those are the decisions that families across Virginia, across the country, are making now, explained Walkinshaw.

The congressman also talked about the impact of SNAP and the impact of the shutdown on foodbanks. He is scheduled to tour some food pantries and food banks Monday to assess the situation, and gauge how to provide assistance, he said.

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Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis blasted a Democrat-backed lawsuit that is seeking to redraw Staten Islands congressional district to include Lower Manhattan  telling The Post its a partisan attempt to silence Big Apple conservatives.

The gerrymandering suit, filed by the DC-based Marc Elias Group in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday, claims the current drawing of the NY-11 dilutes black and Latino voting strength by consistently electing Republicans and that the remedy is to redraw the district to include the Democrat stronghold of lower Manhattan.

Its a completely frivolous nonsensical lawsuit that has zero merit, Malliotakis said in her first public comments about the lawsuit that could push her out of Congress, where shes served since 2021.

Rep. Malliotakis blasted the lawsuit as frivolous and promised to fight any redrawing of her home district. AP

This is the Democrats latest attempt to try and silence the voters of the only district that elected a Republican and change the makeup of the only competitive seat in the entire city of New York.

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NY-11 is the only Republican seat in the five boroughs and previously elected Democrat Max Rose to the House of Representatives in 2019.

The NY-10, which includes the chunk of lower Manhattan below 14th street that the lawsuit is seeking to join with Staten Islands district, is currently represented by Democrat Rep. Dan Goldberg and last elected a Republican, medical doctor and lawyer Lester Volk, in 1920.

Malliotakis further questioned the supposed racial dilution alleged in the current maps which were just approved by the states top Democrats Assembly Heastie Carl Heastie and state senate boss Andrea Stewart-Cousins, both of whom are African-American, in advance of the 2024 election.

For Democrats to somehow now claim that this map disenfranchises minorities is a complete fallacy. Its ludicrous.

The NY-11 congressional district currently includes all of Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. Congress.gov

Its clear what theyre trying to do  change the rules, tilt the scale, to give their party an advantage in next years elections and this case should be thrown out by the judge, the Trump-backed rep said.

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Theyve tried everything to change the make-up of this district so it is more Democrat-leaning to eliminate the only conservative voice [New Yorkers] have in Washington.

The lawsuit is the latest in a nationwide gerrymandering push ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that will see all 435 of the seats in the House of Representative up for grabs with the Republicans currently holding onto a slim 219-212 majority in the lower house, according to Ballotpedia.

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has previously endorsed her partys attempts to favorably redraw districts in the Empire State.

I may be governor of New York, but I will not sit on the sidelines with timid souls and merely watch while Republicans dismantle democracy. Thats not who we are. And that is certainly not the leadership that this moment calls for, Hochul wrote in an op-ed in The Houston Chronicle in Aug.

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If [Republicans] rewrite the rules, then so will we, she said, concluding, Alls fair in love and war. Bring it on.

All 435 congressional seats will be up for grabs in 2026 according to Ballotpedia. Michael Nagle

Sources familiar with the lawsuit said the Department of Justice is monitoring the outcome and If the state of New York loses the lawsuit there would be an appeal in federal court to reverse the decision.

Rep. Malliotakis said she is not afraid of a court battle.

Weve beat them twice before and were gonna do it again whether it be in state court or if we have to elevate this to federal court, potentially even to the Supreme Court.

Weve gone to court now three times, every time Ive run for reelection weve had a redistricting battle, she said.

The Marc Elias Law Groups stated mission is helping Democrats win, according to its website.
The protestors were flagging various issues in their college. However, the police intervened and detained the students.

While a lady police officer in civil dress was detaining the students, they allegedly caught her hair, and the entire incident was captured on video by locals.

The police are set to register a case against the students.

According to a police official, "A group of government college students staged a protest on the main road in Shadnagar, alleging that the college principal was misbehaving with students. They protested against the principal."

"While the police were preventing and arresting the college girls, they attacked a lady police officer who was in civil dress while restraining them. We will register a case against them," the official said. (ANI)
At the Republican Jewish Coalition summit, leaders condemned Zohran Mamdani as a symbol of Democratic extremism.

There were a number of villains at the Republican Jewish Coalitions annual summit here this weekend.

Tucker Carlson, who recently hosted avowed antisemite and white nationalist Nick Fuentes on his show, was lambasted by speakers as not being part of their MAGA movement. The phrase Imagine if Kamala Harris were president, said with relief, was uttered more than a few times.

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But the name that drew the loudest boos the entire weekend was one that, a year ago, would have been completely unknown to the room.

Take a look now at Zohran Mamdani, who represents the absolute worst of the worst, said Norm Coleman, the RJC chairman and former senator.

The extreme of the party is now the mainstream of the Democratic Party, he added, a sentiment that was echoed widely, including by the Jewish congressmen Mike Lawler and David Kustoff.

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani gestures during a ''New York is Not For Sale'' rally at Forest Hills Stadium, in the Queens borough of New York City, US, October 26, 2025. (credit: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

Coleman invoked Mamdani to emphasize the importance of maintaining a Republican majority in Congress, using Mamdani as an example of how the Democratic party will enact the most progressive, radical, leftist agenda this country has ever seen if they can take control.

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Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and favorite to be elected this week as mayor of New York City, is opposed to Israels government and existence as a Jewish state and subscribes to democratic socialist politics that are anathema to the RJCs values.

Several of the speakers lambasted Mamdanis 2023 comments, which resurfaced this week, accusing the Israeli army of being the cause of problems within the New York Police Department.

The summit came at a moment of growing concern about antisemitism in conservative circles. But by casting Mamdani as the new face and direction of the Democratic Party, RJC speakers were able to acknowledge the existence of antisemitism on the right, while still pointing to the Democrats as having a far bigger, less controlled problem.

The antisemitism problem exists in both parties, Ari Fleisher, an RJC board member, told reporters. But, he continued, Republicans have a cold. Democrats have a fever.

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The Democrats have a growing socialism problem, Fleisher continued. And mark my words, the future is playing out before your very eyes at this meeting: What statement got the biggest reaction from the crowd? It was any reference to Mamdani. Hes not even elected yet.

Fleisher said he expects Mamdanis ascension to be the new animating force thats going to drive a lot of Republicans into action.

Theyre adding to their fever, and his election will singularly tip that fever into a red-hot area thats going to be hard for the Democrats to recover from, Fleisher said.

The comments comes amid speculation that Republican leaders are in some ways eager for Mamdanis election in New York, where the current mayors tolerance of the Trump administration has fended off some of the targeting that the president has directed toward other large cities this year. A democratic socialist at the helm of the city, long an avatar for conservative anxieties about crime and diversity, gives the Republicans a punching bag for attacks on the Democratic Party and, party strategists hope, boosts Republican odds in upcoming downballot races.

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Fleisher was far from the only speaker to call out Mamdani.

Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick said antisemitism is running wild on the progressive left, and that the leaders of the Democratic Party are not confronting it, with their new star, Mamdani.

Florida Rep. Randy Fine, one of four Jewish Republicans in Congress, called for Mamdani to be deported.

The only thing I want to see Mamdani running for is his gate at JFK on the deportation flight to Uganda, Fine said to cheers.

Lord help us and pray for the people of New York City, said conservative CNN commentator, Scott Jennings.

Emily Austin, a social media influencer whos behind the group Hot Girls for Cuomo, said extremists both abroad and here at home are committed to dismantling a set of Western values that includes freedom, individual rights, democracy, capitalism.

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And nowhere is this clearer than in my home, New York City, she said.

He is being elevated as a serious voice, potentially the next mayor of the biggest city in the world, Austin said. (That title actually belongs to Tokyo; New York is 49th in population.) Just think about the absurdity of that.

Rank-and-file Republican Party donors in attendance whod already been worried about a Mamdani mayoral administration felt their fears confirmed by speakers warnings and condemnations.

I have two sons that work on Wall Street and Im extremely concerned about their safety, said Valerie Greenfeld, who moved to Israel from Washington, D.C., in 2021 but remains active with the RJC, in an interview.

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They assure me that theyre fine and all of this, but given everything that Ive heard today, I know that Im right, Greenfeld said. Theyre not fine.

She added, Coming to the RJC today has helped me realize what Ive known for quite some time.

Speakers criticisms of Mamdani ranged from his socialist views (Maybe he should go down to Cuba and see what its like to see a bread line, said Sen. Rick Scott) to harping on the Queens assemblymembers Muslim faith. Sid Rosenberg, the Jewish shock jock who quipped about Mamdani cheering for a second 9/11  which Mamdanis challenger, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, played along with on the air  doubled down on that comment.

Rosenberg then explicitly shared his thoughts about Mamdanis ascendance as a Muslim politician, suggesting that he was emblematic of a wave that he finds threatening.

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I believe theres, what, 200 elected officials [in the country] that are Muslim, maybe 800 by the end of the year, Rosenberg said.

I dont beat around the bush and I dont care what you think about me  I dont want Muslims running this country, Rosenberg said, drawing applause.

Now Im not saying every Muslims a bad person, Rosenberg said. But when you preface something with something like that, the odds are  a lot of them are, right?

He added, When they take over New York City, which theyre about to do in four or five days, the rest of the country gets a heck of a lot easier.
Republicans appear determined to destroy the Affordable Care Act, but what will go in its place? Its a question the party has struggled to answer since the ACA passed. Remember Trumps first term promise to repeal and replace Obamacare that never came to fruition?

Since the government shut down a month ago, the party has refused to publicly discuss a plan, even as ACA subsidies expire at the end of the year, forcing Americans to pay astronomically higher monthly premiums. In New Jersey, some premiums will rise by more than 175 percent. One familys premiums will spike 300 percent. Across the board, premiums are expected to increase by an average of 26 percent for a typical ACA plan, a recent KFF analysis revealed.

The Republicans so-called health care plans are so secret, in fact, they wont share them with members of their own party. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who called out House Speaker Mike Johnson last week for not disclosing the partys plans during a GOP conference call, said during an appearance on Fridays Real Time with Bill Maher: Mike Johnson, for a month now, cannot give me a single policy idea.

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She said at another point during the show, Im waiting for the [healthcare] plan. I havent seen it yet.

(In true MTG style, she also admitted to believing that aliens are space demons, saying, Thats what makes sense in my worldview.)

Confronted with Greenes criticism on Fox News Sunday, Johnson said, I dont know what to say about that. Thats absurd. Obviously, were not gonna be on a conference call explaining all of our plans and strategies for healthcare reform because theyre leaked in real time, literally Theyre supposed to be private, but theyre not.

Johnson then claimed that Greene can visit his office any day at any hour and he will lay out everything for her. He then referenced a 2019 Republican Study Committee plan that proposed changes to healthcare, including re-establishing high-risk pools.

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Sen. John Kennedy floated the idea of high-risk pools in an interview on CNN last week.

There are a number of ideas being batted around association health plans, the Republican senator from Louisiana said, adding, bringing back high risk pools, which have been outlawed under the Affordable Care Act.

These types of pools existed before the ACA banned them, and they were plagued with issues. Premiums in these pools were often twice the rate that lower risk people paid, they often excluded coverage for pre-existing conditions for the first 6-12 months, many had a lifetime coverage limit, and numerous states restricted how many people could join their pool, according to KFF.

Bringing back high-risk pools will only bring back the problems they caused.

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Perhaps GOP Rep. Jeff Van Drew best summarized the state of the partys plans: It is politically stupid. It does not make sense to come up with no plan dealing with health care The plan is to come up with something better.

So the plan is to have a plan  eventually. But, Van Drew warned, dont expect to see that plan anytime soon.

Thats going to take a good part of the year, to have something substantive and real that works, he said.

In the meantime, without a resolution to the shutdown that includes a continuation of the ACA subsidies, millions of Americans will suffer from astronomically higher premiums. All because the Republicans are set on destroying Obamacare, alongside other Democratic policy initiatives. Meanwhile, they continue to enjoy their cushy government health benefits.

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As the president put it last month, Were closing up programs that are Democrat programs that we were opposed to and theyre never going to come back in many cases.

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Not all that long ago, canaries were regularly carried down into coal mines to serve as indicators of hazardous gases, like the colorless and odorless carbon monoxide. If the bird died, it was a sign for workers to get out and fast. Hence, the phrase "canary in the coal mine" came to signify an early warning of danger.

This canary-based practice was phased out in the latter part of the 20th century. But, as The New York Times reported in early October, scientists are now finding that pets of all kinds  not only birds but also cats and dogs  might be able to alert us to other environmental hazards through data tracking and more. Better yet, these methods won't purposely sacrifice the animals in question.

In 2023, a freight train carrying toxic chemicals derailed, spilling its contents near East Palestine, Ohio. The environmental disaster prompted concerns for public health. Meanwhile, The New York Times reported, some researchers began tracking the effects of the spill on dogs in the area. The scientists solicited local pet owners to attach chemical-absorbing silicone tags to the animals' collars.

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Preliminary findings indicate that the dogs living nearest to the derailment site were exposed to "unusually high levels of certain chemicals," according to the Times. The researchers are now working to "determine whether the chemicals may have triggered genetic changes associated with cancer." Their final results could have implications for understanding not only the extent of chemical spill impacts on animal populations but on humans and ecosystems as well.

A similar approach was taken in Flint, Michigan, back in 2014, when the city's pipes were found to be contaminating water supplies with lead. Researchers set up lead-screening clinics for pets and found results that were of "extreme concern" for several dogs.

Other researchers have noted issues with pets inhaling the same particulate-filled air that humans do following wildfires in California. A study found that if air quality is kept within acceptable limits, vet visits drop.

"The pets that live in our homes are being exposed to the same things we're going to be exposed to," Elinor Karlsson, who is leading the research in East Palestine, told the Times.

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The outlet explained the importance of monitoring the environmental impacts of both disasters and everyday chemical exposures, noting that because they tend to live in one area their whole lives, scientists can more easily track local effects on pets.

There's also a key emotional aspect to consider. Human companions are often very concerned about doing what's best for their pets  sometimes more readily than they would care for themselves. This could motivate human action against pollution and its causes.

As Karlsson, who also leads a community science project called Darwin's Dogs to identify genetic and environmental contributions to dog health and behavior, told the Times, "People are worried about their pets. And as a scientist, that's an opportunity. Because if people are concerned about it, then they're going to help us with the work."

Darwin's Dogs and similar initiatives have begun monitoring canine exposure to herbicides and contaminants in drinking water through voluntary submissions from worried pet parents.

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Rising global temperatures have contributed to the rapid melting of ice sheets in the Arctic.

While this has contributed to a number of harmful side effects on our planet, researchers have discovered a surprising development that could benefit marine life.

What's happening?

In a study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, climate researchers took a closer look at how Arctic ice melt is influencing the delicate balance of the planet's largest bodies of water.

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As sea ice melts, microbes are playing a growing role in feeding Arctic marine ecosystems, which could change how the Arctic Ocean functions in a warming climate.

Melting Arctic sea ice can be a driving force behind a process called nitrogen fixation, where atmospheric nitrogen can be converted to ammonium, which may promote a healthier way of sustaining algae growth.

As more Arctic ice melts, the spike in nitrogen fixation could lead to an increase in the ocean's ability to support the marine food web.

Lisa W. von Friesen, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher in marine ecology at the University of Copenhagen, noted the significance of the team's discovery.

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"Until now, it was believed that nitrogen fixation could not take place under the sea ice because it was assumed that the living conditions for the organisms that perform nitrogen fixation were too poor," said von Friesen. "We were wrong."

Why is nitrogen fixation important?

As the Arctic ice melts, sea levels are rising at an alarming rate. For example, one study noted that sea levels in India could rise by more than three feet by 2100.

This could result in a major disruption of ocean currents and weather patterns, increasing the likelihood of more severe storms. Coastal communities may also be at higher risk of flooding, leading to the potential displacement of millions of people across the planet.

But as sea levels rise, the increase in nitrogen fixation could lead to a much-needed boost for the production of algae, a major food source for a number of marine species, which could supplement marine food chains. This could also unlock another surprising benefit to Arctic ice melt.

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"For the climate and the environment, this is likely good news," said Lasse Riemann, professor at the University of Copenhagen and co-author of the study. "If algae production increases, the Arctic Ocean will absorb more carbon dioxide because more CO2 will be bound in algae biomass."

"But biological systems are very complex, so it is hard to make firm predictions, because other mechanisms may pull in the opposite direction."

What's being done about Arctic ice loss?

To address rising temperatures and continued Arctic ice loss, many countries have increased their focus on cutting carbon pollution while also promoting the transition to renewable energy resources.

International initiatives to reduce our carbon impact, like the Paris Agreement, have set goals for countries to reduce emissions, with many pledging to achieve net-zero pollution over the next several decades.

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Until then, Riemann explained that Arctic ice loss will remain a high priority for researchers, with a closer eye locked on the importance of nitrogen fixation.

"We do not yet know whether the net effect will be beneficial for the climate," Riemann said. "But it is clear that we should include an important process such as nitrogen fixation in the equation when we try to predict what will happen to the Arctic Ocean in the coming decades as sea ice declines."

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Two men have been arrested after being caught dumping cooking grease into a storm drain  an illegal practice  after the Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resources Management received an anonymous tip and initiated an investigation, WTVJ reported.

The men admitted to improper disposal of the grease, similar to a recent case in Texas, and said it was a regular practice at the restaurant where they both worked. Both men were charged with the environmental crime of willful disregard.

Dumping cooking grease into a storm drain, as one homeowner found their neighbor doing, is illegal because it can cause severe plumbing problems and environmental issues. The grease can quickly solidify in the pipes and clog entire sewer systems. If a sewer system is blocked, it can cause flooding.

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While it may seem easy and harmless to simply dump cooking grease down the drain, it is important to dispose of it properly, whether dumping from a restaurant  especially harmful due to its typically large quantity  or from home. Grease can be recycled at specialized facilities, a great option for restaurants, or simply placed in a container once it cools and thrown away with the regular garbage.

Pouring grease down the drain or into the sewer can contaminate water, harm wildlife, and disrupt local ecosystems. If severe enough, clogs can cause raw sewage to be spilled into waterways and pollute rivers, lakes, and oceans. If cooking oil and grease are absorbed by soil, groundwater contamination can also occur. This affects the drinking water supply and irrigation resources, in turn impacting human health.

Grease can travel by water for hundreds of miles and not only cause problems in the local area where it is dumped, but also distant ecosystems.

Oil and grease can also affect wildlife, coating fur and feathers and leading to immobility and suffocation or hypothermia. Grease improperly dumped can smother aquatic plants, disrupting the balance of the ecosystem by threatening a food source for other marine life.

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Unfortunately, it is common for restaurants and households to improperly dispose of cooking grease.

By properly disposing of cooking oil and grease, we can help protect the environment and avoid legal consequences. By staying informed and taking local action against those violating environmental laws, we can support our local ecosystems and the environment as a whole.

Do you think sewage pollution is a major problem in America? Yes In most states In a few states No Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

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Rex "Wrecks" Bell, former owner of a popular Galveston venue and club known for its live blues, jazz and acoustic music, has died at the age of 81.

The cause of death was not revealed.

The Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe posted on its social media about Bell's passing Saturday afternoon. The live music venue was originally established and owned by Bell before it was sold to its new owner, Joel Mora.

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"You helped change the course of many peoples lives including mine," the post stated. "Myself and others owe you so much. We will see you again. We love you so much."

MORE MUSIC: Houston artists stand out on Rolling Stone's list of the 250 greatest songs of the 21st century

Born in Dallas in 1944, Bell grew up in Texas City where he took guitar lessons as a kid. After graduation, he joined the Navy. When he got out in the mid-'60s, he and a friend opened the Old Quarter in Houston near Congress and Austin.

In a 2016 interview with the Houston Chronicle, Bell said there wasn't much to the club's name: It was on a sign already attached to the building, and keeping it in place saved them $50.

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MORE GALVESTON: Galveston plans to open national Juneteenth center to recognize holiday's birthplace

The Houston club closed 14 years later. Then, in 1996, Bell opened the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe in Galveston's Strand Historic District.

Bell's clubs were an epicenter for country musicians such as Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and Eric Taylor. Bell also booked Lightnin' Hopkins and other regional blues players who didn't typically play for predominantly white audiences.

Bell had also been a musician, and was a former bandmate of Van Zandt. He met Van Zandt around the time that the Old Quarter was still open in Houston, where Van Zandt offered Bell some wine from a jug he'd pull in through the window with a piece of rope. Van Zandt went on to later write an album called "Live at the Old Quarter" with a song inspired by Bell named "Rex's Blues."

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Bell continued to run the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe for 20 years before selling it and retiring because of health reasons.

He leaves behind his wife, Janet Bell.

This article originally published at Rex 'Wrecks' Bell, founder of famous Galveston live music venue, dies at 81.
Trinette Britt-Johnson, says even as a strong woman of faith, she felt tested.

But as she felt herself unraveling, that's when her community came together.

"I am grateful to God to be here, to be home, to be safe and to be alive," Britt-Johnson said.

Britt-Johnson shared an embrace among a group, she says, helped save her life.

The south suburban woman finally back home after being stranded in Jamaica for days without the critical kidney transplant medications she needed.

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"I have strong faith, but my faith had begun to wane. I was scared for my life," Britt-Johnson said.

Hurricane Melissa had shut down airports, leaving a wake of destruction in her path.

The couple's resort was badly damaged, leaving them without electricity or water. Britt-Johnson says she ended up in the back of Jamaican ambulance, traveling to three hospitals to find the right medication to no avail.

"My blood pressure was around 217, over 100 and something. Anybody normal would either have be having a stroke or in a coma," Britt-Johnson said.

Britt-Johnson, the chief of staff for Rich Township, reached out for help within her community, who took it a step further.

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"This was about humanity. This was about saving a life and we were in a race for time," said 5th District Cook County Commissioner Dr. Kisha McCaskill.

McCaskill was among several local and community leaders who reached out to members of Congress and the State Department. Their goal was to, first, get life-saving medication to Britt-Johnson and later, plead with the federal government and the president to bring her home.

"This is about community. This is about standing up for your fellow man. And this is about just thinking if you were in this person's shoes, would you want people to make the same efforts to bring you home to your family, to your loved ones?" McCaskill.

Britt-Johnson says she has been overwhelmed by the support of those surrounding her and those she's never met but surely will never forget.

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"It was just having people pray and talk to me and just keep trying to, for help me understand that God bless me enough with this kidney that he's going to bless me enough to hang on to this kidney," Britt-Johnson said.

Britt-Johnson will still need undergo more testing on Monday, but she says has since regained her strength after receiving that life-saving treatment, in big thanks to the community who welcomed her back on Sunday.
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  Hundreds of riot police Sunday separated opponents and loyalists of Serbia's autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic in central Belgrade as political tensions boiled after a year of persistent anti-government protests.

Several thousand people faced off on both sides of the police cordons with officers in full gear standing in several rows between the shouting crowds who threw bottles, flares and stun grenades.

Tensions in Belgrade soared a day after tens of thousands of people joined a huge rally in the northern city of Novi Sad that marked the first anniversary of a train station disaster there which killed 16 people, and triggered a youth-led movement demanding political changes, which has challenged Vucic's firm grip on power.

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Anti-government protesters in Belgrade gathered in support of Dijana Hrka, the mother of Stefan Hrka, one of the Novi Sad station tragedy victims. Hrka earlier on Sunday said she was launching a hunger strike near a tent camp outside the parliament building which has been occupied by Vucics loyalists since March.

Both police and Vucic on Sunday accused anti-government protesters of attacking his supporters' camp that he described as a symbol of freedom." Protesters said most incidents were caused from within the camp.

Protesters on Sunday evening also gathered in Novi Sad and some smaller towns in support of Hrka.

The commemoration rally on Saturday in Novi Sad also reflected major discontent with Vucic's 13-year-long increasingly authoritarian rule. Youth-led protesters are demanding an early election they hope would oust the populist government from power.

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Protesters believe that rampant government corruption and nepotism during renovation work on the Novi Sad station building led to negligence and disregard of the construction safety rules, and consequently to the collapse of the concrete canopy on the people standing below.

Hrka said she was seeking accountability for the death of her son and the 15 other victims. She has also demanded that all detained protesters be released and that Vucic schedule an early parliamentary election as sought by the university students at the forefront of the demonstrations.

Vucic set up the loyalists' camp ahead of a major rally in Belgrade in March. The enclosed zone colloquially known as Caciland" apparently serves as a human shield for Vucic, filling a park and a street between his office and the parliament building.

Police have guarded the camp while the area has been off limits for the residents of Belgrade. A shooting incident there last month has triggered fears of violence.

Authorities have cracked down on the protesters i n recent months, with hundreds detained and police breaking up protests. Pro-government media and officials have branded protesting university students as terrorists, accusing them of inciting violence.
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  The Rockbridge County Sheriffs Office has made an arrest in a series of vehicle larcenies that spanned over several jurisdictions.

After being stopped in Goochland County and as a result of an ongoing investigation, Antonio J. Spencer, 35, of Hanover, has been charged with:

18.2-89  Burglary (Felony)  1 count

18.2-95  Grand Larceny (Felony)  1 count

18.2-308.2  Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (Felony)  1 count

18.2-96  Petit Larceny (Misdemeanor)  13 counts

18.2-147  Tampering with a Vehicle (Misdemeanor)  19 counts

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According to officials, on August 28, the Rockbridge County Sheriffs Office began investigating a series of larcenies that occurred overnight in the Furrs Mill area. Deputies say they responded after receiving multiple reports of vehicle break-ins and thefts.

Deputies say the preliminary investigation revealed that 15 vehicles and one garage had been entered, with several personal items stolen.

Officials say that on October 10, investigators responded to similar reports of vehicle break-ins and thefts in the Mount Vista subdivision, located off West Midland Trail. This time, deputies say six vehicles were involved, and multiple personal items were taken.

Investigators claim they canvassed each neighborhood and the surrounding areas when the incidents occurred. These investigations enabled them to collect several pieces of evidence while also reviewing hours of home and business surveillance footage.

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According to officials, data and images captured by the Sheriffs Office Flock Camera System were also analyzed. The system is an AI-driven, cloud-connected license plate reader network that enables deputies to identify suspect vehicles and track criminal activity in real-time.

After reviewing this evidence, officials say that Investigator Ryan McCullogh identified a suspect and their vehicle. The next step was for the investigative team to document and flag stolen items through the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN), which allowed them to alert law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth.

According to the Rockbridge County Sheriffs Office, they were contacted on October 22, through the VCIN, that the Goochland County Sheriffs Office had stopped the suspected vehicle while investigating similar incidents in their jurisdiction. Officials say this then prompted Goochland deputies to arrest two suspects and recover stolen property linked to the Rockbridge County cases.

Officials say that Rockbridge County investigators were then able to execute a search warrant on the vehicle, which allowed them to recover many stolen items connected to their investigation, as well as items stolen from several other jurisdictions.

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This case demonstrates the effectiveness of teamwork, technology, and persistence in solving crimes that impact our communities, said Sheriff Tony McFaddin. I want to personally thank Investigator Ryan McCullogh for his outstanding work in leading this case and commend all our investigators for their professionalism, diligence, and commitment to serving the citizens of Rockbridge County.

Deputies say this case is ongoing, and additional charges are pending as investigators continue to work with other jurisdictions to identify and recover stolen property. Anyone with information related to these incidents is encouraged to contact the Rockbridge County Sheriffs Office at 540-463-7328.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
Ahead of the special session of the Uttarakhand Assembly, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a meeting with ministers and legislators of the BJP Legislature Party at the Chief Sevak Sadan to discuss key agenda points and outline the strategy for the session. The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of great pride and inspiration for all that President Droupadi Murmu will address this historic session being held in the Silver Jubilee year of Uttarakhand's statehood. He added that the 25-year journey of Uttarakhand's formation has been dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of the statehood movement activists, moving steadily on the path of development and public welfare. Over the past four years, our government has made Uttarakhand a leader in good governance, development, youth welfare, and innovation. Our policies have now become an inspiration for other states as well. President Droupadi Murmu is on a three-day visit to Uttarakhand, from November 2 to 4. On November 3, President Murmu will address the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly at Dehradun on the silver jubilee of Uttarakhand state, after which she will leave for Nainital. Earlier in the day, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, attended the second convocation ceremony of the University of Patanjali at Haridwar, Uttarakhand on Sunday, as per an official release. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was also present at the event. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that India's great personalities have made invaluable contributions to the development of human culture. Maharishi Patanjali, the greatest of sages, removed the impurities of the mind through yoga, of speech through grammar, and of the body through Ayurveda. She was happy to note that the University of Patanjali is making the great tradition of Maharishi Patanjali accessible to society. The President noted that the University of Patanjali is advancing education and research in the fields of yoga, Ayurveda, and naturopathy. She said that it is an appreciable effort that is instrumental in building a healthy India. (ANI)
Russian forces attacked civilian infrastructure in Odesa Oblast on the night of 1-2 November, killing at least two people.

Source: Odesa Oblast Military Administration

Details: The administration reported that Russia had used drones in the strike, causing damage to civilian infrastructure.

Five lorries caught fire due to the attack.

Early reports indicate that two people were killed and two injured. A man has been taken to hospital. He suffered burns from the fire and is in a moderate condition.

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Russian forces attacked the Dniprovskyi district of the city of Kherson at around 05:30 on 2 November, injuring a 62-year-old man.

Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration

Details: The man sustained a blast injury and a shrapnel wound to his head due to the attack.

He has been taken to hospital in a serious condition. Doctors are providing him with all the necessary assistance.

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Russian forces attacked Ukraine with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 79 drones on the night of 1-2 November. Ukraine's Air Force has reported that 67 of the drones were shot down or jammed.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force

Details: One ballistic missile and 12 attack drones hit six locations, while debris from destroyed aerial assets fell at two sites.

Ukrainian air defences were responding to the Russian-launched aerial assets over the north, south and east of the country.

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As of the morning, the attack is still ongoing.

Background: On the night of 1-2 November, Russian forces attacked civilian infrastructure in Odesa Oblast, killing at least two people.

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At least 15 civilians have been killed and 20 others injured over the past day in Russian attacks across Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said on Nov. 2.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia targeted Ukraine overnight with two Iskander M ballistic missiles and 79 attack drones, including around 50 Shahed-type drones, as well as Gerbera and decoy drones.

Ukraine's air defenses shot down 67 drones, and 12 drones reached their targets in six different locations, according to the Air Force.

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In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian forces launched 753 attacks on 18 settlements, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported. The strikes killed one person and injured four people, including a 91-year-old man, in the region.

Authorities received 31 reports of damage to houses, apartments, vehicles, and infrastructure facilities. Following the attack, 11,434 consumers remain without power, and energy workers continue to mitigate the consequences, Fedorov said.

In Donetsk Oblast, five people were killed and two were injured by Russian attacks, Governor Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

Filashkin also said that Russia's attacks on energy facilities plunged the entire region into darkness.

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"All of Donetsk Oblast is without power. Due to enemy strikes on infrastructure, emergency power outages have begun in the national power grid," he said.

Emergency services are at work to restore power to the region.

In Odesa Oblast, two people were killed, and three people were injured as a result of a Russian drone attack on civilian infrastructure, Governor Oleh Kiper reported. Five trucks caught fire during the strike  four were empty, and one was a grain truck carrying soybeans.

In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces launched drone, artillery, and air strikes on over 20 settlements, including Kherson, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. One person was killed, and two were injured.

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The attacks targeted residential areas and critical and social infrastructure, damaging four apartment buildings, 12 houses, and vehicles.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, four people were killed, including an 11-year-old and a 14-year-old, and 6 people were injured in Russian drone strikes, according to Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko.

In Kharkiv Oblast, a 54-year-old man was killed as a result of Russian strikes, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. He added that 6,996 consumers are temporarily without power.

In Sumy Oblast, Governor Oleh Hryhorov said that one person had been killed and two people had been injured in Russian attacks. A 29-year-old man was injured when his car was struck by a drone. Russian forces launched 61 attacks on 26 settlements.

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In Chernihiv Oblast, Governor Vyacheslav Chaus said Russian forces had carried out 53 attacks across the region, injuring one civilian and damaging civilian and critical infrastructure. In the Koryukivka district, a Russian ballistic missile struck an agricultural enterprise.

Read also: Analysis: 5 lessons on air defense and underground architecture from Kharkiv

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A drone attack caused a fire in the Russian port of Tuapse on the Black Sea on the night of 1-2 November.

Source: authorities of Russia's Krasnodar Krai, as reported by Reuters

Details: According to Russian officials, drone debris fell on an oil tanker, damaging the deck superstructure. A fire then broke out on board, and the crew was evacuated. Reports also indicate damage to nearby buildings and other port infrastructure.

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The fall of drone debris also damaged an apartment building in the village of Sosnovyi, just outside the city of Tuapse, and partially hit the local railway station.

The port of Tuapse is one of Russia's key export hubs for oil and petroleum products. It houses a Rosneft oil terminal and refinery, which have repeatedly been targeted by Ukrainian attacks.

Reuters says Kyiv has intensified its strikes on Russian oil refineries and fuel depots in an effort to disrupt Russian military logistics and raise the cost of war for Moscow.

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An FPV drone launched by Russian forces attacked the village of Pidlyman in the Borova hromada in Kharkiv Oblast. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Source: Borova settlement council

Quote: "Today at about 13:00, a Russian FPV drone attacked the village of Pidlyman in the Borova hromada.

As a result of the strike on a civilian car, three civilians from one family  an elderly couple and their son  sustained serious injuries. They have been taken to hospital. The woman is in a particularly serious condition, and doctors are fighting to save the lives of all the injured."

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Details: It is also reported that at about 14:30, Russian aircraft launched an airstrike on the settlement of Borova. Three hits by guided aerial bombs were recorded in the central part of the settlement. The results of the attack are being confirmed.

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Credit: Getty Images

A clampdown in Russia has made voice calls on both WhatsApp and Telegram either extremely difficult or impossible, with some regions, particularly in southern Russia, facing harsher restrictions on the apps.

Last week, the Russian communication and censorship body Roskomnadzor explained failures experienced by Russian users were due to work to "counter criminals".

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This is just the latest privacy-restricting move by the Russian government, which has also blocked access to Tuta and Proton Mail, plus Signal and other privacy and encryption-focused apps.

Using a VPN to access restricted content that the Russian government deems "extremist" is also the subject of a new law, which adds financial penalties for advertising VPN services.

The Russian government has been attempting to centralize communications through a chat app called MAX, which appears to be riddled with surveillance capabilities.

The app, which must be preinstalled on all new devices sold in Russia, appears to include extensive tracking capabilities, according to security researchers, and lacks encryption, allowing for easier surveillance.

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VPNs, as tools that allow users to encrypt their traffic on their devices and circumvent state censorship, are also under fire.

While VPNs are still legal to use in Russia, a block on them appears to still be on the table, and the spread of information about them has been criminalized. Apple has removed over 60 VPN apps from its Russian app store, including the Russian VPN Amnezia.

VPNs: A vital tool for internet privacy

As Amnezia recently stated in a tweet, VPNs are a key solution for users in Russia who want to stay private and keep using their preferred messaging apps.

However, even accessing VPN services has become tougher for Russians in recent years, since many services have been banned, forcing these users to either change their App Store location or create new accounts in different regions.

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Our advice to both Russian users and those who may be visiting the country is to use a VPN with obfuscated servers and strong encryption, such as Amnezia, Proton, or NordVPN, the latter of which unveiled an advanced anti-censorship VPN protocol earlier this year.

Ensure that your VPN of choice has a kill switch and that this option is enabled. It is also vital that users avoid Russian browsers, search engines, or other services to access or research anything that could be contentious.

You may also wish to consider paying for a VPN through more private payment methods, such as through cryptocurrency, rather than with your debit or credit card.

Free VPNs should be avoided unless they're from a trusted VPN, such as Proton VPN's free tier. We would recommend exploring our VPN reviews to discover the best VPN, whether you are based in Russia or elsewhere, as VPN restrictions are not limited to Russia. Several countries around the world either restrict or outright ban the use of VPNs, including Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Iraq.

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Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

A clampdown in Russia has made voice calls on both WhatsApp and Telegram either extremely difficult or impossible, with some regions, particularly in southern Russia, facing harsher restrictions on the apps.

Last week, the Russian communication and censorship body Roskomnadzor explained failures experienced by Russian users were due to work to "counter criminals".

This is just the latest privacy-restricting move by the Russian government, which has also blocked access to Tuta and Proton Mail, plus Signal and other privacy and encryption-focused apps.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Using a VPN to access restricted content that the Russian government deems "extremist" is also the subject of a new law, which adds financial penalties for advertising VPN services.

The Russian government has been attempting to centralize communications through a chat app called MAX, which appears to be riddled with surveillance capabilities.

The app, which must be preinstalled on all new devices sold in Russia, appears to include extensive tracking capabilities, according to security researchers, and lacks encryption, allowing for easier surveillance.

VPNs, as tools that allow users to encrypt their traffic on their devices and circumvent state censorship, are also under fire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

While VPNs are still legal to use in Russia, a block on them appears to still be on the table, and the spread of information about them has been criminalized. Apple has removed over 60 VPN apps from its Russian app store, including the Russian VPN Amnezia.

VPNs: A vital tool for internet privacy

As Amnezia recently stated in a tweet, VPNs are a key solution for users in Russia who want to stay private and keep using their preferred messaging apps.

However, even accessing VPN services has become tougher for Russians in recent years, since many services have been banned, forcing these users to either change their App Store location or create new accounts in different regions.

Our advice to both Russian users and those who may be visiting the country is to use a VPN with obfuscated servers and strong encryption, such as Amnezia, Proton, or NordVPN, the latter of which unveiled an advanced anti-censorship VPN protocol earlier this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Ensure that your VPN of choice has a kill switch and that this option is enabled. It is also vital that users avoid Russian browsers, search engines, or other services to access or research anything that could be contentious.

You may also wish to consider paying for a VPN through more private payment methods, such as through cryptocurrency, rather than with your debit or credit card.

Free VPNs should be avoided unless they're from a trusted VPN, such as Proton VPN's free tier. We would recommend exploring our VPN reviews to discover the best VPN, whether you are based in Russia or elsewhere, as VPN restrictions are not limited to Russia. Several countries around the world either restrict or outright ban the use of VPNs, including Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Iraq.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
Seven civilians were killed in Donetsk, Kherson and Kharkiv oblasts due to Russian attacks on 1 November.

Source: Donetsk, Kherson and Kharkiv oblast military administrations

Details: In Donetsk Oblast, five civilians were killed  two in Kostiantynivka and one in each of the settlements of Rodynske, Myrnohrad and Siversk.

Two people were injured in the oblast  in Kostiantynivka and Rodynske.

In Kherson Oblast, one person was killed and two were injured due to Russian attacks.

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Local authorities reported that Russian forces had struck critical and social infrastructure and residential areas, damaging four apartment blocks and 12 houses. Six people were evacuated from liberated hromadas in the oblast. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

In Kharkiv Oblast, a 54-year-old man was killed in the village of Podoly in the Kurylivka hromada.

A 39-year-old man was injured in an explosion of an unidentified object near the village of Kutuzivka in the Vilkhivka hromada.

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The general season for whitetail deer hunting across the Concho Valley opened on Nov. 1.

Experts have stated that, even though the Texas growing season started with drought, rains helped boost white-tailed deer populations, leading to the 2025 season expectation to be average to above average. Hunters who are looking to take advantage of Texas public hunting lands, like the San Angelo State Park, must have an annual public hunting permit.

Part of whitetail deer season is rifle season; thats a big part of what goes on in this area, said David Hopkins, Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden. As part of that, we ask that you be careful using your rifle. And so, part of that is gun safety rules, the four rules of gun safety, which would be knowing your target and what lies beyond it, keeping your finger off the trigger till its time to shoot, treat everyone like its loaded, and keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction. And if you do those things, that will take care of a lot of the issues that we have during hunting season.

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For further safety, Hopkins also asks hunters to be aware of the weather conditions.

Make sure that you know what kind of conditions youre going to be going into. If its cold, plan accordingly. If its wet, plan accordingly. But those kind of things will help keep you safe throughout the hunting season, Hopkins said.

Hopkins also stated that if hunters are using the digital license app, be sure to fill out the tag correctly, write down the digital tag number, and attach it to the deer.

The regular white tail hunting season continues through Jan. 4.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday held a review meeting in Borivali with senior officials from BMC, MMRDA, MHADA, and other departments to discuss key development issues in North Mumbai, including the Coastal Road project, traffic management, expansion of Bhagwati Hospital, sanitation, and tourism promotion through Sanjay Gandhi National Park. https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1984987909787918367 Goyal said that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been instructed to clear garbage dumping spots in North Mumbai and ensure they are not refilled. He added that the water supply situation in North Mumbai will also be reviewed, with authorities directed to identify and repair damaged pipelines to enhance water quality and pressure. Addressing a press conference, Piyush Goyal said, "BMC has been directed to ensure that the garbage dumping spots of North Mumbai are cleared and it is not refilled... Discussions were held on how to educate people for behavioural change to avoid dumping on roads... Water supply will be assessed in North Mumbai, damaged pipelines will be identified and fixed to improve water quality and pressure." The Union Minister said that three delayed bridge projects in the region will now be resurfaced on the directions of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. "3 big bottlenecks, the bridges which were being delayed will now be resurfaced as directed by CM Devendra Fadnavis, as soon as rain stops. This will smooth the traffic flow... A heavy deployment will be done on Western Express Highway, the movement of heavy vehicles will be totally banned, except the 108 metro vehicles," Goyal said. Earlier on October 27, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, highlighted the state's pivotal role in India's maritime sector in his address at the India Maritime Week 2025 event. "Maharashtra has made a significant contribution to the country's maritime strength. As India's economic capital, Maharashtra owes much of its success to the strategic importance of Mumbai's ports and the pivotal role of the JNPA." He further lauded the Centre's initiatives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, "Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have commenced construction of the Vadhavan Port. Once completed, it will become one of the world's top 10 largest ports, further enhancing India's maritime capabilities and strengthening the global supply chain." The Chief Minister also outlined state-level measures to boost the sector, saying, "To accelerate maritime development, we have undertaken several policy initiatives. We have introduced the Maharashtra Shipbuilding Policy 2025, aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and infrastructure." Fadnavis extended an invitation to global investors, adding, "We invite the global community to invest in Maharashtra and India and become a part of this transformative journey." (ANI)
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD)  The Salvation Army of McLean County announced that it will be opening its Emergency Winter Shelter on Monday.

The shelter will offer critical support to those experiencing homelessness through the winter months, said Deborah Cole, a Salvation Army spokesperson.

This is a seasonal expansion to the existing shelter program, and provides several services, including hot meals, shower and laundry facilities, individual case management and support from community partners.

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This shelter is more than a warm bedits a lifeline, said Major Dan Leisher. Were deeply grateful to our generous donors whose support makes this expansion possible. The Emergency Winter Shelter is only possible because of the generosity of donors like you. Your gift can provide warmth, safety, and hope to community members in need. Their compassion ensures that our neighbors in need have a safe place to turn this winter.

Last year, the winter shelter provided 154 individuals with 2,876 overnight stays. It will remain open through mid-March.

Those interested can donate to support the shelter here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.




Nearly a week after a self-driving Waymo taxi struck and killed a beloved neighborhood cat in San Francisco's Mission District, the community is still grieving.

KitKat, a 9-year-old tabby affectionately known as the "Mayor of 16th Street," was run over late on Monday, Oct. 27, outside Randa's Market - the convenience store next to the Roxie Theater, where he lived and greeted customers for years.

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Since the accident, neighbors have transformed the sidewalk into a memorial: a makeshift altar overflowing with candles, flowers, photos and Kit Kat candy bars. It continues to grow by the day.

A memorial with flowers, candles and candy bars commemorates KitKat, a feline fatally struck by a self-driving Waymo taxi on 16th Street in San Francisco's Mission District. (Aidin Vaziri/S.F. Chronicle)





To many residents, KitKat was more than a shop cat - he was part of the Mission's character: social, fearless and unbothered by the chaos of 16th Street.

"We're heartbroken to share that our beloved store cat, KitKat, has passed away," owner Mike Zeidan wrote on the store's Instagram page. "He brought warmth, smiles, and comfort to everyone who walked through our doors. Thank you to all who loved him as much as we did. The store won't be the same without his little paws padding around."

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The cat's death has struck an emotional nerve in a neighborhood already wary of driverless cars weaving through its crowded streets. Outside the market, mourners have left handwritten notes - "Rest in power" and "We love KitKat" - taped to cardboard and tucked between bouquets.

A memorial on Mission Street honors KitKat, a feline fatally struck by a driverless taxi in the Mission District. (Aidin Vaziri/S.F. Chronicle)





One TikTok post capturing the memorial has drawn more than 3.5 million views.

"If you're not a 16th Street regular this can seem silly," user @frijolefiddler wrote in the caption. "But this cat meant so much to this community. If you knew KitKat, you'd understand."

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Witnesses said the crash occurred around 11:30 p.m. A Waymo vehicle had stopped to pick up passengers when, as the company later stated, "a nearby cat darted under our vehicle as it was pulling away."

Zeidan and his wife rushed KitKat to an animal hospital, but he died later that night.

The death of a cat struck by a Waymo in San Francisco's Mission District has increased scrutiny of the self-driving taxis. (Aidin Vaziri/S.F. Chronicle)





According to a 311 complaint filed the next day, the cat had been sitting on the sidewalk near a transit lane when the Waymo pulled to the curb. "Waymo did not even try to stop and hit the cat at a fast speed," the complaint read.

Waymo - a subsidiary of Google's parent company, Alphabet - confirmed the collision three days later.

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"The trust and the safety of the communities we serve is our highest priority," the company said in an Oct. 30 statement. "We send our deepest sympathies to the cat's owner and the community who knew and loved him, and we will be making a donation to a local animal rights organization in his honor."

The company did not disclose the donation amount or name the recipient organization.

Flowers and notes pay tribute to KitKat, a feline killed by a self-driving Waymo taxi struck on 16th Street. (Aidin Vaziri/S.F. Chronicle)





The collision has reignited scrutiny of autonomous vehicles in San Francisco, where Waymo operates a growing fleet. The California Department of Motor Vehicles has reported close to 900 self-driving car collisions to date - several involving animals.

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The incident also sparked debate online.

After a tech-focused account, Whole Mars Catalog, noted on X that "5.4 million cats are hit by cars every year in the U.S., and 97 percent of those cats die from their injuries," Tesla CEO Elon Musk replied, "True, many pets will be saved by autonomy."

In theory, self-driving cars should be able to detect animals and stop or slow down before impact - a promise of the technology that, for many San Franciscans, feels painfully distant.

This article originally published at San Francisco mourns cat killed by Waymo self-driving car.
The owner of KitKat, an iconic San Francisco bodega cat, said the feline was killed by a Waymo.

Waymo confirmed that its vehicle encountered a cat in front of Randa's Market on Monday night.

The ride-hailing company is drawing ire in the neighborhood and online for the beloved cat's death.

In front of Randa's Market on 16th Street in the heart of the Mission District, the spot where you would usually find an affectionate cat is now replaced by bouquets of marigolds, candles, and a card that reads, "Kill a Waymo, save a cat."

KitKat, a well-fed, nine-year-old tabby cat with emerald eyes, belonged to Mike Zeidan, who owns the liquor store that's sandwiched between a popular bar and the Roxie Theater. KitKat's friendly demeanor made him a popular bodega cat, and he was given the title "Mayor of 16th Street" by residents in the neighborhood.

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Tragedy struck on Monday. According to an anonymous 311 complaint filed with the city at 12:51 a.m., a Waymo hit KitKat, who was "sitting in the sidewalk next to the transit lane."

"The Waymo did not slow down, swerve, or even try to avoid the cat in any way," the complaint said. "Waymos should not be on the street if they can't spot small animals in the dark."

KitKat's owner, who owns Randa's Market, said that KitKat "brought everybody together." Katherine Li/Business Insider

Waymo confirmed to Business Insider that one of its vehicles encountered a cat at the location.

"We reviewed this, and while our vehicle was stopped to pick up passengers, a nearby cat darted under our vehicle as it was pulling away," a Waymo spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement. "We send our deepest sympathies to the cat's owner and the community who knew and loved him, and we will be making a donation to a local animal rights organization in his honor."

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Zeidan told Business Insider he wasn't the individual who filed the 311 complaint and did not witness the event. He said a couple told him that KitKat had gone under a Waymo and that they attempted to rescue the cat and stop the vehicle. They were unsuccessful.

Zeidan said he was at home sleeping when he was woken up by a call that KitKat had been struck. An employee rushed the feline to an emergency room about a mile away, and Ziedan and his wife soon followed. Not long after the pair arrived, the vet informed them that KitKat had died.

"He really was the special, one-of-a-kind thing that brought everybody together," said Zeidan. "People come a long way just to see him and give him treats and toys  he brought so much love."

Waymo's autonomous technology

Waymo did not address questions about what a bystander should do if they urgently need to stop a moving autonomous vehicle. Riders can stop the car using the emergency mechanisms in the app or click the "pull over" button.

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Waymo relies on radar, lidar, and at least 13 external visual cameras to detect objects and movement.

Business Insider's Lloyd Lee described Waymo's 5th-generation autonomous driver as "a safe but not an annoyingly cautious driver."

Missy Cummings, director of George Mason University's Autonomy and Robotics Center, told Business Insider that Waymo cars "do not have a sensor that could detect something underneath the vehicle."

Cummings said that another company, Cruise, once failed to detect a pedestrian caught under the car and dragged the woman for 20 feet. Cruise is no longer in operation.

"My name is Kitty Cat and I am resting in power," read one handwritten sticker on the altar. Katherine Li/Business Insider

Cats that are not kept entirely indoors run the risk of being hit by a car  autonomous or not  in an urban environment.

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Throughout the week, KitKat's memorial spot grew from just a few candles to a multitier altar, as residents turned out to grieve the feline and protest Waymo. "My name is Kitty Cat and I am resting in power," read one handwritten sticker on the altar.

Similar sentiments spread online. A Reddit thread detailing KitKat's passing received nearly 2,000 upvotes in a local tech forum, and a post on Randa's Market's Instagram account, which memorializes the cat, received thousands of likes, as well as comments directed at Waymo.

"BY A WAYMO?? This means war," one Instagram user commented.

"Lyft and Uber drivers need our business," wrote another on Instagram. "Killing KitKat is another strike against the billionaire techies."

Questions of liability

Bryant Walker Smith, a professor in engineering and law at the University of South Carolina, told Business Insider that the most an owner could do in the event an autonomous vehicle hit their pet is to sue for property damages, but that could be a hurdle in this case, since KitKat mostly roamed freely.

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"Law unfortunately treats pets as mere 'chattel'  that is, physical property," said Smith. "The owners are generally entitled only to economic damages such as vet costs and the pet's 'fair market value.'"

"This is sad, because law might consider KitKat, a living creature with inherent value, to have a 'fair market value' of zero," Smith added.

Autonomous vehicles have stuck pets before. In 2023, a Waymo vehicle fatally struck a dog in Bernal Heights, and in the same year, a Cruise vehicle hit a Labrador that survived. But the expansion of autonomous vehicles is not slowing down. As of July, Waymo has expanded its operation in the Bay Area to cover more of the San Francisco Peninsula, as well as parts of Palo Alto and Menlo Park in Silicon Valley.

At a recent TechCrunch event, journalist Kirsten Korosec asked Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana if she thinks society would accept a death potentially caused by a robot.

"I think that society will," Mawakana responded.

Read the original article on Business Insider




A shooting in Central Texas ended with multiple shot, one dead, and police are still searching for the alleged shooters.

The San Marcos Police Department on Saturday, November 1 at about 10:20 p.m. posted on social media they were called to a scene for a shooting downtown. "Hopkins is closed between LBJ and Guadalupe," the SMPD posted at the time. "Police are investigating a shooting. Please avoid the area. Any witnesses who may have captured pictures or video are asked to contact police."

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After an initial investigation, the SMPD posted an update with more information into the shooting at about midnight November 2. The SMPD responded to "multiple gunshots" on the square near Kissing Alley at 10 p.m. on November 1. "

"Three victims were transported to area hospitals, one has died," the update states on social media. "Police are looking for two suspects, both black males. One was wearing a black hoodie with white letters, dark pants and dark shoes. The other was wearing a two tone jacket black over a lighter grey, dark pants, and a beanie."

SMPD said the two left the area "potentially driving a four door, silver or grey Audi A3."

Police said the alleged shooters "left downtown potentially driving a four door, silver or grey Audi A3." (Courtesy of San Marcos Police Department)





Those with any type of information or have pictures or videos are being asked to contact police at 512-753-2108. About an hour later at 1:25 a.m., police said they asked all bars on the square to close and for folks to avoid the area. No other injuries were reported, and the shooting remains under investigation.

This article originally published at San Marcos Police ask downtown bars to close after deadly shooting; 2 suspects at large.




SCHENECTADY- The Schenectady school board will remain at six members until the May election after members decided they will not fill a seat left open after a member resigned last month.

Board members settled on that course of action at Wednesday's workshop meeting.

They had been discussing what they should do about the open seat since early October, after two-term member Nohelani Etienne resigned when she moved out of Schenectady. Etienne's term was set to expire in May.

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Cathy Lewis, the longest-serving board member, recalled that the board had managed to take care of business in the past when it was down a member.

She and several of her colleagues said they believed it made the most sense to wait for the May school board election to determine who should fill the seventh seat.

"I think we could manage it by waiting," Lewis said.

Board President Bernice Rivera outlined the steps the board would need to take to hold a special election, noting that it would take about four months from start to finish and cost the district around $17,000.

She said the board would first have to formally declare the vacancy in its meeting minutes; pass a resolution calling for the special election; set the date, time, polling place and hours it would be open; and publish a public notice in the newspaper.

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Rivera then enumerated her reasons for wanting to appoint the third-place finisher from the May election, including "that person already earned measurable support from the community in the last election."

She didn't mention the candidate by name, but Rennie Glasgow placed third out of four candidates behind the two incumbents, Lewis and Jamaica Miles.

Glasgow previously told the Times Union that he was still interested in serving on the panel.

Rivera also argued that having a full, seven-member board would make it easier to meet the four-member quorum when someone is absent.

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Board member Jamaica Miles countered that while she respects the voters, she sees the board's main responsibility as ensuring that youngsters in pre-K and K-12 get the best education possible.

Vivian Parsons, another board member, said she wasn't "comfortable with immediately defaulting to the third-highest vote-getter from the last election.

"I would rather have us have options." Parsons said.

Some other options the board discussed included appointing a qualified resident until the next school board election and calling for a special election to fill the seat.

Meanwhile, other city leaders are also working to fill a legislative vacancy.

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Late last week, Schenectady City Council members announced they were accepting resumes from city residents interested in the seat left open by Joe Mancini, who stepped down in August after he was set to move out of Schenectady.

On Monday, city legislators are expected to privately interview prospective candidates. They could make a decision as soon as that night, if they reach a consensus.

Some names that have come up for the job include Justin Chaires, a community activist who ran for Congress against the popular incumbent Paul Tonko a few years back, and ex-City Councilman Vince Riggi, an outspoken independent who served two terms on the council.

He has offered to serve without pay this time around.

Mancini's term would have ended in December 2027.

This article originally published at Schenectady school board opts to stay at 6 members until May election.
Some of the smallest wildlife play extremely outsized roles in their ecosystems and globally, and now they're at risk.

Recent research has found that insect numbers are declining rapidly, even in remote ecosystems with little human contact. Even the most pristine landscapes are no longer safe from the effects of human activity.

What's happening?

A new study led by Keith Sockman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill monitored flying insect populations across 15 field seasons between 2004 and 2024 in Colorado. The site, a subalpine meadow in Colorado, had weather records and experienced minimal human impact.

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Their study found flying insect populations plummeted by more than 70% over the past 20 years, despite minimal human impact.

The findings, published in Ecology, revealed that insect abundance fell by an average of 6.6% per year. The sharp drop was strongly tied to rising summer temperatures, particularly warmer nighttime lows.

"Several recent studies report significant insect declines," said lead author Keith Sockman, but most studies have been in heavily human-altered ecosystems. This shows that even remote, relatively pristine environments are not immune to the effects of human activity, such as planet-heating pollution on fish migration and microplastics in the Himalayas.

Why are insect populations important?

Insects are among the most essential and overlooked organisms on Earth. They pollinate crops and wild plants, recycle nutrients, and form the foundation of countless food webs.

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"Insects are necessary for terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems to function," Sockman explained.

Their decline could ripple through entire ecosystems, threatening birds, mammals, and even collapsing human food supplies. Mountain ecosystems like the one studied are home to species uniquely adapted to cold, high-elevation environments, many of which exist nowhere else. If these declines are occurring across similar habitats, the status of mountains as biodiversity hotspots may be in jeopardy.

The findings are especially troubling as these insect population losses occurred far from farmland, roads, and pollution, suggesting that global temperature rise alone may be enough to destabilize insect populations, not to mention other remote, "untouched" areas around the world that may be facing similar situations.

Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

What's being done about these declining populations?

Researchers are calling for expanded monitoring of insect populations across a wider range of ecosystems, including those far from human development. Understanding how heat, changing weather patterns, and shifting seasons affect insect survival could help scientists develop stronger conservation strategies.

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On an individual level, people can help insect populations by supporting pollinator-friendly landscaping, such as planting native wildflowers and avoiding pesticides, and backing policies that limit planet-warming pollution. Clean energy transitions, wildlife-conscious design, and restored pollinator habitats can significantly contribute to keeping our planet cooler and greener for future generations.

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 Scott County Sheriffs Office announced the passing of Police Service Dog (PSD) Denali, who died after a battle with cancer.

Denali (Scott County Sheriffs Office)

Scott County Sheriffs Office issued the following statement on its Facebook page:

It is with deep sadness the Sheriffs Office has lost one of their own. K9 Denali has crossed over due to an illness.

The office and her handler is grief stricken and saddened by this sudden loss. We are deeply sorry for her handler, Sgt. Ahrens, as he and the doctors had to make this decision. K9 Denali will be missed dearly.

There will be a funeral procession/motorcade Monday, November 3 from Creekside Veterinary Hospital to Eldridge for the private memorial services at 9:00 a.m. Citizens may pay their respects along the procession route where feasible. Traffic will be briefly stopped in the areas of E. 53rd St. from E. 52nd St. to Brady St. and Brady St north to Eldridge. In Eldridge, expect traffic stoppage at the northbound Highway 161 off-ramp at LeClaire Rd., along with 9th Ave. and E. LeClaire Rd.

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How did this leak get caught out of so many against the prime minister that were not caught?

It must be stated unambiguously, according to her own admission, that outgoing Military Advocate-General Maj.-Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi and members of her staff broke the law when they leaked a video showing alleged physical abuse of Palestinian prisoners at Sde Teiman prison.

According to her own admission, assuming she does not retract it, Tomer-Yerushalmi and her staff will face legal consequences for their actions. Them there was a twist that Tomer-Yerushalmi disappeared and left a suicide note, but thankfully, she was found safe and well after a wide search for her several hours later.

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This is a dark moment for the military legal establishment and it is understandable if the publics faith in it has been undermined.

Most of the current coverage in the case has been focused on the leaked video and may be sidetracked to include coverage of the state of Tomer-Yerushalmis mental health, but none of this is the main part of the issue for the country in the long-term.

What is fundamental is what the government and the general public are more afraid of: the International Criminal Court and questions whether Israel is willing and able to prosecute its own soldiers when they allegedly abuse Palestinians, arrested terrorists or otherwise; or whether they are more afraid of Israels extreme right-wing, some of whom broke into a secure IDF base to try to free the soldiers who were being questioned for their alleged sexual assault and beating of a Palestinian detainee.

In July 2024, five IDF soldiers allegedly inserted an object into a Palestinian detainees anus and damaged his ribs.

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The evidence not only includes the video footage which was leaked to Channel 12, which by itself appears relatively damning, but might not be enough to convict, but also includes a medical report from the physician who examined the Palestinian detainee.

To date, in this case, the focus of the soldiers defense lawyers has not been that the event did not take place, but that the investigation was prejudiced by the leaked video, and an uphill narrative of self-defense. There are many ways to restrain a detainee which do not cause extensive bodily harm that this detainee suffered.

Essentially, the defense lawyers looked to be seeking a plea deal for lesser charges, but no one is saying the incident did not happen.

Likewise, nobody is denying that far right-wing activists forced their way into an IDF base to interfere with a military investigation and potentially break out soldier-suspects.

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Some of those who broke into the base try to justify their manifestly illegal actions, either by saying that the way that the soldier-defendants were arrested was improper and humiliating, or by arguing that Palestinian detainees, if they are considered to be terrorists, have absolutely no rights.

It is possible that the way the soldier-suspects were arrested was improper, but that is also a separate issue that can be contested by the defendants lawyers without breaking into an IDF base.

Do Israelis think abusing Palestinian terrorist detainees is legal?

Really, the other point is the crux of the debate: do Israelis believe it is legal to allegedly beat and sexually assault Palestinian detainees who are terrorists?

Until now, the answer in Israel and in democratic countries worldwide, would be that such actions are unequivocally illegal, even if the detainees themselves are awaiting prosecution for their own terrorist crimes.

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This comes before the question whether the soldiers are guilty or innocent.

It is a foundational question: do you arrest, interrogate, and investigate soldiers when there is an allegation with serious evidence that they beat a detainee?

The answer is a simple: yes or no.

If the answer is no, then Israel will not only have much more severe problems before the ICC, it will also likely, over time, lose support from the US, much of Europe, and other democratic allies.

While some may rush in and ask: what value is that support? The answer is that it is humongous, both on a military (France and Britain have both helped shoot down Iranian aerial threats along with the US), economic, and public diplomacy level, even if Jerusalem and many Europeans do not see eye to eye on a quite a few issues.

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If the answer is yes, soldier-suspects must be investigated, then the country must prepare for the possibility that a court may find them guilty, This would have no connection to Tomer-Yerushalmis own alleged violations of leaking the video.

Further, the country must be ready to bring to justice those extremists who broke into the IDF base.

While this decision may be difficult emotionally in an era when 2,000 Israelis were killed by Hamas (the vast majority), Hezbollah, and Iran, it still frames the direction of the countrys democratic character and future allies.

This primary dilemma cannot be lost in the debate about the video leak.

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The next real element to the story is how the broader political class had treated the whole incident from start to finish.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters did not violate any laws. But they also did not give the IDF legal division any backing in summer 2024 when it was being attacked physically by extreme activists, and verbally by many of Netanyahus coalition partners.

Tomer-Yerushalmi broke the law because she leaked the video without a transparent process, something which could also have violated the soldier-suspects rights.

But if Israel needs to prosecute its own for allegedly violating detainee rights, then either top government officials need to back the legal system when it is under physical and verbal attack, or the legal system needs to have some authorized way to defend its own legitimacy, without having to decide whether to break the law by leaking or not.

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Part of what has been seen in the public corruption trial against Netanyahu is that, whether he is innocent or guilty, the legal establishment suffered deeply from being delegitimized by the political class as the investigation and trial played out.

To try to respond, elements of law enforcement  though sometimes it was also defense lawyers  leaked anti-Netanyahu evidence from the case prior to trial numerous times.

These leakers also violated the law, though none of them were caught.

Why were none of them caught, whereas Tomer-Yerushalmi was caught?

The truth is she was not caught either in the classic sense as the latest developments come around 15 months after the leak. Whatever alleged cover up she and other officials carried out worked in real-time.

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The case finally broke open when one of her aides underwent a standard polygraph test at a Shin Bet interview as part of the process to receive a promotion.

The polygraph revealed the lie which broke the case open.

If that aid had not been sent to interview for the promotion, the cover up likely would have succeeded, just as all improper anti-Netanyahu leaks succeeded without anyone being caught.

But this, too, obscures the problem that the legal establishment is prevented from defending its reputation and the political class no longer follow norms of refraining from personally attacking the legal establishment (as opposed to substantively attacking the charges which are part of any standard defense.)

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The country needs to ask itself difficult questions about finding a balance between defendants being able to make their case versus prosecutors being able to make their case, either with both sides sticking to making their cases in court or some room for both sides to respond also in public.

There was probably also a stage where the prosecutions advantage, in that it is holding jail time over accused political officials, was too large, and needed to be balanced.

But when activists break into an IDF base and any noises from coalition officials are against the IDF legal division or silent, the pendulum has likely swung too far in the other direction.

On Sunday, Netanyahu accused Tomer-Yerushalmi of terribly harming Israels reputation in the world by releasing the video. But the history in real-time gives a different narrative. In real time, Israel had been taking hits for months in the global media for failing to prosecute many alleged beatings of Palestinian detainees. So what was more harmful to Israels reputation, releasing a video and probing and prosecuting the alleged offenders, or continuing to allow Israels accusers to argue that Jerusalem was not willing to do anything to prevent its soldiers from beating detainees?

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And there is no debate that detainees were beaten. A smaller Sdei Teiman case already led to a conviction.

Defendants should be able to plead their defense as robustly as possible on the substance. Yet, if the country wants to both salvage its legal establishment, but de-incentivize unauthorized leaks, there likely needs to be some format for the legal division to respond to attacks on its legitimacy in real-time  and without waiting months or years until it can present all the evidence at trial.

Above all, the country needs to understand what is truly at stake in this case, and it is far more than the offending leak.
Look whooos gone missing again!

A popular barn owl with a history of wanderlust has once again gone AWOL from a Long Island Nature Center.

Nebula, a 6-year-old captive-bred European barn owl, somehow slipped away from her handler over the weekend, and flew away from the only home shes ever known  Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown.

Nebula has been missing for nearly a week. Sweetbriar Nature Center

It appears falconry equipment used to restrict the owl may have malfunctioned, letting the 1-pound bird with a 35-inch wingspan loose.

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The owl relies on humans for her care, according to Isabel Fernandes, Sweetbriars wildlife care coordinator. But it is a bird, so there is a slight chance it could adapt.

She could possibly be catching food on her own, and she might be figuring out life out there  were not 100% sure, Fernandes said. We need people to keep their eyes and ears open so we can bring her back safely.

Concern grows with each passing day Nebula remains in the wind. Barn owls can die after three days without food or water, becoming dehydrated and leading to organ failure.

Nebula was born and raised at Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown. Sweetbriar Nature Center

Fernandes told The Post Nebula still had her lead attached when she flew away three years ago, which made it difficult for her to fly and easier to catch.

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This time, though, the bird is unencumbered, complicating matters, nature center officials said.

Unlike the Barred Owl, barn owls do not hoot, and instead make what Fernandes described as a screaming screeching noise.

Nebulas survival instincts may kick in and she could begin finding her own food. Sweetbriar Nature Center

The non-profit nature center has fielded several tips about hooting owls, she noted. There have been no confirmed sightings of Nebula yet though, Fernandes said.

Fernandes said Nebula is not aggressive, and feels at ease around people. Chances are she may approach humans looking for food, she said.

But people who spot Nebula shouldnt attempt to catch her. Instead, keep a close eye on her, and contact Sweetbriar at (631) 979-6344.
SNAP benefits officially lapsed Saturday, and government agencies have been scrambling to fill the gap  but the public can help too.

Seattle Restaurant Week is offering diners an easy way to fight food insecurity through a program called Give a Meal.

Seventeen restaurants participating in the annual event are collecting donations to combat hunger. The donations go to Good Food Kitchens, a nonprofit that distributes funds to restaurants and community groups working to feed people in need.

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One of the beneficiaries is Mojito on Roosevelt, a restaurant that donates more than 1,000 meals per week to the University District Food Bank.

Owner Luam Wersom even built a separate area of the kitchen solely for preparing donated meals.

Right now, there are so many people who are not going to get the services they need, and its people like Luam who are filling the gap thats happening right now, said John Chen, a Mojito donor.

The lapse in SNAP benefits means Mojito and other organizations like it are bracing for greater demand.

Todays the first day, so we havent seen an uptick, said Jessamyn Reichmann with the Mojito Community Foundation Fund. But on our end, we are getting prepared to make more meals.

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At Zylberschteins Deli, giving is as simple as rounding up to the next dollar.

Customers are supporting us; they are then donating and supporting other restaurateurs who are feeding people, said Hilary Maler, the delis operations manager.

Mojito told KIRO 7 it expects to cook an additional 500 meals a week thanks to proceeds from the initiative.

It really makes me believe in the power of community and the power of love, Reichmann said.
Praising the massive public turnout at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow in Patna, BJP MP Yogender Chandoliya on Sunday said that people's enthusiasm reflects their support for the NDA, adding that "the time of Lalu-Tejashwi is over" and "people now want to see Modi's era." Speaking to ANI, Yogender Chandoliya said, "The women, children, and youth had been standing there for almost three hours. People were standing right on the railing... This is the Prime Minister's charisma. People want a glimpse of the Prime Minister, and today's roadshow in Patna shows that the NDA is moving towards forming the government..." "The BJP is moving ahead in all 243 seats... Lalu Yadav has turned Congress into a regional party... People were fed up with the jungle raj. People want to see Modi's era. The time of Lalu-Tejashwi is over," Chandoliya said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Patna after multiple rallies at Arah and Nawada. He was accompanied by BJP State President Dilip Jaiswal and Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan. Notably, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was absent from the roadshow. PM Modi also paid floral tributes to the statue of noted Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister addressed an election rally in Nawada and hailed the NDA's poll promise to provide Rs 3,000 in addition to the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi to farmers in Bihar, saying 'jinhe koi nahi poochhta, Modi unhe poojta hai' (Modi worships those whom no one else cares about). Prime Minister Modi took a jibe at the Opposition, claiming that the previous governments did not prioritise small farmers. He said, "The governments after independence did not prioritise small farmers. But this is Modi, 'jinhe koi nahi poochhta, Modi unhe poojta hai' (Modi worships those whom no one else cares about). In the last 11 years, our government has brought small farmers to the centre of the agriculture policy." "We opened bank accounts for farmers, and they get the amount for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi in those bank accounts. The poor farmers have received Rs 20,000 crore. In Nawada, Rs 650 crore has been deposited in the accounts of 2 lakh farmers," he said. The polling for the first phase will take place on November 6, with results to be announced on November 14. (ANI)
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  Indiana Governor Mike Braun has called for a special session to redraw congressional boundaries. In response, Senator Greg Goode held a listening session in Terre Haute on Saturday.

Goode said he hasnt decided what his vote will be yet.

No final decisions will ultimately be made or communicated until there is a bill on the board, which also means Ill actually get a chance to look at the map, Goode said. I havent even seen a map, so I think its very fair to take these kinds of soundings.

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Out of the dozens of people who spoke, each one was strongly against mid-cycle redistricting, including Terre Haute City Council Members Tammy Boland and Kandace Hinton.

According to 2020 census data, you have 137,915 citizens you represent, but Donald Trump isnt one of them and neither is Mike Braun, Boland said.

Cheating is illegal on a civil level and its a moral issue, so we are asking you, Senator Goode, to please vote no, Hinton said.

Along with representation, many people, like Shannon Giles, spoke on the cost of redistricting.

It costs taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars to hold these special sessions, while the administration is raising health care costs and cutting food benefits, Giles said.

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Senator Goode said, from the early reports he has heard, a special session and the process of redistricting would cost around $250,000.

Goode said he plans to hold more sessions like this one before he makes a final decision.

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We dont want to reach a situation of no war, no peace, Majed al-Ansari, adviser to Qatars prime minister and spokesperson for the foreign ministry warned.

The situation in Gaza could develop into a no war, no peace deal, where Israel keeps its troops inside the strip due to the impossibility of establishing an international security force, a senior Qatari diplomat warned in an interview with The Guardian on Friday.

There is a need for the international community to go in, assess the damage, start thinking about reconstruction, working on reconstruction, and to formally keep the peace, Majed al-Ansari, adviser to Qatars prime minister and spokesperson for the foreign ministry said. This is what will significantly shift the whole process from war to the day after.

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According to Ansari, Qatar is hopeful that the UN Security Council will approve a resolution that would mandate an administration and an international force in Gaza, that we would be able to stabilize the situation.

In principle, a lot of the countries in the region and beyond have agreed to be part of this, but in practice that needs a very concrete mandate for the force, he detailed.

Ansari also addressed the problem of finding the remains of the hostages: There are a lot of challenges before we are able to dispense with stage one [of the deal]. Including the difficulty of excavating the remains of those [hostages] who were killed and ascertaining their identities, and the violations that result in the death of Palestinians every day at the hands of IDF soldiers.

Palestinians carry aid supplies in Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 16, 2025; illustrative. (credit: REUTERS/DAWOUD ABU ALKAS)

Qatar still critical of Israels strike on its soil against Hamas

Another topic that Ansari spoke about was the IDF's attempt to assassinate senior Hamas leadership in Doha on September 9.

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It was designed to push us out, not only out of these [Gaza] talks, but to push us out as an internationally trusted mediator, he said. We were working on more than 10 mediations on the day of the attack.

This was not an attack we could brush off and continue doing the work that we were doing, he said, and detailed that the US had to ensure that no more attacks would happen on Qatari soil for negotiations to resume.
Seven civilians have been injured in Russian attacks on the city of Kherson on 2 November.

Source: Kherson City Military Administration

Details: A 63-year-old man sustained a mine-blast injury and shrapnel wounds to the head in a Russian attack on the Dniprovskyi district at around 05:30. He was taken to hospital.

Later it was reported that a 53-year-old man sustained a blast injury and a concussion during a morning attack.

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At around 08:30, a Russian drone attacked a 48-year-old man in the Korabelnyi district. He suffered a mine-blast injury, a concussion, and an acute stress reaction.

A 29-year-old man was injured in another Russian attack on the Dniprovskyi district at around 12:30. He sustained a blast injury, a closed head injury, a concussion, and multiple shrapnel wounds. His condition is reported to be moderate.

At around 14:30, Russian forces shelled the Dniprovskyi district again. A 69-year-old man was taken to hospital with a blast injury and a shrapnel wound to the leg. His condition is also moderate.

A 68-year-old man sustained a concussion, a blast injury, a closed head injury, and a shrapnel wound to the leg in a drone attack in the Tsentralnyi district.

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An 86-year-old woman was injured in a Russian attack on the Dniprovskyi district at approximately 12:30. She was taken to hospital in a moderate condition with a concussion, a blast injury, and a closed head injury.

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Nov. 1Sharon Matthews DiMaria August 9, 1946- October 8, 2025 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sharon Matthews DiMaria, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, poet, artist, and inveterate cat lover. Sharon passed away quietly, at home, with her husband at her side. She was born in Fayette, Missouri to parents Herbert and Mary Matthews, and moved to New Mexico at the age of two. She grew up in Albuquerque and graduated from Manzano High School in 1964, later earning a Masters degree in English. She taught English, creative writing, and poetry at TVI and UNM throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 1988 she met Sal, her beloved husband of 36 years. She moved to Athens, Georgia with Sal where she taught English at the university of Georgia for two years as Sal pursued graduate studies. They moved back to Albuquerque where Sharon taught at UNM and for a time was Coordinator of Tutorial Services at UNM's Valencia Campus. From 2000 to 2017 she and Sal lived in Frederick and Clarksburg, Maryland as Sal taught geography at Montgomery College. They moved back to Albuquerque in 2017 where she lived the rest of her life. Sharon was plagued with arthritis for much of her later life, needing a wheelchair for many years. Nevertheless, that didn't stop her from enjoying many lunches out with her friends Barbara and Bob Muller, occasions she greatly looked forward to. She and Barbara would also have long, happy phone dates, usually every week. Though mostly homebound, she enjoyed being with her cats, watching birds in her back yard, and looking forward to her favorite Christmas movies during the holidays. She enjoyed watching many shows on PBS, including dramas, nature documentaries, and cooking and travel shows. She was an excellent cook, enjoying making her enchiladas, posole, and many other dishes. She was a crafter and painter as well, turning out her "feline" versions of the Mona Lisa and other classic works. She was active in local poetry circles for many years, publishing a collection of poetry in 1988. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, brother Stephen and sister Sheila, her cousin Jan Heidi, and by her cats, including Pola, Baby Kitty, Frumkin, and Fanny. She is survived by husband Sal, son Joel Myers, daughter-in-law Talisa, granddaughters Kenzie and Kylie, nieces Cari, Susan, and Maggie, nephew Corey, and several cousins. Sharon was wonderfully cared for by many doctors over the years, especially by her primary physician Dr. V. Ianakieva of Presbyterian Family Practice. The family would also like to thank the nurses and doctors at Presbyterian Hospital and the staff of Gentiva Hospice for their kind care of Sharon in her final weeks.
NEED TO KNOW

Laura Murphy was abducted and tortured for more than 20 hours in 1985

Police later suspected John Crutchley in 24 to 30 disappearances and homicides

Crutchley died in prison in 2002 after serving time for kidnapping and sexual assault

Laura Murphy was found crawling naked and handcuffed along a Florida roadside in November 1985  her body missing nearly half its blood  after surviving more than 20 hours of torture by a man investigators later suspected in 24 to 30 disappearances and homicides across multiple states.

Murphy had been hitchhiking when John Crutchley, a clean-cut engineer with a secret obsession, offered her a ride. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Crutchley insisted they stop at his Malabar home to pick up a notebook.

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When the 19-year-old refused to go inside, Crutchley choked her unconscious and dragged her into the home. She awoke stripped naked and strapped to his kitchen counter, her arms and legs bound while a video camera recorded the ordeal.

Crutchley raped Murphy and used medical syringes to drain nearly half her blood, according to the Los Angeles Times and Oxygen. She escaped about 22 hours after the assault began, crawling through a window and staggering naked and handcuffed to the roadside for help.

Inside Crutchleys home, investigators found syringes, tubing, bondage gear, and jewelry  as well as a stack of credit cards, locks of hair, and ID cards belonging to several deceased women, per the outlets.

FBI profiler Robert Ressler later said he was very glad to have been brought onto the case, adding that after learning more about Crutchley, he thought it was probable that they had a serial killer in custody, Oxygen reported.

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Police in five states reviewed unsolved murders potentially tied to Crutchley, who was dubbed the "Vampire Rapist" after Murphy's escape.

Authorities in Florida told the Tampa Bay Times they believed he might have been involved in 24 slayings, including three in Brevard County  but the Brevard County Sheriffs Office closed its investigation in August 1996 without filing additional charges.

When I did what I did, I was at a totally different place in my life, Crutchley later told reporters, according to the Tampa Bay Times. I feel exceptionally bad about that. I devastated my family. I have nothing but a devastated life in Florida.

Crutchley pleaded guilty to kidnapping and sexual battery in 1986. He was released on parole in 1996 but returned to prison two years later for a drug conviction.

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On March 30, 2002, he was found dead in his cell at Hardee Correctional Institution with a plastic bag over his head. Death investigators determined it was an accidental act of autoerotic asphyxiation, per the Deseret News and the Orlando Sentinel.

Laura Murphy was hospitalized and eventually recovered, but has remained out of the public eye since the attack.

Read the original article on People
Former President Barack Obama (right) points to Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger during a rally on Nov. 1, 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

Saturday in Norfolk, former President Barack Obama lent a familiar and energizing presence to a campaign rally for Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for Virginia governor.

Obama headlined the event, where Virginia Democratic lawmakers at the state and federal level as well as Spanbergers running mates spoke in support of her in a final attempt to galvanize voters ahead of Tuesdays historic race, where Spanberger or Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears will be elected the states first woman governor.

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The crowd of roughly 7,000 chanted yes we can and sang songs before the speakers  including Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News and Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Ghazala Hashmi and attorney general candidate Jay Jones  took the stage.

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, speaks at a rally in Norfolk for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger on Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/ Virginia Mercury)

All of them drew applause, but the crowd roared with excitement when the countrys 44th president walked to the podium. The rally, days ahead of Election Day, is the third time Obama has stumped for Virginias gubernatorial nominees since leaving the White House.

Obama portrayed Spanberger as a workhorse in Congress whose bipartisan track record will translate to good governing.

Abigail does not just say the right thing, Obama said. As your governor, she will do the right thing.

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Spanberger called Obama someone who represents the very best of public service whom she was honored and humbled to have in Virginia to cheer her on.

Themes of service, bipartisan cooperation

Virginia democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger walks onto the stage at Chartway Arena in Norfolk on Nov. 1, 2025 for a campaign rally featuring former U.S. President Barack Obama. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

Service, Spanberger emphasized in her speech before Obamas, has been the core of her career  first, in law enforcement, then the Central Intelligence Agency, and later in Congress where she worked with lawmakers of both parties to pass bills that became law.

She recalled how health care policy first inspired her to run for office. Frustrated by Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act  Obamas legacy as president  she said I knew I had to do something.

Spoiler alert, I won, she said of being elected to Congress, flipping the 7th District to Democratic control and defending the seat two more terms before deciding to seek the governorship.

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Health care remains a critical issue this election cycle both in Virginia and nationally, as the Republican-controlled Congress passed a reconciliation bill this summer that will trigger changes to hospital funding mechanisms and may cause millions of Americans to lose Medicaid coverage. Members of Virginias congressional delegation are also trying to extend ACA subsidies that help low-income earners purchase health insurance, but those efforts have been stalled amid the current government shutdown.

In addition to health care affordability, Spanberger noted her goals to address housing, and energy affordability and said as governor, she would stand firm against overreach from President Donald Trumps administration while finding ways to work across the aisle.

You deserve a governor who will work with Democrats and Republicans to grow our economy and not stand by while Virginias workforce is under attack, she said, a reference to the Trump administrations layoffs of federal workers. Virginia is home to nearly 150,000 civilian federal employees.

When I was in Congress, I worked with anybody and everybody to deliver results, Spanberger said.

We need that light

Former President Barack Obama speaks during a rally for Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger on Nov. 1, 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

After branding her the next governor of Virginia, Obama asked voters to cast their ballots for Spanberger. As he reflected on the first 10 months of Trumps second term in office  marked by the federal layoffs, ramped up anti-immigration efforts and growing economic strains  Obama pitched Spanberger as an inspiration amid the widescale uncertainty.

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And Lord knows, we need that light. We need that inspiration, because lets face it, our country and our politics are in a pretty dark place right now, he said. Its hard to know where to start, because every day, this White House offers up a fresh batch of lawlessness and recklessness and mean-spiritedness and just plain craziness.

I know Im the hope and change guy, Obama said in reference to his winning presidential campaign slogans, but he emphasized he is worried about the direction of the nation under Trump. Obama criticized Capitol Hill Republicans for the ongoing government shutdown and Trump for using the Justice Department for going after his political opponents, deploying the National Guard in American cities, claiming to stop crime waves that dont actually exist, and other actions to which the crowd booed in response.

Dont boo, vote, Obama said, a callback to 2016 when he supported Hillary Clinton for president. They dont hear boos, they hear votes.

Jones joins the rally

Virginia Democratic Attorney General candidate Jay Jones speaks at a campaign rally in Norfolk on Nov. 1, 2025. Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods / Virginia Mercury

The event also featured Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Hashmi and attorney general candidate Jones  the first time both have campaigned in person with Spanberger since news broke of violent texts Jones sent in 2022.

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Jones apologized to former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his family for the texts at an Oct. 16 debate with Republican incumbent Jason Miyares. In the messages, Jones said hypothetically he would kill Gilbert with two bullets and referenced his children dying.

The incident was not rehashed during the Saturday rally with Obama, as Jones reiterated his commitment to standing up to Trump if elected. As the top lawyers for the state, attorneys general have responsibilities that range from consumer protection to providing legal counsel to governors and signing onto multi-state lawsuits.

Im running for attorney general to put Virginia first, he said as the crowd cheered.

With over one million votes already cast via early voting, Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4 will determine who next helms Virginias executive branch and which party will control its House of Delegates, where all 100 seats are on the ballot.

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President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in a road accident in Rajasthan's Phalodi. "The news of the deaths of many people in the road accident that occurred in Phalodi, Rajasthan, is extremely heartbreaking. I express my condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragedy and pray for the swift recovery of those who have been injured," President Murmu posted on X. At least 15 people were killed and two others injured after a tempo-traveller coming from Kolayat, Bikaner, collided with a parked trailer on the Bharat Mala Highway in Phalodi, officials said on Sunday. District Collector Shweta Chauhan stated that all the bodies have been kept in the government hospital's mortuary in Osian, while the injured have been referred to Jodhpur for treatment. Police Commissioner Om Prakash Paswan said that a green corridor has been created to ensure the injured receive timely medical treatment, adding that the administration is focused on saving lives and providing necessary assistance. Speaking to ANI, Om Prakash Paswan said, "A road accident occurred in which a few people were tragically killed. We are arranging treatment for the injured... A green corridor is being established to quickly transport the injured to a facility where they can receive proper medical treatment. The administration is focused on saving the lives of those injured and will release further details as more information becomes available..." Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed grief over the loss of lives in the road accident, calling it "extremely tragic and heart-rending," and directed district officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured. In a post on X, Bhajanlal Sharma wrote, "The loss of lives in the road accident in the Matoda area of Phalodi is extremely tragic and heart-rending. My condolences are with the bereaved families." "Instructions have been given to the district administration officials to ensure proper treatment for all the injured. I pray to the Lord to grant peace to the departed souls and provide speedy recovery to the injured," the post read. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot also expressed deep sorrow over the death in Phalodi, praying for peace to the departed souls and strength to their families. "I have just received the news in Patna that 15 people have died in a road accident in Matoda, Phalodi. Hearing this, my heart is extremely saddened. I pray to God to grant a place at His holy feet to all the deceased, give strength to their families, and a speedy recovery to the injured," Ashok Gehlot wrote in a post on X. (ANI)
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump says he won't be extorted by Democrats to reopen the government, making clear that he has no plans to negotiate as the government shutdown will soon enter its sixth week.

In an interview on CBS's 60 Minutes" that aired on Sunday, Trump said that Democrats who are demanding an extension in health care subsidies have lost their way" and predicted that they will eventually capitulate to Republicans who have said they won't negotiate until they vote to reopen the government.

I think they have to, Trump said. And if they don't vote, it's their problem.

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Trump's comments signal that the shutdown could continue to drag on for some time as federal workers, including air traffic controllers, are set to miss additional paychecks and as there is uncertainty over whether 42 million Americans who received federal food aid will be able to access the assistance. Senate Democrats have now voted 13 times against reopening the government, insisting that they need Trump and Republicans to negotiate with them first on an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year.

Instead of negotiating, the president reiterated his pleas to Republican leaders to change Senate rules and scrap the filibuster. But Senate Republicans have rejected that idea, arguing that the rule requiring 60 votes to overcome any objections in the Senate is vital to the institution and has allowed them to stop Democratic policies when they are in the minority.

Republicans have to get tougher, Trump said in the CBS interview. If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want.

With the two parties at a standstill, the shutdown, now in its 33rd day, appears likely to become the longest in history. The previous record was set in 2019, when Trump demanded that Congress give him money for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

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A potentially decisive week

Trumps push on the filibuster could prove a distraction for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Republican senators who have opted instead to stay the course as the consequences of the shutdown have become more acute.

Republicans are hoping that at least some Democrats will eventually give them the votes they need as moderates have been in weekslong talks with rank-and-file Republicans about potential compromises that could guarantee votes on health care in exchange for reopening the government. Republicans need five additional Democrats to pass their bill.

We need five with a backbone to say we care more about the lives of the American people than about gaining some political leverage, Thune said on the Senate floor as the Senate left Washington for the weekend on Thursday.

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Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, said on ABCs This Week on Sunday that there is a group of people talking about a path to fix the health care debacle and a commitment from Republicans not to fire more federal workers. But its still unclear if those talks could produce a meaningful compromise.

Far apart on Obamacare subsidies

Trump said in the 60 Minutes interview that the Affordable Care Act, often known as Obamacare because it was signed and championed by former President Barack Obama, is "terrible" and that if the Democrats vote to reopen the government, we will work on fixing the bad health care that we have right now.

Democrats feel differently, arguing that the marketplaces set up by the ACA are working as record numbers of Americans have signed up for the coverage. But they want to extend subsidies first enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic so that premiums won't go up for millions of people on Jan. 1.

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We want to sit down with Thune, with (House Speaker Mike) Johnson, with Trump, and negotiate a way to address this horrible health care crisis, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said last week.

No appetite for bipartisanship

As Democrats have pushed Trump and Republicans to negotiate, Trump has showed little interest in doing so. He immediately called for an end to the Senate filibuster after a trip to Asia while the government was shut down.

White House Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News that the president has spoken directly to both Thune and Johnson about the filibuster. But a spokesman for Thune said Friday that his position hasnt changed, and Johnson said on Sunday that Republicans traditionally have resisted calling for an end to the filibuster because it protects them from the worst impulses of the far-left Democrat Party.

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Trump said on 60 Minutes that I like John Thune, I think he's terrific. But I disagree with him on this point.

The president has spent much of the shutdown mocking Democrats, posting videos of House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries in a Mexican sombrero. The White House website has a satirical My Space page for Democrats, a parody based on the social media site that was popular in the early 2000s. We just love playing politics with peoples livelihoods, the page reads.

Democrats have repeatedly said that they need Trump to get serious and weigh in. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said that he hopes the shutdown could end this week because Trump is back in Washington.

Republicans cant move on anything without a Trump sign off, Warner said on Face the Nation on CBS.

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Record-breaking shutdown

The 35-day shutdown that lasted from December 2018 to January 2019 ended when Trump retreated from his demands over a border wall. That came amid intensifying delays at the nations airports and multiple missed paydays for hundreds of thousands of federal workers.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on ABC's This Week that there have already been delays at several airports as air traffic controllers arent getting paid and its only going to get worse.

Many of the workers are confronted with a decision, he said. Do I put food on my kids table, do I put gas in the car, do I pay my rent or do I go to work and not get paid?"

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As flight delays around the country increased, New York City's emergency management department posted on Sunday that Newark Airport was under a ground delay because of staffing shortages in the control tower" and that they were limiting arrivals to the airport.

The average delay is about 2 hours, and some flights are more than 3 hours late, the account posted. FAA planning notes show a possibility of a full ground stop later if staffing shortages or demand increases.

SNAP crisis

Also in the crossfire are the 42 million Americans who receive SNAP benefits. The Department of Agriculture planned to withhold $8 billion needed for payments to the food program starting on Saturday until two federal judges ordered the administration to fund it.

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House Democratic leader Jeffries, D-N.Y., accused Trump and Republicans of attempting to weaponize hunger. He said that the administration has managed to find ways for funding other priorities during the shutdown, but is slow-walking pushing out SNAP benefits despite the court orders.

But somehow they cant find money to make sure that Americans dont go hungry, Jeffries said in an appearance on CNN's State of the Union.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in his own CNN appearance Sunday, said the administration continues to await direction from the courts.

The best way for SNAP benefits to get paid is for Democrats  for five Democrats to cross the aisle and reopen the government, Bessent said.

___

Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  The Sioux City Distilling Company held its first-ever juniper harvest, inviting local residents to join in the picking process. This event not only contributes to the creation of their signature gin but also offers the public an opportunity to learn more about this emerging distillery.

This is the chief botanical. When youre making gin, you cant make gin without juniper, said Austin Foster, the owner of the Sioux City Distillery.

Owner of the Sioux City Distillery, Austin Foster, received this land a couple of years ago after discovering it was filled with plenty of juniper trees.

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Blane had identified that weve got a lot of juniper out here, Foster said. It just made the most sense for us to kind of acquire the space and to kind of just keep it natural, just keep it growing these beautiful botanicals out this way.

After acquiring the land, Foster waited for some time to harvest, ensuring the female junipers were ready to make his signature gin.

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The females get these beautiful berries. Theyre really colorful, but the berries turn bluish purple this time of year, Foster said.

Foster explained that while juniper is the key to making his gin, several other factors fall into it.

We take our juniper, and we let it masquerade. Or in our case, we vapor, distill with it and add some coriander and some cardamom and some lemon peel and a lot of other botanicals, said Foster. And then what we end up with is gin, but the chief botanical in that mix has to be juniper, and thats what were here today doing, is harvesting juniper.

Throughout the day of the harvest, Foster invited several people to come out and help harvest. Guests learned about the production of gin and embraced the beauty of Iowas Loess Hills. Foster hopes that this 2025 juniper harvest will become an annual celebration of the Loess Hills and the wild juniper that defines his gin.

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If we cant share them with our friends in our community, what are we doing? Foster said. So whats really cool is I can have some folks out to the farm today to harvest some junipers with us, and it just builds community. It builds fellowship and friendship. Then it allows us to make beautiful gin, which is really important.

Once all these junipers are harvested, Foster plans to prepare them for production by the end of the year.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Sir Keir Starmer is scheduled to attend a prestigious global environmental award ceremony in Brazil next month, ahead of his participation in a significant climate summit.

The Labour leader is expected to join the Prince of Wales, founder of the 2025 Earthshot Prize, at the event in Rio de Janeiro. Following this, Sir Keir will proceed to Belem, in northern Brazil near the Amazon river's mouth, for the Cop30 global climate change conference.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman confirmed last week that Sir Keir would attend the major summit.

The Prince of Wales arrives for the Earthshot Prize Awards last year (PA)

He said the move was part of efforts to restore the UK as a global leader for climate action and green growth, and that net zero was the economic opportunity of the 21st century and could create good jobs for the future.

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Sir Keir attended last years Cop29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, but had been reported to be considering not travelling to Brazil for the leaders summit in early November this year.

The reports brought charges of hypocrisy from the Liberal Democrats, who pointed to Sir Keirs criticism of Rishi Sunak over suggestions the then-prime minister would skip the 2022 summit.

Mr Sunak did eventually attend the summit in Egypt, and the following meeting in the United Arab Emirates.

The annual Cop (conference of the parties) summits bring together signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to discuss efforts to halt climate change.
Six men have been indicted on felony charges by a Hunt County grand jury in connection with the death of an 11-year-old boy who died last November while living at a state-licensed residential treatment center in Hunt County.

The six men  Jaylan Treviante, Dakeiston Davis, James Durrell Cobb, Jeremy Evans Alexander, John Raymond Long, Mark Andrews and Clay Malcolm Jiles  have pleaded not guilty to charges of injury to a child and are awaiting trial. A seventh person could be also be charged.

The boy  identified in court documents as O.R.  was found unresponsive during an outing to the now-closed Majestic 12 movie theater in Greenville. He and 19 other residents of Thompsons Residential Treatment Center were accompanied by seven staff members from the facility, according to federal and state records. Staff members told law enforcement that O.R. had been fine most of the day and had entered the theater on his own.

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However, investigators reviewing video surveillance found that the child was unsteady on his feet, appeared close to passing out and was being dragged by his arm before falling near the ticket counter. The footage showed staff picking him up and forcing him toward the theater entrance. By the end of the movie, O.R. was found bleeding from his nose and unresponsive.

According to the Dallas County Medical Examiners Office, O.R. died of natural causes related to complications with his intestines stemming from a surgery he had as an infant. Sources familiar with the investigation said he had complained of stomach pain and sustained a head injury in the days before his death. An investigative report states he died at the theater after staff ignored his cries for help.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission revoked Thompsons Residential Treatment Centers license last December, one week after the childs death and the facility was closed three months after the incident.

Located south of Greenville near Lone Oak, Thompsons had a long record of documented violations, including sexual misconduct, physical abuse and unsafe restraint practices. In 2011, state licensing investigators found that staff members organized fights between boys as a form of conflict resolution.

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The fights were referred to as a game called Tap Out or Choke Out, a court monitors report stated. Staff would referee the fights, make bets on who they thought would win and would sometimes fight the children.

The same 2011 investigation found that children were restrained in prone or supine positions with their limbs twisted behind their backs, and that some were tackled by staff. Children also reported inappropriate sexual behavior among residents.

The Herald-Banner reported in 2015 on a sexual assault by a staff member and in January 2020 when two juveniles were reported missing after walking away from the facility. Both were located after several weeks, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

More recent violations included a child leaving the facility due to inadequate supervision on Aug. 4, 2023; a staff member choking a 14-year-old on Aug. 14, 2023; and a physical altercation between a staff member and a 17-year-old on Nov. 1, 2023.

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Public records show that local law enforcement had frequent contact with the center, which was sometimes referred to as the runaway center because of the number of times children went missing.

Residential treatment centers like Thompsons are regulated by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which pays facilities between $52.71 and $480.86 per child per day, depending on the level of care.

In 2018, a restraint used at Thompsons resulted in a child being hospitalized with a lacerated liver. The operation was placed under more frequent inspections in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. During a 15-month period ending in July 2024, the state documented 51 deficiencies at the facility, including issues with staffing, building conditions, medication management and treatment plans.

Two investigations in 2023 confirmed findings of physical abuse, prompting a voluntary corrective plan that was never completed. Thompsons was cited for 28 additional deficiencies in the months leading up to the childs death, many involving poor supervision that resulted in injuries requiring hospitalization.

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Despite years of documented problems, the state granted the owners of Thompsons a license for a second facility in Farmersville in 2020.

Shortly after it opened, one employee was identified as the alleged perpetrator in four physical abuse investigations in 2020 and three more in 2021. While those allegations were not substantiated, the facility was cited for corporal punishment after investigators determined the same staff member hit and pushed children.

The state welfare agency was unable to substantiate these allegations but the commission issued a citation to the Farmersville facility for corporal punishment after finding the same staff member hit and pushed children there.

That Farmersville center voluntarily closed in June 2021 but re-opened the next year under different ownership. The administrator was the wife of Thompsons Residential Treatment Centers owner, Chaun Thompson. Eventually the Farmersville operation closed a second time on Dec. 18, 2024.

 The Texas Tribune contributed to this report.
This story has been updated with new information.

The last Sunday in what otherwise has been a low-key race for mayor of Detroit erupted with allegations that one candidate would bring a culture of corruption back to city hall, while the front-runner kept a low-profile.

The Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., trailing in polls and fundraising, started the day at the east campus of Triumph Church with a sermon that started slowly and built to a crescendo of accusations that opponent Mary Sheffield violated city rules by voting to approve contracts worth millions of dollars for a demolition contractor while she was in a relationship with its chief executive.

Mary Sheffield, left, and Solomon Kinloch

"You got somebody sitting at the table for the last 12 years, that knows it's part of the charter that you cannot give out city contracts to somebody that you know so that the money turns around and benefit yourself," Kinloch said, referring to Sheffield, the City Council president who was first elected in 2013. He did not specify what benefits he believes Sheffield received.

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The Michigan Enjoyer, an online news organization, reported on Oct. 30 that Sheffield was in a relationship with Brian McKinney, the CEO of Gayanga, a controversial contractor who has been paid millions of dollars to demolish homes in Detroit.

Sheffield's father, the Rev. Horace Sheffield III, confirmed Saturday, Nov. 1, that Mary Sheffield dated McKinney.

More: Wayne County voters to elect mayors, council members and decide on ballot proposals

Mitch Albom: A tale of two cities - Detroit and NYC electing mayors in different moods

Sheffield's Chief of Staff Brian White said in a statement on Oct. 30 that Sheffield did not vote on any contracts involving Gayanga dating back to 2019. A Free Press analysis of city records found Sheffield voted to approve some city contracts with Gayanga in 2019 and thereafter.

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Kinloch's accusations were the key point in the sermon he delivered at Triumph's campuses in Detroit and Southfield.

"Let me tell you what'll happen, after what we just came from that dark cloud and history of corruption, if y'all let that woman become the next mayor, she goin' in under federal investigation," Kinloch said from the pulpit of Triumph's church on East Grand Boulevard in the North End. "Because if Kinloch and the media and the world can find out about it, why would you think law enforcement don't know about it?"

Kinloch told the Free Press he hopes the late-breaking news and comparing Sheffield to Kwame Kilpatrick, the former Detroit mayor convicted in 2013 of public corruption, will help close a gulf between the candidates after Sheffield won 51% of the vote in the nonpartisan Aug. 5 primary while Kinloch received 17%.

Sheffield's campaign staff would not comment Sunday to the Free Press on Kinloch's allegations. Sheffield told long-time Detroit political pundit and 105.9 FM talk show host Mildred Gaddis during a morning interview: "This is what you expect from a candidate who's desperate, who understands that he has no policy, and no ways to solve the solutions that we're dealing with here in Detroit."

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The Free Press did not follow Sheffield's campaign Sunday because campaign staff did not share her morning schedule until after all of the events had concluded. After the Free Press asked Sheffield's campaign and City Council staff to comment on Kinloch's assertions, spokeswoman Brittni Brown notified a reporter that Sheffield cancelled her plans to knock on doors in Detroit neighborhoods Sunday afternoon.

Sheffield told a reporter on Friday at a Halloween in the D event at Chandler Park, where she passed out campaign buttons to children and their families: "Were going hard, all the way to the end. We never take anything for granted."

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield, poses for a photo with children in Halloween costumes during a trunk or treat event in Detroit on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.

In between church visits Sunday, Kinloch visited Cutter's Bar & Grill in Eastern Market, where he did a live radio interview with Gaddis.

Detroit mayoral candidate the Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. stops at Cutter's Bar & Grill in Eastern Market to do a live radio interview with Detroit political pundit and talk show host Mildred Gaddis on Nov. 2, 2025, the last Sunday of the race.

In addition to questioning Kinloch about Sheffield and McKinney, Gaddis asked Kinloch to address questions about real estate transactions involving him and his church and his 1994 conviction on assault charges for beating his first wife. Kinloch said the real estate transactions were proper and blamed his youth and immaturity for the assault, reiterating what he told the Free Press in an exclusive interview on July 25 when he said: "I went through the judicial process and a redemptive process. I received counseling, not only outside but inside the church. I accepted responsibility and I learned from the mistakes and I've tried to use it to help other men."

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Voters will render their own verdict on Tuesday, Nov. 4, when the final ballots will be cast to replace outgoing Mayor Mike Duggan, who is running for governor as an independent in 2026. Candidates for Detroit's seven City Council districts and two at-large council seats will also be on Tuesday's ballot.

City Clerk Janice Winfrey said she expects an 18-23% voter turnout this election and urged residents to be more involved. Winfrey is attempting to reduce barriers by offering free bus rides to the polls through the Detroit Department of Transportation. She also invested more on block parties with free food and social media influencers to tap more voters who are likely to use social media over other avenues to drive engagement for the election.

Sheffield told the Free Press last week her team is trying to increase turnout for this and future elections.

"Weve been driving from day one trying to increase voter turnout, really trying to reach demographics that are oftentimes overlooked," Sheffield said. "Weve been really heavily engaging our young people. We hope itll be an increased turnout."

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Kinloch told his congregation Sunday that polls based on likely voters are not counting most Detroiters.

"We've been calling all of those less propensity voters that have not been regular and frequent voters," he said. "And we've been knocking on the doors."

Kinloch, who got in the race more than a year after Sheffield formed her candidate committee in late 2023, told the Free Press that while he wished he had got in the race sooner, he believed he could still win.

The Free Press has profiled each candidate. Readers at freep.com can learn more about Sheffield's background here and Kinloch's here.

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At least 1,600 residents cast ballots before early voting ended Sunday. At least 44,000 absentee ballots have been received, and city officials anticipate receiving at least 60,000 total. Those votes will be counted on election day. Detroiters can vote in person Tuesday between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana.

Violet Ikonomova is an investigative reporter at the Free Press focused on government accountability in Detroit. Contact her at vikonomova@freepress.com.

M.L. Elrick is a Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter, director of student investigative reporting program Eye On Michigan, and host of the ML's Soul of Detroit podcast. Contact him at mlelrick@freepress.com or follow him on X at @elrick, Facebook at ML Elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sleepy Detroit mayor race ends with a flurry of accusations
Millions of Americans are worrying about how they will feed their families as a vital food assistance program lapsed for many this weekend amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Thats in contrast to a startling statistic that the U.S. risks wasting almost $400 billion in food every year, according to a report by food waste solutions non-profit ReFED.

Some 42 million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program but because of the government shutdown, which has now entered its second month, funding for the critical scheme ended on Nov. 1.

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Meanwhile, a damning food waste report, released in February, found that $382 billion in surplus food was produced in 2023, the most recent statistics available.

Some 42 million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program but because of the government shutdown, which has now entered its second month, funding for the critical scheme ended on November 1 (AP)

Between groceries and restaurant plate waste, consumers spent $261 billion on food they didnt ultimately eat, the non-profits report, noted by NBC News, also found.

Legal challenges were mounted Friday as a federal judge ordered Trump to release emergency funding for SNAP before the Nov. 1 cut off, while another ruled that the government is likely illegally blocking the emergency money.

On Saturday, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell in Rhode Island ordered that the government needed to tell the court by Monday how it would fund SNAP accounts.

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McConnell, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, said the Trump administration needed to either make a full payment by Monday, or if it decides to only tap $3 billion in a contingency fund, figure out how to do that by Wednesday.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled that SNAP benefits could kick in again in a matter of days, he said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union.

Americans across the country have been lining up at soup kitchens and food pantries (AP)

President Trump wants to make sure that people get their food benefits, Bessent told Jake Tapper, who asked the secretary if the matter could be resolved by Wednesday, per the judges order.

Could be, Bessent replied.

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Trump said Friday that he wanted more clarity from the courts before releasing funding for SNAP and stressed that he did not want Americans to go hungry.

That same evening, Trump was pictured attending a Great Gatsby-themed party at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, where he has spent the weekend.

Meanwhile, Americans across the country have been lining up at soup kitchens and food pantries.

Trump said that he wanted more clarity from the courts before releasing funding for SNAP and stressed that he did not want Americans to go hungry (AFP via Getty Images)

Willy Hilaire is homeless, unemployed and 63. He lives in a New York shelter with his two grandchildren and often goes hungry so that they can eat the food he gets from SNAP.

On many days, Hilaire's only food is a hot meal he gets from Holy Apostles in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. With SNAP at risk, he worries there won't be enough for him and the children, forcing more sacrifice.

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I always tell them, Grandpa is there for you, he told The Associated Press. Whatever I have, I'll give it to you.

This is more than a crisis, added Rev. John Udo-Okon, who runs the Word of Life Christian Fellowship International food pantry in the Bronx, where hundreds more people than usual lined up in the New York City borough as early as 4 a.m. Saturday to collect groceries.

Right now, you can see the desperation, you can feel the frustration that the people are going through.

The Associated Press contributed reporting
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered an update on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on Sunday and said benefits could resume this week.

Theres a process that has to be followed, so weve got to figure out what the process is, Bessent said on CNNs State of the Union.

President Trump wants to make sure that people get their food benefits, Bessent said.

So it could be done by Wednesday? host Jake Tapper asked.

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Could be, Bessent answered.

Trump said on Friday that he asked a pair of federal courts to clarify their rulings on SNAP funding.

Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do, Trump posted on Truth Social Friday evening.

I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT, he continued.

SNAP payments appeared set to dry up at the start of November due to the ongoing government shutdown.

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Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled on Friday, however, that the U.S. Department of Agriculture needs to draw from its $5.25 billion in contingency funds to make at least partial payments.

In Massachusetts, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani gave the government until Monday to consider whether they will authorize at least reduced SNAP benefits for November.

Officials must also determine a timeline for whether to pay for reduced SNAP benefits using the contingency funds or pay full benefits using both the contingency funds and other money.

A lawsuit brought by 25 states led by Massachusetts was heard by Talwani on Thursday. Massachusetts was represented in the lawsuit by state Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell.

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The Trump administration  amid an ongoing government shutdown  claimed that money was set to run out for the program, which provides money for food for low-income individuals across the country, by Nov. 1.

More than 1 million Massachusetts residents are enrolled in SNAP benefits, with Gov. Maura Healey releasing $4 million for local food banks on Thursday to help them ride out the stoppage of the program.

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  The inaugural Veterans Memorial Coliseum Gala took place at the Old National Events Plaza Saturday.

The event paid tribute to Vanderburgh County men who fought in the American Civil War and the Spanish-American War. The coliseum has long stood as a memorial and funds raised tonight will help restore the historic building.

It represents all of the Tri-State veterans, Jill Hahn said. It was originally built to honor the Spanish American War heroes as well as the Civil War. As time progressed, it was meant to be World War I, World War II, and then later on as we progressed, our Vietnam veterans as well. So this is truly a symbol of Evansville as well as the veterans that have served our country.

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The night also featured live music, gourmet food and a silent auction to support the cause.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
BJP candidate from Danapur, Ram Kripal Yadav, in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, praised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow on Sunday, calling it a moment filled with "great enthusiasm and excitement". Speaking to ANI after the roadshow, Yadav said, "Great enthusiasm, excitement and a lot of attraction. I saw an amazing sight. PM Modi's arrival has filled people with a lot of enthusiasm." He added that the energy among the crowd reflected strong public support ahead of the upcoming polls on November 6. "The voting that will take place on the 6th will benefit everyone," he stated. Highlighting the participation of women during the roadshow, Yadav said, "The participation of women was very good. They were more enthusiastic. They were carrying out Aarti." Meanwhile, PM Modi also shared a post on X, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming public response during the roadshow. "Thank you Patna... I am overwhelmed by your immense affection and blessings during the road show!" PM Modi said on X. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1984958702823313603 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited and offered prayers at the historic Takhat Shri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, in Bihar's Patna. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was also present with PM Modi at the holy place. PM Modi also greeted devotees at the Sikh shrine after offering prayers. Patna Sahib will undergo polling in the first phase on November 6. The polling for the second phase will take place on November 11, with results to be announced on November 14. The BJP has fielded Ratnesh Kumar on the Patna Sahib seat, against Congress' Shashant Shekhar and Jan Suraaj's Vinita Mishra. Earlier today, PM Modi held a roadshow in Patna after multiple rallies at Arah and Nawada. Notably, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was not seen at the roadshow, where PM Modi was accompanied by BJP State President Dilip Jaiswal, and Union Minister and JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan. PM Modi also paid floral tributes to the statue of noted Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar in Patna. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister addressed an election rally in Nawada and hailed the NDA's poll promise to provide Rs 3,000 in addition to the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi to farmers in Bihar, saying 'jinhe koi nahi poochhta, Modi unhe poojta hai' (Modi worships those whom no one else cares about). (ANI)
An additional $100 million in donations from Israeli-Canadian businessman Sylvan Adams will also go toward repairing the hospital.

The government approved a budget of NIS 360 million to go toward rebuilding the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba on Sunday, after the hospital lacked resources since it received a direct hit from an Iranian missile during Israels 12-day war with Iran in June.

An additional $100 million in donations from Israeli-Canadian businessman Sylvan Adams will also go toward repairing the hospital, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced at the beginning of the government meeting.

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The money is planned to cover rebuilding the damage and the construction of a ten-story fortified hospital tower.

The decision comes approximately four months after the hit. In that time, hospital officials had expressed how they did not receive adequate funding to repair the damage.

In September, the Knesset Finance Committee was attended by representatives from Soroka Medical Center, who spoke about the urgency of receiving additional funding to equip the hospital with mandatory equipment and facilities.

The scene where a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit and caused damage at the Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva, June 19, 2025. (credit: Yair Tirosh/Flash90)

Iranian missile caused destruction to several areas of the hospital

The damage from the Iranian missile caused destruction to the hospital in several areas, with a signifgant blow to the hospitals old surgical building. The hospital had initially received approximately NIS 50 million in compensation from the Israel Tax Authority following the hit.

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The added NIS 360 million will be divided by taking NIS 160 million from the Health Ministrys development budget and NIS 200 million from the state budget, as part of the across-the-board reduction.

Netanayhu said at the government meeting, "We are building our country, developing it."

Regarding the donation from Adams, Netanyahu called him "a great donor to the State of Israel [who] does so with great generosity and wholeheartedly."

"You elevate Israel's prestige in various fields, and you truly make a great contribution," Netanyahu added.

Adams attended the government meeting on Sunday. He said, It's a great honor for me to donate $100 million for the rehabilitation, construction, and transformation of Soroka hospital into the best and most advanced hospital in the Middle East."

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Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, Soroka Medical Center is the front line of Israels healthcare system in the South, and it has proven its strength and essential role in the most difficult moments of the war.

"The significant investment we are announcing today is not just about repairing damage; it is a clear statement of the governments commitment to strengthening the Negev and reducing the gaps between the center and the periphery. "
NEW YORK (PIX11)  This weekend marks the first instance where the Federal Food Assistance Program, including SNAP benefits, has been temporarily suspended due to the ongoing government shutdown in Washington.

Two federal judges issued separate rulings Friday ordering the Trump administration to continue funding SNAP through an emergency reserve fund.

But that could take days, if not longer.

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How are New Yorkers coping, and where can they get help?

Neighborhood churches like Blessed Sacrament on the Upper West Side and others across the five boroughs are expecting more and more people to come to their soup kitchens and food pantries now that SNAP benefits have ended temporarily.

We usually get 100 people, but I am expecting 130 tomorrow, Father David Nolan, the pastor at Blessed Sacrament, told PIX11 News.

Father David Nolan gave PIX11 a tour of his soup kitchen, showing us the eggs, bread, and canned goods, all part of the Blessed Sacrament Church ministry on 71st St.

The pastor has seen an increase in food-insecure neighbors needing a meal even before the SNAP benefits ended on November 1st as a result of the government shutdown fight.

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We give out a bag with a sandwich, soup, salad, a Heath bar, and a hard-boiled egg in it, Father Nolan told PIX11 News.

In Harlem, at the Food Bazaar on East 125th Street, the store manager requested a police presence outside and increased private security inside after threats were made against the store on social media.

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The manager said he wanted his staff and customers to feel safe.

Yes, it affects me. I need to eat, Bryan Gilbert, a Harlem resident, told PIX11 News. I am not working right now, he added.

Another Harlem resident, Andrea Davis, added: I am fine right now, but next month I am not sure.

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At Mount Hope playground in the Bronx, so many turned out on a Saturday afternoon for a food bank giveaway after SNAP benefits were withheld.

And many New Yorkers worry the need will only become greater.

 Thanksgiving is coming up, and this is the time for people to use their benefits for family to get together, Doreen Alvarado, a Harlem resident, told PIX11 News.

The soup kitchen at Blessed Sacrament, located on West 71st Street, is open on Sundays at 2 p.m.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
The leaders of China and South Korea moved to rebuild relations after years of weakening economic ties and a closer Seoul-Washington partnership.

The first summit between Xi Jinping and South Koreas new president, Lee Jae Myung, underscored Seouls balancing act between the US and China: While Lee sealed a US trade pact days ago, he was jovial with the Chinese leader on Saturday.

They joked about the usually fraught subject of cyberespionage after Xi gifted two Chinese-made phones with Korean displays, marking a rare, off-the-cuff moment for the Chinese leader in a public setting.

The exchange reflected efforts by both countries to bolster economic ties; Korean investment in China has tumbled in recent years.
Nov. 2 (UPI) -- SpaceX Sunday said it is stepping up its efforts to develop a simplified Human Landing System for NASA as it pursues a plan to return to the moon.

SpaceX has been heavily involved in the HLS, which is based on the upper stage of the company's Starship rocket, which is still being developed.

SpaceX released an in-depth, 2,000 word post Sunday detailing the progress it has made on Starship, which completed its 11th test flight last month.

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It highlighted steps it has taken to improve life-support, airlock and communications systems aboard the HLS, as well as the elevator that will be used to carry the astronauts and equipment from the top of the craft to the lunar surface.

The company projected a 2026 timeline for testing the refueling process necessary for the HLS to complete its work. Starship's upper stage reaches orbit with its fuel tanks largely empty, and requires multiple refueling missions from other Starships already in space.

NASA awarded a $2.89 billion contract to SpaceX for its work on the HLS in 2021. Since then, the price tag has been revised to $4 billion. The administration chose SpaceX for the project based on its ability for the HLS to transport astronauts into lunar orbit to the Moon's surface and then return them.

Astronauts will travel from Earth in NASA's Orion spacecraft, which is launched atop its Space Launch System rocket, then return to earth in a small spacecraft.

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The United States has been involved in somewhat of a space race with China, which is on pace to put a manned lander on the lunar surface by 2030, which has also heightened scrutiny on SpaceX for its slow pace in developing the HLS.

On Oct. 20th, NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy reopened the contract to build a lander for Artemis III, the first scheduled landing on the Moon by U.S. astronauts since December, 1972.

In an effort to beat the Chinese mission, Duffy has said the United States could complete its manned lunar mission by 2028.
Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for governor, spent her last week of the campaign on an extended bus tour, bookended with stops in Hampton Roads that culminated in a rally in Norfolk alongside former President Barack Obama. Her opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who has consistently trailed in the polls, was stuck in Richmond.

Republican lawmakers and Earle-Sears supporters gathered last week on the steps of the Virginia Capitol. State Sen. Mark Peake, chairman of the state Republican party, took the podium.

Were here at the invitation of the Democrats in the Senate and the House of Delegates, he said. They have us here to get Madame Lieutenant Governor off the campaign trail. And why do they want to get Winsome Earle-Sears off the campaign trail?

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Because shes winning! someone yelled.

For much of the past week, the lieutenant governor presided over the Senate as Democrats, who control both chambers of the General Assembly, called the legislature into session to push forward a constitutional amendment that would allow for mid-decade redistricting if other states did the same. The resolution passed Friday, marking the first step in a contentious path forward on redistricting.

Lieutenant governor, dont you worry, Ill be out on the campaign trail for you for the next four days, said John Reid, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, before introducing Earle-Sears.

When Earle-Sears stepped to the podium, she said she was speaking as the lieutenant governor, not as a candidate. But the podium in question bore a carnival-esque sign reading Spanbergers Sideshow Session, a swipe at the former U.S. representative, who Republicans say orchestrated the redistricting maneuver for political gain.

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Abigail Spanberger is on record publicly just this summer, promising she would not take up redistricting, Earle-Sears said. I similarly said the very same thing, that I would not take up redistricting. I made the same pledge, but lo and behold, here we are, with the party she leads calling a special session to do exactly that.

Earle-Sears said Spanberger had sold out Virginians for $150,000  the amount the National Democratic Redistricting Committee donated each to Spanberger and the House Democratic Caucus shortly before the special session was called.

Unencumbered by the duties of the legislature, Spanberger spent the last days of her campaign on a bus tour around Virginia, culminating with the Saturday rally at Old Dominion Universitys Chartway Arena.

On Tuesday, we are going to send a message, a message that Virginia is turning the page, Spanberger said to cheers from the crowd. Is Virginia ready for leadership that puts our commonwealth first?

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As Obama took the stage, he reflected on recent actions of the Trump administration including federal layoffs, tariffs and the ongoing government shutdown. When the crowd began to boo, he interjected.

Dont boo. Vote, he said. They dont hear boos. They hear votes.

The good news is there is something you can do about it. Right here. Right now, Obama said, turning to Spanberger, seated on stage beside him. Youve got a candidate for governor who has a track record of getting stuff done. Somebody who sees you. And has been with you, and knows your struggles and will fight for you every single day.

At an earlier midweek stop in Newport News, Spanberger focused on affordability and on federal actions such as cuts to Medicaid and federal workforce reductions, messaging thats been consistent throughout the campaign.

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Back in 2023, I announced my candidacy for governor, started campaigning, and everywhere I traveled, I was hearing the same versions of a similar challenge, she said. Housing prices are going up. Rents are going up. Energy bills are going up. Prescription drug prices are still expensive, and its not getting that much better.

When Spanberger stumped in Newport News in June, it was alongside the other Democratic statewide nominees  state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, who is running for lieutenant governor, and former Del. Jay Jones, who is running for attorney general. They were making the case the Democrats were unified, in contrast with the Republican statewide candidates, who at the time were not appearing together.

But Hashmi, too, has been in Richmond for the special session. And these days, Spanberger and Jones arent seen together in public much at all. In the wake of 2022 texts from Jones that used violent rhetoric becoming public, Spanberger has distanced herself from his campaign.

We are all running our individual races, Spanberger said at the gubernatorial debate last month. I believe my opponent has said that about her lieutenant governor nominee.

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Jones and Hashmi attended Saturdays rally, though they spoke long before Spanberger and Obama.

Polls throughout the campaign have favored Democrats, putting Spanberger ahead of Earle-Sears, and Hashmi outperforming Reid. But recent numbers in the wake of the text scandal have flipped to show Miyares ahead of Jones.

Tuesday is Election Day. At the end of a whirlwind election season, heres a look at how we got here.

___

November 2023: Spanberger announced her run for governor and said she would not seek reelection in Congress. Former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney briefly entered the race, but later opted to instead run for lieutenant governor.

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September 2024: Earle-Sears announced her run for governor at a rally in Virginia Beach. In Virginia, the governor cannot serve consecutive terms, meaning Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin could not run again. The lieutenant governor position has historically been seen as a stepping stone to the governors mansion.

November 2024: Attorney General Jason Miyares announced he would seek reelection, ending speculation that he would seek seek the Republican nomination for governor. Youngkin endorsed Earle-Sears shortly thereafter.

January 2025: U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott briefly floated a gubernatorial campaign as some Democrats speculated how Spanberger would perform among Black voters. Scott did not enter the race.

February 2025: Former Republican state legislators Amanda Chase and Dave LaRock announced they would challenge Earle-Sears for the nomination, saying the lieutenant governor had been insufficiently loyal to President Donald Trump.

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March 2025: The first day to file signatures to qualify for the ballot was March 18. Earle-Sears and Spanberger submitted more than the 10,000 signatures required. Hashmi, Prince William County School Board chair Babur Lateef, attorney Victor Salgado, state Sen. Aaron Rouse, retired labor lawyer Alex Bastani, and Stoney all eventually qualified to appear on the Democratic primary ballot for lieutenant governor.

On the Republican side for that position, Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity and Reid qualified for the ballot; John Curran, a James City County business consultant, did not. Miyares, as well as Jones and Democratic Henrico Commonwealths Attorney Shannon Taylor also submitted their signatures for attorney general.

April 2025: LaRock and Chase failed to qualify for the ballot, meaning Earle-Sears and Spanberger became their partys nominees without a primary.

Later that month, Herrity dropped out of the lieutenant governors race, making Reid the default Republican nominee, and the Republican statewide ticket was set. But opposition research conducted by Republican operatives unearthed a social media account with a username that matched other accounts Reid uses containing reposts of pictures of nude men.

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May 2025: Youngkin called Reid and asked him to step down. Reid refused and publicly said he was being targeted because he is gay. Reid and a consultant at Youngkins PAC threatened lawsuits. Ultimately, the consultant stepped down. Earle-Sears stayed out of the fray and said everybody has their own race to run.

The same month, reporting showed Earle-Sears had previously noted her moral opposition to same-sex marriage and reproductive rights in hand-written notes on the in-progress constitutional amendments to enshrine both in the states constitution.

June 2025: The Democratic primary for lieutenant governor and attorney general was June 17. Hashmi beat out a crowded field for the lieutenant governor nomination, and Jones won a tight race over Taylor. The Democratic statewide candidates immediately began campaigning together and presented a united front.

July 2025: The Republican statewide ticket appeared together  briefly  for the first time at a rally in Vienna. Youngkin encouraged supporters to vote for all of the statewide Republicans.

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A packed October more than made up for a relatively quiet summer.

Oct. 1: The federal government shut down.

Oct. 2: The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that in 2022, weeks after stepping down from the legislature, Jones had been pulled over driving 116 mph. Jones completed 1,000 hours of community service in 2023  half of which were served on behalf of his political action committee.

Oct. 3: The National Review first reported that later in 2022, Jones sent texts to a Republican colleague saying that if Adolph Hitler, Pol Pot and the then-Republican Speaker of the House of Delegates Todd Gilbert were in a room, he would shoot Gilbert twice. He also suggested that politicians needed to experience their children dying in order to shift their positions on gun policy.

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Oct. 6: Trump visited Norfolk for the Navys 250th anniversary celebration. He formally endorsed Miyares and called on Jones to drop out  he did not offer the same endorsement to Earle-Sears, who was at the event.

Oct. 10: Earle-Sears and Spanberger debated. Earle-Sears used much of her time to hammer home what became a theme for much of the GOP, relying on the texts to question opponents judgement of Jones.

Oct. 17: Jones and Miyares debated. The texts were a prominent feature, but the candidates also discussed issues such as public safety and consumer protection.

Oct. 21: Criticizing Hashmi for not agreeing to a debate, Reid hosted a virtual debate where he responded to an AI rendering of Hashmis voice reading out policy positions curated by his campaign.

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Oct. 27: The General Assembly convened in Richmond to begin the process of passing a redistricting constitutional amendment.

November: Obama joined Spanberger on stage at a campaign rally in Norfolk on Nov. 1, the same day early voting ended.

Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881, kate.seltzer@virginiamedia.com
Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) leads her Republican rival in the final days of the Virginia gubernatorial race, while the attorney generals race is a toss-up, according to a new poll.

Spanberger leads Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) 55 percent support to 44 percent, according to an Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey released on Sunday. The Democrats support has grown by 3 points since the previous survey, taken last month. Earle-Sears gained 2 points since that poll.

Heading into Election Day, Democrat Abigail Spanberger has solidified her status as the frontrunner in the race for Governor, said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, in a statement. A sign of Spanbergers growing strength is among male voters, a group that was split last month but now breaks for her by six points, 52% to 46%. These voters backed Governor Youngkin by about 12 points in 2021.

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The attorney generals race, meanwhile, is much closer. Democrat Jay Jones holds a narrow lead over state Attorney General Jason Miyares (R), with 49 percent support to the incumbents 47 percent, according to the poll, with another 4 percent of respondents undecided. When including which candidate the undecided voters lean toward, Joness support grows to 51 percent to Miyaress 49 percent.

Unlike the governors race, early and likely voters split in opposite directions: those who have already voted favor Jones 56% to 44%, while those yet to vote back Miyares 50% to 43%, Kimball said in his statement. Men break for Miyares 50% to 46%, while women side with Jones 51% to 45%.

A split-ticket result in Virginia elections is increasingly rare, but this years contest was roiled by an unexpected twist: unearthed text messages sent by Jones back in 2022 in which he suggested that the Republican state House Speaker at the time should be shot. Jones has since apologized for the text messages, and while Spanberger condemned them, she did not call for him to drop out of the race. Republicans have hammered the Democratic ticket over the scandal, and the race has remained much closer than the gubernatorial contest.

Jones could benefit from many Virginians having already cast their ballots before the scandal drew headlines. Early voting began in September, and as of this weekend, more than 1 million people in the state had already cast their ballots.

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Another factor benefiting the Democratic candidates is President Trumps low favorability in the state. Trump holds a 45 percent job approval rating among Virginians, according to the Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey, while 54 percent of survey respondents disapprove of his job performance. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, meanwhile, has a 49 percent job approval rating, with a 39 percent disapproval rating.

Over 1 in 10 voters who approve of Youngkin (13%) plan to back Spanberger, while none who disapprove of the Governor plan to support Earle-Sears, Kimball said.

The economy remains the top issue on voters minds at 39 percent, according to the poll, followed by threats to democracy at 16 percent, health care at 10 percent, immigration at 9 percent and education at 7 percent.

Those who say the economy is the top issue facing the state break for Spanberger, 53% to 46%, typically a group that breaks for the Republican candidate, like in New Jersey, where voters who say the economy is the top issue break for the Republican Ciattarelli over Democrat Sherrill for governor, 59% to 39%, said Kimball.

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The Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey was conducted from Oct. 30 to 31 with a sample of 880 likely voters or people who had already voted. The credibility interval, similar to a margin of error, is 3.2 percentage points.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(WAVY)  Ahead of the Virginia gubernatorial election, Democrat Abigail Spanberger is leading Republican Winsome Earle-Sears by 11 points in a new Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey.

The poll found Spanberger with 55% to Earle-Sears 44%. It was conducted from Oct. 30-31 and polled 880 very likely voters in the Commonwealth.

Heading into Election Day, Democrat Abigail Spanberger has solidified her status as the frontrunner in the race for Governor, Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling said. A sign of Spanbergers growing strength is among male voters, a group that was split last month but now breaks for her by six points, 52% to 46%. These voters backed Governor Youngkin by about 12 points in 2021.

Moreover, the survey shows a decreased margin between candidates for Virginia attorney general, incumbent Jason Miyares and Democratic challenger Jay Jones. Jones holds a 2-point lead with 49% saying they would vote for him, and 47% saying they would vote for Miyares. 2% are undecided.

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Unlike the governors race, early and likely voters split in opposite directions: those who have already voted favor Jones 56% to 44%, while those yet to vote back Miyares 50% to 43%, Kimball said. Men break for Miyares 50% to 46%, while women side with Jones 51% to 45%.

The top issue for Virginia voters was the economy at 39%, followed by threats to democracy at 16%, healthcare at 10%, immigration at 9%, education at 7%, housing affordability at 6%.

Those who say the economy is the top issue facing the state break for Spanberger, 53% to 46%, typically a group that breaks for the Republican candidate, like in New Jersey, where voters who say the economy is the top issue break for the Republican Ciattarelli over Democrat Sherrill for governor, 59% to 39%, Kimball said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
SAN FRANCISCO  Gavin Newsoms last two campaigns featured a star-studded roster of celebrity and Silicon Valley donors, from Steven Spielberg to Ron Conway and Priscilla Chan.

But most of the California governors past top donors  at least 54 of them  have not reopened their checkbooks for Tuesdays ballot measure that would redraw California House districts to favor Democrats, a POLITICO analysis found.

With just days before the vote, their dollars are conspicuously missing from the Proposition 50 fight, an absence that, as of Friday, extends to the wealthiest Californians and titans across industry. Of more than 30 billionaires who once bankrolled Newsom, only seven of them, including George Soros, put money behind the redistricting push.

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Bigwig Hollywood producers such as former Walt Disney Studios chair and DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, Big Bang Theory co-creator Chuck Lorre and movie executive Peter Guber have not returned for the November special election.

Real estate billionaire George Marcus is missing, as are two donors who had sent Newsom $1 million checks: Gap co-founder Doris Fisher and Connie Ballmer, a philanthropist married to former Microsoft CEO and Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.

Even oil heir Gordon Getty  a family friend who invested in Newsoms first business venture pre-politics and whose family members have been reliable Newsom backers for years  hasnt cut a donation. A spokesperson for Getty said he doesnt comment on local politics.



The missing major donors had all hit the contribution limit for Newsoms reelection campaign in 2022, giving tens of thousands of dollars, or spent even more to help Newsom fight off a recall attempt the year before.

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The no-shows reflect a rare point of potential weakness for Newsom in a redistricting campaign that has otherwise gone entirely his way. Polls suggest the measure is likely to pass, and Newsom has used it to build an army of small-dollar donors ahead of his expected 2028 presidential run.

But big-dollar donors carry weight in presidential campaigns, too, and some view these withdrawals as a warning sign for Newsom  reflecting lingering frustration with the party's sweeping losses in 2024, fear of retribution from Trump or hesitation, even among some of California's heaviest hitters, to align themselves this early with Newsom.

I have been really shocked at the big names that have not been on, which make me feel like this thing is more of a mandate on do you want to see Gavin Newsom have a successful campaign for president or not? said one California-based Democratic strategist, granted anonymity to discuss conversations with donors.

Yet another factor has been general discomfort with the idea of gerrymandering  the political project Newsom is championing to counter Republican-led redistricting campaigns elsewhere. Still, others expressed a desire to save their resources, given that the Prop 50 campaign is already flush with cash  including for the likely 2028 contender himself.

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Real estate investor Clint Reilly said that while hes fully on board with Prop 50, the campaign has very ample funding, so hes holding dry powder for [the] Gavin Newsom for President Campaign.

A former political consultant, Reilly had dropped $100,000 to defend Newsom against the 2021 recall and another $32,400 to his subsequent reelection.

POLITICO contacted more than 50 of the no-show donors directly or through representatives. Most would not comment on the record or did not respond.

One of the more prominent absent donors, Chan, during the recall had staked $750,000 to keep Newsom in office. And the charity she runs with her husband, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, put millions of dollars last year behind a ballot measure that wouldve lowered the voter threshold for certain bond measures so cities can borrow for housing more easily.

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Since Trump came into office, however, the Meta chief has pivoted to cultivate a closer relationship with the president, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has continued to suspend grants focused on more progressive causes. The initiative did not respond to a request for comment about where she stands on Prop 50.

On the sidelines are several more of Newsoms old Silicon Valley donors  many of whom built their fortunes alongside his political career through companies like Twitter, Yahoo, Napster and DoorDash. Most are now far enough removed from those companies day-to-day operations to wade into partisan politics without risking boardroom blowback.



They include Ballmer; Napster co-founder Sean Parker and his wife, Alexandra; Laurene Powell Jobs, the billionaire investor and widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs; Zynga founder Mark Pincus; Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang and his wife, Akiko Yamazaki; former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer; former Medium CEO and Twitter co-founder Evan Williams as well as DoorDash CEO Tony Xu and two of his co-founders that are still with the company.

A major Democratic fundraiser granted anonymity to discuss sensitive matters said Newsom loyalists know they have to be cautious about drawing unwanted attention. Theyve tended to enjoy a lower profile than Democratic megadonors more closely affiliated with national party causes like the Soros family, and GOP operatives are likely to scrutinize the funders of Prop 50.

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Republicans are trying to kneecap a leading candidate for president in 28. So if youre one of Gavin's biggest, biggest supporters, and you're planning on writing a really big check for his presidential campaign, dont start now, said the fundraiser. Don't go to the well prematurely on a different initiative that could be funded by others."

But the first Democratic strategist said most no-show donors they knew were steering clear of Prop 50 to avoid bolstering Newsom ahead of 2028.

Eighty to 90 percent of those folks just don't want to get involved in the Newsom for President campaign this early, they said.

Newsoms Prop 50 push has significantly expanded his small-dollar donor base to tap for 2028. His fundraising raked in more than 100,000 contributors who had not given to his previous statewide campaigns or federal committee, a separate POLITICO analysis found.

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In an unusual show of confidence eight days out from the election, Newsoms political operation told smaller online donors to stop, as its goals had been met. The anti-Prop 50 operation all but collapsed during the final stretch after being outspent two to one.

Nathan Click, a spokesperson for the Prop 50 effort who ran communications for several of Newsoms statewide campaigns, said the campaign drew unprecedented support from across the Democratic Party, grassroots activists, Washington party committees and large donors alike.

In addition to raising more than $120 million for Prop 50, Governor Newsom has also been spearheading fundraising efforts for national Democratic groups focused on redistricting efforts nationwide  working closely with House Democrats and many of his longtime donors on the effort, he said in a statement.

The Prop 50 campaign has made countering Trump its central selling point, and that agenda is not entirely without the support of big donors. At least 15 people  roughly a fifth  of those who contributed at least $64,800 to one of Newsoms last two campaigns also gave for Prop 50. Two of the past Newsom donors have died since his last reelection and were excluded from the analysis.

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The single largest funder in favor of Prop 50 is a group founded and funded by Soros, the liberal megadonor who gave $10 million. The president has repeatedly called for him to be jailed as he escalates threats to leverage federal power against his political enemies, saying in October his administration would investigate whether Soros financed the No Kings protests. (The White House did not respond to a request for comment.)

Prop 50 is critical to ensuring we can actually have fair midterm elections in 2026 and blocking Trumps unprecedented redistricting power grab, said a spokesperson for his son, Alex Soros, who has been handed control of the familys $25 billion philanthropic empire. Mr. Soros was encouraged to see Governor Newsom and House Democrats take on this important fight, and we are glad to support it.

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, whom AI company Anthropic appointed to its board this year, sent a $2 million check to the Prop 50 campaign. He had exceeded that by spending $3 million against the recall and said his motivations this time are far broader.

I'm a big fan of Gavin Newsom, thus the earlier donations. He is a gifted political strategist and a futurist, Hastings said over email. Prop 50 I would have supported whether Gavin was involved or not. I see it as fairness relative to Texas redistricting.



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Other former Newsom benefactors who showed up for Prop 50 include former Google CEO Eric Schmidt with half a million dollars; philanthropist Mark Heising with $500,000; private investment firm chair Andrew Hauptman with $300,000; Hyatt heir John Pritzker with $250,000; agricultural billionaires Stewart and Lynda Resnick with $125,000 each; Levi Strauss descendent John Goldman and his wife Marcia with $50,000 each; sitcom creator James Brooks with $10,000 as well as San Francisco socialite Dede Wilsey with $5,000.

Prop 50 has also enjoyed support from new donors in the billionaire class, such as $2.5 million from venture capitalist and Trump critic Michael Moritz, who used to lead Sequoia Capital, and a combined $1.1 million from Phoebe Gates, the daughter of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and her brother, Rory.

Most of Newsoms biggest past donors are not spending for him in the Prop 50 war, though.

Powell Jobs spent $400,000 to oppose Newsoms recall but has not made a political contribution for Prop 50 or anything else in the state since last spring.

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Hastings wife, Patty Quillin, did not match his contribution to Prop 50 after previously maxing out for Newsom. The Netflix co-founder clarified that the $2 million was on behalf of him alone.

Sports mogul and chair of the 2028 LA Olympics organizing committee, Casey Wasserman, does not plan to make a contribution to Prop 50. Susan Pritzker hasnt shown up after giving more than $164,000 between the last Newsom campaigns.

Notably, Conway, who is working with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to help fundraise for the effort, has not personally donated to Prop 50. He and a spokesperson did not respond to inquiries about his plans.

Conway has been vocal about his views on the measure, telling POLITICO this summer that no one can afford to sit out when the future of our democracy is at stake and that Texas Republicans are trying to keep one political party in power forever. Hes brought it to the attention of at least one other Silicon Valley donor, Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham, who came through with $500,000.

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A fellow Democratic megadonor, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen, who said he thinks the governors bold approach to redistricting is necessary, has not chipped in either.

Through a spokesperson, he declined to comment further on Prop 50.

Methodology: POLITICO used California Secretary of State data to analyze Proposition 50 contributions for a list of 73 individual donors as of Friday. They represent people who gave the maximum contribution allowed to both the primary and general election for Newsoms most recent gubernatorial campaign  a combined $64,800 in 2022  or donated at least that amount to oppose his recall attempt the year before. Two of those individuals died in the years since and were left out of POLITICOs calculations.

Jessica Piper contributed to this report.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday appealed to members of the Bihar community living in Bengaluru to travel home and support the Mahaghatbandhan alliance in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Addressing members of the Bihar Association at Coffee Board Layout in North Bengaluru, Shivakumar said, "a three-day holiday would be facilitated for those travelling to Bihar to cast their vote. All of you have said that I deserve a bigger post. That is not important for me, I would be happier if you all vote for Mahaghatbandhan in Bihar. Nitish Kumar is at the fag end of his political career, Tejaswi Yadav has been declared as the CM candidate for Bihar." Highlighting concerns over voter deletions in Bihar, he added, "Lakhs of voters have been removed from the voters' list in Bihar. We are trying to save your votes in Bihar. I appeal to all of you to go to Bihar and vote for Mahaghatbandhan. We will direct Credai, contractors and other organisations to declare a three-day holiday so that you all can go to Bihar to vote." The Deputy Chief Minister also announced that the state government would allocate a site for the Karnataka Bihar Association. "It would not have been possible to build buildings in Bengaluru without you. You are hard workers and work with diligence. We have decided to allocate a site for Bihar Association in Karnataka. We have never discriminated against you as outsiders. We had made arrangements to send you home by arranging buses during Covid when the bus fares shot up," he said. During the event, when Shivakumar attempted to have his speech translated into Hindi, several attendees responded by saying, "We are not Biharis but Karnataka Biharis and we know Kannada," reflecting the community's deep integration with the state. Responding to a question about his recent remarks on BJP MP Tejasvi Surya's criticism of the tunnel road project, Shivakumar clarified, "I haven't targeted anyone individually. His words are childish. Why are they not talking about tunnel projects in other cities? BJP is against Bengaluru's development." Mahagathbandhan, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal, includes Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani's Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP). Voting for Bihar's 243-seat Assembly will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14. (ANI)
PATTON, Pa.  Even before attending college, Taylor Duclo said, she always knew she wanted to operate her own restaurant.

It was just a matter of where it would be, the Flinton woman said.

After touring the site of a former Glendale Lake Road pizza shop near Patton over the past year, Duclo, 23, said she knew she had found the right place.

I actually have a business plan together to buy an existing restaurant, Duclo said, but when this building came up, I just couldnt pass on it.

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Taylor Anns Deli and Cafe opened last weekend at 445 Glendale Lake Road  east of Patton, just across the street from Cambria Heights High School and three miles from Prince Gallitzin State Park.

Her eatery features salads, subs, pizzas and grab-and-go items, as well as coffees and other specialty drinks.

Some of the restaurants most popular items so far include onion- and pepper-topped Philly cheesesteaks, fresh dough pizzas and stromboli, she said.

Taylor Anns also features hamburgers, including a bacon mac-and-cheese burger and a Western burger topped with onion rings and provolone cheese.

Deli meats are sold cut-to-order, and are also featured on many subs and sandwiches, including the popular turkey club, which is topped with bacon, lettuce, tomato and cheese, she said.

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The first-time business owner admitted she was a bit nervous during the lead-up to opening day last week.

I didnt know what to expect, Duclo said.

The response from the community was overwhelming, she added. She said the restaurant emptied nearly three cases of cheesesteaks its first weekend  and sold out of a number of items at one point or another.

Duclo said her family has been a big help in getting her restaurant running, and then serving customers over the weekend.

She also credited St. Francis Universitys Small Business Development Center and Johnstown Area Regional Industries for their guidance and support.

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JARI has so many programs to help businesses that are starting out. They are always there to ask (questions) if I need anything, Duclo said.

St. Francis Small Business Development Center Director Jeff Boldizar helped Duclo create a business plan. Boldizar said his team was happy to help.

Its inspiring to see a young entrepreneur like Taylor bring her dream to life, Boldizar said. She approached this venture with determination, preparation and a willingness to learn.

Our team was proud to assist her along the way, and were confident Taylor Anns Deli and Cafe will become a community staple.

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JARI officials celebrated the debut of Taylor Anns Deli and Cafe with a ribbon cutting last week. They were joined by area elected officials and staffers from ARC Federal Credit Union, which helped Duclo secure the small business financing she needed to open the restaurants doors.

JARI is thrilled to celebrate Taylors success, said Jeffry Cramer, interim president of JARI. Her business represents exactly what we strive to encourage  local investment, community connection and economic growth. Taylors passion and commitment are a testament to the strength of small business in our region.

The restaurant is open six days a week and closed Wednesdays. For more in- formation about the restaurant and store hours, visit the Taylor Anns Deli and Cafe Facebook page.
BALLWIN, Mo.  With federally-funded SNAP benefits unavailable due to the government shutdown, several St. Louis-area groups teamed up Saturday for an emergency food drive.

The event was held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 building in Ballwin.

Volunteers helped organize, unload and sort shelf-stable food and essential items.

Organizers, including one Democrat running for state office, say its all about supporting community members in need.

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We take care of ourselves. We take care of our community. We want to show that. Its a tough moment for a lot of Americans, and the way we take care of each other is the key, said Fred Wellman, a Democratic candidate for Missouris 2nd Congressional District.

Wellman says helping people early is important and stressed that there are still resources out there for families in need.

For more resources and information in the St. Louis area, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  St. Marks Lutheran Church announced a new program called Grace & Groceries to help anyone dealing with food insecurity in the wake of the government shutdown and suspension of SNAP benefits.

The church is offering a free bag of groceries and a hot meal on Tuesday nights in November to anyone experience food insecurity.

Download the WHNT News 19 App to stay updated on the go.

Sign up for WHNT News 19 newsletters to have news sent to your inbox.

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There are no requirements or questions asked.

Food pickup will take place from 6-7 p.m. while supplies last in the back parking lot. Pickup nights include November 4, 11, 18, and 25.

The pickups can be made at 200 Longwood Drive SE.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
The union that represents Starbucks baristas, Starbucks Workers United, is demanding improved staffing, hours, pay, and job protections.

About 12,000 workers at 550 unionized Starbucks stores are participating in the vote, including more than 30 stores in Western Washington.

The union said the vote is open-ended and has not announced when it will conclude or when results will be released.

Negotiations between Starbucks and the union began in May 2024 but have faced numerous delays, including a mediation process. The talks eventually fell apart in December 2024.

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Starbucks Workers United says the company has refused to return to the bargaining table with a new proposal. The company, meanwhile, says it is ready to resume discussions if the union returns to the table.

The possibility of a strike comes after Starbucks closed hundreds of stores last month as part of a restructuring plan under CEO Brian Niccol.
MADISONVILLE, Ky. (WEHT)  Uncertainty continues over whether peoples Snap Benefits will be suspended for the month of November.

The first of the month is usually when federal food assistance is loaded onto snap cards, but not today because of the government shutdown. With federal food assistance funds running out millions of people across the country are at risk of going hungry. On Friday, Governor Beshear declared a state of emergency and redirected food funds to feeding Kentucky food banks.

In a statement, Governor Beshear says In Kentucky, were committed to doing everything we can to help our neighbors get through this challenging time thankfully, we have a great partner in feeding Kentucky, which will allow us to provide some support for those most affected

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That strong sense of community is felt throughout the Tri-State. In Kentucky, multiple restaurants have launched initiatives to help those impacted by the suspension. In Madisonville, Oasis Southwestern Grille has started offering children 12 and under a free meal. Restaurant owner Carmon Weakly says she and her husband just felt the need to do something to help.

These are our peers, our neighbors, our staffs children, our customers children, you know our community here we just felt the need to do just something, Weakly said.

In Owensboro, Wonder Whip also has begun offering children a free meal. Employees say the most important part of the offer is making sure children have a meal outside of school.

In School they give you meals every day and those are pretty guaranteed, Callie Hurm said. But on the weekends. Some struggle to get meals for their family so we just are happy to get back and everybody.

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Both Oasis and Wonder Whip say they will continue providing the free meals until the shutdown is over and peoples benefits are restored. A federal judge in Rhode Island has temporarily ordered the Trump administration to continue funding Snap.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Two small changes in human DNA may have played a big role in helping our ancestors walk upright, researchers say.

The study, recently published in the journal Nature, found that these tweaks changed how a key hip bone developed.

This allowed early humans to stand, balance and walk on two legs instead of moving on all fours like other primates.

One change caused the ilium -- the curved bone you feel when you put your hands on your hips -- to rotate 90 degrees.

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This shifted how muscles attached to the pelvis, transforming a structure once used for climbing into one built for upright walking.

The other genetic change slowed down how the ilium hardened into bone, giving it more time to expand sideways and form a short, bowl-shaped pelvis.

These changes were "essential for creating and shifting muscles that are usually on the back of the animal, pushing the animal forward, to now being on the sides, helping us stay upright as we walk," study co-author Terence Capellini, an evolutionary biologist at Harvard University, said.

The researchers examined samples of developing pelvic tissue from humans, chimpanzees and mice, pairing microscopic samples with CT imaging.

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They found that in humans, pelvic cartilage grows sideways rather than vertically as it does in other primates, and that it hardens later, allowing the structure to widen as it forms.

Further analysis revealed that the difference came from subtle changes in gene regulation -- the "on-off switches" that control how and when certain genes are active.

In humans, cartilage-forming genes switched on in new regions, prompting horizontal growth, while bone-forming genes activated later, slowing the hardening process.

Because primates share most of the same developmental genes, researchers believe these changes appeared early in human evolution, after our lineage split from chimpanzees.

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"What Terry and his lab's work has shown is that it's not just a rotation, it's a different way of growing," University of Missouri anthropologist Carol Ward, who was not involved in the study, told Science News.

"One of the most significant things about this change is it shows how critical it was to establish the ability to stand on one foot at a time, which lets us walk on two feet," Ward said.

Interestingly, this research didn't start as an evolutionary study. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers originally set out to understand how the pelvis forms to improve treatments for hip disorders.

"It was geared towards biomedical research," Capellini told Science News, "understanding how you build a pelvis and why it's different [from other primates and mice], and more importantly, why it leads to disease."

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What's more, the same evolutionary adaptations that enabled walking may also have made the human hip more prone to osteoarthritis, the researchers noted.

And, Capellini added, those wider hips may have also created a roomier birth canal, making it easier for humans to give birth to larger-brained babies as evolution progressed.

More information

The Smithsonian's Human Origins Program has more on human evolution.

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COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Lee County, Ala., Sheriff Jay Jones has announced his intention to run for re-election in 2026, seeking his eighth term in office.

There was a controversy last week as Jones terminated Deputy Cam Hunt after Hunt told the sheriff he intended to run against him.

Jones sat down with WRBLs Chuck Williams to talk about his nearly 50-year career in law enforcement and his last 27 years as sheriff of the growing East Alabama county. Jones also talked about why he terminated Hunt and the precedent for that move.

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WRBL has offered Hunt an opportunity to appear on an upcoming Sunday Conversation.

Heres a look at that conversation:

Part 1

Part 2

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
The government shutdown entered its second month on Saturday, and the stalemate between Republican and Democratic senators could soon see a breaking point as federal food programs stopped issuing benefits to millions of Americans.

Back from his trip to Asia, President Trump said on Thursday that he wants Republicans to use the nuclear option to reject the filibuster, which requires legislation to be passed with 60 votes, and end the shutdown.

Hes faced pushback from Republicans in return, with a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) saying the senator sees that the importance of the legislative filibuster is unchanged.

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But shutdown fatigue has some Senate Republicans and Democrats looking for an off-ramp, ready to make a proposal as early as next week. Democratic senators are reportedly looking for a face-saving exit from the shutdown standoff, with Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) conceding that Affordable Health Care (ACA) costs will rise if tax credits expire at the end of the year.

Now we know that the American peoples health care costs are going to go up because the Republican Party in Washington is refusing to extend the ObamaCare tax credits, Bennet said. Democrats have won a victory because we have demonstrated that we are fighting for health care for all Americans.

Thune told reporters on Wednesday that there have been discussions with moderate Democrats about holding negotiations to extend the ACA tax credits, but only after the government reopens.

Its just a question of whether or not they are at some point willing to take yes for an answer, Thune said.

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Without extending the tax credits, coverage prices in 2026 will jump for millions of Americans. Individuals 60 and older who make $65,000 a year will pay $920 more for health care, with monthly premiums at $1,380. If the tax credits are extended, monthly premiums in 2026 will be $460.

Lower earners would lose their free insurance, as Americans making less than $27,000 are expected to pay $66 a month should the subsidies expire. Those who earn $35,000 will see a $132 increase compared to the $86 if subsidies were extended.

The effects of the shutdown are also causing flight delays and cancellations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urged lawmakers on Friday to reopen the government after reporting a high number of air traffic controller call-outs. Paid by the federal government, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the start of the shutdown.

After 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue, the FAA wrote on social platform X. The shutdown must end so that these controllers receive the pay theyve earned and travelers can avoid further disruptions and delays.

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Military service members, who have also gone without pay, could face further impacts. Without funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), around 42 million Americans face food insecurity and could plunge thousands of service members into crisis.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) is among the voices calling on both sides, especially his own party, to act and not vote no on another attempt to approve the House-passed clean continuing resolution (CR).

Americans are not leverage, Fetterman told CNNs Manu Raju on Friday, before SNAP benefits lapsed. This is not some shy gameshow about whos winning or whatever.

Fetterman is likely going to talk more about the shutdowns impact on programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other agencies on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday.

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The Trump administration has argued that it legally cannot dip into emergency funding to keep SNAP afloat past Saturday, but two federal judges on Friday ordered the administration to tap into those funds. Later in the day, Trump indicated that he would fund SNAP.

I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT, he posted on Truth Social. Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.

Away from the shutdown fight at home, Trump announced this week that the U.S. would resume nuclear weapons testing after a decades-long moratorium. This was met with a great deal of pushback from lawmakers and critics, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).

This is weakness masquerading in strength, Newsom said to Kristen Welker in the upcoming episode of Meet the Press on NBC News. This is classic Trump and Trumpism. This guy is historically weak, and these are acts of a weak person that is trying to appear strong.

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Going into next week, attention will also focus on the upcoming elections on Nov. 4. High profile races include the New York City mayoral race, where Assembly member Zohran Mamdani (D) maintains his polling lead over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who is running as an independent after Mamdanis primary win.

The state next door is also expecting a tough race for the New Jersey governorship between Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D) and former state Rep. Jack Ciattarelli (R). Trump endorsed Ciattarelli and has touted his experience with energy policy as a reason to support the Republican candidate.

Split-ticket results are possible in Virginias gubernatorial race between former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Lt. Gov Winsome Earle-Sears (R), with the attorney general race between Democratic nominee Jay Jones and incumbent state Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) being marked by scandal.

Sherrill and Ciattarelli will appear on ABCs This Week, while Cuomo will appear on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Features.

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These topics and more will be discussed on this weeks Sunday morning news shows. A full list of planned guest appearances is below:

NewsNations The Hill Sunday: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Virginia House Speaker Don Scott (D), Virginia Lt. Gov. candidate John Reid (R), Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.)

NBCs Meet the Press: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D)

CBS Newss Face the Nation: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D), Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), United Services Automobile Association (USAA) president and CEO Juan Andrade

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CNNs State of the Union: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), former Obama administration and Biden campaign advisor Ashley Allison, Republican campaign strategist Kristin Davison

Fox Newss Fox News Sunday: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)

Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Nvidia president and CEO Jensen Huang, New York City independent mayoral candidate and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), lawyer Mike Davis

ABCs This Week: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial nominee and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), New Jersey Republican gubernatorial nominee and former state Rep. Jack Ciattarelli (R-N.J.)

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
On Sept. 26, the Department of Homeland Security shocked Iowans by announcing the arrest of Ian Roberts, then the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. Supporters of Roberts, including many children from his school district, flooded the Iowa State Capitol with messages of support. Initial reports of the arrest were unclear about the motive for the arrest, and it was hard to corroborate whether Roberts was indeed not a citizen.

Since that day, new facts have come to light about Roberts legal and professional history. According to reporting by the New York Times, Roberts was born in Guyana and has lived in the US consistently since the mid-1990s, though he never gained permanent legal status. Notably, this was not for lack of trying: hHe submitted multiple green card applications over the more than 30 years that he lived here, during which time he married a US citizen, officials have said. Roberts received several charges for firearms possession but there is no evidence that he ever demonstrated a risk to his students or to public safety generally.

However, Roberts' resume was rife with misrepresentations, such as listing degrees from universities he did not graduate from or even attend. Roberts did earn a doctorate, but not from the university that he claimed in his application for Des Moines superintendent. As superintendent, he reportedly attempted to steer a $116,000 bid towards a consulting firm he did work for.

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These are allegations of serious professional misconduct that deserve thorough review and, if substantiated, appropriate professional consequences. However, no matter the outcome of those investigations, nothing justifies the violent detention of a man who by all accounts was dedicated to his students and inspired them to give their best in school.

Public reactions in the immediate aftermath of Roberts arrest were sympathetic but quickly soured as more people realized that he had a criminal record and was, in fact, undocumented. To a certain extent, this is understandable: People feel betrayed when those they look up to are revealed as dishonest. And yet, what this case does more than anything is hold up a mirror to our own prejudices about race, crime, immigration and deserving-ness.

If youre inclined to believe that immigrants are especially crime-prone or that Black people have an unfair advantage in the job market, Roberts presents compelling evidence. But the truth is that immigrants commit crime at lower rates than native-born citizens and that Black Americans face widespread discrimination in the job market. Individual instances of immigrants committing crime or Black people holding high-status jobs do not invalidate these facts. For two years serving as the superintendent for Iowas largest school district, Roberts received many accolades from his colleagues. Clearly, his lack of legal status did not detract from Roberts ability to do the job.

More: How Des Moines Public Schools can pick up the pieces from Ian Roberts' tenure | Opinion

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This does not mean that Roberts should escape accountability. On the contrary, he should be held accountable, but in the United States, as a free man, not toiling away in a cell or in a country he hasnt lived in for decades. Like thousands of immigrants before him, Roberts was working hard and making positive contributions to his community when he was suddenly ripped away from his family. Plus, none of the kids in DMPS are better off as a result of Roberts deportation.

Roberts is simultaneously a victim of a needlessly cruel immigration system and an individual who has made his share of mistakes. This should be a cautionary tale to those searching for a person of unassailable character to highlight the overreaches of the Trump administrations crusade against immigrants: if we wait for the ideal victim, we will be waiting forever. Nevertheless, we should not let those who transgress the law dampen our resolve to create a more just system, nor should we be afraid to advocate for them.

Patrick Hardy

Patrick Hardy holds a master's degree from the University of Iowa and lives in Cedar Rapids with his wife and three children.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ian Roberts' failings do not vindicate US immigration policy | Opinion
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Wednesday over Trump's "liberation day" tariffs.

Trump says a national emergency lets him issue sweeping tariffs  which no other president has done.

Experts say Trump could still pull off his trade plans without them, but it'll be harder.

In April, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency. The United States, he said, had "been looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered" by other countries through trade deficits.

Imposing a tariff of at least 10% on nearly every single country in the world would address the problem, Trump said. Select countries, like Brazil and India, would be subjected to even higher tariffs, which are taxes imposed on imported goods.

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It was "Liberation Day," Trump announced.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments over whether those tariffs can stand.

If the Supreme Court kicks Trump's tariffs to the curb, it'll be taking away one of the most powerful and flexible tools the president has used to pursue his economic agenda. If it lets Trump keep them, it'll reflect the Supreme Court's ever-broadening view of presidential power.

To legally justify the "Liberation Day" taxes on American importers, the White House leaned on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. The Carter-era law allows presidents to limit international transactions after declaring a national emergency, and has typically been used to justify sanctions.

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The Supreme Court is considering whether the IEEPA allows presidents to impose tariffs, a power no previous president has ever claimed. If the court decides yes, it'll take up a second issue: Whether giving the president this power tramples upon Article I of the Constitution, which says it's Congress's job to set and collect taxes and duties.

Those questions give the justices room to choose their own adventure in how they approach the case, according to Rachel Brewster, a professor of international trade at Duke Law School.

If they zero in on the text of the IEEPA, they might be more inclined to uphold the decisions of lower courts, which found the tariffs illegal, she said. If their questions center on national security, things could swing in Trump's favor, according to Brewster.

"There's multiple frames," Brewster told Business Insider. "It's a mix of all these things  it's a mix of domestic taxation, it's a mix of domestic regulation, but it also implicates foreign imports and foreign negotiation. So I think there's a lot of wiggle room."

No taxation without justification

IEEPA doesn't say anything about letting presidents invent new taxes or tariffs in response to national emergencies. Instead, the law allows presidents to "regulate" importation, which the Trump administration says covers the power to unilaterally impose tariffs.

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Attorneys opposing the IEPPA tariffs have argued that Congress has passed plenty of other laws that, under certain circumstances, allow presidents to impose tariffs without explicit congressional permission. Legislators could have included that power in IEEPA if they wanted to, they say.

President Donald Trump presented a poster board listing the "reciprocal tariffs" he imposed on other countries on "liberation day." BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Trump has taken the unprecedented measure of using this novel power as the basis for one of his biggest economic priorities, said Alan Wolff, a former deputy director of the World Trade Organization, who has negotiated trade deals in both Republican and Democratic administrations.

"We're in uncharted territory," Wolff told Business Insider. "No president has ever done anything like this."

Whatever the Supreme Court decides, it would apply only to the "reciprocal" tariffs announced on "liberation day" and the "trafficking" tariffs Trump issued earlier on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, which he said were meant to stem what the White House described as a tide of foreign-made fentanyl into the United States.

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Those IEEPA-justified tariffs, if they are upheld, would raise four times as much revenue as the other Trump tariffs combined, according to an estimate from the Tax Foundation, a think tank.

The Supreme Court's November 5 hearing will address two different tariff cases, both brought by groups of small businesses, as well as twelve states that oppose the tariffs. Victor Schwartz, the founder of VOS Selections, a New York-based wine importer that is the lead plaintiff in one case, previously told Business Insider that he's suing because bigger companies wouldn't take on the challenge.

"One of the big motivating factors for me to step up is that the big guys in business were not getting involved," Schwartz said. "The big guys who have the money and power are cowering or defending their own self-interest."

Tariffs are a Trump administration priority

Courts are typically loath to second-guess presidents on national security issues. And for that reason, it's likely the Supreme Court will uphold the tariffs, said Wolff, now a fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

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"I think that it's very tough for the Supreme Court of the United States to say the foreign economic policy of the United States, which is based on this statute of this 1977 law  we're going to determine that actually the President had no authority to do this," Wolff said.

The IEEPA tariffs are a powerful tool for Trump as his administration negotiates trade deals. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Neither the Court of International Trade nor the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit disagreed that Trump had the ability to determine emergencies. But both said that the tariff powers Trump claimed just aren't in the IEEPA toolkit.

"They just said, even if there has been a finding of an emergency, IEEPA doesn't authorize this," Brewster said.

If the Supreme Court knocks down the IEEPA tariffs, Trump could still accomplish his trade policies, but it would be "a lot messier and more difficult," Wolff said.

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The laws that explicitly grant Trump the ability to issue tariffs without Congress's permission are much less flexible than the powers Trump claimed under IEEPA.

Those tariffs can only be imposed against specific countries or particular industries, and they typically have built-in expiration dates and caps on how high the tariff can be. Some of them also require investigations by government agencies, which could further slow things down.

"For IEEPA, we need none of that," Brewster said. "We don't need any investigation. We don't need any substantive limits. You just have this completely unbound power in IEEPA, which is why the president is now so fond of IEEPA."

Read the original article on Business Insider
United States President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was "a great one" and would bring lasting peace and success for both nations. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "My G2 meeting with President Xi of China was a great one for both of our countries. This meeting will lead to everlasting peace and success. God bless both China and the USA!" The US President met the Chinese President Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Busan, South Korea on October 30. After his highly anticipated meeting, Trump said that Washington has reached a landmark one-year trade pact with China, slashing US tariffs on Chinese imports from 57 per cent to 47 per cent. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated, "We have a deal," referring to the trade pact which will be routinely extended. "Every year we'll renegotiate the deal, but I think the deal will go on for a long time, long beyond the year. We'll negotiate at the end of the year," he added. Trump further noted that the 10 per cent tariff reduction on Chinese exports to the US was due to China agreeing to take "strong action" on the fentanyl issue. "It was 57, now it's 47," the US President said. "We reduced it by the fentanyl because I believe they are really taking strong action. We've already seen the action on fentanyl, and they're taking very strong action. So reduced to 10 per cent," he added. Later, while speaking to reporters, Trump announced that China has committed to immediately purchase "large and tremendous amounts" of soybeans and other US farm products as part of a deal between the two nations. During a gaggle aboard Air Force One following his departure to Washington, Trump hailed the decision as a "very nice gesture" from President Xi Jinping, noting that his Chinese counterpart had authorised the purchase a day earlier. "We're in agreement on so many elements. Large amounts, tremendous amounts of the soybeans and other farm products are going to be purchased, starting immediately. If you notice, President Xi authorised yesterday for China to start buying very large quantities of soybeans and other things, which I appreciated. That was a very nice gesture," Trump said. According to CNN, in May, China halted its purchases of US soybeans following Trump's announcement of tariffs, leaving farmers nationwide with billions of dollars' worth of unsold crops and prompting some to question the policies of a president many had supported. (ANI)
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  A man was hospitalized after being stabbed at a convenience store located in the 1800 block of Sherwood Way on Sunday, Nov. 2, reported SAPD.

The call came at 8:27 a.m., and officers responded to the scene after already being in the area investigating a separate incident down the street. Those officers were among the first to respond to the unknown problem at the convenience store, and upon arrival, they learned that the suspect had fled the scene.

Officers located a 44-year-old male victim suffering from apparent stab wounds and immediately began medical care, as reported by SAPD. The San Angelo Fire Department then transported the victim to Shannon Medical Center. He is currently listed in stable condition.

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SAPD stated that additional officers responded to the area and located the suspect hiding close by. The suspect was identified as 37-year-old Michael Ray Zapata. Zapata was taken into custody without incident and has been charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and has been booked into the Tom Green County Detention Center.

Zapata later confessed to investigators regarding his involvement in the incident.

This case represents exceptional teamwork between the initial responding officers, the patrol supervisors, detectives, the SAPD Drone Unit, and Crime Scene Investigations personnel, whose coordinated efforts led to a swift conclusion, said SAPDs Chief Travis Griffith.

This case remains under active investigation by the San Angelo Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division. Additional information will be released as needed.

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The suspect in the death of Trudy Appleby in 1996 is scheduled for a jury trial that will begin Monday in an unrelated drug case in Davenport, according to Scott County Court records.

In Henry County, Illinois, Jamison Fisher faces three counts of first degree murder and one count of concealment of a homicidal death.

In Scott County, Fisher faces two felony charges of controlled substance violation and a felony charge of failure to affix a drug stamp. He is being held in Scott County Jail in Davenport after being transferred from the Henry County Jail in Cambridge, Ill., court records show.

Jamison Fisher (Scott County Jail  October 2025)

A search warrant and a Davenport arrest

On July 23, 2025, Davenport Police executed a search warrant on the 6200 block of Ripley Street for an ongoing narcotics investigation involving Fisher, according to Scott County Court records.

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Affidavits say Fisher was in the residence and placed under arrest for an outstanding arrest warrant. On his person, detectives found $442. During a search, they also found:

7.11 grams of methamphetamine, total package weight, in three separate packages

38.78 grams of marijuana in four separate packages

One small functioning digital scale with methamphetamine residue on it

$356

Packaging material

Drug paraphernalia.

Detectives have confirmed throughout the course of the investigation through a cooperating source that Fisher regularly sells methamphetamine and marijuana, say affidavits, which show It should be noted the methamphetamine seized did not have the proper tax stamp affixed to it as required by the state of Iowa.

Fisher has pleaded not guilty to charges in the drug case.

Fishers Henry County charges

On Aug. 14, 2025, several law enforcement agencies, including the Henry County States Attorneys Office and the Rock Island County States Attorneys Office, held a press conference at the Henry County Courthouse in Cambridge. Moline Chief of Police Darren Gault announced that Fisher has been charged in 11-year-old Trudys disappearance.

Trudy Appleby (photo submitted)

Trudys remains have not been located but authorities mentioned hundreds of cases nationwide that have been prosecuted without a body. The alleged location of the homicide is within Henry Countys jurisdiction.

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Henry County States Attorney Catherine Runty said a grand jury indicted Fisher with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of concealment of a homicidal death. The statute of limitations prevented a charge of kidnapping because the case is so old, she said.

If you commit crimes, violent crimes in the city of Moline, we will hunt you down, said Moline Police Chief Darren Gault. No matter how long it takes, if it takes us 30 minutes, 30 hours or 30 years, we will find you.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A suspected car burglar tried to outrun Alameda police Friday afternoon by jumping on a paddleboard and crossing the Oakland Estuary.

He got pretty far, but then an Alameda fire boat swooped in, and the suspect gave up.

INTERACTIVE: Take a look at the ABC7 Neighborhood Safety Tracker

Once they got him to shore, he was arrested.

Alameda police say they found the suspect's vehicle and stolen items inside.

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live




Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Two suspects have been arrested in Saturday night's mass stabbing incident on a British train, police said Sunday, while dismissing concerns it was a terror attack.

Officers were called at 7:42 p.m. local time Saturday to respond to reports of multiple people stabbed on board the 6.25 p.m. train from Doncaster to London King's Cross station, British Transport Police said in a statement.

The train was forced to stop in the small town of Huntingdon, where police and paramedics boarded the train.

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The two suspects were arrested within eight minutes of the first 911 call, police said.

Police described the suspects as a 32-year-old Black man and a 35-year-old man of Caribbean descent, both of whom were natural-born British nationals.

They have been detained on suspicion of attempted murder and remain in custody for questioning.

In total, paramedics took 10 people by ambulance to a local hospital and another later self-presented. Four victims have been discharged but two people remain in life-threatening condition.

Witnesses described seeing bloody handprints as panic spread through the train cars in comments to The Guardian.

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"We declared a major incident yesterday and Counter Terrorism Policing were initially supporting our investigation however at this stage there is nothing to suggest this is a terrorist incident," police superintendent John Loveless said. "This is a British Transport Police investigation."

Loveless' comments came after British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged people not to speculate about the attack.

The train station in Huntingdon remains closed and police said riders can see increased police presence throughout the train service on Sunday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the stabbing an "appalling incident" and "deeply concerning" in a statement on social media, while former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it happened on a line he uses regularly.

"My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response," Starmer said. "Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police."
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Lees Summit police issued a Community Safety Alert on Saturday after suspicious bags of candy-like substances were found at a local park.

According to a Facebook post by the Lees Summit Police Department on Saturday, officers were called to a park where they reportedly found small bags of bright-colored substances resembling candies.

See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

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The substances may have contained drugs, including fentanyl, police said.

LPD added that drugs, in general, are often designed to appeal to children and teens, and small amounts can lead to serious injury or death.

The police department encourages the public to keep the community safe by reporting suspicious items and talking to children and teens about the dangers of unknown substances.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Historic partnership with the Government of Israel and Clalit Health Services will rebuild Soroka as one of the most advanced hospitals in the Middle East

Philanthropist Sylvan Adams pledged $100 million to rebuild and modernize the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba following a direct Iranian missile strike in June, the hospital said on Sunday, as Israels government announced a multi-year plan that includes NIS 360 million in state funding for a new fortified inpatient tower.

The announcement was made during the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. Adams, who also serves as president of the World Jewish Congress, Israel Region, framed his gift as a message of resilience and renewal.

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Our answer to Iran is to build back bigger and better. On the very place where missiles fell, we will build in Beersheba a beacon of healing, progress, and peace. We choose life. We choose excellence. We choose to answer destruction with construction and hatred with compassion, he said.

According to the statement, the total investment in Sorokas reconstruction will exceed one billion shekels, shared equally by the government, Clalit Health Services, and Adamss donation. The governments share includes NIS 360 million for a new fortified inpatient tower to strengthen health infrastructure in Israels South.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Adams as a great friend and benefactor of the State of Israel, thanking him on behalf of the government, the citizens of Israel, and especially the residents of the Negev.

Soroka, one of Israels largest and most strategically important hospitals, said the $100m gift will be split between rebuilding damaged infrastructure and forward-looking transformation projects. Plans include expanded emergency capacity, upgraded maternal and critical care units, and the integration of technologies such as AI-based diagnostics, precision medicine, and next-generation imaging systems.

Hospital leadership described the partnership among Adams, Clalit, the government, and international donors as a new model of national renewal, intended to ensure that the Negev emerges stronger than before.
Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa will make a rare visit to Washington this month, Syrian state media reported on Sunday, in a fresh sign of growing ties between the two countries.

Al-Sharaa will go to the White House in early November for a "historic" visit, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani confirmed, according to the state television al-Ekhbariya.

The visit will be the first by a Syrian president to Washington since 1946, Syria's official news agency SANA said.

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Al-Sharaa's talks in Washington will cover the reconstruction of war-devastated Syria, SANA quoted al-Shaibani as saying.

"We want a very strong partnership between the US and Syria," he added at a security forum in Bahrain.

On Saturday, the US news portal Axios, citing US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, reported that al-Sharaa is expected to travel to Washington on November 10 and meet US President Donald Trump.

Trump and al-Sharaa met in May in Saudi Arabia and in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly debate in New York.

According to Axios, it is expected that al-Sharaa will sign a declaration at the White House, officially adding Syria to the US-led coalition against the terrorist militia Islamic State.

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In 2014, Islamic State overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq.

The United States began an operation to combat the hardline group during which the US military, along with allies, conducted thousands of airstrikes in both countries.

Islamic State is considered militarily defeated, but an estimated 2,500 of its operatives are still active in both countries.

In December, al-Sharaa commanded an Islamist-led rebel alliance that deposed Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, who fled the country for Russia.

Since al-Assad's fall, Syria's new leadership has sought to garner world recognition and economic support to rebuild the country ruined by more than a decade of war.
Syrian government bodies informed the Lebanese side of the need for cooperation in this sensitive case, sources told The Media Line.

[DAMASCUS] Damascus has formally asked the Lebanese government to assist in extraditing several former Syrian regime officials and officers accused of war crimes who fled to Lebanon after the regimes collapse last December, Syrian sources told The Media Line.

The sources said that communication between the two sides remains ongoing, and that Syrian government bodies informed the Lebanese side of the need for cooperation in this sensitive case. However, Lebanon has yet to issue an official position, as the matter is undergoing a detailed legal and security review regarding the nature of the charges and the jurisdiction of the relevant courts  particularly since some of the wanted individuals possess valid residence permits in Lebanon.

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According to the sources, hundreds of Syrian officers and soldiers fled to Lebanon following the collapse of the regime, highlighting the scale and complexity of the situation.

Meanwhile, a joint Syrian-Lebanese committee has been holding near-daily meetings in Damascus and Beirut to address several unresolved matters between the two countries. These discussions focus on the cases of prisoners and detainees on both sides, border security, efforts to curb weapons and drug smuggling, and the status of those who sought refuge in Lebanon.

Since early October, Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar Al-Weis has visited Beirut at the head of a judicial delegation to discuss these matters, with particular emphasis on the situation of Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons, including Roumieh Prison. His visit followed an earlier trip by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, who led an official delegation to Beirut aimed at establishing new channels of diplomatic and judicial coordination between the two countries.

Traffic moves at the entrance of Daraya, on the outskirts of Damascus on October 29, 2025. (credit: LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Syrian side sought agreement for release of hundreds of Syrian detainees

Through these meetings, the Syrian side sought to secure an agreement that would allow for the release of hundreds of Syrian detainees or their transfer to Damascus to face trial under Syrian jurisdiction.

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Analysts note that Lebanon faces a complicated legal challenge in this matter, particularly when it involves officers accused of crimes committed across borders or against Lebanese citizens. Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar stated that any release or extradition of detainees will only occur after a thorough examination of each case, in accordance with legal and international standards.

Lebanons refusal to hand over individuals accused of fighting against its army or engaging in security-related offenses within its territory remains a major obstacle to reaching a comprehensive agreement with Syria.

The extradition of former regime officers has therefore become a key test of both countries willingness to rebuild normal relations after years of political and diplomatic tension. Any arrangement would need to include strict legal procedures to protect the rights of the accused while safeguarding Lebanons sovereignty and national interests.

Observers also suggest that involving international judicial institutions or adopting transitional justice frameworks could help ensure transparency and reduce political sensitivities surrounding the issue.

For now, attention is focused on whether the Lebanese government will soon issue an official position  and whether both sides can overcome the legal and security hurdles to make tangible progress on a matter that directly affects sovereignty, justice, and the intertwined future of the two nations.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has stated that Turkiye is ready to host a round of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, as well as a potential summit of leaders in Istanbul.

Source: Yeni Safak, citing Fidan at TRT World Forum, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Fidan announced that Turkiye had officially proposed to host a new round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which could possibly include a summit of leaders in Istanbul, the agency writes.

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The minister emphasised Turkiye's unique position as a country that maintains constructive relations with both sides, which previously enabled the launch of the Istanbul peace process.

"We successfully facilitated their return to the negotiating table through the Istanbul process," Fidan said, referring to three previous rounds of talks and a prisoner exchange held in Turkiye.

He reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy will remain the cornerstones of Turkish foreign policy.

Background:

In early September, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in China. That meeting focused on bilateral Turkiye-Russia relations as well as regional and global issues.

Erdogan stressed that Turkiye continues its efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Recently, US President Donald Trump said he believes Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan could help resolve the Russo-Ukrainian war because "he is respected by Putin".

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Canadian ministers have condemned a recent protest outside the Indian consulate in Toronto where demonstrators displayed an image showing two men shooting at pictures of Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, sparking outrage with the lawmakers terming it a threat to democratic values and demanding accountability. Canada's Secretary of State for International Development, Randeep S Sarai, in a post on X, stated that such an attack "undermines democracy" and that such acts have "no place" in the country. "Targeting a public official with threats or violence undermines our democracy. At a recent protest, there was a deeply disturbing depiction of guns being pointed at a photo of Minister Anand. We condemn these acts of hate unequivocally. There is no place for this in Canada," Sarai said. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree echoed the same outrage over the "absolutely vile and unacceptable" demonstration. "A recent protest in Toronto showed two men shooting at the image of a federal Minister, which is absolutely vile and unacceptable. Canada condemns all threats to public officials, full stop. Those responsible for inciting such hate and violence must be found and held accountable," Anandasangaree said on X. The demonstrations, reported by an independent freelance journalist who goes by Journalist V on X, were organised by Sikh extremist groups who are part of the Khalistani movement. Footage shared featured playcards, Khalistani flags and mock executions of the Canadian Minister, along with cutouts depicting the former PM's assassination. Khalistani supporter Sarbjit Kaur have publicly criticised Anand, accusing her of siding with India following efforts to normalise bilateral relations. "She may need to resign over this. Besides anything that happened in the past or in India - she is praising someone allegedly targeting citizens current day in Canada," Kaur posted on X, adding, "She's not making people feel safe." Last month Anita Anand was on an official visit to India as part of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy and to improve ties between the two countries. Her visit follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, at the G7 Summit in June, signalling a thaw after over two years of strained relations. India and Canada are working to improve their ties after tensions rose in 2023. The strain began when then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India strongly rejected the charge, calling it politically motivated, and accused Ottawa of providing a safe haven to Khalistani terrorists. In August, both countries reinstated their high commissioners. India's High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik took charge in Ottawa, and Canada's new High Commissioner Christopher Cooter took charge in Delhi. The bilateral reset gained momentum with the appointment of Christopher Cooter as Canada's High Commissioner to India, filling a vacancy that had been open since October 2023, and the resumption of national security advisor-level talks in New Delhi. (ANI)
This story is part of our weekly Hidden Gems feature series as the USA TODAY Network-Florida takes readers around the state to highlight some of our most interesting attractions.

PANAMA CITY BEACH  Bay County's piers are more than just structures; they are symbols of a community built around coastal living.

Along the Gulf Coast, few places stand out like Bay County, where there is not just one, but two full-sized piers located only about 3 miles apart.

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They are the Russell-Fields Pier and the M.B. Miller Pier, each of which sit within the Panama City Beach area and have become major attractions for not just residents, but tourists, too.

What makes Bay County unique?

"I don't know anywhere else with two (piers)," Thomas Putnam, owner of Half Hitch Tackle, said. "There's quite a few communities with one, but I'm not aware of anywhere (nearby) with two. ... The piers (can) get crowded and hectic, but at least with two, it's not as crowded and hectic as it would be if you only one.

"I think it just draws more people to the area."

Located at 2206 Thomas Drive, Half Hitch Tackle has been part of the community since 1972. Putnam said the two piers have "a big impact" on his business.

Russel-Fields Pier

Many of his customers are headed to fish at them when they stop by.

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"The two piers and the state parks give people a lot of public access, and public access is an issue these days," Putnam said. "I know people who come and stay (here), and all they do is fish from the piers."

Necessary rebuilds after the storm

According to Fred Brown, capital project division manager for Bay County, both piers were completely rebuilt and upgraded following damage sustained during Category 4 Hurricane Dennis in 2005.

The Russell-Fields Pier was renovated first in about 2007, with the M.B. Miller Pier following shortly after in about 2009.

Work on both was completed by the same contractor using a similar design. Brown helped monitor the reconstruction of the Russell-Fields Pier. He also managed the reconstruction of the M.B. Miller Pier for Bay County.

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Each pier now reaches about 1,500 feet into the Gulf. They are reinforced with concrete, are able to support emergency transportation vehicles, and feature blow-out panels. These panels help protect the piers from structural damage during natural disasters by giving way when faced with strong winds or waves.

Attention residents: Club La Vela? Panama City Mall? Which Bay County attraction do you miss most? Take our poll

Who goes to each pier?

"The M.B. Miller (Pier is) probably more Bay County local citizen driver, (and) the Russell (Fields Pier is) probably more touristy," Brown said. "They give people the opportunity to come over, view the water from a different point of view or perspective. The fishing is great here, and (having places to fish) without (needing) a boat is a great benefit."

Russell-Fields Pier

"I think they're great. I think people really enjoy them ... And, I think citizens should be proud to have two piers that close together."

Which governments oversee the piers?

While both piers are located within the PCB area, they are overseen by different local governments. Panama City Beach manages the Russell-Fields Pier, while Bay County manages the M.B. Miller Pier.

What do you do at the piers?

Fishing, for sure.

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"At the two piers, you can just about catch anything that's available in the Gulf," Putnam said. "You have your in-shore typical surf fishing. That's whiting, pompano, red fish and Spanish mackerel. Then you have those who fish out more toward the end and catch king mackerel, bonito (and) great tarpon."

In addition to attracting anglers, the piers also are main beach access points for the region, with lifeguards stationed at each.

Panama City Beach Fire Resuce's Beach Safety Division has lifeguards at the Russell-Fields Pier, and Bay County Fire Resuce's Surf Rescue Division has surf rescue specialists at the M.B. Miller Pier.

Cheryl Joyner, director of parks and recreation for Panama City Beach, said the Russell-Fields Pier welcomes about 300,000 visitors each year.

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Like Putnam, Joyner believes having two, full-sized piers not only attracts more people to PCB and Bay County, but also helps reduce congestion for those who visit the piers.

M.B. Miller Pier

"It is nice that they're only a couple miles apart," she said. "So, if one is a little more crowded, or there's different fish running at different ones, it makes it a convenient resource for everyone."

More from PCB: Panama City Beach wants to build a bridge or tunnel between Frank Brown Park and Pier Park

M.B. Miller Pier

Putnam, who has lived in the area since 1965, said the original Russell-Fields Pier was built in the 1980s. Though he was not sure when the original M.B. Miller Pier was built, he said it has been here since he moved to the Gulf Coast.

If you go

Russell-Fields Pier: 16201 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach; https://www.pcbfl.gov/departments/parks-recreation-department/city-pier-beach

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M.B. Miller County Pier: 12213 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach; https://www.baycountyfl.gov/facilities/facility/details/MB-Miller-County-Pier-5

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Russell-Fields, M.B. Miller piers are huge attractions for Bay County
Sara Roman believes deeply in serving her community. A certified notary public, she decided to embrace a mobile model to make her services more accessible to clients.

Roman opened a trailer, the Notary Kiosk, to house her business in June. It is usually parked in a Tampa lot near the 13th Judicial Circuit Court at 946 E. Twiggs St.

She will be hosting an open house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday to honor Notary Public Day.

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A native Puerto Rican, Roman moved to Tampa when she was 19. She began her career in health care services and worked at Moffitt Cancer Center and the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital as a bilingual patient navigator, among other roles.

In 2011, Roman became a notary public to help her fellow church and community members translate and notarize documents.

Roman would incorporate her business, iCommunity Multiservices, in 2017 after taking workshops at the Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women in Hyde Park. She rebranded it as the Notary Latina in 2023 to reflect on her heritage.

I understand the people that come to me and the culture of the Latino community, Roman said.

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The idea of the kiosk was born last year when I knew I wanted to do something different, accessible and quick.

Roman eventually had discussions with leaders of Seven One Seven Parking Enterprises, who gave her the opportunity to park it near the courthouse.

Acquiring a trailer has allowed Roman to reach more people. She spoke about how she works with the Orlando-based Mexican Consulate when it does events in Tampa.

Mobility in these times is everything, Roman said. I can also go to other counties that are not so urban like Hillsborough.

Beyond notary and translation services, Roman offers fingerprinting, copying and faxing, and she will ship documents to Tallahassee to help customers get special certifications such as apostilles, which authenticate documents for use in other countries.

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For Roman, its about providing services while also helping individuals connect with other community resources. Additionally, she can be a bridge for Spanish-speaking people.

Roman has seen the impacts of deportation firsthand.

In August, she said, she had to assist when a couple was sent back to Mexico by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Their two young daughters were left behind.

Roman drove to Tallahassee to get apostilles for the childrens birth certificates so they could return to their parents.

A proud Latina, she is also a proud American and the daughter of a Vietnam veteran.

People profile people too easily. They dont know the education and experience that I have, she said. Im not afraid to be profiled because I know the quality of my work, and that speaks volumes about how I speak, my accent or how I look.

Roman hopes to franchise the Notary Kiosk concept in other cities, or open an office in Tampas courthouse or airport.

This content provided in partnership with stpetecatalyst.com.
The humanities deserve public support. Democracy depends on it | Oct. 26

STEM isnt for everyone

Gratitude to David Newheiser for his fine guest column about the humanities deserving public support. I was a mathematics professor for 31 years. Many people do not realize that math itself is a liberal study, teaching one to reason and think critically. In addition, I love poetry, literature, art, and, later in life, religious studies, and I read extensively during my years as a professor and now that I am retired. Yes, the humanities are fundamental to a well-rounded, educated person. Young people should choose a major that lifts their spirits and brings joy. Any educated, determined person can make a decent living. I cannot imagine forcing unwilling students into upper-level math classes so they can become engineers, when that is not their passion. Lets support each student in his/her joy. That is how we educate our precious youth to become productive, thoughtful, contributing citizens.

Linn Sennott, St. Petersburg

The humanities deserve public support. Democracy depends on it | Oct. 26

STEM vs. humanities

David Newheisers guest column argues that university-level humanities education is a vital component of overall education. This is in reaction to a movement within the educational system (often fueled by outside politics) to minimize (defund) the humanities in favor of more science, technology, engineering and mathematics and other useful degrees such as business. The defund argument is often based on the claimed need to provide students with a degree that leads to financial prosperity and otherwise contributes to technology growth. It is further argued that humanities degrees do not accomplish these goals.

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I agree with Newheisers points regarding how the humanities develop a useful skillset that is in sync with what many employers seek. Going further, I would argue that a meaningful university education should expose students to the world that exists at the interface of philosophy, the arts and human experience, not as a pie in the sky endeavor, but as a real fully human experience.

Humans are not just information processors and problem solvers (indeed important skills), but also live in the emotional and reflective dimensions of life, where one experiences lived life, beauty and the complex human experience. The humanities develop critical thinking skills in ways that STEM education does not. From a multiple intelligences theory viewpoint, the humanities hits on intelligence categories that STEM does not.

Reducing the humanities is basically moving downward in the Maslow Hierarchy, more toward survival and away from self-actualization and a meaningful emotional human experience. This should not be our goal.

William E Lee III, St. Petersburg

Hillsborough sheriff says staff showed poor judgement | Oct. 27

Too harsh

The saying goes, Dont let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I want good police officers (exemplifying courage, sacrifice, and honor), not perfect (with academic accolades). After decades of service, supervision and performance reviews, these officers have demonstrated their fitness and dedication to public safety. Beyond meeting their educational requirements for their positions, I dont care if they get PhDs. What matters to me is their performance in real-world policing.

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In this unfortunate situation among certain personnel, it seems perspective has been lost. Their termination after decades of loyal service  protecting the public while risking their own lives on every shift seems like excessive punishment. Not to mention the publics loss of decades of invaluable law enforcement experience. There must be a range of remedies that could hold these persons accountable in a way more commensurate with a balanced view of the situation. With appropriate reprimands, these dedicated officers deserve a second chance.

Robert White, Valrico

ICE agent in Florida Keys pulled over for DUI asks arresting deputy: Are you Haitian? | Oct. 27

Still on the job?

An off-duty ICE officer allegedly berated a Black deputy, demanded to know if he was Haitian, and even threatened him with deportation after being stopped for suspected drunken driving. Innocent until proven guilty, of course, but the dashcam and bodycam footage seem to have done most of the proving already.

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Yet here we are, months later, and the ICE agent is still on the job and still cashing a taxpayer-funded paycheck. Maybe its because hes white. Maybe its because he quit drinking. Or maybe this is just the new federal standard for law enforcement: racist, drunk and still employed. If this is what passes for high standards, then ICE might want to defrost its moral compass, before it melts entirely under the heat of its own hypocrisy.

David Burg, Tampa

Thank you, power plant workers

You flip a switch and lights turn on. It seems simple, but generating power is complex, a skill that requires intimate knowledge of sophisticated equipment, observance of critical safety protocols and a passion for serving others.

On Nov. 3, Duke Energy celebrates Power Plant Worker Appreciation Day and our 600 plant workers across Florida who power the lives of our 2 million customers every day.

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Looking to the future, these men and women, who operate at roughly 40 plants throughout our service territory, are also integral to meeting the rapidly rising demand for energy.

For example, we recently upgraded our Bartow Power Plant in St. Petersburg to produce an additional 170 megawatts of energy with the same amount of fuel, and well make similar improvements at several other natural gas plants, adding about 400 megawatts to the electric grid by early 2027.

Not only does this effort increase the plants capacity, but it also saves our customers up to $200 million annually.

I thank our power plant workers for embracing a growth mindset that will allow us to continue providing reliable service for our customers, but I know they dont do it for the praise.

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For the vast majority, the communities where they work are their homes  where they grew up and are raising their own families now. Everything that happens behind the light switch is more than just a job, its personal. And you can see that in the care and dedication they put into their craft.

Melissa Seixas, state president for Duke Energy Florida

  

Submit letters at www.tampabay.com/opinion/submit-letter/. Letters are edited for clarity and length.
[Watch previous FOX 8 I-Team coverage in the player above.]

CLEVELAND (WJW)  The FOX 8 I-Team has learned that a loss of separation event that happened Oct. 29 in Cleveland involved a medical transport helicopter that was headed to St. John Medical Center in Westlake.

A spokesperson for MetroHealth Medical Center confirmed to the I-Team on Sunday that a Metro Life Flight aircraft was involved in the event.

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9 injured, including kids, in shooting Sunday during party at Airbnb home in Bath

Metro Aviation operates all medical transport aircraft for the MetroHealth system .

Metro Aviation released the following statement:

N262MH was enroute to St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio to pick up a patient on October 29th. The pilot and medical crew landed safely, and the crew was in communication with air traffic control throughout the flight. We will cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board and will support the investigation in any capacity that the NTSB requests.

No one was injured.

We are also told that the aircraft had traveled from the base at the Wayne County Airport to St. John Medical Center and there were no patients on board at the time.

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A loss of separation event in aviation is when aircraft fly closer to each other than is considered to be safe based on minimum safe distance rules, made to prevent mid-air collisions.

Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board said Saturday they were sending a team to investigate the incident, which happened near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

In this incident, NTSB said a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 and a Eurocopter helicopter were both incoming when there was a loss of separation event.

New details on Cleveland crash that killed driver, 51

Officials with Southwest sent the following statement:

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Southwest Airlines Flight 1333 landed safely at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport on October 29 after the Pilots discontinued their initial approach to the runway due to the presence of another aircraft. The Pilots were in contact with Air Traffic Control throughout the event, and the Boeing 737-700 landed uneventfully a short time later. Southwest appreciates the professionalism of our Crew in responding to the situation. We are engaged with the National Transportation Safety Board and will support the investigation. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees.

The impacted flight was coming in from Baltimore.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
GLASGOW, Ky. (WKRN)  A young man was arrested Saturday for multiple charges  including murder  following a mid-October crash in Glasgow that left three teenagers dead and several other people injured.

According to the Glasgow Police Department, the incident was reported just after 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the intersection of Veterans Outer Loop and North Jackson Highway.

Authorities announced on Oct. 18 that the preliminary investigation revealed Asa Howard, 18, of Edmonton, was driving a 2016 Nissan Altima northbound on North Jackson Highway when he collided with a 2017 Toyota Highlander traveling eastbound on Veterans Outer Loop.

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Officials said Barren/Metcalfe EMS transported Howard and an 18-year-old passenger from Glasgow to T.J. Samson Community Hospital before they were flown elsewhere due to their injuries. An injured 21-year-old passenger from Glasgow was also taken to T.J. Samson, but he was reportedly released later on.

Electric vehicles destroyed after fire at Franklin dealership

However, three other passengers  described by law enforcement as 18-year-old Emily Corbin of Hart County, a 14-year-old from Bowling Green, and a 17-year-old from Edmonton  were pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, the driver of the Toyota was brought to T.J. Samson in a personal vehicle while Hart County EMS transported another passenger to the same hospital, according to police. No additional details were shared about the nature of these individuals injuries or their ages.

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Glasgow Police Chief Guy K. Howie released a statement about the crash on Oct. 20, saying, in part, Upon arrival, first responders were met with a scene of overwhelming destruction. The crash had resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries, and debris was scattered across all four lanes of the intersection. It was immediately clear that this was a tragic and critical incident requiring a multi agency response.

In addition to Glasgow officers, members of the Barren County Sheriffs Office, the Cave City Police Department, Kentucky State Police, Barren/Metcalfe EMS, Hart County EMS, the Glasgow Fire Department, the Barren/Metcalfe 911 Center, the Barren County Coroner, Barren County Emergency Management, and the Kentucky Department of Transportation provided assistance at the scene and with the investigation, authorities said.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

To all the men and women who responded that nightthank you. You placed yourselves in a difficult and emotional situation to serve and protect our community. I pray that none of you ever have to face a tragedy of this magnitude again in your careers, Howie said. We know that each of you holds the families and survivors of this incident in your thoughts and prayers, just as we do.

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Two weeks after the deadly collision, on Friday, Oct. 31, a Glasgow lieutenant obtained an arrest warrant for Howard. Officials said investigators determined the 18-year-old was driving at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at the intersection when he hit the Toyota. Then, right after the crash, Howard allegedly left the scene on foot, came back, and was manifestly under the influence of an intoxicating substance.

According to law enforcement, a Metcalfe County deputy took Howard into custody on Saturday, Nov. 1. He was charged with three counts of murder, one count of first-degree assault, and three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

Police said theyre still investigating this case. No additional details were released.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
A teenager is recovering after being shot at a North Philadelphia SEPTA subway station.

There was a large police response Saturday night on the 1300 block of Cecil B Moore Avenue.

Authorities say a 14-year-old boy was shot twice in the hip at the top of the stairs to the subway.

He was taken to Temple University Hospital where he is in stable condition.

Police have taken one suspect into custody.
Another Tesla Robotaxi has crashed in Austin, Texas, Electrek reports  and the automaker is trying to keep everything it can about it under wraps.

In an updated crash report this week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that another Robotaxi collision had taken place in September, making it the fourth reported crash from the Robotaxi service since it launched in late June. What actually happened, however, is impossible to determine. As its done in the past, Tesla redacted most of the crash information, an unusually shady practice that makes it an outlier among its competitors.

What we do know, per the NHTSA report, is that the crash took place in a parking lot after a Robotaxi slammed into a fixed object. No one was hurt, but property damage was listed. Numerous past incidents have shown the Tesla taxis struggle to navigate parking lots.

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It doesnt sound like a particularly severe accident, but its striking that these crashes are happening at all. Not only are the Tesla cabs limited to a highly-mapped out and small area of a single city  at least for the time being  but theyre also supervised by a human safety monitor sitting in the front passenger seat who can intervene at any moment to stop a crash. The service also relies on a hidden backbone of teleoperators who can pilot the vehicles remotely when needed. That invites scrutiny into how many more crashes there couldve been had humans not been around to step in  a timely question, because CEO Elon Musk last week promised to remove safety monitors entirely by the end of the year.

Given the services small size, the crashes are worryingly frequent. As Electrek notes, the company revealed in an earnings call last week that its fleet had traveled 250,000 miles since launching late June, which translates to a crash every 62,500 miles. Waymo, for comparison, has a crash every 98,600 miles and thats without a safety monitor or any physical human supervision.

This is far from the only time Tesla has redacted crash information, too. The first three Robotaxi crash reports were also heavily censored, and the practice has more or less become the norm for the company. As justification, Tesla claims that the excised details contain confidential business information.

And the practice isnt just limited to Robotaxis. It also heavily redacts information about crashes involving its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving modes, removing details like crash narrative and the date of the incident. Sometimes, the NHTSA has even redacted crash report information at Teslas request, The New Yorker reported in 2023.

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Automakers are obligated to report crashes to the NHTSA within five days of learning about them. But Tesla has played by its own rules here as well. This August, the NHTSA launched a probe into Tesla because it often failed to report self-driving crashes in time, sometimes months after the fact. It blamed these tardy reports on an issue with its data collection.

More on Tesla: Tesla Deploys Self-Driving Mode That Ignores Speed Limits
Sean 'Diddy' Combs has a job in his prison's laundry room.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs will be working in the prison laundry

The 55-year-old rap mogul was transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Fort Dix, New Jersey, earlier this week, where he is expected to carry out the rest of his 50-month jail sentence for transportation to engage in prostitution and it has now been revealed he has been given a way to pass the time in the facility.

Sources told TMZ that the I'll Be Missing You hitmaker will be washing and drying dirty clothes in the jail's laundry room.

The job may come as a shock to the disgraced star because during his trial, prosecutors claimed he was unable to do basic tasks such as charge his own phone and relied on a team of personal assistants to do everything for him.

FCI Fort Dix is a low security facility and said to have better conditions than MDC Brooklyn, where Combs had been behind bars since his arrest on various sex crime charges in September 2024.

His legal team had requested he be moved to the facility in New Jersey because of its access to drug rehabilitation schemes.

His attorney Teny Geragos had written in a court filing: "In order to address drug abuse issues and to maximize family visitation and rehabilitative efforts, we request that the court strongly recommend to the Bureau of Prisons that Mr. Combs be placed at FCI Fort Dix."

The Bad Boy Records founder had complained about the conditions in MDC and earlier this month, his friend Charlucci Finney claimed Combs had suffered a terrifying incident at the prison when he woke up "with a knife to his throat".

Charlucci told the Daily Mail online: He woke up with a knife to his throat. I dont know whether he fought him off or the guards came, I just know that it happened.

However, Charlucci believes the alleged incident was designed to scare the I'll Be Missing You hitmaker, rather than hurt him.

He added: If this guy had wanted to harm him, Sean would have been harmed. It would only take a second to cut his throat with a weapon and kill him.

It was probably a way to say, Next time you aint gonna be so lucky. Everything is intimidation. But with Sean it wont work. Sean is from Harlem.

The 60-year-old producer is constantly worried about his friend because he fears he will always be a target for fellow inmates.

He said: "Sean has kept a lot of this stuff to himself because he doesn't want to worry his family. But if you're in jail and you've been charged with anything sexual it's not a good place to be.

"The prisoners take it personal. They look at it like, it could have been my mom, my auntie, my daughter. They try to get what they call prison justice.

"And you have to understand, we are not talking about a regular person. We're talking about Diddy."
The Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan was reopened on Saturday, allowing the return of Afghan refugees after a nearly two-week closure that followed deadly border clashes between the two countries last month, The Express Tribune reported. According to officials, the decision came as the ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which was formalised in Doha on October 19, continues to hold. The repatriation process, which had been suspended since October 11, has now resumed at both the Torkham and Chaman crossings in Pakistan, as reported by The Express Tribune. Authorities said around 10,700 individuals crossed into Afghanistan via the Chaman border on Friday as the repatriation effort expanded. Approximately 1.56 million Afghan nationals have so far returned to their homeland under Pakistan's ongoing repatriation initiative. The border closure, imposed after days of cross-border clashes, had stranded thousands of families on both sides and disrupted bilateral trade. The suspension of trade led to shortages and higher prices of essential goods, particularly fresh produce such as tomatoes, in markets across northwestern Pakistan, The Express Tribune reported. While the Torkham crossing has reopened for refugee movements, trade remains suspended for the time being. "The border remains closed for trade for now," Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said, as quoted by The Express Tribune, noting that the resumption of commercial activity would depend on the prevailing security situation. Officials said all necessary staff had been directed to resume duties at the Torkham crossing to facilitate the repatriation process. Temporary shelters, food supplies, and medical assistance have been arranged by the Frontier Corps and the civil administration to ensure a "dignified and orderly" return for departing families. Deputy Commissioner of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Bilal Rao, confirmed the reopening, stating that operations had resumed smoothly to assist Afghan nationals heading home, The Express Tribune reported. Express Earlier on Thursday, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to continue their ceasefire after a new round of talks in Istanbul. According to the statement, the meetings, held from October 25 to 30 and mediated by Turkiye and Qatar, were aimed at consolidating the truce that both sides first agreed to in Doha under the same mediators. The discussions focused on mechanisms to sustain peace and prevent further border clashes. According to the joint statement, "all parties have agreed on the continuation of the ceasefire", and further modalities for its implementation will be finalised in a principal-level meeting in Istanbul on November 6. The statement added that Afghanistan and Pakistan have also agreed to establish a "monitoring and verification mechanism" to ensure adherence to the ceasefire and to impose penalties on any party found violating it. As mediators, Turkiye and Qatar also expressed appreciation for the "active contribution" of both sides and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting ongoing efforts for "lasting peace and stability" between the neighbouring countries. (ANI)
Dr Pepper disappeared from Coca-Colaaffiliated soda fountains across the United States this week after a Texas court ruling ended a long-standing distribution deal between Keurig Dr Pepper and Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling.

The ruling, which took effect Monday, gives Dr Pepper full control of its supply chain for the first time in decades, according to GeekSpin. In response, Coca-Cola revived its longtime rival Mr. Pibb to fill the gap.

Originally launched in 1972 as a Dr Pepper rival, Mr. Pibb never gained the same popularity as the Texas-born favorite. However, Coca-Cola has reintroduced the drink with a new look and slogan  high caffeine, bold spice. Each 12-ounce can contains 4154 milligrams of caffeine, placing it closer to the energy drink category than traditional sodas.

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Its an intensely flavored, spicy cherry alternative, Coca-Cola said in a statement, adding that Mr. Pibbs comeback is not just a stand-in, but a return.

For decades, Coca-Cola managed Dr Peppers fountain distribution despite the two companies being competitors. The unusual arrangement allowed customers to find Dr Pepper at restaurants, movie theaters, and other venues that used Coca-Colas beverage systems. That will now end as Keurig Dr Pepper assumes full control of its fountain operations.

The change wont affect bottled or canned Dr Pepper sales, but customers at locations like Costco, AMC Theatres, and smaller chains may now find Mr. Pibb when ordering their usual cherry-flavored soda.

For some loyal Dr Pepper fans, that could cause disappointment or at least surprise at the soda fountain. As Coca-Cola promotes Mr. Pibbs bold spice, the drinks success will likely depend on whether fans embrace it or reject it as an imitator.

The timing comes as Coca-Cola also rolls out its new cane-sugar Classic Coke, adding another twist to the competition. Either way, the nations soda fountains just became the latest battleground in a rivalry born  fittingly  in Texas.




White-tailed deer and quail hunting season starts in Texas today.

The two animals are among the most popular game animals in the state, and hunters in Texas have a roughly three-month season ahead of them.

The hunting seasons are different for the state's north zones and south zones.

For white-tailed deer, the north zone season runs through Jan. 4 and the south zone season runs through Jan. 18, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. There's also a special youth only season for licensed hunters of ages 16 and under from Oct. 24-26 and Jan. 5-18 in both zones.

The north and south zones for white-tailed deer hunting in Texas. (Courtesy of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)





ALSO READ: Free entry will be offered at Texas state parks soon. Here's when.

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Each county has different rules for bag limits, how many deers you can hunt with antlers and how many bucks you can hunt. County-by-county guidance is available online. Statewide, no hunter can bag more than five deer, and no more than three of them can be bucks. A buck is defined as a deer with "an antler point protruding through the skin, or with antler growth in velvet greater than one inch."

In certain counties, hunters must report deer they bag through the "Texas Hunt & Fish" app or a web browser.

White-tailed deer hunters contribute $9.6 billion to the state's economy each year, according to a study from Texas A&M University's Natural Resources Institute.

Quail season runs from Nov. 1 to Feb. 28 statewide. Hunters are limited to 15 birds per day and 45 total in their possession.

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READ MORE: Texas quail hunting season: Bobwhites strong in Rolling Plains and South Texas

The Rolling Plains and South Texas look particularly promising for quail hunters this year. The Parks and Wildlife Department's roadside surveys show a significant jump in the number of birds spotted this year, particularly for bobwhite quails.

To hunt either of these game animals, Texans need a hunting license. Anyone born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 must complete a Hunter Education Course with the state.

If you're looking for somewhere to hunt, you can search the state's database for public or leased land, as well as what game animals might be present.

This article originally published at Texas deer and quail hunting season starts this weekend. Here's what to know..




The battle between progress and preservation has waged on in Texas for nearly 200 years. The push and pull, and ultimate acquiescence, over keeping up with the times is clearly evidenced by the state's slow adoption of railroads decades past and eventual highway system boom. But the inherent love of the state's history, oft tattooed on the hearts of Texans, is clearly evidenced by the sudden rise of once forgotten railroad boomtowns.

As with many things, Texas was slow to the railroad boom for reasons similar to political positions today - fears of capitalistic overpowering and federal oversight created large waves of pushback.

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Because of this, it took the federal government gaining control of the railroad commission and a rise in populism in the 1890s before the state seriously began connecting its eastern and western borders with train tracks, according to Todd Barnett, a Trinity University history professor.

Before this, railroads were short and mostly funded by wealthy Texans looking to connect their farms or commercially used properties to coasts or areas of high trade, unfortunately often linked to human trade before slavery was abolished. But once the railroad boom finally struck the Lone Star State, it made fast cities out of what were once rural outposts.

"That brings Texas together and allows for a much greater degree of connecting east and west," Barnett told MySA. "Before this, almost all of the population centers were mostly to the east. They were around rivers, and they were around the coast."

A view of train tracks near 1604 and Tradesman on Thursday, June 1, 2017. County Judge Nelson Wolff is thinking about a passenger rail line going from The Rim to Martin St. at Interstate 35, using existing freight line tracks owned by Union Pacific. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News) (Kin Man Hui /San Antonio Express-News)





Having quicker means of travel across Texas, and the tapping of aquifers, the state became inhabitable even where streams and large bodies of water were distant. So, towns like Taylor, Poteet, Abilene, The Grove, Yoakum and Fowlerton saw sudden population spikes, and main streets quickly erected with towering turn-of-the-century architecture.

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But it was all relatively short-lived. Just a handful of decades later, cars were becoming the new normal, and the country set its sights on highways. If that highway didn't run through town, it typically spelled the city's death or decline.

"In my view, small towns, [which] at some point were the destination for business and travel along the railways, have missed the economic growth other towns along the highways have experienced. The major shift in transportation mode from using trains in the 19th and early 20th centuries to personal and commercial vehicles has made highway towns expand and grow exponentially," Samer Dessouky, UTSA professor and assistant director of environmental engineering and construction management, told MySA.

Both professors were clear: When highways came in, they often either killed these towns or completely reshaped them. City hubs and downtowns shifted from where the tracks were laid toward the new flashy highways. Barnett pointed to San Marcos and Seguin as strong examples of this, where the historic downtowns anchored by defunct train tracks are struggling, and the booming new commercial districts along the highway loom in the distance.

While many of these railroad boomtowns may not sound familiar - Yoakum and The Grove are essentially ghost towns now lost to time - some are seeing a resurgence in a post-COVID world where folks are looking to explore their neighboring towns.

Upscale developments continue to crop up around Taylor, Texas, as a slow burn population boom continues. (Zachary-Taylor Wright/MySA)





"I introduce myself to everybody, especially people that I don't recognize," 32-year-old Taylor dweller David Blake told MySA while sitting at his go-to coffee spot, Ripple and Rose Cafe, back when we visited the town on the rise in June. "Taylor is such a - it's growing every day - but it's small enough that you see everybody in town at Walmart or H-E-B. And I refuse to have anybody say, Well, you're rude.' So, I introduce myself."

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If you ask the Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce president, Tia Rae Stone, she says the town started at the brink of technology with the railroad and is booming again for the same reason. Major tech companies, like Samsung, are investing billions into the area with manufacturing and production plants.

Poteet, too, is poised for a comeback. San Antonio's Southside is rapidly expanding, barreling straight for the likes of Poteet and Somerset, which the train tracks of yesteryear once graced. Plus, massive manufacturing companies, like JCB and Toyota, are bringing jobs to the region, creating a need for housing nearby. There are even some up-and-coming cool dining spots cropping up (and the owner says investors are quietly snatching real estate), suggesting it's a city on the rise.

Backyard Kitchen started as a tiny room on a big plot of land with a grill and a dream. Since then, the Stelzig family has continued to build, by themselves, a sprawling outdoor and indoor dining experience. (Zachary-Taylor Wright/MySA)





However, Dessouky's prognosis is a little more dire, if not pragmatic, for some of the other towns derailed by the highway system.

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"Unless a strategic planning for the highways to pass through these towns, they will not have the same growth they experienced in the past, as more people are seeking jobs, education, housing and urban living," he said. "Transportation in our modern understanding is accessibility to highways and ports. Railways have for the most part been cornered to serve the agricultural trade, which is not the most contributing to GDP growth."

This article originally published at Texas railroad towns derailed by highways are finding new routes.
A barricade situation unfolded Sunday morning after a suspect broke into a fumigated home in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, prompting an hours-long police response.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers were called to the intersection of 11th Avenue and 66th Street around 7:30 a.m. after a man was seen entering a residence that was tented for fumigation.

The home was covered with tarps and filled with toxic chemicals, authorities said. LAPD negotiators could be heard over loudspeakers urging the individual to surrender.

Law enforcement is seen trying to convince a barricaded suspect out of a fumigated home in Hyde Park. November 2025. (Citizen) Law enforcement is seen trying to convince a barricaded suspect out of a fumigated home in Hyde Park. November 2025. (Citizen) Law enforcement is seen trying to convince a barricaded suspect out of a fumigated home in Hyde Park. November 2025. (Citizen) Law enforcement is seen trying to convince a barricaded suspect out of a fumigated home in Hyde Park. November 2025. (Citizen) Law enforcement is seen trying to convince a barricaded suspect out of a fumigated home in Hyde Park. November 2025. (Citizen)

Youve been in there for over three hours. Theres a reason why they tent up a house like that, one officer said through a loudspeaker. Those toxic fumes are not supposed to be breathed in that long  youre literally killing yourself staying in there. Think about what youre doing to yourself.

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Officers repeatedly offered to guarantee the suspects safety if he exited the home peacefully, warning that they would use tactics to go in if he refused to comply.

In an update late Sunday afternoon, police said the scene had been cleared, but could not provide any further details. No injuries had been reported.

Two dead, five hospitalized after late-night house fire in Los Angeles

The incident remains under investigation.

Luis Zuniga contributed to this report.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Three people were arrested after a traffic stop led to a chase and drug bust in Baton Rouge earlier this week.

According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, the incident happened around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28, near Shay Avenue and Marque Ann Drive. Officers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation.

Police said the driver refused to stop, sparking a short vehicle and foot pursuit. All three people inside the vehicle were eventually taken into custody.

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Officers said they found several pounds of marijuana, a firearm, and video equipment. BRPD said they executed a search warrant at a vacant home believed to have been used as a stash house for selling and storing drugs.

Baton Rouge man accused of shooting victim in the face arrested

Police said Treavon Lowery, 24, was wanted on warrants for resisting an officer, possession of Schedule I drugs, and illegal carrying of a firearm with controlled dangerous substances.

Jamell Saylor, 27, was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm with controlled dangerous substances, aggravated flight, resisting an officer, and obstruction.

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Isaiah Combs, 30, was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm with controlled dangerous substances, aggravated flight, resisting an officer, and obstruction.

All three suspects were booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

From left: Jamell Saylor, Isaiah Combs and Treavon Lowery.

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An interrogation revealed that Yosef had been in contact with Iranian intelligence elements since the end of 2024, carrying out a variety of security missions under their direction for money.

An indictment has been filed against a 14-year-old Tel Aviv resident for affiliation with al-Qaeda and Hamas, Israel Police announced on Sunday.

The minor was accused of contacting a foreign agent and passing on information to the enemy.

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The suspect presented himself as a Muslim spy living in Tel Aviv and was an active member of the Cyber and Armed Jihad Movement group chat on the Signal messaging app.

He connected with members of al-Qaeda and made plans to film strategic locations within Tel Aviv and carry out terror attacks such as assassinating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a suicide attack against Israelis, and harming Israeli civilians with a knife or Molotov cocktail, according to the indictment.

In addition to his communications with al-Qaeda, the suspect also attempted to join Hamas, emphasizing his interest in producing explosives and carrying out attacks against Israelis.

His dangerousness is heightened by the fact that he crossed the boundaries of cyberspace and began to take active actions towards the execution of intelligence gathering and by expressing a desire to carry out attacks and murder Israelis, while beginning to experiment with the production of improvised explosive devices, police wrote.

Tiberias resident indicted in Iranian spy plot

Additionally, an indictment has been filed against Yosef Ein Eli, a 23-year-old resident of Tiberias, who was arrested in September on suspicion of committing security offenses involving contact with Iranian intelligence elements and carrying out security missions under their direction, according to a report released on Sunday by Israel Police.

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An interrogation revealed that Ein Eli had been in contact with Iranian intelligence elements since the end of 2024 and had carried out a variety of security missions under their direction for money.

The Tiberias resident provided his Iranian handlers with information and photos of hotels in the Dead Sea region, taking advantage of the fact that he worked in one of the hotels in the area. He also provided information about tourist areas in southern Israel.
The US military has killed 83 people in strikes that have destroyed 22 boats as part of a campaign that Washington says is aimed at curtailing the flow of drugs into the United States. There had been three survivors of those strikes, two of whom were briefly detained by the US Navy before being returned to their home countries. The other is presumed dead after a search by the Mexican Navy.

The Trump administration has told Congress that the US is now in an armed conflict against drug cartels beginning with its first strike on September 2, labeling those killed unlawful combatants and claiming the ability to engage in lethal strikes without judicial review due to a classified Justice Department finding.

Some members of Congress as well as human rights groups have questioned that finding and argued that potential drug traffickers should face prosecution, as had been the policy of interdiction carried out by the US before President Donald Trump took office.

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The Trump administration has also not provided public evidence of the presence of narcotics on the boats struck, nor their affiliation with drug cartels.

Military officials have said that no US service members have been harmed in the strikes.

Here is the timeline of the attacks:

September 2, first attack

The first strike on a vessel in the Caribbean took place on September 2.

Trump announced the offensive on his social media accounts and said that under his orders, US forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.

TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

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Let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE! he added.

The US military also carried out a follow-up strike on that suspected drug vessel after the initial attack did not kill everyone on board, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. Trump administration officials had not publicly disclosed the second strike.

While the first strike appeared to disable the boat and cause deaths, the military assessed there were survivors, according to the sources. The second attack killed the remaining crew on board, bringing the total death toll to 11 and sinking the ship.

CNN also reported that the boat appeared to have turned around before it was struck.

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Before the operation, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the military to ensure the strike killed everyone on board, but its not clear whether he knew there were survivors before the second strike, one of the sources said.

People briefed on the double-tap strike said they were concerned that it could violate the law of armed conflict, which prohibits the execution of an enemy combatant who is hors de combat, or taken out of the fight due to injury or surrender.

While there would be one other instance the following month when crew members survived a strike on an alleged drug boat, in that case the US Navy detained the two survivors and returned them to their home countries.

CNN reported that Defense Department officials have not, during briefings to members of Congress, presented conclusive evidence that the targets of the attack were members of Tren de Aragua, and that those briefed said military officials could not determine the intended destination of the boat with certainty.

September 15

Less than two weeks later, the US military carried out a second strike against a vessel in international waters, killing three.

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Trump said the vessel was allegedly transporting illegal narcotics from Venezuela.

These extremely violent drug trafficking cartels POSE A THREAT to US National Security, Foreign Policy, and vital U.S. Interests, he added.

The strike came amid rising tensions with that country, as the United States deployed military assets to the region.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has described the strikes on boats as serial executions and called on the UN to investigate, while saying that the US is seeking regime change. Venezuelas defense minister, Vladimir Padrino, said it amounts to an undeclared war, while the foreign ministry denounced Washingtons military threat.

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At the time, Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said they expected more activity in the Caribbean in an effort to reduce drug traffic into the US.

September 19

Four days later, Trump announced another lethal military strike on a suspected drug trafficking vessel that he said was affiliated with a designated terrorist organization.

Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage enroute to poison Americans, Trump posted on Truth Social alongside a video of the operation.

Three people were killed in the strike.

October 3

Hegseth announced that the US military had carried out a fourth strike in which four people died.

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The attack took place in international waters just off the coast of Venezuela, Hegseth wrote in a post on social media.

He did not say which alleged terrorist organization the boat was linked to, but added that Our intelligence, without a doubt, confirmed that this vessel was trafficking narcotics, the people onboard were narco-terrorists, and they were operating on a known narco-trafficking transit route.

October 14

Six people died in the fifth US strike on a vessel, this boat described by officials as off the Venezuelan coast.

Once again, Trump said the vessel was affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization, but he did not name a specific group or provide evidence of the boats activities.

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In a letter to Congress in early October, the Pentagon said Trump had determined that the United States is in an armed conflict with the drug cartels his administration designated as terrorist organizations, and that cartel traffickers are unlawful combatants.

October 16

The US carried out a sixth strike on a boat in the Caribbean on October 16.

There were two survivors, one each from Ecuador and Colombia, who were sent back to their home countries after being briefly detained on a US Navy ship.

At least 25,000 Americans would die if I allowed this submarine to come ashore. The two surviving terrorists are being returned to their Countries of origin, Ecuador and Colombia, for detention and prosecution, Trump posted on Truth Social.

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Jeison Obando Perez, 34 years old, was identified as the survivor repatriated to Colombia in a post on X by the countrys minister of the interior, Armando Benedetti. Perez arrived with brain trauma, sedated, drugged, breathing with a ventilator, said Benedetti, who added that he had received medical attention.

The survivor from Ecuador, was identified as Andres Fernando Tufino Chila, 41 years old, according to a record from the National Police of Ecuador accessed by CNN. He arrived in the country on October 18 and underwent a medical evaluation.

The Office of the Attorney General of Ecuador reported on October 20 that there is no information that Tufino Chila had committed a crime in Ecuadorian territory. However, US court documents indicate that he was arrested, convicted and imprisoned in 2020 for drug smuggling on the coast of Mexico before being deported.

No, no He is not. He is not a criminal, said Tufino Chilas sister, who requested anonymity for security reasons, in statements to CNN from a small coastal town near Guayaquil, Ecuador.

October 17

Hegseth announced that a seventh targeted vessel transporting substantial amounts of narcotics was struck and that it was affiliated with a Colombian terrorist organization.

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All three crew members on board were killed.

These cartels are the Al Qaeda of the Western Hemisphere, using violence, murder and terrorism to impose their will, threaten our national security and poison our people, Hegseth wrote.

The United States military will treat these organizations like the terrorists they arethey will be hunted, and killed, just like Al Qaeda.

The attacks sparked public clashes with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who accused the United States of killing an innocent Colombian citizen during one of its strikes on vessels in the Caribbean. Trump announced he would cancel all US aid and subsidies to the country.

October 21 and 22, first attacks in the Pacific

The US military carried out lethal strikes on two ships in the Pacific, killing everyone on board each vessel, according to Hegseth.

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Two people were killed in the eighth strike and three in the ninth.

Hegseth wrote on X that the first vessel targeted in the Pacific was operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization and conducting narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, adding, The vessel was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling.

The action against vessels in the Pacific appeared to mark an expansion of the US military campaign, as the previous seven attacks were all conducted against ships in the Caribbean Sea.

Narco-terrorists intending to bring poison to our shores, will find no safe harbor anywhere in our hemisphere, Hegseth said.

October 24

The tenth attack killed all 6 crew members.

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The Defense secretary said the US conducted a nighttime attack on a ship allegedly operated by Tren de Aragua in the Caribbean.

October 27, multiple strikes

Hegseth reported multiple strikes in a single day for the first time, with three missiles hitting four vessels in international waters of the eastern Pacific on Monday, October 27.

He reported that 14 people were killed aboard the vessels operated by designated terrorist organizations and that there was one survivor who was not recovered.

The four vessels were known by our intelligence apparatus, transiting along known narco-trafficking routes, and carrying narcotics, the Defense Secretary stated.

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Hegseth said that the US military had contacted the Mexican government to look for the survivor. The Mexican Navy conducted a search for the person, who is now presumed dead.

October 29

The United States Armed Forces carried out an attack on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean that left four dead, Hegseth reported.

This vessel, like all the others, was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics, the Defense Secretary said in a post on X. He added that US forces suffered no casualties.

November 1

The US military carried out a strike on another vessel in the Caribbean Sea and killed three people on board, according to Hegseth.

Today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on another narco-trafficking vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) in the Caribbean, Hegseth announced on X with an unclassified video of the strike. No US forces were harmed in the strike, he noted.

November 4

Hegseth announced the US military struck another vessel involved in illicit narcotics smuggling in the eastern Pacific, killing two people on board.

The US Defense secretary again posted an unclassified video of the strike on X, noting that US forces were not harmed and the vessel was struck in international waters.

November 6

The US military conducted a strike against a vessel in the Caribbean, killing three people, according to Hegseth.

The vessel was trafficking narcotics in the Caribbean and was struck in international waters, Hegseth said in a post on X, adding that US forces were not harmed in the strike.

November 9

The US military carried out another attack against suspected drug boats on Sunday, killing six people in the Eastern Pacific, according to Hegseth.

The military launched two lethal strikes against two separate vessels operated by designated terrorist organizations, Hegseth wrote on X, without disclosing which organizations the ships crew are believed to have been affiliated with.

These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling, were carrying narcotics, and were transiting along a known narco-trafficking transit route in the Eastern Pacific, Hegseth said.

November 10

The Pentagon conducted its 20th strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat on November 10, a Defense Department official said on November 13.

The strike occurred in the Caribbean and four narco-terrorists were killed, no survivors, the official confirmed in a statement to CNN.

November 15

The Pentagon on November 15th conducted the 21st known strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat, US Southern Command announced the following day.

Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics, Southern Command posted on social media. Three male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel were killed.

The vessel was trafficking narcotics in the Eastern Pacific and was struck in international waters, per the announcement.

This story has been updated with additional reporting.

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The newly elected Chairperson of Taiwan's opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), Cheng Li-wun, vowed to lead the party in defending democracy, revitalising the economy, and pursuing long-term peace across the Taiwan Strait during what she described as Taiwan's most challenging period, Focus Taiwan reported. Cheng made the remarks on Saturday as she took over from outgoing Chair Eric Chu at the KMT's 22nd National Congress in Taipei, an event attended by prominent officials, including the country's Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu, his deputy Johnny Chiang, and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, Focus Taiwan reported. Addressing the assembly, Cheng highlighted rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and a rapidly shifting global economic landscape. She criticised the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) prolonged governance, saying it has weakened Taiwan's democracy and rule of law, and stressed that the KMT has a key responsibility to restore stability and address the nation's challenges. Cheng expressed confidence in the party's unity under her leadership and promised the Taiwanese public that the KMT would protect democratic values, rejuvenate the economy, and work toward sustained cross-strait peace, as reported by Focus Taiwan. She added that the party aims to turn "Taiwan's worst times into its best" while continuing internal reforms, strengthening the organisation, and attracting younger talent. Cheng also emphasised her vision for the KMT to serve as both Taiwan's largest political party and a public-orientated organisation supporting vulnerable communities nationwide, Focus Taiwan reported. During the handover, outgoing Chair Eric Chu called for party unity under Cheng's leadership, saying it is essential for the KMT's growth and strength. "We only have one Kuomintang, and unity is our only path," he remarked, as quoted by Focus Taiwan. Chu reflected on his 48-year membership in the party, expressing gratitude to those who supported him throughout his political career, including his previous chairmanships from 2014 to 2016 and 2021 to 2025. (ANI)
Hegseth in Vietnam to strengthen defense ties and reassure a cautious partner

HANOI, Vietnam (AP)  U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was in Vietnam on Sunday, reaffirming a partnership built on healing the scars of the Vietnam War in a trip that will test whether Washington can reassure a vital but wary partner. Hegseth said addressing the legacies of the war, which ended 50 years ago in April, remains the foundation and a top priority of the countries' defense relationship. At the end of his talks with Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang, Hegseth handed over a leather box, a belt and a small knife  wartime artifacts once taken by U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War.
Visitors to Argentina's Patagonia coast witnessed something extraordinary this year, according to the Associated Press. A record number of southern right whales gathered off the Valdes Peninsula, with one tourist saying it was "the largest number of whales I've ever seen in my life."

Once hunted to near extinction, southern right whales are now thriving again in these protected waters. The sheltered waters of the Valdes, located in the Patagonian province of Chubut, have long been vital breeding and nursery grounds for the whales as well as other species such as elephant seals and sea lions.

Whale sightings have more than quadrupled since the late 1990s to 2,100, and the actual number is likely even higher, the AP reported. In fact, researchers estimate that the population around Valdes has grown to roughly 4,700 whales, with 3% annual increases. This is especially encouraging because the southern right whale population was decimated in the last century by whaling, plummeting from 50,000-70,000 in the 1700s to a mere 300 by the 1920s, per the World Wildlife Fund.

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Tourists from around the world visit El Doradillo and nearby viewing points to watch families of whales breaching just offshore.

"I've seen whales in Canada and California, but this was the best and probably the largest number of whales I've ever seen in my life," said German Tino Ventz, who visited the peninsula with his partner.

Meanwhile, Agustina Guidolin told the AP that she fulfilled her dream of witnessing "the immensity that borders on the magical and the wild."

"We're underestimating the number of whales in the area," said biologist Santiago Fernandez, who helps with annual aerial surveys through Argentina's National Scientific and Technical Research Council, noting that whales move outside the study zone.

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Similar improvements have been documented elsewhere, from blue whales returning to the waters off the coast of Massachusetts to unexpected sightings of blue whales near Seychelles. Each of these cases shows how careful stewardship can help marine life rebound and thrive.

Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

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 following is the transcript of the interview with Rep. Dan Crenshaw, Republican of Texas, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Nov. 2, 2025.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to "Face the Nation." We turn now to Texas Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw, who joins us this morning from Humble, Texas. Welcome to "Face the Nation."

REPRESENTATIVE DAN CRENSHAW (R-TX): Thanks for having me.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman, I know you've been in and out of Washington, but largely that the House members have not been here in town. The House hasn't voted since September 19. It will be the seventh consecutive week now that they've been working from home. Would you urge Speaker Johnson to bring everyone back to try to break the impasse over government funding?

REP. CRENSHAW: It's up to the Speaker. House Republicans and House Democrats coming back to Washington, will not break the impasse. Let's not forget that the House passed a clean CR. It was a temporary CR, okay. And you know, Democrats keep saying the Republicans have no intent to negotiate. We can't trust them to want to negotiate if we reopen the government. That's nonsense. If we had- look, if we had passed a year-long CR, I think they could make that argument. That's usually an indicator that we really don't want to talk about the budget right now, we want to- we want to keep the can down the road for a year. But when you pass a very short term duration CR, a seven-week one, it is a clear indication that we intend on continuing those conversations. So look, there's other things we could do. The reason I keep going back is because I work on the Intelligence Committee, and I have to do that work from inside DC. There's a number of reasons people go back. But look, in the end, the Senate has to deal with this, and Senate Democrats just have to reopen the government. It's that simple. They voted- I don't even what is it, 15 times now, to keep it closed. They wouldn't even vote to keep federal workers paid. That was a crazy lifeline that Senator Thune gave them, allowing them to vote, almost have the easy way out, allow them to at least vote to take the pain off of federal workers. And they voted that down too. I really don't know what their strategy is at this point. They're the ones that need to figure this out.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you heard- perhaps you heard Senator Warner at the top of the program say, you know, conversations are happening this week. He was hoping that there would be some- some end. On your side of the- of the Capitol. You're saying you don't see signs of this ending this week?

REP. CRENSHAW: Don't see what- sorry, yeah- I don't, I don't see us going back into session. I think we would have been notified by now. Yeah, but again, the impasse is not in the House. You know, we passed it out of the House--

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MARGARET BRENNAN: -- Understood-- but to come to an agreement, which is was- the senator was talking about everyone getting together and going to the White House with the President to hammer this out. The speaker, at least, it doesn't sound like you have that level of optimism. But let's talk about the impact where you are. Your district includes parts of Houston. We checked the numbers, and it appears 350,000 Houston area families may have some difficulty with their food stamps, these SNAP benefits because of the standoff. Have you gotten any guidance from the state or from the administration about whether people get food payments this week?

REP. CRENSHAW: Well, from what I can tell from the administration's statements, I mean, they're going to try to use the emergency contingency fund for- on a temporary basis. But look the entire- I think there's about $6 billion in that fund. The monthly SNAP benefits cost Americans $9 billion so that's- that is a very, very small band aid. And the only way you're going to get SNAP benefits back on track is if Democrats vote for our clean CR. I visited a food bank recently. Yeah, they're preparing for a huge influx in demand. You know, the state can only do so much on this. We- all of us can only do so much there's- there's a really simple solution to this, which is just keep the government open and you know, you want to negotiate this very complex health care issue, which is what Democrats say they want. I think they kind of chose it out of- randomly, and all of a sudden decided throw this temper tantrum. But fine, let's negotiate it, but you have to do it with the government open and not hold- you're not holding a gun to our heads. You're holding a gun to the regular American people's heads.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You are on the Intelligence Committee. You mentioned you had, have had to come back here to view what I assume is classified intelligence. The President confirmed a few weeks back that he had authorized some CIA activity in Venezuela, he didn't give detail on that, but have you seen any evidence that the US pressure campaign on Nicolas Maduro is working, that all this military hardware that's being moved around into the region is doing something?

REP. CRENSHAW: I can only tell you what I can assume, having been out of session, we aren't getting the briefings because- because we aren't there. One of the reasons I keep going back is to look into these things. The broader question- this is more of a geopolitical question, is the pressure campaign working? Well, look, deterrence almost always works, especially when you're dealing with- with dictators like Maduro. They only listen to one thing, which is power. And Venezuela has been largely left alone by American administrations. The western hemisphere has been left alone, and I think this President is taking it much more seriously. Look, the Venezuelan government is a, it's- it's- it's a fake government, right? He ran a rigged election. Everyone knows that it's propped up by the Cubans and by the Russians. They have been in collusion with terrorist groups like the FARC for years. It has been an annoyance to countries like Colombia for years. There's many high-level ranking officials in government- in Venezuelan government that are literally under indictment for drug trafficking. It is effectively a narco-terrorist state--

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MARGARET BRENNAN: -- But Maduro is still in power--

REP. CRENSHAW:-- Maduro, what? Sorry--

MARGARET BRENNAN: But that he still is in- in power. That's what we were just talking about that with Senator Warner. The- the need for more information to go to lawmakers about exactly what the extent is going to be of US military involvement. Would you support US land strikes in Venezuela?

REP. CRENSHAW: Actually boots on the ground in Venezuela?--

MARGARET BRENNAN: -- Land strikes--

REP. CRENSHAW: -- I think we would have to have to have a longer conversation about doing something to that extent. But I think what the- what the President is doing right now is very much within rational legal means, looking at drug boats that we have- people ask, do we have the intelligence to really know what these drug boats are and who's on them? Yes, we do. That I can say, right. We have multi-source intelligence that- so we know for sure what we're- what we're- what we're actually shooting at, and we don't even shoot at all the targets. And people say, well, why can't you just interdict it all? And I say, well how many boats do you think we have? How many boats and helicopters do you think you have? And you know how risky an interdiction operation is? You're going to people- put people's lives at stake. And you know, we've been doing that for years, and it hasn't worked. So, you do need to try something new, because it is an imminent harm to the United States, and that's clearly within the President's authority under Article Two. So, I don't wring my hands over what's going on right now. Talking hypotheticals about invading Venezuela. I mean, that's not really what we're talking about right now.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: No- no, I was asked about land strikes. But- but let me ask you about something some of your fellow conservatives have been talking quite a lot about including Mitch McConnell, he's been concerned about antisemitism. On the right, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said he's seen more antisemitism in the past six months than in his entire life. Take a listen.

(START SOUND ON TAPE)

SEN. TED CRUZ: "This is a poison, and I believe we are facing an existential crisis in our party and in our country. ///// If you sit there with someone who says Adolf Hitler was very cool and that their mission is to combat and defeat global Jewry, and you say nothing, then you are a coward, and you are complicit in that evil."

(END SOUND ON TAPE)

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MARGARET BRENNAN: He was specifically referring there to a widely watched interview Tucker Carlson did with far-right commentator and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes. Do you share Senator Cruz's concern about your party?

REP. CRENSHAW: Oh, yeah. Mr. Cruz, put it pretty well. I've had a long-standing feud with Tucker Carlson. I'm glad everyone else is- is also waking up now to how bad of a person he is. He's changed a lot over the last 20 years. You know, hard to say why, but it doesn't really matter why. I mean, you have a guy like Fuentes on your show, you're- you're uplifting what is a guy who has really fallen off the radar. You know, he- he used to send his followers to my events and try to ask me a bunch of questions about the Jews and Israel support and all that, and try to disrupt events. And they would try to infiltrate the MAGA movement. You know, they were really on a downhill slide. And for Tucker to have him on- Senator Cruz is exactly right. And this idea that we have to, you know, that it's cancel culture, if we- if we- if we- if we keep Tucker out of our circles from now on, is just nonsense. I literally wrote a book on cancel culture. So, you know, I've thought deeply about this. Cancel culture means you're- you're canceling someone for what is basically a mainstream belief, or maybe- maybe a small, like, honest mistake they made that would be maybe considered cancel culture. It's not cancel culture when you say, look, I want to disassociate myself from you because your beliefs are crazy and you're psychopathic and you're- you are falling apart in front of everyone. You know this disassociation is not canceling anyone, and I know some have suggested it is. So, I think moral- moral clarity is a lot more important in this case.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Crenshaw, we have to leave it there. Thank you for your time this morning. We'll be right back.

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A trial date has been set for the Boeing 737 Max 9 door plug blowout incident, involving 46 passengers who claim they were injured.

However, a judge still needs to rule on if the airplane manufacturer can be held legally liable for the injuries people sustained related to the incident.

In January 2024, an Alaska Airlines flight that took off from Portland, OR was forced to make an emergency landing after a door plug blew out, creating an air vacuum that sucked objects out of the cabin.

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Attorneys for Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Spirit Aerosystems, and 46 victims claiming injuries from the incident debated which evidence should be allowed if or when the trial ultimately begins.

Attorneys for the victims, or plaintiffs, argued that the NTSB report, which found four bolts had not been installed to hold the door plug in place, should be admissible in a trial.

Boeing has all but admitted it publicly and for reasons that are inexplicable simply refuses to do so here in court. said Daniel Laurence, an attorney for the plaintiffs.

Its opposition essentially suffers the same defect as the airplanetheres a giant evidentiary hole here that sucks all the oxygen out of their argument. Laurence contended.

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Boeing argues that Washington State Law allows only factual incident reports to be used as evidence, not incident reports from boards like the NTSB. Judge Nikole Hecklinger will rule whether the NTSB report is allowed in an upcoming hearing.

Boeings lawyer, Christopher Ledford, said the plaintiffs argument was incomplete, so the Judge should dismiss the claims against the airplane company.

Ledford says there are three burdens to prove potential liability: The construction of the airplane was faulty, the faulty construction led to an injury, and prove that the individuals claiming relief were injured because of the faulty construction.

Ledford argues plaintiffs have only provided evidence around the burden of construction.

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Plaintiffs themselves submitted no evidence at all on two of the key points, Ledford said.

We think they should be strictly held to that. This is the plaintiffs motion, and they should be required to meet the standard that they themselves invoked.

Plaintiff attorneys also stated Boeing has not provided a single document of evidence, which is a legally required part of the discovery process before trial. Boeing says it wants a protective order issued around the evidence because of potential proprietary information federal law bars them from releasing.

Judge Hecklinger set a trial date for February 1, 2027.

Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Nov. 1Trinidad "Trini" T. Martinez Trinidad "Trini" T. Martinez passed away surrounded by her family on Thursday, October 23, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, leaving behind a legacy of joy, faith and family. Trini was proceeded in death by her parents, Carlos and Corina Chavez, and her son, Paul Joseph Martinez. Trini is survived by her three sisters, Theresa Davis and husband Richard, Dina Gonzales and Carla Barker and husband Troy. Trini is also survived by her three daughters, Annette Leyba and husband Alan, Robin Martinez and Teresa Martinez Biddinger. Trini also has five grandchildren: Michael and Steven Whitaker, Emma Martinez, and Nathan (fiance Krystal Campos) and Taylor Biddinger, and a daughter-in-law, Carmen Woods. Trini was born in Torreon, New Mexico, on June 19, 1940. Her family moved to Albuquerque at an early age, where Trini attended elementary, middle and high school, graduating from St. Mary's High School in 1958. Trini met her then husband, Joseph B.A. Martinez, at St. Mary's, and they married shortly after her graduation. She supported Joe's career in the Navy and raised their children as they moved to numerous locations to include California, Virgina, Florida and Africa; many times, alone as Joe worked on various aircraft carriers. After Joe's retirement the family moved back to Albuquerque, where Trini started her career with the District Courts, and worked for her favorite boss, Judge Philip Ashby. Trini had a love for reading, crocheting, traveling with her family and friends, water aerobics and attending various Bible study groups. Her simple pleasures were watching T.V. and enjoying Sunday dinners with her family. Trini also had a deep love for her extended family, her life-long friendships, and was loyal to all. Her presence at sporting events was unmistakable, as she rang her cowbell and was the loudest cheerleader for her children and grandchildren, always encouraging them to excel and celebrate their achievements with genuine pride. Above all, Trini was a matriarch whose greatest success and source of pride was her family. She instilled in them values of love, faith in God, and the wisdom to face life's trials with grace. Her story is one of unwavering love and devotion, a reminder that the legacy she leaves is woven through the lives she touched, and the values she upheld. Today as we reflect on the extraordinary life of Trinidad Martinez, let us carry her spirit forward. Let her dedication to her family, her passion for life, and her indomitable spirit inspire us to live each day with purpose and to always cherish our loved ones. Trini's journey on this earth may have come to a close, but the echoes of her amazing spirit will continue to inspire her family for years to come. Trini's Life Celebration will begin with a Rosary to be recited on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 8:15 a.m. at St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Catholic Church located at 5901 St. Josephs Dr. NW 87120. Mass will begin at 9:00 a.m. Pallbearers: Michael Whitaker, Steven Whitaker, Nathan Biddinger and Alan Leyba
MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  A Trinity man was killed in a two-car crash in Morgan County, the Alabama Law Enforcement said on Sunday.

The crash happened on Alabama 24, about two miles south of Trinity, around 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Download the WHNT News 19 App to stay updated on the go.

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Authorities said 34-year-old Brandon Tyrka was killed when the car he was driving was struck by another car driven by a Mississippi man.

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Tyrka died at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
Donald Trump is ratcheting up his demands for the Justice Department to forge ahead with a fresh inquiry of his debunked claims the 2020 elections were cruelly stolen from him.

Behind closed doors and in public, the president, who has never conceded his defeat, is applying ever greater pressure on his administration to uncover evidence of electoral fraud behind Joe Bidens victory, The Washington Post reports.

I hope the DOJ pursues this with gusto as befitting the biggest SCANDAL in American history, Trump wrote on Truth Social last Sunday. If not, it will happen again, including the upcoming Midterms.

Trump has repeatedly pressured Bondi to ratchet up a campaign of retribution against his political enemies, some of whom he holds responsible for his 2020 defeat. / Win McNamee / Getty Images

Recent moves on that front reportedly include the White House hiring a lawyer who previously worked on Trumps efforts to contest the 2020 polls. MAGA administration officials have also apparently made inquiries about inspecting the voting equipment that was used in Missouri and Colorado, as well as seeking information on mail-in ballots from Atlanta.

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President Joe Biden won the 2020 U.S. presidential election with 306 electoral votes to Trumps 232, and by a 51.31% share of the popular vote to Trumps 46.38%. The MAGA leader has since failed at every attempt to produce evidence to the contrary, while facing a litany of Congressional investigations and criminal prosecutions over his efforts to overturn the results.

The president's fixation on the 2020 polls come even as his own officials, like Ted Cruz, warn his party is facing increasingly long odds at future elections. / Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

The presidents warning that electoral fraud will happen again also comes as top members of his own party, like Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, voice alarm. There is worry for the partys future electoral prospects under Trumps second administration. Cruz in particular has warned the GOP may well be barreling toward a bloodbath come midterms.

Those sentiments would appear to be shared even by some White House aides. WaPo reports top members of the MAGA administration have grown weary of being labeled election deniers over a now five-year-old conspiracy theory. This shift is signaled by a growing push to focus more on the upcoming polls.

But Trumps fevered refusal to let the issue go also comes as he forges ahead with a long-promised campaign of retribution against his political enemies. DOJ prosecutors are currently pursuing charges against former FBI director James Comey, whom the president holds responsible for perpetrating the supposed Russiagate hoax, and against New York Attorney General Letitia James, who once sued Trump for mortgage fraud.

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As those widely decried prosecutions gather pace, Trump is now furthering calls to jail not only Joe Biden, but also the Democratic presidents Attorney General Merrick Garland and former Special Counsel for the Department of Justice Jack Smith, who oversaw the Biden administrations investigations into Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 polls.

The release last week of FBI files dating from 2020 to 2023, which outline some of the steps taken by Biden-era officials to investigate those responsible for falsely certifying a victory for Trump in 2020, has only buoyed those calls.

What they did was criminal, Trump told reporters at an Oval Office conference last month, flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who are presently overseeing the presidents efforts to re-litigate the biggest fraud that never happened.
A young woman identified as Nazia Shafi reportedly died after being abducted and brutally tortured along with her mother by security forces in Panjgur.

According to local sources, both women were taken away unlawfully, subjected to severe torture, and left in critical condition. Nazia succumbed to her injuries just hours later, triggering outrage and grief across the region.

Taking to the social media platform X, Sammi Deen Baloch described the incident as a gross violation of human rights and moral principles, calling it part of a pattern of state repression that has long gripped the province.

"In Balochistan, cruelty has become a policy tool," she stated, emphasising that women, in particular, have become the new targets of violence and intimidation by forces operating with absolute impunity.

Systematic abductions, disappearances, and torture have become a grim norm in Balochistan, with no accountability or oversight, she stated.

Victims' families are often left in despair, denied justice, and silenced through fear. The tragic death of Nazia Shafi has once again highlighted the urgent need for international attention to what activists call a deepening human rights crisis. Sammi Deen Baloch also called on global human rights organisations and women's rights movements to end their silence on the matter and to amplify the voices of Baloch women facing systemic violence and persecution.

The case of Nazia Shafi and her mother has reignited discussions about the plight of women in conflict zones, where abuse and impunity persist under the guise of security operations. Justice for Nazia would serve as a crucial step toward ending state-led violence against Baloch women and restoring faith in basic human dignity and justice. (ANI)
State Street in Wauwatosa flooded out. (Photo courtesy of Baiba Rozite)

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) is raising an alarm after Wisconsin was denied flood mitigation funds by the Trump administration. The assistance, which was denied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), would have helped the state prepare for situations like the record-breaking floods that swept through southeastern Wisconsin in August.

The risks of severe flooding will only increase due to climate change, and our community needs to be prepared, Moore said in a statement Thursday. FEMAs ill-conceived decision denies our state the opportunity to take proactive efforts to prevent future flooding and damage, which saves homeowners and taxpayers dollars in the long run.

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Research shows that severe storms and flooding will increase in Wisconsin due to climate change. Shortly after the August floods, which inundated parks and left over 1,800 homes damaged or destroyed, Wisconsin Policy Forum noted a dramatic increase in extreme rain and flooding events, resulting in higher payouts for flood insurance.

Although the Trump administration approved a first round of disaster funds to assist individual homes and small businesses, additional support to help repair public infrastructure was also denied in late October. Counties in areas represented by both Democrats and Republicans were denied additional assistance.

State and local governments cannot do it alone, said Moore. I expect Gov. Evers will rightly appeal this denial, and I hope that request will get bipartisan support in our congressional delegation. As our communities continue to recover, it is clear there is a need to build our communities back stronger and more resilient. I will continue advocating for Wisconsins needs at the federal level and push back against these ill-advised decisions.

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By Helen Coster

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A federal court in Rhode Island on Saturday ordered the Trump administration to make full food aid benefit payments by Monday, or partial payments by Wednesday, while acknowledging the "irreparable harm" that exists without their timely payment.

The Rhode Island case is one of two lawsuits filed to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture's suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, known as SNAP or food stamps.

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In a ruling issued on Friday, Judge John J. McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island rejected the USDA's argument that it could not fund SNAP because of the ongoing federal shutdown.

McConnell's Saturday order gave President Donald Trump's administration a Monday deadline to present a plan to pay full benefits on that day, or at least partial payments two days later.

At the end of Friday's hearing, McConnell said the administration's decision not to tap $5.25 billion in contingency funds to fund November benefits was arbitrary.

He said the agency must distribute the emergency money "as soon as possible," and if the money was insufficient, the agency should determine whether it could use money from a separate fund that has around $23 billion.

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SNAP benefits are available to Americans whose income is less than 130% of the federal poverty line, or $1,632 a month for a one-person household and $2,215 for a two-person household in many areas. States are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the benefits, which are paid out monthly.

The prolonged government shutdown, for which both parties have blamed each other, has put SNAP benefits in jeopardy.

The USDA has said insufficient funds exist to pay full benefits to 42 million low-income Americans, as they cost $8.5 billion to $9 billion per month.

The administration said the agency lacked authority to pay them until Congress passes a spending bill to end a government shutdown that began October 1.

(Reporting by Helen Coster; Editing by Jamie Freed)
By Helen Coster

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A federal court in Rhode Island on Saturday ordered the Trump administration to make full food aid benefit payments by Monday, or partial payments by Wednesday, while acknowledging the "irreparable harm" that exists without their timely payment.

The Rhode Island case is one of two lawsuits filed to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture's suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, known as SNAP or food stamps, which aid low-income Americans.

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In a ruling issued on Friday, Judge John J. McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island rejected the USDA's argument that it could not fund SNAP because of the ongoing federal shutdown.

McConnell's Saturday order gave President Donald Trump's administration a Monday deadline to present a plan to pay full benefits on that day, or at least partial payments two days later.

"There is no question that the congressionally approved contingency funds must be used now because of the shutdown; in fact, the President during his first term issued guidance indicating that these contingency funds are available if SNAP funds lapse due to a government shutdown," McConnell wrote in the order.

JUDGE SAYS AGENCY MUST DISTRIBUTE MONEY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

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At the end of Friday's hearing, McConnell said the administration's decision not to tap $5.25 billion in contingency funds to fund November benefits was arbitrary.

He said the agency must distribute the emergency money "as soon as possible," and if the money was insufficient, the agency should determine whether it could use money from a separate fund that has around $23 billion.

In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump wrote: "I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT. Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.

Saturday's order does just that, wrote McConnell, who cited Trump's social media post.

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"The Court greatly appreciates the President's quick and definitive response to this Court's Order and his desire to provide the necessary SNAP funding," the judge wrote.

SHUTDOWN PLACES BENEFITS IN JEOPARDY

SNAP benefits are available to Americans whose income is less than 130% of the federal poverty line, or $1,632 a month for a one-person household and $2,215 for a two-person household in many areas. States are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the benefits, which are paid out monthly.

The prolonged government shutdown, for which Republicans and Democrats have blamed each other, has put SNAP benefits in jeopardy.

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The USDA has said insufficient funds exist to pay full benefits to 42 million low-income Americans, as they cost $8.5 billion to $9 billion per month.

The administration said the agency lacked authority to pay them until Congress passes a spending bill to end a government shutdown that began on October 1.

In a separate lawsuit brought by 25 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston on Friday ruled the administration was wrong in saying it was legally barred from using the contingency funds to pay for SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

(Reporting by Helen Coster; Editing by Sergio Non and Jamie Freed)
When Donald Trump stood at the back of Air Force One somewhere between Japan and South Korea this week, he was hit with a recurring question from one of the journalists travelling with him: was he serious about a third term in office?

I have my highest poll numbers that Ive ever had, the president responded. And you know, based on what I read, I guess Im not allowed to run. So well see what happens.

For months, the president has flirted with the idea of a third term, even selling Trump 2028 hats in Maga red.

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But behind the merchandise lies a quagmire of legal, constitutional and political issues that Trump world insiders believe the president can overcome to remain in power.

Trump is going to be president in 28, and people ought to just get accommodated with that, Steve Bannon, Mr Trumps powerful former chief strategist, told a podcast this month.

At the appropriate time, well lay out what the plan is. But there is a plan.

The VP loophole

At first glance, a simple reading of the Constitution forbids Mr Trump from running for a third term.

The 22nd Amendment states that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice. By this rule, Mr Trump, who has served as the 45th and 47th president of the United States, cannot run again.

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Yet, one idea floated by allies is to exploit a loophole which would allow Mr Trump to run as a vice-presidential candidate, paired with a loyal running mate who would step aside once elected.

People have already expressed their support for Trump to run a third term - The Washington Post

Politically risky, it would require supporters to vote for a Republican presidential nominee knowing they would be swapped out for Mr Trump at the earliest convenience.

We think theres a really good case to be made that the answer is yes, he could run, Bruce Peabody, Professor of Politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University, said.

Prof Peabody co-authored the original 1999 law review suggesting there was a loophole in the 22nd Amendment that would allow a president to run for a third term.

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There might be some concerns about whether the running mate would be so enthusiastic about that, but thats a political question, not a legal one, he added.

The plan is not without historical precedent. President Dwight Eisenhower, who was term-limited in 1960, openly mused whether he could run for vice-president after his two terms in office.

Today, it is a switcheroo gambit that would need the most loyal of running mates. The kind of loyalty, perhaps, that is often only seen in families.

Mr Trumps sons, Donald Jr and his brother, Eric, have kept a foot in politics while growing their fathers empire on the sidelines.

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A recent poll published by The Telegraph showed Eric Trump, 41, would take 6 per cent of the vote to be Republican nominee. If his name was removed and replaced with Donald Trump Jr, he would rake in 14 per cent of the vote.

In any event, the Constitutions 12th Amendment, stands in the way. It states that no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President.

In simple terms, anyone who cannot be president because of their age, citizenship or lapsed term length, therefore, cannot be vice-president. If Mr Trumps two terms make him constitutionally ineligible to be president again, then he cannot legally run for or serve as the second-in-command.

But his allies and some legal experts are undeterred. They argue that the amendment does not specifically bar someone serving a third term if they ascended to office through succession.

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They contest that the amendment bars a third election not a third term.

Actually what the language says is that a person whos not eligible to be president cant be vice-president on the very sensible notion that the most important job of the vice-president is to take over in the event of a crisis, Prof Peabody added.

The language is very specific there. It talks about eligibility, and the eligibility language in Article Two is all about the age of a person, if they are a natural born citizen, and of course, whether they are a 14-year resident of the United States.

Obviously he [Mr Trump] is no longer of tender age, and the rest of it is really apt.

Donald Trump Jr (left) and Eric Trump (right) have kept a foot in politics while growing their fathers empire - Andrew Harnik/2025 Getty Images

Such a plan would require a complex political strategy. For Mr Trump, who prefers a more bullish approach to politics, the idea is too cute.

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Id be allowed to do that, he said on Monday as he gaggled with reporters aboard Air Force One.

I wouldnt do that. I think its too cute. Yeah, I would rule that out because its too cute. I think the people wouldnt like that. Its too cute. Its not  it wouldnt be right.

The loophole strategy relies on re-interpreting the Constitutions vague text to allow Mr Trump to return to the Oval Office for a third time.

Why has it made that clear? Mr Bannon questioned when presented with the hurdle of the 22nd Amendment.

At some point in time, we will make sure we will go through and define all those terms, he said, hinting at a plan to come.

Speaker of the House

One route back to the Oval Office runs through Capitol Hill.

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Under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, the Speaker of the House is third in the line of succession to the US presidency, after the vice-president.

If not vice-president, Mr Trump could mount a campaign to be appointed speaker but under this scenario he would need to collude with the next Republican president and vice-president who would have to agree to step aside for him.

The Speaker of the House is elected in a vote by all members of the House of Representatives, which takes place at the start of a new Congress or if there is a vacancy.

If Democrats have a majority in the House in 2028, it is incredibly unlikely Mr Trump would secure enough votes.

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After a collection of House conservatives succeeded in toppling House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October 2023, Mr Trumps name was floated by his supporters as a replacement.

House conservatives succeeded in toppling House Speaker Kevin McCarthy - 2020 Getty Images

Mr Trump did little to downplay the political intrigue.

A lot of people have been calling me about speaker, he said at the time. All I can say is we will do whatever is best for the country and other Republican Party and people.

The idea then, was more of a fringe fantasy than a plan. But years later, it is one some academics believe, may be the path of least legal resistance.

Theres nothing in the Constitution that prohibits him being named speaker and that puts him third in line, Prof Peabody explained.

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I think the legal, constitutional language would permit that. So, would that be less cute than being vice-president? Seems maybe even cuter by half.

The Judicial Gambit

Mr Trumps most likely path to a third term would be carved through the courts.

With every executive order, the president has refined the art of governing by confrontation, pushing his powers and forcing judges to define what is legal.

So far, he has treated the courts as a test, rather than a deterrent, gambling that the legality of his policies could be negotiated after he enacts them.

Mr Trumps road to a third term does not begin with legal theory but with political will, say some commentators, plough ahead and dare the courts to stop him.

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This president has favoured the direct approach, not like some presidents. Richard Nixon loved to play complicated chess moves. This president is in your face, David Super, professor of law in Georgetown Law said.

Mr Trumps administration has filed 19 lawsuits challenging state or local laws in his second term so far, according to a litigation tracker by lawfare media.

When the administration sued for the right to resume roving patrols which were accused of snatching illegals off streets in California, the Supreme Court stepped in.

US Supreme Court justices. Donald Trump has treated the courts as a test, rather than a deterrent - Alex Wong/2022 Getty Images

Both an LA federal court and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled the policy amounted to illegal racial profiling.

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But in a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court granted a stay of the injunction, enabling the enforcement operation to proceed.

Mr Trumps pattern is clever; act first and will the courts to clear the way.

It is this creative reinterpretation that some scholars say is Mr Trumps best chance at returning to office.

To be perfectly honest, I think thats his best chance. Hes basically saying, You dont tell me what to do. And you may be supreme over other courts, but youre not supreme over me, and we will find out whether the court is willing to back down, Prof Super added.

And you could imagine the court saying that who runs is a political question and not for the court to decide.

Amending the Constitution

The most politically difficult path to a third term is achieved through changing the Constitution itself.

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This would require repealing or modifying the 22nd Amendment term limit via a constitutional amendment, which has not been modified since its ratification in 1951.

Very few have ever succeeded because of the strict ratification process which requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate to propose an amendment, followed by ratification by three-fourths (38 out of 50) of the states.

The high threshold was deliberately designed to prevent quick, majority-rule changes and ensure broad, stable consensus.

Since the last ratified amendments in 1992, over 1,400 proposed amendments have failed to reach fruition, according to the National Constitution Centre.

In todays divided political climate, experts are in consensus about one thing, amending the Constitution is near impossible.

Anti-Trump protesters carry a banner representing the preamble to the Constitution. Amending the Constitution is near impossible - Mario Tama/2025 Getty Images

You could not amend the Constitution. Under the rules, you would have to basically throw out the Constitution to have another revolution, because the Constitution requires 38 states to ratify any amendments, and that would mean you would need a lot of very blue states, Prof Super explained.

Massachusetts is not ready to ratify an amendment to let Donald Trump serve a third term. Neither is California, neither is New Jersey. So, thats effectively impossible.

Prof Peabody added: Neither you nor I should hold our breath so thats not likely to occur in a highly divided nation and frankly we havent had a normal amendment since 1971. So thats also not on the cards.

A constitutional amendment just wont happen, that we can pretty much take off the table, Mr Roosevelt said in agreement.

Nonetheless, it has not stopped Mr Trumps allies in Congress from trying.

Senator Lindsey Graham holds a Trump 2028 hat - Kevin Dietsch/2025 Getty Images

In January 2025, Andy Ogles, a Republican representative tabled a resolution that proposed no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times. It also placed a disqualification on those who had served two consecutive terms as president from running for a third term.

Similarly, Randy Fine, a Florida Republican, called to repeal the 22nd Amendment altogether and allow Mr Trump to serve a historic third term if his Gaza peace plan is successful.

We should thank the Lord for every day Donald Trump can be our president. There will never be another one like him, he said.

Mr Fines somewhat exaggerated rationale was more political cheerleading than a serious proposal. But it reflects the growing discussion in some quarters that the term limit should be scrapped.

Despite all the jokes and mischief, Mr Trumps plan for securing a third term, whether through a loophole or sheer defiance, remains a long shot.

In the end, the real test may not be of the administrations creativity but of Americas belief in the Constitution and the rule of law itself.

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President Donald Trump isnt giving away his military secrets when it comes to Chinas plans for Taiwan.

In a preview of Sundays interview on 60 Minutes, Trump, 79, refused to take a stance on whether the United States would defend Taiwan should China take military action against it. However, Trump claimed President Xi Jinping already knows his answer.

The other side knowsthey understand whats going to happen, Trump told journalist Norah ODonnell. He understands the answer to that [question].

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When ODonnell asked the president why he wouldnt say it publicly, he insisted on maintaining his element of surprise.

Donald Trump met President Xi following months of escalating tensions between China and the U.S. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

I cant give away my secrets, Trump said. I dont wanna be one of these guys that tells you exactly whats going to happen.

The president was scrutinized last week after admitting that the topic of Taiwan never came up during his meeting with Xi in South Korea on Thursday.

For decades, the U.S. has supported the democratically governed island, which Beijing claims as its own. Multiple U.S. presidents have maintained that Washington would help Taiwan defend itself as part of efforts to deter Beijing from invading the island.

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Trump acknowledged as much on CBS, telling ODonnell: People are a little surprised that he never brought it up, he understands it very well.

However, he again stopped short of explaining what, exactly, Xi understands.

Trump has repeatedly said that the Chinese leader will not take military action against Taiwan while hes in officeeven as Xi has publicly strayed from that narrative.

Just last week, a Chinese government official warned that Beijing absolutely will not rule out military action to take over the democratically governed island.

Peng Qingen, a spokesperson for Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, told a news conference Wednesday that reunification between China and Taiwan is the best way of resolving the Taiwan issue.

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We are willing to create ample space for peaceful reunification and will spare no effort to pursue this prospect with the utmost sincerity, Peng said, according to Reuters. However, we absolutely will not renounce the use of force and reserve the option to take all necessary measures.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed those concerns Saturday, insisting there are no plans to offer concessions to China in exchange for walking away from Taiwan.

Truth Social

Trump later posted on Truth Social that he had a great meeting with Xi, appearing to suggest that a new trade deal is in the worksone that would lower tariffs, grant U.S. companies easier access to rare earth minerals, and prompt Beijing to begin the purchase of massive amounts of soybeans.

We agreed on many things, with others, even of high importance, being very close to resolved, Trump wrote.

In a separate post on Saturday, he added that the meeting will lead to everlasting peace and success.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.
The Trump administration's deportation program has divided Americans in recent months, marked by consistently strong backing from Republicans and MAGA Republicans, in particular, and less so among others. Earlier in President Trump's term, it had larger majority approval, but since mid-summer, the program has hovered around more even division. Its approval is a bit higher today than last month.

Part of the rationale for people supporting or opposing it has been their perception of who is being targeted for deportation.

When Americans think criminals are being prioritized, they're far more likely to back the program. That perception, too, is divided.

Specifically, of late, slightly more than half the country feels ICE is being too tough in detaining and stopping people, more so than not tough enough. And a majority feel ICE officers should not be allowed to wear masks while on duty.

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There are some  about a quarter  who approve of the deportation program and who don't think ICE should be allowed to wear masks.

More broadly, a majority of Americans think Mr. Trump's policies are making migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border go down, and those who do largely approve of the administration's deportation program, perhaps indicating that the two are connected in their minds in gauging the overall approach to immigration.

This CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,124 U.S. adults interviewed between October 29-31, 2025. The sample was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide according to gender, age, race, and education, based on the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, as well as 2024 presidential vote. The margin of error is 2.6 points.

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These United States: Ken Burns on America's continuing revolution

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Donald Trumps fiery threat to go in guns-a-blazing against Nigeria over alleged Christian persecution has triggered a diplomatic uproar, and unexpectedly pulled Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) into the crossfire.

The controversy revives old tensions surrounding the detention of former Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, deepening scrutiny of both USNigeria relations and the growing geopolitical footprint of crypto.

Trumps Ultimatum Sparks Global Attention

Trump declared on Truth Social that the US would immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria. He indicated potential military action if killings of Christians continued.

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The president also claimed to have instructed the Department of War to prepare for a fast, vicious, and sweet strike. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth endorsed the warning, amplifying Trumps ultimatum.

Yes sir.



The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria  and anywhere  must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities. pic.twitter.com/C0v9RHGoS1  Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) November 1, 2025

The situation escalated further when CZ referenced Binances past conflict with Nigeria, reigniting a year-old diplomatic and legal wound.

CZ Revives Gambaryan Case, Then Deletes His Post

Changpeng Zhao alleged Nigeria kidnapped Gambaryan, who was detained for eight months in 2024 during an investigation into Binances operations.

"Nigeria also basically kidnapped Tigran Gambaryan, an ex-Binance employee and an ex-US federal agent, for 8 months without cause a year ago," wrote CZ.

Gambaryan, a US citizen and Binances former compliance head, was arrested on February 26, 2024, along with colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla during an investigation into Binances operations in Nigeria.

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Anjarwalla escaped custody weeks later, while Gambaryan remained in Kuje Prison facing money laundering and tax-related allegations.

The case drew international attention after 18 US attorneys general urged the White House to classify Gambaryan as a hostage. Nigeria denied any mistreatment, saying he received medical care, due process, and consular access.

Following negotiations between Abuja and Washington, charges were dropped in October 2024 on humanitarian grounds. Nigeria and Binance agreed that Gambaryan bore no personal liability, though the exchange still faces pending tax evasion charges.

Zhaos post went viral before he removed it amid backlash from Nigerians who said his comments misrepresented their legal system.

Nigerians Push Back, Defend Legal Sovereignty

Several Nigerian voices pushed back against claims of kidnapping or hostage taking. One user countered Zhao, stressing Nigerias right to enforce laws and protect its economy under judicial oversight.

"Nigeria did not kidnap anyone. The government lawfully arrested and investigated a Binance representative based on credible allegations. Every sovereign nation has the right to enforce its laws and protect its economy...Calling a lawful arrest 'kidnapping' is misleading and disrespectful to Nigeria's legal system," the user wrote.

Others pointed out that citizens, not the government, had campaigned online for Gambaryans release during his detention, distancing the Nigerian public from state actions.

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Another respondent argued that just as the United States created Binance.US to comply with its laws, Nigeria reserves the right to enforce compliance within its jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Gambaryan himself reignited the controversy by alleging Nigerian officials extorted the Biden administration out of $50 million to secure his release, calling the government a lawless regime.

The convergence of Trumps militant rhetoric, Binances lingering legal issues, and Gambaryans lawsuit has placed Nigeria at the center of a global storm, one where crypto, politics, and diplomacy collide.

Nigeria remains a critical market for crypto adoption in Africa despite past friction with global exchanges. In 2024, Binance suspended naira trading after facing regulatory crackdowns and accusations of capital flight.

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Binance's lingering tax cases and Gambaryans $70 million lawsuit could further test its relations with Nigeria.

Read original story Trumps Guns-a-Blazing Post Drags Binance and CZ into Nigeria Firestorm by Lockridge Okoth at beincrypto.com
Update: An earlier version of this story reported that Jared Kushner attended the gala, based on the reporting of the White House Pool via ABC News. A representative from Mr. Kushner contacted USA TODAY on Nov. 3 and denied his attendance. ABC subsequently corrected its story, and we have updated ours to reflect that.

President Donald Trump hosted a Great Gatsby-themed party at Mar-A-Lago on Oct. 31, as multiple federal judges ruled the administration could not stop funding food aid amid the ongoing government shutdown.

The party was labeled "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody," according to multiple media attendees. The title was drawn from a song on the soundtrack of the 2013 movie adaptation of "The Great Gatsby."

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Attendees included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ivanka and Tiffany Trump, the latter's husband Michael Boulos, according to White House Pool reports published by ABC News.

Trump did not speak while reporters were present, the network reported.

Guests were seen mimicking "Roaring 20s" era attire, a period just before the Great Depression that historians note for its staggering income inequity. History.com notes that in 1928, the top 1% of families received 23.9% of all pretax income, and about 60% of families earned less than the Bureau of Labor Statistics classified as the minimum livable income for a family of five.

More: 'Two dolls instead of 30': Trump acknowledges prices will force consumers to cut back

President Donald Trump talks with guests during a Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Oct. 31, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida.

The party in the midst of an extended federal government shutdown drew sharp criticism from Democrats, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom saying on social media that Trump "does not give a damn about you."

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"The way he rubs his inhumanity in Americans" (sic) face never ceases to stun me," Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy said on X. "Hes illegally refusing to pay food stamp benefits while he throws a ridiculously over the top Gatsby party for his right wing millionaire and corporate friends."

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly called Democrats "full of it" in a statement to ABC News. "President Trump has consistently called on them to do the right thing and reopen the government, which they could do at any time," Kelly said.

SNAP benefits ordered to restart

Judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island issued orders within minutes of each other on Oct. 31 that compelled the department to use $5.25 billion in contingency funds to continue the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP or food stamps.

"There is no doubt and it is beyond argument that irreparable harm will begin to occur if it hasn't already occurred in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for food, for their family," U.S. District Judge John McConnell ruled in Rhode Island.

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SNAP benefits for 42 million low-income Americans were set to run out Nov. 1. However, the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, the National Council of Nonprofits and several other nonprofits and mayors filed a federal lawsuit to keep the program running.

Justice Department lawyers have argued it isnt possible to provide partial benefits for the program, which spends up to $9 billion per month, from a $5 billion contingency fund.

Massachusetts Federal District Judge Indira Talwani ruled against that argument, saying that the government has the option to provide reduced benefits with the contingency funds or shift other discretionary funds to cover the shortfall.

More: Commerce boss Lutnick: 'Fraudsters scream about missing social security, not honest people

Food items at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, including milk, pasta and frozen blueberries. Volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, load food into a waiting car on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, load food into a waiting car on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, load food into a waiting car on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, pause for prayer before loading food into waiting cars on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, pause for prayer before loading food into waiting cars on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers at Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, pause for prayer before loading food into waiting cars on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Former trucker Doug Wheeler, 56, waits to collect food at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Wheeler is among those whose benefits have been halted. A volunteer distributes food at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers distribute food at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. A volunteer at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, on Nov. 1, 2025, takes a picture of a heart-shaped potato before distributing food to people following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers distribute food at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Volunteers distribute food at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Thomas Booth, the site coordinator for Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site, and an elder with the Restoration Christian Fellowship, which hosts the distribution, helps hand out food to people on Nov. 1, 2025, following the halt of SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. Free food as SNAP benefits halted 1 of 14 Food items at a Food Bank of the Rockies distribution site in Aurora, Colorado, including milk, pasta and frozen blueberries.

In a brief written order, McConnell told the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use contingency funds to continue providing benefits.

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"For now, these families can continue putting food on their tables, and thousands of nonprofit food banks, pantries and other organizations across the country can avoid the impossible burden that would have resulted if SNAP benefits had been halted," said Diane Yentel, CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits.

Trump claimed on Truth Social that the government would provide SNAP funding if given "appropriate legal direction by the Court."

This story has been updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump hosted 'Gatsby'-themed party at Mar-A-Lago on eve of SNAP cutoff
United States President Donald Trump will host Syrias interim leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, for talks on November 10, according to Washingtons envoy to Damascus, in what would mark the first-ever visit by a Syrian president to the US capital.

Tom Barrack, the US envoy to Syria, told the Axios newspaper on Saturday that al-Sharaa is expected to sign an agreement to join an international US-led alliance against the ISIL (ISIS) group during his visit.

The Reuters news agency also cited a Syrian source familiar with the matter as saying that the trip was expected to take place within the next two weeks.

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According to the US State Departments historical list of foreign leader visits, no previous Syrian president has paid an official visit to Washington.

Al-Sharaa, who seized power from Bashar al-Assad last December, has been seeking to re-establish Syrias ties with world powers that had shunned Damascus during al-Assads rule.

He met with Trump in Saudi Arabia in May, in what was the first encounter between the two nations leaders in 25 years.

The meeting, on the sidelines of Trumps get-together with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, was seen as a major turn of events for a Syria that is still adjusting to life after the more than 50-year rule of the Assad family.





Al-Sharaa also addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.

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Barrack, the US envoy to Syria, told reporters on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain that Washington was aiming to recruit Damascus to join the coalition the US has led since 2014 to fight against ISIL, the armed group that controlled about a third of Syria and Iraq at its peak, between 2014 and 2017.

We are trying to get everybody to be a partner in this alliance, which is huge for them, Barrack said.

Al-Sharaa once led Syrias offshoot of al-Qaeda, but a decade ago, his anti-Assad rebel group broke away from the network founded by Osama bin Laden, and later clashed with ISIL.

Al-Sharaa once had a $10m US reward on his head.

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Al-Sharaa, also referred to as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, had joined fighters battling US forces in Iraq before entering the Syrian war. He was even imprisoned by US troops there for several years.

The US-led coalition and its local partners drove ISIL from its last stronghold in Syria in 2019.

Al-Sharaas planned visit to Washington comes as Trump is urging Middle East allies to seize the moment to build a durable peace in the volatile region after Israel and Hamas earlier this month began implementing a ceasefire and captives deal. That agreement aims to bring about a permanent end to Israels brutal two-year war in Gaza.

The fragile ceasefire and captive release deal continues to hold, but the situation remains precarious.

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Israeli strikes in Gaza earlier this week killed 104 people, including dozens of women and children, the enclaves health authorities said. The strikes, the deadliest since the ceasefire began on October 10, marked the most serious challenge to the tenuous truce to date.

Meanwhile, Syria and Israel are in talks to reach an agreement that Damascus hopes will secure a halt to Israeli air strikes and the withdrawal of Israeli troops who have pushed into southern Syria.

Barrack told the Manama Dialogue earlier that Syria and Israel continued to hold de-escalation talks, which the US has been mediating.

He told reporters that Syria and Israel were close to reaching an agreement, but declined to say when exactly a deal could be reached.

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Israel and Syria have been Middle East adversaries for decades.

Despite the overthrow of al-Assad last December, territorial disputes and deep-seated political mistrust between the two countries remain.
The Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) has released a report noting that 2025 has been a "bleak" year for media freedom and journalist safety in Pakistan. It has documented at least 137 confirmed incidents targeting media professionals between January and October. According to a report released on Friday to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the PPF highlighted a range of threats faced by journalists, including physical assaults, detentions, criminal complaints, censorship orders, and internet shutdowns, despite constitutional guarantees for free expression. The watchdog recorded 35 cases of physical assault and manhandling, two journalists injured while on assignment, five detentions, two abductions, and four attacks on media property, including raids. Legal pressures also intensified, with eight arrests, 30 FIRs--22 under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), including the controversial Section 26-A on "fake or false information"--and 23 actions initiated by the FIA and National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency. As per the report, journalists faced intimidation in multiple forms, including threats, harassment of family members, political targeting, and two instances of being placed on no-fly lists. Censorship and restrictions included mobile and internet suspensions, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) directives, court orders blocking 27 YouTube channels, and limitations on reporting outside Adiala Jail, where the former Prime Minister Imran Khan is kept. "This year documented incidents include those of direct targeting of media professionals through threats of and actual acts of physical violence as well as increasingly through legal channels such as notices, criminal complaints and arrests; the perpetuation of violence against the media by political party leaders and the government; the bulldozing the passage of restrictive legislation that undermines free expression and brazen attacks on property amongst others," the report read. "In Pakistan, journalists continue to face physical violence because of their work. In 2025, PPF has documented: at least 35 incidents of physical assault and manhandling, two journalists injured in an accident while reporting, five instances of journalists being detained, two abductions and four instances of attacks on property, including raids. These numbers tell the story of the safety of the media in the country. Along with legal measures, threats, and intimidation of journalists and media professionals also being documented, the continuation of physical violence the lack of preventive, protective, and prosecutorial measures in place to safeguard journalists as they do their work," it added. The PPF described political rhetoric and government actions as fuelling a hostile environment for the press, alongside "brazen" attacks on press clubs and media offices. Incidents included a forced police entry into Quetta Press Club on March 1, an attack on Badin Press Club linked to a shrine dispute on June 2, and a raid on Islamabad's National Press Club on October 2, during which journalists were assaulted. The report also noted eight journalist deaths in 2025, two of which remain inconclusive in relation to their professional work. The watchdog further criticised restrictive legislation, including the Pakistan Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025, warning of potential misuse against media workers. "Instead of bulldozing legislation such as this year, the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Amendment Act 2025, which raised alarm bells amongst journalists, the media and civil society for its potential misuse, the government and lawmakers should adopt a more proactive approach and engage with stakeholders ahead of such laws being passed," the report read. The PPF further urged Pakistani authorities to move beyond "lip service" and implement domestic and international commitments to safeguard press freedom, including robust enforcement of safety laws and protective measures. (ANI)
United States President Donald Trump is to host Syrias interim leader for talks this month in what would mark the first visit by a Syrian president to the US capital.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said in a speech on Sunday that the visit will help open a new chapter in relations between Damascus and Washington.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa will be at the White House at the start of November, al-Shaibani said in the speech in Bahrain. Of course, this is a historic visit. It is the first visit by a Syrian president to the White House in more than 80 years.

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There will be many issues on the table, starting with the lifting of sanctions and opening of a new chapter between the United States and Syria. We want to establish a very strong partnership between the two countries.

Earlier, the US news website Axios quoted Tom Barrack, the US envoy to Syria, as saying al-Sharaa is expected to sign an agreement to join an international US-led alliance against the ISIL (ISIS) group during his visit.

Meeting with Trump

Al-Sharaa, who seized power from Bashar al-Assad in December, has been seeking to re-establish Syrias ties with world powers that had shunned Damascus during al-Assads rule.

He met Trump in Saudi Arabia in May in what was the first encounter between the two nations leaders in 25 years.

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The meeting, on the sidelines of Trumps get-together with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, was seen as a major turn of events for a Syria that is still adjusting to life after the more than 50-year rule of the al-Assad family.

Al-Sharaa also addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.

He once led Syrias offshoot of al-Qaeda. A decade ago, his anti-Assad group broke away from the network and later clashed with ISIL. Al-Sharaa also once had a $10m US reward on his head.





Syrias president had joined fighters battling US forces in Iraq before entering the Syrian war. He was even imprisoned by US forces there for several years.

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The US-led coalition and its local partners drove ISIL from its last stronghold in Syria in 2019.

Al-Sharaas planned visit to Washington, DC, comes as Trump is urging Middle East allies to seize the moment to build a durable peace in the volatile region after Israel and Hamas last month began implementing a ceasefire and captives exchange. That agreement aims to bring about a permanent end to Israels two-year war in Gaza.

The fragile ceasefire continues to hold, but the situation remains precarious.

Syria and Israel are in talks to reach an agreement that Damascus hopes will secure a halt to Israeli air strikes on its territory and the withdrawal of Israeli troops who have pushed into southern Syria.
President Donald Trump will host Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House on Friday, a White House official told POLITICO, as the administration continues to make Middle East diplomacy a central tenet of its foreign policy prospectus.

The planned visit is just the latest significant step in the administration's effort to shore up relations with Damascus, nearly one year after al-Sharaas forces toppled the authoritarian government of Bashar Assad last December. Reports of the meeting first emerged Saturday afternoon.

Its a remarkable turn for al-Sharaa, a former Islamist rebel.

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Trump has sought to ease the new governments transition. He became the first U.S. president to meet with a Syrian leader in 25 years when the two connected for a May sitdown in Saudi Arabia . Trump pushed al-Sharaa to normalize relations with Israel, and praised him later on Air Force One.

Young, attractive guy, tough guy, Trump told reporters. Strong past, very strong past  fighter. Hes got a real shot at holding it together.

In late June, he signed an executive order revoking most American sanctions against Syria, which earned him rare praise from Democrats .
President Donald Trump has come under fire after he hosted a "Great Gatsby"-themed Halloween party just hours before millions of Americans lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The Friday night fete at Mar-a-Lago was themed "A little party never killed nobody, according to the White House, referencing the song from the 2013 film adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel.

Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump attends a Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Fla., on Oct. 31, 2025.

Guests were seen wearing 1920s attire and there were hosts in flapper attire greeting the invitees, which included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ivanka and Tiffany Trump, and their husbands, Jared Kushner and Michael Boulos.

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP - PHOTO: President Donald Trump is joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a Mar-a-Lago Halloween party in Palm Beach, Fla., Oct. 31, 2025.

Trump did not deliver remarks when reporters were in the room.

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SNAP benefits run dry as government shutdown continues, here's how states are stepping in

Fitzgerald's 1925 novel has been celebrated by literary scholars for years for its depiction of the wealth and class divisions in the country that took place during the 1920s.

Several Democrats noted the symbolism and criticized the president for throwing the bash while the government shutdown continues.

Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump looks at a guest dressed in prison garb during a Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Fla., on Oct. 31, 2025.

Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin accused Trump of not caring about Americans who could go without SNAP benefits because of the shutdown.

Trump faces critical point in government shutdown, SNAP cutoff

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"Last night, Trump made it even clearer that he doesnt give a damn about anyone but himself and his wealthy friends," he said in a statement.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy reshared a photo from the party on his social media and commented, "The way he rubs his inhumanity in Americans' face never ceases to stun me."

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly dismissed the critics, arguing in a statement Saturday, "These Democrats are full of it."

"President Trump has consistently called on them to do the right thing and reopen the government, which they could do at any time," she added.

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A federal judge in Rhode Island temporarily ordered the Trump administration on Friday to continue SNAP funding, following a lawsuit by several states. Another judge in Boston ruled that the Trump administration's attempt to suspend SNAP funding is "unlawful," but declined to immediately order that the program be funded.

Trump said Friday that his administration's lawyers are not sure they have the legal authority to pay for SNAP during the government shutdown and said he has asked for clarity from the courts in the wake of two recent decisions.

"If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay," Trump said in a social media post.
President Donald Trump said he would like to see ICE get even more aggressive with deporting illegal immigrants, but that its mission is being thwarted by liberal judges who are getting in the way.

The president shared his view on the matter during an interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday; his administrations Rapid Response 47 account on X shared a few preview clips of his interview, which is set to air at 7:30 p.m. ET.

More recently, Americans have been watching videos of ICE tackling a young mother, tear gas being used in a Chicago residential Chicago neighborhood, and the smashing of car windows. Have some of these raids gone too far? correspondent Norah ODonnell asked the president.

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No, I think they havent gone far enough, Trump said. Because weve been held back by the judges, the liberal judges that were put in by [Joe] Biden and [Barack] Obama.

ODonnell then asked if the president was okay with ICEs tactics.

Yeah, because you have to get the people out, Trump said. You have to look at the people  many of them are murderers, many of them are people who were thrown out of their countries because they were, you know, criminal.

"I think they haven't gone far enough because we've been held back by the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama," says @POTUS on ICE operations. "You have to get the people out Many of them are murderers." pic.twitter.com/pONGo7GXP0  Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 2, 2025

Trump has sent ICE and Border Patrol agents to cities like Chicago and New York City to deport illegal immigrants. But that push has been met by resistance from Democratic leaders, including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, with Pritzker comparing Trumps ICE raids to Nazi Germany recently.

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The Trump Administrations immigration crackdown has also run into legal challenges. A prime example is the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador whom Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has accused of being a wife-beating pedophile, among other offenses. The administration is pushing to deport Garcia but that goal has been run into repeated legal roadblocks.

Trump, in another teaser clip, said he wants to make it clear that illegal immigration is bad  but that he is also willing to work with illegal immigrants on coming back to the US.

We have to start off with a policy, and the policy has to be: you came into the country illegally, youre gonna go out, Trump said. However, youve also seen  youre going to go out, were going to work with you, and youre going to come back into our country legally.

Watch via the clips above, and you can watch his full 60 Minutes interview later tonight on CBS.

The post Trump Insists ICE Raids Havent Gone Far Enough and Are Stifled By Liberal Judges During Stern 60 Minutes Interview first appeared on Mediaite.
President Trumps off-the-cuff disclosure that he underwent an MRI scan is raising fresh questions about the secrecy surrounding Trumps health and the need for presidents to be more transparent.

Trump is the oldest person to be elected president, and his aides and allies have long projected him as the picture of strength and vitality.

Outside physicians initially raised questions after Trump visited Walter Reed Military Medical Center earlier this month for what the White House described as a routine follow-up visit, though it was his second visit in six months.

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A note from his physician pronounced Trump in excellent overall health.

Later, Trump disclosed that he underwent an MRI and a cognitive test during the secondary physical.

I got an MRI, it was perfect, Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

The president did not detail the reason for the MRI, and press secretary Karoline Leavitt later didnt offer any additional details.

Jeffrey Kuhlman, who served as a White House physician to three presidents and wrote a book about his experience called Transforming Presidential Healthcare, said he wasnt surprised a 79-year-old man needed a second checkup and that its typical for presidents to go to Walter Reed for advanced imaging.

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Most any procedure scope, I had the capabilities there at the White House. The only thing I couldnt, that Id have to Walter Reed for, is advanced imaging, Kuhlman said.

But Kuhlman questioned the timeline of the treatment that was released by Trumps physician Sean Barbabella. Aside from the MRI, other testing and preventive health screening could have been done in the White House doctors office in less than 15 minutes.

Its about an eight-minute helicopter ride from the South Lawn to Walter Reed. So we know that he at least had four hours available to undergo medical care, Kuhlman said.

Theres a disconnect there.

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Its not unusual for an administration to be reticent about sharing a presidents personal health information, and theres no legal requirement for an administration to be transparent about it.

Presidents throughout history have lied, deceived and covered up various ailments, however, and experts note theres a tension between what a president wants to disclose and what the American people have a vested interest in knowing.

Former President Cleveland had secret surgery aboard a yacht to hide any reports of a cancerous tumor being removed from his mouth, and his administration and allies fought a leak by calling it fake news and discrediting the reporter.

Former President Wilson suffered a stroke in October 1919 that left him bedridden for the rest of his term, while his wife essentially served as acting president.

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Former President Kennedys administration lied about his massive health problems, including the adrenal-gland disorder Addisons disease.

Experts say theres no incentive for anyone in the administration  let alone the White House physicians  to be truthful and transparent about the person who could fire them.

Former President Bidens aides and allies have faced questions about whether they covered up cognitive decline, and Bidens doctor released good health reports. Democrats ultimately pushed Biden to not run for reelection after a disastrous debate performance against Trump left them thinking hed lose in part due to doubts about his health.

Biden has since been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

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Trumps medical history has been marked with secrecy, and critics have long accused him of trying to hide the true details of his health behind bluster.

Jacob Appel, a psychiatry professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a presidential health historian, said the selective release of information, or filtering information through political spin, doesnt serve the public interest.

If theres a national security risk, or if the public doesnt need to know, then theres no reason to disclose anything.

I think if youre going to release some information, you want to release enough information that the public at least can put it into context. If youre going to say that youre having an MRI, we should know what the MRI is for, Appel said.

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We dont know what the MRI was for, because the President hasnt even told us what body part was [scanned]  an MRI could be something to check for a cognitive issue. It could be something to check for a heart issue. It could be the president twisted an ankle and theyre afraid that he is a bone fracture. So it could be almost anything, Appel said.

S. Jay Olshansky, a longevity researcher at the University of Illinois at the Chicago School of Public Health, said its important to understand the public only sees what the White House wants to release. Presidents are entitled to protected private health information just like the rest of the country, he said.

Its up to the general public to decide what they trust and what they dont trust, said Olshansky, who wrote a 2020 analysis of the health of both Biden and Trump

Most recently, Trump faced scrutiny after images had been circulating online of his swollen legs and a bruised hand covered in makeup. The White House eventually disclosed his diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, and officials said the bruise was caused by constant hand shaking.

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When Trump was infected with COVID-19 in fall 2020, the administration initially hid the diagnosis, and then downplayed the severity without giving much detail about his treatment. Trump recovered after being granted special access to an unapproved drug to fight the virus.

In 2015, Trump released a letter from his then-physician Harold Bornstein that said he would be the healthiest president in history. Two years later, Bornstein admitted Trump dictated the letter himself.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP)  President Donald Trump says that Chinese President Xi Jinping has given him assurances that Beijing would take no action toward its long-stated goal of unifying Taiwan with mainland China while the Republican leader is in office.

Trump said that the long-contentious issue of Taiwan did not come up in his talks with Xi on Thursday in South Korea that largely focused on U.S.-China trade tensions. But the U.S. leader expressed certainty that China would not take action on Taiwan, while he's in office.

He has openly said, and his people have openly said at meetings, We would never do anything while President Trump is president, because they know the consequences, Trump said in an excerpt of an interview with the CBS' program 60 Minutes that aired Sunday.

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U.S. officials have long been concerned about the possibility of China using military force against Taiwan, the self-ruled island democracy claimed by Beijing as part of its territory.

The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which has governed U.S. relations with the island, does not require the U.S. to step in militarily if China invades but makes it American policy to ensure Taiwan has the resources to defend itself and to prevent any unilateral change of status by Beijing.

Asked if he would order U.S. forces to defend Taiwan if China attacked, Trump demurred. The United States, both Republican and Democratic administrations, have maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity on Taiwan  trying not to tip their hands on whether the U.S. would come to the island's aid in such a scenario.

Youll find out if it happens, and he understands the answer to that, Trump said of Xi.

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Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, did not respond directly to a query about whether Trump has received any assurances from Xi or Chinese officials about Taiwan. He insisted in a statement that China will never allow any person or force to separate Taiwan from China in any way.

The Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair, and it is the core of Chinas core interests. How to resolve the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people ourselves, and only the Chinese people can decide it," the statement added.

The White House also did not provide further details about when Xi or Chinese officials have conveyed to Trump that military action on Taiwan was off-the-table for the duration of the Republican's presidency.

The "60 Minutes" interview was taped on Friday at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. It marked Trump's first appearance on the show since he settled a lawsuit this summer with CBS News over the newsmagazines interview with Kamala Harris.

The rest of the interview is scheduled to air later Sunday.
A massive military buildup in the Caribbean has sparked speculation that the U.S. is now engaged in its latest chapter of direct intervention in Latin America.

For now, at least, President Donald Trump has walked back suggestions that Washington is eyeing strikes inside Venezuela, seemingly content with attacking numerous naval vessels under the guise of a counter-narcotics operation. But nonetheless, U.S. presence in the region will enlarge further in the coming weeks with the arrival of the worlds largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford.

As a scholar of U.S.-Latin American relations, I know the actions of the current U.S. administration smack of a long history of interventions in the region. Should escalation develop from attacks on ships into direct military confrontation with Venezuela, such aggression would appear to be par for the course in inter-American relations.

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And certainly, governments across Latin America  in and out of Venezuela  will place it in this historical context.

But while it does hearken back to some quasi-piratical practices of the U.S. Navy, the military buildup now is in key respects both unprecedented and shocking. It could also damage U.S. relations with the rest of the hemisphere for a generation to come.

A history of intervention

In the most obvious way, deploying a flotilla of warships to the southern Caribbean evokes dark echoes of gunboat diplomacy  the unilateral dispatch of marines or soldiers to strong-arm foreign governments that was especially prevalent in Latin America. One reliable account tallies 41 of these in the region from 1898 to 1994.

Of these, 17 were direct U.S. cases of aggression against sovereign nations and 24 were U.S. forces supporting Latin American dictators or military regimes. Many ended in the overthrow of democratic governments and the deaths of thousands. From 1915 to 1934, for example, the U.S. invaded and then occupied Haiti and may have killed as many as 11,500 people.

A Venezuelan supporter of Maduro takes part in a rally against U.S. military activity in the Caribbean. Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images

During World War II and the Cold War, Washington continued to dictate Latin Americas politics, showing an eagerness to respond to any perceived threat to U.S. investments or markets and backing pro-Washington dictatorships such as Augusto Pinochets rule over Chile from 1973 to 1990.

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Latin Americans have, by and large, chafed at such naked displays of Washingtons power. This opposition from Latin American governments was the main reason that President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave up interventions with his Good Neighbor policy in the 1930s. Intervention continued, though, throughout the Cold War, with moves against leftist governments in Nicaragua and Grenada in the 1980s.

The end of the Cold War did not quite end military interventions. Some U.S. armed forces still operated in the hemisphere, but, since 1994, they had done so as part of multilateral forces, as in Haiti, or responding to invitations or collaborated with host nations, for instance in anti-narcotics operations in the Andes and Central America.

Showing respect for national sovereignty and non-intervention  both sacred principles in the hemisphere  especially in the context of rising drug violence, has largely quieted the resistance to the presence of U.S. troops in the largest nations in the hemisphere, such as Mexico and Brazil.

No mere Monroe Doctrine reboot

So is Trump merely reviving a long-abandoned stance on the U.S. role in the region?

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Not even close. In two key ways, aggression against Venezuela or any other Latin American country now  rationalized by Washington as a response to insufficient law enforcement against drug-running  would be dangerously unprecedented.

First, it would blow out of the water the age-old justification for U.S. armed intervention called the Monroe Doctrine.

Since 1823, when President James Monroe announced it, the U.S. has aimed to keep outside powers out of the republics of the hemisphere.

Once a Latin American people won its independence, Washington believed, it had the right to keep it, and the U.S. Navy helped in any way it could.

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By the early 20th century, that purported help took on the look of a policeman patrolling the Caribbean Sea on a beat, wielding what then-U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt called a big stick and keeping Europeans from landing and, say, collecting debts. Sometimes this was done by having the Marines land first and move a countrys gold to Wall Street.

A 1904 cartoon in the New York Herald shows European leaders observing American naval power under the Monroe Doctrine. Bettmann/Getty Images

An expansion of the Panama precedent

Even during the Cold War, the Monroe Doctrine could be logically invoked to keep the Soviets out of the hemisphere  whether in Guatemala in 1954, Cuba in 1961, the Dominican Republic in 1965 or Grenada in 1983.

Often, as in Guatemala, the Soviet link was weak, even nonexistent. But there was still a thin thread of keeping out a foreign ideology that seemed to keep Monroe relevant.

The doctrine died a surer death with the 1989 invasion of Panama to remove its rogue leader, Manuel Noriega, convicted of drug-running and guilty of trouncing his countrys democracy. No one fingered an extra-hemispheric accomplice.

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Noriegas removal by about 26,000 U.S. troops might be the closest parallel to Trumps targeting of alleged drugs boats in the Caribbean. Trump has already  and repeatedly  alleged Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is, like Noriega, not the head of state of his own country and therefore indictable. More fantastically, he has alleged that the Venezuelan leader is the head of the Tren de Aragua gang that has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by U.S. authorities. It is not too big a leap from there to calling for  and participating in  the overthrow of Maduro on the grounds of removing an international narco-terrorist.

But even there, the parallel with Panama diverges in a crucial way: A U.S. attack on Venezuela would be far different in scale and geography. Maduros country is 12 times larger, with about six times the population. Its active troops number at least 100,000.

A 1989 photo of the bombed out Panamanian Defense Forces Headquarters after being destroyed in the American invasion of Panama. AP Photo/Matias Recar

Another Iraq?

In all of the U.S. invasions and occupations of Latin America, none has occurred in South America or in a large country.

To be sure, troops from the colossus of the north invaded Mexico several times, beginning in 1846, but never did they hold the entire country. In the Mexican War, U.S. troops soon retreated after 1848. In 1914, they occupied a single city, Veracruz, and in 1916, they chased around a bandit in the Punitive Expedition.

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In all these episodes, it found taking parts of Mexico expensive and unproductive.

And a U.S.-provoked regime change in a sovereign country today, such as in Venezuela, would likely trigger a massive resistance not only from its military but throughout the country.

Maduros threat of a republic in arms should the U.S. invade might be bluster. But it might not. Many experts predict that such an invasion would meet with disaster. Maduro has already asked for military assistance from Russia, China and even Iran. Even without such help, the mobilization of U.S. assets in the Caribbean is no guarantee of success.

And while many governments in the rest of the hemisphere would no doubt love to see Maduro gone, they would dislike more the method of his going. The presidents of Colombia and Mexico have criticized the attacks, and others have warned of the resentment in the hemisphere were an intervention to follow.

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In part, this is informed by the U.S. interventionist past in Latin America, but it also comes from a place of self-preservation, particularly among the left-leaning governments who have already drawn Trumps ire. As President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil said, If this becomes a trend, if each one thinks they can invade anothers territory to do whatever they want, where is the respect for the sovereignty of nations?

Venezuela is, contrary to the White Houses statements, not much of a producer or trans-shipment point of narcotics. What if Trump turned his sights on other government even more compromised by drug corruption, such as Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia and Peru?

The concern there will be over becoming the next domino in line.

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: Alan McPherson, Temple University

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Alan McPherson 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.
President Donald Trump on Saturday said he has instructed the Defense Department to prepare for possible action in Nigeria over the countrys alleged killing of Christians.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, Trump wrote on social media.

If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST! Trump added.

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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth replied to Trump's social media post with a "Yes sir."

"The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria  and anywhere  must end immediately," Hegseth said on X. "The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities."

NBC News has reached out to the Nigerian embassy for comment.

On Sunday morning, Nigerian presidency spokesperson Daniel Bwala said the country would welcome U.S. assistance in fighting Islamist insurgents "as long as it recognises our territorial integrity."

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He told Reuters: "I am sure by the time these two leaders meet and sit, there would be better outcomes in our joint resolve to fight terrorism."

Trumps announcement comes a day after he categorized Nigeria as a country of particular concern, a designation the U.S. gives countries the government deems as engaging in particularly severe violations of religious freedom. Other countries on the list include China, Cuba and North Korea.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commented Saturday morning after Trump identified his country as one of "particular concern," writing on X that the "characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality."

"Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it," Tinubu wrote.

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The Nigerian government issued a statement Saturday after the designation, saying it remained committed to tackling what it called violent extremism.

Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength. Nigeria is a God-fearing country where we respect faith, tolerance, diversity and inclusion, in concurrence with the rules-based international order, Nigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

During his first term, Trump declared Nigeria a country of particular concern, an action that President Joe Bidens administration reversed in 2021 when then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken found the country did not meet the criteria to be included on the CPC list.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A 49-year-old blind Christian man in Pakistan has been arrested on charges of blasphemy, a crime punishable by death, after being accused by a local Muslim of insulting Islam's prophet, sparking outrage among rights groups and the Christian community, as reported by Morning Star News. The accused, Nadeem Masih, was detained in August after being allegedly framed by a group of men who had long harassed him, according to his mother, 80-year-old Martha Yousaf. She said her son, who earned a modest living operating a weighing scale at Lahore's Model Town Park, was frequently bullied, extorted, and even assaulted by local workers, including the complainant, Waqas Mazhar, as reported by Morning Star News. On August 21, when Masih protested against being barred from setting up his stall, Mazhar and another man allegedly dragged him to the Model Town Police Station and accused him of blasphemy. Police later charged him under Section 295-C of Pakistan's penal code, which carries the death penalty, Morning Star News reported. Yousaf said her blind son was tortured in custody and forced to confess to false allegations. "Every time I meet him, my heart bleeds and cries when he tells me how badly he is being treated, especially when he's taken for court appearances," she said, as quoted by Morning Star News. "They push him around despite knowing that he is completely blind and also has an iron rod in his right leg," she added. Masih's lawyer, Javed Sahotra, said major discrepancies in the police report point to foul play. The complaint claims officers were patrolling the park at 11 pm (local time) when they were alerted to the alleged crime, even though the park closes at 9 pm. "However, the fact is that the park's gates close at 9 pm, and no one is allowed inside after that... Moreover, Masih had made a call on the police helpline at 6 am to inform them about his mistreatment by the parking contractor and others but received no help," Sahotra told Morning Star News. The lawyer confirmed that Masih was tortured in custody, calling it "inhumane treatment" and urging authorities to take disciplinary action against the officers involved. "It is very unfortunate that a blind person was subjected to such inhumane treatment by the police... We hope that the government and the senior police officials will take notice of this high-handed behaviour by their personnel and take disciplinary action against them," the lawyer said to Morning Star News. Naeem Yousaf, executive director of the Catholic Church's National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), condemned the arrest, saying Masih was "a victim of injustice and human indifference." He said Pakistan's blasphemy laws continue to be weaponised against minorities, particularly the poor and disabled. "Masih kept going all these years despite being a target of harsh social attitudes that fail to recognise disabled people as human beings," he said, as quoted by Morning Star News. "Already burdened by poverty, blindness and social cruelty, he is now suffering even more behind the bars of a jail cell, a victim of injustice and human indifference," he added. Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a recent report, also highlighted widespread misuse of Pakistan's blasphemy laws to settle personal disputes, seize property, and incite mob violence. The rights group said the laws are "vague and easily exploited", while police routinely fail to protect the accused or prosecute violent mobs. Pakistan currently ranks eighth on Open Doors' 2025 World Watch List of countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian. (ANI)
President Trump on Saturday told the Department of Defense (DOD) to prepare for possible action in Nigeria over alleged attacks on Christians in the African country.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities., Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action, the post continued. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later told Trump, Yes sir, in a post on the social platform X.

The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria  and anywhere  must end immediately, Hegseth wrote. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.

Prior to Trump and Hegseths social media comments, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said Saturday his government is committed to working with the United States.

The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians, Tinubu wrote on X. Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so.

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Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it, Tinubu continued. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.

Trump previously said that Nigeria would be placed on the State Departments Countries of Particular Concern watchlist. In a Truth Social post on Friday, he asked Reps. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.) to immediately look into this matter, and report back to me.

The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries, Trump wrote. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!

The presidents order on Saturday comes after Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called on Congress to designate Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom, claiming the country has committed a Christian genocide, The Associated Press reported.

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Religiously-motivated attacks have taken place against both Christian and Muslim populations, according to the APs reporting. But other attacks have occurred between farmers and herders fighting over dwindling resources.

The AP also cited data from the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data program showing that between January 2020 and this September, 385 attacks that were targeted events against Christians  where Christian identity of the victim was a reported factor resulted in 317 deaths. Over the same period, there were 417 deaths recorded among Muslims in 196 attacks.

There is no systematic, intentional attempt either by the Nigerian government or by any serious group to target a particular religion, Information Minister Idris Muhammed told the outlet.

Among those praising Trumps actions was rapper Nicki Minaj, who thanked the president on Saturday for taking this seriously.

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Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude, Minaj posted on X, sharing a screenshot of Trumps Truth Social post from Friday. We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. We dont have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other. Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror & its dangerous to pretend we dont notice.

This all comes days after Nobel Prize-winning Nigerian author Wole Soyinka said his non-resident visa to enter the U.S. was rejected. He said he believes it was because he criticized Trump, which he has done for years.

I have no visa, Soyinka said at a press conference on Tuesday. I am banned, obviously, from the United States, and if you want to see me, you know where to find me.

Updated at 9:12 p.m. EDT

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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President Donald Trump said hes instructing the Defense Department to prepare for possible action in Nigeria, claiming the nations government continues to allow the killing of Christians.

Trump made the announcement Saturday on Truth Social, one day after he declared that Nigeria is a country of particular concern. The U.S. government uses this designation for nations determined to have committed particularly severe violations of religious freedom, according to the State Departments website.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, the president wrote.

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I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action, he continued. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!

Trump accused the Nigerian government of continuing to allow the killing of Christians (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Nigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs pushed back on Trumps designation in a statement on Saturday morning.

Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength. Nigeria is a God-fearing country where we respect faith, tolerance, diversity and inclusion, in concurrence with the rules-based international order, the statement reads.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also pushed back on Trumps characterization of the nation on Saturday morning.

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Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so, he said in a statement. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.

The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu pushed back on Trump's designation of Nigeria as a 'country of particular concern' (Getty Images)

Trumps designation also caught the attention of rapper Nicki Minaj, who praised the decision on X.

Thank you to The President & his team for taking this seriously, Minaj wrote. God bless every persecuted Christian. Lets remember to lift them up in prayer.

Nigerias population of 230 million people is mostly split between Christians and Muslims. There are also armed insurgent groups operating in the nation, including the Islamic extremist organization Boko Haram, which has also targeted Muslims, the Associated Press reports.

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There have been religiously-motivated attacks targeting both Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, according to AP. Analysts have said the majority of attacks by armed groups happen in northern Nigeria, where the population is primarily Muslim, and that the majority of victims are Muslims, the outlet added.

The Independent has contacted the Defense Department and Nigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.
Catholics gather for a mass at the Church of the Assumption in Lagos on April 21, 2025. Credit - Olympia De MaismontAFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump threatened to send the U.S. military into Nigeria guns-a-blazing, citing claims of mass killing of Christians in the African nation.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, Trump posted on his Truth Social account, calling on the Nigerian government to act fast.

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Trumps post included a directive for the Pentagon to prepare for possible action, to which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded: Yes sir on his social media.



"The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria  and anywhere  must end immediately," Hegseth said on X. "The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities."

Read more: Land Conflict Has Long Been a Problem in Nigeria. Heres How Climate Change Is Making It Worse

The threat came just two days after Trump threatened possible sanctions and removal of aid from the country of over 230 million people, claiming that Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.

Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter, he said on Truth Social on Friday, while announcing that he was designating Nigeria a country of particular concernan official State Department designation given to countries where religious freedom is under threat.

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Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu challenged Trumps characterization of the nation as religiously intolerant in a statement posted to social media on Saturday, saying that it does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.

He continued, Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.

Yet, Nigeria has announced that it would welcome assistance from the United States in fighting armed groups, provided the U.S. respects its territorial integrity.

Heres what we know about the situation.

Trump is reacting to viral claims

Claims of a genocide against Christians in Nigeria have been circulating in right-wing circles since earlier this year.

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The viral claims have spread quickly on social media, reaching U.S. politicians and faith-based organizations.

Riley Moore, a Republican Congressman from West Virginia, claimed earlier this week that 50,000-100,000 of our brothers and sisters in Nigeria have been murdered for their faith in Christ.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican, claimed that officials in Nigeria are ignoring and even "facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist Jihadists.

Nigerian officials and experts have countered those claims.

Cruz pushed for Trump to include announcing the West African country on a State Department watch list for countries of particular concern, which Trump did on Friday.

A vendor sells local newspapers with headlines referring to US President Donald Trump's comments about Nigeria, on the street of Lagos, Nigeria, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. Sunday AlambaAssociated Press

Cruz has been joined by some celebrities and pundits, including Bill Maher, who on his show has delivered a similar account of claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria, claiming that jihadist groups in the nation are literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country. Rapper Nicki Minaj also thanked Trump for shedding light on the issue.

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Trumps forceful response to claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria mirrors his equally aggressive measures when similar claims of a genocide against white farmers in South Africa spread online.

Those claims led to his administration prioritizing white refugees from South Africa while severely limiting the number of refugees allowed from any other nation. Trump has claimed that white Afrikaners, particularly farmers, were victims of a genocide, and made the population the first refugee group to land in America during his second term.

Read more: The Long History of the U.S. Backing White South Africans

South African officials have long disputed claims that Afrikaners are victims of racial persecution.

More Muslims killed than Christians

Nigeria has been facing brutal insurgencies from jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State for years, leading to thousands of deaths, but most attacks have been carried out in the majority Muslim northeast of the country, and the majority of the victims have been Muslim, according to the Council of Foreign Relations, despite Boko Harams murderous hostility to Christians.

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The country is split evenly between Christians and Muslims, and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom found in 2024 that the violence affects both populations in large numbers.

According to data collected by the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) program, there have been 20,409 deaths from 11,862 attacks against civilians in Nigeria between January 2020 and September 2025. Of that number, 385 attacks and 317 deaths were on Christian people, in which their religious identity played a factor. During the same time, 417 deaths were recorded among Muslims in 196 attacks.

The Council on Foreign Relations also notes that many attacks against Christians have taken place in the Middle Belta region of the country where all of Nigerias ethnicities liveand often involve disputes over land, water and ethnicity, in addition to religion.

How have Nigerians reacted?

Many Nigerians have disputed Trumps characterization of their country and its treatment of Christians, including some Christian leaders.

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Joseph Hayab, a former chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna state, among the worst hit by the insecurity, told the Associated Press last month that he rejected the claims of Christian genocide, and said that while there have been many Christians killed over the years, and every death is lamentable, things have been better than what they were before.

Gimba Kakanda, Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria, wrote in an opinion piece this past week that claims of religious warbetray ignorance of the countrys internal dynamics.

While Western media often highlight attacks on churches and Christian communities, the reality is that these terrorists are indiscriminate in their violence, Kakanda wrote. The real danger lies in media outlets portraying Boko Haram, a group despised by both Muslims and Christians, as representative of Islam.

Responding to Trumps threat of military action on Sunday, Daniel Bwala, an adviser to the Nigerian president, said the country would welcome U.S. help to combat militants under certain conditions.

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"We welcome U.S. assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity," Bwala told Reuters.

"I am sure by the time these two leaders meet and sit, there would be better outcomes in our joint resolve to fight terrorism," he said, in reference to Trumps criticism of Nigeria as a disgraced country.

Some Christian groups in Nigeria, however, have called for more to be done to protect members of their faith, as violence has undeniably affected the nation.

Last month, President Archbishop Daniel Okoh of the Christian Association of Nigeria responded to increased attention on his community to say that many Christian communities in parts of Nigeria, especially in the North, have suffered severe attacks, loss of life, and the destruction of places of worship.

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We therefore renew our call on government and security agencies to take urgent, transparent, and equitable action to end the killings, safeguard vulnerable Christian communities from displacement, and ensure that perpetrators face the full weight of the law. The pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as mere statistics, he added in the statement.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The Pentagon is preparing for a war with Nigeria after Donald Trump threatened to send in the military guns-a-blazing if the country does not stem the killing of Christians.

The US president said on Saturday that he had asked the Pentagon to map out a possible plan of attack just days after warning that Christianity was facing an existential threat in Nigeria by Islamic extremists.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, Mr Trump said on Truth Social.

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I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians.

The Nigerian government vehemently rejects the claims, and analysts say that while Christians are among those targeted, the majority of victims of armed groups are Muslims in Nigerias Muslim-majority north, where most attacks occur.

On Friday, Mr Trump announced that he would designate Nigeria a country of particular concern as it relates to religious freedom, a move that had been pushed by some US lawmakers.

The designation could lead to sanctions and include a ban on all non-humanitarian aid.

Nigeria is embroiled in numerous conflicts that experts say have killed both Christians and Muslims - Getty Images

Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, shared Mr Trumps post and wrote on social media: Yes, sir.

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The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, Mr Hegseth said.

Nigeria, Africas most populous country, is almost evenly divided between a Muslim-majority north and a largely Christian south.

The country is consumed by security issues. Its northeastern region is at the epicentre of a Boko Haram jihadist insurgency, which has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced more than two million since 2009, according to the United Nations.

In central Nigeria, majority-Muslim herders have repeatedly clashed with majority-Christian farmers. The conflict is frequently portrayed as inter-religious but generally stems from competition over land access.

Conservative politicians call for intervention

Christianity has played a central role in Mr Trumps campaign to return to office and was fundamental in securing a large and reliable voting bloc among white evangelical and conservative Christians.

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Conservative politicians in the US have fuelled the accusations and called for intervention.

Last month, Ted Cruz, senator for Texas, and Riley Moore, congressman for West Virginia, accused the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to the mass murder of Christians.

Claims of Christian persecution have also been pushed by some in Nigeria, where ethnic, religious and regional divisions have flared with deadly consequences in the past and still shape the countrys modern politics.

The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerias president, said on social media on Saturday.

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Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so, Mr Tinubu added.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerias president, denied his country was intolerant - Reuters

On Sunday, Nigeria said it would welcome the US help in fighting Islamist insurgents as long as its territorial integrity is respected.

We welcome US assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity, said Daniel Bwala, an adviser to the Nigerian president.

The increased focus on the African nation is part of a wider shift in Americas foreign policy, which seeks to redraw the Western sphere of influence. The overall plan has been dubbed the Donroe Doctrine by insiders, and its aim, in part, is to rid Americas backyard of Chinese influence.

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Beijing had deep trade and resource-extraction ties across Africa and Nigeria is part of that ecosystem. Nigeria holds vast reserves of rare earth elements like lithium, cobalt and nickel, which are vital to consumer electronics and the American tech industry.

The doctrine also extends to Latin America. In Venezuela, military strikes on drug-smuggling vessels have been framed as a national security threat and the need to revive American dominance in the region.

Dozens of alleged cartel members have been killed in targeting strikes on small boats in the Caribbean since early September in a renewed war on drugs. Whether for show, or as part of a wider doctrine closing in on Latin America, the attacks remain controversial among legal scholars and some of the countries in Americas backyard.

The Justice Department told Congress this week that Mr Trump could lawfully continue his lethal strikes and that the 60-day limit on congressionally unauthorised deployments into hostilities does not apply in this operation.

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President Donald Trump on Sunday said U.S. troops could be boots on the ground in Nigeria amid his threats of military action in the West African country over his claims of persecution of Christians there.

The president made the comment aboard Air Force One on his way back to Washington, D.C., after a weekend in Florida.

Trump was asked if he could envisage boots on the ground or air strikes, to which he said, "Could be."

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"They're killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers, we're not going to allow that to happen," he said.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One shortly after taking off from Busan, South Korea, en route to Joint Base Andrews, Md., Oct. 30, 2025.

Trump's comments come after he instructed the Pentagon on Saturday to prepare for possible action in Nigeria, saying the U.S. could go in "guns-a-blazing" and halt aid if the government there "continues to allow the killing of Christians.

"If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, "guns-a-blazing," to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities," the president said in a post on his social media platform. "I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action."

What would strikes on Venezuela look like? US target list expected to include ports, airports used by drug smugglers

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He added, "WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!"

On Friday, Trump said he was designating Nigeria as a "country of particular concern," a legal designation from the U.S. State Department for countries "responsible for particularly severe violations of religious freedom," with Trump saying that "Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria."

Trump said he asked Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.V. and Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., and the House Appropriations Committee, for a report on the matter.

Nigeria's population of more than 230 million is about evenly split between Muslims and Christians. Violence in the country has grown amid near daily attacks by armed groups and bandits in northern Nigeria, Amnesty International reported earlier this year, calling the mounting death toll a "humanitarian crisis."

Ton Molina/Getty Images - PHOTO: Lula Da Silva Welcomes President Of Nigeria Bola Tinubu

However, the patterns of violence are often complex. Christians have been targeted, as have other religious groups. People have also been targeted by violence based on their ethnic group and how they make their living.

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After Trump's first post, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pushed back, writing "The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians."

UN accuses US of breaching international law with deadly airstrikes on boats in Caribbean and Pacific

Tinubu said his administration has taken steps to maintain "an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions." And he said he was committed to working with the U.S. and the international community to "deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths."

Nigeria has seen a resurgence of the homegrown Islamic militant group Boko Haram this year, according to the Associated Press .

An attack in northern Nigeria in September killed dozens, the AP reported.

ABC News' Victoria Beaule contributed to this report.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is expected to call a meeting with ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia to discuss action on Gaza.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is expected to call at a meeting in Istanbul on Monday for arrangements to be made as soon as possible to ensure the security and administration of Gaza by Palestinians, a foreign ministry source said on Sunday.

The foreign ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia are set to join the meeting on ceasefire developments and the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the Turkish foreign ministry source said.

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The source said Fidan was expected to "emphasize the importance of coordinated action by Muslim countries for the ceasefire to evolve into a lasting peace."

Responses to US brokered deal

Countries taking part in the Istanbul talks all attended a meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York in September on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

The US-brokered Gaza truce, which left thorny issues like the disarmament of Palestinian militant group Hamas and a timeline for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza unresolved, has been tested by periodic violence since coming into force.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is welcomed by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Doha, Qatar (credit: REUTERS)

The source said Fidan is set to tell the meeting that Israel is "making excuses" to end the ceasefire and emphasize the need for the international community to "take a resolute stance against Israel's provocative actions."

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He was also set to say that humanitarian aid entering Gaza is insufficient and Israel has not fulfilled its obligations in this regard.

Relations between Turkey and Israel have hit new lows during the Gaza war, with President Tayyip Erdogan harshly criticizing Israel's attacks on the enclave.

Turkey helped persuade Hamas to accept Trump's peace plan and has expressed a willingness to take part in an international task force to monitor ceasefire implementation.

However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said last Monday that Israel won't accept the presence of Turkish armed forces in Gaza under the US plan to end the war.
NEED TO KNOW

Yolyn Hermios, a 16-year-old from Mesa, Arizona, has been missing since Saturday, Nov. 1

The City of Mesa Police Department has issued a turquoise alert and are appealing for any relevant information regarding their investigation

Turquoise alerts are issued if an individual is under the age of 65 and have "gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances," among other criteria

Authorities in Arizona are asking for the public's assistance in locating a missing teenage girl.

On Sunday, Nov. 2, authorities in Mesa, Ariz., issued a statewide turquoise alert for 16-year-old Yolyn Hermios. The City of Mesa Police Department shared the alert for the missing and endangered teen alongside a photo of her on Facebook.

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Hermios was last seen at around 6:50 p.m. local time on Saturday, Nov. 1, near Broadway Rd. and Dobson Rd., according to Mesa police. She has not been seen or heard from since, an earlier alert for the teen reads. Family is concerned for her welfare since it is out of character for her to be gone for an extended period of time.

The Pacific Islander teen was last seen wearing red shorts, a black shirt and black shoes, according to the alert. She has brown hair with green faded highlights and brown eyes. She is 4 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds.

City of Mesa Police Department Yolyn Hermios Yolyn Hermios

PEOPLE have contacted the City of Mesa Police Department for updates.

Turquoise alerts aim to locate the missing endangered person through efficient information dissemination and communication that results in the safe and expedient recovery, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS).

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The system is also referred to as Emilys Law, in reference to 14-year-old Emily Pike, who went missing from a Mesa, Ariz., group home in January. She was found dismembered in trash bags near the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation a month later.

Emilys Law was put in place to honor and memorialize the life of Pike, a San Carlos Apache Tribal member, the AZDPS website states.

Turquoise alerts are issued if the endangered individual meets specific criteria. According to the AZDPS website, they must be under the age of 65 and the law enforcement agency investigating the missing person report has used all available local resources.

Mesa Police Department Emily Pike Emily Pike

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The individual must have gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, and the agency investigating their disappearance must have determined that they are not a runaway as the only reason they went missing, per the AZDPS  unless there is evidence they are missing and endangered due to aggravating factors.

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Authorities must also believe that the individual is in danger, in the company of a potentially dangerous person, or may otherwise be in peril.

Another criteria for the alert is that there is information that, if disseminated to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person.



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Go big or gourd home.

Twin brothers grew the worlds heaviest pumpkin of all time weighing in at a staggering 2,819 pounds and 4 ounces.

Ian and Stuart Paton, 64, of Hampshire, England, who have been growing pumpkins for over 50 years, have come close to achieving the fall feat, but have never accomplished the Guinness World Record until this month.

The Paton brothers grew the worlds heaviest pumpkin. guinness world records

Their gourd, which they affectionately nicknamed Muggle in a nod to the Harry Potter series, not only broke the heaviest pumpkin record, but also the one for largest pumpkin by circumference at 21 feet and 3.8 inches.

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The pair brought the pumpkin to a competition near Reading, a two-hour drive away from their home in Lymington, and told the outlet, Moving giant pumpkins is fairly easy as weve been doing it for many years. We have our big lifting ring and literally scoop up the pumpkins.

An assessor from the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, Sebastian Suski, was there to take its measurements  and a giant fruit and vegetable consultant from Guinness World Records was also present.

I was amazed to see this record come to the UK, Suski told the record book. This was massive news for the brothers who have been growing for over 50 years, but also for all British pumpkin growers.

Ian and Stuart always shared lots of tips for growing giant vegetables with me, so being the one to confirm their pumpkins record status was, from a personal perspective, extra special.
A pair of Long Island twins are blasting Columbia for allowing antisemitism to run rampant, alleging in a new lawsuit that the universitys trustees continue to foster Jew hate on campus.

Jewish students at Columbia University are subjected to an institutional tolerance for antisemitism that manifests across campus, including in the lecture halls, seniors David and Jonathan Lederer, 23, claim in the federal discrimination suit.

Just this week, a student brought up the war between Israel and Gaza, and the professor goes, Poor choice of words,' recalled David, who is studying financial engineering.

Jonathan Lederer (left) and Columbia student Elisha Lishi Baker stand outside federal court in Manhattan. William Farrington

And the kid said, What? Genocide? And the professor goes, Better.'

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Harassment on campus has been continuous since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, with both brothers accosted by radical student protestors and called slurs like kike, Zionist pig, and baby killer,' according to the court filing.

In March, the Trump administration announced that it canceled $400 million in federal grants over the Ivy League schools noncompliance with anti-discrimination laws.

The administration accused Columbia of violating civil rights law by acting with deliberate indifference toward student-on-student harassment of Jewish students since the start of the war in Gaza.

The twins have also been repeatedly doxxed online and been followed by mobs of masked protestors, screaming obscenities and yelling at them to go back to Poland, the suit, filed in Manhattan federal court, states.

Jonathan (right) and David Lederer are calling for accountability at Columbia University. DCPI

They were also among the students who were blocked from university property by members of the faculty, including professor Mahmood Mamdani, the father of controversial mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist.

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None of those faculty members were punished, and many reman in positions of power at the school, Jonathan, a computer science major, told The Post.

Structural antisemitism is still there. The same culture exists.

Jonathan was punched in the face during a Dec. 9, 2024, rally by Tarek Bazrouk, an affiliate of Within Our Lifetime, a New York City-based Palestinian-led community organization. The attack happened on 116th Street and Broadway, as the brothers from Woodmere were speaking to a journalist.

David is seen in 2023, proudly waving the Israeli flag on campus. James Keivom

He also ripped an Israeli flag out of Davids hand and called Jonathan and David Nazis,' reads the lawsuit, noting Bazrouk was arrested and charged with a hate crime for the assault.

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The FBI also reportedly discovered antisemitic text messages on Bazrouks phone  and weapons in his apartment, with the lawsuit also alleging that Bazrouk was a member of a group chat that received regular updates from the official spokesperson of Hamas military wing.

This week, Bazrouk was sentenced to 17 months in jail for the hate-fueled attack.

My hope is this [lawsuit leads to] structural change, and that Jewish students dont face the type of antisemitism we did, Jonathan explained. I dont want them to feel powerless in the face of antisemitism, like we were.

The brothers even left campus temporarily in April 2024, as other Jewish students did, after Rabbi Elie Buechler warned them that Columbia was no longer safe for Jews.

A chalk drawing depicts Tarek Bazrouk at his sentencing this week. Jane Rosenberg

We are looking for accountability, David added, and justice for what we faced. I dont think any other student or minority group should go through what Jewish students have gone through at Columbia, and I think there has to be consequences when  antisemitism is allowed to remain rampant.

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The universitys Student Conduct team routinely imposes excessive sanctions on Jewish or Zionist students while imposing minimal to no sanctions on non-Jewish or anti-Zionist students, according to the lawsuit.

While Columbia routinely creates safe spaces for, educates against hate toward, and promotes inclusion of other minority groups, Columbia routinely tolerates harassment, intimidation, and discrimination toward Jewish students, the court filing claims.

The New York Post reported on Bazrouks Hamas connections this spring.

Despite the threats and intimidation, the twins never considered transferring, they said.

I was not going to leave because I knew if we did, there would be no one talking on our behalf, no one talking on behalf of future Jewish students, Jonathan said.

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The brothers are seeking unspecified punitive and compensatory damages. They also want the university to acknowledge it violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through its alleged antisemitic actions.

Columbia did not return The Posts request for comment.
With South Africa gearing up to host the G20 Leaders' Summit in November, the theme of "development without dependency" has emerged as a defining pillar for Africa's economic resurgence and equitable global partnerships -- a vision championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who advocates self-reliant, mutually beneficial cooperation between India and Africa. In an opinion piece published on IOL, one of South Africa's leading news platforms, academic and international relations observer Nereshnee Govender writes that PM Modi's approach draws on shared histories of resistance and aspirations for equitable development. During his 2018 address to the Ugandan Parliament, the Prime Minister outlined his 'Ten Guiding Principles for India-Africa Engagement', framing a partnership rooted in respect for Africa's priorities and a rejection of neo-colonial patterns of aid and influence, states Govender in IOL. "Just as India and Africa fought colonialism together, we will work together for a just, representative and democratic global order that has a voice for one-third of humanity that lives in Africa and India," Modi said at the time. Since then, India's ties with Africa have deepened, grounded in what Modi calls "cooperation without conditions". With nearly USD 100 billion in trade, cumulative investments of around USD 75 billion, and a 3.5 million-strong diaspora, India's Africa policy has evolved into a pragmatic and partnership-based engagement. Speaking during his recent address to Ghana's Parliament, PM Modi noted that the global order shaped after the Second World War is shifting rapidly amid technological revolutions, demographic changes, and the rise of the Global South. He argued that while colonialism has formally ended, many of its exploitative structures persist in new forms, warning against repeating the mistakes of the past, as stated by Govender in IOL. India's 2023 G20 Presidency exemplified this commitment to inclusive growth. "Progress cannot come without giving voice to the Global South. We need more than slogans. We need action. That is why, during India's G20 Presidency, we worked with the vision -One Earth, One Family, One Future," the Prime Minister said. "We put emphasis on Africa's rightful place at the global high table. We are proud that the African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during our Presidency," he added. This move, facilitated by India's diplomatic efforts, marks a significant step in rebalancing global governance and strengthening South-South cooperation in an increasingly multipolar world, as per Govender. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has echoed similar concerns. Speaking at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting during the UN General Assembly in September, he cautioned that the promise of sustainable development remains distant for many developing nations, with more than 85 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goals off track, especially those related to hunger, poverty, and inequality. "As part of our G20 Presidency priorities, we advocate for actions to support low-income and developing economies through debt sustainability and reducing capital costs," Ramaphosa said, calling for comprehensive reform of the international financial system. He emphasised the need for greater grant and concessional financing, improved multilateral coordination, and fairer participation for developing nations in global decision-making, Govender stated in his piece in IOL. "To respond to these issues, we need meaningful reforms of the international financial architecture," Ramaphosa said. "We must increase grant and concessional financing, enhance multilateral coordination on debt, draw in the private sector and ensure equal participation in decision-making on the international economic order," he said. In the midst of growing global trade tensions and geopolitical rivalries, PM Modi's call for a "partnership of equals", built on trust, respect, and shared prosperity, resonates strongly, as stated by Govender in IOL. It signals a shift away from dependency-driven models toward a future where Africa's development is shaped by its own priorities and partnerships based on equality. As the G20 Summit approaches, this evolving alliance between India and Africa stands as a compelling example of how nations of the Global South can redefine their roles in the global order, not as recipients of aid, but as partners in shaping a more just and inclusive world. (ANI)
(FOX40.COM)  Two people were found dead on Saturday morning in Fairfield after multiple callers reported hearing gunshots.

Video Above: Yolo County DA charges alleged DUI and illegal immigrant suspect with murder

Around 3:03 a.m., Fairfield Police officers were dispatched to an apartment in the 3700 block of Lyon Road for a welfare check. Upon arriving at the apartment, officers located a man and a woman, deceased.

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Preliminary findings suggest this may have been an apparent murder-suicide; however, the investigation remains ongoing, with the official cause of death to be determined.

Detectives are actively working to confirm the circumstances leading up to the incident. Police confirmed there is no active threat to the community.

This is an ongoing investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
A late-night house fire in Sunland left two people dead and five others hospitalized, officials said Sunday.

Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded around 11:10 p.m. Saturday to the 10900 block of North Scoville Avenue, where they found a one-story home engulfed in flames and heavy smoke.

An 87-year-old man was found outside the residence with critical burn injuries and was taken to a hospital, according to LAFD spokesperson Margaret Stewart.

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Firefighters launched an aggressive interior attack after reports that more people were trapped inside. Two adult men were discovered in the home and pronounced dead at the scene.

Four additional adults outside the home suffered smoke inhalation and were also transported for treatment. One person declined to be taken to the hospital, bringing the total number of patients to eight.

Photos show the aftermath of a deadly fire in Sunland. November 2025. (LAFD) Photos show the aftermath of a deadly fire in Sunland. November 2025. (LAFD) Photos show the aftermath of a deadly fire in Sunland. November 2025. (LAFD) Photos show the aftermath of a deadly fire in Sunland. November 2025. (LAFD)

Officials said 36 firefighters, under the command of Battalion Chief Scott Hilton, extinguished the flames within 30 minutes.

As is standard in fatal fires, the LAFDs Arson and Counter-Terrorism Section is investigating the cause. Firefighters did not report hearing any smoke alarms when they arrived, and it remains unclear whether the 1,359-square-foot home, built in 1948, was equipped with working detectors.

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The identities of the two victims will be determined by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiners Office.

According to officials, about 16 people were displaced from two buildings on the property. The American Red Cross assisted with immediate needs, and the Mayors Crisis Response Team provided emotional support for those affected.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA)  Two people were reportedly injured Sunday morning after a shooting at a party in North Carolina.

According to Rutherford County Sheriffs Office, the Rutherford County Communications Center received multiple calls regarding a shooting at a large party on Beams Mill Road in Ellenboro.

The sheriffs office said two people were reportedly injured in the shooting. One was taken to a nearby hospital by Rutherford County EMS and another was taken by private vehicle. Both are currently receiving treatment for their injuries.

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The sheriffs office said deputies arrived at the scene and found multiple partygoers had already left the area. Investigators have conducted interviews and collected evidence from the scene and the investigation is ongoing.

The sheriffs office is asking anyone who attended the party who may have cell phone video, social media footage or any other information to contact investigators at 828-286-2911. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Rutherford County Crimestoppers at 828-286-TIPS or through the RCSO app on your phone.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Two men were arrested during a demonstration outside the Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility Saturday night, police said.

A 31-year-old man from Austin, Texas was criminally cited for second-degree disorderly conduct after officials said he engaged in what appeared to be offensive physical contact with another person.

Help mom and dad get home: How a note in a coloring book helped Jackie Merlos in ICE custody

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Police say he will now need to appear in court at a future date.

Meanwhile a 23-year-old man was arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of second-degree disorderly conduct and a probation violation.

Police have not released details on the events surrounding this arrest.

To date, PPB says they have made 63 arrests related to nightly protests outside the ICE facility.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
CHIRENO, Texas (KETK)  The Nacogdoches County Sheriffs Office is currently searching for at least two people in connection to an attempt to steal an ATM.

Former Game Warden, known for Lone Star Law show, arrested for making false bank statement

According to the sheriffs office, at least two people were scared off by a bystander while they were attempting to steal an ATM located at Highway 21 and FM 95 near Chireno at around 1:50 a.m. on Sunday.

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The suspects fled the scene in a vehicle that was reportedly stolen in Diboll but was later found at Loop 34 near Highway 21. The sheriffs office said the suspects got out of that vehicle and were picked up by a different vehicle.

The sheriffs office set up a perimeter in the Chireno area and is currently searching for the suspects. They asked residents of Chireno to lock their doors and vehicles.

Anyone who sees anything suspicious in that area is asked to call 911 immediately.

You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming.

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The U.S. government is warning travelers that they may face "targeting" due to their sexual orientation in a key African nation known for its tourism.

That country is Tanzania, and the U.S. Department of State raised its alert for Tanzania on October 31 by a level to 3. That alert level urges travelers to "reconsider" travel to Tanzania for that and other reasons.

"Reconsider travel to Tanzania due to unrest, crime, terrorism, and targeting of gay and lesbian individuals. Some areas have increased risk," the State Department wrote. The government added a risk indicator for "unrest."

The U.S. Government Says People Have Faced Harassment Over Their Sexual Orientation

Members "of the gay and lesbian community have been arrested, targeted, and harassed," the State Department warned in the travel advisory.

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"People who identify as gay or lesbian may experience a higher likelihood of being targeted by police. People detained under suspicion of same-sex sexual conduct may face invasive physical exams."

Traditional wooden down outrigger sailing boats pulled up on the beach, Jambiani, Zanzibar, Tanzania. (Photo by: Andy Soloman/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Human Dignity Trust also warns that community about traveling to Tanzania. "Tanzania criminalises same-sex sexual activity between men and between women. Sentences include a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. There is evidence of the law being enforced in recent years, and LGBT people are regularly subjected to discrimination and violence," the site wrote in 2024.

Added the Human Dignity Trust: "The law was inherited from the British during the colonial period, in which the English criminal law was imposed upon Tanzania. Tanzania retained the provision upon independence and continues to criminalise same-sex sexual activity today. The law was amended in recent decades to expand the criminalisation of same-sex sexual activity to women."

Demonstrations Can Cause Issues in Tanzania, the Government Warned

The U.S. Government warned of the growing potential for "unrest" in Tanzania, noting, "Demonstrations often take place in response to political or economic issues. They may also occur on holidays or during large events."

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The government added, "The Tanzanian government increases security presence around protests. This includes stationary checkpoints and roadblocks."

The alert says that "Demonstrations can be unpredictable" and warns, "The Tanzanian government limits or does not authorize large gatherings."

The government suggests that people visiting Tanzania should "have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Monitor local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Keep a low profile."

In addition, the State Department suggests: "Always carry a copy of your U.S. passport and visa. Keep original documents in a safe location. Do not leave your food or drink unattended. Stay alert in tourist spots. Avoid public displays of affection particularly between same-sex couples."

Tanzania Is Also Plagued With Crime Problems

In addition, crime can be an issue for travelers to the country. "Violent crime is common. It includes assault, sexual assault, robberies, mugging, and carjacking. Local police have limited resources to respond effectively to serious crime," the government wrote.

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"There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Tanzania."

The State Department noted, "Travelers must declare international currency valuing more than $10,000 on both entrance to and exit from Tanzania."

Related:

This story was originally reported by Men's Journal on Nov 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The U.S. Department of State releases travel advisories for countries using a four-level risk assessment.

The most dangerous countries for U.S. travelers are rated a level four, "do not travel." The West African country of Niger, with a population of 28 million people, is on that list. On October 31, the State Department updated its travel warning for Niger to reflect new safety issues and embassy instructions. That comes as loved ones await news about a Christian missionary who was abducted in Niger in October.

"The advisory level was increased to 4. There were no changes to the risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated to reflect changes to U.S. embassy operations," the State Department wrote. "Do not travel to Niger for any reason due to crime, unrest, terrorism, health, and kidnapping."

The U.S. State Department Warns That It Can Not Offer Emergency Services to U.S. Citizens in Niger

The situation in Niger has deteriorated to the degree that it's no longer safe for family members of U.S. embassy workers to stay there. On October 30, 2025, the Department of State "authorized the departure of all family members of U.S. government employees in Niger due to safety risks," the State Department's warning says.

A vendor sells chillis at the Dar-es-salam market in Niamey on January 9, 2025. (Photo by BOUREIMA HAMA/AFP via Getty Images)

"The U.S. government cannot offer routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Niamey due to safety risks," it adds. "A state of emergency and movement restrictions are in place in many regions throughout Niger."

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According to the risk assessment:

"Nigerien authorities require military escorts for any foreigners traveling outside Niamey, including U.S. government personnel."

"Areas under a state of emergency are off-limits and subject to change."

An American Missionary Was Kidnapped in Niger in October 2025

On October 30, the BBC reported that an American missionary was kidnapped in Niger.

According to BBC, a July 2023 coup in Niger resulted in the "ouster of Niger's democratically elected president Bazoum." Subsequently, General Abdourahamane Tiani "and his military junta" took power, BBC reported.

The missionary was named as Kevin Rideout. "Kevin Rideout was taken from his home in Niger's capital in the middle of the night last week in a Toyota Corolla by three armed suspected jihadists," CBN reported. "Rideout is a pilot for the evangelical missionary agency Serving in Mission. He was taken hostage from the capital city of Niamey, less than 100 yards from the presidential palace."

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"Terrorists continue to plot attacks and use kidnapping for ransom as a business model. They target vulnerable groups and U.S. interests," the U.S. government warning for Niger says.

"Terrorists and their supporters are active in planning kidnappings in Niger and they may attack anywhere. Terrorist groups continue planning kidnappings of foreigners in Niger."

In addition, the State Department says, violent crime remains a concern. "Violent crimes can happen at any time. Crimes include armed robbery and residential break-ins," the alert says. "Medical services in Niger are limited. Adequate trauma and ambulance services are not widely available. There is limited access to medicines including antibiotics. Even a minor health issue may require medical evacuation at your expense."

Related:

This story was originally reported by Men's Journal on Oct 31, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Nov. 2 (UPI) -- The United States killed three people in its latest strike against alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced.

Hegseth said in a post to social media Saturday that American forces conducted a kinetic strike against the vessel in international waters.

He said three "narco-terrorists" were on board and all three were killed.

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"These narco-terrorists are bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans at home -- and they will not succeed," he said. "The department will treat them exactly how we treated Al-Qaeda. We will continue to track them, map them, hunt them and kill them."

At least 64 people have now been killed by the U.S. in 15 strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean since they began in September.

President Donald Trump looks on during a roundtable with the Homeland Security Task Force in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Trump spoke about his administration's attempts to thwart drug trafficking. Photo by Will Oliver/UPI

Today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on another narco-trafficking vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) in the Caribbean. This vessel-like EVERY OTHER-was known by our intelligence to be... pic.twitter.com/W7xqeMpSUi Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) November 2, 2025

The strikes have been celebrated by families who have lost their children to fentanyl poisoning, some of whom recently rallied in the nation's capital for a day of remembrance.

"One boat, two boat, three boat -- boom!" a mother who lost her 15-year-old son to Percocet laced with fentanyl told Fox News is how she feels about the strikes on boats allegedly transporting drugs to the United States. "Who did it? Trump did it!"

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President Donald Trump in September told reporters that he had authorized the CIA to operate in Venezuela during the summer as the Pentagon was directing a slow military buildup in the waters off the South American country.

On Oct. 24, weeks into the anti-drug trafficking campaign, Hegseth directed the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to transit to the Caribbean. The group includes three destroyers, in addition to the aircraft carrier.

There already were eight naval surface vessels, a submarine and roughly 6,000 soldiers deployed to the area before the strike group was ordered there from the Mediterranean.

Trump, who notified Congress that he was engaged in conflict with drug cartels, has said in recent weeks as the naval presence has grown that he is considering whether to allow strikes inside Venezuela to combat the cartels and weaken Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's administration.

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But the strikes have raised concerns of escalating an conflict that could to war with Venezuela and Colombia, according to reports.

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., filed a bipartisan bill that aims to prevent the Trump administration from entering a full-throated war with Venezuela.

Critics of the Trump administration's actions have expressed that only Congress can declare war.

On Friday, the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said they violate international law and amount to extrajudicial killings.

"Under international human rights law, the intentional use of lethal force is only permissible as a last resort against individuals who pose an imminent threat to life," High Commissioner Volker Turk said.

"Based on the very sparse information provided publicly by the US authorities, none of the individuals on the targeted boats appeared to pose an imminent threat to the lives of others or otherwise justified the use of lethal armed force against them under international law,"
Hundreds of families displaced by the demolition drives along Karachi's Gujjar, Orangi and Mehmoodabad nullahs have condemned the Sindh government for abandoning them in dire living conditions nearly four years after their homes were bulldozed. Speaking at a press conference organised by the Karachi Bachao Tehreek (KBT) at the Karachi Press Club, the victims accused provincial authorities of corruption, negligence, and complete failure to honour commitments of rehabilitation, as reported by Dawn. According to Dawn, the residents stated that they have been living in uncertainty since 2021, when the provincial government demolished their houses, claiming the action was necessary to clear encroachments. Elderly resident Muhammad Saleem, holding a bundle of official documents and property papers, said he had made "countless" visits to local government offices, assistant commissioners and deputy commissioners but received nothing despite repeated assurances. "I built my house with my life's savings earned abroad, and now I can't even afford to feed my family," he stated. Women and other victims echoed similar sentiments, urging the judiciary and civil society to intervene. They demanded that the government uphold the commitments made following the Supreme Court's ruling that ordered authorities to provide plots, construction funds, and rent cheques to the displaced families until they were resettled. KBT Convenor Khurram Ali stated that nearly 9,000 homes were torn down after the 2020 floods were wrongly blamed on informal settlements, rendering over 50,000 people homeless. He said the rent cheques stopped in December 2023 after the case went unheard in court for more than a year, and added that the provincial administration has delayed construction aid and plot allotment until 2027. "Officials demand bribes of up to PKR 200,000 to move files," he alleged, as cited by Dawn. The KBT and the affected families demanded immediate rent payments of PKR 30,000 per month, PKR 3 million in construction funds, and a transparent mechanism for complaint registration. They also called for an independent oversight committee to ensure fair rehabilitation. Warning of strong demonstrations, the victims declared they would begin protests outside the Chief Minister's House and the Supreme Court Registry if their demands were ignored within a week, as reported by Dawn. (ANI)
Germany has delivered Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine in fulfillment of prior agreements, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Nov. 2.

"We have strengthened the 'Patriot' component of our Ukrainian air defense," the president wrote on social media.

"I thank Germany and personally Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz for this joint step to protect human lives from Russian terror. For some time, we have been preparing this reinforcement of our air defense, and now the agreements reached have been implemented."

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The announcement comes just over a month after German Defense Minister Boris Pistoruis said that Berlin would provide Ukraine with two Patriot systems by the end of 2025.

Russian aerial attacks against Ukraine have escalated in scope and intensity since the spring of 2025. The Kremlin's current campaign against energy infrastructure ahead of winter has raised the stakes even further, causing frequent large-scale blackouts.

"Russian air strikes are (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's main stake in this war  through terror he tries to compensate for his inability to achieve his insane goals on the ground," Zelensky said.

"Therefore, every strengthening of our air defense literally brings us closer to the end of the war that we are all waiting for."

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A U.S.-made Patriot air defense system  also called a battery  consists of radar units for target detection and tracking, a fire control center, missile launchers, and support equipment such as power supplies and communications systems.

Depending on its configuration, a typical battery includes between four and eight launchers, capable of firing a range of missiles designed to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as aircraft.

Advanced air defense systems like the Patriot remain in short supply globally, with some components taking years to produce.

Germany has previously supplied Ukraine with three Patriot systems. The additional batteries have been provided under an agreement with the U.S. manufacturer to quickly replenish Germany's stocks.

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The deal comes after U.S. President Donald Trump in July announced the creation of the PURL (Priority Ukraine Requirements List) program, a NATO- and EU-backed initiative under which alliance members will purchase U.S.-made weapons systems for Ukraine.

Zelensky said that there would be "further results" regarding Ukraine's air defenses and that additional deals were underway.

Read also: These people just escaped Russian-occupied Ukraine  but some say they need to go back

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional comments from Ukrainian military officials.

The Russian oil refinery in Tuapse halted processing on Nov. 2, a day after a Ukrainian drone attack, Reuters reported.

In a Nov. 5 report citing industry sources, Reuters said the refinery suspended operations due to damage to port infrastructure.

A source at the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent that Ukrainian drones struck an oil terminal and an oil tanker in Russia's Krasnodar Krai late on Nov. 1.

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Five drone strikes were recorded, according to the SBU. Following the strikes, a tanker caught fire, and at least four piers used to load and unload tankers were rendered inoperable, and port buildings were also damaged.

Reuters, citing LSEG data, reported that three tankers were docked at the port during the attack for loadings of naphtha, diesel, and fuel oil.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed on Nov. 2 that the oil infrastructure of the seaport located in the Black Sea coast in the port city of Tuapse had been damaged.

The terminal in Tuapse is operated by Russia's state oil company Rosneft. The city serves as a vital hub for Russian oil exports, with terminals and infrastructure critical to the country's energy logistics.

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The refinery was expected to increase oil product exports in November, Reuters wrote. The plant, with a capacity of 240,000 barrels per day, produced naphtha, fuel oil, vacuum gas oil, and high-sulfur diesel, primarily for China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Turkey.

Speaking on air during a national telethon, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said on Nov. 2 that the strike would have "long-term consequences" for Russia.

"This case is important and will have quite long-term consequences, because, in addition to directly damaging the technological chains involved in shipping, there will also be a reaction among seafarers, that is, companies that are directly refueled there," Pletenchuk said.

"This also increases insurance premiums. And in principle, this will discourage many from entering these ports."

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The refinery in Tuapse halted processing the day after the attack due to the port infrastructure damage, Reuters reported on Nov. 5, citing its sources.

According to Reuters, Tuapse was expected to increase oil product exports in November. The plant, with a capacity of 240,000 barrels per day, produces naphtha, fuel oil, vacuum gas oil, and high-sulfur diesel, primarily for China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Turkey.

Photos and videos posted on social media purport to show a large fire emanating from the pier of the terminal, situated off the Black Sea.

Russian Telegram channels, citing resident reports, noted at least three fires were seen around the area of the oil terminal, including at an oil tanker.

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Officials from Krasnodar Krai's regional operations headquarters later confirmed that a drone attack had caused damage to port infrastructure. Officials added that the deck superstructure, a vessel, buildings, and terminal infrastructure were damaged in the attack.

Preliminary information indicated that there were no casualties, Russian officials claimed.

"The SBU continues to strike at Russia's oil refining infrastructure, which provides the enemy with resources for aggression against Ukraine. As long as the war continues, flames will continue to burn brightly at Russian oil refineries," the SBU source said.

On Nov. 3, the BBC published a satellite image showing an oil spill in the Black Sea stretching approximately 3,6 kilometers from the terminal damaged in the attack.

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The blaze comes amid a wider Ukrainian drone attack on various regions of Russia. Explosions and smoke were reported in the city of Oryol following the reported attack on Krasnodar Krai.

The oil terminal in Tuapse was previously attacked by Ukrainian naval drones during an attack on Sept. 24, a source in Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent.

Ukraine routinely launches deep strikes against military and industrial facilities in Russia, primarily relying on domestically developed drones.

Russia's oil and gas production has continued to come under attack as Kyiv attempts to cripple Moscow's primary source of funding for its war in Ukraine.

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This was Ukraine war latest for the weekend of Nov. 1-2. Find the Nov. 3 edition of Ukraine war latest here.

Key developments on Nov. 1-2:

Russian oil tanker on fire after strike by Ukrainian drones in Krasnodar Krai, source says

Ukrainian soldiers killed in Russian missile, drone strikes on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, military says

'They're not scary'  Ukraine's drone commander 'Madyar' promises blackouts in Russia after new strikes

Russia claims HUR special forces raid in embattled Pokrovsk thwarted, Ukraine denies, Syrskyi insists 'no encirclement'

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Ukrainian drones struck an oil terminal and an oil tanker in Russia's Krasnodar Krai late on Nov. 1, a source at the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent.

Five drone strikes were recorded, according to the SBU. Following the strikes, a tanker caught fire, and at least four piers used for loading and unloading tankers were rendered inoperable. Additionally, port buildings sustained damage.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed on Nov. 2 that the oil infrastructure of the seaport located on the Black Sea coast in the port city of Tuapse had been damaged.

The terminal in Tuapse is operated by Russia's state oil company Rosneft. The city serves as a vital hub for Russian oil exports, with terminals and infrastructure critical to the country's energy logistics.

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Photos and videos posted on social media purport to show a large fire emanating from the pier of the terminal, situated off the Black Sea.

Russian Telegram channels, citing resident reports, noted at least three fires were seen around the area of the oil terminal, including at an oil tanker.

Officials from Krasnodar Krai's regional operations headquarters later confirmed that a drone attack had caused damage to port infrastructure. Officials added that the deck superstructure, a vessel, buildings, and terminal infrastructure were damaged in the attack.

Preliminary information indicated that there were no casualties, Russian officials claimed.

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"The SBU continues to strike at Russia's oil refining infrastructure, which provides the enemy with resources for aggression against Ukraine. As long as the war continues, flames will continue to burn brightly at Russian oil refineries," the SBU source said.

Read also: Orbans unexpected headache  Trumps offensive against Russian energy

Ukrainian soldiers killed in Russian missile, drone strikes on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, military says

Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in Russian missile and drone strikes on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the Ukrainian military said on Nov. 2.

On Nov. 1, Russia launched a missile and drone attack on several settlements in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, including Nikopol, Pishchansk, Pokrovsk, Marhanets, and Chervonohryhorivsk.

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According to the Operational Task Force "East," the strike resulted in casualties and injuries among Ukrainian military personnel.

"(Russian) systematic attacks on populated areas in the deep rear and in areas close to the line of combat continue," the task force said.

Law enforcement agencies are currently investigating the attack, focusing on whether local military units followed the General Staff's directives regarding air alert warnings, restrictions on open-area gatherings, and the correct use of shelters.

At the moment of publication, the exact number of soldiers killed remains unknown.

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"We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the fallen defenders of Ukraine," the task force said in a statement. "The Russian aggressor will pay dearly for this crime."

Previously, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko reported that four civilians were killed, including an 11-year-old and a 14-year-old, and 6 people were injured in Russian air strikes on Nov. 1.

Read also: These people just escaped Russian-occupied Ukraine  but some say they need to go back

'They're not scary'  Ukraine's drone commander 'Madyar' promises blackouts in Russia after new strikes

Ukraine is preparing new strikes on Russian energy infrastructure that could lead to widespread blackouts, according to Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Drone Systems Forces.

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Attacks by Ukraine's defense forces, particularly long-range strike assets including drones, would soon force Russian regions to adapt to ongoing disruptions in power supply, Brovdi wrote on Facebook on Nov. 1.

"Blackouts are not scary. Theyre just a bit inconvenient The birds of the Drone Systems Forces, together with other components of Ukraines deep strike capabilities, promise you a rapid, if somewhat forced, adaptation," he wrote.

Brovdi described Ukraine's drones as "Free Ukrainian Birds," unpredictable and not bound by schedules.

He added that Russian fuel shortages were becoming more frequent, while gas and oil reserves were "burning fast."

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The statement followed reports of a mass power outage in Moscow Oblast on Oct. 31, which Russian media linked to drone attacks on energy facilities in the region.

Elsewhere on Nov. 1, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) struck a key Russian military fuel pipeline in Moscow Oblast a day earlier, disabling a key supply route used by the Russian army, the agency said in a statement.

HUR said the strike targeted the Koltsevoy (Ring) pipeline, a 400-kilometer-long fuel artery used to supply Russias armed forces with gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from refineries in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Moscow.

The operation reportedly destroyed all three major fuel lines of the system simultaneously near Ramensky district, south-east of Moscow. Despite anti-drone nets and armed security on-site, the pipeline infrastructure was successfully taken out of service, HUR said.

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"The Ring pipeline was capable of transporting up to 3 million tons of jet fuel annually, as well as millions of tons of diesel and gasoline," HUR said, calling the strike a "serious blow" to Russia's military logistics and its economy in Moscow Oblast.

Read also: A rumble in Moscow Oblast  Ukraine hits critical military fuel pipeline near Russian capital, HUR says

Russia claims HUR special forces raid in embattled Pokrovsk thwarted, Ukraine denies, Syrskyi insists 'no encirclement'

Ukrainian forces are holding off a large Russian grouping attempting to infiltrate residential areas in Pokrovsk and sever supply routes, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on Nov. 1.

"There is no encirclement or blockade of the cities. We are doing everything possible to maintain logistics," he said.

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Syrskyi described a broad operation to destroy and expel Russian forces from Pokrovsk, with the main burden falling on Ukraines assault units, drone operators, and special forces. Consolidated groups from the Special Operations Forces, Military Law Enforcement Service, Security Service (SBU), and military intelligence (HUR) are active in the city.

Syrskyi emphasized the need for coordination between units and said additional troops, weapons, and drone systems are being deployed to reinforce the defense.

"The enemy is paying the highest price for trying to fulfil the Kremlin dictator's order to seize Donbas," he said.

Earlier reports suggested that HUR launched a special operation involving airborne assault units in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, under the command of HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov.

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Reuters reported on Oct. 31 that the raid began earlier this week, when Ukrainian special forces landed from a Black Hawk helicopter in areas compromised by Russian drone activity.

A video seen by the agency appears to show at least 10 soldiers disembarking in an open field. The location and date of the footage have not been independently verified.

Sources within the Defense Forces told Suspilne that Ukrainian assault units entered areas of Pokrovsk that Russian commanders had previously claimed to control.

Later on Nov. 1, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed the raid had been thwarted. "All 11 personnel who landed from the helicopter were killed," it said in a post on Telegram. Ukraine denied the claim.

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Economist journalist Oliver Carroll also shared unverified footage appearing to show a helicopter landing in Russian-held territory near Pokrovsk.

"Hearing Ukraine's military intelligence is conducting a daring counter-offensive near Pokrovsk to reopen key logistics lines," Carroll wrote on X.

New. Hearing Ukraine's military intelligence is conducting a daring counter-offensive near Pokrovsk to reopen key logistics lines. Videos shared with me purport to show a heli drop in areas Russia claims to hold. *Have not been able to verify vids independently. pic.twitter.com/ZGyYfjUD2S  Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) October 31, 2025

The military analysis platform DeepState reported continued Russian advances in the Pokrovsk sector over the past few days.

The defense of the major city in Donetsk Oblast, which has held out for over a year of heavy fighting as one of the main hotspots of the front line, looks to have begun falling apart as Russian soldiers in their hundreds have broken into the city limits, spreading in all directions

Note from the author:

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Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Alpha special forces unit of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), together with the defence forces, has carried out a drone attack on an oil terminal in the Russian port of Tuapse, hitting a tanker and port infrastructure.

Source: an Ukrainska Pravda source within Security Service of Ukraine

Details: Five drone strikes were recorded, the source said. A tanker caught fire, and at least four oil loading stands used for tanker operations were disabled. Port buildings were also damaged.

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For reference: The port of Tuapse houses an oil terminal and refinery owned by Russian energy giant Rosneft.

Background: On the night of 1-2 November, a fire broke out at the Russian port of Tuapse on the Black Sea following a drone attack.

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Although I have never been to Utah, and I have never had the chance to visit the United States, I feel that I know your country and your people well. Fate has given me the opportunity to work and interact with many Americans, including those from Utah. I represent the Ukrainian people, to whom you Americans have been so kind and supportive during these difficult times. This is why I want to share with you what matters most to us  our families, our values and what we fight for every day.

In Utah, you understand the value of family. You build your lives around it, invest in your children and support your parents. Now imagine for a moment that your most precious value  your family  is under threat. Not from words, but from missiles. Imagine that your family celebration is interrupted by a siren, and dinner is prepared not in an oven but in a basement during an air raid. This is our daily reality in Ukraine. And it is for the sake of our families that we fight.

Parenting under fire

How do you explain to a young child that a bomb shelter has become their playground? How do you teach them to read and count when air raid sirens are constantly wailing overhead? On Oct. 22, 2025, a Russian drone struck a private kindergarten in Kharkiv. A five-year-old girl was killed, and six other children and three adults were injured.

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This tragedy is a stark reminder that protecting our families is not an abstract concept  it is a daily fight for the life of every child. Our parents teach their children not only math and literacy but also attentiveness and caution. We fight for our childrens right to a peaceful, ordinary childhood  the same one you wish for your grandchildren in Salt Lake City.

Kira Karnaukh cries and her mother Elvira Karnaukh comforts her as they pull away from Chervonohrad Kindergarten No. 12, where they have been living with dozens of other refugees for five months, and start their journey to the United States in Chervonohrad, Ukraine, on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022. With the help of WelcomeNST, a nonprofit that builds neighborhood support teams to facilitate refugee resettlement, they will live in Lehi, Utah, until it is safe to return to Ukraine. | Kristin Murphy

Family traditions in times of war

You gather around a big table for Thanksgiving. We had our own family celebrations too. Now, that table is often separated by war. The father is fighting at the front. The children are in a safe place. The mother volunteers at home. Yet we find ways to stay connected. A short call over Starlink to say Im alive has become our new family celebration. It is a celebration of life. We are defending not just territory; we are defending the very right to be a family.

Faith and community

In Utah, faith is the foundation of community. It is the same for us. In basements serving as shelters, people pray together. Our churches, like yours, have become centers of assistance: coordinating the delivery of food and medicine, finding shelter for displaced people. This is faith in action. It is the same solidarity that brings people together in a difficult moment, regardless of denomination or country.

A woman with her children walk after church Christmas service in Kryvorivnia village, Ukraine, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. | Evgeniy Maloletka

Why this matters to you in safe Utah

The war in Ukraine matters to Utah because the fight for family values is a universal language. When you see a Ukrainian mother digging through rubble with her own hands to rescue her child, you do not see a distant stranger. You see the universal image of a mothers love. When you see our soldier fathers reading bedtime stories to their children over video calls, you see the universal image of parenthood.

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We are not asking you to fight for us. We ask you to see us. To see not an abstract country at war, but people who every day make the moral choice to protect their family, their community, their right to live. Your support is not just politics. It is a deeply human gesture of solidarity from those who understand the sacredness of family to those who are defending it at the cost of their own lives.

Our resilience is not only about military strength. It is about the power of love for those dear to you. And this language you understand without translation.
Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in Russian missile and drone strikes on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the Ukrainian military said on Nov. 2.

On Nov. 1, Russia launched a missile and drone attack on several settlements in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, including Nikopol, Pishchansk, Pokrovsk, Marhanets, and Chervonohryhorivsk.

According to the Operational Task Force "East," the strike resulted in casualties and injuries among Ukrainian military personnel.

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"(Russian) systematic attacks on populated areas in the deep rear and in areas close to the line of combat continue," the task force said.

Law enforcement agencies are currently investigating the attack, focusing on whether local military units followed the General Staff's directives regarding air alert warnings, restrictions on open-area gatherings, and the correct use of shelters.

At the moment of publication, the exact number of soldiers killed remains unknown.

"We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the fallen defenders of Ukraine," the task force said in a statement. "The Russian aggressor will pay dearly for this crime."

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Previously, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko reported that four civilians were killed, including an 11-year-old and a 14-year-old, and 6 people were injured in Russian air strikes on Nov. 1.

Russia has broken into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a previously unoccupied region of Ukraine, as part of its summer offensive. In late August, battlefield monitors reported that Russian forces had seized villages in the region for the first time.

In turn, DeepState reported that Russia managed to seize a number of settlements near Dnipropetrovsk Oblast's eastern administrative borders while steadily advancing forward in multiple directions.

In the wake of Russia's summer offensive, Ukraine reportedly launched its own "counteroffensive operation" in the east. At least seven settlements were retaken during these attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in September.

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Read also: Russia kills at least 15, injures 20 across Ukraine over past day

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Russian forces launched a combined missile and drone attack on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on 1 November. The attack resulted in fatalities and injuries among soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Source: East Operational Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Details: The strike targeted multiple hromadas, including Nikopol, Pishchansk, Pokrovsk, Marhanetsk and Chervonohryhorivsk. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

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Quote: "Unfortunately, Ukrainian soldiers were killed and wounded as a result of the Russian combined strike.

At this stage, the relevant law enforcement agencies are working on verifying the circumstances related to compliance with and implementation of the orders of the commander-in-chief and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These include the timeliness of missile threat alerts, the prohibition on placing personnel and holding briefings or assemblies in open areas, and restrictions on stationing personnel in unauthorised locations."

Background:

On the evening of 1 November, Russia attacked the Samar district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, killing two people and injuring seven.

The following day, the death toll from the Russian strike on the Samar district rose to four, with two children among the killed.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday that Washington and Beijing would establish military-to-military communications channels, adding that bilateral ties between the countries have never been better.

Hegseth said he spoke with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, late Saturday on the sidelines of a regional security meeting and that they agreed that peace, stability and good relations are the best path for our two great and strong countries.

His remarks posted on X came hours after he urged Southeast Asian nations to stand firm and strengthen their maritime forces to counter Chinas increasingly destabilizing actions in the South China Sea.

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Chinas sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea fly in the face of their commitments to resolve disputes peacefully, Hegseth said at a meeting with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Saturday.

We seek peace. We do not seek conflict. But we must ensure that China is not seeking to dominate you or anybody else, he added.

The South China Sea remains one of Asias most volatile flashpoints. Beijing claims almost the entire region, while ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also claim ownership of coastal areas and features. The Philippines, a key U.S. ally, has had frequent clashes with Chinas maritime fleet.

Manila has repeatedly urged a stronger regional response, but ASEAN has traditionally sought to balance caution with economic ties to Beijing, the regions largest trading partner.

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Hegseth said on X he also spoke with President Donald Trump and they agreed the relationship between the U.S. and China has never been better. Trumps meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea earlier this week set the tone for everlasting peace and success for the U.S. and China, added Hegseth, who left Malaysia on Sunday for Vietnam.

The contrasting messages  a sharp warning at the ASEAN meeting followed by conciliatory language online  underscored Washingtons effort to balance deterrence with diplomacy amid rising tensions with Beijing.

This is damage control. More importantly, it reflects two different currents in U.S. relations with China  one that sees China as a threat and another a possible partner, said Southeast Asian political analyst Bridget Welsh.

In his meeting on Saturday, Hegseth criticized Beijings recent declaration of the Scarborough Shoal  seized from the Philippines in 2012  as a nature reserve. He told the meeting it was yet another attempt to coerce new and expanded territorial and maritime claims at your expense.

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He urged ASEAN to hasten the conclusion of a long-delayed Code of Conduct being negotiated with China to govern behavior in the sea. He also proposed developing shared maritime surveillance and rapid-response systems to deter provocation. A shared maritime domain awareness network, he said, would ensure that any member facing aggression and provocation is not alone.

He also welcomed plans for an ASEAN-U.S. maritime exercise in December to strengthen regional coordination and uphold freedom of navigation.

China rejects U.S. criticism of its maritime conduct, accusing Washington of interfering in regional affairs and provoking tensions through its military presence. Chinese officials say their patrols and construction activities are lawful and aimed at maintaining security in what they consider Chinese territory.

Chinese officials Saturday slammed the Philippines for being a troublemaker after Manila staged naval and air drills with the U.S., Australia and New Zealand in the South China Sea. The two-day exercise that ended Friday was the 12th that the Philippines says it has carried out with partner nations since last year to protect its rights in the disputed waters.

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Tian Junli, spokesperson of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, said the exercise seriously undermined regional peace and stability. It further proves that the Philippines is the troublemaker in the South China Sea issue and a saboteur of regional stability, he said.

Huizhong Wu in Bangkok and Jim Gomez in Manila contributed to this report.
A federal judge is ordering the Trump administration to continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), but delays are expected.

That means that families could still struggle to put food on the table in the near future.

College Park released a contingency plan because, up until Friday, some people were thinking they werent going to have the money to feed their families.

Now, a judge says they will because the judge found that the Trump administration acted unlawfully by refusing to tap into emergency funds for SNAP.

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The Trump administration says it will only provide funding for food stamps once a federal court clarifies how it can legally get the money.

Saturday was the Nov. 1 deadline when funding for food stamps was supposed to run out. But the administration says there will still probably be a delay as states work to get the money out.

A lot of people are still sitting in a state of uncertainty. It looks like there could be a light at the end of this tunnel. However, its still unclear for how much longer this dark tunnel is supposed to continue on for. So people definitely are still feeling worried when you know theyre trying to figure out, how am I going to maintain this when I dont know when assistance will be coming, therapist Kathryn Cross told Channel 2s Eryn Rogers.

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US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth expressed grave concern over China's growing military assertiveness around Taiwan and in the South China Sea during his first face-to-face meeting with China's Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun in Malaysia on October 31. The meeting, held alongside a summit of Southeast Asian defence chiefs, followed a day after US President Donald Trump's talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea, as reported by The Epoch Times. According to The Epoch Times, Hegseth stated on X that he underscored the "importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific," emphasising America's concerns about China's increasing activities that threaten Taiwan and regional allies. The Pentagon chief reiterated that while Washington does not seek confrontation, it "will continue to firmly defend its interests" and maintain sufficient military presence to ensure regional stability. During the meeting, Admiral Dong Jun repeated the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) long-held position on Taiwan, demanding that the United States act "cautiously" on issues related to the island. He urged Washington to adopt a stance that "firmly opposes Taiwan independence." Despite these warnings, Hegseth reaffirmed that the US stands committed to Taiwan's defence in line with existing US law. Although the CCP has never governed Taiwan, it continues to claim the self-ruled democracy as part of its territory and has not ruled out using military force to seize control. Over recent years, China has intensified its coercive tactics, conducting extensive military drills, sending warplanes near Taiwan's airspace almost daily, and heightening fears of a possible conflict in the Taiwan Strait, as highlighted by The Epoch Times. US intelligence assessments indicate that Xi Jinping has directed the Chinese military to prepare for a potential invasion by 2027. During his visit to Tokyo earlier this week, Hegseth warned that Beijing's rapid military build-up represents a "real and urgent threat" to the Indo-Pacific. Praising Japan's decision to strengthen its defence capabilities, he emphasised that the US-Japan alliance remains essential to deterring Chinese aggression and safeguarding peace across the region, as reported by The Epoch Times. (ANI)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The nuclear weapons testing ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump will not involve nuclear explosions at this time, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Sunday.

"I think the tests were talking about right now are system tests," Wright said in an interview with Fox News. "These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call non-critical explosions."

The testing involves all the other parts of a nuclear weapon to make sure they are functioning and can set up a nuclear blast, said Wright, whose agency is responsible for testing U.S. nuclear weapons.

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The tests will be carried out on new systems to help ensure replacement nuclear weapons are better than previous ones, Wright said on Fox News' "The Sunday Briefing."

Just before his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday, Trump said he ordered the U.S. military to immediately restart the process for testing nuclear weapons after a halt of 33 years, a move that appeared to be a message to rival nuclear powers China and Russia.

He reaffirmed his comments on Friday but did not answer directly when asked whether that would include underground nuclear tests that were common during the Cold War.

The United States conducted nuclear test explosions in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, Wright said, and collected detailed information and measurements on the blasts.

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"With our science and our computation power, we can simulate incredibly accurately exactly what will happen in a nuclear explosion," Wright said.

"Now we simulate what were the conditions that delivered that, and as we change bomb designs, what will they deliver?"

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Sergio Non and Chris Reese)
In October 2025, the United States Air Force dispatched two B-1B Lancer bombers to South America, leading some to wonder why they're still being flown. After all, the B-1B is an old aircraft, having first entered the inventory in 1988, and there are newer planes that could take its place. Ultimately, there's a very good reason why the B-1B continues to operate: it's the backbone of the U.S. Air Force's long-range bomber force, and its usefulness hasn't diminished such that it requires replacement.

Still, it's not as if the U.S. doesn't have a small fleet of the far more advanced B-2 Spirit stealth bombers sitting around with more than enough capabilities to drop bombs anywhere in the world. Why then did the U.S. send its B-1Bs to South America rather than the B-2? The answer is likely optics, given the purpose in sending them, but beyond that, the B-1B is a massive aircraft that is capable of carrying a larger payload than any of the U.S.' strategic jet bombers currently in service.

It has a payload capacity of 75,000 lbs. of ordnance, which is substantial. Still, it's not as if a B-2 couldn't carry out the same mission, though with a smaller capacity of 40,000 lbs. The differences between the two bombers are fairly extensive, with stealth capabilities largely separating the two aircraft's technology. This alone offers advantages and disadvantages in their use, but at the end of the day, both bombers represent exceptional feats of engineering.

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Read more: Every Japanese Aircraft Carrier Sunk In WWII

How the B-1B Lancer differs from the B-2 Spirit

A B-2 Spirit flying over cloudy skies - U.S. Air Force/Wikimedia Commons

The B-1B Lancer features variable-geometry wings, turbofan afterburning engines, and more. This enables the aircraft to fly great distances at speeds exceeding Mach 1.2 (900+ mph at sea level). It can reach a ceiling of 30,000 feet at unlimited range, thanks to aerial refueling. Its biggest selling point is its payload capacity because, at 75,000 lbs., it takes the lead over everything else the U.S. has in its strategic bomber force.

Of the three bomber models in that fleet, the Air Force operates 45 B-1Bs, outnumbering the 19 operational B-2 Spirits. The B-2 isn't much newer than the B-1B, having been introduced in 1993. It's the first stealth-capable strategic bomber ever made, and they've been used to covertly deliver ordnance to targets in combat operations since Operation Allied Force in the 1990s. The crew of a B-2 requires half as many personnel, with only two. It also boasts an unlimited range via refueling, though it has a higher ceiling of 50,000 feet.

The B-2 is used to deliver ordnance to targets at extreme range where the U.S. doesn't have air superiority. It slips in, drops its payload, and slips out, sometimes flying for more than 24 hours at a time. The B-1B is best used where the U.S. has air superiority, as it's not stealth-capable, though it still operates in contested airspace. Overall, each aircraft has its pros and cons. Ultimately, the Air Force dispatches whichever is best suited for the mission at hand.

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When James Uthmeier took a leave of absence from Gov. Ron DeSantis administration so he could run the governors flailing presidential campaign in 2023, he also signed on with one of the states most powerful and politically connected law firms, which regularly lobbies the state of Florida on behalf of its clients.

His time at the law firm was brief. What he did there and what he got paid are not publicly known. But Uthmeiers stint at the private practice  reported for the first time here  raises ethical and legal questions about the Republican attorney now running for the job of Floridas top prosecutor.

Financial disclosure forms filed by Uthmeier show he worked for GrayRobinson from September 2023 to January 2024. The law firms lobbying clients include Meta Platforms, Walt Disney World and Uber, and GrayRobinson also has provided legal services to the state, racking up more than $140 million in billings over the last five years.

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Uthmeier returned to his job as DeSantis chief of staff after the GOP governor suspended his presidential campaign in early 2024 following a resounding defeat by Donald Trump in the Iowa caucus. DeSantis this year appointed Uthmeier to fill the remaining term of former Attorney General Ashley Moody, whom hed appointed to the U.S. Senate.

This revolving-door arrangement between the states top office and a high-powered law firm that lobbies for its clients in Tallahassee and has made millions doing business with the state opens a gate to potential conflicts of interest, political experts said. More broadly, it illustrates powerfully the incestuous nature of politics and influence in Florida, where the lines between public servants and special interests are often blurred.

Those possibilities are magnified as Uthmeier now campaigns for attorney general in the 2026 election and has become a key figure in the Hope Florida scandal. One of GrayRobinsons longtime clients is Centene, a national healthcare provider whose $67 million Medicaid settlement is at the center of that controversy.

As the states top criminal prosecutor and a member of the Florida Cabinet, which along with the governor votes on land deals, insurance regulation and other state business, Uthmeier could have a conflict in cases or business involving GrayRobinson or its clients, experts said. And if his employment at the law firm was an arrangement made with the governors presidential campaign, there could be a breach of election laws.

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But there are no clear guidelines restricting state employees from going to a private law firm and then back on the public payroll.

This is something thats done all the time because the Florida Bar and Supreme Court never said anything critical about it, said Bob Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University. Thats the problem here. The lines are very messy and very blurry.

More than a year later, it is still not clear what Uthmeier did while at GrayRobinson or how he landed the job. He hasnt answered repeated requests for comment, and neither has Dean Cannon, the former Republican Speaker of the House who currently runs GrayRobinson. The firms PAC, however, has donated $3,000 to Uthmeiers 2026 campaign.

The question, Jarvis said, is what did GrayRobinson hope to gain from hiring the campaign manager of a presidential candidate? Uthmeier would have given them inside track if DeSantis got elected. Everybody wants inside influence.

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Uthmeiers tenure at GrayRobinson was so brief, Jarvis said, he suspects that Uthmeier did nothing  but collect a paycheck  .And he couldnt have had time to do legal or lobbying work if he was on the campaign trail all the time.

GrayRobinson was no doubt reaping the ancillary benefits of having someone listed on their law firm roster who was working on the campaign of a rising star at the time, agreed Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida.

Whether it is good for the public, from both an economic and ethical standpoint, depends on whether Uthmeier participated in cases for GrayRobinson clients doing business with the state and then continued to help them once he was back in the governors office, Jewett said.

But the financial disclosure forms that shows Uthmeier worked for GrayRobinson do not require him to list any cases or clients, making it hard to determine if he had conflicts.

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To the extent that the current Attorney General worked for a lobbying firm raises ethical constraints about what companies he interacts with as attorney general, said Gregory Koger, a political science professor at the University of Miami. He should be careful to avoid making decisions about those clients the firm represented during that time he worked there.

Theoretically Uthmeier could have a full-time job with the law firm and work on a campaign on the side, Koger said. But if he is drawing a salary and not doing any work for GrayRobinson that could be construed as a campaign contribution, he added.

GrayRobinsons political committee donated $5,000 in June of 2023 to Never Back Down, a Super PAC created to support DeSantis presidential campaign. Nothing in the campaign report describes what might be construed as a payment to Uthmeier.

Uthmeiers 2024 disclosure form, filed after he became Attorney General, shows he earned $7,650 from GrayRobinson and $9,583 from the DeSantis campaign in January of that year  the same month the campaign folded  and an annual salary of nearly $180,000 as the governors chief of staff, the post he returned to. His financial disclosure for 2023 was a different type of form and only required that he note where he worked, not how much he was paid.

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Around the same time Uthmeier began to work for GrayRobinson, the firm was engaged to represent DeSantis in a lawsuit filed by Monique Worrell, a Democrat whom DeSantis removed from the state attorneys job in Orange and Osceola counties. He claimed she was failing to do her job. She denied the charges and was re-elected last year. Uthmeier has been relentless in his criticism of her performance ever since.

The firms initial contract was for $349,998 but a second purchase order for the same amount was issued later. Its a fraction of the nearly $140 million the law firm has billed the state over the past five years. The firm, founded in Orlando in 1970, employs more than 300 lawyers and consultants with 16 offices across Florida and one in Washington, D.C.

One of the attorneys assigned to the Worrell case was Jeff Aaron, a friend of Uthmeier who would start his own law firm a year later. Aarons new firm was hired as counsel to the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity associated with First Lady Casey DeSantis with a goal of getting Floridians off welfare.

The foundation, and its role in funneling money from a state settlement into a political action committee, was the subject of a legislative probe in the spring and is now being investigated by a Leon County grand jury.

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Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, who headed up the legislative examination of Hope Florida, has accused Uthmeier, then back in his role as DeSantis chief of staff, and Aaron of money laundering and conspiring to commit fraud, arguing they helped move $10 million that was part of a $67 million settlement with Centene to Hope Florida. Both have denied wrongdoing.

The foundation then sent the money  which Andrade said should have been spent on state health care costs  to two nonprofits, which in turn sent most of it to a political action committee run by Uthmeier on DeSantis behalf. The Keep Florida Clean committee was set up to defeat the 2024 ballot initiative that would have legalized marijuana.

Andrade called Uthmeiers employment by GrayRobinson a huge conflict of interest because he didnt officially resign as chief of staff when he went to the campaign and the law firm, leaving governor office duties to a secretary who answered directly to him. James was still in control of the daily business of the governors administration while being paid by a lobbyist, Andrade said.

Im sure every lobbyist in Florida would love to know who the chief of staff will be in five months and have the opportunity to pay them a check for what I assume was a no show job, Andrade said.

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Moreover, Uthmeier had financial connections to each of the opposing sides in the Medicaid settlement agreement with Centene  to the state of Florida, as the governors top staffer for policy and administrative decisions, and to the company, through its employment of GrayRobinson.

Records show Uthmeier set up meetings between state officials and lawyers for Centene in 2022, about a year before he began working for GrayRobinson. Those negotiations broke off in 2023 after the state fired the outside law firm it had originally hired to negotiate the original agreement.

Negotiations resumed in 2024 after Uthmeier came back to the state and concluded that September, with the state agreeing to give $10 million of that settlement money to Hope Florida.

Uthmeier has denied playing any role in the settlement agreement negotiations but has said as far as he could tell it all looked legal. He also has defended spending the money fighting the medical marijuana initiative as in the states best interests. DeSantis committee spent millions of dollars on advertising and the amendment fell short of the 60% approval it needed to pass.

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But because of his brief employment with the lobbyist for Centene, one cannot help but wonder what influence Uthmeier had in changing the terms of the settlement agreement, Jewett said.

We dont know every fact and detail yet but it looks like a probability of a conflict of interest and ethically whose best interests are at the heart of the thing, Jewett said.
At a recent public event, Vice President JD Vance addressed his interfaith marriage, admitting he still honestly  do wish his wife, Usha Vance, would one day see Christianity as he does. Usha, an agnostic ethnic Hindu from an Indian-immigrant family, attends church services with him, and their children are being raised as Catholic Christians.

[NOTE: The conversation about conversion begins about 11:30 and ends about 13:45, in the middle of a question about immigration.]

For many in the American Hindu community, the comment read less like an intimate marital insight and more like a dismissal of Ushas faith. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) responded on social media, asking why Vance didnt engage with Hinduism too, pointing to the faiths pluralist tradition.

With respect @JDVance, if your wife encouraged you to re-engage with your faith, why not reciprocate that and engage with Hinduism too? If you did you may well learn that Hinduism doesnt share the need to wish your spouse comes around to see things as you do in terms of https://t.co/fkQQgclNDl  Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) October 31, 2025

Political context matters: Vances comment reflects the influence of American evangelical and Christian nationalist politics. His journey  from a nominal Protestant upbringing through atheism, to converting to Catholicism in 2019  and frequent appeals to Christian values position him firmly with the GOPs religious-right base. In this light, his remark about hoping his wife converts aligns with a worldview where Christian and political identity often overlap, reading as both personal hope and subtle voter signaling.

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Catholic perspectives add nuance: conversion is understood as a lifelong process, with debates around evangelism emphasizing persuasion over coercion and relationship-building over public pressure. U.S. Catholic leaders often distinguish this from Protestant and evangelical approaches, which can include more active outreach.

The episode underscores the delicate intersections of faith, marriage and public life. For American Hindus, Vances comment symbolized concerns about the erasure or undervaluing of non-Christian traditions. For the broader public, its a reminder that interfaith marriages in politics are never just private. Theyre also a cultural and ideological signal.

The post Vances desire for Ushas conversion sparks religious debate appeared first on Salon.com.
CHICAGO (WGN)  In the heart of The Loop, a coffee cafe is on a mission.

Mark Doyle started Veteran Roasters Cafe at 161 North Clark Street in downtown Chicago in 2017.

The Loop location is their first brick and mortar location, with another spot in Terminal 3 at Chicago OHare International Airport.

A brief rewind of the history daylight saving time

The mission of this cafe is to hire and train homeless and at-risk veterans, just like veteran roasters and just like our parent company Rags of Honor, Doyle said.

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WGN-TV first reported about Rags of Honor years ago. Doyle started Rags of Honor after a civilian deployment to Afghanistan.

When I returned to Chicago, you have to go back 10 years or so, there were 2,000 homeless veterans just here in Chicago, and there over 300,000 homeless nationwide, Doyle said.

The clothing and coffee are now being sold at the cafe and proceeds go to furthering the big mission: lifting up those thousands of veterans.

Habitat for Humanity breaks ground in Chicagos Austin neighborhood

So what we like to do is if youre in trouble anywhere in the country, well help you out. If you need a job here, well try and get you hired and trained up, Doyle said.

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So far, theyve seen about 120 veterans come through. Many were once without a home. Some, like Veteran Roasters Cafe manager Dion West, have moved up the ranks.

I got to grow as a man, as a person in the last 10 years, I started at the bottom and now Im running the day-to-day operations of the organization. Its a position I never thought Id be in, West said.

For a decade, West used his training from the Navy to help himself and other veterans.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Every single cup of coffee purchased helps veterans. Its a perfect mission; its a good mission. Its something positive in a world full of negativity, West said.

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From the fresh coffee, the food, brown sugar bakery cakes and the cookies, all homemade in their kitchen, theres a special touch baked into the service from those whove served.

Our whole mission is to continue grow the footprint and to find a way to give those who wore the uniform just a shot at the life they deserve, Doyle said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
DALLAS, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Living veterans are on the receiving end of both recognition and resources this weekend, thanks to an event in Luzerne County. State Representative of Pennsylvanias 117th District Jamie Walsh teamed up with Misericordia University for an event on campus on Saturday.

More than 100 veterans and their families attended. Roughly three dozen vendors offered programs and services for vets and their family members.

The ceremony also included an awards ceremony and a speech from a US Marine Combat Veteran who served in the Korean War.

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Food pantry extending hours due to SNAP running out

It shows that the community appreciates what we do and, you know, they stand by us, American Legion 12th District Commander Charlie Stockage told 28/22 News.

A lot of veterans dont know that they can reach out to any state representative. Not just my office, but any state office in your viewing area, they can go to that representative and that representative can lead them with help on any, any issues whatsoever that they might have, Representative Walsh stated.

Organizers say this annual event also provides veterans with a valuable opportunity to network with other vets.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News.
(WHTM)  A nationwide organization of volunteers honors veterans with handmade quilts throughout the year. TLC Stars and Stripes recently awarded a U.S. Air Force Veteran with a Quilt of Valor.

John A. Ross joined the U.S. Air Force when he graduated from high school in 1959. He served 15 years, including three years in the Philippines.

My job was to see that the airplanes were ready to roll and ready to get back on, back in the air, Ross says.

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He also served five years in the Air Force Reserve.

Veterans dont get a lot of thanks, so this is something that a lot of people come out of the military and they get lost in the shuffle, Ross says.

Decades later he was thanked with a patriotic quilt.

The actual quilt is gorgeous, Ross says. Thats the best I can say. Its just a beautiful thing, and Im really happy to have it.

Each Quilt of Valor has a unique design. Veterans have to be nominated for one and they have to accept. TLC Stars and Stripes was the closest organization to Ross. They contacted him before making his quilt.

They give up a lot, so just this little piece, being able to award something that is intimate is very humbling, says TLC Quilting owner LuAnn Lighty.

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They spend months away from families, kids grow up, they have birthdays that their father or mother are missing, so I think its a little way for us to give back to that veteran, says TLC Stars and Stripes group leader Pat Carnes. It may not seem like very much, but for us it is. Its a way to bring some home to them.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
JOPLIN, Mo.  From Joplin, Missouri, to Sicily, Italy, Vietnam, Guam, and Japan.

A military career spanning three decades sent a hometown boy around the world, an experience he brought back here to the Four States.

You know, my father was a B-25 pilot in World War Two, said Doug Lawson, Ret. Navy Chaplain.

An inspiration to go into the military for a teenage Doug Lawson. At the time, a student at what would become Missouri Southern.

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There was a war going on, there was a draft, and I recognized that I was probably going to go sooner or later.  and I had friends who were members of the Naval Reserve, and I joined the Navy Reserve, said Lawson.

He was sent overseas in 1969, spending the year in Vietnam. After that, the Joplin native came home and finished a degree in Joplin and second divinity degree in Tennessee, paving the way for life as a navy chaplain, in active service.

And they said, Well, you need some more experience. So it was rough, but had to go to Hawaii, said Lawson.

Just the first of many, many moves for Doug, wife Cindy, and their three children.

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Went from Camp Pendleton, California to Sigonella Sicily in Italy. We did two years there. Went to the Navy hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, said Lawson.

Doug was in the Navy, but mostly on dry land  with a couple of exceptions.

USS William H Stanley, guided missile cruiser  CG 32. And the USS Kitty Hawk, the aircraft carrier, said Lawson.

Veterans Voices

The source of one of his favorite memories.

I had 50 sailors who were new fathers, who had not seen their their children. So when we pulled into port, they were the first ones off, you know, which was just an amazing thing. You know, some people dont realize that life goes on, even when the ships at sea, said Lawson.

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Which Doug says highlights one of the biggest challenges of a Navy career.

I love deploying on a ship going to Hong Kong and Singapore and all these places, but at the same time, you know family stayed home, said Lawson.

In all, Doug spent 35 years before retiring from Naval service. Moving back home, he taught for a while and also worked as a part time hospital chaplain.

Then I retired from that, and my only paying job now is $10 a month from the city council, said Lawson.

A leadership role hes served in for nearly eight years, including time as mayor. Just the latest form of service for someone whos spent decades serving others.

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I loved it, said Lawson.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Canada and the Philippines, both vocal critics of China's actions in the disputed South China Sea, were set to sign a key defense agreement on Sunday that would allow their forces to hold joint battle-readiness drills and expand regional security cooperation, Philippine officials said. According to ABC News, the agreement aims to strengthen defense ties and deterrence efforts amid growing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea. Canada and other Western nations have been increasing their military presence in the Indo-Pacific to promote the rule of law and support trade and investment. The move aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s push to build stronger defense partnerships to bolster the Philippines' military, which faces a far more powerful China in the disputed waters. There was no immediate comment from Beijing, which has accused the Philippines of being a "troublemaker" and a "saboteur of regional stability" for holding joint patrols and military exercises with the United States and other countries. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated its claims based on the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. ABC News reported that China has refused to recognize the ruling and continues to defy it, using powerful water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers against Philippine coast guard and fisheries vessels. These actions have caused minor collisions and injuries to Filipino personnel. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan are also claimants in the long-running maritime disputes. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. was scheduled to sign the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty after a meeting in Manila on Sunday, according to the Department of National Defense. The agreement will take effect following ratification. The pact provides a legal framework for the temporary deployment of foreign troops, their weapons, and joint military exercises in each other's territories. The Philippines first signed such an agreement with the United States in 1998, followed by Australia in 2007. The accord with Canada will be the third such agreement signed under Marcos Jr.'s administration, following similar pacts with Japan and New Zealand. ABC News reported that talks are ongoing with France and Singapore for similar arrangements, while efforts are also underway to explore agreements with the United Kingdom, Germany, and India. Teodoro renewed his criticism of China's recent actions in the South China Sea during the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting with Asian and Western counterparts held in Malaysia. He condemned Beijing's plan to establish a "nature reserve" in the Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing area claimed by both Manila and Beijing. "This, to us, is a veiled attempt to wield military might and the threat for use of force, undermining the rights of smaller countries and their citizens who rely on the bounty of these waters," Teodoro said. Canada had earlier denounced China's move, saying it opposed "attempts to use environmental protection as a way to take control" of the Scarborough Shoal. When Chinese ships forcibly drove away Philippine vessels in the area in September, Canada condemned "China's dangerous use of water cannons," which injured a Filipino fisheries officer during the confrontation. Canadian Ambassador to Manila David Hartman said his country has "been vocal in confronting the provocative and unlawful actions of the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea" and "will continue to do so." Last year, Canada and the Philippines signed an agreement on defense cooperation, followed by another pact in Ottawa in 2023 that gave the Philippines access to data from Canada's "Dark Vessel Detection System." The system uses satellite technology to track illegal vessels that switch off their location transmitters. According to ABC News, the Philippine Coast Guard has since used the Canadian technology to monitor Chinese coast guard ships and fishing vessels operating in the disputed South China Sea. (ANI)
INDIANAPOLIS  Through newly recorded and archival interviews, artifacts and other materials, Indiana Historical Society has mounted a new exhibit, Hoosier Voices from Vietnam.

Mark A. Kurtz, an award-winning photographer and retired corporate pilot from Goshen, is one of 10 Hoosiers honored in the exhibit. In 1965 and 1966, Kurtz served as a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, where he distinguished himself as photo interpreter for the 13th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, earning the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service.

In 2024, Kurtz donated his complete Vietnam photo archive to Indiana Historical Society. The museum called it a very strong collection.

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Marks photos provide a human connection to the Vietnam War, helping people think and learn, helping with education, said Amy Lamb, vice president of marketing. His images reflect the humanity of the time: street scenes, sidewalk vendors, temples, zoo, children walking to school, riverfront and other Saigon city sights.

Senior archivist Barbara Quigley accessioned the Kurtz Archive into the William Henry Smith Memorial Library where it is stored, and made it accessible on WorldCat, the worlds largest online catalog, for people around the world in 500 languages to use from their own public libraries.

Indiana Historical Society published 12 pages of Kurtzs photos in Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History, Photographs from a Tour in Vietnam, in its Summer 2025 issue. More of his photos appeared in another magazine, INPerspective, on rack cards, a large outdoor banner and several street flags around the exterior of the building. And Kurtzs photos will be displayed in the Lanham Gallery from June 13 through Oct. 31.

Hoosier Voices from Vietnam highlights a memorial wall of Hoosiers killed or reported missing in action  a powerful reminder of Hoosier family sacrifices. An interactive space features a wall of letters written home from Hoosiers stationed in Vietnam, offering a glimpse into daily life, connection with loved ones and the realities of war.

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There is no one story of the Vietnam War, said Jody Blackenship, president and CEO. Each persons experience was shaped by so many factors. Were proud these Hoosiers shared their stories with us in their own words.

Active and retired military personnel and veterans and their families receive free admission to Indiana Historical Society.

The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center is at 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis. The exhibit runs through Jan. 23, 2027.

More information: www.IndianaHistory.org.
NEED TO KNOW

The now infamous "rat hole," an imprint of a critter etched into a stretch of concrete in Chicago's North Side, was likely not created by a rat at all, a new analysis from researchers suggests

The makeshift attraction drew scores of crowds  and even a wedding  to the city's Roscoe Village neighborhood before local officials removed it back in April 2024

A new research article, published in Biology Letters, states that another common creature, with a slightly bushier tail, may have been the culprit

The infamous "rat hole," an apparent imprint of a critter etched into a stretch of concrete in Chicago's North Side, was likely not created by a rat at all, a new analysis from researchers found.

The makeshift attraction drew scores of crowds  and even a wedding  to the city's Roscoe Village neighborhood before local officials removed it back in April 2024.

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But a research article published in Biology Letters on Wednesday, Oct. 15, states that another common creature, with a slightly bushier tail, was probably behind the iconic indentation.

"While the public attributed the mark to a brown rat, no formal analysis had been conducted to confirm its identity," researchers wrote. "Using clear anatomical landmarks, we compared measurements from the Chicago Rat Hole to eight sympatric rodent species."

Their analysis "indicated a 98.67% likelihood" that the "rat hole" was actually created by a squirrel.

More specifically, the most likely contenders appear to be an Eastern grey squirrel, fox squirrel or muskrat.

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Despite the misunderstanding about its origins, the hole itself transformed a regular piece of ground into a hot spot.

"This seemingly ordinary sidewalk hole quickly inspired a wave of visitors who made pilgrimages to the site, leaving offerings like coins, flowers, figurines and even medication," researchers noted in Biology Letters. "Though the hole had existed for 2030 years, it rapidly became a local icon, with a nearby softball team adopting the rat as its mascot. The hole was named Splatatouille after a public naming contest."

Perhaps Chicago residents will never know with complete certainty what local creature was commemorated in concrete, but the memory lasts: A Riot Fest Historical Society Plaque marks the original location, as noted by the Associated Press.

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.

"While we acknowledge the playful spirit of this investigation, our broader aim is to highlight that scientific inquiry begins with curiosity and observation: qualities that are not exclusive to professional scientists," the researchers wrote, "but accessible to anyone with an interest in understanding the natural world."

Read the original article on People




October in South Texas didn't quite feel like fall - at least not until the very end of the month, when a cold front finally swept through the region.

San Antonio finished the month with an average high temperature of 88.7 degrees, which was 6.5 degrees above normal, making it the third-warmest October in the city's history.

November will undoubtedly bring cooler weather to the state, thanks to the shorter days, less direct sunlight, and more frequent cold fronts this time of the year. By the end of the month, San Antonio will lose an additional 35 minutes of daylight, with sunsets occurring just after 5:30 p.m.

But exactly how cool will San Antonio be this month? The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has released their November outlook, which discusses how this month's weather is shaping up across Texas.

November weather outlook

The CPC's November climate favors above-average temperatures to continue across all of Texas. The outlook says that San Antonio has a 44% chance of above-average temperatures, a 33% chance of near-average temps, and only a 23% chance of below-average temps throughout the month.

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Long-range weather models, including the ECMWF and GFS ensembles, agree with the outlook, forecasting South-Central Texas to run 2-5 degrees above-average throughout the month. Similar above-average warmth is also expected throughout much of the state.

The ECMWF ensemble model shows that above-average temps are favored across Texas during November. The numbers on the map represent how many degrees above average temperatures are expected to be for that particular location. (WeatherBell)





During a typical November, San Antonio experiences an average high of 72 degrees and an average low of 50 degrees. However, based on the warmer projections this month, average highs will likely be closer to 74-77 degrees, with average lows in the low to mid-50s.

It's important to note that there will be some colder days this month, likely with temps falling into the 30s and 40s at times, but the overall averages are likely to be warmer than normal.

Upcoming San Antonio forecast

Sunday: Before things warm up, Sunday is expected to be a beautifully cool day across the San Antonio area. Early morning temperatures will sit in the upper 40s to low 50s, and temps won't rise above 60 degrees until after 10 a.m.

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Afternoon high temperatures are expected to reach 73-74 degrees, just a few degrees below average for early November. Skies will be sunny and winds will be very light, around 5 mph, making for a beautiful day to spend outdoors.

Warming up this week: High atmospheric pressure will dominate the forecast across South-Central Texas this week, paving the way for temperatures to warm a little higher each day. On Monday, expect high temperatures to reach the upper 70s, rising by a degree or two Tuesday up to around 80 degrees.

Temps will take a few more steps higher by midweek, rising to 83 degrees on Wednesday. The warmest weather of the week will arrive Thursday and Friday, as temps top out at 84 to 86 degrees, about 10 degrees above the climate-normal. Similar temps are also favored to continue into next weekend.

Morning low temperatures will also experience an upward trend in the coming days. Lows will hover in the low 50s Monday and Tuesday, then rise to around 60 degrees by Thursday and Friday mornings.

This article originally published at After warm October, will November bring colder weather to Texas? Here's the outlook..
A firefighter rescued a dog from a house fire in Ohio on Tuesday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Columbus Division of Fire released a video on social media.

Lt. Ryan Birt was returning from a physical when he saw the fire. The fire department said that he was one of the first firefighters on the scene.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Despite not having all his resources, Lt. Birt rescued a dog that was trapped on the porch.

The video shows him grabbing a concrete brick to free the dog from the porch as conditions got worse.

The dog was rescued. Birt suffered minor burns and was treated at the scene.

This is a testament to all our members who put themselves in harms way for our community and furry friends, the department said.

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PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (WJW)  A Florida man was arrested on Halloween while already wearing a prison inmate costume for the holiday.

According to the Port St. Lucie Police Department, the man was arrested after he was found driving under the influence in the early hours of October 31.

Dont forget to turn back your clocks tonight: What time will sun set

Video footage from the police department shows the 18-year-old driver doing a sobriety test after he was stopped by police on the drive home from a Halloween party, police said.

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Locked up inmate Halloween costume was already dressed for arrest! the Port St. Lucie Police Department said on Facebook. We would rather get dispatched because your Halloween decorations are just that goodnot for DUIs. Celebrate responsibly!

The Facebook post added, Anyone dressed up as a cop should pull a shift with us.rookies start midnight shift at 10 p.mjust kidding, enjoy the holiday PSL!

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Ex-CIA Director John Brennan got right in the face of a man who confronted him for signing the 2020 letter claiming a report about Hunter Bidens laptop and emails was nothing more than Russian misinformation.

Brennan, in the video posted on X by Thomas Speciale  a former senior US intelligence professional who unsuccessfully ran as a Republican for the Senate in Virginia in 2020  can be seen moving within inches of Speciales mug as the two argue about the letter, which was signed by 51 former intelligence officials. Speciale shared the clip on Saturday, from a conference Brennan spoke at on Thursday at George Mason University.

You misrepresented that! Brennan said, as he poked Speciale in the chest. We never said it was disinformation, we said it was Russian influence operations, which is what they do.

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That was a trivial remark from Brennan, though, considering the letter said Bidens emails had all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.

He could then be seen saying there was a big difference between a Russian influence operation and calling it disinformation. Brennan then protested no, you dont know that! when Speciale told him former FBI boss James Comey knew about the letter being false.

Brennan then started waving him off and walked away.

After the conference on Thursday I confronted former CIA Director Brennan directly regarding his signing the 51 Intelligence Officers Memo knowing that the Hunter Biden laptop was real and not Russian disinformation. Watch his response. pic.twitter.com/blg86oBLRb  Thomas A. Speciale II (@Speciale4VA) November 1, 2025

The letter  which was signed by several other former CIA directors  cast doubt on an October 2020 report from the New York Post that then-candidate Joe Biden (D) was closely tied to his sons business deals in Ukraine. Joe Biden, as vice president, pressured government officials to fire an executive at an energy firm, the NYP report said.

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The NYP report was censored by tech companies like Twitter and questioned by many in the media leading into the 2020 election; the report was correct, though, and was later used in a court case against Hunter Biden.

Last month, The House Judiciary Committee referred Brennan to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution for making numerous willfully and intentionally false statements to Congress.

That move put another rival of President Donald Trump in danger of being prosecuted, along with Comey, New York City Attorney General Letitia James, and former National Security Advisor John Bolton  have also been indicted.

Brennan, according to the Judiciary Committee, lied several times when testifying before the Judiciary Committee in May 2023. That included saying he was not involved in analyzing the Steele Dossier at all, and that he had not seen the dossier until after the 2016 election.

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Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) said that is false, and that the CIA was not only involved in pushing for the unfounded dossier claims to be included in a 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), but that Brennan overrode objections from other CIA officials about it.

Watch the confrontation above, via Speciales X post.

The post WATCH: John Brennan Gets In Mans Face Over Hunter Biden Laptop Letter first appeared on Mediaite.
President Donald Trump loves a good water war  and the biggest one yet is about to land in his lap.

A quarter century of climate change and drought has driven water levels along the Colorado River and its two main reservoirs to historic lows, threatening supplies that support 40 million people and economies from Phoenix to Denver to Los Angeles.

The seven states that share the Wests most important river are locked in battle over who must make sharp cuts in their water use to avoid a catastrophe that could hit as soon as next summer, in which federal dam managers would have to decide between cutting water deliveries to Arizona, California and Nevada or losing hydropower production that is critical to the stability of the regions electrical grid and potentially damaging one of the nations largest dams.

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The problem has all the trappings of temptation for Trump: The region is home to two political swing states and one of Trumps favorite Democratic foes, California Gov. Gavin Newsom. There are flailing state and local officials, irate farmers and ranchers, dilapidated dams that were once the pride of American engineering, and an international treaty with Mexico.

But so far, the administrations approach to the crisis has been anything but MAGA.

This administration is pretty much like all the other ones Ive worked with, said Nevadas long-time Colorado River negotiator, John Entsminger.

Trump hasnt wrested control of the system of dams and canals that deliver water, as he did in Californias Central Valley just days after taking office, in the name of sending water to combat already-extinguished fires in Los Angeles. He hasnt sent in the National Guard, as the state of Arizona did in 1934 to protect its water rights. Trump hasnt even posted on social media about the topic.

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Perhaps most notably, the man his administration has tapped to run point on the Colorado River is not a Trump loyalist or a political ideologue, but a George W. Bush-era budget wonk known for his sweet tooth and pet Siamese cats, who is a self-described neophyte to the arcane and fraught world of Western water.

To be sure, Scott Cameron wasnt the administrations first choice to lead the Colorado River negotiations. Nor was he its second or even its third.

But when the White Houseabruptly pulled its nomination of a long-time Arizona water manager in September amid pressure from Republican senators, Cameron, who had been running river negotiations during the transition, was tapped to fill the role.

After months of swinging between hope and fear over how the presidents bare-knuckled, norm-upending style could be brought to bear upon their deadlocked negotiations, state leaders now see Camerons pick as an indication that  at least for now  the Interior Department plans to step gingerly through the political landmines that surround the question of how to keep water flowing to cities, farms, tribes, mines and data centers, rather than blow them up.

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I think that the reality is the administration does not have the interest in meddling in state business, said Gene Shawcroft, the lead negotiator for the state of Utah.

In fact, even as the administration has aggressively sought to cancel spending under Democrats signature climate law, it has quietly held onto the more than $2 billion left from the acts pot of funding for drought and has continued to deploy it across the West.

Cameron has also told state leaders that hes working to socialize the idea of using additional federal dollars to clinch a deal along the river with the White House Office of Management and Budget, which has been leveling deep cuts across federal spending, including targeting water infrastructure dollars in blue states.

The Interior Department did not respond to requests to interview Cameron nor other officials involved with the Colorado River talks.

Tipping toward crisis

The Colorado Rivers problems have been building for decades. Warming temperatures and reduced precipitation have caused its flows to shrink by 20 percent over the past quarter century. Prior droughts have been weathered thanks to the nations two biggest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell. But demand has outstripped supply for so long now, water levels at the lakes are plunging towards precarious lows.

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The situation has set off a brawl among the states, who have been harboring grudges and animosity against each other for much of the past two decades and now must agree on new rules to govern the waterway before the current ones expire at the end of next year. If they cant, the federal government will have to decide unilaterally how to keep the system operating.

And its possible that theres even less time than that to work out a solution. Federal projections now show that by next August water levels at Lake Powell could drop below the hydropower heads at Glen Canyon Dam. In addition to threatening water deliveries and hydropower production, the crisis could also trigger Supreme Court litigation that could tie federal water managers hands at the very moment they most need to be able to make operational changes to keep water flowing.

It is literally like, if you could imagine all the worst possible conditions coming together all at once, thats exactly whats happening on the Colorado River, said Kathryn Sorensen, who led Phoenixs water department for years and is now with the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University.

Cameron is described by state negotiators as patient, astute and keen to cobble together a deal.

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In the months since he began working on the river, he has eagerly traveled across the region to see the issues on the ground, including a sweltering August trip to Californias Imperial Valley, where a sprawling farm district holds the largest single claim to its flows.

The administrations approach so far has been incremental and institutional, said Chuck Cullom, executive director of the Upper Colorado River Commission, which represents the states of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming.

Cameron has set a deadline of Nov. 11 for the states to coalesce around a plan to manage the river going forward. But even that was seen as an institutional move, since every major deal among the states over the past two decades has been driven by federal deadlines and pressure.

And Camerons delivery was hardly belligerent. Although he spoke firmly about Interior Secretary Doug Burgums willingness to use his authorities to manage the river unilaterally if necessary, he also described the deadline as being driven by the need for the federal government to figure out how it would actually do so if the states cant agree.

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If theres not going to be a seven-state deal, then Reclamation needs to focus its attention on what the federal action would be, he said during a meeting of upstream states in June.

Down to the wire

With less than two weeks left ahead of that deadline now, state negotiators are meeting frequently, and have a new attendee: Andrea Travnicek, the newly Senate-confirmed assistant secretary for water and science at Interior, who is now Camerons political boss.

Negotiators are more optimistic now than they have been in months that they might be able to throw together some sort of a tentative deal that could get them through the immediate deadline  and avoid having the problem elevated to the White House  at least for now.

But even as they continue negotiating, the states are also quietly beefing up their legal teams in preparation for a high-stakes court fight. And theyre lining up their congressional delegations around their battle lines.

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Upstream states have an advantage on that front, since the only Republican governors and senators in the region reside there.

Meanwhile, California  which has seen federal funding cut by the White House during the shutdown and had its water systems manipulated at the beginning of the Trump administration  holds the largest entitlement to the river out of all seven states.

J.B. Hamby, the Golden Stateslead Colorado River negotiator, has tried to dial down the tensions. It doesnt hurt that he also serves as vice chairman of the century-old southern California irrigation district with the rivers largest water right and the powerful farm families there are predominantly Republican.

On the subject of water, certainly early on in this administrations tenure there was special focus on California water issues and the presidents stated goal was to ensure that water was flowing for Californians, he said. Certainly we would welcome that same approach here.

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But the behind-the-scenes political machinations spilled out into public view in September when the White House pulled its stalled nominee for Bureau of Reclamation commissioner, longtime Arizona water manager Ted Cooke.

Cooke was seen as eminently qualified by just about all of the major players along the river, having spent his career working on water and power issues. But most of that career was at the Central Arizona Project, the canal system that serves the cities of Phoenix and Tucson, as well as other municipalities and tribes who are the first ones to take cuts under the laws governing the Colorado River.

Upstream state leaders feared he would be biased and raised fierce objections to their lawmakers, including Utah Republican Mike Lee, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee where Cookes nomination was pending.

Lees office did not respond to requests for comment on the nomination.

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A self-described Trump supporter, Cooke said he wishes the administration luck in the negotiations, despite frustration over how his nomination played out.

But, he said, he is holding his breath, hoping that the looming water crisis doesnt get pulled into the administrations efforts to inflict suffering on its political rivals.

God, no, not when it comes to water. We just cant have that nonsense happening, he said. I pray it doesnt because it would just make things that are already in dire straits worse.
BALTIMORE  More than a decade of research from multiple sources shows Baltimores wealthy homeowners paid less than they owed in property taxes, while poorer homeowners paid more than they owed.

A 2023 study conducted by a member of Strong Towns Baltimore  the group is now known as Baltimoreans for People-Oriented Places, or BaltPOP  examined if tax-assessed property values could predict actual home sale prices. The study, which considered the period from 2020 to 2023, found that cheaper homes were likely to be overassessed while a majority of homes sold for more than $1 million were often assessed at much less than their sale price.

Previous research by Dr. Christopher Berry at the University of Chicago found that 75% of the lowest-value homes in Baltimore were overassessed from 2009 to 2018. One property shown in Berrys study sold for $39,692 and had a tax bill of $1,053.47, which was $315.26  or 42.7%  above the average tax rate.

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On the higher end, another property considered by Berry sold for $1,146,458, but a tax bill of $6,419.08. If this property was taxed at the average rate, the final bill would have been $21,322.76  meaning the homeowner underpaid by nearly 70%.

This discrepancy disproportionately affects minority communities, which tend to have lower property values based on racism in past development and zoning policies. A 2020 study titled The Assessment Gap found Black and Hispanic homeowners nationally paid 10% to 13% more in property taxes than white owners of similar homes living under the same tax laws, with the median minority homeowner paying more than $300 annually in extra taxes.

Baltimore residents of all races pay higher property taxes than other Marylanders. The city imposes a real property tax of $2.248 per $100 dollars of assessed property value and a personal property tax for businesses of $5.62 per $100 of assessed value.

Both these rates are more than double the rates in the next highest jurisdiction, Baltimore County. The county assesses a real property tax of $1.10 per $100 dollars of assessed property value and a personal property tax for businesses of $2.75 per $100 of assessed value..

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Baltimore collected roughly $1.15 billion in property tax revenue in the 2025 fiscal year. This amount  which was $7.5 million, or 0.7%, greater than projected  accounts for almost half of the citys total general fund revenue, Budget Director Laura Larsen said during a Sept. 16 budget presentation.

The median sale price of homes in Baltimore increased from about $252,000 in fiscal 2024 to about $265,000 in 2025, according to Larsens presentation.

A spokesman for the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation did not respond to The Baltimore Suns request for comment on the studies.
Former President Barack Obama on Saturday criticised an AI-generated video of US President Donald Trump released on "No Kings Day," calling it a deliberate distraction aimed at diverting voters' attention from real issues. Speaking at a rally in Newark, New Jersey, in support of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill, Obama denounced what he described as "political rhetoric and fabricated conspiracies" emerging from the Trump administration. Referring to the viral AI-generated clip that depicted Trump wearing a crown, flying a fighter jet, and dumping waste on American citizens, Obama told the crowd, "The weird videos of a US president with a crown on his head, flying a fighter jet and dumping poop on American citizens." The comment drew boos from the audience, prompting Obama to quickly respond, "That's not even worth booing about." He went on to say that such spectacles were created to shift attention away from voters' lived realities. "All of that is a distraction," he said. "All of that is designed to distract you from the fact that your situation, your life, has not gotten better. They do that so you won't notice." Obama's remarks came weeks after Trump shared the 19-second AI-generated video on October 19 via Truth Social. The clip showed the president piloting a fighter jet emblazoned with the words "King Trump," spraying mud over "No Kings" protesters in what appeared to be New York's Times Square, and even targeting American social media influencer Harry Sisson. The timing of Trump's post coincided with mass demonstrations held across the United States under the banner of the "No Kings Protest." According to CNN, the protests drew nearly seven million participants across more than 2,700 cities and towns nationwide, voicing strong opposition to Trump's administration and policies. The turnout marked an increase of two million compared to the first round of protests held in June this year, reflecting a surge in public mobilisation against the administration. Law enforcement officials said the protests remained largely peaceful, with no incidents or arrests recorded. In Chicago, viewed as the epicentre of Trump's immigration crackdown, protesters carried "Hands Off Chicago" signs, upside-down American flags, and a mix of Mexican and Pride flags. In Los Angeles, demonstrators dressed in inflatable costumes waved American flags across major streets, while in Washington, current and former federal employees rallied along Pennsylvania Avenue on the 18th day of the ongoing government shutdown, calling for calmer political rhetoric. Despite the widespread opposition, the White House also shared a screengrab on X on October 19 showing President Trump wearing the "Emperor's crown." The image, posted on the same day as the video, further intensified reactions online and drew criticism from across the political spectrum. The dual posts on October 19, the AI-generated video and the screengrab, came at a time when political tensions in Washington were already running high amid a federal government shutdown and partisan gridlock over a funding bill. As protests swelled and public anger grew, Obama's remarks appeared to directly address these displays, urging voters not to be distracted by online theatrics but to stay focused on the challenges affecting their daily lives. While Democratic leaders have largely voiced support for the protests, many Republican lawmakers have criticised them as anti-American. (ANI)
As demonstrations outside an immigration enforcement facility near Chicago have ramped up over the past couple of months, so has the number of protesters being led away in restraints and facing a court date.

Since September, protesters have rallied weekly outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview against President Donald Trumps intensified immigration enforcement campaign in Chicago.

Early on, federal agents guarding the building deployed tear gas and shot pepper balls in clashes with protesters and arrested some of them, including some charged with felonies on suspicion of assaulting or blocking officers.

But by early October, state, county and local law enforcement officers took a larger role in policing the protests at the facility. These agencies have made 68 arrests in connection with Broadview protests since October 3, the Cook County Sheriffs Office said on October 28.

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The arrests sometimes expose a tension between demonstrators desire to exercise their constitutional free speech rights and the intention of authorities  who say some protesters have resisted their attempts to keep paths to the building clear  to let ICE agents and others travel safely to and from the facility.

CNN talked to some arrested demonstrators or, in one case, a protesters representative, to ask about their experiences in getting arrested on accusations ranging from petty to felony offenses. Here are their stories.

Chicago woman held for hours after a crowd scuffle with police

AKeisha Lee was standing and chanting with a crowd of protesters near the Broadview ICE facility on October 17 when she saw a swarm of police officers hop out of police vans wearing helmets and carrying batons, she said.

I was sickened, the 30-year-old Chicago resident recalled. And I remember feeling really scared.

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The officers walked toward her and the other demonstrators in a militarized fashion and began pushing them back, she said. Video of the encounter shows Lee at the front of the crowd when officers with Illinois State Police patches on their sleeves pushed in an apparent attempt to clear them from a paved area, and some demonstrators tried to hold their ground.

Chaos ensued. There was yelling, people falling, and some who appeared to get hurt in the scuffle, Lee said.

She was hit in the face with a baton, and wasnt sure whether the strike was intentional, she recounted. Shed later discover a bruise on her face.

Lee fell to the ground, and officers helped her up, according to Lee and the video, which was distributed by Reuters. An officer then detained her, putting zip ties around her wrists, she said; that moment is not shown in the Reuters video. Lee couldnt understand why she was being arrested.

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I was asking them to let me go, Lee said, and reinforcing that I hadnt did anything I wasnt allowed to do.

She was escorted to a curb to sit, and moments later placed in a police vehicle that took her to the Broadview Police Department. Lees mind raced as she rode in the police car. She worried about going to jail and whether the conditions would be clean and safe. She also worried about whether shed be treated differently as a Black woman in the legal system.

At the police station, she was booked, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell with other female protesters for about five hours before being released.

Illinois State Police had arrested her on two Class A misdemeanor counts of resisting a police officer  punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500  Cook County court records show. She also was cited on suspicion of disobeying a police officer, a petty offense that carries a fine. Her court appearance is scheduled for November 25.

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The court documents do not offer details about what led to the arrest, but Lee denies resisting and says it was never made clear to her how she was disobeying police.

From my understanding, it was in my rights to be there, she said.

Illinois State Police did not directly answer CNNs questions about this specific incident, including Lees assertion that she did nothing wrong or why officers pushed back this crowd. However, they did issue a statement generally addressing the approach of the state, county and local officers whove been policing the protests since early October  a group they call the Unified Command.

These officers in Broadview give loud, clear, consistent, and repeated directions and commands to crowds and provide individuals numerous opportunities to comply with the law, state police said.

From my understanding, it was in my rights to be there, A'Keisha Lee said. - Courtesy Kitty Phillips

Its important to note that since the establishment of the Unified Command, there have been no violent confrontations between ICE and protesters in Broadview involving the use of chemical agents, which is a significant departure from operations prior to their presence, the statement reads.

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Lee has protested at the Broadview ICE facility on several recent Fridays, taking issue with how ICE is picking up allegedly undocumented immigrants in the Chicago area, and how federal agents are deploying tear gas during protests in neighborhoods.

I think how this country has treated immigrants is one of our original transgressions, Lee said. And this is the first tester for what we will allow as a people.

Lee, who works for a local nonprofit, worries about the fate of her court case; however, she stands by her decision to protest.

Theres always a fear of being treated like an example when these things happen, Lee said. But I do believe that I did not break the law.

He was arrested while trying to enter the ICE facility

Sean Mills says he is not happy about how immigrants have been treated since the Trump administration started aggressively cracking down on illegal immigration earlier this year.

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To voice his frustrations, Mills, 37, of Chicago, has become a weekly demonstrator at the Broadview ICE facility. He shows up every Friday and Saturday  sometimes wearing an American flag draped around his shoulders  and joins other protesters outside the facility.

But on October 17, Mills was arrested for the first time in his life, he said, after he tried to enter the building. Mills had become increasingly concerned with claims by local activists that the facilitys conditions were inhumane. So, Mills wanted to view the buildings interior himself.

I just had the urge to walk over and test my luck, Mills said. I walked over to see if I could investigate as a citizen and enter the facility to ask questions and document.

Officers surrounded Mills near the facilitys entrance, and one told him he was not allowed inside, Mills said. That same officer told Mills to go back immediately or be arrested, according to Mills.

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I tried to explain myself a little bit further, Mills said, adding he told the officers he was a concerned citizen who wanted to go inside. And I think about five or 10 seconds later, he (the officer) said OK, youre under arrest.

Mills was shocked because he didnt believe he had done anything wrong. He also felt the officers had not given him enough time to explain himself before restraining his hands with what he believes were zip ties.

Three other protesters who also were trying to enter the building were arrested, he recalled.

I think its just an over-policing example, because I walked up there with my hands out to my side, declared myself very openly, and said Id like to enter the facility, Mills said. One hundred percent it was just to show an example of us.

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Mills was escorted to a nearby curb, where he waited roughly 10 minutes for a police van that took him to the Broadview police station, where he was processed and given a citation, he recounted.

Illinois State Police cited him on suspicion of disobeying a police officer  a petty offense punishable by a fine  Cook County court records show, and is scheduled to appear in court November 25.

The court documents do not offer a narrative of the arrest. State police did not directly respond to CNNs questions about this specific incident, including about Mills claim that he did nothing wrong. Instead, they provided the same general statement they gave for Lees arrest.

Mills has no regrets protesting and getting arrested because hes standing up for his beliefs.

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Its a shame that us peaceful protesters are being targeted instead of being encouraged to exercise our First Amendment rights, Mills said.

Sean Mills says he doesn't regret his arrest, because he's standing up for his beliefs. - Courtesy Cooper Carlson

Mills objects to law enforcement officers being able to stop and ask people about their immigration status based at least in part on their apparent ethnicity. A US Supreme Court ruling in a California case last month appeared to clear the way for a persons ethnicity to be a factor behind immigration stops by law enforcement.

Mills also does not support ICEs roundups throughout Chicago of people accused of being in the country illegally.

We are doing the least that we can do to keep our neighbors safe, which is so important to us right now, Mills said.

School cafeteria worker tackled after threatening agents, authorities say

Paul Ivery is a Chicago-area man with an intellectual disability who works at a high school cafeteria and admires and respects the police and first responders in his community  even saluting officers when he passes them  people who know him say.

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So it may have surprised acquaintances that for two weeks, he faced a felony charge of assaulting a federal officer at a protest at the ICE facility in Broadview.

The case would draw numerous supporters, including his own mayor, to one of Iverys court hearings in an attempt to persuade a judge he wasnt a threat. Ivery declined to be interviewed for this story, but a family representative, court filings and bystander video help chronicle a case that the government wanted prosecuted one moment but dismissed the next.

Ivery walked from his home in Oak Park to the Broadview ICE facility on September 27 to join the demonstrations, family spokesperson Scott Sakiwama said.

Ivery would later tell investigators he was there to protest against ICE because he believed that ICE agents were disrespectful towards the Broadview Police Department and veterans, a criminal complaint filed against Ivery in federal court said, without elaborating on his motivation.

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Ivery was also upset that federal agents had been deploying tear gas and shooting pepper balls at protesters at Broadview, according to Sakiwama.

At some point during the protest, Ivery approached a US Border Patrol agent and shouted something at him, according to the complaint. While the agent couldnt recall what was said, Ivery would admit to investigators later that he said, Ill (expletive) kill you right now, and, do something, according to the document.

After the shout, Ivery ran and jumped on top of an occupied vehicle as agents chased him, the complaint says.

Video from a bystander shows Ivery jumping off the vehicle, and an agent tackling him as he hits the pavement. Ivery yells as several agents restrain him. Nearby, other agents fire chemical irritants into the ground to keep bystanders away, appearing to cause some people to cough, the video shows.

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An onlooker asks Ivery for his name. Ivery yells it and says, Help me! Minutes later, after agents tied his hands behind his back and sat him up, an agent helps Ivery drink from a water bottle. Ivery is eventually pulled to his feet and led into the back of an unmarked vehicle.

The complaint alleges that as agents were restraining Ivery, he grabbed an agents helmet and pulled it down, hurting the agents chin and exposing the agent to pepper spray.

Ivery was arrested and charged in federal court with felony assault on a federal officer, according to court documents.

Ivery was temporarily held at the Broadview ICE facility on the day of his arrest and transferred to the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago that evening, Sakiwama said.

Ivery was held for several days. But by October 1, prosecutors asked to have him released from jail and put on house arrest pending trial, acknowledging his disability, CNN affiliate WLS-TV reported.

At a hearing that day, a judge released Ivery on his own recognizance. Many of Iverys supporters, including Oak Park Mayor Vicki Scaman, were there to back him, according to WLS.

Paul Ivery is a "valued member of our community" who salutes police when he sees them and is not a threat to the community, the mayor of his hometown wrote to a judge. - From Oak Park and River Forest High School

In a letter to the judge, Scaman said Ivery is a valued member of our community who stops and salutes police when he sees them on the street. She wrote that Ivery is not a threat to the community, and she hoped the judge would consider Iverys special needs diagnosis.

On October 9, prosecutors moved to dismiss the charge altogether, and the judge ordered the dismissal the next day. The court records did not say why the case was dismissed.

The US attorneys office for Illinois northern district did not respond to CNNs request for information about the dismissal. Iverys court-appointed attorney declined to be interviewed about the specifics of the case.

I am happy for Mr. Ivery and the just resolution of his case and hope that others who are also having their First Amendment rights trampled by the government receive justice as well, Iverys attorney and federal public defender Johanathan Brooks said in an email to CNN.

CNNs Bill Kirkos and Caroll Alvarado contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD)  On November 1, federal funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program officially lapsed and no benefits were issued to millions of people who rely on the service.

Two federal judges have ruled the Trump administration must use emergency funds to partially cover food stamp benefits. Despite the ruling, thousands of people across Michigan are facing delays to their benefits.

Albi Brunzell served in the U.S. Navy for 25 months and has been using SNAP benefits on and off for about 10 years.

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When I got out of the Navy, I came back and I struggled for a while and I needed food stamps to just have basic food needs met, Brunzell said.

The latest government shutdown has caused many who rely on SNAP some anxiety over where their next meal will come from.

Weve already scarified so much for our country that having another social safety net for veterans and their families, to have that ripped away again. Its a slap in the face to veterans and those who have served, Brunzell said.

As Brunzell, Michiganders and people across the country who rely on SNAP figure out whats next, there are many community resources ready to help, including the Kentwood Little Free Pantry, which has two locations in the city for people to take items when needed and leave something on the shelves.

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The joy out of all this is watching the community and people stepping up and coming in and dropping things off, Brunzell said.

Feeding America West Michigan is also hosting multiple mobile food pantries across the area over the next month.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.




WESTPORT - Members of Westport's Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Task Force said a number of improvements have been made this year, including the addition of rumble strips on a stretch of road where a local high school student was killed last year.

Public Works Director Peter Ratkiewich said the town has put rumble strips and chevrons - which are grooved or raised elements on a roadway that alert drivers to keep their vehicle in the right direction - in the Old Hill area on Kings Highway North to prevent collisions at a notable sharp turn.

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"We're trying to make people more aware of the sharpness of this curve, because people were not aware of it, and there's been a number of accidents on this particular curve on Kings Highway North that have landed in someone's yard," he said.

It was also where an 18-year-old Staples High School student died in September 2024, when a dump truck collided with his dirt bike, according to police.

"Oh my God, they're really needed there and it's a vast improvement in terms of the paving that's been done," said District 2 RTM member Louis Mall.

The task force, which was formed in 2022 and meets twice per year, met Oct. 23 to update attendees on what it's accomplished, and on a number of projects in the works.

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In addition to the rumble strips, Ratkiewich said the town will receive 12 intersection enhancements, including new traffic signal equipment, better pedestrian accommodations and the installation of a vehicle detection system.

The improvements are part of the Connecticut Department of Transportation's traffic signal replacement project. The $16 million project is focused on towns within District 3, which includes: East Haven, Fairfield, Milford, North Haven, Norwalk, Trumbull, Wallingford, West Haven, Westport and Wilton.

Construction is expected to begin winter 2026, according to the project's website.

Ratkiewich said the town also was greenlit to improve the sidewalks on Compo Road South under the state's Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program.

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"The project is to fill in where the sidewalks are missing, primarily from the Post Road to about, I think, Baker Avenue, and then to completely redo the sidewalks that are there because they're such a mismatch and they're in such terrible condition," he said.

Ratkiewich said he hopes construction starts in spring 2026.

He said a major project that's pending is $10 million sidewalk construction on Compo Road North from Post Road East to Main Street. Ratkiewich said approval slowed due to the government shutdown, but he is hoping it gets approved.

District 5 RTM member Richard Lowenstein brought up other areas he believed the task force can bring attention to, and in particular, said there should be more focus on the Greens Farms neighborhood, where he lives.

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He proposed a stop sign at the intersection of Greens Farms Road and Westway Road, which he said could help with speeding.

"I really feel that being on a state road, it all takes is two 'stop signs ahead' signs to be put up," he said.

Ratkiewich said that's a high priority on the task force's list, but it would take time to turn it into a project.

"What's really been proposed is adding bike lanes and pedestrian facilities all along that run of Greens Farms Road, which will require widening the road pretty extensively," Ratkiewich said.

Lowenstein said having a stop sign at that intersection "could be an inexpensive solution" to at least get traffic to slow down in that area.

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"When you have sidewalks, we have bike lanes, cars go faster, and one of the groups that have not been considered adequately, in my opinion, are the people who live on the street, as opposed to those who are walking the street, riding the street, biking and so forth," he said.

This article originally published at Westport safety task force touts rumble strips, other traffic controls, as RTM pushes for more.
NEED TO KNOW

In October 1994, South Carolina mother Susan Smith claimed that a Black man had carjacked her and kidnapped her children

Days later, she confessed that she'd let her car roll into a lake with sons Michael, 3, and Alexander, 14 months, inside

She began serving a life sentence for the murders one year later and was denied parole in November 2024

Thirty-one years after Susan Smith confessed to the murder of her two young children, she continues to serve a life sentence in prison.

Smith, a young South Carolina mother, claimed a Black man had carjacked her and had taken off with her two toddlers in the car in October 1994. However, just nine days later, Smith confessed that there had been no carjacking. In reality, she had driven her car to a local boat ramp and let it roll into a lake  with her sons, 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alexander, strapped inside.

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Smiths alleged motive for the murders was that she was secretly dating a local businessman, Tom Findlay, who didnt want children. In an effort to save their relationship, Smith drowned her two young sons. But Smith  who has been serving a life sentence for the killings since 1995  insists that she is misunderstood.

I am not the monster society thinks I am. I am far from it, she wrote in a 2015 letter to The State, a South Carolina newspaper. Something went very wrong that night. I was not myself. I was a good mother and I loved my boys. There was no motive as it was not even a planned event. I was not in my right mind.

After nearly 30 years behind bars, Smith was set to be eligible for parole on Nov. 4, 2024, but she was denied.

From her life behind bars to being denied parole, heres everything to know about where Susan Smith is now.

She has been serving a life sentence since July 1995

Dave Martin/AP Murder defendent Susan Smith departs the Union County Courthouse in Union, S.C., on Wednesday, July 19, 1995 Murder defendent Susan Smith departs the Union County Courthouse in Union, S.C., on Wednesday, July 19, 1995

Smith came clean about killing her two children nine days after their murder, and on Nov. 4, 1994, their bodies were recovered.

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Smiths murder trial began in July 1995. The prosecution sought the death penalty and alleged that it was Smiths desire for a relationship with Findlay  who did not want children  that led her to kill her two sons.

The defense, however, portrayed Smith as a woman with mental illness who intended to kill herself and her children on the night of Oct. 25, 1994  but saved herself at the last moment, according to The New York Times.

The trial lasted less than a week, and the jury took less than two and a half hours to find Smith guilty on two counts of first-degree murder, The New York Times reported. However, the jury declined to give Smith the death penalty  instead sentencing her to life in prison. Smith, who was 23 at the time, would be eligible for parole 30 years later, in 2024, according to The Washington Post.

We all felt like Susan was a really disturbed person, juror Deborah Benvenuti told reporters. And we all felt that giving her the death penalty wouldnt serve justice.

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However, the boys father, David Smith, told reporters at the courthouse that he did not feel justice had been served.

Ill never forget what Susan has done and Ill never forget Michael and Alex. Me and my family of course are disappointed that the death penalty wasnt the verdict, he said.

Two prison guards were charged with having sex with Smith

Smith began her life sentence at the Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution in Columbia, S.C. During her time at that prison, she received two infractions for having sex with prison guards.

The incidents were discovered in 2000, when Smith was 28. According to UPI, 50-year-old prison guard Houston Cagle had had sex with Smith at least four times. An investigator discovered the affair while looking into tabloid claims that Smith had been beaten. Cagle pleaded guilty and was fired. He spent three months in jail and Smith was disciplined.

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In September 2000, a prison captain named Alfred Rowe was arrested for having sex with Smith, according to ABC News. Their encounter came to light after Smith told investigators she had sex with Rowe and he confessed. A year later, Rowe pleaded guilty and received five years probation.

As a result of the sexual infractions, Smith was transferred to the Leath Correctional Institution in Greenwood, S.C. Prison guards there took special precautions with Smith in light of her past, never allowing her to be alone with one of them and often transporting extra prisoners with her.

No one trusts her to be alone with a guard, a prison source told PEOPLE. She spends most of her time in her cell or working her job, but when shes being transported, there are always two guards with her, preferably a male and a female.

She has been in trouble for drug use and self-mutilation while in prison

South Carolina Department of Corrections Susan Smith in prison

Smiths disciplinary issues continued at Leath Correctional Institute. Jailhouse records show that Smith was disciplined at least five times between 2010 and 2017 for infractions including self-mutilation, drug use and possession of narcotics or marijuana. Punishment for her infractions involved the loss of visitation, canteen and telephone privileges.

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She was disciplined on drug charges twice in 2010 and once in 2015 and lost privileges for more than a year as a result. Rowe, one of the prison guards who had sex with Smith, claimed that her drug use escalated when she was transferred to Leath.

She could no longer get the male attention that she used as a drug, he claimed in an episode of Lifetime's Cellmate Secrets in July 2021.

Christie Smith, Smiths former cellmate, revealed that her main purpose was to bring her her pills.

Ive seen Susan do everything, she alleged, in reference to Smiths drug use. Snort, booty bump, swallow, shoot. I've seen her do it all."

She had a long-distance boyfriend from behind bars

In March 2022, PEOPLE learned that Smith  who was then 50 years old and had spent more than half her life in prison  had been sending romantic correspondence to a man outside of the jail for over a year.

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The long distance romance began after the man  who was divorced, in his mid-40s and had two adult children  saw a documentary about Smith on television. He wrote her a letter, and their correspondence eventually grew to a few letters per week, a source told PEOPLE.

They write letters all the time, a family member of Smiths told PEOPLE. Handwritten letters about what their future will be. Shes very romantic like that, always wanting to find a happily ever after.

Smith wrote about wanting to start fresh with her boyfriend if she were ever freed from jail. Were going to have amazing chemistry in person, she wrote in one letter seen by PEOPLE. I cant wait to build a life with you. Leave the past mistakes behind and start fresh, just you and me.

A relative of Smiths told PEOPLE that the couple were even discussing marriage if she got parole in 2024.

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She's imagining the normalcy of a married life, the relative told PEOPLE. She wants everything in life that she believes has passed her by. So yeah, she is talking marriage with him and thinking that she can spend the last part of her life as a wife and stepmother.

By October 2022, however, the relationship had fizzled out. A Smith family member told PEOPLE, They are no longer corresponding. Its over.

She was eligible for parole in November 2024

Dave Martin/AP Susan Smith looks toward an unidentified law enforcement officer as she departs the Union County Courthouse in Union, SC., on Friday, July 14, 1995.

Smith was reportedly focused on turning around her behavior in prison with the hopes of being granted parole in November 2024. A prison source who had known Smith for several years told PEOPLE in 2020 that Smith was following prison rules to help better her chances at release.

She's behaving herself these days, the source said. She knows that her parole date is four years away and she cant get parole if she isn't being good.

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However, Smiths disciplinary history  which includes her infractions for drug use, self-mutilation and sexual contact with a guard  would also factor into the parole boards decision. Ultimately, Smith was denied parole, despite telling the board at her hearing that she knows "what I did was horrible."

I am a Christian and God is a big part of my life and I know he has forgiven me and I know that is by his grace and mercy ... And I just ask that you show that same kind of mercy as well," she said, as reported by CNN.

Now that Smith has passed the 30-year mark of her sentence, she is eligible for parole every two years, meaning the next hearing will be in November 2026.



Her ex-husband David said he will do "everything in my power" to keep her behind bars

Before she murdered their children, Smith had already filed for divorce from David in September 1994. A judge granted their divorce in May 1995, a couple of months before her trial began.

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Two months ahead of her parole hearing, Smith's ex-husband David shared on Court TV in September 2024 what he would say to his former wife if they came face to face.

I would just tell her that you have no idea of how much damage you have done to so many people, he said. I would tell her that in my capabilities I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure you stay behind bars.

David has since moved on from the relationship, welcoming two more children, Savannah and Nicolas, in 2001 and 2003, respectively, per Go Upstate.

"I've said before, I admit being a lousy husband," David told the outlet in a June 2004 interview. "But I've always been a good father to my kids. I enjoy being a father very much. I mean there's no greater love in the world than loving a child."

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At her November 2024 parole hearing, David asked the board to deny her, saying that Smith serving 30 years was "just not enough."

"This wasn't a tragic mistake ... She purposely meant to end their life," he said, according to ABC News. "I've never felt any remorse from her for it."

David added, "I will be here every two years going forward to ensure that their death doesn't go in vain."

During a February 2025 Dateline episode, David looked back on the moment that Smith admitted to drowning their sons.

She just casually, like you and I sitting here, said Im sorry.' And that was about as far as it went, he said, adding, I asked her Why did you do this? Why? And she said, I dont know why, but Im sorry. 

Read the original article on People
The Chinese government will lift export restrictions on critical minerals, cease exports of chemicals to North America required to produce fentanyl and resume the flow of key auto semiconductors, the White House said in afact sheet Saturday.

The document is the most detailed public summary of the accord reached between U.S. and Chinese negotiators and signed off by President Donald Trump and Chinas leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the two countries could sign the agreement, which deescalates tensions between the two countries and essentially implements a one-year truce, as soon as this coming week.

The fact sheet  which describes the concessions from China as a massive victory that safeguards U.S. economic strength and national security  is the latest installment in the White Houses media victory lap touting the results of Trumps meeting with Xi. That publicity blitz frames the results of their encounter as a decisive win for Trumps aggressive tariff policy despite the fact that it resulted in compromises and a fragile truce rather than a long-term trade agreement.

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Still, China hawks remain worried that there is nothing stopping Beijing from pulling out of the agreement if they find it no longer suits its purpose.

The White House and Chinas Commerce Ministry had both stated that Beijing would lift its export restrictions on rare earths  elements essential to U.S. civilian manufacturing and defense industries  as well as take steps to address Chinas role in fueling the U.S. opioid overdose epidemic. The fact sheet provides some specifics about those agreements.

China will issue general licenses valid for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite for the benefit of U.S. end users and their suppliers around the world, the statement said.

That clarification is good news for U.S. civilian and defense industry manufacturers who rely on those elements for their manufacturing processes. Germanium is used in fiber optics, semiconductors and solar panels, while gallium is used to produce chipsets used in computers, mobile phones, as well as 5G base stations.

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Both countries had previously said that Beijing would roll back new and sweeping export controls on any goods containing Chinese rare earths. But the general licenses mean the de facto removal of previous export controls China put in place in April 2025 and October 2022, the White House said.

The White House also said that Beijing will take long-anticipated steps to reduce the flow of precursor chemicals that Chinese exporters ship to Mexico, where cartels process it into fentanyl-like synthetic opioids.

China will take significant measures to end the flow of fentanyl to the United States, the fact sheet said. China will stop the shipment of certain designated chemicals to North America and strictly control exports of certain other chemicals to all destinations in the world.

The statement didnt specify which chemicals Beijing will ban from export to North America or what measures the Chinese government will take to restrict their shipment to other markets.

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The Chinese embassy didnt respond to a request for comment.

The Chinese government also agreed to reverse recent moves by Chinese-owned semiconductor company Wingtech Technology to block exports of key components to Nexperia, its Dutch subsidiary. That triggered a chip supply crisis that is now hitting global automakers and prompted the Dutch government to intervene and take control of the firm in September.

Beijing will take appropriate measures to ensure the resumption of trade from Nexperias facilities in China, allowing production of critical legacy chips to flow to the rest of the world, the statement said.

Beijing, however, has issued more ambiguous comments about Nexperia suggesting that the two sides may not be fully aligned on resolving the chip supply issue.

I wish to emphasize that the Dutch government's improper interference in corporate affairs has disrupted global production and supply chains, a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson said in a statement Saturday.
An official list of donors to Donald Trumps new $300m (228m) White House ballroom did not include the identities of several contributors, including some with business interests linked to administration policies, it has emerged.

Dozens of individuals and companies have stepped forward to fund the US presidents project to replace the 123-year-old East Wing of the building with a 90,000-square-foot ornate ballroom capable of holding 1,000 people.

But legal experts have expressed concerns that the project was being used by wealthy corporations and people to curry favour with Mr Trump, who has exhibited a willingness to use the levers of government to shower blessings on his allies and attack his foes.

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Two healthcare companies seeking to protect or expand Medicare reimbursement for their projects are among the undisclosed donors to the project, according to The New York Times.

BlackRock, an investment company whose recent bid to take control of several Panama Canal ports was praised by Mr Trump for helping his administration to reclaim the strategic waterway, was also left off the list.

Jeff Yass, an American billionaire businessman who has invested heavily in TikTok and stands to benefit from Mr Trumps efforts to halt the apps US ban through a coalition of American investors, also remained anonymous.

Mr Yass did not respond to requests for comment by The New York Times, while BlackRock also declined to comment.

Work began on the project in October - Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Nvidia, a chip-making giant that could garner huge profits from a proposed US-China trade deal, was not included on the list of donors despite public comments by the companys chief executive that he was proud to have contributed.

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Fundraisers working on behalf of the president have circulated a pledge form to solicit contributions for the ballroom, which gives donors the option of withholding their names from public disclosure, according to The New York Times.

The Trump administration defended levelling the historic East Wing by saying that the ballrooms construction was not being funded by the taxpayer.

The president has said that he will also personally contribute an as-yet-undisclosed amount towards the construction.

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On Oct 15, Mr Trump welcomed almost 130 donors to a lavish White House dinner to reward them for pledging significant contributions to the ballroom, which is opposed by 56 per cent of Americans, according to a recent poll.

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Representatives from dozens of companies, including Google, Amazon, Apple, T-Mobile and Meta, were present at the dinner. A pledge form seen by CBS News reportedly said that donors may receive recognition for their contributions.

Some of the attendees at the dinner had not been disclosed as donors by the administration, nor had they themselves publicly acknowledged contributing money, according to The New York Times.

Among the diners was Greg Brockman, the president of OpenAI, whose company has lobbied Washington to block state artificial intelligence laws.

Mr Trump, a former real estate developer, has undertaken extensive remodelling projects in the White House since the start of his second administration. He recently replaced the totally inappropriate sage green tiling in the Lincoln Bathroom with white marble.

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As you take a walk through any new subdivision today, you're likely to find open-concept floor plans, plenty of trendy finishes, and community amenities galore. What you're less likely to discover are gas furnaces humming along. In their place, many builders are embracing the benefits of installing a heat pump -- those sleek, efficient, and quiet systems that pull warmth from the air rather than burning fossil fuels. Although natural gas has been the gold standard in home heating options for decades, developers are abandoning gas altogether as building codes tighten, resources become more costly, and the climate crisis continues with no end in sight. Gas furnaces are being phased out of new builds because all-electric systems are cheaper to install, easier to maintain, and compliant with today's local and federal building standards.

Gas furnaces first became popular after World War II, when suburban areas grew by leaps and bounds in areas where natural gas lines made central heating available to the masses. Infinitely easier than starting and stoking a fireplace hearth continually, gas furnaces offered instant warmth and lower operating costs compared to wood, coal, or oil. In many rural communities, reliable electricity hadn't even arrived yet. Even where it was available, adoption was slow; by the 1990s, only around a quarter of American households relied on electric heat. Meanwhile, gas became the modern symbol of comfort and convenience. But although gas furnaces remain a powerful option, they leave behind more than just heat. Their carbon-heavy footprint is an environmental liability, and volatile market prices just add fuel to the proverbial fire.

Read more: 10 Upgrades To Raise A Home's Value, According To HGTV's Property Brothers

New laws are pushing builders toward all-electric homes

A residential double-stage gas furnace is installed in a basement - Nc Photo/Getty Images

Today's subdivision builders aren't just opting out of gas furnaces because of environmental concerns or customer preferences. They're responding to a colossal regulatory shift that started during the Biden administration. Under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), the U.S. Department of Energy was empowered to set minimum energy-conservation standards for heating systems and use its authority to drive new requirements that made gas-fueled furnaces financially unwise. Although President Trump's energy agenda seeks to roll back or delay those federal efficiency standards designed to curb gas-fueled systems, state-level regulations in places like New York, California, and Washington already signal that the gas furnace era in new homes is drawing to a close.

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In New York, for example, the 2023 All-Electric Buildings Act means that, starting in 2026, new home builds must have electric heating systems as well as appliances. California is heading in the same direction with its current Energy Code, requiring that new homes use all-electric systems, prohibiting natural gas hookups in many areas, and standardizing the use of heat pumps. Even some local governments are jumping on the anti-gas bandwagon. Montgomery County, Maryland, has also banned natural gas heating in new residential buildings.

Some critics argue these all-electric mandates could worsen the housing crisis. Others worry they will completely eliminate the gas ranges and cozy fireplaces many homeowners love. And whether heat pumps are truly efficient in frigid climates remains up for debate. Alternatives include buying an older home with existing gas hookups or engaging with local officials to advocate for more flexible building codes that balance worthy efficiency goals with greater lifestyle choices.

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Sir Anthony Hopkins is selling his California estate at a huge loss.

Sir Anthony Hopkins is selling his house

The 87-year-old actor splashed out $6.6 million for one house in Pacific Palisades in 2018 and then bought the neighbouring property for $6 million the following year to combine them into one huge estate, but following the devastating wildfires in the city earlier this year, he has put the plots up for sale for a total of $6.4 million.

The two properties will again be divided, with what was originally the pricier home, complete with a swimming pool, listed for $2.55 million and the other priced at $3.85 million, the Sunday Mirror newspaper reports.

The Silence of the Lambs star's lost his estate in the blaze earlier this year but remained philosophical at the time.

The acclaimed film star - who was born in Wales, but has lived in the US for decades - wrote on social media: "As we all struggle to heal from the devastation of these fires, it's important we remember that the only thing we take with us is the love we give [heart and prayer emojis] (sic)"

Meanwhile, Anthony recently reflected on how he knew he needed to get help for his drinking when he realised he "could have killed" someone while driving around California during a "blackout".

The Thor actor - who celebrated 49 years sober last December - told The New York Times' The Interview podcast: I was drunk and driving my car here in California in a blackout, no clue where I was going, when I realised that I could have killed somebody  or myself, which I didnt care about.

"I came to my senses and said to an ex-agent of mine at this party in Beverly Hills, I need help. 

Anthony had a "spooky" moment where he heard a "vocal, male, reasonable, like a radio voice" speak to him from the inside, and he instantly lost his desire to drink.

He continued: It was 11 oclock precisely  I looked at my watch  and this is the spooky part: Some deep, powerful thought or voice spoke to me from inside and said: Its all over. Now you can start living. And it has all been for a purpose, so dont forget one moment of it.

The craving to drink was taken from me, or left. Now I dont have any theories except divinity or that power that we all possess inside us that creates us from birth, life force, whatever it is.

Its a consciousness, I believe. Thats all I know.
King Charles on Sunday expressed deep anguish over the knife attack that took place on a train in Cambridgeshire, describing it as a "dreadful" incident that left several people critically injured. In a statement posted on X, the King said, "My wife and I were truly appalled and shocked to hear of the dreadful knife attack that took place on board a train in Cambridgeshire last night." Extending condolences to those impacted, he added, "Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with all those affected, and their loved ones." The monarch also expressed gratitude to the authorities for their prompt action, stating, "We are particularly grateful to the emergency services for their response to this awful incident." https://x.com/RoyalFamily/status/1984937458505515453 According to the British Transport Police (BTP), at least 10 people were injured, nine of whom sustained life-threatening injuries, following the multiple stabbing incident aboard a train in Cambridgeshire on Saturday evening. The attack prompted a major incident declaration, with Counter Terrorism Policing units supporting the investigation. "Ten people have been taken to the hospital following a multiple stabbing on a train in Cambridgeshire. Nine are believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. A major incident has been declared, and Counter Terrorism Policing are supporting our investigation," the BTP said in a post on X. The BTP confirmed that the attack occurred on the 6:25 PM (local time) service train from Doncaster to London King's Cross. Law enforcement and emergency services responded when the train was stopped at Huntingdon. "We are currently responding to an incident on a train to Huntingdon where multiple people have been stabbed. Officers are in attendance alongside Cambridgeshire Police, and two people have been arrested," the police said. "This is a shocking incident and first and foremost my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families," said BTP Chief Superintendent Chris Casey. He added that urgent inquiries were underway to determine the circumstances of the attack. "It could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further. At this early stage, it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident." Casey further said that police operations were continuing at the station, with cordons and road closures in place. "Trains are not currently running through the area," he added, thanking the public for their patience and cooperation. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also described the incident as "appalling" and expressed solidarity with the victims. "The appalling incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning. My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police," Starmer said in a post on X. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was "deeply saddened" by the stabbings and confirmed that two suspects had been arrested. "My thoughts go out to all those affected. Two suspects have been immediately arrested and taken into custody. I am receiving regular updates on the investigation. I urge people to avoid comment and speculation at this early stage," she said on X. Police have urged the public to stay away from the area and follow official updates as investigations continue into one of the most shocking attacks in recent memory. (ANI)
Of anything being trafficked from Mexico to the United States, bologna might not ring any bells as a possible cause for concern. And, yet, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has sometimes had its hands full with folks trying to sneak enormous chubs of prohibited deli meat across international lines. This is an issue that isn't nearly as humorous as it sounds, to hear their earnest commentary on the matter. Alongside ostensibly more troublesome contraband like prescription pills, exotic plants, and even wildlife, the import of bologna from Mexico into the U.S. is banned. Busts of trafficked bologna can be big news down in Texas, where the problematic pork product is being smuggled. When confiscated, the offending bologna is destroyed, usually by burning. Meat that otherwise would be sold for over $100 a roll goes up in flames, which must seem egregiously wasteful to the uninformed.

What's the problem, exactly? Can't folks source the best ingredients to make the deli-worthy bologna sandwich of their dreams? Apparently not, as there are concerns that Mexican bologna, not being held to the stringent food safety standards of the USDA, could carry diseases like foot-and-mouth or African swine fever, which can infect both humans and livestock populations north of the border. Pork, overall, can be a dangerous meat if you aren't exactly sure of its provenance and handling, being susceptible to more insidious diseases than other forms of animal protein.

Read more: The 9 Most Popular Myths About Spam

Why do people love Mexican bologna, anyway?

chubs of bologna meat with spices - Yurawhite/Getty Images

The logical next question has a simple answer: yes, in the opinions of many folks, Mexican bologna is better than the American version. While the difference between bologna meat and mortadella in the United States can be a matter of pork content (mortadella has more), Mexican bologna is notably more "porky," with a stronger, more succulent flavor that's hard to pin down. The Mexican brand Chimex is particularly well-known, being redder and, to some, more delicious than the slices of meat you can pick up at your local stateside deli. Just like Tennessee rag bologna is its own spin on classic bologna, so is Mexican bologna a step up from the homogenized fare peddled by Oscar Meyer and other big conglomerates. While you can pick up gourmet versions of other deli meats that offer an elevated bite, there really isn't any "fancy" bologna option in America, a sad fact that can lead folks to sniff out black market meat.

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This is the part where we tell you that, while culinary daring is a quality we generally admire, you should probably stay away from illegally imported Mexican bologna. Not only are you indirectly contributing to illicit activities, but, more significantly, you could be placing your health at risk. Even if the meat itself isn't infested with anything, when folks smuggle it into America, they may take risky shortcuts with refrigeration or storage. You surely don't want to risk food poisoning, let alone any of the scarier diseases that pork can carry.

For more food and drink goodness, join our newsletter or add us as a preferred search source. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more!

Read the original article on Foodie.




The Trump administration's moves to prosecute the president's political adversaries have had a chilling effect on one particular group of influential Americans: retired senior military officers.

Generals, admirals and other top commanders no longer in uniform are worried the administration might pursue criminal charges, tax investigations or other legal retribution against them if they speak out against President Donald Trump.

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For that reason, many of them are staying silent, despite their vehement disagreement with some of Trump's actions, including his use of military force to kill alleged drug traffickers in boats in the Caribbean and his deployment of the National Guard to cities and states led by Democrats.

"The Trump administration is using the law as a weapon to go after its enemies, exact revenge and suppress dissent," said Frank Kendall, who was secretary of the Air Force under President Joe Biden and has been sharply critical of Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

"James Comey and Letitia James are good examples," Kendall said. "There's no reason to think they won't do the same to retired generals in civil or military courts."

Comey is the former FBI director who Trump blames for pursuing an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, a controversy that dominated Trump's first term. James is the New York State Attorney General who in 2023 won a civil fraud judgement against Trump for allegedly inflating the value of real estate holdings.

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At Trump's prodding, the Justice Department recently obtained criminal indictments against both Comey and James.

A military transport leaves Kabul while stranded Afghans watch helplessly. President Donald Trump called the called chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 "perhaps the most embarrassing moment in American history." He blamed Gen. Mark Milley. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)





Kendall said he knew of military retirees who feared similar retaliation if they spoke out against the president, and a retired senior military figure told the San Antonio Express-News the possibility was very much on his mind.

"I have worried about retribution," this person said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "In fact, I have even put together a sheet. If you do planning as long as I have, you sit down and you write out the pros and cons of everything."

The ex-official said was concerned about three potential scenarios - that he would be recalled to active duty to face a court-martial, charged with crimes in a civilian court or subjected to a tax audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service.

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He said he was afraid not of being found guilty but of being bankrupted by legal bills. He said other retired military leaders were haunted by the same prospect.

"I don't believe any of them, including myself, have ever done anything wrong, but that doesn't seem to make any difference anymore. It's not necessarily what you did or did not do. It's the pain they can put you through. It's the retribution that they seek," the ex-official said.

Former Air Force secretary Frank Kendall, center, seen at a Senate hearing in 2023, is one of the few former military leaders to speak out forcefully against President Donald Trump. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag)





'Guilty as hell'

Trump has made no secret of his determination to make the Justice Department an instrument of vengeance against those he contends have wronged him.

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In September, he publicly scolded Attorney General Pam Bondi for taking too long to bring criminal charges against Comey, James and another political adversary, U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff of California, who was the lead prosecutor at Trump's first impeachment trial in 2020.

"They're all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done," Trump wrote in a Sept. 20 post on his social media platform, Truth Social. "We can't delay any longer  JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!"

Days later, federal prosecutors in Virginia obtained a grand jury indictment against Comey for allegedly making a false statement to a U.S. Senate committee in 2017 about whether he had authorized a news leak.

Soon after, James was indicted on a bank fraud charge for allegedly lying on a loan application about whether a home she owned in Virginia was her residence or a rental property.

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Schiff is under investigation by the Justice Department for alleged mortgage fraud.

FBI Director James Comey pauses as he testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 3, 2017, before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing: "Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation." (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)





The cases against Comey and James were presented to a grand jury by a Trump loyalist who was named acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in August, after Trump removed her predecessor for alleged foot-dragging on the prosecutions. National news media have reported that career prosecutors in the office believed the cases lacked merit.

Also facing criminal charges is John Bolton, who was Trump's national security adviser in 2018-19 before the two parted on acrimonious terms. On Oct. 16, a federal grand jury indicted Bolton on charges that he mishandled classified information by sharing diary notes from his White House days with family members who did not have security clearances.

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Hegseth, meanwhile, has fired more than a dozen senior military officers who had been promoted under Biden, including Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve as chief of naval operations; Gen. David Allvin, the Air Force chief of staff; and the judge advocates general, or top legal officers, of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

None has made any public comment on their firings.

Senior military leaders gather at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., on Sept. 30, 2025, to hear speeches by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump. In his speech, Hegseth singled out Gen. Mark Milley, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for criticism, heightening concern that the administration might take legal retribution against Milley. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)





Retirees at risk

Retired military officers feel especially vulnerable to political retaliation because of Article 88, a section of the Uniform Code of Military Justice titled "Contempt Toward Officials."

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Under Article 88, commissioned officers can be court-martialed for speaking "contemptuous words" about the president, vice president, defense secretary, members of Congress, the U.S. secretary of Homeland Security and the governors or legislatures of any state.

The prohibition dates to the Articles of War adopted by the Continental Congress in 1775 and was intended to bolster discipline and discourage insubordination.

"This is very infrequently enforced but could provide a basis for dragging an officer through a trial," said a former senior Defense Department official who asked not to be named.

There are no known cases of a retired officer being recalled to active duty to stand trial for "contemptuous" statements, but Kendall said he thought it likely that Trump would try to use Article 88 against those who have criticized or crossed him.

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Federal courts have held that military officers in most cases remain on "military status" during retirement and are subject to military law.

The Defense Department public affairs office did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.

'The most dangerous person'

Much of the concern about retaliation centers on Army Gen. Mark Milley, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019 to 2023 and later became both a vocal critic of Trump and a target of his vitriol.

In the turbulent final months of Trump's first term, Milley twice called a senior Chinese general to reassure him that the U.S. government was stable and had no intention of attacking China.

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He made similar calls of reassurance to foreign military leaders after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, when thousands of Trump supporters stormed the building in an attempt to prevent congressional certification of Biden's victory in the 2020 election.

Milley said the communications were entirely appropriate, but Trump reacted angrily when they became public. In a September 2023 Truth Social post, he wrote that Milley's actions were "so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH."

An earlier episode helped cement Trump's enmity for Milley. On June 1, 2020, the general, in camouflage uniform, joined Trump and other officials as they walked from the White House to Lafayette Square for a photo op. Authorities had just used tear gas and rubber bullets to clear peaceful protesters from the area.

To Trump's dismay, Milley later issued a public apology, saying: "My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics."

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Milley stayed on as Joint Chiefs chairman under Biden and presided over the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, which devolved into chaos as Afghan government forces collapsed before Taliban insurgents.

Trump, on Truth Social, blamed Milley for "perhaps the most embarrassing moment in American history ... costing many lives, leaving behind hundreds of American citizens, and handing over BILLIONS of dollars of the finest military equipment ever made."

Milley had an equally low regard for Trump. In his 2024 book "War," a behind-the-scenes account of the Biden and Trump presidencies, journalist Bob Woodward quoted Milley describing Trump as "a total fascist" and "the most dangerous person to this country."

Milley told Woodward he was bombarded by death threats after Trump publicly excoriated him, and that he had installed bulletproof glass and blast-proof curtains at his home.

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During his final hours in office on Jan. 20, 2025, Biden granted Milley a pre-emptive pardon to protect him against retribution. After Trump was sworn in to a second term later the same day, a framed photograph of Milley was removed from a Pentagon hallway. Trump also stripped the general of his protective detail and security clearance.

In a Sept. 20 speech to generals, admirals and other top commanders in Quantico, Va., Hegseth singled Milley out by name as emblematic of a bygone and, in Hegseth's view, discredited military leadership.

Gen. Mark Milley served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during President Donald Trump's first term. Milley later became a vocal critic of Trump - and a target of his invective. (The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Im)





'Bizarre parade'

Eugene Fidell, a senior research scholar at Yale Law School and an authority on military law, thinks Trump might try to set aside Milley's pardon on the ground that it was invalid because it bore an autopen version of Biden's signature.

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An autopen is a mechanical device for replicating a signature and is commonly used by elected officials whose duties require signing large numbers of documents. Trump has insisted that Biden pardons signed by autopen are legally "void," and Bondi has said her office is reviewing the issue.

"I think it's possible the Trump administration will try to challenge Biden's pardons on the autopen theory, so I do have some concerns, particularly given the bizarre parade of retaliatory prosecutions that we're seeing," Fidell said.

Efforts to reach Milley for comment were unsuccessful.

Photos of U.S. presidents hang in a White House colonnade. In a dig at Trump's predecessor, former President Joe Biden is represented by a picture of an autopen. Biden used the device to replicate his signature on official documents, a common practice for elected officials. Trump has suggested pardons bearing Biden's autopen signature are not valid. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)





'Using fear'

Generals on the whole are a quiet lot. They view themselves as members of a nonpolitical officer corps who swore an oath to serve the country and the constitution no matter which party is in power. Many prefer to stay out of politics, even in retirement.

"I avoid political conversations ... about the commander-in-chief, current or prior, out of respect for the office," said retired Army Maj. Gen. Charles Rodriguez of San Antonio, a former adjutant general of the Texas National Guard.

"I think 90 percent of generals just want to avoid the press, avoid the rhetoric," said retired Army Maj. Gen. Alfredo "Freddie" Valenzuela, a former commander of U.S. Army South.

Retired Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas Jr., who led the Air Force recruiting service, said, "Senior military leaders - active or retired - are deeply mindful of the longstanding American military tradition of remaining apolitical and not using our rank in a way that could be seen as partisan."

Trump's actions since he returned to the presidency have prompted some to reconsider their reticence. But relatively few retired military figures have spoken out.

Prominent among them is Kendall. In a July 21 op-ed in the New York Times, he said that Trump "does not accept dissent and is using fear to try to suppress it," and that the firings of Brown and other senior officers "have sent a chilling message to everyone in uniform." He has called Trump "a rogue president" who is "waging war on the rule of law."

Since secretary of the Air Force is a civilian position, Kendall could not be court-martialed for things he said or did while in that job. But as a West Point graduate and former Army lieutenant colonel, he theoretically could be recalled to active duty and prosecuted, albeit only for things he did while in uniform years ago.

Kendall, a lawyer, said he did not rule out the possibility the Trump administration might bring charges against him in a civilian court.

"If they feel like I'm enough of a threat, yes," he said. "They could try to find something. But they would have a hard time."

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a Pentagon news briefing with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Feb. 5, 2025. Two weeks later, Hegseth fired Brown and other top military commanders. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)





'The consequences of staying silent'

Retired Army Brig. Gen Ty Seidule also has publicly criticized Trump and Hegseth in op-eds, interviews and television appearances. Seidule, a Gulf War veteran, served on the Naming Commission created by Congress in 2021 to remove the names of Confederate leaders from nine military installations across the South and bestow new monikers deemed more fitting.

When he returned to office this year, Trump promptly reversed the effort.

"At some point in the future, we will look back on this period and review the choices we have made," said Seidule, now a history professor at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. "My choice is to tell the story of Confederate commemoration. The administration has brought back the names of traitors who killed U.S. Army soldiers to create a slave republic.

"I will not be silent," he added. "But many others fear retribution. I fear the consequences of staying silent."

In another display of opposition, a group of retired generals, admirals and former service secretaries attached their names to a friend-of-the-court brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in April, disputing Trump's claim that presidential immunity meant he could not be prosecuted for allegedly conspiring to overturn Biden's 2020 election victory.

The high court ruled in July 2024 that a president is "entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts." The decision effectively stymied the Justice Department's efforts to bring the conspiracy case against Trump to trial during Biden's term. It was dismissed once Trump returned to office.

Rodriguez, the retired Army major general, said those who signed the legal brief "demonstrated extraordinary courage" and "face a high risk of subsequent retribution.

"The reason I did not sign  is that we each choose our hill to die on," he said.

The retired senior military figure who described to the Express-News his fear of being bankrupted by legal bills said there was one circumstance in which he would not hesitate to speak out against Trump, whatever the consequences.

"I'm waiting to hear if he goes after Milley," he said. "I have great respect for Mark Milley, and that's when I will talk to anybody who wants to talk to me."

Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Many retired military leaders see Donald Trump's effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election as reflecting a contempt for the rule of law. Yet few have spoken out against Trump; they fear retaliation. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)





This article originally published at Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump: They're scared..
ST. LOUIS  Many decades ago, Dominos Pizza promised to deliver pizzas to your home in 30 minutes or its free. That pledge ended after a St. Louis woman won a $78 million verdict in a high-profile lawsuit, forcing Dominos to scrap the now-infamous promotion altogether.

In 1979, according to food website TheTakeout.com, Dominos Pizza launched a 30-minute guarantee in an effort to outpace its pizza rivals. For a time, if your pizza took longer than half and hour to be cooked and arrive at your doorstep after calling in an order, you could get a pizza for free. That promotion was later adjusted to $3 off an order.

Cooking and delivering a pizza in under 30 minutes is no easy task. And inevitably, if one location got busy with orders, it could be tough for their delivery drivers to fulfill the 30-minute guarantee.

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Ultimately, the rush to beat the clock came with consequences.

Upscale apartment complex proposed for St. Charles near Historic District

In 1989, a St. Louis woman named Jean Kinder suffered serious head and spinal injuries when a Dominos delivery driver ran a red light and struck her car. Four years later, a St. Louis jury ordered Dominos and a local franchise to pay her $750,000 in actual damages, and $78 million in punitive damages, according to the New York Times.

Dominos ended the 30-minute delivery guarantee that same day as the verdict, which was persuasive in convincing the company to rescind the 30-minute promise, The New York Times reported. Then-Dominos President Thomas S. Monaghan said the $78 million verdict was certainly the thing that put us over the edge.

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Not only in St. Louis, but elsewhere, drivers were under intense pressure to meet delivery times. By 1989, according to the TheTakeout.com, Dominos drivers were reportedly involved in crashes that led to at least 20 fatalities nationwide, sparking public outcry over the companys safety practices.

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Monaghan later added in a statement, per the New York Times, Dominos has always been committed to safety. But there continues to be a perception  a perception I believe is not supported by the facts that the guarantee is unsafe. We got that message loud and clear. So, we are eliminating the element that creates that negative perception.

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According to a UPI.com report from April 1994 out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Dominos later reached a settlement to pay Kinder far less after threatening to appeal the verdict. The exact amount she received was never publicly disclosed.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
While many countries around the globe pledge to transition away from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives, the use of coal for power generation has once again risen. Several governments have committed to cutting coal production and use over the coming decades, due to its reputation as the dirtiest fossil fuel. Coal is being increasingly replaced with less-polluting fossil fuels, such as natural gas, as countries gradually expand their renewable energy sectors to transition towards green energy. However, it seems that despite big promises and heavy investment in alternative energy sources, coal use remains high.

Global coal use rose to a record high in 2024, which will likely have a negative impact on global warming. For several years, governments worldwide have been introducing policies aimed at reducing coal use to help tackle climate change. While the contribution of coal for electricity production fell as the global renewable energy capacity increased, the overall increase in power demand led to more coal being used for power last year, according to the recently published annual State of Climate Action report.

In 2024, global coal demand rose by 1.5 percent compared to 2023, to reach an all-time high of 8.79 billion tonnes. The increase was driven mainly by emerging economies in Asia, particularly China and India. Chinas demand rose by 82 million tonnes (Mt), or 1.7 percent, while Indias use grew by 45 Mt, or 4 percent. Indonesia and Vietnam also experienced a rise in coal demand. Meanwhile, the European Union saw a decrease in coal use by 40 Mt, or 11 percent, while the United States saw a 14 Mt, or 4 percent, reduction, as many coal plants were retired and renewable energy capacity grew.

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As countries in Europe and North America decrease their dependence on coal, other regions, principally Asia, are expected to continue relying heavily on coal for years to come. China, India, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries contributed around 77 percent of the 2024 global coal demand.

Coal-fired power generation, the principal driver of global coal demand, also reached a record high in 2024, at around 10,766 TWh. Meanwhile, the use of coal in iron and steel production remained fairly stable. China has a significant impact on the worlds coal consumption, using around 30 percent more of the fossil fuel than the rest of the world combined. Much of its coal is used to power its expansive manufacturing industry.

The report suggested that while many governments are making a clear effort to decrease their reliance on coal, in favour of renewable alternatives, the world is not transitioning at a fast enough rate to meet international greenhouse gas reduction targets by the mid-century.

Theres no doubt that we are largely doing the right things. We are just not moving fast enough. One of the most concerning findings from our assessment is that for the fifth report in our series in a row, efforts to phase out coal are well off track, said Clea Schumer, a research associate at the World Resources Institute thinktank. The trouble is that a power system that relies on fossil fuels has huge cascading and knock-on effects The message on this is crystal clear. We simply will not limit warming to 1.5C if coal use keeps breaking records, explained Schumer.

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At the COP26 climate summit in 2021, governments agreed to phase down the use of coal as part of the Glasgow climate pact. Despite changing the language last minute, from a phase-out: to a phase-down, government representatives at the conference made a clear commitment to reduce their reliance on coal. While many environmentalists were disappointed by the decision to water down the language, most thought it signalled the end of the coal era.

At the time, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said that over 40 percent of the worlds existing 8,500 coal plants would need to close by the end of the decade, and no new ones could be built, to stay within the global heating limit of 1.5C. Birol stated, I would very much hope that advanced economies take a leading role and become an example for the emerging world. If they dont do it, if they dont show an example for the emerging world, they shouldnt expect the emerging world to do it.

However, the view of coal use varies significantly from country to country. Despite its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decades, India sees coal as a major contributor to the industrial expansion needed to support the countrys economic growth. Indias prime minister, Narendra Modi, celebrated surpassing 1 billion tonnes of coal production earlier this year. Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump has backtracked on the Biden administrations climate efforts, instead declaring his support for coal and other fossil fuels this year.

The failure to reduce coal consumption at the rate needed to meet international climate pledges demonstrates the need to reinforce the commitment to phasing down coal use in the upcoming COP30 UN climate summit in Brazil. In addition, greater efforts must be taken to support emerging economies in transitioning to green without compromising economic growth reliant on the use of fossil fuels.

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By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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You get the geopolitical intelligence, the hidden inventory data, and the market whispers that move billions - and we'll send you $389 in premium energy intelligence, on us, just for subscribing. Join 400,000+ readers today. Get access immediately by clicking here.
In Ukraine, the town of Novgorodske has reverted to its original name - Niu-York or New York - in a defiant response to the imminent threat of Russian invasion.

The war-torn settlement, which stands on the edge of the frontline in eastern Ukraine, was stripped of its unique heritage by Soviet officials in 1951.

Novgorodske - or "new city" in Ukrainian - has been at the forefront of the conflict for the past eight years, as Ukrainian forces hold back Russian-backed separatists at the nearby border.

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Now locals are reintroducing the towns historic name - although little is known about how this unique Americanism came to be.

"It's a mystery that still hasn't been solved," says Tetyana Krasko, head of the New York Cultural Centre, Ukraine.

She believes the original name may have come from a group of German settlers in the 1800s - but for now, it represents a solitary act of resistance against the masses of Russian forces encircling Ukraine on every side.

"We tell ourselves that they would be too afraid to bomb New York," Krasko laughs, before turning gravely serious.

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"It's not funny. There have already been shellings. New York has already suffered."

'They are idiots!'

As friction increases, New York's empty streets echo with the sound of explosions growing more frequent.

So far, the war in the Donbas has claimed the lives of more than 14,000 people and pushed 1.5 million others from their homes.

The town once boasted a population of over 10,000 people, but now many of the houses stand empty. Those who remain have dark thoughts about the days ahead.

"Living here is very difficult, says Ella Pylypenko, a housewife from the settlement.

Firstly because there is nowhere to work, the wages are low and there are these bombings. It's not easy to live here."

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About 25 kilometres south of New York lies Donetsk, the Russian-backed separatist stronghold that President Vladimir Putin formally recognised in a recent address to the Russian nation.

His decision sparked outrage in the international community, but for many residents, the announcement came as little surprise.

"I've seen it all before," says Klava Blynska, an elderly resident shouting from her balcony.

They are idiots. Why did they make this decision? Whats the point?

Some locals believe the towns name could change again if Russian forces push further into Ukraine. But for many of the settlements younger residents, evacuating the town is more important than renaming it.

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"We'll grow up and maybe we can leave here, says Sergei, a local college student.

I don't know if it makes sense to stay here any longer. I don't know how long the war will last. So we'll have to get out of New York soon."

Watch the video above to find out more.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Wickham Farms is celebrating the end of its season with a new event this weekend.

Saturday welcomed the first Pumpkin Destruction Weekend, a new tradition where families and farm lovers are invited to participate in a two-day event centered around pumpkins and the traditional cider, donuts, and hayrides Wickham Farms is known for.

The event is held to give pumpkins one last moment in the spotlight, as leftovers are used for activities such as pumpkin bowling, pumpkin smashing stations, painting, and more. The biggest part of the weekend is said to be the Great Pumpkin Drop, where attendees look on as a giant pumpkin is lifted above the farm before being dropped for a grand finale.

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The Pumpkin Destruction Weekend will end its celebration on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online or in person.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
NEED TO KNOW

A logger was trampled to death by elephants while on the job

The victim, Malaysian man Saidi Jahari, 43, was working at a logging site in the northern part of the country when the incident occurred

Saidi had only been working on the job for two weeks at the time of his death

A man was killed in a wild elephant attack while working at a logging site in Malaysia.

Saidi Jahari, 43, was found dead by his coworkers the morning of Oct. 29 in the Gua Musang district in the northern part of the country, per local news outlets Malay Mail, Free Malaysia Today and The Vibes.

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Sik Choon Foo, superintendent of the District Police, said the attack occurred in two parts, per the outlets.

Saidi, who was the site supervisor, and five coworkers were sleeping in tents when they heard and smelled elephants approaching the evening of Oct. 28, Sik said in a statement, according to The Vibes. The loggers ran into the woods for safety, but Saidi was unable to escape in time.

The other workers returned several hours later and found Saidi injured with two broken legs.



They brought the victim inside the communal house for temporary protection. However, not long after, a bull elephant, believed to be the herd leader, returned and attacked them again, Sik said, per The Vibes.

Getty Asian elephants (stock image) Asian elephants (stock image)

The workers fled yet again and were forced to leave Saidi behind.

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After the area calmed, the group returned and found the victim was no longer there. Searches nearby discovered Saidi deceased on the exit path, with severe injuries consistent with being trampled by an elephant, Sik said.

Authorities stated that the Department of Wildlife and National Parks was notified and they are currently working to find and contain the herd, per the outlet.



PEOPLE reached out to the Royal Malaysia Police and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks on Sunday, Nov. 2, but did not receive an immediate response.

While speaking to The Vibes, Saidis younger brother, Sulaiman Jahari, 32, recalled the last time he saw Saidi during a holiday celebration.

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I did not expect that it would be our final meeting. Usually, he was quiet and did not talk much about work, but during dinner he was cheerful and lively, he said.

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Sulaiman additionally said that his brother had worked in the logging industry for about 30 years, though he had only worked at the site of the tragedy for about two weeks.

This area was newly opened for logging. During all his years of work, he had never spoken about encounters with wild animals, he said.



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FRANKLIN, Va. (WAVY)  A 29-year-old man was arrested Oct. 4 after traveling to Franklin with the intent to engage in sexual activity towards a juvenile, according to Franklin Police.

Officers responded to the 1000 block of Armory Drive for reports of a suspicious situation and charged Melvin Elijawon Porter with using a vehicle to promote unlawful sexual intercourse.

Investigation revealed that there may be other incidents involving Porter. He is being held without bond at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.




WINDSOR LOCKS - The man accused of invading a Heather Lane home and attempting to choke a resident Friday morning remained in a hospital Saturday on a psychological exam hold, according to police.

"There are no charges yet because of that process," Windsor Locks police Lt. Paul Cherniack said Saturday. "We will do this by arrest warrant, which will have to be sent over to the court for approval. That is why the name has not been released, due to HIPAA regulations. When he is arrested, his status changes to criminal, and then all can be released."

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Officers responded at 8:13 a.m. Friday to the residence after receiving a report of a man trying to force his way into the home, according to the Windsor Locks Police Department.

Police said the assailant gained entry and attempted to choke the occupant but was thrown out of the house. The man then tried to get inside by kicking the front door but fled on foot when he heard officers arriving, police said.

Police said officers later spotted a suspicious person matching the assailant's description and detained the individual.

The "assailant was detained but immediately became hostile and combative," police said. "He did not respond to minimal use of force."

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Police said officers eventually were able to handcuff the man and sent him to a hospital for a mental health evaluation. No injuries were reported, police said.

Police did not identify the man but said further information will be released once he is charged.

Police noted the suspect and victim did not know each other.

This article originally published at Windsor Locks home invasion suspect remains in hospital on exam hold, police say.
Nov. 1A woman is behind bars six years after she allegedly stabbed a man to death at a home in Southeast Albuquerque.

Antionette Hernandez, 29, was arrested Thursday and charged with an open count of murder and criminal trespass in the 2019 killing of 38-year-old Eric Lewis. Hernandez does not yet have an attorney.

Lewis' stabbing went unsolved for six years after the detective on the case was promoted to sergeant, according to court records. The case was assigned to an investigator for review before it was transferred to a homicide detective in April 2025.

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Prosecutors on Friday filed a motion to keep Hernandez behind bars until trial, saying she "exhibited violent and dangerous behavior that threatens the safety of the community."

"The Court will be unable to ensure that the Defendant is not possessing knives, and not threatening, or hurting more innocent people," the motion states.

Police were conducting a patrol on Sept. 27, 2019, of condemned houses in Southeast Albuquerque to ensure that people were not living inside them, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.

Around 11:30 a.m., police entered a home that had been condemned in the 400 block of Utah SE, south of Zuni, and noticed "a wad of hair on the floor and a strange smell," the complaint states.

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Officers saw bloody shoe prints throughout the kitchen floor and found Lewis' body, according to the complaint. An autopsy determined Lewis had been fatally stabbed.

The following day, police were called to the home again after it was reported that a woman  later identified as Hernandez  was taking items from the house, the complaint states.

Hernandez told police she was homeless and had been staying at the house for some time, even though she knew the building was red-tagged. She told police she returned to retrieve her belongings, according to the complaint. Hernandez was not arrested at that time.

A few months later, police were called twice on Hernandez, once in December for threatening to stab a woman on the city bus and again in January 2020 for allegedly stabbing a man in the leg, the complaint states.

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In August 2020, blood drops found on the kitchen floor came back as a match for Hernandez, according to the complaint. In February 2021, Crime Stoppers put out on billboards and a flyer that Hernandez was being sought by police.

Officers attempted to interview Hernandez soon after she was brought into the hospital, but she was "extremely intoxicated and very uncooperative," the complaint states.

Sometime after that interview, in February 2021, an investigator watched the body camera footage from when police found Hernandez in the home the day after the homicide.

The investigator saw, in the video, that the soles of Hernandez's shoes showed a "striking resemblance" to the bloody shoe prints left in the kitchen, according to the complaint. The investigator also noticed Hernandez had multiple injuries on her right hand.

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There is no further investigative documentation in the complaint until April 1, 2025, after the case was reassigned to another homicide detective. The detective went to the Metropolitan Detention Center to interview Hernandez, who was jailed in a separate case.

The complaint states the detective took DNA from Hernandez and she denied being involved in Lewis' death but said she carried a knife for protection.

The DNA test results came back showing Hernandez's DNA "could not be excluded" as a match to the DNA taken from the crime scene, according to the complaint.
United States President Donald Trump is set to host Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa for talks in Washington this month, marking the first visit by a Syrian president to the US capital in more than eight decades, Al Jazeera reported. According to the report, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said during a speech in Bahrain on Sunday that the visit would help open a "new chapter" in relations between Damascus and Washington. "President Ahmed al-Sharaa will be at the White House at the start of November," al-Shaibani said. "Of course, this is a historic visit. It is the first visit by a Syrian president to the White House in more than 80 years." Al-Shaibani said the agenda for the talks would include "the lifting of sanctions and opening of a new chapter between the United States and Syria," adding that Damascus seeks "to establish a very strong partnership between the two countries." Citing Axios, Al Jazeera reported that US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said al-Sharaa is expected to sign an agreement during his visit to join an international US-led alliance against the ISIL (ISIS) group. Al-Sharaa, who took power from Bashar al-Assad in December, has been working to rebuild Syria's ties with world powers that had distanced themselves during Assad's rule. He previously met Trump in Saudi Arabia in May, in what was the first encounter between the two nations' leaders in 25 years. The meeting took place on the sidelines of Trump's talks with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders and was described as a significant development for a Syria emerging from over five decades of Assad family rule, Al Jazeera reported. In September, al-Sharaa also addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York, signalling his efforts to bring Syria back into global diplomatic circles. Al-Sharaa, who once led Syria's offshoot of al-Qaeda, broke away from the network a decade ago and later clashed with ISIL. The Syrian leader previously had a USD 10 million US bounty on his head and was imprisoned by American forces during the Iraq conflict. The report added that his planned visit comes as Trump urges Middle Eastern allies to work toward lasting peace in the region, following the ceasefire and captives exchange between Israel and Hamas aimed at ending Israel's two-year war in Gaza. Syria and Israel are also holding talks to reach an agreement that could halt Israeli air strikes on Syrian territory and lead to the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Syria, according to Al Jazeera. (ANI)
Nov. 2Every day is a struggle, a tearful Mike Hanson told the Montana State Board of Pardons and Parole earlier this month.

Jessica Farbstein, the woman who had drunkenly struck and killed his 15-year-old daughter Brooke Hanson in May 2021 had just finished addressing the board.

"She didn't just kill my daughter that night, she killed my whole family," Mike said. "We're not the same family we used to be. It's difficult trying to hold the pieces together."

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Farbstein pleaded guilty to felony vehicular homicide while under the influence in Flathead County District Court in 2022 and subsequently received a 30-year sentence with 15 years suspended. Farbstein is eligible for parole in December, which was why Mike and his wife, Jessie Hanson, were on a Zoom call from the Flathead County Attorney's Office on Oct. 23.

They hadn't had enough time to heal, the couple said. The parole board agreed.

"We're stuck with an urn that we take every year to snag salmon, and we put Brooke by a creek," Mike told them, describing how much Brooke loved to fish. "A cold urn next to the cold water. And as a family we grieve."

Brooke was walking with friends to go fishing the night she died. Poles in hand, they walked single file along the road in the Hanson's hometown of Columbia Falls. Farbstein, now in her 40s, struck Brooke about 9:40 p.m., knocking her into a ditch. Then she drove off.

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A Whitefish Police officer pulled over Farbstein's blue minivan soon after, describing it as suffering "obvious damage" to the front passenger side and headlight. Farbstein told the officer she had hit a mailbox, court documents said.

"Did I hit a person?" she asked next, according to court documents.

During the parole board hearing, Farbstein described the programs she had completed while in prison, telling the board that she intends to remain sober upon release and move in with a sister out of state.

"I know that I can never drink and drive again, I can never drink again, and I agree with you that it is a really big promise," Farbstein said through tears during the hearing. "... I have the commitment to making that promise and working every day on maintaining my sobriety and never making a choice like this again."

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Board member Brad Newman lauded Farbstein's goals, but said she needed to do more work on herself.

"These are choices in conduct; they're not accidents," Newman said. "Part of her recovery, part of her progress, is recognizing that."

For Brooke's family and friends, the parole board's denial means they have more time to heal before Farbstein is allowed to rebuild her own life.

"Hearing [Farbstein] talk about everything she's been accomplishing and all the plans she has for her future was painful, because Brooke doesn't get that chance," Alizia Henson, Brooke's friend, said after the hearing. She was with Brooke when Farbstein struck her.

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The decision gives them a sense of relief knowing justice for Brooke is still being served, she said.

"I felt relieved that she wasn't granted parole and I felt really confident in the parole board and the [Montana] Department of Corrections that they were taking this seriously," Jessie Hanson, Brooke's mom, said after the hearing.

She knows that there is a day when Farbstein will get out, she said. She just wants enough time to heal before then.

Farbstein will continue serving her sentence at the former Riverside Special Needs Unit, which is housing inmates from the Montana Women's Prison. She is eligible for an administrative review next October.

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or [email protected].
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A 33-year-old woman is dead and a man was charged after a shooting early Sunday morning in northeast Columbus.

Man killed in University District stabbing

Police said reports of a shooting came in at 3:34 a.m. from the 1100 block of Wildwood Avenue in the St. Marys area. Officers found Shakeilah White with a gunshot wound and had her taken to a hospital. She was in critical condition when medics began treating her but she was pronounced dead at 4:10 a.m.

CPD investigators said they have yet to determine what led up to Whites shooting death but that a man was detained at the scene. He has been charged with tampering with evidence and other weapons-related charges.

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Anyone with additional details on this shooting is asked to contact police at 614-645-4730 or contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
A woman in Kentucky expecting to open a box full of medicine instead found a pair of human arms and a number of human fingers on ice.

Shocked by her discovery, she called 911. Scott Daniel, the coroner for Christian County, Kentucky, traveled to her home to retrieve the human remains, the New York Times reports.

Daniel took the twos arms and four fingers to the local morgue. On Tuesday, a courier removed the remains, though its unclear where they were taken.

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About a day after receiving the digits, the woman finally received her medicine.

The package was sent from Nashville, and was supposed to be delivered to a school or hospital in the city for surgical training, Daniel told the Times.

A woman in Kentucky received a package she thought was her medicine, but instead found it contained human body parts intended for a surgical training program (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The parts inside the package were from four different individuals.

The courier who delivered the package, or woman who received them, have not been identified.

In response to a question about the source of the body parts, Daniel said he "didn't ask."

I mean, Id assume, obviously, I think they came from cadavers that had been donated," he told the Times.

Daniel said he believes the woman who received the parts "did the right thing" by calling 911 and reporting the discovery.
NEED TO KNOW

Elizabeth Lochtefeld had only recently told friends about the new man in her life, Thomas Toolan III, when she was found murdered in her own home

Toolan was accused of her brutal murder and officially charged months later

The former financial executive was convicted of first-degree murder in 2007

Elizabeth Lochtefeld was, by all accounts, in the prime of her life. After founding a New York consulting firm early on in her career, she sold her shares in the company and settled in Nantucket, Mass. At 44, she was single, dating and had seemingly found Mr. Right.

However, weeks later, on Oct. 25, 2004, she was found murdered in her home.



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A 2004 PEOPLE cover story detailed how Lochtefeld "proudly introduced her handsome new boyfriend," 37-year-old Thomas Toolan III, to close friends in early October of that year.

Gene Mahon, a photographer who met Toolan that night, told PEOPLE of Lochtefeld: "I could see the love in her eyes. I was happy for her."

Lochtefeld had met Toolan  a former financial executive based in New York City  the month prior.

People Magazine cover, November 15, 2004

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Her friend Sara Boyce, an art gallery owner, told PEOPLE: "She was giddy with excitement. She was saying, 'He's so great, he's so smart, he's preppy.' "

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But Lochtefeld began privately expressing reservations to her friends within weeks of their relationship beginning to blossom, telling some that her new beau was already "talking rings," and she hoped to slow the relationship down a bit.

While neighbors described him as gentle and kind, at least one woman who had dated Toolan years prior told PEOPLE he was "a Jekyll and Hyde," and could turn in an instant.

By Oct. 22, she had decided to end the relationship, traveling from Nantucket to N.Y.C. to break things off. But she would later tell her brother Peter that Toolan became violent when she broke the news, even attempting to keep her from leaving his apartment.

Michael Appleton/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Nantucket Police Officer Janine Mauldin walks outside the house on Nantucket where Elizabeth Lochtefeld was murdered. Nantucket Police Officer Janine Mauldin walks outside the house on Nantucket where Elizabeth Lochtefeld was murdered.

She managed to slip out of Toolan's home at 4 a.m. the next day, Oct. 23, while he was sleeping, and headed back to Nantucket, stopping at the police station on the way home to ask about a restraining order.

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"She said she had broken up with him and wanted no part of him," Nantucket police chief William Pittman told PEOPLE at the time. "The officer said she was creeped out by the guy, but also that he could be a sweet guy too."

Lochtefeld then went to stay with her brother for a couple of days, fearing Toolan might come after her. Toolan, meanwhile, tried to board a flight to Nantucket but was temporarily detained when security found that he had a kitchen knife on him.



Undeterred, the next day he caught another flight, landing in Nantucket and then heading to a boating supply store, where he purchased a 5-inch diving knife.

By then, on Oct. 25, Lochtefeld had left her brother's house and gone to her own home, where she packed up some of Toolan's belongings and shipped them from a local mailing center.

Before she returned home, she told her landlord, Barbara Kotalac, who lived next door, that she planned to pick up her nephew at school at 1 p.m.

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Kotalac would later explain that she spoke to a man who appeared to be Toolan, who approached the house. Hours later, she noticed Lochtefeld's car was still in the driveway after 1 p.m. and, remembering that she had mentioned picking up her nephew, she called Lochtefeld's brother Peter.

Shortly after, Lochtefeld's body was found in the house, with a law enforcement source telling PEOPLE there was evidence of a struggle, and blood stains found on the wall inside. She was stabbed nearly two dozen times.

Kotalac, for her part, told PEOPLE: "I didn't hear a thing. That's what bothers me the most."

AP Photo/Vincent DeWitt Thomas Toolan III being escorted to Nantucket Superior Court during his murder trial in Nantucket, Mass., in June 2007. Thomas Toolan III being escorted to Nantucket Superior Court during his murder trial in Nantucket, Mass., in June 2007.

Several hours later, police arrested Toolan for driving drunk in a rental car on a highway in Rhode Island. Later, he was charged with Lochtefeld's murder, which was, at the time, the first on the island of Nantucket in more than 20 years.

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Lochtefeld, meanwhile, was remembered by friends and family as a woman who had plenty of life left to live before it was tragically cut short.

As her friend Mahon described to PEOPLE, "She was looking forward to her whole life. She was waiting for it to come to her."

Toolan was sentenced to life without parole for the first-degree murder of Lochtefeld in her cottage following a 2007 trial. However, following that guilty verdict, Toolan's conviction was reversed on appeal in 2011 by the Supreme Judicial Court, which cited flaws in the jury selection, and a new trial was ordered.

A second trial in 2013 also ended with a guilty verdict, and, following his second appeal in 2022, the Massachusetts state supreme court upheld Toolan's murder conviction.



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Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort and support whenever someone needs them, but one special therapy dog in Florida became a hero after helping a woman wake up from a medically induced coma.

Priscilla Timmons had been given a 10% chance of survival after suffering a massive pulmonary edema, or blood clot in the lungs, in March 2025, but she made a miraculous recovery after a grueling 21-day-long stay in the hospital. Now that she's fully recovered, Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines held a press conference to celebrate Priscilla, her medical team, and the therapy doga Golden Retriever named Scrunchiewho helped change her life.

Wow, it's absolutely incredible, and so inspiring, to see Priscilla's epic recovery. She is an absolute warrior! Of course, the doctors, nurses, and family memebrs who supoorted her also played a massive role in her rehabilitation, but her story can't be told without mentioning Scrunchie and Honey Crisp.

Related: Hero German Shepherd Rescues New Hampshire Toddler After She Wandered Into the Woods

These Golden Retriever therapy dogs visit the Florida hospital on a regular basis, but they've never had a interaction as special as Scrunchie's and Priscilla's. After spending several days in a medically induced coma due to organ failure, the resilient woman (and dog lover) became so motivated to pet her furry visitor that she actually moved her hand!

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"I then felt her paw, and that's when I was able to move my fingers and lift my hand off of the bed and into the air, Priscilla shared at the press conference. As a huge dog lover, this gave me all the motivation to reach out to her as much as possible.

Prior to this, Priscilla was aware of voices around her but was unable to move, speak, or open her eyes. It's so moving to think that she got the comfort of a dog when she needed it the most!

Therapy Dog Heroes

Therapy dogs aren't trained to assist in any medical task, like waking someone up from a coma, but their intuition lets them comfort, uplift, and motivate just about anyone. Sometimes, they're simply in the right place at the right time!

Some therapy dogs thrive in a school setting, while others visit hospital patients who need a smile. Many of the gentlest animals visit senior homes, too! Even though therapy dogs don't have specific tasjs they're trained to do, they do have the friendly and loving demeanor to help others feel loved, too.

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Scrunchie and Honey Crisp are the perfect examples! They became friends with Priscilla throughout her stay, and even reunited with her at the celebratory press conference, where they were welcomed like the heroes they are!



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This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Nov 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Working-class voters see Democrats as woke, weak and out-of-touch and six in 10 have a negative view of the party, concluded a frank internal assessment of the hole the party finds itself in.

The nine-month, 21-state research project is the latest in a wave of post-mortems and data dives aimed at solving the Democratic Partys electoral challenges after their sweeping losses in 2024. It was funded by Democracy Matters, a nonprofit aligned with flagship Democratic super PAC American Bridge 21st Century, and backed by months of polling, dozens of focus groups and message testing.

American Bridges project focused exclusively on working-class voters, shedding light on a once-core constituency for Democrats thats drifted away from the party over the last decade. And the initial feedback is grim: Working-class voters dont see Democrats as strong or patriotic, while Republicans represent safety and strength for them. These voters can't name what Democrats stand for, other than being against [Donald] Trump, according to the report.

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The Democratic brand is suffering, as working-class voters see the party as too focused on social issues and not nearly focused enough on the economic issues that impact every one, every day, the report said.

We lost people we used to get [in 2024], so why did we lose them? Why dont we go ask them, said Mitch Landrieu, co-chair of Democracy Matters and senior adviser to then-President Joe Biden. They said what they thought about us and it was painful to hear  They feel forgotten, left out, and that their issues are not prioritized by the Democratic Party or the Republican Party.

He added, They want somebody focused first, second and third, on their economic stress.

Landrieu and other aides will brief congressional members on the findings in the coming weeks. Theyre also airing one of the ads they tested as a part of the project in Virginia, boosting Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor. The ad , backed by a six-figure buy, features a 70-year-old woman who said she still works and lives paycheck to paycheck.

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Other center-left groups post-mortems drew similar conclusions about the depths of the problem Democrats face in repairing their brand , as well as urging their party to side-step social issues and prioritize economic concerns . But even as the report calls for a proactive policy agenda, its not clear what that detailed policy agenda might be.

The project was conducted by Impact Research, GBAO and HIT Strategies over a 9 month period, surveying 3,000 working-class voters from across the political spectrum. It also included 39 focus groups with 400 working-class voters and other research.

The report argues Democrats still have a path to regain the support of blue-collar voters they have been losing to Republicans, from resetting their perceived priorities to leaning into issues that voters trust them on, including health care and housing. They point to Trumps failure to bring down costs since resuming office this year as proof that this group is very much up for grabs, said Margie Omero, a Democratic pollster who worked on the project.

They are not convinced that what they are getting from Republicans is alleviating the stress theyre experiencing and Democrats can win them over, said Molly Murphy, another Democratic pollster who also worked on the project.

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But warning signs remain for Democrats heading into next years midterms.

Working-class voters dont fully recognize the extent of the harm Trumps budget bill is causing, the report said. Instead, they are incredulous as to why Republicans would seemingly make a bad system worse. The report acknowledged that Republicans start off on stronger ground on these issues, but Democrats can reclaim them when they vividly illustrate how their plans differ from Republicans, particularly on health care.

Trumps job approval rating among the surveyed working-class voters, who backed him by 7 points in 2024, is even. Still, these same voters only gave Republicans a 2-point edge heading into 2026, per the data from Democracy Matters.

Democrats must focus on affordability, the report emphasized, though its messaging suggestions clash with the strategy of progressives, differing on who to blame for economic strain. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) drew enormous crowds when they barnstormed the country this spring on their Fighting Oligarchy tour, attacking billionaires and the 1 percent.

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But in the report, their surveys found a candidate focused on taking on big corporations and the wealthy received 43 percent, while a candidate focused on fixing the economy so those who work hard can get ahead earned 52 percent.

Not one person in all of our focus groups mentioned the word oligarchy, Landrieu said.

These respondents aspire to wealth, Landrieu added, but absolutely felt like wealthy people who were using the tax system to not pay their fair share was a very serious problem.

Murphy said their data prompted them to come out of this wanting to use a little bit of caution when talking about the economy. Not to be prescriptive in saying, dont say take on billionaires or use populist messaging, she added, but [working-class voters] need to know Democrats respect people who build wealth, and were not looking to punish them. .

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The report identified two areas of particular weakness for Democrats: transgender rights and immigration. Both topics dominated Republican messaging in 2024, particularly Trumps ad that included the tagline , Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you.

The research argued the strongest Dem messages on trans issues focus on keeping the government out of medical professionals decisions, followed by prioritizing the economy and it urged candidates: Dont say Republicans need to stop attacking LGBT people. Instead, say everyone  Republicans and Democrats  need to stop obsessing over this issue.

But it also found one-third of independents would be much more likely to support Democrats if they said transgender women should not play in womens sports, the second highest testing message in swaying these voters.

Democrats have split on how to talk about transgender issues. Some, like California Gov. Gavin Newsom, broke with his party to criticize allowing transgender athletes to participate in female college and youth sports, calling it an issue of fairness on his podcast last March. In contrast, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker blasted do-nothing Democrats in a speech last spring for blam[ing] our losses on our defense of Black people, of trans kids, of immigrants  instead of their own lack of guts and gumption.

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The report included a detailed media consumption study, finding that working-class voters are consuming less news and using YouTube and playing video games more than the overall electorate. They rely on YouTube, TikTok and Facebook for news, and theyre more likely to use TikTok specifically for news than the overall electorate.

They also are constantly tuned into audio throughout the day, be it radio, streaming or podcasts.

We heard time and again in the groups that these are not low-info voters and theyre not traditional news readers, but theyre getting inundated with information, said Ryan Berni, a Democratic consultant who advised on the project. Its almost a slur to call them low-info voters. Theyre getting a lot, but not from Democrat-aligned sources.


Helicopters often have a bad reputation for safety or performance, which is generally unfair.

However, some helicopters deserve to be flagged up for their failings. Unfortunately, the ten aircraft in this story have let the side down and are generally poorly designed, used for the wrong role, overly ambitious, or some combination of all three. In defence of some of these accursed choppers, they were all ahead of their time, and often pioneered new technologies. Lets meet the 10 worst helicopters:

10: Petroczy, Karman and Zurovec tethered helicopters

Petroczy, Karman and Zurovec tethered helicopters

Today, small uncrewed drones powered by rotors or fans are a common sight on the battlefield. In addition to the attack role, their primary mission is carrying out battlefield reconnaissance, and its fascinating to learn that this basic idea is over 100 years old. However, it took a very long time for this technology to mature.

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Petroczy, Karman and Zurovec were engineers who worked developing observation helicopters for the Austro-Hungarian empire both before and during the First World War. At this time, the primary method of aerial observation on the battlefield was the balloon. Hydrogen balloons were dangerous, and Petroczy, Karman and Zurovec believed they had a superior alternative.

10: Petroczy, Karman and Zurovec tethered helicopters

Petroczy, Karman and Zurovec tethered helicopters

The PKZ helicopters relied on twin contra-rotating rotors to counter torque. The PKZ-1 was powered by a single Austro-Daimler electric motor, the PKZ-2 initially by three Gnome rotary engines of 75 kW (100 hp). When the PKZ-2 was found to be underpowered, the engines were replaced with le Rhone rotary engines of 89 kW (120 hp).

On 10 June 1918, the PKZ-2 was demonstrated to officials, despite Zurovecs doubts about the reliability of the le Rhone engines. He was right to worry, as when the engines spluttered out, the tether handlers understandably panicked, causing a crash-landing, damaging the craft and snapping the rotors.

9: Hiller YH-32 Hornet

Hiller YH-32 Hornet

Helicopters are complex machines, but replacing the transmission system and piston (and later turbine) engines with tip ramjets created a far lighter, more straightforward solution. Indeed, the Hornet enjoyed 90 horsepower (68kW) from two ramjets mounted on the rotor tips, which each only weighed 13 pounds (5.9kg).

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The ramjet is the simplest form of jet propulsion as it doesnt require fans, just the speed of the air itself. Unfortunately, ramjets are also incredibly noisy and thirsty. Though its terrible range made the H-32 an impractical vehicle for military operations, it did much to pioneer US helicopter gunships.

9: Hiller YH-32 Hornet

Hiller YH-32 Hornet

Intriguingly, some consider the YH-32A, nicknamed the Sally Rand (as it was "stripped to the bare essentials" like the Burlesque performer Sally Rand), the first helicopter gunship. Three YH-32As were tested in 1957 with various armaments including combinations of rockets, guided missiles, land-mine detectors, and even a 75mm recoilless cannon.

Despite the inherent issues of tip-jets, many tip-jet helicopter types have been built (or seriously considered), including the Avimech Dragonfly DF-1, the Dornier Do 32, Dornier Do 132, the Fiat 7002, Percival P.74, Sud-Ouest Ariel, Sud-Ouest Djinn and VFW-Fokker H3.

8: Hughes XH-17

Hughes XH-17

The XH-17 also featured tip-jet-driven rotors. But this point, any similarity with Hillers rather dainty helicopter ends, as the XH-17 was a massive beast. Starting life as a rotor test rig under the auspices of the Kellett Aircraft Corporation, the XH-17 ducted bleed air from the compressor sections of two GE J35 jet engines.

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After travelling 65 feet to the ends of the oversized rotor blades, fuel was added to the airflow and ignited, producing four distinct jet plumes in the trailing edgeand a noise signature like an AC/DC concert, complaints being received from eight miles away.

8: Hughes XH-17

Hughes XH-17

Facing financial issues, Kellett sold the XH-17 and their interest to the Hughes Aircraft Company. The first intentional flight took place, in 1952, when the XH-17 bounced wildly up and down. After some tinkering, Hughes managed to resolve the control issues, and the XH-17 entered an intensive 10-hour test programme, at which point the rotors fatigue life was used up.

Although there was a proposal for a four-bladed production version of the XH-17, the XH-28, the Army eventually decided not to pursue it. There was presumably not a massive requirement to move tanks across the battlefield at 80mph while being heard by everyone for many miles around.

7: Percival P.74

Percival P.74

1950s were a time of great advances in aviation; the Percival P.74 was responsible for none of them. Looking as if the companys designers were tasked to make a workable helicopter from a drawing by a three-year-old child, it featured a bulbous fuselage with tiny wheels and a comically out of proportion tail rotor.

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Presumably feeling there was nothing left to lose it was decided to power it by using tip-jets to drive the rotors and control their pitch with trailing edge ailerons. The observant reader will notice both these features have failed to make it into widespread production today...

7: Percival P.74

Percival P.74

To provide air for the tip jets, two Napier Oryx gas turbines drove air compressors, the combined exhausts from both turbine and compressor then being ducted to the rotor tips. As someone had decided to put the engines in the belly this involved large ducts of hot air going up either side of the cabin, splitting it in two.

They probably kept it warm, though. More worryingly, the only access to the cockpit was through the gap between these ducts, the sole door being at the back of the aircraft. This rather comical loser should not detract from Percivals better aircraft, like the excellent, and exceptionally beautiful Mew Gull racer of the 1930s.

6: Agusta A106

Agusta A106

When the British Westland Wasp carried the rather alarming WE177A nuclear depth charge, it needed to remove its doors to meet the range requirement. Despite this, the Westland Wasp avoids being on this list because it is probably the only Anti-Submarine Warfare helicopter to have damaged a submarine, making you wonder what the rest of them have been doing with their time.

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With a maximum take-off mass lower than the Wasps empty weight, the A106 was truly small; at 1400kg fully loaded, it weighs less than most cars today. This weight was achieved by only providing seating for one pilot, while two Mk 44 torpedoes could be hung under the fuselage, at this point, you must ask how much of the 800kg payload remained available for fuel.

6: Agusta A106

Agusta A106

The absence of any other crew would have limited the A106 to carrying its payload where it was told to and then dropping it. Hopefully someone is available to tell the pilot how to get back as well, as photos of the cockpit show it to be remarkably lacking in avionics.

Its at this point you start to wonder if Agusta realised they had created a crewed version of the QH-50 DASH torpedo-carrying drone, which had already entered service two years before the 106s first flight in 1965. In the end only the two prototype A106s were built.

5: Westland 30

Westland 30

Its the late 70s, and Westland is having success with its Lynx maritime attack helicopter. The next obvious move was to build on that by making a civilian version for the offshore and VIP market. Obvious, that is, if youre not familiar with the Lynx, which is an ergonomic and audible nightmare, with average endurance, and a maintenance hours per-flying-hour problem.

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The Westland 30-100 used the same rotors, engines and transmission as the Lynx but mated it with a boxier fuselage which could apparently seat 22. Which would have been a claustrophobic experience if sitting in the back of a 9-passenger configured Lynx is anything to go by.

5: Westland 30

Westland 30

The Westland 30 was also a heavy aircraft of almost 6000kg, a figure the Lynx wouldnt get close to until the Mk 8 in the mid-90s. This didnt do anything for the performance, the early Gem engines not being up to the task. Consequently, the WG30 was poor in range, power, and operating costs. On the plus side, it meant it rarely flew with more than about 10 people in the back, which must have made it quite roomy.

After two fatal crashes in 1988 and 1989 the fleet was grounded. Meanwhile, operators in the USA seemed no more enamoured of them with issues around the auto-stabilisation system, the maintenance levels required, and the lacklustre of customer support, issues that wouldnt have surprised any Lynx operator.

4: Mil Mi-10 'Harke'

Mil Mi-10 'Harke'

The Mi-6 combined a brilliantly eccentric aesthetic with being the worlds largest production helicopter. It was a truly glorious machine, and the lack of a nose-mounted conservatory in its successor, the Mi-26, leaves us all the poorer. The Mi-10, on the other hand, was a flying crane derivative of the Hook, which failed to live up to the glory of its older sister.

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Removing the bottom half of the fuselage the resulting gap between the aircraft and the ground was filled with a stalky 3.75 metre tall, 6-metre-wide undercarriage. For reasons to do with helicopter aerodynamics, the right-hand legs were 300mm shorter than the left. Having built possibly the most ridiculous-looking landing gear known to man, there must have been some disappointment when it was found to shimmy while ground taxiing.

4: Mil Mi-10 'Harke'

Mil Mi-10 'Harke'

It was discovered that underslung loads were problematic due to the poor view from the cockpit even when using the CCTV system. Realising the requirement to carry a bus or prefab building underneath the fuselage wasnt very useful, the later Mi-10K featured a two-metre shorter undercarriage and a second aft-facing cockpit underneath the first.

This made it much better for carrying underslung loads up to around 11,000kg in weight. Or about what you could get inside a Mi-6. This probably explains why only 55 or so Mi-10s were built in total; there are only so many times you need to move something you cant get in or under a hook.

3: Yakovlev Yak-24 'Horse'

Yakovlev Yak-24 'Horse'

As part of a Stalin inspired post-war rush to revive helicopter development, Yakovlev were invited to design a heavy lift helicopter. The task seemed simple: make a boxy fuselage to put everything in and put a rotor at each end to lift it off the ground. As with most things helicopter-related, it turns out nothing is that simple.

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Power was to be provided by the same Shvetsov Ash-82V engine, gearbox, and rotors as used in the Mi-4 Hare, except two of them. Presumably, due to sanity issues, one was placed just above the loading ramp, and the other was tilted over and squeezed behind the cockpit.

3: Yakovlev Yak-24 'Horse'

Yakovlev Yak-24 'Horse'

To stop the blades from clashing, a synchronisation shaft connected the two gearboxes and allowed power to be transferred front to rear, or vice versa, in the event of an engine failure. Outside of this list, this has not proved a popular configuration.

The first indication that everything may not be right with the Horse came during ground testing when the rear rotor vibrated itself and its gearbox free and committed seppuku by ripping the fuselage apart. Further trials revealed that behaving like a tumble dryer with a brick in it was a feature of the Yak-24 that it might be an idea to design it out.

2: Bristol Belvedere

Bristol Belvedere

Failing to sell the helicopter to the Royal Navy as an Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft, Bristol didnt see any reason to radically change their design. So, they didnt and sold it to the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a transport helicopter instead, despite a massively tall undercarriage designed to accommodate torpedoes. To be fair the RAF dont seem to have thought to ask for any changes either.

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This left troops trying to board through a door four feet off the ground as the fuselage was still high enough to allow torpedoes to be loaded on the underside. Which turned out not to be a major requirement in the jungles of Borneo due to the paucity of submarines. Taking a leaf out of Yakovlevs book, Bristol put the engines at either end of the cabin.

2: Bristol Belvedere

Bristol Belvedere

Going one further, they positioned the rear one in the fuselage, precluding the use of a loading ramp. Meanwhile, the one at the other end blocked access to the cockpit, which was probably a smart move but was ultimately defeated by installing a bulge on the left of the fuselage.

To make matters more interesting for the pilot the engines were started with AVPIN a substance which helpfully doesnt need oxygen to burn and will happily do so if mishandled. This left them with the choice of squeezing back past the on-fire engine compartment or jumping to the ground and breaking an ankle.

1: De Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle

De Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle

This is almost definitely a helicopter and was evaluated by the US Army as part of their plans to kill their own soldiers in new and imaginative ways. Eschewing such fripperies as a fuselage, seats, or actual controls, the HZ-1 was steered by the pilot leaning in the direction he wanted to go.

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For those wondering if they can build one in their own garage, the most complicated bit, the engine, was a converted Mercury outboard motor so the answer is probably yes. This drove two 15 diameter contra-rotating rotor blades that, in two fingers to occupational health and safety, were placed below the sacrificial offering.

1: De Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle

De Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle

In the defence of the HZ-1, in trials, soldiers learnt to fly it with only twenty minutes of instruction before speeding across the landscape at up to 75mph. Although, with a range of only 15 miles its not immediately apparent that the turn of speed was particularly useful.

In the cons column, the HZ-1 suffered two (apparently non-fatal) accidents where the contra-rotating blades clipped each other and stopped working. More worryingly, NACA was unable to repeat the phenomena in their wind tunnel, proving that even rocket scientists dont understand helicopters. Combined with a moment of sanity, the US Army realised there wasnt a lot of utility to the personal helicopter idea, which led to the end of the programme.

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If the vote proceeds, it would approve Perez as WZO chairman from November until April 30, 2028, and for Hagoel to resume his chairmanship from May 1, 2028.

After the previous World Zionist Congress collapsed due to a Likud faction's proposal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son Yair Netanyahu as an executive, a new WZC agreement that will likely not welcome Netanyahu is being voted on from Sunday morning until Tuesday.

Still, right-leaning slates have called for a delay in the vote to fill World Zionist Organization positions and for a return to the negotiation table.

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The WZC proposal opened to voting at 9 a.m., with a deal that didn't name the prime minister's son but would elect two members to the Executive on behalf of "Likud in the National Institutions," a provision that would make it unlikely the prime minister's son would be appointed.

A WZO source said that this provision made the vote a referendum on Yair Netanyahu's inclusion on the executive, with the other option being to return to negotiate with Culture Minister Miki Zohar's Likud faction rather than WZO chairman Yaakov Hagoel's faction.

Chairman of the World Zionist Organization Yaakov Hagoel poses for a picture outside the World Zionist Organization offices in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Collapse of the original agreement, calls to delay the vote

World Mizrachi, Eretz Hakodesh, Shas, Aish Ha'am, Israel 365 are among the slates calling for a delay in the vote.

Mizrachi and Aish Ha'am are calling for a broader, more inclusive agreement that includes all slates and factions, while Shas, Eretz Hakodesh, and Israel 365 are calling for a return to the original Wednesday agreement.

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Several WZO sources claimed that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had pushed for right-wing factions to cancel the vote.

The collapse of the Wednesday agreement due to Zohar's proposal to place Yair Netanyahu on the WZO Executive favored the minister's Likud faction, but the new agreement would see his rival, WZO chairman and World Likud head Yaakov Hagoel, share the WZO chairmanship with World Mizrachi CEO Rabbi Doron Perez.

If the vote proceeds, it would approve Perez as WZO chairman from November until April 30, 2028, and for Hagoel to resume his chairmanship from May 1, 2028. WZO vice chairman and MERCAZ senior representative Dr. Yizhar Hess would retain his position.

The WZO executive would include Bella Lvovich, Masha Lubelsky, Yair Lootsteen, Jackie Levy, Ifat Ovadia-Luski, Nechemia Malinowitz, Yishai Merling, Dror Morag, Hagay Mayorek, Naama Mashinsky, Silvina Sosna, Charles Kaufman, Rob Kurtz, David Kornfeld, Ronit Snir, Eliran Shmuel-Chai, Yaron Shavit, Israel Schwebel, Carol Ann Shwartz, Yoav Teeni, and Itzhak Dahan.

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In another rotation, Yaakov Derai, Anat Vidor, Dina Hahn, Silvio Joskowicz, Hagoel, and Netanel Perez would be on the executive until April 20, 2028. Sergio Edelstein, Shimon Ohayon, Mauricio Balter, Tammy Gottlieb, Gael Grunewald, and Avraham Greenvald would be on the executive from May 1, 2028.

While Keren Hayesod chairman Sam Grundwerg reportedly said he was not interested in serving another term, he consented to a short extension of his time in office, as the executive said it had not succeeded in forming committees to propose candidates. During the extension, the executive would search for chair candidates.

WZO comptroller Steven Stav would be reappointed if the vote passes.

Yesh Atid MK Meir Cohen and a Likud member are set to chair the Jewish National Fund in a rotation, which the JNF is set to vote on in its own general assembly. Cohen had already announced that he would be leaving the Knesset with the blessing of Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid.

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The return of Hagoel to the WZO chairmanship and Executive would mark a dramatic return for the World Likud head after his faction had been excluded from a WZC coalition agreement in favor of a deal with Likud Israel head and Culture Minister Miki Zohar.

Zohar and Hagoel have been locked in an internal Likud dispute over the leadership of the World Likud, with Zohar demanding elections last Friday. Hagoel's camp had rejected elections, ostensibly because rushing elections before the WZC would damage the democratic process.

Both sides accused the other of delaying elections throughout the year out of fear of losing, but sources have indicated that Hagoel's position had weakened within the Likud.

The dispute between Likud factions and the failure to hold elections led to a situation in which slates were negotiating separately with the Likud factions and coming to separate agreements with them. Sources within the center and left camps stated that Likud had less leverage at the negotiating table because of the divided front.

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While a coalition was reached with Zohar's camp, the deal was scuttled on Wednesday night when the minister sought to advance Yair Netanyahu to become a WZO executive. Slates like Yesh Atid and MERCAZ drew a red line for the appointment of the prime minister's son.

Perez had been set to rotate the WZO chairmanship with a Yesh Atid representative in the previous agreement.
Nearly two decades after the murder of Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy in 2007for which American exchange student Amanda Knox was infamously convicted and later exonerateda new suspect has emerged in the case.

The name of the new person of interest has not yet been released, nor have Italian police decided whether they will officially reopen the investigation or not. According to Sky News, the tip came from former prosecutor Giuliano Mignini, the original investigator on the case, who first accused Knox, now 38, and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito of the crime.

There are indications that this person may be implicated. Its someone Ive never considered before, Mignini, 75, told Italian newspaper La Stampa. Mignini claims that the person in question fled Italy a few days after Kercher was found with her throat slashed in the apartment she shared with Knox on November 2, 2007.

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Knox and Sollecitos trial was a years-long saga which saw them convicted and acquitted of murder two different times. Even after they were fully exonerated, Knox was brought back into court in Italy in 2024 when slander charges stemming from her initial false confessionin which she accused her former boss, bar owner Patrick Lumumba, of the crimewere reopened. She was reconvicted of that crime, a decision that was upheld in January of 2025. Another suspect, Rudy Guede, was found guilty of sexually assaulting and murdering Kercher and served a 13-year sentence before being released from prison in 2021.

This story Years After Amanda Knox Was Exonerated, a New Suspect Emerges In Meredith Kercher Murder first appeared on National Enquirer. Add National Enquirer as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Tomer-Yerhsualmi's long career in the IDF's legal division ended abruptly after she resigned in connection to leaks related to the Sde Teiman affair.

Military Advocate-General Maj.-Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, a resident of Ramat Hasharon, made history in 2021 when she became the first female to hold the position as the Israeli military's top attorney.

Fifty-one-year-old Tomer-Yerhsualmi, who is married with three children, replaced Sharon Afek as MAG in September of 2021, and at the time, was viewed as a stellar candidate who would have won the race for the post simply based on her resume and personal qualities, according to reporting by The Jerusalem Post's Yonah Jeremy Bob.

Tomer-Yerushalmi's rise in the IDF legal division

She was born in Netanya in 1974 and earned a bachelors degree in law from the Hebrew University, following which she joined the IDF legal division in 1996.

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In 1999, she received a masters degree in law from Tel Aviv University and received a second masters degree in law from the elite US Army Judge Advocate Generals Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2003.

Within the IDF legal division, she had two key posts early on, working directly with the armys chief prosecutor and later with then-MAG (and later district court judge) Menachem Finkelstein.

IDF Military Advocate-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi seen at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, October 1, 2024 (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

From 2007-2015, she served as an IDF judge, achieving multiple promotions. In 2015, she returned to the IDF legal division as chief of the entire legal advice division and with the rank of colonel. Then, in July 2019, she was promoted by then-IDF chief Aviv Kohavi to handle gender issues for the entire military.

She became the second woman in IDF history to gain the rank of Maj.-Gen. after becoming MAG in 2021, second only to former Yesh Atid MK Orna Barbivay, who previously served as the IDF's Manpower Directorate head.

Tomer-Yerushalmi and the Sde Teiman abuse affair

On Friday, Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned from her post around an hour after Defense Minister Israel Katz attempted to fire her after she admitted to leaking a video detailing the abuse of Palestinian prisoners at the military' Sde Teiman base.

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"I approved the leaking of evidence to the media in an attempt to confront the false propaganda against the law enforcement officials in the military," she wrote in her resignation letter. "I take full responsibility for all of the evidence that was sent out to the media by this unit. Based on this responsibility, I have also decided to conclude my role as the MAG."

Katzs decision followed a development that shook the entire defense establishment on Wednesday, when Zamir suspended Tomer-Yerushalmi in light of a probe by Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara into the leak of a video.

It is unclear why Tomer-Yerushalmi was only suspended now, when the Sde Teiman case broke into the headlines in July 2024. However, there were reports that her spokeswoman recently told the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) about leaking the evidence in question and that Tomer-Yerushalmi had approved the leak.
The Supreme Court of Nepal on Sunday issued an interim order against the government's decision to recall 11 Nepali ambassadors from various countries. A joint bench of Justices Saranga Subedi and Shreekanta Poudel passed the order on Sunday, concluding the hearing that began on Friday. The top court observed that the decision could affect Nepal's relations with the host countries and questioned the necessity and justification behind recalling only 11 ambassadors appointed by the previous government. "It appears that the terms of office of the eleven ambassadors who were recalled had not yet expired, the reasons for their recall were not mentioned in the cabinet decision, and no action appears to have been taken regarding the appointment of new ambassadors to the vacant positions," a portion of the interim order stated. The apex court also referred to the objective and limited tenure of the current government. "Furthermore, the statement from the President's office dated 2082.05.27 (September 11, 2025) indicates that the current interim government was formed to conduct another election for the House of Representatives within six months, as per the constitutional provisions entrusted to the President by the Constitution of Nepal. Considering this statement and the dissolution of the House of Representatives by the President on 2082.05.27 (September 12, 2025) upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister, and also taking into account Article 292 of the Constitution of Nepal, it appears that the ambassadorial positions cannot be filled immediately," the order stated. The Sushila Karki-led administration, during a cabinet meeting on September 16, had decided to recall the 11 ambassadors, most of whom were appointed by the KP Sharma Oli-led government. The cabinet meeting had decided to recall Nepali ambassadors to China, Germany, Israel, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan. Those recalled include Krishna Prasad Oli (China), Shail Rupakheti (Germany), Dhan Prasad Pandit (Israel), Ramesh Chandra Paudel (Qatar), Jang Bahadur Chauhan (Russia), Naresh Bikram Dhakal (Saudi Arabia), Shanil Nepal (Spain), Chandra Kumar Ghimire (United Kingdom), Lok Darshan Regmi (United States), and Durga Bahadur Subedi (Japan). Following Sunday's interim order, the government will not have the authority to recall the ambassadors immediately. The cabinet decision last month had set November 6 as the deadline for the envoys to vacate their diplomatic missions and return home. The writ petition challenging the government's decision was filed by advocates Pratibha Upreti and Anantaraj Luintel. They demanded the annulment of the recall decision, arguing that a caretaker government has no constitutional or political mandate to make decisions with long-term diplomatic consequences. President Ramchandra Paudel appointed Sushila Karki as Prime Minister on September 12, with a mandate to conduct parliamentary elections by March 5. Petitioners contended that recalling and reappointing ambassadors under such a limited mandate was not only inappropriate but also inconsistent with constitutional norms. (ANI)
New York Citys mayoral election is limping to such an ugly finish that its almost hard to pick the most distasteful moment.

Well, thats not entirely true. Theres a clear winner. Its former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in an interview on a conservative talk radio station, discussing Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani in office during a crisis as serious as 9/11. Hed be cheering, the host suggested. Thats another problem, Cuomo agreed.

But after that? Well, maybe talk of President Donald Trump dangling an ambassadorship to tempt current Mayor Eric Adams and his questionable ethics out of the race. Or maybe dopey Trump-loving billionaire Bill Ackman abasing himself day after day in a desperate attempt to drive Republican nominee  and beret aficionado  Curtis Sliwa out of the race.

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Dont get me wrong. Im not in the business of saving Ackman, Michael Bloomberg and Barry Diller money. Nevertheless, the dreary end of this race is a telling contrast to this summers Democratic primary.

Its easy to see the difference. The primary was conducted with ranked choice voting (RCV), which encouraged civility and kindness. The general election is winner-takes-all, which incentivizes gloves-off aggression and all the negativity that billionaires can fund  all while giving voters less/fewer choice(s). The general election would be quite a different race with RCV. New Yorkers should make that happen next time.

Think back to the final days of that campaign. Not much in American politics feels uplifting, but this was that rare moment that seemed to exemplify what our elections could be. Mamdani and Brad Lander appeared together on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and bicycled to joint events in all corners of the city. Candidates cross-endorsed each other; they even fundraised for one another.

Ranked choice voting made that happen. In an RCV race, candidates need a majority to win, and voters can rank their favorite candidates in order: First, second, third and so on. This is a powerful tool in races with more than two candidates. Perhaps most importantly, it ends any talk of spoilers, and encourages candidates to make a positive pitch to voters, seeking second place votes, rather than closing with extreme negativity.

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The primary ended with togetherness and produced a majority winner in Mamdani. The general is a completely different story. Its ending, predictably enough, in awfulness. There are three serious finalists in Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa. This ratchets up complaints about spoilers: Adams had to be driven from the race first. Now the plutocrats are aiming at Sliwa, as if voters shouldnt be able to make this choice themselves. Billionaires shouldnt be shoving candidates out of the race and reducing the choices for voters.

This also encourages the kind of wild negativity weve seen in the last week  such as news cycles about whether Mamdanis aunt was afraid to ride the subway after Sept. 11. But the political incentives in a race without RCV just encourage this hostility. The goal is to drive support for other candidates down, not to build up your own. Given the increasing insanity of the attacks, Cuomos closing argument might as well be reduced to Mamdani will ruin New York, and Sliwa should quit the race. Four days out from Election Day  and in the middle of early voting  Cuomos team posted that A vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani.

Theres no positive vision to be seen.

RCV created an entirely different primary. In February, Mamdani polled at 1 percent. Cuomo seemed to have an insurmountable early lead. It would have been natural for the progressive candidates to try and push each other out, and decide upon one candidate to go up against the front-runner. That would have short-circuited the entire race. Voters hadnt even tuned in yet. When they did, they liked what they heard from the newcomer. Instead of arguing about spoilers, candidates talked about real issues, like rent, housing and affordability.

Want more sharp takes on politics? Sign up for our free newsletter, Standing Room Only, written by Amanda Marcotte, now also a weekly show on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

Now, without RCV, the debate is about whether it was Mamdanis aunt or cousin who feared on the subway. Its about spoilers, who ought to drop out, and what rewards they ought to receive from the president. Its about how much mud can be thrown to drag the front-runner down.

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Its a case of pick your poison. Voters can have a campaign like this one, filled with negativity. It could end with the election of a mayor with less than 50% of the vote, who would then have their mandate to govern called into question by the same people who just lost. Or, theyre told, Sliwa should be forced out, to create a one-on-one race between Mamdani and Cuomo. This would deprive New York Republicans, small as they may be, of the ability to run their own nominee.

No wonder so many Americans have tuned out of politics. Imagine, instead, a race with RCV, in which Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa had to make the affirmative case for themselves. Candidates could join together, if they liked, via cross-endorsements, instead of having their advocates work to push folks out of the race before voters have a say.

We saw a taste of what that election might look like when the candidates debated earlier this month. Mamdani was asked how he would rank his ballot if New York used RCV in the general election. He said that he would rank himself first and Sliwa second. Sliwa jumped in with one of the most memorable laugh lines of the race. Please dont be glazing me here, Zohran, he said, borrowing some Gen Alpha slang as the candidates, and audience, laughed riotously.

With ranked choice voting, we can have lots of choices and majority winners. We can have elections with multiple candidates that are about issues, not about who is spoiling things for whom. And we can have elections where candidates build each other up and work to appeal to everyone, rather than relying on as much toxicity as possible.

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New York has made the contrast clear. RCV produces one kind of election. Plurality, pick-one contests offer another. No one need be glazing anyone to understand which approach is better for voters and our democracy.

The post How New York could have avoided a nasty mayoral election appeared first on Salon.com.
UPDATE: Rescuers who saved and rehabilitated a young eagle earlier this year spotted a rehabilitated eagle Sunday morning near Lock & Dam 13 in Fulton, Our Quad Cities News has learned. The eagle was in a tree with another a new friend  another eagle.

EARLIER: Doug May is used to seeing bald eagles near his home close to the Mississippi River and Interstate 80 in Illinois, but a windy day back in April led him to a mission to save an injured eaglet. Mays neighbor discovered a nest with two eaglets in it had fallen. It was windy one day and it was on top of a yellow pine and my neighbor noticed the whole nest toppled out of the tree and it landed on the ground and he saw one was injured and the other wasnt moving much, May recalled.

He says he called the Rock Island County Sheriff for advice, and that led him to Kewanee-based Hog Capitol Wildlife Rescue and Rehab.

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Tamara and Jim Yarger have rescued and rehabilitated dozens of eagles and other animals since founding Hog Capitol Wildlife. They are a licensed wildlife rescue, rehab and release organization. Baby E, as the young eagle would be called, would be the youngest eagle they would attempt to return to the wild.

We were told to euthanize and I refused, Yarger said. Saturday, Baby E took to the skies near Lock and Dam 13 in Fulton, Illinois.

The Yargers chose this time of year to release Baby E based on the natural life cycle of bald eagles. The location near Lock and Dam 13 in Fulton, Illinois will give the young eagle a number of other eagles to learn from as she settles into her surroundings.

Baby E has been with the Yargers since April. Releasing her was a bit emotional. Shes sassy and actually she was very calm at first when she first came in because she was tiny and scared but as shes grown she has become the boss baby, Yarger says.

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What happens now to the young eagle is up to her. Because Hog Capitol is a rescue organization and not a research organization, they are not allowed to put a tracking device on her.

Doug May is grateful the area has an organization with the expertise to rescue and rehabilitate the eagle. He brought his granddaughter and some friends out to watch the release.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reported progress in destroying Russian forces on the Pokrovsk front.

Source: Zelenskyy's evening address

Quote: "The front line  there were reports from the military today. The main focus is on the Pokrovsk front, and there are results in destroying the occupier.

I want to especially commend the units of the 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade. I also thank the warriors of the Special Operations Forces, the special forces of the Military Law Enforcement Service, the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the intelligence for their active and effective actions both in the Pokrovsk area and in the area of Kupiansk."

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Details: Zelenskyy also thanked the 1st Separate Assault Regiment for their solid combat performance in Donetsk Oblast, the 55th Separate Artillery Brigade for their fire support near Pokrovsk, and the 127th Separate Heavy Mechanised Brigade for engagements in and around Kupiansk.

Background:

On 1 November, Reuters reported, citing sources, that special forces of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) were deployed to Donetsk Oblast's Pokrovsk earlier this week to stabilise the situation amid escalating hostilities.

A source within Ukraine's military intelligence told Ukrainska Pravda that stabilisation operations involving DIU were ongoing in Pokrovsk.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast were neither surrounded nor blocked. He added that a comprehensive operation is underway in Pokrovsk to wipe out and expel Russian forces, involving Special Operations Forces, the Security Service of Ukraine and DIU.

Read also: How Pokrovsk is imperceptibly falling: five observations by Ukrainska Pravda

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine has received additional Patriot air defence systems and thanked Germany for honouring its commitments.

Source: Zelenskyy's evening address

Quote: "Today I can say that there is a good result for our air defence  Ukraine now has more Patriots. I want to thank Chancellor Merz, Germany and everyone who is helping us  our agreements have been fulfilled. More Patriots are now in Ukraine, and we are putting them to work."

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Details: Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine still needs more systems to protect critical infrastructure and cities across the country, and the government will continue working to obtain them.

Quote: "This effort involves not only political negotiations with governments and leaders but also engagement with manufacturers of all necessary air defence systems and missiles. There will be meetings on this next week. We have presented our partners with all calculations and possible options to ensure a sufficiently reliable air defence."

More details: Zelenskyy stressed that defending Ukraine from Russian attacks requires a multi-layered air defence system.

Quote: "This includes our military aviation, and there are decisions in place regarding Gripens and French aircraft, and we are working on the F-16s. Also air defence systems and their missiles, development of mobile fire teams, and of course, the current priority  interceptor drones. The number of interceptors for this year will match the state procurement target. It is important that the defence forces, along with all involved institutions, also scale up the number of trained drone operators  the corresponding system is already in place."

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Background: Earlier on 2 November, Zelenskyy confirmed that agreements with Germany to strengthen Ukraine's air defence with Patriot systems had been fulfilled.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Just days before New York Citys mayoral election, frontrunner Zohran Mamdani released a new campaign ad of him appealing to voters  entirely in Arabic.

The Democratic candidate, who is Muslim and recently delivered a speech condemning Islamophobia, appears in the ad in a bodega with a Palestinian flag displayed behind the counter.

I know what youre thinking  I might look like your brother-in-law from Damascus, but my Arabic needs some work, Mamdani says in the video.

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Still, I would love to ask for your support on November 4th.

In the ad, Mamdani  who previously released an ad in Spanish  pets a bodega cat and vows to make New York more affordable. Im from you, and for you, he says.

Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim and recently delivered a speech condemning Islamophobia, appears in the ad in a bodega with a Palestinian flag displayed behind the counter (Zohran Mamdani/X)

A longtime pro-Palestinian activist and staunch critic of Israel, 34-year-old Mamdani, who won the primary in stunning fashion, has faced criticism for his outspoken positions on Israel and Gaza, which have become a flashpoint in the race.

Those attacks have amped up in the weeks leading up to the race, drawing allegations from some Democrats that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is leaning into Islamophobia in the final stretch of the campaign.

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Appearing on a conservative radio station in October, Cuomo appeared to laugh along at the hosts suggestion that Mamdani would be cheering another 9/11 attack. Thats another problem, Cuomo replied.

Hours later, at an event endorsing the former governor, outgoing Mayor Eric Adams invoked the possibility of terrorist attacks in New York City, seeming to suggest  without explanation  they would be more likely under a Mamdani administration.

At a debate the same month, Sliwa, the Republican candidate, called Mamdani a supporter of global jihad.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, left, and Independent candidate former New York governor Andrew Cuomo pose at a New York Knicks game in October, just days before the mayoral election (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

While Mamdani alluded to the recent verbal attacks in his speech, he aimed his words at his fellow Muslim New Yorkers.

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The dream of every Muslim is simply to be treated the same as any other New Yorker, he said. And yet for too long we have been told to ask for less than that, and to be satisfied with whatever little we receive." No more, he added.

But the attacks continued in response to Mamdanis new ad on X.

The Islamic takeover of NYC is here, wrote Laura Loomer, the right-wing conspiracy theorist known for her anti-Muslim opinions.

Mamdanis Arabic-language ad dropped as candidates sprint into the final stretch before Tuesdays election.

New York Mayor candidate Curtis Sliwa meets a New York City Police Department officer as he campaigns in the New York City subway system (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Cuomo, 67, and Sliwa are offering their closing arguments, each framing the democratic socialist Mamdani as a risky choice for the city.

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Cuomo, running as an independent Democrat, has warned that Mamdanis policies would lead the city into ruin, urging Republicans to back him instead of Sliwa.

Republicans, there are two choices, me or Mamdani. Dont waste your vote, Cuomo said in a recent Fox Business interview.

Sliwa, 71, founder of the Guardian Angels anti-crime patrols, has spent the final days of the campaign in the citys subways and streets, pledging to restore safety and focus on quality-of-life issues.

Mamdani, 34, appears undeterred. His campaign has leaned on grassroots energy, drawing massive crowds at rallies with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

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With early voting concluding Sunday, hes shaking hands with everyone form social media influencers to airport taxi drivers as he urges his supporters not to grow complacent, the Associated Press reported.

People say We got this. Its over. Cuomo is cooked, he says in one of his many popular online videos. Do not believe it.
Police officers and search the track in front of an LNER Azuma train at Huntingdon Station in Huntingdon, eastern England, on Nov. 1, 2025, following a stabbing on a train. UK police said they had arrested two suspects Saturday as "a number of people" were taken to hospital after a stabbing on a train in Cambridgeshire, eastern England. "We are currently responding to an incident on a train to Huntingdon where multiple people have been stabbed," British Transport Police said on X, adding that "two people have been arrested".

(JUSTIN TALLIS, AFP via Getty Images)
At least four people were killed and three others injured in an Israeli air strike on southern Lebanon, the country's Ministry of Public Health said on Saturday, in an attack that further strained a fragile truce with Hezbollah that has lasted nearly a year. According to Al Jazeera, the Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed that the strike targeted the town of Kfarsir in the Nabatieh district, with initial reports indicating that a "guided missile" hit a car at around 2:15 pm (16:15 GMT). The state-run Lebanon News Agency reported that the incident caused significant damage in the area, prompting emergency teams to rush to the scene. The strike came a day after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of escalating attacks in response to his offer to negotiate a more permanent end to the cross-border hostilities. The ongoing conflict dates back to 2023 when Hezbollah began launching attacks on Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza following the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on southern Israel. A ceasefire was eventually brokered by US President Donald Trump in November 2024, but tensions have persisted despite the truce. Al Jazeera reported that Israeli troops have maintained a presence in at least five areas of southern Lebanon and continued near-daily air raids, often targeting what it calls Hezbollah sites. However, civilians, journalists, and first responders have also been among those killed in the strikes. According to the United Nations, Israeli forces have killed at least 111 civilians in Lebanon since the ceasefire came into effect. President Aoun said last month that his proposed talks with Israel were intended to "end the Israeli occupation", reiterating Lebanon's willingness to pursue a negotiated peace. For its part, Israel has accused Lebanon of failing to meet its ceasefire obligations by not restraining or disarming Hezbollah. The armed group, however, has rejected all external pressure to lay down arms. In another escalation earlier this week, President Aoun instructed Lebanon's armed forces to confront any new Israeli incursions into the south, Al Jazeera reported. The directive followed an Israeli raid on the border town of Blida, where soldiers stormed the town hall and killed municipal worker Ibrahim Salameh, who had been sleeping inside, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA). Israel's military claimed the operation was aimed at destroying Hezbollah infrastructure and that troops opened fire in response to an "immediate threat". However, it did not provide evidence or further details regarding the killing. (ANI)
In a major turn of events in Nepal following the Gen-Z uprising and the approaching March election, seven communist parties, including the Prachanda-led CPN (Maoist Centre), have signed an 18-point agreement for unification. The agreement was signed late on Sunday evening in Kathmandu to form a unified party. The party unity agreement was signed by CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN (Unified Socialist), Nepal Socialist Party, CPN (Socialist), Jana Samajbadi Party, Nepal Communist Party (Maoist-Socialist), and CPN (Samyabadi). Chiran's faction, which split from the Biplav-led Communist Party, has also joined the new formation. "The party's guiding ideology will be Marxism-Leninism, and its immediate strategy will focus on protecting the gains of the people's democratic revolution and laying the groundwork for socialism. The movement will remain peaceful, operating across streets, parliaments, and government fronts as circumstances require," one of the points of the agreement reads. The agreement emphasises that unifying the broader communist movement is a historic necessity to achieve the goals of the socialist revolution. Participating parties pledged to safeguard the achievements of the federal democratic republic, national sovereignty, good governance, social justice, and socio-economic transformation while advancing toward scientific socialism. According to the agreement, "a national unity conference will be held on November 5, during which the unified party will be formally announced, a manifesto and interim statute adopted, and the central committee formed. Within six months, a national unity convention will finalise the party structure." As per the agreement made public, the new party will have a central committee, political committee, secretariat, and operational coordination committee. However, the party name has not been finalised, but an agreement has been reached that its election symbol will be the 'five-pointed star'. Collective leadership and the principles of democratic centralism will guide party operations. Task forces will be formed at various levels for political reporting, programme planning, and organisational coordination. Signatories to the agreement include former Prime Minister and Maoist Centre Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', former Prime Minister and Unified Socialist Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal, Nepal Socialist Party Chair Mahendra Rai Yadav, Jana Samajbadi Party Chair Subash Raj Kafle, CPN (Socialist) Chair Raju Karki, CPN (Maoist-Socialist) Chair Chiran Pun, and CPN (Samyabadi) Chair Karnajit Budhathoki. The unification announcement comes after the changed political scenario in Nepal following the September uprising and the fall of the KP Sharma Oli-led regime. The new government formed under the prime ministership of Sushila Karki has called for an election on March 5 next year. (ANI)
Bihar murder update: Journalist has been shot dead in Nitish Raj, tell that the witness in the murder case of his brother was thrown out of his house and murdered. After the murder, the Bihar government has come under target of the opponents. Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav said that we are clear about what we have to do, no one is afraid of these people, we will fight and win against the accused of murder.
Mysterious UFO-like cloud over Quetta fuels rumors of a secret hypersonic test. Pakistans Defence Minister dodges hypersonic missile questions, saying ask in private, sparking speculation. Asifs vague response deepens suspicion that Pakistan secretly tested advanced missile technology.
Kenyan Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said in a statement on X that at least 25 people with "serious injuries" were airlifted from Elgeyo-Marakwet County to the city of Eldoret for medical care, while around 30 others remain missing.

He added that search and rescue operations would resume on Sunday with support from security forces.

"Preparation to supply more food and non-food relief items to the victims is underway. Military and police choppers are on standby to transport the items," Murkomen said.

The landslide struck overnight in the hilly Chesongoch area of Elgeyo-Marakwet County in western Kenya, one of the regions worst affected by the country's ongoing short rainy season, Al Jazeera reported.

A resident, Stephen Kittony, told Citizen Television that he heard a loud, thunderous noise before rushing out of his home with his children.

"We ran in different directions," he said, describing the chaos as the mudslide swept through their village.

Aerial photographs shared by the Kenyan Red Cross showed widespread flooding and mudslides across the region.

The organisation stated that it was working closely with government agencies to coordinate emergency response and air evacuations for those injured.

"Access to some of the affected areas remains extremely difficult due to flooding and blocked routes," the Red Cross said on X.

The Chesongoch region, known for its steep terrain, has a history of deadly landslides, Al Jazeera noted.

Similar incidents killed dozens in 2010 and 2012, while in 2020, flash floods swept away a shopping centre in the area. (ANI)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday emphasised the "progress" his government has made in strengthening ties with India, as part of Canada's broader effort to reduce its dependence on trade with the United States. Speaking to reporters in Gyeongju, Carney said the strategy was already showing results, citing the "progress which we have been making with India." He added that Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and other cabinet members have been engaging with their Indian counterparts to advance this plan. Carney noted that his government's approach is focused on both domestic and international efforts -- to strengthen the economy at home while "build[ing] these partnerships abroad, reduce our reliance on the United States." In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said, "As we pursue our ambitious new mission to double our non-US exports in the next decade, Canada's new government is focused on working with partners across the Indo-Pacific to unlock new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses." "The Indo-Pacific presents enormous opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses. Canada is ready to seize these opportunities and play to win," Carney added. Carney's efforts to diversify Canada's trade relations are driven by the need to reduce dependence on the US market. With the US imposing tariffs and trade tensions escalating, Canada is looking to strengthen ties with other countries, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. India, with its growing economy and large market, presents a significant opportunity for Canada to expand its trade and investment portfolio. Since taking office in March of this year, Carney has led a gradual reset in Canada's relationship with India, which had deteriorated under the previous Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. Tensions escalated in September 2023 after Trudeau told the Canadian Parliament that there were "credible allegations" linking Indian agents to the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. India rejected those claims as "absurd" and "motivated." The situation worsened in October 2023 when India withdrew six diplomats after Canada requested a waiver of their immunity to allow questioning in connection with criminal activity in the country. Ottawa's move prompted New Delhi to expel six Canadian diplomats in response. Relations began to improve after Prime Minister Carney met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis in June. The meeting resulted in the restoration of high commissioners to both capitals, signalling a step toward normalising diplomatic engagement. A "systematic approach" to rebuilding ties has been evident in a series of recent high-level visits. In October, Foreign Minister Anita Anand visited India, where she met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Around the same time, Goyal also held discussions with Canada's Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu. Further visits by senior officials from both sides are expected later this year. India has also invited Prime Minister Carney to attend the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February next year. (ANI)
Bahrain's Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani arrived in India on Monday to co-chair the 5th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission meeting with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the update on X, writing, "Warm welcome to FM Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani of the Kingdom of Bahrain. He will be co-chairing the 5th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission meeting with EAM Dr S Jaishankar. This visit offers an opportunity to build on the positive momentum in India-Bahrain relations." During his visit, the Bahrain Foreign Minister will meet with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He will depart from India on Monday. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1985035967821181129 Abdullatif Bin Rashid Alzayani's visit to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries comes after S Jaishankar's visit to Bahrain in December of last year. During last year's visit, S Jaishankar co-chaired the fourth meeting of the India-Bahrain High Joint Commission (HJC). The two sides also agreed to expand the scope of bilateral cooperation in the education sector. In this regard, the Indian side welcomed more Bahraini students wishing to enrol in leading higher education institutes in India. The two sides also stressed the importance of working to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the two governments to enhance education cooperation. Both sides also agreed to deepen cooperation on consular issues. They welcomed the decision to establish a Joint Consular Committee to discuss issues of mutual interest in Consular affairs and to strengthen cooperation in these areas. The Indian side acknowledged that the bilateral security dialogue and the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) in the field of combating international terrorism are important mechanisms in institutionalising cooperation in the area of security cooperation, including Cybersecurity. The meeting also marked the continued expansion of cultural exchanges, with both nations agreeing to renew their Cultural Exchange Program and work on new initiatives to foster deeper ties. India and Bahrain enjoy excellent bilateral relations characterised by cordial political, economic, cultural and people-to-people contacts. The presence of close to 332,000 Indian nationals, who comprise nearly a quarter of the total population of 1.5 million in Bahrain, is an important anchor of our bilateral relations. (ANI)
OSAKA, Nov 02 (News On Japan) - The symbolic Atom statue that stood atop the Pasona Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo has been removed, marking the next step in the relocation of its exhibits to Awaji Island.

During the Expo, the pavilion operated under the theme Thank You for Life, featuring displays such as a moving iPS heart and a Tree of Life Evolution exhibit that attracted about 2.15 million visitors. The Atom statue, a symbol of the pavilion, was taken down on October 30th.

When seen from the roof, the statue appeared small, but its true size surprised onlookers as it was lowered to the ground. Pasona plans to move the statue and most of the pavilions exhibits to Awaji Island, where they will be reassembled as part of a new visitor facility. The facility is expected to open in about a year at the earliest.

Source: KTV NEWS
TOKYO, Nov 02 (News On Japan) - Tokyos JR Yamanote Line marked the 100th anniversary of becoming a full loop around the city center in the Taisho era. The circular operation, which connects the capitals major districts and links suburban private railways to terminal stations, laid the foundation for Tokyos urban development.

Today, redevelopment continues around key stations, and the line remains an essential artery for the movement of people and industries across the metropolis.

On November 1st, JR East held a commemorative event using a specially wrapped train featuring designs inspired by past train cars. The train departed from Ikebukuro Station and made a full inner loop of the line. Crew members provided commentary on the scenery from stations and inside the train, while employees holding banners greeted and waved to passengers from station platforms along the route.

Source: Kyodo
Tiffany Haddish and Toby Sandeman spent Halloween (31.10.25) together months after she admitted to having a crush on him.

Tiffany Haddish and Toby Sandeman turned heads as they attended a star-studded Halloween bash together

The 45-year-old star and the Running Point actor, 37, were snapped at the Vas J Morgan and Michael Braun Halloween bash this week.

Back in April, the Girls Trip star received a video message from Toby addressing her crush on him during her appearance on The Today Show.

He said: A little birdie told me that Im your favourite character on Running Point. Always did think you had great taste. Im in Ireland right now, but I wanted you to know that I will be tuning in and rooting for you. Now before I go, lets take care of a little business. I think we need to get you on Running Point to play my wife. What are your thoughts?

Reacting to the clip, Tiffany said: Yes, I do. I do, and I do. We can play pretend and we can play for real. I just, oh my goodness. I think that was beautiful! Im gonna call Kate Hudson and say, Girl, he offered me a job! I think I need to get a ticket to Ireland. Weve gotta do a chemistry test!

In August, Tiffany laughed off speculation she had a secret baby with her friend.

The Night School star and her pal Jason Lee set tongues wagging that they had welcome a child together when they posed with a baby and a pushchair on Instagram.

The post was captioned: Cats out the bag.

However, the pair later dispelled rumours they had started a family.

During her guest hosting gig on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that month, Haddish said in her opening monologue: Now, for some reason, people saw this and thought I had a baby. Like, like there were articles about this everywhere.

Even my own relatives was asking if I had a secret baby, which is kind of insulting because they all are living in my house and blocking me from getting any d***.

Jason, who was among the audience members, chimed in: The whole world has lost their mind over this beautiful baby."

Tiffany said: Yeah, we just took a picture with a baby and then that went crazy.

She has spoken of her desire to have a child in the past, and as both she and Jason are former foster children, they highlighted that there are plenty of children looking for their forever families.

After joking that the baby in the picture was her God Baby and Jason is the father, she reiterated: Just to be clear, I did not have a baby, but I am open to it. Wide open to it. I Even have a list of potential baby daddies."

Meanwhile, the comedienne - who was married to William Stewart from 2008 until 2013, and dated rapper Common from 2020 until 2021 - was previously quizzed on the possibility of walking down the aisle for a second time, but quipped she would have to know about a man's financial situation before she entertained the idea.

Asked if she would say yes to a proposal, she told Extra: "I would say Whats your credit score? Your credit score is your grown-up report card, and how responsible you are with your money is how responsible you'll probably be with my heart."
TOKYO, Nov 02 (News On Japan) - Japans worsening bear problem has prompted calls for national intervention, but legal and operational barriers have complicated the governments response. In 2025, bear attacks have reached record levels, leaving 12 people deaddouble the previous high of six fatalities in 2023.

The most serious incidents have occurred in Akita and Iwate Prefectures, with Akita alone culling more than 1,000 bears this year. Amid mounting danger, local authorities have requested assistance from the Self-Defense Forces (SDF).

However, the SDFs role will be limited to logistical supportsuch as transporting traps and hauling carcasses after hunters perform the cullingrather than engaging in direct shooting. The use of weapons by the SDF is restricted by law. Under Japans legal framework, the SDF can be dispatched for defense operations, public security, disaster relief, or civil support. Weapon use is permitted only under the first two, while civil support missions generally prohibit it. Moreover, current law does not clearly recognize animal culling as a legitimate reason for the use of force.

The ambiguity recalls the 2016 film Shin Godzilla, in which the fictional government debates whether to invoke defense or public security provisions before opting for a defense order. Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba later remarked that since Godzillas rampage was not an invasion, the proper framework would have been disaster relief, arguing that weapons could be viewed as tools to remove hazards. The same logic, however, remains legally uncertain today, with the government classifying the bear-control deployment as civil support.

Japan has a few historical precedents for military involvement in wildlife management. About sixty years ago, the SDF helped cull sea lions in Hokkaido to protect fisheries, using fighter aircraft and machine guns under the pretext of training. More recently, in the 2010s, the SDF assisted in deer-control operations in Hokkaido and Kochi Prefecture, relaying aerial data on herd locations by helicopter without directly firing any weapons.

Even if authorized, the question remains whether standard SDF weaponry would be effective. Bears have thick layers of fat and strong skulls, making them resistant to small firearms. Katsuju Takada, former commander of the Ground Component Command, explained that standard-issue rifles are designed to suppress enemies rather than kill large animals instantly, emphasizing the need for careful selection of more powerful sniper rifles if ever considered.

For now, the SDF will restrict its role to support functions while the government explores allowing police and designated public officers to use rifles in bear control efforts.
This policy shift is driven by Germany's ambitious decarbonization goals and the need to overhaul its energy mix, moving away from heavy reliance on fossil fuels.

Germany just made a huge bet on nuclear fusion, putting an exclamation point at the end of its historic u-turn on nuclear energy policy. A new action plan from Chancellor Friedrich Merz aims to ensure that the worlds first commercial fusion reactor and throws 1.7 billion ($1.98 billion) in funding behind the cause. The unexpected announcement is making major waves in what is already a conflicted political environment when it comes to energy planning.

This announcement comes as something of a shock considering that Germany has been Europes staunchest nuclear energy opponent for years. Germany decommissioned its last three nuclear power plants offline in 2023, and has  until very recently  stood firmly unified in this resolve. "We have decided to phase out nuclear power. This has also been accepted by society," the nations Environment Minister Carsten Schneider told Deutsche Welle (DW) just a few months ago. "There are no further commitments [to the nuclear industry], nor will there be any," he went on to say.

But cracks have been showing in that unified front for a while now. Back in May, German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche publicly said that she was "open to all technologies, marking a major departure from Germanys traditional stance. Even more surprising, Germany ceded its side of a long-standing nuclear energy cold war with France, agreeing to make peace with French officials by dropping anti-nuclear power rhetoric from European Union legislation.

Even against this backdrop, however, Germanys bid to become the preeminent global superpower for nuclear fusion technology is a surprising one. But though its politically fraught, the plan has logical strategic grounding. An ambitious approach to clean energy production is absolutely necessary if Germany has any hope of meeting its decarbonization goals. As Europes largest economy, Germanys greenhouse gas footprint is also pivotal to the wider climate goals of the European Union. The pressure is on for the nation, which currently relies heavily on fossil fuels, to overhaul its energy mix in the coming years.

Sarah Klein, commissioner for fusion research at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology in Aachen, told DW this week that investing in fusion technology is a "smart long?term strategic bet that keeps Germany at the forefront of a global technology race. She added that in tandem with renewable energy development, nuclear fusion is crucial for ensuring energy sovereignty after the phaseout of fossil fuels.

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Germanys policy shift comes as part of a sea change of nuclear energy sentiment in Europe and abroad. Just this year, Italy and Denmark began motions to overturn their respective 40-years ban on nuclear energy production, and the government of Spain indicated that they were considering extending the lives of domestic nuclear power plants slated for phaseout.

The shift also comes at a time of major technological breakthroughs in the field of nuclear fusion science. Researchers around the world are racing to achieve commercially viable nuclear fusion, and they are getting closer all the time. China, in particular, is investing heavily in fusion research and development and aims to achieve viability by 2050. Labs in the United States are also breaking record after record for achieving net positive energy production from their laser-based fusion models.

The ramifications of any country or project achieving commercial nuclear fusion are difficult to overstate. In the words of a Daily Galaxy report from earlier this year, If China or any other nation succeeds in making fusion commercially viable, it could trigger an energy revolution, transforming how the world powers homes, industries, and even space exploration.

And, of course, it means a major geopolitical leg up for the country that gets there first. As a result, even Germany, once the worlds biggest anti-nuclear government, is now throwing its hat into the crowded ring.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

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By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

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KGW-TV reports, Fformer Clackamas County Commissioner and liberal activist, Melissa Fireside is reportedly involved in an evolving theft trial, is now under suspicion of having left the country with her son.

Some are stating that she crossed into Mexico and has fled to Europe. Court documents detail charges of stealing over $30,000 from her mothers boyfriend, an 83-year-old resident of Lake Oswego. On Friday, the Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it has filed a motion to revoke Firesides conditional release. It appears that she may not be residing at her registered address in Morrow County, as she is required to do unless she receives authorization from the court to leave the state. Concerns about her whereabouts were raised by her former partner, who informed the Clackamas County District Attorneys Office after discovering that she removed their 9-year-old child from school. He expressed worry for his sons safety, noting that it appears Fireside has apparently fled the country.

Here is an example of her liberal activism:
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:

Houses on Machno Terrace were badly damaged or obliterated by boulder-strewn floodwaters in the Dolgarrog dam disaster of 1925. Credit: Conwy County Archive

One hundred years ago, a catastrophic flood carrying enormous boulders swept through part of Dolgarrog village, north Wales, destroying several homes, a bridge and the local chapel. Ten adults and six children lost their lives. The tragedy was widely reported and King George V sent a message of condolence.

This was not a natural flood. It was caused by the failure of two dams impounding the Eigiau and Coedty reservoirs on the Carneddau plateau, high above Dolgarrog, following a wet October. Overtopped by inflow from the Eigiau breach, the Coedty dam failed catastrophically, unleashing a flood of some 1.7 million cubic meters. There was no time to warn the village.

The Dolgarrog disaster followed a reservoir failure at Skelmorlie, Scotland, in April 1925. Both brought attention to poor dam construction and inadequate maintenance practices, and led directly to the Reservoirs (Safety Provisions) Act of 1930.

The act sought to ensure the structural safety of large reservoirs by introducing legal requirements for regular inspection and certification by qualified engineers. It was the first attempt in the UK to regulate the design, construction, and maintenance of reservoirs through statutory safety measures.

Since Dolgarrog, the UK has had an excellent reservoir safety record. But in late July 2019, the evacuation of more than 1,500 residents from Whaley Bridge downstream of Toddbrook reservoir in Derbyshire, England, was ordered. Toddbrook had received a month's rain in just two days.

Swollen inflows overtopped the dam's emergency spillway, undermining its concrete slabs. A large cavity appeared on the spillway, exposing the dam's core, raising fears of a breach.

A Chinook helicopter dropped 400 tonnes of aggregate on the Toddbrook spillway to reinforce the damaged section, while fire services used high-capacity pumps to lower the water level and reduce pressure on the dam. After several days, engineers declared the Toddbrook dam stable enough to lift the evacuation order.

The Toddbrook incident was one of the most serious near failures of a dam in recent UK history. It showed how extreme rainfall events can threaten dam safety and communities living downstream. Gavin Tomlinson, the fire incident commander, said, "We were in a situation where we had five times as much water going in than we could take out. We absolutely thought it could fail. It was a very, very tense night."

Following this scare, in April 2021, the UK government commissioned an independent review into reservoir safety. A ministerial direction was issued to owners of all large, raised reservoirs, making the formulation of emergency flood plans a legal requirement to ensure that they are prepared for an eventuality that could result in an uncontrolled release of water.

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The threat from climate change

As geomorphologists who work on river processes and landforms, we are researching the landscape-changing effects of such dam breach floods, but also how topography can amplify the hazard to communities.

As the Dolgarrog disaster showed so graphically, reservoirs that drain into steep and narrow upland valleys present a particular hazard, especially where flows increase in speed and pick up destructive boulders. All aspects of the landscape setting should be part of flood emergency planning.

While the Toddbrook reservoir was compliant with existing legislation and had recently been inspected, it suffered "unforeseen and potentially critical damage that could have led to a catastrophe." Questions were raised by local residents about how well it had been maintained. Repairs were nearing completion in late 2025.

Most reservoirs in upland Britain were constructed in the 19th century under hydrological conditions that no longer hold. Embankment dams and older masonry dams can be especially vulnerable to erosion, seepage, slope instability or overtopping.

The most common cause of dam failures is overtopping where the spillway cannot cope with floodwaters. Reservoir safety may also be challenged by rapid or sustained water level lowering during droughts. As pore pressures change, and soils dry out and crack, embankment stability can be compromised.

Climate change is increasing both storm and drought intensity in many parts of the UK, posing a threat to reservoir safety. Climate models tell us that intense rainstorms that cause flash flooding will be five times more likely by 2080. Steep upland catchments in hard impermeable rocks are especially vulnerable to flash flooding, and this is where much of the UK's water storage infrastructure is located.

The Dolgarrog disaster was the last time anyone was killed in the UK by a dam failure. But if intense storms and prolonged droughts are the new normal for our climate, the risk to aging upland water storage infrastructure will likely increase.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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This image provided by North Carolina State University shows Associate Research Professor Lindsay Zanno posing with one of her dinosaur finds at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh, N.C. March 25, 2024. Credit: Marc Hall/North Carolina State University via AP

Scientists have long puzzled over the origins of a mysterious dinosaur excavated in the 1940s: Was it a young T. rex or another type of dinosaur?

At first, researchers had only a tyrannosaur skull to go by, making it hard to tell if it belonged to a child or adult. Another skull and skeleton nicknamed Jane added to the debate, but didn't settle the controversy.

Now a research team said there's new evidence that resolves the case. The latest clue comes from a complete skeletonfirst uncovered in 2006 in Montanathat scientists say identifies the mystery reptile as its own species and not a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex.

The discovery "rewrites decades of research on Earth's most famous predator," said study co-author Lindsay Zanno with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North Carolina State University.

Growth rings within the bones found in Montana's Hell Creek Formation told scientists the new dinosaur was an adult about half the size of a fully-fledged T. rex. From growth comparisons to other reptiles like crocodiles, they also found that the major differences between the creature's skull and an adult T. rex'schanges in bone structure, nerve patterns and sinuseswere unlikely to form from simply going through puberty.

This image provided by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences shows the skull of a tyrannosaur that may be a new species. Credit: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences via AP

Signs pointed to a dinosaur that's a distant T. rex cousin known as Nanotyrannus lancensis, the researchers reported in a study published Thursday in the journal Nature.

There's now "more support and evidence than there ever has been" that this T. rex relative could exist, said Holly Woodward, a fossil bone expert from Oklahoma State University who had no role in the new study. But she's not yet convinced that the other mystery skeletons like Jane are something new.

Other independent scientists also said the debate isn't over. The new skeleton is indeed an adult, but it could be a sister species to T. rex and not a distant relative, said vertebrate paleontologist Thomas Carr of Carthage College.

There are similarities between the shape of T. rex's skull and the mystery specimens that keep him from switching camps.

This illustration provided by Friends of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences shows a possible new group of small tyrannosaurs attacking a young T. rex. Credit: Anthony Hutchings, Friends of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences via AP

"I don't think this study settles everything," he said.

Resolving this case of mistaken identity is important to understanding how T. rex grew up, said study co-author James Napoli with Stony Brook University. Another big question is whether T. rex was the main predator prowling toward the end of the age of dinosaurs 67 million years agoor whether a tinier, but still mighty predator also roamed.

The new skeleton is dubbed "Dueling Dinosaurs" because it was found intertwined with the bones of a Triceratops, and is currently on display at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

More information: Nanotyrannus and Tyrannosaurus coexisted at the close of the Cretaceous, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09801-6 Journal information: Nature

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Many homes, hospitals, businesses and roads in Jamaica have been left devastated by Hurricane Melissa, which tore across the Caribbean island leaving at least 19 people dead, with leaders warning the toll would likely rise.

Jamaican officials announced plans Saturday to set up multiple field hospitals as it recovers from Hurricane Melissa, with the death toll numbering at least 50 across the Caribbeanand expected to rise.

The island's confirmed deaths remain at 19 as of Saturday, though Health Minister Christopher Tufton told a briefing "I would imagine it's more... because there are still places that we have had difficulties reaching."

Haiti's Civil Protection department meanwhile said at least 31 people have been killed there as a result of the storm.

Melissa tore across Jamaica as a ferocious top-level Category 5 hurricane, the most powerful storm ever recorded on the island, with sustained winds peaking at 185 miles (nearly 300 kilometers) per hour while drenching the country with torrential rain.

Hospitals in western Jamaica were particularly hard-hit, prompting officials to deploy several field hospitals in the coming days to shore up health responses.

The first such field hospitalin Black River, the capital of the hardest hit province"is expected to be delivered sometime tomorrow and immediately we'll begin to deploy and to set up that facility," Tufton said.

"That facility will come fully equipped, which will include an operating theater and other critical diagnostic equipment, and some team members to support the local team," he said, adding officials expect the hospital to be up and running in the coming week.

Additional hospitals are expected to pop up with aid from the World Health Organization and several countries, including Spain, Canada and India, Tufton said.

 2025 AFP
KATHMANDU, October 31, 2025  Over 100 aviation professionals from Nepal's rotorcraft community gathered in Kathmandu for a crucial day-long symposium hosted by Airbus Helicopters, aimed at significantly boosting flight safety awareness and operational best practices. Held with the essential backing of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the event focused on Safety and Support & Services and provided a platform for regulators, operators, and safety experts to exchange vital insights on accident prevention, data-driven safety systems, and continuous improvement across the sector.

The symposium was officially inaugurated by H.E. Virginie Corteval, Ambassador of France to Nepal, and CAAN Director General Pradeep Adhikari. Florence Verlut, Head of Aviation Safety and Quality at Airbus Helicopters, delivered a key address, underscoring the companys comprehensive approach to safety. Verlut stated, "At Airbus, safety is integrated into every decisionfrom design and production to maintenance, pilot training, and data analytics," further emphasizing that safety is an evolving mindset and that "Symposiums like these are essential to reinforce our shared mission to ensure every helicopter flight is safe." The gathering also featured important contributions from Jerome Ronssin, Head of Light Helicopters Programme, and Sunny Guglani, Head of Airbus Helicopters, South Asia.

The day's agenda featured multiple technical sessions designed to equip participants with advanced safety knowledge. These in-depth discussions covered a wide range of critical topics, including Airbuss global safety vision and accident statistics, the practical implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS), and Helicopter Flight Data Monitoring (HFDM). Experts also led specialized discussions on aerial work operations, effective maintenance procedures, and crucial decision-making processes in high-stress environments. Complementing the technical learning, the sessions incorporated valuable customer testimonials, allowing Nepali operators to directly share field experiences and best practices with their peers. The event concluded with an important forward-looking session outlining the Airbus Helicopters product safety improvements roadmap, detailing future plans to enhance helicopter reliability and maintenance in the region.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia has deployed around 170,000 troops in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region where they are trying to capture the stronghold of Pokrovsk in a major push for a battlefield victory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday.

The situation in Pokrovsk is difficult, Zelenskyy said, while also rejecting recent Russian claims that the devastated city is surrounded after more than a year of fighting. He acknowledged that some Russian units had infiltrated the city, but insisted that Ukrainian defenders are weeding them out.

There are Russians in Pokrovsk, Zelenskyy told a media briefing in Kyiv. They are being destroyed, gradually destroyed, because, well, we need to preserve our personnel.

In previous sieges during the almost four years since Russia launched its all-out invasion of its neighbor, Ukraine has pulled out of some places to avoid losing troops. Ukrainian forces are desperately short-handed against Russias bigger army.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently claimed that Russian forces are making significant advances on the battlefield, though their progress has been slow and costly in troops and armor.

Putin is trying to persuade the United States, which wants him to seek a peace deal, that Ukraine cant hold out against Russian military superiority. He has also stressed what he says is Russias improving nuclear capability as he refuses to budge from what he says are his country's legitimate war aims.

Ukraine claims hits on Russian oil facilities

Ukraine has been fighting back by hitting targets inside Russia to disrupt military logistics and make Russian civilians feel the effects of war.

Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has conducted over 160 successful long-range strikes on Russias oil extraction and refining facilities, the head of Ukraines Security Service, Vasyl Maliuk, told reporters at the briefing.

In September and October alone, Ukraine conducted 20 strikes on Russian oil facilities, Maliuk said.

He claimed that the strikes had brought a 20% drop in oil products on Russias domestic market and temporarily halted the operation of 37% of Russias oil refining capacity. The claims could not be independently verified.

Clearly, we are not resting on our achievements. There are many fresh perspectives and new approaches in this work, Maliuk said. These include new equipment, new combat units, and new methods and means of communication.

He said that over this year Ukraine has destroyed nearly half of Russias sophisticated Pantsir air defense systems, which have stopped Ukrainian long-range drones.

He also noted that last year Ukrainian forces destroyed one of Russias advanced new hypersonic missiles that can fly at 10 times the speed of sound, striking it on the ground at a military base inside Russia,

The Oreshnik missile, touted at the end of last year by Putin as invulnerable to air defense systems and a game-changing weapon, was hit at the Kapustin Yar military firing range near the Caspian Sea in southwestern Russia, roughly 500 kilometers (300 miles) from the Ukrainian border, according to Maliuk.

Putin said a year ago that the missile was used in an attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, some months after Maliuk said Ukraine destroyed one of them.

UN reports rise in Ukrainian civilian casualties

Meanwhile, Russian drones struck apartment blocks in the northeastern city of Sumy overnight, injuring 11 people, including four children, and also hit the southern Odesa regions energy infrastructure, authorities said Friday.

The war has this year been deadlier for civilians than 2024, with a 30% rise in casualties so far, the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, said Friday.

Russias almost daily aerial attacks on Ukrainian energy production and distribution facilities are especially worrying because the winter is forecast to be much colder than last year, Schmale said at a briefing in Geneva.

Ukrainian cities have centralized public infrastructure to run water, sewage and heating systems, and the U.N. fears that denying those services to people in high-rise buildings in cities near the front line could turn into a major crisis, according to Schmale.

Destroying energy production and distribution capacity as winter starts clearly impacts the civilian population and is a form of terror, he said.

Also, the U.N. humanitarian operation is short of money to respond to acute needs, as its Ukraine funding has declined from over $4 billion in 2022, the year of Russias full-scale invasion of its neighbor, to $1.1 billion this year, Schmale said.

He added that the conflict feels increasingly like a protracted war, as U.S.-led international peace efforts this year have come to nothing.

We have been through phases this year where there was cautious optimism that it might end, Schmale said. Right now on the ground, it doesnt feel at all like its ending any time soon.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The U.S. national intelligence director told officials Friday in the Mideast that Americas former strategy of regime change or nation building had ended under President Donald Trump.

Tulsi Gabbard s comments before the Manama Dialogue, an annual security summit in Bahrain put on by the International Institute for Security Studies, underlines remarks Trump offered on a trip earlier this year to the Middle East.

In Trumps second term, previous American goals of fostering human rights and democracy promotion in the region have been replaced by an emphasis on economic prosperity and regional stability. That includes securing a ceasefire that has halted the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, as well as forcing an end to Israels 12-day war on Iran after sending American bombers to attack Iranian nuclear sites.

For decades, our foreign policy has been trapped in a counterproductive and endless cycle of regime change or nation building, said Gabbard, a former Congresswoman from Hawaii and U.S. Army National Guard veteran.

It was a one-size-fits-all approach, of toppling regimes, trying to impose our system of governance on others, intervene in conflicts that were barely understood and walk away with more enemies than allies.

She added: The results: Trillions spent, countless lives lost and in many cases, the creation of greater security threats.

That assessment mirrors Trumps own thinking about the wars that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on New York and Washington. He reached a deal in his first term to withdraw from Afghanistan, which in the Biden administration became a chaotic departure in 2021. Meanwhile, hes embraced Syrias interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaida fighter once held in an American prison in Iraq.

Unmentioned by Gabbard was Trump's deployment of warships off South America, fatal strikes targeting alleged drug-running boats and his ordering of the CIA to run covert operations targeting Venezuela, which has stoked fears of invasion and speculation that Trump could try to topple its authoritarian president.

Serious challenges remain from Trump in the Middle East, however. Gabbard noted in her brief remarks that the ceasefire in Gaza remained fragile. She also acknowledged Iran remained a concern as the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said renewed movement has been detected recently at the countrys nuclear sites.

The road ahead will not be simple or easy but the president is very committed down this road, said Gabbard, who attended the event as a government shutdown grinds on back home.

An Associated Press journalist had been accredited and issued a visa to cover the summit, but the Bahraini government late Wednesday said it had been rescinded as it was conducting a post-approval review of that permission. The government did not elaborate on why the visa was revoked. Earlier that day, the AP published a story on long-detained activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja beginning an open-ended hunger strike in Bahrain over his internationally criticized imprisonment.

Al-Khawaja late Friday halted his hunger strike after receiving letters from the European Union and Denmark regarding his case, his daughter Maryam al-Khawaja said.
Lily James craves "challenges".

Lily James is seeking challenges

The 36-year-old actress has revealed that she wants her personal and professional lives to be an "adventure".

The brunette beauty - who studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London - told The Independent: "I crave challenges.

"I want my life to be an adventure and my work to be an adventure. I want to do things that, on paper, people cant really imagine me doing."

Lily stars alongside the likes of Riz Ahmed and Sam Worthington in Relay, the David Mackenzie-directed thriller film.

The actress actually filmed a lot of solo scenes for the movie, and Lily admits that she found it to be a challenging experience for her.

She explained: "I hate acting on my own.

"Youve got no one to bounce off, no ones eyes to look into. Acting is at its best when its like a dance between two actors and you forget yourself. It was really hard."

Meanwhile, Lily previously confessed that she is keen to play "unlikely roles".

The actress explained that she's eager to challenge herself in her professional life.

Asked if she would've been interested in Relay if it was more "conventional", Lily told The Hollywood Reporter: "Honestly, I was so excited to work with [director] David Mackenzie and Riz that I almost wouldve done any old thing that they put in front of me.

"That being said, you love to find work thats surprising and characters that take you in a direction you didnt anticipate. And particularly at this point in my career, I want to keep pushing myself to play unlikely roles, roles that surprise me, and have something to get my teeth into. So that [unconventionality] was definitely what was very appealing about this role and story."

Lily recalled being wowed by the Relay script, and she hopes that film fans are similarly surprised by the plot.

The actress explained: "Relay felt like this really gripping, dark thriller that exposes the world of whistleblowers and the idea of this greater control and always being watched. It felt really surprising, and I was thrilled to get to work with such a unique filmmaker in David Mackenzie. His movies feel so cinematic and grounded and bold and original."
Kathmandu, Nepal  November 2, 2025

The government faced a setback after the Supreme Court, the country's apex judicial body, issued an interim order on Sunday not to implement the decision to recall several ambassadors.

A bench of Justices comprising Sharanga Subedi and Shrikant Poudel ordered the government to halt the implementation of its decision to recall the envoys.

This order came in response to a writ petition filed in the Supreme Court by advocates Pratibha Upreti and Sunil Bhattarai, challenging the government's recall decision.

A recent meeting of the Council of Ministers had decided to recall Nepali ambassadors serving in various countries. This decision to recall the ambassadors had faced criticism from different sectors.
Kathmandu, Nepal  November 2, 2025

A writ petition has been filed at the Supreme Court (SC), the country's apex court, on Sunday challenging the appointment of Sushila Karki as Prime Minister.

Advocate Punya Prasad Khatiwada filed the petition, demanding the annulment of the appointment. In the writ, the petitioner claims that President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as Prime Minister following the Gen Z Movement, an action he argues is against the constitution.

The petitioner asserts that any person who has served as a former Chief Justice cannot be appointed as Prime Minister under the current constitutional provisions. He further argues that the President has failed to comply with the constitution and that the Nepali Army is also responsible for the current situation.
A Fox News host has issued a dire warning to the president after the latest Democrat victory in a series of stinging Republican electoral defeats. Look at the numbers, get the experts in there, and if the numbers show the Hispanic vote went heavily for the Democrat, that is a warning sign for next year, Brian Kilmeade told Fox & Friends viewers on Wednesday. His comments came in response to Democrat Eileen Higginss thumping victory against GOP candidate Emilio Gonzalez in Miamis mayoral race
On the morning of October 25, 2025, at the invitation of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of the Republic of Singapore, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council left Beijing by chartered plane for an official visit to Singapore.

On the afternoon of October 25 local time, Li Qiang arrived at Singapore Changi Airport by chartered plane. Singaporean Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo and Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Cao Zhongming greeted Li Qiang at the airport.

Li Qiang said that over the past 35 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore, bilateral relations have maintained a good momentum of development, with continuously deepening political mutual trust, fruitful outcomes in practical cooperation, and increasingly closer people-to-people and cultural exchanges, setting a model for mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

Li Qiang pointed out that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and Singaporean leaders, China-Singapore relations have advanced further in recent years, establishing the all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership. Cooperation in various fields has continued to deepen and become more substantive, bringing greater benefits to the peoples of both countries and making positive contributions to regional peace and development. China is willing to work with Singapore to strengthen the synergy of development strategies, comprehensively expand mutually beneficial cooperation, continue to work together on the path of modernization, and contribute more to upholding true multilateralism and promoting common development in the region.
On October 25, 2025 local time, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council held talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the Parliament House of Singapore.

Li Qiang said that in June this year, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong held a meeting in Beijing, which charted the course for the development of China-Singapore relations in the next stage. China is ready to work with Singapore to follow the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, uphold the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations, carry forward traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, and continuously deepen and solidify bilateral relations, so as to better serve the modernization of both countries and make greater contributions to regional peace, stability and development.

Li Qiang noted that the recent fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) deliberated over and adopted the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, providing top-level design and strategic planning for China's development over the next five years and beyond. China is willing to strengthen development synergy with Singapore, give full play to the role of China-Singapore cooperation mechanisms, maintain the sound momentum of two-way trade and investment growth, further optimize and enhance key cooperative projects such as the Suzhou Industrial Park and the Tianjin Eco-City, deepen cooperation in areas such as digital economy, green economy, artificial intelligence, new energy and biomedicine, and actively explore third-party cooperation. The Chinese side welcomes more Singaporean enterprises to invest in China and hopes that the Singaporean side will continue to provide support for Chinese enterprises operating in Singapore. Both sides should strengthen exchanges of experience in areas such as social welfare and employment promotion, work together for better development through mutual learning, and keep close cooperation in such fields as culture, tourism, education, media and youth exchanges to continuously enhance mutual understanding and friendship. As the multilateral trading system comes under severe strain, China is ready to work with Singapore to implement the major global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, enhance communication and cooperation within the United Nations and other mechanisms, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, uphold free trade and economic globalization, and strive to make the international order more just and equitable.

Lawrence Wong congratulated the successful convening of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC. He noted that this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and China. Currently, bilateral relations enjoy a sound momentum of development, with the friendship between the two countries continuously deepening, mutually beneficial cooperation increasingly expanding, and fruitful results being achieved. The Singaporean government adheres to the one-China principle and firmly opposes "Taiwan independence". Singapore stands ready to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, strengthen exchanges of experience in state governance, advance landmark major projects such as the Suzhou Industrial Park and cooperation on connectivity, foster new growth drivers for cooperation in fields such as green economy, digital economy and artificial intelligence, actively carry out third-party cooperation, promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and continuously enrich the all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership between Singapore and China. He said that Singapore is fully confident in China's development and is willing to continue investing in China. Singapore supports the Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping and is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination with China, safeguard free trade, uphold multilateralism, and make unremitting efforts to promote stability and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

After the talks, the two heads of government jointly witnessed the exchange of multiple cooperation documents in areas such as digital economy, green development, information and telecommunications, transportation, food safety, emergency management, and third-party cooperation.

Before the talks, Lawrence Wong held a welcome ceremony for Li Qiang at the Parliament House.
Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here.

Dear Care and Feeding,

Almost two years ago, my husband and I had our first child. It was a difficult pregnancy and a traumatic birth, followed by a surprise spine surgery for my partner, andjust six months latera broken leg for me. We live across the country from our in-laws, so their support is limited. However, my husband is deeply hurt by how little effort his dad and stepmom make for us, especially for him, compared to what they do for his three siblings and four stepsiblings. Granted, most of them live nearby, but three live overseas and still receive far more visits and support than we do.

Normally, Id be glad not to have overbearing in-laws, but I feel for my partner and our daughterI always hoped shed know her grandparents and have a relationship with them. We try to initiate and support a relationship (sending pictures, inviting them to her birthday party, and so on) to no avail. They always have an excuse not to visit, usually involving other family members or their own busy social calendars.

Some of the things theyve done that have really hurt include not meeting our daughter until she was six months old, even after wed asked them to visit when I broke my leg. They mail us terrible gifts once or twice a yearthe same ones they give to all the other kids and grandkidswhich only display how little they know us or understand our values. They never call or text first. And probably most hurtful of all, they exclude my husband from family functions.

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Lately, Ive noticed he is being completely left out. For example, his dad recently planned a family trip to Europe but didnt invite him (his siblings were invited). He is the youngest, and there is some residual pain from a childhood in which he often felt uncared for, so it is not only painful but also triggering to be left out as an adult. While I appreciate healthy confrontation, my husband avoids conflict. I want to call them and tell them how we feel, but my partner doesnt want me to do this, and I want to respect his boundaries with regard to his family. Still, its not only about him anymore; its about our daughter, too. How do I support my husband, encourage my daughters grandparents to do better (or at least be less obvious about favoring their other kids and grandkids), and dealif at allwith my in-laws?

Absentee Grandparents

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Dear Absentee,

I strongly suggest you stay out of it. You can support your husband by letting him vent to you, by listening compassionately (and not adding fuel to his distress by piling on to it), and by encouraging him gently to express his hurt and anger to you, friends, or a therapist if he cant or wont talk to his parents directly. There is history here that long predates you, and it is between him and his parents. You can be compassionate, sympathize, and even be angry on his behalf without stepping into the fray between parents and child.

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Also, Im afraid you cant get your in-laws to do better. And it would seem that they dont care about being obvious about favoring your siblings-in-law and their children, so I dont see how asking them not to will get you anywhere. I know youre disappointed (heartbroken? Furious?) that theyre not much interested in your child. I sympathize with that as someone who had a set of grandparents who couldnt have cared less about me, and then in-laws who visited only twice during my daughters entire childhoodit feels awful. But you cant force grandparents to be good grandparents, you cant force love, and sometimes you have to give up on something you once wished for. Since you rarely see your daughters aloof grandparents, I would urge you to let this go. They are who they are. Your child wont miss what she never had.

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Get parenting and family advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear Care and Feeding, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to Care and Feeding following up) Submit

Dear Care and Feeding,

My 3 -year-old daughter, Carla, has been in a very strong daddy phase for the past year. At first, she was rejecting only me (her mom), but now shes rejecting her grandparents, too.

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When they visit (and they dont live nearby, so its not like they get to see her every day), shes mean to them: She pushes and pinches them, and repeatedly says things like, Go away, Granny, and, Im not talking to youonly Daddy. They dont take it very well and are quite hurt by this. We have tried telling Carla to be gentle and to be kind, weve tried removing her from the situationliterally carrying her out of the roomand weve tried scolding her, but nothing seems to work. Do you have any advice on how to deal with this?

When Will This End?

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Dear When,

First: I cant tell you when it will end, only that it will. Small children are weird creatures; they have their phases. They pass. But not on the grownups schedule; only on their own. Making a fuss over whatever weird stage theyre in is more likely to prolong than shorten it.

Sure, if she pinches Granny, tell her not to (calmly). Remind her to use her words. (But then dont punish her when she does!) Three and a half may be a little young for her to make the distinction between gently and kindly expressing how she feels and being mean, so although its worth a try (If you dont want Granny to hug you, lets think about how you can tell her that without hurting her feelingsthen brainstorming some nice-ish ways she can send that message), the odds are not in your favor.

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A much more useful way to deal with this is for you to talk to her grandparents, reminding them that shes only 3, she doesnt mean to hurt them, and this very common phase will pass. You can even point out that theyre not the only ones shes temporarily opposed tothat shes been rejecting you, too. Then pass along some of the lessons Im sure youve learned: not to take it personally, not to put the emotional burden on her (dont say, for example, Oh, youre hurting my feelings!), and being patient.

If one of your concerns is that they will (or already do) blame you and/or Carlas father for her bad behaviorwell, youre going to have to let that go. If they blame you, they blame you. You know its not your fault, right?

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Dear Care and Feeding,

Beth and I are next-door neighbors and got pregnant at the same time. We always said it was fate that our daughters would be best friends. The problem is that Beths daughter, Zoe, has grown up to be a very shy and antisocial kid, while my daughter, Anabel, is the polar opposite.

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The girls are fine when its just the two of them, but Zoe gets bossy and demanding of Anabels attentions when other children are around. It has caused problems in their afterschool activities, where the girls had to be separated because Zoe would not leave Anabel alone. I tried to talk to Beth about this, but she insists that its not a problem, that Zoe is just my daughters best friend. But Anabel doesnt feel the same way; shes told me that she doesnt want to hang out with Zoe anymore.

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The girls start middle school next year, and I know Zoe is not going to make the transition very well. Zoe has no friends other than my daughter and her cousins. How do I talk to Beth about this?

About Zara

Dear About,

I dont think talking to Beth is the way to go. She knows that Zoe has no other friends besides her cousins, and she has already dismissed your complaint about Zoes behavior toward your daughter when other children are present. The only thing left to tell her is that your child no longer wants to be friends with hers. But that is not your message to give, nor hers to receive.

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Whats going on between the two girls is their problem to solve. If your child is telling youand not Zoehow she feels about her, the best thing you can do for Anabel is help her find ways to deal with this, not to try to deal with it for her. I understand that you want to spare your child the pain of breaking off this friendship herself, but even if I didnt think it was a bad idea for you to do that for her, Im unsure what youre hoping to accomplish if you deliver the message on her behalf. (Is it your hope that Zoes mother will forbid her to approach Anabel? That outcome, which seems unlikely to me anyway, would almost certainly backfire.)

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Has Anabel asked you to solve this problem for her? I suspect not. But even if she has, the way forward is to encourage her to talk the situation through fully with youhow she feels, how she used to feel, how she thinks Zoe feels, and how she imagines she will feel if her friendship with Zoe comes to an abrupt end (I dont want to hang out with her anymore, said in frustration to ones mother on a bad day, does not necessarily mean shes through with her friend). Ask her what she wants to do about Zoes demands for her attention. Ask her what she thinks will happen when they start middle school. Let her lead the way.

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Helping your daughter problem-solve a relationship is a great way to prepare her for future relationships. If she is being mistreated, she will need to learn how to stand up for herself. If she has outgrown this friendship, she will have to learn how to disentangle herself from it. And if she has no empathy for Zoe, who has been her good friend for some time, it would be good if you helped her develop some. Id start with not characterizing Zoe as antisocial, even in the privacy of your own mind. If you feel compassion for this shy, lonely childwhich, I hasten to say, does not mean forcing your daughter to continue to be her friendyou will (without even trying) model it for Anabel. And having compassion for others is one of the most important lessons you can teach her.

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One last thought: If you are telling yourself that you want to talk to Beth about Zoes neediness and bossiness for Zoes sakebecause you fear her mother hasnt a clue and needs to be warned about the difficult transition to middle schoolI am here to say that this definitely isnt your job. Your unasked-for advice will not be welcome.

Michelle

More Advice From Slate

I had an affaira choice I recognize was a hurtful one, but was born out of a really difficult time in my soon-to-be-former marriage. My question is how to get back on track with my kids, who are angry and refuse to speak to me, six months into the divorce process. Theyre old enough to have input into their own custody decisions, and it seems like I will have to pay while never getting to really see them
The following essay has been adapted and excerpted from The House of Beauty: Lessons from the Image Industry, published by W. W. Norton.

People at BDYHAX are the first adopters of body technology, the pilot subjects of our speculative futures. The BDYHAX conference is a dayslong event where body hackers, transhumanists, cyborgs, and general nerds all assimilate. Its one of many conferences of its kind, as the transhumanist movement becomes more mainstream at the behest of Silicon Valley. When I arrived, people in the hotel lobby were gathered around sources of electricity like overgrown moths. Cyborgs compared prosthetics like they would new handbags or tattoos, walking up and down the labyrinth of stairs between floors, waving above and below, charging their legs and arms and iPhones. An interactive sound installation tucked in the corner hummed and bellowed depending on how fast you spun the speakers, and it made mania of the room.

Governments spend serious money on the intersection of body hacking and body modification technology that this conference is meant to advertisea member of the Department of Defense is scheduled to keynote the event. Besides that, the CIAs venture capital arm provided funding for Skincential Sciences for their skin care products that have patented DNA extraction technology. While their consumer brand Clearista makes skin resurfacing products for clearer, younger-looking skin, its also a technology that could potentially permit the CIA to collect data about peoples biochemistry via exfoliation. This patented technology removes a thin layer of skin to reveal unique biomarkers that can be used for a variety of diagnostic tests. It is said to be painless and supposedly requires water, a special detergent, and a few brushes against the skin. Your biomarker profile can reflect a number of thingswhere youve been, what youve done, who you are, explained Russ Lebovitz, CEO of Skincential Sciences, to Fast Company.

Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support.

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Elite universities are also involved in what the beauty industry calls cosmeceuticals, this playground of ingredients that double as medical or militant products. The beauty brand Shiseido bankrolls Massachusetts Cutaneous Biology Research Center, where MIT and Harvard researchers work on dermatology, and hosts an annual pitch event off campus in Boston for students to contribute to the companys skin care portfolio.

Many of the conferencegoers in Austin, Texas, met previously at Bostons International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition. Plenty of competitors at iGEM go on to found companies together. Edgar Andres Ochoa Cruz, a judge at iGEM, happened to be at both. He was the first self-proclaimed biohacker in South America and opened a string of biohacking spaces throughout Latin America. Biohacking is a more permanent approach to body hacking, focused not only on augmentation of the body but modification of your chromosomes and genetic composition. If your body is a genetic procession of AGCT, the four DNA bases that make up genes, in an individual sequence, biohacking is the revision process of those letters for specific and tailored ends. In laymans terms, genetic editing is akin to revising a bodys capacities and health conditions through a scientists word processor. (Due apologies to all genetic engineers for the simplicity of the metaphor.) After helping found SyntechBio, Cruz founded OneSkin, a company dedicated solely to solving aging. For the past few years, hed been setting up public bioengineering labs for the community and sharing his knowledge with everyone who wants it. Hes teaching new recruits to the biohacking scene in South America the procedures of his anti-aging work in an effort to maximize the variations of molecular markers that can be tested.

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Cruz has billionaire competition in his product category: Peter Thiel, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk have all invested considerable amounts of money into transhumanist ventures. Google has a very secretive company called Calico that focuses on the biology of aging in mice, worms, and human cells and tissues. Both Bezos and Thiel invested in Unity Biotechnology, a startup to develop medicines that slow, halt, or reverse age-associated diseases, while restoring human health. Thiel alone has a few anti-aging ventures in his portfolio, including Unity.

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Beauty companies also visit the more commercial sister events like this because they know that customers are willing to pay thousands every year for skin care and services that make their skin look younger and smoother while the world burns around us. They send envoys to scope out anti-aging or bioprinting technology that they can buy out or sign usage for exclusively. Bioprinting and focus on the skin microbiome have shaped the research behind now-bestselling products. LOreals Dermatological Beauty Division is made up of precisely this research, and it results in products from La Roche-Posay, Vichy, CeraVe, SkinCeuticals, and Decleor; all brands I have in my vanity as I type this, products currently on my face right now.

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In 2023 LOreal spent over 1.2 billion euros on research, and they regularly host global summits showcasing their technological discoveries. In 2016, LOreal announced a partnership with Poietis, a health tech company in the business of printing human hair follicles. Poietis uses a 3D laser-assisted printer and robotics to print biological tissue in multiple, customizable layers, and then LOreal uses that for tests. Theyre working toward creating a functional follicle capable of producing hair. In 2015 and 2017 Poietis also announced partnerships with the company BASF for printing skin for cosmetic testing. Printing viable hair takes three weeks; skin takes just two. The faster the technology for printing skin and hair evolves, the faster animal testing and (whole) human testing regulations can be changed. Plenty of people boycott brands that do animal testing at all. If testing on bioprinted human tissue becomes cheap and scalable enough for smaller brands to adopt, the global market changes. And whennot ifit does, it will eventually eliminate low-paying jobs for humans who get paid to be test subjects for soon-to-market skin care products. The streamlined production cycle is a capitalists dream, and it happens to coincide with a cyborg one.

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Poietis excites Cruz, who already seems like a freight train you cant stop. With access to made-to-order skin samples, OneSkin would be able to perform testing that much faster, with fewer regulatory hoops to jump through. Its a matter of finding the right collaborator in the crowd whos working on adjacent technology. If that happens and his work leads to a true discovery, he can patent and protect his molecule and end up a very wealthy man, with LOreal and pharmaceutical manufacturers knocking on his door. Whenever I saw him for the rest of the conference, he was in the front and center of the audience, questioning every speaker about their work to find out how they could collaborate on processes. He set up a now-defunct $10,000 grant to entice synthetic bioengineers to work with his company for a younger, ageless future. He straddles the line between opportunist and idealist with sincerity and charm. The last thing he said to me that weekend is also on his website, evidently well-rehearsed: When you feel that you should have been born in the future, the only option is to build the future, so you can finally get to where you belong.

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On the last day of the convention I met a cyborg named Meow-Ludo Disco Gamma Meow-Meow, who had been sued by an Australian company for implanting his transportation card chip into his hand. Hed done so because he wanted to reduce the number of things he had to carry around to get through his day. Theyd tried to deactivate the card associated with his name, only to realize hed been using an anonymous transit-card chip insteadso they got the authorities to cut it out of him. He responded with the perfect question when bringing them to court: If you dont own your body and whats inside it, then what the hell do you own?

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What do you want the world to see about you, and what part of you would you be willing to owe in return?

Tech solutionism, the idea that tech can solve social, cultural, and structural problems, has never allowed real agency for the people who suffer most under the problems at hand. But I do think more focus and support ought to be devoted to the people who tech and the beauty industry often dont see, or forget about, who are considered broken or too stupid to participate at all. The invisible and visibly disabled, like my father, and my friends, the queer artists who are both fetishized and reviled for who they love. The femmes and the depressed and the tired who work themselves to the bone trying to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table by juggling three different app-based jobs and still just scrape by, who go into debt in service of strangers and Silicon Valley empires. The people who cannot afford a $15,000 titanium leg or a $200 insulin shot or a $40 manicure. The people who get left behind in fantasies of future health and wealth and beauty. The people who do not get excited at the idea of genetic editing, because it would allow their family or themselves to be edited out of who they are. Those people make up everyone I know and love.

BDYHAX presented the arguments most people have about technology and obligation succinctly on one of the last panels of the weekend. On the whiteboard beside the panelists, the following eventually emerged in a frantic scrawl: With enough technology we can make people equal, versus We can create a society where we treat each other equally without it.

I rewrote it in my journal to the following: Everyone is beautiful in an equal and good society, versus We can create a society where beauty doesnt factor into how we treat each other after all.
Pittsburgh Penguins (8-3-2, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (6-5-1, in the Atlantic Division)

Toronto; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins take the ice in Eastern Conference play.

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Toronto has a 5-2-1 record in home games and a 6-5-1 record overall. The Maple Leafs have a -1 scoring differential, with 43 total goals scored and 44 conceded.

Pittsburgh has an 8-3-2 record overall and a 5-2-1 record in road games. The Penguins have a 2-0-1 record when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent.

Monday's game is the first time these teams meet this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: John Tavares has scored six goals with 10 assists for the Maple Leafs. Matthew Knies has four goals and 10 assists over the last 10 games.

Sidney Crosby has nine goals and seven assists for the Penguins. Evgeni Malkin has three goals and 10 assists over the past 10 games.

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LAST 10 GAMES: Maple Leafs: 5-4-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 6.1 assists, 3.5 penalties and 7.6 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.

Penguins: 6-2-2, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.9 assists, four penalties and 11.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

INJURIES: Maple Leafs: None listed.

Penguins: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Xi says China willing to work with S. Korea for steady development of strategic cooperative partnership

Xinhua) 08:57, November 02, 2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands and poses for a photo with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Gyeongju, South Korea, Nov. 1, 2025. Xi held talks with Lee in Gyeongju on Saturday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

GYEONGJU, South Korea, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday said that China stands ready to work with South Korea to ensure the steady and long-term development of their strategic cooperative partnership.

Xi said during his talks with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung that China and South Korea are important neighbors that cannot be moved away and cooperation partners that cannot be separated.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 33 years ago, the two countries have transcended differences in social systems and ideologies, actively advanced exchanges and cooperation across the board, and achieved mutual success and common prosperity, he said.

Facts have proven that promoting the sound and steady development of China-South Korea relations has always been the right choice that serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples and meets the trend of the times, Xi said.

China values its relations with the South Korea and maintains consistency and stability in its policy toward the country, he said.

China is ready to enhance communication with South Korea, deepen cooperation, expand common interests, and tackle challenges together, ensuring that the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership contributes more positive energy to regional peace and development, Xi said.

Xi put forward a four-point proposal for opening up new prospects for China-South Korea relations.

First, Xi urged both sides to enhance strategic communication and consolidate the foundation of mutual trust.

Noting that the two sides should view the bilateral relations from a long-term perspective, Xi called on China and South Korea to pursue common development through mutual respect, and achieve win-win cooperation by seeking common ground while shelving differences.

The two countries should respect each other's social systems and development paths, accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, and properly manage differences and disagreements through friendly consultations, he added.

Xi proposed making full use of the dialogue channels and exchange mechanisms between the two countries to pool strength for the development of bilateral relations.

Second, Xi urged both sides to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and tighten the bond of interests.

Noting that to help one's neighbor succeed is to help oneself, Xi said that China is willing to work with South Korea based on the principle of mutual benefit and win-win results, accelerate the second phase of negotiations on the China-South Korea free trade agreement, and tap the cooperation potential in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, biopharmaceuticals, green industries and the silver economy, so as to upgrade the quality of their economic and trade cooperation.

Both sides attach great importance to combating online gambling and telecom fraud, the Chinese president said, adding that China and South Korea can carry out cooperation at the bilateral and regional levels to better safeguard the safety of the two peoples and their properties.

Third, Xi called on two countries to strengthen the friendship between the two peoples and bring their hearts closer together.

China and South Korea should better communicate with the media and the general public, send more positive messages, and check tendencies that may harm the relationship, he said, adding that the two countries should conduct healthy and beneficial cultural and people-to-people exchanges to deepen mutual understanding and consolidate the popular foundation of bilateral relations.

They should facilitate cross-border travel, and encourage more exchanges among the youth, media and think tanks as well as at the local level, so as to foster mutual affinity between their peoples and create a favorable atmosphere for the sound and stable development of bilateral relations, Xi added.

Fourth, Xi urged the two countries to strengthen multilateral cooperation and jointly promote peace and development.

Xi said that China congratulates South Korea on successfully hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, adding that as China takes over as APEC host, it is willing to work with member economies to advance the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific and regional economic integration, so as to build together an Asia-Pacific community.

The two countries should work together to practice true multilateralism, safeguard the multilateral trading system, and make global governance more just and equitable, he said.

Xi stressed that the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee has reviewed and adopted the Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan.

Noting that China's economy has a solid foundation, advantages in many areas, strong resilience and great potential, with conditions and underlying trend supporting its long-term growth unchanged, Xi said China will resolutely expand high-level opening up and share development opportunities with all countries of the world.

For his part, Lee said he warmly welcomed President Xi on his state visit to South Korea after 11 years, underscoring its great significance for South Korea-China relations.

Since the establishment of their diplomatic relations, South Korea and China have continuously deepened mutually beneficial cooperation across the board, which has boosted economic development in both countries, he said.

The two countries are neighbors, and more importantly, inseparable partners, Lee said, adding that South Korea attaches great importance to its relations with China and stands ready to work with China to further advance the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

The two sides should maintain close high-level interactions, promote exchanges among political parties and at local levels, and properly handle differences, he said.

China's 15th Five-Year Plan outlines the direction and priorities for its economic development in the next five years, Lee said, adding that South Korea is ready to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with China, keep industrial and supply chains stable, and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

South Korea is ready to intensify people-to-people exchanges with China to strengthen the bond between the two peoples, he said.

South Korea supports China in hosting the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, and stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China in international and regional affairs to jointly promote regional and global peace and development, he added.

Before their talks, Lee held a welcome ceremony for Xi. Accompanied by Lee, Xi reviewed the guard of honor.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents covering economy and trade, finance, agriculture, law enforcement, and science and technology.

Later on Saturday, Lee held a cordial, small-group meeting with Xi and hosted a welcome banquet in honor of Xi.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung are seen on the reviewing stand in Gyeongju, South Korea, Nov. 1, 2025. Xi held talks with Lee in Gyeongju on Saturday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, accompanied by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, reviews the guard of honor in Gyeongju, South Korea, Nov. 1, 2025. Xi held talks with Lee in Gyeongju on Saturday. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung walk to the venue for their talks in Gyeongju, South Korea, Nov. 1, 2025. Xi held talks with Lee in Gyeongju on Saturday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Gyeongju, South Korea, Nov. 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Gyeongju, South Korea, Nov. 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Recent Nobel Peace Prize winner and leader of Venezuela's opposition movement, Maria Corina Machado, has for months supported numerous actions by the Trump administration aimed at weakening Nicolas Maduro's authoritarian regime in the South American country.

In October, when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Machado dedicated the honor to the people of Venezuela and to President Donald Trump, citing their devoted support in the fight for democracy.

"We are on the threshold of victory, and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve freedom and democracy," Machado said.

According to an exclusive Reuters report, Machado's diplomatic relationship with the Trump administration intensified at the start of Trump's second term, when she and members of her U.S.-based office met with senior officials to discuss Maduro's control over the Tren de Aragua gang.

Two people present at the meeting, interviewed by Reuters, said Machado video-called from her hideout in Venezuela, and her team met with Mike Waltz, then Trump's national security adviser.

Reuters reported that the meeting was part of a "high-stakes gamble" Machado undertook to maintain pressure on the Maduro regime, even as alignment with Trump-era policies sometimes negatively affected Venezuelan immigrants in the United States.

The reporting indicates that the opposition pushed the narrative that Maduro had ties to the Tren de Aragua gang, discussing the theory publicly and privately when it aligned with the administration's priorities. Reuters was unable to determine whether these efforts influenced U.S. policy.

Machado declined to comment on the story. Waltz, now the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, did not respond to questions about the January 6 meeting, and Venezuela's Information Ministry did not reply to requests for comment on Maduro's reaction to the allegations.

According to the report, between January and April, Machado's team met in at least eight occasions with Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other U.S. officials, in which they talked about designating the Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization, according to two of the U.S.-based Venezuela opposition sources consulted by Reuters.

One of the central themes in the report is the moral struggle within Machado's camp, where the opposition, having already exhausted most of its options to oust Maduro, has turned to Trump for help.

Two opposition sources told Reuters Machado's team recognizes the risk of being seen as betraying Venezuelans but believes maintaining alignment with Trump offers the best chance in their quest for democracy. One source added that their ultimate goal remains the removal of Maduro, despite the potential costs.

Venezuelan politics experts say the strategy carries high stakes. David Smilde, a scholar at Tulane University, noted that if the approach succeeds, Machado could gain immense prestige among her countrymen. But failure, or any resulting U.S. military intervention that sparks instability, could leave her facing blame for both domestic and regional fallout.

Jimmy Story, a U.S. ambassador to Venezuela until 2023, told Reuters the opposition has run out of options.

"They've protested and been killed. We've asked them to negotiate, they negotiate, we asked them to do elections, they do elections, they win and he still won't leavewhat remains but supporting this?"

Originally published on Latin Times
The leading driver at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, Tyler Buter, won half of the 14 races on Saturday, Nov. 1 at the northeast Pennsylvania oval, including both features.

One feature win came routinely (if a 12-1 win is ever routine), and one after surviving an inquiry dealing with a late miscue. Buter's seven-bagger matched one posted by Jason Bartlett as the most prolific driving days at Pocono in 2025.

The feature races were a pair of $24,648 conditioned contests for horses on the improve, one for each gait. The Southwind Frank-Panamera sophomore trotting gelding Credit To Frank ($24.60) won his race with a masterful drive by Buter, equalling his mark of 1:56. Kept off a flurry of early-to-mid-race lead changes, Credit To Frank got in a good backstretch flow, swept to the lead into the stretch, and won by 1-3/4 lengths over favoured Kovu As (Anthony Napolitano), who had been first at the quarter  and last at the stretch call. Evolving (Braxten Boyd) was placed third. Ron Burke conditions Credit To Frank for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The gelding is now five-for-29 lifetime.

In the pacing feature, Oakwood Heymiki Ir ($2.10) improved his lifetime record to 19 for 40, but he had to survive the blinking red neon "inquiry" sign before this 1:51.4 victory was official. Buter moved the heavy favourite to the lead early, and the gelding strung out the field and appeared to be on his way to an impressive but uneventful victory when he suddenly lost gait within 50 metres of the wire, coming home 1-3/4 lengths in front while off stride. The judges gave the video a hard look but deemed no rule violation, so Oakwood Heymiki Ir (who did suffer broken equipment in the incident) kept the victory for trainer Robert Cleary and the ownership of Royal Wire Products Inc.  who purchased the five-year-old son of Always B Miki-I Got Rhythm the day before the draw. Beach Bum Harley (George Napolitano Jr.) was second, followed by Captain Luffy (Matt Kakaley).

Buter's win with Credit To Frank was one of three for the Burke Brigade. The reinsman also scored with a closing Compensate Me ($13.40) in 1:52.3 for the same ownership as Credit To Frank, and Finite ($12.20) in 1:54.3, owned by that group along with Phil Collura. Burke leads the standings at Pocono, now with 108 victories, and is 47 clear of second-placed Hunter Oakes.

There was a pair of $22,535 claiming handicap paces for the local horses carrying in the highest tags. In one, Spring Blake ($3) won for the third time in his last five starts (he lost photos in the other two), sitting in the two-hole behind a contested pace, then pulling out on the far turn and racing away to a 1:51.2 triumph for Buter. The Courtly Choice-Spring Break four-year-old ridgling had been claimed for $52,817 by Carmen Iannacone two starts ago and given over to trainer Oakes. Spring Blake was again claimed for that amount Saturday after having won $16,902 in two starts for his now-former connections.

In the other $22,535 sub-featured claiming event, the Western Vintage-Iemma Machine Baby eight-year-old gelding Elite Machine, after drawing the two worst posts at Pocono in his last two starts, started from the tracks leading post five and never looked back, recording a new mark of 1:51.4 for owner Todd Rosenberg. George Napolitano Jr., who was the only sulkysitting feature winner besides Buter, also was the only driving doubler, both for Elite Machines trainer Bob Belcher.

In a $21,127 fast-class conditioned pace, the four-year-old Captaintreacherous-Mean Leen gelding Maxim Hanover ($5.20) was ready for a maximum effort in his second start after nearly three months away, grinding up uncovered after a fast pace and still being able to draw clear in 1:50.2, only a tick off his career mark on the cool day. Buter had the drive for trainer Cleary and Royal Wire Products Inc.

One characteristic of a smart trainer is that they use hot drivers, and all of Buters seven wins came from barns ranking in Poconos top seven: meet leader Burke (three), Cleary (two), and Oakes and Dean Eckley (one each), with Heisman Player winning by a nose for the latter in 1:53.2. And sometimes top trainers and drivers return good prices: three of Buters septet were favourites, but the others paid $12.20, $13.40, $26.40 and $46.

After four straight Pocono cards with at least one $50+ winner, there was no bomber winning on this past Tuesdays card, but the longshot brigade came back to life on Saturday. Rose Run Astro went first-over against an odds-on pacesetter, put him away on the far turn, then held off Puzzling (Anthony Napolitano) for driver Braxten Boyd at a $54.20 mutuel. Rose Run Astro was the 50th winner paying $50 or more at Pocono in 2025, and Boyds seventh. That reinsman trails only Anthony Napolitano, who has driven 10.

Tony Beltrami scored an easy victory in a $14,085 trotting race for the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) with 1-9 chalk Massive Matter leading every step of the way to post a 1:56.3 win for trainer/owner Frank Catalfamo.

There will be 1 p.m. racing at Pocono on Monday and Tuesday, and both cards will feature first-round action in the new Winter Is Coming Series, a pop-up event which will be contested in two $12,500 USD divisions for pacers on Monday and three $12,500 USD cuts for trotters on Tuesday. There will also be a carryover into Mondays fifth-race Pick 5 Wager.

(With files from PHHA/Pocono & AHDC; picture of Credit To Frank winning on Nov. 1)
Betty and Tony Infilise of Hudson Standardbred Stable, together with Mark and Shawn Steacy, have announced that Sylvia Hanover has been officially retired from racing.

The five-year-old daughter of Always B Miki - Shyaway will soon travel to Kentuckiana Farms in Kentucky to begin an exciting new chapter as a broodmare.

"Sylvia has provided countless unforgettable moments for the Infilise family, the entire Team Steacy, and the many fans who have cheered her on over the past four years," said the Infilises in a statement issued on Saturday, Nov. 1. "She earned two Breeders Crowns, numerous Grand Circuit stakes victories, and an impressive 27 wins with career earnings of $3,172,024 (US$2,268,468)."

This year, Sylvia Hanover set a world record on a five-eighths mile track with a time of 1:47.2 at Plainridge Park, winning the Clara Barton Distaff Pace over Twin B Joe Fresh. She was recognized as Two Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year in both Canada and the United States in 2022, and again as Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year in both countries in 2023. She also earned Canadas Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year title in 2023.

"We sincerely thank everyone who has been part of Team Sylvia for making her journey so special, especially her fans whose support meant so much throughout her career," the statement continued. "The care and affection shown to Sylvia, exemplified by her devoted groom Natasha Steacy, were truly remarkable. The guidance, stewardship, and management provided by Shawn and Mark Steacy are deeply appreciated by our family. In addition, we so appreciated the caring and skilled manner of Bob McClure who drove Sylvia for most of her career and carefully guided her development and taught her the key early lessons which contributed to her four years of racing at the top level.

"Following her final two starts, including a fourth-place finish in the Breeders Crown, an MRI was conducted on her right foot and fetlock. While most findings were positive, an injury to her collateral ligament was discovered, requiring approximately four months of rest. Although her prognosis for a racing return was favourable, we have chosen to retire her now and look forward with great excitement to cheering on her future foals."

A 2026 stallion date for Sylvia Hanover has yet to be decided.

(Standardbred Canada & Hudson Standardbred Stable)
Two-year-olds took the spotlight in four $176,056 Kindergarten Series finals at The Meadowlands on Saturday, Nov. 1.

Owner Ken Jacobs took home a pair of winners circle pictures as he swept the pacing finals with gelding Bookie J and filly Prtynproud Hanover.

Bookie J brushed early to the fore and endured through a sprint to the finish for a 1:51.2 victory in the final for pacing colts and geldings.

Bookie J eased off the pylons from third rounding the first turn and pushed towards early leader Rocknacious (Jason Bartlett) through a :28.1 first quarter. Bookie J cleared to command for Dexter Dunn into the backstretch and cruised steadily to a :57.1 half while Signal Caller (Andrew McCarthy), the 4-5 favourite, readied a first-over attack to the far turn.

Signal Caller surged up the rim through the bend as Dunn gradually accelerated with Bookie J. The two matched strides through three-quarters in 1:24.4 and into the stretch until Signal Caller levelled off nearing the final eighth. Toast Of The Town (Todd McCarthy) tipped off Signal Callers cover late and lunged after Bookie J, but Bookie J responded to the challenge and powered to the finish to bag the victory by a neck. Apocalypsebluechip (Joe Bongiorno) emerged from a shuffle for third.

The two [Rocknacious and Apocalypsebluechip] got out of there pretty good and the pace sort of backed up, so I moved him a little earlier, Dexter Dunn said after the race. But hes really been racing good this year and getting better all the time. I feel like every time I sit behind him hes matured more and more. Early on in the year his gait wasnt 100 per cent, a few steering issues, but [trainer] Chris [Ryder] and the team have got him sorted out. Tonight, he was perfect; he felt great. I think hes going to keep maturing and be a nice three-year-old.

Chris Ryder trains Bookie J, a son of Perfect Sting-Skyy, for Jacobs. The gelding notched his fourth victory from 11 starts and has accrued $291,546 in earnings. He paid $10.40 to win.

Prtynproud Hanover secured a pocket ride and pounced past weary pacesetter Darlins Angel to claim a 1:51.1 victory in the final for rookie pacing fillies.

Driver Yannick Gingras hoisted Prtynproud Hanover forward to take the top from 1-2 favourite Darlins Angel (Lauren Tritton) after a :26.2 first quarter. Once on the lead, Prtynproud Hanover settled and slowed, prompting Darlins Angel to pull outside and circle back to the front before a :55 half. Darlins Angel cruised through the last turn while Prtynproud Hanover swelled in the trail, with Gingras eventually nudging his charge to the outside passing three-quarters in 1:23.1. Prtynproud Hanover locked onto Darlins Angel in the stretch and charged smoothly in the final eighth of a mile to scoot away and win by 2-1/2 lengths. Fabulous Hanover rallied from second-over for second with Darlins Angel holding third.

Bongiorno trains Prtynproud Hanover, a filly by Downbytheseaside-Pretty N Fast, who now has six wins from nine starts and $145,873 earned. Sent off as the third choice in the betting, she paid $19 to win.

Jacobs purchased the $13,889 yearling in late July out of the Andrew Fulton barn after she swept the Bucky Gray Jr. Memorial Pace at Ocean Downs. He said of the filly I watched a couple of races, and I really fell in love with the horse. Shes got long legs, shes just a pretty horse, and she has some go. I know she only beat half-mile horses, but I figured with her breeding she could go [1:]51 or [1:]52, [1:]53 as a 2-year-old. And they were good people too  they took care of the horse.

Busy Miss Lissy S and Twin B Seven Sins sailed to victories in the trotting finals.

Sent off as the favourite in the filly bout, Busy Miss Lissy S, driven by Johnathan Ahle, took an easy spot in fourth on the pylons as Kate (Daniel Dube), All Time Trot S (Gingras), and outside-leaving Kickan (Todd McCarthy) lined up to take the group to a :27.3 first quarter. Kate took the early lead off the moderate quarter and strolled up the backstretch as Busy Miss Lissy S left the cones to advance on the leader into a :56.4 half.

Busy Miss Lissy S steadily gained on the outside and caught cover through the turn once All Time Trot S edged out of the pocket to press Kate to three-quarters in 1:25.4. Into the stretch, All Time Trot S took the lead, but Busy Miss Lissy S moved into charging position and marched to the wire under a strong hold in a lifetime-best 1:53.3. All Time Trot S finished second, beaten a neck, with Kickan finishing third.

The winner, a Denmark-bred daughter of Calgary Games-Hills Angel S, is now six-for-eight and scored her second victory in a row with Johnathan Ahle in the bike.

"We have started using [Ahle] the last couple of months," said co-trainer Sarah Svanstedt. "And hes a great driver, so when it works out you better keep going with it. [This filly] has a great attitude and big heart  shes very small, but she loves to race and that goes a very long way when they are two-year-olds.

Panamera Racing owns Busy Miss Lissy S, who raised her first-season bankbook to $212,200. The Ake Svanstedt trainee paid $4.60 to win.

In the Kindergarten colt trot, Scott Zeron steered a masterful inside trip with the 87-1 shot Twin B Seven Sins to shock his nine opponents and their backers in a lifetime-best 1:53.3.

The Noel Daley-trained son of Chapter Seven-Affair Hall was placed well in third behind favourite Magic Punk (Ahle) and longshot Lindy Living (Dunn) heading past a :27.3 first quarter. After a :56.3 half and nearing the second turn, Highball Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) took to the outside to chase and entered a nose-to-nose duel with Magic Punk coming to three-quarters in 1:25.1.

Twin B Seven Sins hugged the inside turning for the finish and found room to pass Magic Punk and win by 1-1/2 lengths while AI (Gingras) made a strong bid down the centre of the track and got up for second. Magic Punk tired to third.

Zeron lauded the colt after driving him for the first time.

"He raced sensational," he said. "Noel told me Dont sleep on him because he can go with these horses. Having the rail helped out, I was sitting third at the quarter pole following two very talented horses, so it was just hoping my horse was good on this given day and he was.

Patricia Stable, Caviart Farms, Allister Stables LLC, and L.A. Express Stable LLC own Twin B Seven Sins, now a five-time winner from 11 starts with $157,098 earned. Sent off as the third-longest shot in the betting, the colt paid $177.40 to win.

In overnight action, Tom Horn extended his winning streak to five with a gate-to-wire score for driver Dave Miller and trainer Ron Burke. The sophomore son of Cattlewash-Dancinwiththestarz, a Kindergarten finalist at two, prevailed by a length in 1:50 over Courts On Fire (Gingras). Dont Drop The Ball (Boyd) was third. The winning gelding, owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, W.J. Donovan, David Miller, and J&T Silva- Purnel&Libby, paid $5 to win.

Ahle, Miller, and Gingras led the driver colony with two winners apiece. Burke topped the trainers with a pair of victories.

There were no winning tickets sold on the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $7,950.24 for next Thursdays card. Those with five correct collected $226.32. All-source handle on the 14-race program totaled $3,198,548.

Next week is the first of three this month with Thursday racing at The Meadowlands. Thats when live action resumes at 6:20 p.m.

(With files from The Meadowlands; photo of Bookie J winning on Nov. 1)
Joelsyy Hanover held off a game Timeisonmyside in the lane to take his second straight $39,437 Open Pace on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.

Tyler Smith had Joelsyy Hanover on his toes when the wings folded and grabbed the early lead from The Bird Dance N (Sam Widger) in a :26.2 opening panel. As the field of eight passed the grandstand for the first time, Alta Revelry N (Jeremy Smith) was the first to move, providing cover for Timeisonmyside (Aaron Merriman) at the half-mile station in :55. The pace picked up in the third split as Alta Revelry N advanced and stuck a head in front before the 1:21.2 three-quarters, but Joelsyy Hanover battled back and fought off a passing lane challenge by Timeisonmyside to score in the 1:50 mile by a head. Alta Revelry N held on for third.

Joelsyy Hanover has won back-to-back Opens at the Dayton oval and secured his 28th career win in his 147th lifetime start. The seven-year-old gelded son of Jk Endofanera-Jans Luck has earned $568,470. He is co-owned by trainer Jessica Millner and Andrew Coblentz. The win price was $5.40.

Uncle Jord A and Sam Widger started the evening with a bang when the pair lit up the toteboard at 38-1 in the $22,535 starter allowance pace. The Devils Own N (Brett Miller) cut the fractions of :26.1, :54.3, and 1:21.4, with Uncle Jord A sixth at three-quarters with only one rival beat. As the field spun around the final turn, Uncle Jord A, a 10-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Serenas Delight, shifted outside and soared down the lane, rolling past the tiring The Devils Own N by a length in 1:51.2. Cheyenne Tuff (Chris Page) used a ground-saving trip for third.

Brian Tatham trains the winner, who is now 32-for-202 with $473,662 in career earnings, for Tatham Racing Stable LLC. The gelding paid $78.80 to win.

Dayton Raceway will host its next card on Tuesday, Nov. 4 with a 14-race program starting at 4 p.m.

(Dayton Raceway)
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Latin America and the Caribbean continues to be the region with the highest number of murders of journalists, according to the UNESCO Director-Generals Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity
James Kerr, fondly known as Jim, Jimmy or Kaiser, passed away peacefully on Oct. 25, 2025, at the age of 63.

Jim grew up in Dungannon, Ont. ,and most recently made his home in Clinton, Ont., where he could be close to his horse barn  his favourite place to spend time. Whether he was training horses, catching up with friends or lending a hand to anyone who needed it, Jims easygoing nature and quick wit made him a beloved part of the community.

He will be deeply missed by his sisters, Debby Haskell and Jodie (Doug) Ruston, and by his nieces and nephews, Kristopher (Marissa) Haskell, Kassandra (Kyle) Haskell, Kelsey Eggleston, Dakota (Nicole) Ruston and Kody Alton. Jim is also survived by his brother-in-law, Eugene Alton.

He was predeceased by his parents, Douglas and Lois Kerr, and by his sister, Angela Alton.

Jim will be remembered for his love of horses and his ability to make those around him laugh. His family and friends will cherish the many memories and stories he leaves behind.

Honouring Jims wishes, no additional arrangements will take place. Those wishing to make a memorial donation may do so to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Jim Kerr.
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:

Carnegie Mellon University Head of Machine Learning, Zico Kolter delivers a keynote speech at AI Horizons Summit in Bakery Square on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 in Pittsburgh. Credit: Sebastian Foltz/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP

If you believe artificial intelligence poses grave risks to humanity, then a professor at Carnegie Mellon University has one of the most important roles in the tech industry right now.

Zico Kolter leads a 4-person panel at OpenAI that has the authority to halt the ChatGPT maker's release of new AI systems if it finds them unsafe. That could be technology so powerful that an evildoer could use it to make weapons of mass destruction. It could also be a new chatbot so poorly designed that it will hurt people's mental health.

"Very much we're not just talking about existential concerns here," Kolter said in an interview with The Associated Press. "We're talking about the entire swath of safety and security issues and critical topics that come up when we start talking about these very widely used AI systems."

OpenAI tapped the computer scientist to be chair of its Safety and Security Committee more than a year ago, but the position took on heightened significance last week when California and Delaware regulators made Kolter's oversight a key part of their agreements to allow OpenAI to form a new business structure to more easily raise capital and make a profit.

Safety has been central to OpenAI's mission since it was founded as a nonprofit research laboratory a decade ago with a goal of building better-than-human AI that benefits humanity. But after its release of ChatGPT sparked a global AI commercial boom, the company has been accused of rushing products to market before they were fully safe in order to stay at the front of the race. Internal divisions that led to the temporary ouster of CEO Sam Altman in 2023 brought those concerns that it had strayed from its mission to a wider audience.

The San Francisco-based organization faced pushbackincluding a lawsuit from co-founder Elon Muskwhen it began steps to convert itself into a more traditional for-profit company to continue advancing its technology.

Agreements announced last week by OpenAI along with California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings aimed to assuage some of those concerns.

At the heart of the formal commitments is a promise that decisions about safety and security must come before financial considerations as OpenAI forms a new public benefit corporation that is technically under the control of its nonprofit OpenAI Foundation.

Kolter will be a member of the nonprofit's board but not on the for-profit board. But he will have "full observation rights" to attend all for-profit board meetings and have access to information it gets about AI safety decisions, according to Bonta's memorandum of understanding with OpenAI. Kolter is the only person, besides Bonta, named in the lengthy document.

Kolter said the agreements largely confirm that his safety committee, formed last year, will retain the authorities it already had. The other three members also sit on the OpenAI boardone of them is former U.S. Army General Paul Nakasone, who was commander of the U.S. Cyber Command. Altman stepped down from the safety panel last year in a move seen as giving it more independence.

"We have the ability to do things like request delays of model releases until certain mitigations are met," Kolter said. He declined to say if the safety panel has ever had to halt or mitigate a release, citing the confidentiality of its proceedings.

Carnegie Mellon University Head of Machine Learning, Zico Kolter delivers a keynote speech at AI Horizons Summit in Bakery Square on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 in Pittsburgh. Credit: Sebastian Foltz/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP

Kolter said there will be a variety of concerns about AI agents to consider in the coming months and years, from cybersecurity"Could an agent that encounters some malicious text on the internet accidentally exfiltrate data?"to security concerns surrounding AI model weights, which are numerical values that influence how an AI system performs.

"But there's also topics that are either emerging or really specific to this new class of AI model that have no real analogues in traditional security," he said. "Do models enable malicious users to have much higher capabilities when it comes to things like designing bioweapons or performing malicious cyberattacks?"

"And then finally, there's just the impact of AI models on people," he said. "The impact to people's mental health, the effects of people interacting with these models and what that can cause. All of these things, I think, need to be addressed from a safety standpoint."

OpenAI has already faced criticism this year about the behavior of its flagship chatbot, including a wrongful-death lawsuit from California parents whose teenage son killed himself in April after lengthy interactions with ChatGPT.

Kolter, director of Carnegie Mellon's machine learning department, began studying AI as a Georgetown University freshman in the early 2000s, long before it was fashionable.

"When I started working in machine learning, this was an esoteric, niche area," he said. "We called it machine learning because no one wanted to use the term AI because AI was this old-time field that had overpromised and underdelivered."

Kolter, 42, has been following OpenAI for years and was close enough to its founders that he attended its launch party at an AI conference in 2015. Still, he didn't expect how rapidly AI would advance.

"I think very few people, even people working in machine learning deeply, really anticipated the current state we are in, the explosion of capabilities, the explosion of risks that are emerging right now," he said.

AI safety advocates will be closely watching OpenAI's restructuring and Kolter's work. One of the company's sharpest critics says he's "cautiously optimistic," particularly if Kolter's group "is actually able to hire staff and play a robust role."

"I think he has the sort of background that makes sense for this role. He seems like a good choice to be running this," said Nathan Calvin, general counsel at the small AI policy nonprofit Encode. Calvin, who OpenAI targeted with a subpoena at his home as part of its fact-finding to defend against the Musk lawsuit, said he wants OpenAI to stay true to its original mission.

"Some of these commitments could be a really big deal if the board members take them seriously," Calvin said. "They also could just be the words on paper and pretty divorced from anything that actually happens. I think we don't know which one of those we're in yet."

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BOONE, N.C., Nov. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow, Samaritan's Purse will launch its third airlift to Jamaica, scaling up the organization's ongoing relief efforts to Hurricane Melissathe largest storm in the country's history. The 767 cargo plane will carry an Emergency Field Hospital to the island nation. Jamaica's Ministry of Health requested this life-saving facility to provide urgent, critically needed care to patients as many hospitals and infrastructure across the island were severely damaged in the storm. The facility will be built in Black River, where the hurricane made landfall along Jamaica's southwest coast and destroyed the local hospital.

Samaritans Purse has already airlifted 39 tons of relief supplies to Jamaica and more is on the way.

The Emergency Field Hospital will be rapidly setup by members of the organization's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) as soon as it arrives in Jamaica. It will be equipped with more than 30 inpatient beds and will include:

One operating room for surgical procedures

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Emergency Room (ER)

Obstetric (OB) ward for maternal and neonatal care

Laboratory, pharmacy, and blood bank

"We are bringing in doctors, nurses, and the entire team it takes to get this hospital up and runningalong with all the equipment and supplies we need," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "Hospitals, homes, and entire communities have been devastated. We want these people to know that God loves them and we care about what they're going through. We will also continue distributing emergency supplies like water filters and shelter material. Please continue to pray for the people of Jamaica and for our teams as we respond in Jesus' Name."

The field hospitala self-sustaining lifeline for disaster-stricken communities is the latest in a long list of emergency supplies that the organization has deployed to the island. To date, Samaritan's Purse has airlifted 39 tons of emergency relief to Jamaica with more flights planned in the coming days. Samaritan's Purse has distributed more than 1,300 shelter tarps, water filters, solar lights, and other supplies. The N.C.-based organization has also deployed four community water filtration systems, which are each capable of serving up to 10,000 people per day with safe, drinking water.

Additionally, Samaritan's Purse mobile medical teams will begin conducting mobile medical clinics tomorrow to care for those in need. Plans are also underway to establish helicopter medical evacuation routes for patients requiring advanced care.

MEDIA REQUESTS

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

Interview Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan's Purse

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High-quality photos and broadcast-quality B-roll available HERE

About Samaritan's Purse:

Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan's Purse responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situationsespecially in locations where few others are working. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org.

SOURCE Samaritan's Purse
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With their distinctive shaggy orange manes, pale blue faces and dense fur covering their hands and feet, it's hard to mistake China's endangered golden snub-nosed monkeys for any other animal.

These rare and charismatic monkeys, unique to the frigid mountains of central China, recently joined the country's famous pandas as furry envoys to zoos in Europe for the first time  on loan for 10 years from the same government-overseen group that coordinates official panda exchanges.

As with "panda diplomacy," some observers cheer new opportunities for scientific and conservation collaboration, while others raise concerns about the welfare of animals transported around the world.

Arrival in Europe

Three golden monkeys arrived at France's Beauval Zoo in the city of Saint-Aignan this April, following an agreement to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and France.

Another trio arrived at the Pairi Daiza zoo in Hainaut, Belgium, in May. The zoo distributed Belgian and Chinese hand flags to visitors on the day the monkeys arrived.

After a monthlong quarantine, the two sets of monkeys made their public debuts. So far, they appear to be in good health, according to the two zoos, adapting to new climates outside Asia for the first time.

At Pairi Daiza, the habitat enclosure for Liu Yun, Lu Lu and Juan Juan includes traditional Chinese gazebos with red columns and gray-tiled roofs, where the monkeys spend much of their time jumping between logs and rope ladders and scrambling over roofs.

"The diplomatic aspect comes from this cultural awareness," said Pairi Daiza spokesperson Johan Vreys.

The hope is to build longstanding scientific exchanges between the zoos and Chinese authorities, said Anais Maury, communications director for the Beauval Zoo.

The zoo is in discussions with China to launch joint research and conservation programs "similar to those already in place for other emblematic species like pandas," Maury said.

Animal envoys

Both giant pandas and golden snub-nosed monkeys are endangered animals that are unique to China and can only be moved outside the country with approval from the central government, said Elena Songster, an environmental historian at St. Mary's College of California. Both species are considered national treasures.

Monkeys have deep roots in Chinese art and culture, appearing in countless paintings and as characters in classic literature, including the wily Monkey King in the 16th century novel "Journey to the West."

Pandas quickly became symbols of modern China  in part to due to their "cuddly cuteness" and deft diplomatic presentation, said Susan Brownell, a China historian at the University of Missouri, St. Louis.

The original soft power couple from post-war China was a pair of giant pandas, Ping Ping and Qi Qi, sent to the Soviet Union in 1957 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution, which led to the establishment of the world's first Communist state.

In 1972, a pair of pandas was sent to the U.S. for the first time, following President Richard Nixon's historic visit to Beijing. In 1984, China switched from gifting pandas to loaning them.

After outcry from animal-rights activists, China ended the practice of short-term loans and began longer leases, usually about a decade. In this arrangement through the China Wildlife Conservation Association, part of the money that an overseas zoo pays annually to China must be earmarked for habitat conservation or scientific research to benefit the species.

Still, what benefits a species may not be beneficial to an individual animal. Transporting animals over long distances and sending their offspring back to China, as the agreements require, may highly stress animals, said Jeff Sebo, an environmental and bioethics researcher at New York University.

Conservation efforts

Golden snub-nosed monkeys live across a swath of central and southwestern China that includes parts of Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu and Hubei provinces.

At the Shennongjia National Park in Hubei, conservation efforts since the 1980s helped increase the region's population threefold to about 1,600 monkeys today, said Yang Jingyuan, president of the Academy of Sciences at the park.

It's unclear exactly how to evaluate the diplomatic track record of furry ambassadors.

Still, "Pandas open up an opportunity for people to think something positive about China  they're cute, they don't do anything bad," said James Carter, a China historian at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia.

"China's golden snub-nosed monkeys aren't globally iconic yet," Brownell said, "but there may be potential for them to be in the future."

Photos: Insect and animal life around the globe
NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of common stock of James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE: JHX) between May 20, 2025 through August 18, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 23, 2025.

So what: If you purchased James Hardie common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

What to do next: To join the James Hardie class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=46976mailto:or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 23, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, James Hardie Industries plc misled investors about the strength of its key North America Fiber Cement segment between May 20 and August 18, 2025. Despite knowing by April and early May that distributors were destocking inventory, James Hardie falsely claimed demand remained strong and that stock levels were "normal." When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the James Hardie class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=46976 or mailto:call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

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The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
T-shirts  covered in fake blood and bearing the words Problem Solved  have sent outrage through the Cienega High School community after a group of math teachers wore the matching garb to class as Halloween costumes.

Some parents contended in social media posts that the shirts were a reference to the Sept. 10 killing of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, who was shot in the left side of his neck in front of a crowd of supporters in Utah.

The shirts, blood-soaked down the left side, drew the attention of angry residents who found the costumes distasteful and political in nature, according to posts showing the group of teachers posing together in the outfits.

But Vail School District Superintendent John Carruth said the shirts, available for purchase all over the web, were bought and worn last year as well, long before Kirks death.

These shirts were worn both this and last year as part of math-themed Halloween costumes and were not intended as a reference to any person, event, or political issue, said Carruth, superintendent of the district on the Tucson areas southeast side.

The Halloween costume was meant to represent solving tough math problems, he said. Any reference that these shirts were related to something other than that are simply false and untrue.

On X, one commenter said that her husband honors and loves Charlie (Kirk) and he wore (the shirt) this week. She mentioned that he purchased the shirt last year on TEMU, an online store.

Others, however, said the teachers actions were unprofessional.

As a teacher myself, I was absolutely appalled by that photo of those folks wearing blood-like patterned T-shirts, a poster wrote. Irrespective of your political views and convictions, you must remain professional and impartial. In my classes, I never allow myself even a single political comment.

Carruth apologized for the concern and upset the situation has caused the community, but said the behavior exhibited toward the participating teachers has reached a point of concern, as well. The character of the educators has been called into question, and some have been targeted online as a result of the misunderstanding, he said.

Personal attacks or threats against staff are unacceptable and do not reflect the values of our community, he said.

It appears that Carruths statement has been since deleted off the districts Facebook page.

But in an email sent later Saturday to the Vail district community, Carruth said: The teachers involved care deeply about their students and this community. Many have served Vail families for years. All of them are committed to protecting children, and none of them would intentionally cause hurt or pain. They too are truly sorry that this has caused concerns. The shirts will not be worn again. We appreciate the opportunity to learn from this experience and ask for your grace as we do so.

Some were not buying Carruths explanation.

Theres a difference between being clever and being crude, and this missed the mark entirely, a reader posted. If this is what passes for creativity in the math department, maybe they should recalculate their sense of appropriateness.

The timing, the imagery, the slogan  none of it adds up. And the fact that the district is defending it instead of acknowledging how tone-deaf it looks? Thats the real problem that needs solving.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The U.N. Security Council on Friday approved a resolution backing Moroccos claim to the disputed Western Sahara, a shift that aligns with the Trump administration's support for the North African country.

Although the vote was divided, the resolution offers the strongest endorsement yet for Moroccos plan to keep sovereignty over the territory, which also has backing from most European Union members and a growing number of African allies.

The United States welcomes todays historic vote, which seizes upon this unique moment and builds on the momentum for a long, long overdue peace in Western Sahara, Mike Waltz, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said in his remarks after the vote.

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The resolution refers to Moroccos plan as a basis for negotiation. As with similar resolutions in previous years, the text makes no mention of a referendum on self-determination that includes independence as an option, which is the solution long favored by the pro-independence Polisario Front and its allies, including Algeria, Russia and China.

In a rare speech broadcast on Moroccan television after the vote, King Mohammed VI celebrated the result and pledged to supplement Moroccos proposal with additional details. He also called for dialogue with Algerias President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

We are starting a new chapter in the process of consolidating the Moroccanness of the Sahara, and closing, once and for all, this fabricated conflict, the king said.

The U.S., which sponsored the resolution, led 11 countries in voting in favor, while three countries  Russia, China and Pakistan  abstained. Algeria, Polisarios primary benefactor, did not vote.

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Sidi Mohamed Omar, the Polisaro ambassador to the U.N., thanked the allies who abstained and Algeria for protesting the vote, saying this made it very clear that todays resolution does not imply any recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over Western Sahara.

In other words, and in plain English, it does not imply recognition of Moroccos illegal military occupation of Western Sahara, he added.

Western Sahara is a phosphate-rich stretch of coastal desert the size of Colorado that was under Spanish rule until 1975. Its claimed by both Morocco and the Polisario Front, which operates out of refugee camps in southwestern Algeria and claims to represent the Sahrawi people indigenous to the disputed territory.

Amar Bendjama, the Algerian ambassador to the U.N., said that while the resolution was an improvement on previous iterations, it still has a number of shortcomings.

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The resolution says genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could constitute a most feasible solution.

The measure also renews the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara for another year, as has been done for more than three decades. Prior extensions, however, havent included a reference to Morocco and its allies preferred outcome.

Trump envoys reiterate support for Morocco

The vote came weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff jolted the region by suggesting on CBS 60 Minutes that peace between Morocco and Algeria could be reached within 60 days. The neighboring countries aren't at war, but haven't had diplomatic relations for four years.

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Massad Boulos, Trumps senior adviser for African affairs, reiterated U.S. support for Moroccos plan in an interview with Sky News Arabia this week.

The U.N. resolution calls on all parties involved to seize this unprecedented opportunity for a lasting peace. Depending on progress, it asks Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General, to review the peacekeeping missions mandate within six months.

The shift could unsettle a long-stalled process that for decades has eluded resolution, despite a U.N. peacekeeping mission designed to be temporary. Demonstrations have ensued in Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria this week, where people have vowed not to give up their fight for self-determination.

A lasting stalemate

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Morocco controls nearly all of Western Sahara, except for a narrow strip known as the free zone that lies east of a Moroccan-built sand wall.

A 1991 ceasefire was meant to pave the way for a referendum on self-determination, but fighting over voter eligibility prevented it from taking place.

Over the years, Morocco has transformed the disputed territory, constructing a deepwater port and a 656-mile (1,055-kilometer) highway. State subsidies keep food and energy prices low, and the population has ballooned as Moroccans settle in cities such as Dakhla and Laayoune.

Polisario withdrew from the ceasefire in 2020 after clashes near a road Morocco was paving to Mauritania.

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The group has since regularly reported military activity, while Morocco has mostly denied open conflict. The United Nations calls it low-level hostilities.

Pressure builds as priorities shift

The conflict is the driving force in North African diplomacy. Morocco sees support for its autonomy plan as a benchmark for how it gauges its allies.

Last October, U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura suggested partitioning Western Sahara, a proposal neither side accepted. He urged Morocco to clarify what autonomy would entail and warned a lack of progress might raise questions about the United Nations' role and whether there is space and willingness for us to still be useful.

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The push to reassess the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara comes as the United States slashes funding for U.N. programs and agencies, including peacekeeping.

U.S. officials are taking an a la carte approach to funding, picking which operations and agencies they believe align with Trumps agenda and which no longer serve U.S. interests. They argue that the U.N.s budget and agencies are bloated. They pledge to halt new contributions pending a review of every U.N. agency and program.

___

Metz reported from Rabat, Morocco.
Luong Thu Huong

A book about French literature authored by Vietnamese writers has been published by the Ho Chi Minh General Publishing House, offering readers a better understanding of the literary body that has long remained obscure and overlooked in Viet Nams literary landscape.

French literature represents a unique segment of Viet Nam's literary expression, focusing on the countrys culture and people. Unlike the long-established tradition of Vietnamese literature written in Han Chinese and Vietnamese Nom scripts, which has been widely accepted, studied and taught throughout Viet Nam's literary history, works in French have often been neglected, particularly in the latter half of the 20th century. This oversight has created a significant void in the nation's literary record for decades.

The book Van Hoc Viet Nam Phap Ngu 1913-1986: Di Biet, Xung ot va Hoa Giai (Vietnamese Literature in French 1913-1986: Difference, Conflict and Reconciliation) by French-based Vietnamese author Nguyen Giang Huong makes a crucial and valuable contribution to filling this gap.

During the expansion of colonial rule in Viet Nam, the French introduced a comprehensive system of Western thought and values that profoundly influenced the country's cultural landscape. French was taught in schools and used as the administrative language in Indochina.

In this multilingual and multicultural context, some Vietnamese intellectuals chose to adopt French  the language of the colonisers  to articulate their personal identities, which were often fraught with contradictions.

They were both subjects of a colonised nation and intermediaries navigating the cultural interactions between East and West. Their works reflect the conflicts arising from cultural differences within colonial and post-colonial Vietnamese society. In her book, Huong analyses twelve representative novels written between 1913 and 1986.

The French version of the book, published in 2018, was awarded the Renaissance Francaise (Understanding France) prize by the Academy of Foreign Sciences of France in 2019.

Reclaiming the voices of the forgotten

Huong conceived the idea for the book while reading several French language works rich in Vietnamese identity by authors including Pham Van Ky, Pham Duy Khiem and Cung Giu Nguyen during her master's studies in France.

In particular, she explored President Ho Chi Minh's archives at the Ho Chi Minh Museum and discovered that, before becoming a revolutionary leader, he had written powerfully in French to critique colonialism using the oppressors own language.

"These authors not only possessed literary talent but also masterfully used various artistic techniques in French to create poetry, prose, drama, and essays. Ironically, they have been completely forgotten, both in France and Viet Nam," Huong told Viet Nam News.

"The stories of these Vietnamese individuals abroad are not central to French literature, despite migration being a focal point of public discourse in that country. The sentiments of Vietnamese expatriates often go unread by those in Viet Nam, as they are expressed in a foreign language."

According to Huong, Vietnamese literature in French, although written in a foreign language, is an inseparable part of Vietnamese literature as a whole.

This segment of literature inevitably arose from and clearly testifies to the cultural and literary exchange between the French and Vietnamese from the colonial period through to the end of the 20th century.

A bridge between cultures

"The works of Vietnamese authors writing in French not only deepen our understanding of the influence of French culture in Vietnamese literature but also demonstrate the impact of Vietnamese aesthetics within the international Francophone literary landscape," she said.

By using the French language, Vietnamese writers present the beauty of Vietnamese culture and language to the global Francophone community, offering insights into human existence and life through the lens of Vietnamese perspectives.

"In other words, Vietnamese literature in French serves as a bridge connecting Vietnamese literature with world literature, where Vietnamese Francophone writers act as its most dedicated 'ambassadors'," Huong added.

Huong analyses twelve representative novels that illustrate key stages of cultural contact and reflect the evolving attitudes towards identity and transformation in a multicultural context.

"In the context of colonisation and loss of autonomy, Vietnamese authors have consistently sought to affirm their ancestral spaces and national traditions in their works. In the circumstances of migration, expatriates face an unavoidable dilemma: to integrate or to dissolve. The issue of identity becomes more urgent than ever," she explained.

"Francophone Vietnamese writers have sought a path back to their homeland through recollection and literary creation, aiming to preserve the roots of their identity."

Reviving a neglected legacy

As this segment of literature has been almost entirely forgotten in both Vietnamese and French literary history, the writer has faced numerous challenges in gathering documents for her book. Still, she considered it her greatest motivation.

These works, published either in Viet Nam or in France during the first half of the 20th century, have mostly not been reprinted since then. As a result, gathering complete original texts has proven extremely difficult and costly, as only a limited number of copies remain in the hands of rare book collectors.

"Fortunately, I found nearly all the works I needed at the National Library of France, where I spent a significant amount of time in the reading room, since the library does not allow books to be borrowed," Huong said.

Moreover, there is very little research on this area of literature, aside from the work of Professor Jack V. Yeager, The Vietnamese Novel in French: A Literary Response to Colonialism, published in 1987 and never reprinted.

"Thus, I had to read a substantial amount of material on the history, society and culture of both Viet Nam and France to create a project that is both comprehensive and rich in specific examples, with the deepest possible analyses of style and language," Huong recalled.

"Today, this work has been launched in Viet Nam. I hope it will be embraced by Vietnamese readers, leading to recognition of this literary tradition within the national literature and elevating overseas Vietnamese authors who wrote in French as 'cultural ambassadors' of Viet Nam abroad."

According to literary researcher Pham Xuan Nguyen, the book is vital for both Vietnamese and French book lovers alike.

"The book is essential for the French to reflect on their colonial past, recognising that there was a group of indigenous writers who used the language of the 'mother country' to express their identity," he said.

"It is also necessary for the Vietnamese to look back on their own colonial history and understand that there were local writers who bravely used the language of their conquerors to fight for their rights."

"This book by Huong, along with The Vietnamese Novel in French: A Literary Response to Colonialism (1987) by Professor Jack A. Yeager, is crucial for anyone interested in 20th-century Vietnamese literature. From here, it is hoped that the body of Francophone Vietnamese literature will gain the recognition it deserves in the history of national literature," he added. VNS

Nguyen Giang Huong, PhD, is the head of the Southeast Asian Language and Literature section at the National Library of France. The author has defended her doctoral thesis on the poetics of multicultural subjects in Francophone Vietnamese novels during the colonial period at the University of Paris - Nanterre.

.
NEW YORK  Ambassador o Hung Viet, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations, has called on countries to step up institutional and legal preparations at all levels to move towards the implementation phase of the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).

He made the call while chairing an international seminar on preparations for the effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, held on Saturday as part of International Law Week at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.

The event, co-organised by Viet Nam and Singapore, and co-sponsored by Australia, France, Costa Rica, Belize, and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), brought together leading experts and scholars on the law of the sea, along with representatives from nearly 100 countries across five continents.

Adopted by the UN General Assembly on June 19, 2023, after nearly two decades of negotiation, the BBNJ Agreement has so far been signed by 145 countries and ratified by 75. It will enter into force on January 17, 2026, after reaching 60 ratifications on September 19, 2025. Viet Nam was among the first signatories and among the earliest to complete domestic ratification.

Since its adoption, a preparatory committee has convened two sessions to discuss procedure rules and structures for institutions to be established under the agreement, including the Conference of the Parties (COP), the scientific and technical body, the financial mechanism, the compliance committee, and the Secretariat. These efforts aim to ensure effective implementation of the agreement.

At the event, Ambassadors and legal experts from France, Costa Rica, Cabo Verde, Palau, Sierra Leone, the AOSIS, and other countries discussed opportunities and challenges in implementing provisions on environmental impact assessment (EIA), area-based management tools (ABMTs), and financial mechanisms, drawing on lessons from existing multilateral agreements.

As keynote speaker, Dr Nguyen Thi Lan Anh  Viet Nams candidate for judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 202635 term  stressed that capacity-building and technology transfer are essential for the effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, helping developing nations strengthen legal frameworks, enhance marine research, and engage more substantively in exploring and using marine genetic resources.

She urged developing countries to assess priorities, promote regional and international cooperation, and make full use of the Agreements institutional and financial mechanisms to protect national interests while contributing to global efforts to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  State President Luong Cuong and his entourage engaged in a series of important multilateral and bilateral activities at the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders Week in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea (RoK) from October 29 - November 1, projecting an image of a proactive, responsible, and innovative Viet Nam in regional cooperation.

The President attended sessions of the week, delivered remarks at the APEC CEO Summit, and met with numerous leaders of APEC member economies, international organisations, and major regional corporations.

During discussions with fellow APEC leaders, President Cuong mentioned a range of global issues, highlighting emerging strategic trends shaping the future of the world and the region, including sustainable energy transition, rapid technological progress, especially digital transformation, and artificial intelligence (AI).

At the first session themed Towards a More Connected, Resilient Region and Beyond, he underscored the need for APEC economies to strengthen policy coordination, bolster strategic trust, and advance practical cooperation to overcome global challenges. He noted that geopolitical volatility, supply chain disruptions, digital transformation, and climate change require concrete, inclusive, and effective responses from APEC.

At the second session, he stressed that science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation lay the bedrock for a new phase of rapid and sustainable growth, adding that innovation must be a societal endeavor involving all sectors, government agencies, businesses and the public.

Drawing on Viet Nams development experience and the regions broader outlook, he proposed solutions to make APEC cooperation more substantive and adaptive to fast-changing realities, ensuring tangible benefits for all member economies. His remarks, marked by proactivity, responsibility, and a commitment to multilateralism and international solidarity, contributed to the overall success of the summit and elevated Viet Nams role and stature within APEC and the global mechanisms.

He sent a clear message of Viet Nams vision, policies and commitment to reform under its new resolutions on national development.

Amid global uncertainties and disruptions, Viet Nam offers stability, safety, and sustainable opportunities to enterprises. Partnering with Viet Nam offers a politically and socially stable environment, transparent investor-friendly policies, a market of more than 100 million people, a dynamic fast-growing economy, a skilled young workforce and increasingly modern infrastructure, he said.

He also held bilateral meetings with leaders and head delegates from nearly all APEC economies to boost cooperation in trade, investment, technology, digital transformation, and AI. Notably, he met with Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, with both meetings helping strengthen mutual trust and open new areas of collaboration aligned with Viet Nams development orientations.

In particular, he reaffirmed Viet Nams readiness to host APEC 2027, pledging to work with member economies to shape a substantive agenda focused on extensive economic integration, innovation, and sustainable development.

On the sidelines, President Cuong and his Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung held talks, affirming their resolve to effectively realise the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and expand cooperation in hi-tech industries, technology transfer, new energy, labour, and people-to-people exchanges.

Both leaders vowed close coordination to activate existing mechanisms, expedite signed agreements, make their economic partnership more substantive and mutually beneficial that matches each sides development goals and drives major, tangible breakthroughs.

The Vietnamese leader also joined Vietnam Day in Gyeongju, a city with historic ties to Viet Nam via Ly Dynasty descendants who settled in the RoK centuries ago. The event highlighted Vietnamese culture, people and heritage, fostering deeper mutual understanding and friendship.

Overall, President Cuongs presence at the APEC Economic Leaders Week marked a successful and impactful diplomatic mission on both multilateral and bilateral fronts. The trip showcased Viet Nams vision and determination to shape a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and sustainable Asia-Pacific region, while solidifying its status as one of the regions most dynamic and innovative economies.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Lawmakers will concentrate on legislative activities during the third working week of the 15th National Assembly (NA)'s 10th session from November 3 to 7.

The NA is scheduled to discuss several draft laws, including the amended Law on Investment; the laws amending and supplementing several article of the Law on Public Debt Management, the Law on Insurance Business, the Law on Statistics, and the Law on Prices; the Law on E-commerce; the Law on Enforcement of Temporary Detention and Custody; the amended Law on Execution of Criminal Judgements; and the law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Judicial Records.

In addition, deputies will give opinions on draft laws such as the amended Law on Civil Judgment Enforcement; the amended Law on Judicial Expertise; the laws amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Anti-corruption, and the Law on Intellectual Property; the amended Law on Tax Administration; the amended Law on Personal Income Tax; the Law on Thrift Practice and Anti-wastefulness; and the amended Law on Construction, among others.

The NA will also discuss the amended Law on Planning; the law that amends and supplements a number of articles of the Law on Urban and Rural Planning; the Law on Cybersecurity; and the amended Law on Protection of State Secrets. Deputies will further comment on the adjustment to the National Master Plan for 20212030.

During the week, the NA will devote one session to group discussions on the draft documents to be submitted to the 14th National Party Congress.  VNA/VNS
METUCHIN, N.J., Nov. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Podiatry Content Connection (PCC), the marketing firm devoted exclusively to podiatry, has taken a bold step forward with a $500,000 investment in artificial intelligence education and innovation. This significant commitment reflects the company's dedication to helping podiatry practices grow stronger, reach more patients, and thrive in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

pcc PRACTICE BUILDER by Clearwater Marketing Group, LLC, Patient Pro-Connect, and Targeted Reviews attract more new patients, engage existing patients, and improve online reputation for dentists and chiropractors. (PRNewsfoto/Clearwater Marketing Group)

After completing advanced AI programs at UC Berkeley and MIT in 2023, PCC's leadership team transformed academic insights into real-world solutions. By blending proven marketing strategies with powerful new technologies, the company has developed a suite of AI-driven initiatives designed to attract patients, improve retention, and give practices the ability to adapt and excel in the years ahead.

AI-Driven Tools That Deliver Results

PCC's flagship Practice Builder platform has been enhanced with intelligent solutions that provide measurable benefits. Patient Pro-Connect improves email deliverability and campaign conversion rates, ensuring practices reach patients more effectively. The SEO Tracker boosts search rankings and strengthens online visibility. In addition, smarter directory optimization and geo-targeted campaigns make it easier for practices to connect with patients in their local communities. Reputation management has also been elevated through Targeted Reviews, helping podiatrists generate more feedback and build trust with prospective patients.

"Artificial intelligence is not just a trend, it is a transformation," said Jeffrey Hartman, Founder of PCC. "Our clients look to us for strategies that work today and will continue to work tomorrow. By investing in AI, we are giving podiatrists the tools to thrive in a marketplace that is changing faster than ever before."

Beyond these core systems, PCC has introduced AI-generated video solutions and advanced chatbots that provide a more dynamic connection between practices and patients. Videos showcase services in engaging ways, while conversational chatbots respond instantly to patient inquiries, increasing responsiveness and appointment bookings. Early adoption of these tools is already delivering measurable outcomes, including more reviews, higher visibility, and a steady increase in new patient appointments.

Setting a New Standard in Medical Marketing

Hartman underscored the company's focus on tangible outcomes. "At the end of the day, what matters most to our clients is new patients walking through their doors," he said. "AI allows us to enhance what we already do best, which is helping practices attract, engage, and retain patients, while setting a new benchmark for what podiatry marketing can achieve."

Looking ahead, PCC believes artificial intelligence will play an even greater role in shaping how healthcare providers connect with their communities. "This is only the beginning," Hartman added. "We are constantly testing, refining, and advancing our tools because we know the future of podiatry marketing will be defined by smart software and innovation. Our mission is to make sure our clients are always one step ahead."

About Podiatry Content Connection

Podiatry Content Connection (PCC) is the premier marketing firm dedicated exclusively to podiatry. Serving practices across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, PCC delivers innovative programs, AI-powered solutions, and personalized service that help podiatrists attract more patients and increase revenue.

For more information, visit www.PodiatryCC.com,follow @PodiatryContentConnectionPCC, email [email protected], or call (718) 475-9449.

SOURCE pcc Practice Builder
HA NOI  Viet Nam and the United States have confirmed that cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war remains a top priority in their overall defence relations, contributing to building trust between the two countries, their militaries and peoples.

The agreement was reached on Sunday during talks between Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who is paying an official visit to Viet Nam from November 2 to 3. The talks took place following an official welcome ceremony.

Minister Giang stressed that Secretary Hegseths visit holds special significance as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of Viet NamUS diplomatic relations (19952025). He said the visit will further promote the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation and Sustainable Development, as well as strengthen bilateral defence cooperation.

Both sides agreed that defence cooperation between Viet Nam and the US has been carried out in line with the guidance of senior leaders of both countries and the two ministries, as well as existing documents and agreements, including the 2011 Memorandum of Understanding on Promoting Bilateral Defense Cooperation and the 2024 Updated Joint Vision Statement on Defense Relations.

Key areas of cooperation include delegation exchanges at all levels, regular dialogue and consultation mechanisms held alternately in each country, training, participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, military medicine, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, service-branch cooperation and defence industry collaboration. Both sides have also coordinated closely in multilateral mechanisms, particularly within the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

Giang thanked the US Department of War for its continued support in English-language and professional training, including peacekeeping courses, seminars and workshops both in Viet Nam and abroad. He noted that US-supplied equipment and infrastructure have significantly enhanced Viet Nams capacity to participate in UN peacekeeping missions.

The minister emphasised that cooperation in addressing war consequences remains a highlight of bilateral defence ties in three key areas.

First, joint efforts to deal with unexploded ordnance and chemical contamination have continued effectively. He expressed his appreciation for the US announcement of an additional US$130 million to support the dioxin remediation project at Bien Hoa Airport, bringing total US non-refundable aid for the project from $300 million to $430 million.

Notably, on October 31, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc Evans Knapper signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening cooperation in post-war recovery, marking an important milestone and a solid foundation for further joint efforts in this area.

Second, cooperation in searching for US personnel missing in action (MIA) in Viet Nam has continued to produce results. To date, after 160 joint operations, Viet Nam has handed over a total of 994 boxes of remains, of which the US has identified 740. This, Giang said, reflects more than five decades of joint efforts and goodwill between the two countries.

Third, regarding the search for Vietnamese soldiers killed or missing in action during the war, Viet Nam appreciates the information and documents provided by the US, as well as the country's assistance in improving forensic identification capacity. Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on this cooperation in July 2021, Vietnamese defence agencies have verified 44 out of 45 dossiers received from the US and are continuing active search operations.

Giang expressed hope that the US would continue to support Viet Nams defence ministry in developing a skilled workforce and sharing experience in cybersecurity. Viet Nam welcomes US officers to study Vietnamese and participate in the International Defence Officers Course in the country, he said.

He also called on the US to further assist Viet Nam in enhancing its capacity to address unexploded ordnance and chemical contamination, and to finalise internal procedures to ensure the disbursement of the additional $130 million for the Bien Hoa Airport dioxin remediation project as agreed.

The Vietnamese minister also called for continued cooperation in the search for Vietnamese soldiers who died or went missing during the war. He said Viet Nam is committed to facilitating MIA activities to achieve the highest possible efficiency.

He also welcomed the participation of senior US defence officials and advanced defence equipment at the Viet Nam International Defence Exhibition 2024, which contributed to the events success. Giang revealed that Viet Nam plans to hold the third edition of the exhibition at the end of 2026 and invited the US Department of War and US defence enterprises to continue their support and participation.

For his part, Secretary Hegseth confirmed that his visit highlights the importance of bilateral defence relations within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation and Sustainable Development. He reiterated US support for a peaceful and prosperous Viet Nam and commitment to strengthening the partnership to help maintain regional and global peace and stability.

During the talks, both sides exchanged views on global and regional issues of shared concern.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of war memorabilia between the two officials.  VNS
HA NOI  Party General Secretary To Lam has suggested the US continue supporting and expanding cooperation with Viet Nam in addressing post-war issues, including dioxin cleanup, bomb and mine clearance, assistance for those with disabilities, and search and identification of remains of Vietnamese soldiers missing during the war.

These joint efforts not only carry profound humanitarian value but also serve as a vital foundation to heal the wounds of the past, build goodwill and mutual trust, and pave the way for a long-term partnership between the two countries, he told US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during a reception in Ha Noi on Sunday.

General Secretary Lam welcomed Hegseths official visit which coincides with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 50th anniversary of the wars end in Viet Nam, saying that the visit holds significance as it reflects a long journey the two nations have taken to build todays increasingly trusted, substantive, and sustainable Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

On the occasion, he conveyed greetings to US President Donald Trump and invited the President and First Lady to visit Viet Nam soon.

He affirmed Viet Nams consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation, adherence to international law, and promotion multilateralism for peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

Viet Nam always considers the US one of its most important partners and seeks to further deepen extensive bilateral ties across various sectors for the benefit of their people, he said.

Commending President Trumps efforts to promote peace and settle global conflicts, he affirmed Viet Nams readiness to play an active, responsible role in seeking solutions to global and regional issues.

He praised the outcome of talks between Secretary Hegseth and Vietnamese Defence Minister Phan Van Giang, noting that defence cooperation has become a key pillar of bilateral relations. He urged both sides to continue advancing substantive, mutually respectful defence collaboration based on respect for independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and principles of external relations and national defence of Viet Nam, contributing to bolstering strategic trust and ensuring regional peace and stability.

Hegseth, for his part, said he was honoured to visit Viet Nam, a nation that is playing an increasingly important role in the Indo-Pacific region. Conveying President Trumps greetings to the host, he commended the General Secretarys leadership in shaping the Viet Nam - US relationship. On behalf of the US Government, he also offered sympathy over recent flood losses in north central Viet Nam.

The US values its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Viet Nam and supports a strong, independent, resilient and prosperous Viet Nam, he said, adding that the US wishes to enhance strategic cooperation both bilaterally and regionally, particularly in countering transnational crime, maritime security, humanitarian assistance, officer training, UN peacekeeping, and disaster response.

The US will continue to help Viet Nam improve defence capacity, modernise its defence industry, and expand quality personnel training programmes, he said.

The US Secretary highlighted ongoing progress in post-war remediation efforts, including dioxin cleanup projects at Bien Hoa and a Nang airports, calling them vivid symbols of reconciliation and partnership. He pledged continued coordination with the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence (MoD) to complete ongoing projects and explore new areas of cooperation suited to both sides needs and ability.

Both sides agreed that maintaining high-level exchanges and regular dialogues between their defence agencies, particularly between the MoD and the US Department of War, is essential to build trust, deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and contribute to global and regional peace, stability, cooperation and development.

The host closed by advocating for sustained cooperation based on mutual respect, equality, shared benefit and long-term interests of their people. He expressed confidence that with resolve of the two countries' leaders, bilateral relations will enter a new era of substantive cooperation and sustainable development.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  State President Luong Cuong received US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who is on an official visit to Viet Nam, on Sunday.

President Cuong welcomed Hegseths visit and expressed his belief that it will contribute significantly to realising commitments between the two countries' high-ranking leaders, further promoting the Viet NamUS Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a more substantive, effective and sustainable manner, as the two nations celebrate the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

The President reaffirmed Viet Nams consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation, and being a reliable friend, a trusted partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community. He also reiterated Viet Nams defence policy of Four Nos, contributing to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.

Appreciating the outcome of the talks between Secretary Hegseth and Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang, the President welcomed the two sides agreement to enhance dialogue, consultations and exchanges of delegations to strengthen defence cooperationparticularly in maritime security, humanitarian assistance, UN peacekeeping, defence industry, technology transfer and personnel trainingon the basis of mutual trust, equality and respect, in line with international law and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the AsiaPacific.

The host thanked the US for its close cooperation with Viet Nam in addressing war legacies, including unexploded ordnance and Agent Orange/dioxin contamination, and called on both sides to continue effective coordination in the search and identification of the remains of Vietnamese soldiers and missing US service members, as well as in supporting war victims in Viet Nam.

President Cuong also suggested that the US side arrange an early visit to Viet Nam by President Donald Trump, describing it as a new historic milestone in bilateral relations and a driving force for advancing strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Hegseth extended sympathy over the recent flood damage in the northern and central provinces of Viet Nam.

He affirmed that the US attaches great importance to its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Viet Nam, highly values Viet Nams growing role and position in the region and the international arena, and is committed to further strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in defence. He emphasised that the US supports a strong, independent and prosperous Viet Nam, continuing to play a key role in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

He noted that the US will continue to work closely with Viet Nam in the settlement of war consequences, including bomb and mine clearance, dioxin remediation, and the search and identification of remains of Vietnamese soldiers, while seeking to expand cooperation in defence industry, maritime security, training and capacity building in areas of shared interest.

Discussing regional issues, both sides affirmed their support for ASEANs common stance on the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), particularly the principles of ensuring freedom and safety of navigation and overflight, and resolving disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). VNA/VNS
HUE  Party General Secretary To Lam on Sunday visited Hue City to meet residents hard hit by the recent historic floods, presenting VN100 billion (US$3.8 million) in financial aid and 200 tonnes of rice to support recovery and restore socio-economic stability.

According to preliminary reports from local authorities, eight out of 40 communes and wards in Hue remain flooded, with water levels averaging up to 0.5 metres, and in some areas, deeper.

On Saturday afternoon, more than 5,975 houses across the city were still submerged in up to 0.7 metres of water, with Quang ien and Phong ien communes and Hoa Chau and Phu Ho wards among the hardest-hit areas.

In Quang ien Commune, the General Secretary visited Khuong Pho ong Village, which had been isolated by floodwaters over the past few days. He expressed deep sympathy for the losses suffered and encouraged residents to overcome the hardships and restore their lives as soon as possible.

Lam also emphasised the solidarity shown by the Party, the State, organisations and people across the country, who have consistently supported flood-affected areas in central Viet Nam, including Hue.

He stressed the importance of ensuring residents safety and guaranteeing that no one is left in need or isolated without timely assistance. In addition, he personally presented 45 gifts to families in Quang ien facing especially difficult circumstances due to the flooding.

On the same day, Vice Chairwoman and Secretary-General of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha also delivered VN20 billion ($760,0000) in aid to support the people of Hue.

Further assistance for flood-hit provinces

On Saturday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh approved emergency funding of VN100 billion ($3.8 million) for Hue (second tranche) and VN100 billion for a Nang to address flood damage.

These funds were drawn from the 2025 Central Reserve Budget to help the two cities recover and stabilise residents lives, as proposed by the Ministry of Finance.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the Ministry of Finance is responsible for verifying and reporting all related data and proposals in compliance with the law. The Peoples Committees of Hue and a Nang are responsible for managing and using the funds transparently, ensuring proper allocation and targeted support while preventing misuse and reporting results to the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant agencies for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

A rapid report from the Department of Dike Management and Disaster Prevention under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment showed that on Sunday morning, floods in the central and Central Highlands provinces have thus far resulted in 40 deaths or missing persons, 60 injuries, more than 16,500 flooded houses and 91 collapsed or damaged homes.

Agricultural losses include 5,307ha of submerged rice fields and crops, while livestock suffered heavily, with 42,079 animals killed or swept away. As for transportation, 59 sections of national highways remain blocked.

Floodwaters are gradually receding, with local authorities and functional forces working to repair damage, support residents and restore production.

On October 29, the PM signed Decision 2400/Q-TTg providing VN350 billion ($13.3 million) in aid to three flood-affected localities, including Hue (VN150 billion), Quang Tri Province (VN100 billion) and Quang Ngai Province (VN100 billion).

According to the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, this month is expected to bring several severe weather events affecting multiple regions.

Tran Thi Chuc, Deputy Head of the Climate Forecasting Department, noted that two or three storms or tropical depressions may develop over the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) this month.

Heavy rains are expected from Ha Tinh to ak Lak and Khanh Hoa provinces. The western provinces of Lam ong and southern regions are likely to experience multiple days of showers and thunderstorms, including occasional moderate to heavy rainfall.

During this period, cold air masses will continue to increase in frequency and intensity. Hazardous weather phenomena, such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail and strong winds may occur nationwide, Chuc warned.

She added that storms, tropical depressions and cold fronts could generate strong winds and high waves at sea, affecting maritime activities, while heavy rainfall may cause floods in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous regions.  VNS
HCM CITY  Provinces across the Mekong Delta are intensifying coordinated measures to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as part of nationwide efforts to have the European Commission (EC)'s yellow card warning against Vietnamese seafood lifted.

An Giang and Ca Mau, which boast the largest fishing fleets in the region, are tightening vessel monitoring, strengthening port control, and raising awareness among fishermen while ensuring sustainable livelihoods.

According to the An Giang Provincial Border Guard Command, from September 12 to October 12, border units held 129 awareness campaigns for vessel owners, captains, and fishermen, distributing nearly 2,000 related leaflets. At the same time, border guard forces enhanced inspections on vessel departures and arrivals, focusing on high-risk cases.

During the reviewed period, independent patrols conducted 86 inspections at sea, targeting 305 vessels with 1,556 crew members, uncovering three violations with over VN15 million (US$570) in fines  four fewer cases than the previous month. A VN900 million penalty dossier for an illegal offshore fishing case was also completed, and as of October 10, 16 cases detected earlier involving 22 vessels had been resolved.

Col. Pham Van Thang, Commander of the Provincial Border Guard, said only those that prove their seaworthiness are permitted to leave port, with 100 per cent of vessel movements inspected and monitoring systems (VMS) required to operate continuously.

Managing over 63,000sq.km of maritime area bordering three countries, An Giang faces high compliance demands. The province has reviewed and licensed all eligible vessels and classified 1,245 unqualified boats for follow-up handling.

Chairman of the Provincial Peoples Committee Ho Van Mung requested that no three-no vessels (unregistered, uninspected, or unlicensed) be allowed to leave ports. He also called for the application of the VNFishbase national fisheries database, the VMS tracking system, and VNeID digital identification for crew management, along with stricter penalties for vessels that lose VMS signals or commit boundary violations.

Since early this year, thousands of fishermen have signed commitments not to operate in foreign waters. Awareness in coastal communities has improved, with all outbound vessels now carrying full documentation and fishing logs.

An Giang is also preparing data for the ECs fifth inspection mission and, in coordination with Navy Region 5 Command, has launched a peak campaign through November 15 to strengthen compliance and maritime law enforcement. Authorities said these actions have produced positive changes, laying the groundwork to help lift the ECs yellow card.

Meanwhile, Ca Mau, home to the Mekong Deltas largest fishing fleet, is implementing comprehensive measures to combat IUU fishing from vessel and fishing ground management to logbook supervision.

At provincial ports, officials maintain 24/7 control, verifying crew lists and monitoring VMS signals before departure. Any vessel with missing log data or disconnected tracking must correct issues immediately. Ca Mau is also focusing on traceability of seafood  a key condition for exporting to the EU  and addressing past violations.

Public outreach is being strengthened to highlight that illegal fishing harms both national reputation and fishermens livelihoods. Models of production teams at sea are maintained to share information and provide technical support.

The province is promoting a shift from nearshore fishing to sustainable offshore operations, expanding high-tech marine aquaculture, and linking production with markets to ensure legal, stable incomes.

At an online meeting on October 28 with 21 coastal localities, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha commended local enforcement efforts, urging a correct and complete fisheries database to support transparent management and upcoming EC assessments.  VNA/VNS
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Consultation launched on local government election rule changes

The Welsh Government has opened a public consultation on proposed updates to the rules governing local government elections in Wales.

The 12-week consultation seeks views on the draft Local Elections (Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2026 and the Representation of the People Act 1983 (Security Expenses Exclusion) (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2026.

If approved, the changes would take effect ahead of the 2027 local elections and bring local election law in line with recent updates made to Senedd election procedures.

The proposals include ensuring that election materials and procedures are fully bilingual and consistent with the Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order 2025. They also aim to clarify rules around candidate safety and security spending.

Under the plans, candidates would be able to claim reasonable expenses for personal security and property protection without those costs counting towards campaign spending limits, matching the provisions already in place for Senedd elections.

Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, said: These proposed changes will modernise our local election rules and ensure consistency across all Welsh elections.

Crucially, they recognise that no candidate should have to choose between their safety and their ability to campaign. Protecting themselves and their property should never come at the cost of reaching voters. This meets a key recommendation from the Jo Cox Foundations excellent report on tackling abuse and intimidation  something Ive been working closely with them to address.

I encourage everyone with an interest in our democratic processes to respond to this consultation and help shape these vital updates.

WLGA Llywydd, Councillor Lis Burnett, added: Standing for election takes courage, commitment and a genuine desire to make a difference. Nobody should feel at risk by deciding to serve their community.

These proposed changes recognise that reality and will help make local democracy safer and more accessible for everyone. They also modernise our election rules to reflect the values of fairness and bilingualism that are at the heart of democracy in Wales.

The consultation is open until 12 January 2026. Details and response forms are available at: Changes to local government elections rules in Wales.
Mayor welcomes German marching band during Wrexham exchange visit

The Mayor of Wrexham has welcomed members of a German marching band to the Mayors Parlour during their cultural exchange visit to the city.

The group, Spielmannszug Drupplingsen from Markischer Kreis, are twinned with local youth theatre company Theatr Yr Ifanc, based at the Stiwt Theatre in Rhosllanerchrugog.

The visit follows an exchange last year when thirty young performers from Theatr Yr Ifanc travelled to Markischer Kreis after a successful fundraising campaign. This time, it was the German groups turn to experience Wrexham and meet the people behind the partnership.

While in the city, the visitors were invited to the Mayors Parlour, where Councillor Tina Mannering shared the history of Wrexham and the workings of the council, alongside artefacts from the citys past.

It has been so lovely to meet our exchange visitors, said the Mayor, Having them come and see me was delightful and a fantastic opportunity to share our stories and experiences.

A big thanks to the organisers who curated such a brilliant trip for our guests and for having me join you for your anniversary concert.

It was a privilege to witness such incredible talent both from our community and our extended family of Markischer Kreis.

The visit also coincided with Theatr Yr Ifancs 35th anniversary, celebrated with a joint performance at the Stiwt Theatre.

This year marks 55 years since Wrexhams official twinning with Markischer Kreis, first established by the former Wrexham Maelor Borough Council in 1970 and continued by Wrexham Council after reorganisation in 1996.
LONDON, Nov. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Led by Richard Goldstein and Greg Masters, Richmond Terrace Capital has finalized a 1.5 billion investment into high-yielding, fixed-income assets, marking a major milestone in the continued growth of its fixed-rate deposit offerings.

This investment forms part of the Company's ongoing strategy to strengthen the underlying asset base supporting its fixed-rate deposit product range, which is structured to provide clients with exposure to diversified credit markets.

Strengthening the Foundation of Client Portfolios

The 1.5 billion allocation represents a significant step in expanding Richmond Terrace Capital's access to attractive yield opportunities within global credit markets. By securing a diversified pool of investment-grade and selectively higher-yielding instruments, the Company strengthens its ability to offer clients stable fixed-rate returns, even as interest-rate conditions evolve.

"This acquisition demonstrates our continued focus on sourcing high-quality, yield-generating assets for our investors," said Mr Richard Goldstein, Head of Wealth Management at Richmond Terrace Capital. "Our aim is to deliver consistent performance through disciplined asset selection and prudent risk management, while maintaining full transparency and investor confidence."

A Diversified and Disciplined Investment Approach

The newly purchased instruments span multiple sectors and jurisdictions, providing clients with:

Attractive fixed yields relative to traditional savings and term deposits

Diversification across a range of issuers and maturities to reduce concentration risk

Institutional-grade oversight, ensuring strong governance, credit assessment, and liquidity management.

The investment supports the continued roll-out of Richmond Terrace Capital's fixed-rate deposit product suite across Europe, Australia, and other key markets, and enhances the firm's ability to meet growing investor demand for reliable, income-based solutions.

A Forward-Looking Perspective

"As we look ahead, our focus remains on creating accessible, well-structured investment products that combine yield, security and simplicity," added Greg Masters, Chief Investment Officer. "This 1.5 billion investment allows us to further strengthen the products available to clients and deliver outcomes that align with our long-term vision of bridging institutional markets with everyday investors."

About Richmond Terrace Capital Pty Ltd

Richmond Terrace Capital Pty Ltd is an international investment management and private equity firm, with one of its flagship operations headquartered in London. The London office serves as a strategic hub for the firm's European activities, connecting institutional investors, pension funds, and private clients to opportunities across dynamic, high-growth asset classes.

Leveraging deep sector expertise and research-driven strategies, Richmond Terrace Capital is focused on delivering consistent value, innovative investment solutions, and long-term performance for clients on a global scale.

Contact

Jess Hopkins

[email protected]

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SOURCE Richmond Terrace Capital
A winter parking ban is now in effect for people in Truckee. From November 1 to April 30, the ban will be in effect 24 hours a day, prohibiting parking on town roads and public rights-of-way.

Truckee Police say, in an online post, vehicles that are parked in violation of the ban may be ticketed or towed.

Police say the ban helps ensure crews can properly perform snow and ice removal when the time comes. Removal of ice and snow keeps roadways open for the community.

Police want to remind the public that during the winter season, keeping roads clear can help people drive safely.

(Truckee Police contributed to this story.)
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During a campaign stop in Las Vegas, then-candidate Donald Trump tossed out an idea to make tips exempt from tax. This presumably appealed to tipped Las Vegas workers.

This was, technically, a campaign promise. It did not seem to be a major plank of an economic package, so many did not think anything would come of it.

As Gomer Pyle used to say, Surprise, surprise. The Big, Bad law included a new section of the tax code to exempt tips.

But there were conditions. First, you cant make too much money. Second, there is a cap on the tip exclusion amount.

Third, you cant be in a specified service business. Fourth, you must be in a line of business that customarily received tips as of Dec. 31, 2024.

Finally, the statute gave the Treasury Department discretion to specify other qualification rules.

The Treasury first released a list of 68 job titles that met the requirement of customarily receiving tips.

This list was developed based on prior tax return filings that reported tips and based on how the filers classified their occupation.

The Treasury then issued proposed regulations. The proposed part of this title is just that  the rules are a proposal subject to comment.

The Administrative Procedures Act requires a regulatory body to seriously consider all comments received.

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With tax regulations, the Treasury indicates how it responded to comments in the preamble to the temporary or final regulations.

There were 16,800 comments received on the tip regulations. If you dont know, that is a very high number.

Many people might think that the exclusion tip income exclusion is not a big deal. After all, most of us dont receive tips in our line of work.

Apparently, this is a big deal. And not just for the tipped workers. Accounting and law firms were big contributors to the comments.

Accounting and law are specified service businesses that cannot benefit from the tip exclusion. Those folks are commenting for their clients benefit.

The statute says that a tip is a voluntary payment. For this reason, automatic gratuities and service charges are not excluded tip income.

Restaurants that automatically add a charge for tables of a certain size may change that policy to help workers tax position.

Of course, even if a charge is automatically added, the customer can typically add an additional amount if desired.

The additional amount is eligible for the exclusion. That is likely to add to the reporting burden for the employer.

Some comments suggested that the regulations should simply include automatic charges as excluded tips.

Other commentators noted that the Treasury cannot do this because the law says that a tip must be voluntary.

The follow the law crowd is technically correct. But the Treasury has written pro-taxpayer regulations in the past that overlook the actual law.

In a case called Loper Bright Enterprises, the Supreme Court said it is not up to a regulatory body to interpret  and certainly not to write  the law.

If the Treasury expands the meaning of an excluded tip beyond the law, it is unlikely that anyone will ever challenge the regulation.

Hence, Loper Bright Enterprises is often a one-way rule: overturn the rule if it is pro-government, accept the rule if pro-taxpayer.

The Treasury did venture out in defining certain activities that cannot take advantage of the tip exclusion.

Services that are a felony or misdemeanor, or that involve prostitution or pornographic activity, cannot receive tax-free tips.

Commentators questioned excluding such activities. And not because the commentator favors  or engages in  such activities.

Instead, the concern is that the terms are not well defined. In the Supreme Court case, Jacobellis v. Ohio, Justice Potter Stewart defined hard-core pornography.

The case held that speech is protected, but not hard-core pornography. Stewart said he could not define the term, but I know it when I see it.

Stewart later said he regretted having used those words, because thats going to be on my tombstone.

Someone becomes guilty of a felony or a misdemeanor when found guilty of such an offense. Before that, they could reasonably argue they did no such thing.

The Treasury must now sift through 16,800 comments and finalize the regulations. All to exclude a fraction of the income of a fraction of the people.
A work by Jason Garcia in "Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country" at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Photo by Kristian Breeze, courtesy of Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

The courtyard at Georgia O'Keeffe's home at Ghost Ranch faces Cerro Pedernal, a formation many pueblos hold as sacred and is known by the Tewa people as Tsi Pin. Jason Garcia (Khapo Owingeh/Santa Clara Pueblo), co-curator of Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country, plans to paint the mountain during the course of the exhibit's run. Eddie Moore

Jason Garcia and Bess Murphy are curators of Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country at the Georgia OKeeffe Museum in Santa Fe. Eddie Moore

Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; Nov. 7 through Sept. 7, 2026 WHERE: Georgia OKeeffe Museum, 217 Johnson Street, Santa Fe HOW MUCH: $22 general admission; admission for the Georgia OKeeffe Museum is free for members of Indigenous communities, tribes and nations for the duration of Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country.

On Aug. 26, 2020, three months after the start of the George Floyd protests, the award-winning journalist and arts writer Alicia Inez Guzman hosted an online panel discussion, titled This is Not OKeeffe Country, which aimed to reassess Georgia OKeeffes legacy in New Mexico from local Indigenous perspectives. At a time when museums across the country were issuing diversity, equity and inclusion statements and land acknowledgments in the wake of what many pundits were then calling Americas racial reckoning, Guzmans panel prompted the Georgia OKeeffe Museum to reconsider its own institutional blind spots when it came to Indigenous histories.

In 2022, the museum hired Bess Murphy to be their curator of art and social practice  a newly created position  and she teamed up with an artist from Guzmans panel, Jason Garcia (Khapo Owingeh/Santa Clara Pueblo) to curate an exhibition that would place contemporary Tewa artists in conversation with the art and artifacts of Georgia OKeeffe. They worked together for over two years, commissioning new works by artists, scholars and culture-bearers from the six Tewa Pueblos of northern New Mexico. The result, Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country, opens at the Georgia OKeeffe Museum on Friday, Nov. 7.

While the museum has highlighted Indigenous artists in the past, and one of the Tewa Nangeh artists, Michael Namingha (Ohkay Owingeh/Hopi), even had a solo show there in 2017, Tewa Nangeh represents the first large group exhibition drawing awareness to the erasure of the Tewa presence in Georgia OKeeffes artworks and her understanding of Northern New Mexico, according to a joint curatorial statement.

We didnt need to do another exhibition about Georgia OKeeffe in New Mexico, Murphy said. What we hadnt ever done was an exhibition about New Mexico beyond Georgia, so this is our first step into that.

The exhibition also signals the museums increased engagement with contemporary art.

This is the first time that the OKeeffe Museum has done a large-scale contemporary art exhibition, where the focus of the exhibition is on the contemporary artists, regardless of where theyre from, Murphy said.

From the time OKeeffe settled in Abiquiu in 1949 until her death in 1986, the artist remained disengaged from the communities who had lived in that area since time immemorial.

She was not particularly interested in engaging with Indigenous communities during her lifetime, Murphy said.

OKeeffe was an outlier in this regard, Murphy said, compared to many other white artists of her generation who did engage with and support Indigenous communities in New Mexico. OKeeffes own assistant and confidante, Maria Chabot, was a vocal advocate for Native American arts and helped establish the Santa Fe Indian Market.

OKeeffe, meanwhile, made a series of controversial statements, which some scholars have interpreted as evidence of a settler colonial mentality. The most notorious of these is what she said about the mountain that she could see from her Ghost Ranch home, known to the Tewa people as Tsi Pin and which the Spanish called Cerro Pedernal.

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It is my private mountain, OKeeffe said. God told me if I painted it enough, I could have it.

OKeeffe painted the mountain at least 29 times in her lifetime, and after she died, her ashes were scattered over its peak.

Garcia, who is not just a co-curator of the exhibition but one of its participating artists, plans to exhibit his own paintings of the mountain, adding more to the gallery as he completes them over the course of the shows run.

My goal is to paint it 30-plus times. So, its like reclaiming the mountain, Garcia said. Ill try and bring in at least one or two every week and put them on the wall, salon style.

Garcia and Murphy acknowledged that there was some initial reluctance to the project, both from within the museum and from some of the Indigenous artists and scholars.

The museum itself, really under the direction of Cody (Hartley), is at a moment where it has realized that it is critical for the OKeeffe to reckon more deeply with how it hasnt always been a trusted institution in New Mexico, that it hasnt always served local artists and neighboring communities, Murphy said. So, I think, from the museum side, there was enthusiasm but maybe some apprehension, too.

Some of the Tewa artists and scholars involved in the exhibition had questions, as well, Garcia said. He had to assure them that they could bring their authentic perspectives to bear, even if highly critical, without fear of censorship.

One participating scholar, Joseph Woody Aguilar, who holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania, wrote a critical response to OKeeffes 1943 Head with Broken Pot, which will hang beside the painting.

It reads, in part: Posing human remains with an ancestral pot in such a way is in stark contrast to the reverence given by the Tewa to their ancestors and material remains and should stand as a reminder for Tewa People to protect our cultural heritage and patrimony.

OKeeffes collecting of bones, including animal bones, occurred within a very specific and often unacknowledged historical context, according to Murphy.

She was able to collect enough bones on her walks that she filled up a whole barrel and shipped them back to New York to paint, Murphy said. It would take me ages to gather that many bones at this point, because theyre just not that common anymore.

So, where did all the bones come from?

In the 1920s and 30s, the government instituted laws across the Southwest, saying peoples livestock were doing damage and were too large, so they enforced this culling," Murphy said. In a way, it was a racist move, a way to reclaim land  from the local Nuevo Mexicano ranchers.

Murphy hopes that her curatorial work at the museum will help visitors better understand OKeeffe within these larger historical narratives.

Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country is a polyvocal exhibition, and each of the 12 participants offers a singular perspective, ranging from the critical to the humorous.

Tewa Nangeh is not about condemning OKeeffe, Garcia said. Rather, its a deep engagement with OKeeffes vision of the land that is also the setting for memories and experiences of Tewa people.

Tewa Nangeh includes contributions from Joseph Woody Aguilar (San Ildefonso Pueblo), Samuel Villareal Catanach (Pojoaque Pueblo), Jason Garcia/Okuu Pin (Khapo Owingeh/Santa Clara Pueblo), John Garcia Sr. (Khapo Owingeh/Santa Clara Pueblo), Charine Pilar Gonzales (San Ildefonso Pueblo), Marita Swazo Hinds (Tesuque Pueblo), Matthew Martinez (Ohkay Owingeh), Arlo Namingha (Ohkay Owingeh/Hopi), Michael Namingha (Ohkay Owingeh/Hopi), Eliza Naranjo Morse (Khapo Owingeh/Santa Clara Pueblo), Martha Romero (Nambe Pueblo) and Randolph Silva (Khapo Owingeh/Santa Clara Pueblo).

New exhibition at Georgia OKeeffe Museum foregrounds contemporary Indigenous perspectives

"My Front Yard, Summer," Georgia O'Keeffe, 1941, Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Gift of The Georgia O'Keeffe Foundation. Photo by Tim Nighswander, courtesy of Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

"Disaster 8," Michael Namingha (Ohkay Owingeh/Hopi). Courtesy of Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

A work by Jason Garcia in "Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country" at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Photo by Kristian Breeze, courtesy of Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

Jason Garcia and Bess Murphy are curators of Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country at the Georgia OKeeffe Museum in Santa Fe. Eddie Moore

The courtyard at Georgia O'Keeffe's home at Ghost Ranch faces Cerro Pedernal, a formation many pueblos hold as sacred and is known by the Tewa people as Tsi Pin. Jason Garcia (Khapo Owingeh/Santa Clara Pueblo), co-curator of Tewa Nangeh/Tewa Country, plans to paint the mountain during the course of the exhibit's run. Eddie Moore

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Gabe Vasquez

If you log onto social media today, youll see a horrifying reel of ICEs increasingly brutal immigration enforcement tactics.

Its hard to stomach. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents tackling a mother to the floor of a New York City immigration court while her young kids watch. An ICE agent pointing a gun at bystanders while his masked colleague pins a man to the pavement in a busy Maryland intersection. And federal officers smashing car windows with infants in the vehicle, pelting tear gas and pepper balls at protesters, and using Tasers on U.S. citizens. The list goes on.

When someone poses a threat to public safety or breaks the law, they need to be held accountable, regardless of their citizenship status, but thats not whats playing out on our streets. The stark reality is that federal law enforcements increasingly violent immigration enforcement operations arent just un-American  theyre hindering local law enforcement and making this country less safe, especially for working class Hispanic people.

New Mexico has the largest Hispanic population per capita in the United States. We drive pick-ups, we work on farms, we fix our own cars, and we work hard for every dollar we earn. Yet, under this administration, were the targets in a political war that leverages violence, racial profiling and threats of deportation  including to legal permanent residents and American citizens.

I represent New Mexicos second district, which includes 180 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, and Ive heard firsthand from local law enforcement officials who say that ICEs violent tactics are making it harder to keep our streets safe. When ICE tears hardworking families apart and treats law-abiding residents as criminals, it erodes trust in law enforcement and undermines the very institutions meant to protect us.

The impact of this dangerous trend can be deadly. In recent months, my office has heard multiple reports of enforcement against survivors of domestic violence and rising concerns that abusers are using the threat of calling ICE to silence their victims. Heavy-handed immigration raids are making it harder for local law enforcement to solve crimes like assault and theft, driving witnesses and victims into the shadows because they are scared to call the police.

Budgets are moral documents. They show, in black and white, what we value as a nation. Yet under Republicans Big, Beautiful Bill, the Department of Homeland Security got a $150 billion blank check the department is using to fund what is largely a political war instead of a true push for public safety.

If were serious about protecting families, we must put our money where our mouth is: Invest in proven, local strategies that actually make communities safer  community policing, mental health resources, addiction recovery programs and combatting youth violence  not in raids that terrorize our neighborhoods.

Even ICEs recruitment tactics are making our streets less safe. In Albuquerque and elsewhere, ICE has attempted to recruit officers from local law enforcement, a desperate move local police chiefs rightly warn will compromise local public safety. Diverting local officers from investigating violent crimes, drug trafficking and cartel threats does nothing to make our streets safer.

Its not surprising that both parties have gotten immigration wrong for so long. As a representative of a district on the southern border with a majority Hispanic population, I am using my expertise to lead the Democratic party toward the commonsense, pro-safety immigration solutions our country desperately needs.

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Heres the plan: Lets invest in smart technology like cargo scanners, anti-drone tech and surveillance towers to keep our border secure. Lets hold violent criminals accountable and recruit talented young people from across the globe to help the U.S. beat China in the artificial intelligence race. Lets create legal pathways for those working in construction and caregiving to bring down the housing and child care costs for all Americans. And lets ensure that our own government isnt disappearing U.S. citizens in ICE detention centers.

Immigration is not an unsolvable problem. Its an opportunity to make the United States safer, stronger and more prosperous. By ensuring our policies reflect our values  not fear, but fairness; not cruelty, but humanity  and listening to our local law enforcement officers, we can keep our communities safe. Our families and neighbors deserve nothing less.
Mourners sit beside a body of a Palestinian killed in an Israeli army strike at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Wednesday

The so-called pause in Gaza is not liberation or self-determination, its pacification disguised as peace. An estimated 58,573 Palestinians have been killed and 139,607 injured since October 2023, according to Gazas Ministry of Health. Children account for almost one-third of those deaths. The bombardment may have slowed, but the siege, starvation and suffocation of a people continue in full force.

Reconstruction plans and diplomatic resets have reframed what even the United Nations has called a genocide as a humanitarian challenge, a tragedy to manage rather than a crime to prosecute. The world, fatigued by images of mass death, is being lulled into a narrative of rebuilding without accountability, one that risks the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians as a logistics problem instead of an atrocity.

Across the West Bank, violence continues largely unreported. The United Nations calls 2025 one of the deadliest years on record, with settler attacks averaging seven per day, forcing thousands from their homes. Olive groves, the beating heart of Palestinian heritage, are burned and bulldozed; more than 1.3 million trees have been destroyed since the war began. Each uprooted olive tree is an act of cultural erasure, a strike at memory itself. Attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque persist, proving that the campaign against Palestinians is spiritual as much as physical.

In Gaza, famine is no longer a looming hypothetical; it is reality. The World Health Organization confirmed in August 2025 that famine conditions exist for the first time in Gazas history. Over 500,000 people face starvation, and 57 children have already died from malnutrition. Fewer than half of planned aid convoys are allowed entry. The UN reports that only 1.5% of Gazas cropland remains both accessible and intact, the rest is bombed, poisoned, or sealed off by Israeli no-go zones.

Even places of refuge have become killing grounds. Since the start of the war, more than 450 schools and universities, many used as UN shelters, have been damaged or destroyed. The Church of Saint Porphyrius, Gazas third-oldest church, was struck in an air raid that killed at least 16 people. Hospitals like Al-Shifa and Al-Ahli Arab have been bombed multiple times, while the Palestine Hotel and other civilian shelters were reduced to rubble.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has confirmed over 230 journalists and media workers killed, the highest toll for press freedom in modern history. Cameras became targets; truth became the enemy. To silence witnesses is to prepare the next war unrecorded.

Even in this supposed ceasefire, Palestinians who cross invisible buffer lines are shot by snipers. Israels project is not coexistence; it is constriction, to make life so unbearable that survival itself becomes resistance.

Arab and Muslim states, eager for regional stability, have largely acquiesced to this quasi-peace. They condemn televised massacres but tolerate the slow killing that doesnt trend online. Under the guise of normalization, trade and diplomatic deals advance while 1.9 million Gazans remain displaced, many living among the ruins of bombed neighborhoods. This is not peace; it is managed subjugation.

The world cannot let genocide be paused only to resume under new branding. Israel must be held morally, legally and financially accountable. True peace demands four urgent steps:

1. Unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and the West Bank.

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2. Independent investigations into war crimes, collective punishment and forced displacement.

3. Restoration of land, homes and livelihoods. This includes olive groves, churches, mosques, schools and hospitals.

4. A political process centered on Palestinian sovereignty and the right of return, not externally managed dependency.

After 77 years of dispossession, symbolic gestures and reconstruction conferences are not enough. Liberation means more than the absence of bombs. It means freedom from blockade, from occupation and from erasure. The world revolted against open-ended slaughter; it must not now accept Palestinians slow death as the price of stability. To rebuild without justice is to bury truth under the rubble. A pause in genocide is not peace, it is preparation for the next chapter of oppression. Only when Palestine is free, sovereign and whole can the world call this justice.
Now You See Me: Now You Dont star Jesse Eisenberg may soon one-up the film franchises Robin Hood-esque Four Horsemen in the giving-back department.

This December, the Academy Award nominee and longtime blood donor will give one of his kidneys to a complete stranger, he said Thursday on the Today show. He slipped the news into a conversation with host Craig Melvin about a recent show-sponsored blood drive.

As Melvin and his co-hosts reacted in disbelief, Eisenberg said, I really am (donating).

I dont know why. I got bitten by the blood donation bug, he said, adding that he was so excited to make the nondirected (a.k.a. altruistic) donation, wherein a living donor is not related to or known by the recipient.

According to the National Kidney Registry, approximately 90,000 people in the U.S. are currently in need of a kidney transplant, while roughly 6,000 people donate kidneys each year. Less than 5% of those already slim donations are nondirected.

Eisenberg said he suspected that if people knew how safe the process was, those numbers would go up.

Its essentially risk-free and so needed, Eisenberg said in a separate interview with Today.com. I think people will realize that its a no-brainer, if you have the time and the inclination.

The Social Network alum added that prospective donors need not worry about forking over a kidney and later facing a situation wherein a family member urgently needs one.

The way it works now is you can put a list of whoever you would like to be the first (relative) to be at the top of the list, he said, referring to the National Kidney Registrys family voucher program. The program launched in 2019, preceded by an earlier standard iteration that required the voucher donor to name a voucher holder who had some form of kidney impairment. (The standard voucher option is still available to donors as well.)

Not only does this remove an important disincentive to living kidney donation, but it is the right thing to do for the generous people who are donating a kidney to a stranger. Donors can now donate a kidney and still provide security for their loved ones should they need a kidney transplant in the future, Dr. Jeff Veale, who helped pioneer the voucher system, said in a statement at the time of the program update.

Recovery is also a non-issue for most kidney donors, who on average return to daily activities within a few weeks of the surgery, per the Mayo Clinic.

Now You See Me: Now You Dont hits theaters Nov. 14, nearly a decade after the previous installment in the franchise premiered. Eisenberg stars alongside returning cast members Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco and newcomers Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt and Rosamund Pike.

_____

2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
An Alabama attorney says local law enforcement that partner with federal immigration agents are putting themselves at risk for new kinds of liability.

Recent federal court decisions have established that local law enforcement agencies may incur liabilitybased solely on ICE detainers, James L. Stirling, an attorney based in Anniston, stated in the letter to law enforcement across the state.

Yet law enforcement leaders say these partnerships are nothing new.

Huey Hoss Mack, the head of the Alabama Sheriffs Association said the agreements are not any different than previous federal partnerships and theyve all been reviewed by attorneys.

All contracts that are signed by a sheriff as it relates to 287G or as it relates to anything (They) are always reviewed by county attorneys (and) legal departments, said Mack, who added that the partnership would not change liability for officers or departments.

Stirling sent letters to local sheriff and police departments that joined the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through partnerships called 287G agreements that give local officers the authority to carry out the duties of federal immigration agents.

Across Alabama, sheriffs departments and a couple of local police departments have joined this year.

Stirling told AL.com he believes ICE agents are acting unconstitutionally around the country and that puts their local partners at risk.

In his letter, Stirling stated that local officers acting with ICE could execute civil immigration detainers, prolong detention beyond whats allowed under state law or racially profile.

They risk transforming what would otherwise be a federal action into a local constitutional violation, he said, adding that courts have repeatedly ruled government employees are not shielded because they were acting for a federal agency.

He also suggested law enforcement should contact their excess liability carriers to tell them about the agreements in anticipation of civil rights lawsuits.

This is nothing more than a threatening letter to the sheriffs, said Mack. Its obvious this attorney is anti-immigration enforcement and hes obviously anti-law enforcement.

The Alabama Attorney General and Baldwin and Mobile County Sheriffs did not return a request for comment.
Family and friends of residents and business owners impacted by the fire that consumed a block in Birminghams Southside Friday are fundraising to help get them back on their feet.

So far, theyve raised more than $36,000 for at least nine people impacted by the fires, as of 11 a.m. on Sunday, according to GoFundMe.

More donations have been pouring in, as residents who lost their apartments seek to find a new place to live and replace nearly everything besides the clothes they were wearing when they evacuated.

The fire erupted early Friday morning at a vacant building and spread to three other buildings near the 1300 block of 20th Street South.

No injuries have been reported. But now, 19 people have been displaced from their homes, many without any of their belongings. A Red Cross team is supporting the residents, many of whom are college-aged single individuals.

Savanah Hrbek, along with four others who sublet salon spaces near Cobb Lane, lost her salon business, Blush, in the fire, her stepfather Steve Wingo said in a GoFundMe post. And Jessica, a resident of one of the apartments, lost everything but the clothes on her back and her dog, her friend Alex Woodcock said in another GoFundMe post.

Here is a list of GoFundMes organized to help support the residents:

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Battalion Chief Clay Hendon said Sunday that the main building impacted by the fire is a total loss, and its likely that the other three buildings that the fire spread to will have the same result from the damage.

That will ultimately be determined after an inspection by building inspectors structural engineers, Hendon said in a Facebook post.

The fire and rescue crews stopped fire watch at the site Saturday night. Power has been restored to the area, except for the four buildings that caught fire, he added.

Birmingham police still have blocked off the Cobb Lane area, as well as the block of 20th Street between 13th and 14th Avenue due to the hazards associated with the damaged structures, Hendon said.
A customer fills a Coca-Cola cup with Coke at a soda fountain at a food court outside a Costco Wholesale warehouse store. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images

Fountain drink fans, you might have to brace yourself for this one.

Thats because when you head for your go-to Dr. Pepper fountain drink at your favorite restaurant, you might receive something different.

On Monday, a Texas court order went into effect that officially ended Dr. Peppers long-running distribution agreement with Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, which supplies Coke products to parts of California and Nevada.

According to Bloomberg, its a ruling that gives Dr. Peppers parent company, Keurig Dr. Pepper, full control to bring its soda back under its own distribution system.

Per Yahoo Finance, the technical legal shift means some Coke-affiliated fountains could lose access to Dr. Pepper syrup on Monday and when that happens, restaurants and theaters will then turn to Mr. Pibb, Coca-Colas intensely flavored, refreshing, spicy cherry alternative.

The courtroom battle kicked off in 2024, when Keurig Dr. Pepper filed a lawsuit in Texas to confirm it could end its license deal with Reyes Coca-Cola. The bottler tried to block the move in California court  arguing franchise-law protection  but the case was dismissed.

This past summer, a Texas judge ruled that Dr. Pepper had the right not to renew the contract and set the Oct. 27 termination date.

A spokesperson for Keurig Dr. Pepper told The Dallas Morning News the company looks forward to bringing this distribution of the Dr. Pepper trademark into Keurig Dr. Peppers DSD system this fall.

Meanwhile, Reyes Coca-Cola said in a statement to Just Drinks that it was disappointed in the courts ruling and respectfully disagree with the decision. We believe the facts and the law support a different outcome. At this time, we are carefully evaluating all of our options, including the possibility of an appeal. We remain committed to pursuing the best path forward and will continue to act in the best interests of our stakeholders.

The timing coincides with Coca-Colas relaunch of Mr. Pibb, which resurfaced in stores this month. The soda, which was created in 1972 as a Dr. Pepper competitor, is now being marketed as a high-caffeine drink and offers 41 to 54 milligrams per 12 ounces.

The spicy cherry-flavored soda is available in most nationwide retailers.
This is an opinion column.

Theres hungry, then theres hungry.

Theres I dont know what I want to eat, then theres I dont have enough (or anything) to eat.

Theres food prices sure are going up, then theres I cant afford to feed my family.

Hunger is a travesty. No one anywhere, but especially in this richest of nations, should go without enough food. No child should go to bed, wake up or go to school hungry.

Then theres reality. People are hungry. Working people are hungry. Our elderly are hungry. Our vets are hungry. Too many of our children are hungry.

Our neighbors are hungry.

They were hungry before Donald Trump lied. Before he claimed the Department of Agriculture could not tap its $5.5 billion of contingency fund to feed the hungry, to pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program  yeah, SNAP  after Nov. 1 because Congress has not reached a consensus on the national budget.

If our government leaders at all levels do nothing else, they should ensure no one among their constituents is hungry. What they should not do is weaponize hunger in a political food fight.

Or ignore it.

There are leaders, then theres the president and his Republican sheep in Congress.

On Friday, two federal judges called them on the lie and said they must use the federal governments contingency  lets call it a hungry, not rainy day  fund to at least partially pay for SNAP benefits during the month of November.

The federal government may be closed, but hunger does not have a day off.

There are leaders who step into a crisis, then theres Gov. Kay Ivey.

Thus far, not a peep from her as almost 780,000 Alabamians receiving federal-funded food benefits stared down the barrel of a shutdown in which they were the bullseye.

Not a peep after Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said hed ask the City Council to approve a request to use $1 million to ensure residents who may be hit by the loss or diminished SNAP benefits in November do not go hungry.

Not a peep as Hoover residents responded far beyond the norm to the public librarys social media call for donations to its food pantry for neighbors who might be affected by the showdown-shutdown. Donations now fill three rooms, the city said in a release Friday evening. The Hoover community stands ready to help those in need.

Not a peep yet in response to a letter sent to the governor Friday from the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus requesting the governor call a special session of the state legislature to authorize emergency measures that will sustain SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

On Monday at 10:30 a.m., well be at the state house ready to go to work, Caucus Chair Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Pritchard, told me. If she wants to call us into session, well be there waiting.

Here, SNAP is distributed through the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

We have funds set aside for emergencies, added Bracy, for what we would call a rainy day. I would consider this to be a rainy day. This is not a permanent fix, but we believe we should step up to the plate and try to fill this gap.

Caucus Co-chair Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove said, When political gridlock in Washington threatens to take food off Alabama families tables, we must step up at home. This is not about politics! Its about people and about doing whats right for the most vulnerable among us.

Theres a multitude of the vulnerable among us, of course, and vulnerable businesses. AL.coms Savannah Tryens-Fernandes revealed the potential trickle-outward effect snapping SNAP grocery stores. SNAP and WIC, another food subsidy program, support more than 7,800 jobs and $350 million in grocery employee wages, says the Alabama Grocers Association. They not only prevent hunger but also sustain jobs and economic activity throughout our state, the groups leader said.

I have no faith that Ivey or Alabamas Republican leaders will stunt their fealty to Trump and move to feed the vulnerable in our state. Sen. Tommy Tuberville doesnt think any of his supporters are hungry. As for the rest of the hungry in the state he wants to lead, he thinks they should get a job.

He thinks the state has probably way too many SNAP recipients. Its hard to distinguish between the good and the people that dont need it, he said in yet another podcast appearance.

Days before the federal judges ruled, Sen. Katie Britt said she was supporting a GOP bill to fund SNAP during the shutdown. But she soon lapsed into the partys lame blame blabber by putting the closure on Democrats. They couldnt care less about hardworking Americans, she said.

Yeah, okay.

She even blamed the shutdown on us, the media.

Shes supposed to be the good one, right?

Should Ivey and the legislature move to ensure Alabamians will eat  whether on SNAP or otherwise (federal workers are not being paid during the stoppage), we would not be, heaven forbid, a leader among states in doing so.

As of Friday, nine states have chosen to support residents potentially impacted by any decrease in SNAP benefits, including one among our Southern brethren. On Friday, following a unanimous House vote and 32-1 Senate vote, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said the state would utilize $150 million in state money to create a temporary fund to feed residents.

Were going to lead the nation in the way we take care of people, Landry said.

Yeah, theres them that lead, then theres Alabama.
Amid sweeping layoffs for CBS News from its parent company, well-known morning show hosts at CBS Saturday Morning are being impacted by the cuts, per media reports.

The morning shows co-hosts Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, as well as the shows executive producer, Brian Applegate, were let go last week, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Paramount started laying off 1,000 workers last week, with another 1,000 layoffs planned soon as its new owners try to curtail expenses by $2 billion. Those cuts impact CBS News, CBS, Comedy Central and other divisions, per media reports.

Meanwhile, John Dickerson, co-anchor of CBS Evening News, also said last week that he will exit the network at the end of the year.

On Saturday, Jacobson posted on Instagram that Nov. 22 would be hers and Millers last show together as co-hosts.

Three more Saturdays for [Michelle Miller] and me, she said in the post. November 22nd slated for our last show. Cannot wait to see you next week.

Jacobson has contributed to CBS News programs since 2015 after previously working as a sideline reporter and anchor for ESPN. Shes covered sexual abuse cases at Ohio State University and The University of Michigan, as well as anchored coverage of the Missouri Duck Boat accident in 2018.

Miller was named a co-host of CBS Saturday Morning in 2018. Shes worked for CBS News for more than 20 years, covering key events like the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the killings of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, as well as the Emanuel 9 Massacre in Charleston.
A federal judge on Saturday issued a written order saying there is no question that U.S. Department of Agriculture contingency funds must be used to provide food assistance for 42 million Americans during the government shutdown.

Rhode Island U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. had said during a Friday hearing he was granting a temporary restraining order sought by cities and nonprofit groups. McConnell ordered that the government distribute payments of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits.

Because Congress is locked in a stalemate over a stopgap spending bill and did not appropriate money for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, Trump administration officials had said the program could not provide SNAP benefits beyond Saturday.

More from Alabama Reflector

In response to McConnell, President Donald Trump in a social media post later Friday said administration lawyers believed the funds could not legally be paid and that he needed clarification about how to distribute SNAP benefits.

I do not want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT, Trump said. If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding 

Government lawyers also filed a brief in the Rhode Island case asking McConnell to clarify how his order could legally be carried out, noting it was delivered orally and there was no written transcript.

There is no question that the congressionally approved contingency funds must be used now because of the shutdown, McConnell wrote.

In his Saturday order, McConnell, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, also quoted Trump and said, So, heres the ORDER and heres the legal direction from the Court.

In a footnote, the McConnell order also said: The Court greatly appreciates the Presidents quick and definitive response to this Courts Order and his desire to provide the necessary SNAP funding.

McConnell said it was likely that the plaintiffs would succeed in their case. He noted that Congress appropriated funds for SNAP in an annual spending bill, and lawmakers directed that $3 billion should be put in reserve through Sept. 30, 2026. Another $3 billion in a later bill was put aside until Sept. 30, 2027.

There is no question that the congressionally approved contingency funds must be used now because of the shutdown; in fact, the President during his first term issued guidance indicating that these contingency funds are available if SNAP funds lapse due to a government shutdown, McConnell said.

Two options in written order

Because the $6 billion is not enough to cover the estimated $9 billion cost of November benefits, government lawyers have said it would be difficult to determine reduced benefits, McConnell said.

He said USDA then should within its discretion, find the additional funds necessary to fund the full $9 billion, suggesting use of $23 billion in a fund for state child nutrition programs.

If the government chooses to make full SNAP payments for November, it must do so by the end of the day Monday, he said. If instead the government makes a partial payment of SNAP funds, then it must pay out all the $6 billion in contingency funds by Wednesday, he said.

He asked the government to update him by noon Monday how it was complying with the order.

In a separate case, a federal judge in Boston also ruled Friday that the USDA plan to pause SNAP was illegal  but gave the Trump administration until Monday to respond to her finding before she decides on a motion to force the benefits be paid despite the ongoing government shutdown.

No matter what happens on Monday, experts and a key member of Congress have said that some SNAP recipients still may see delays in their benefits because changes in administration from the federal government to states to vendors take time. In states, SNAP benefits are loaded onto cards on varying dates, but the Saturday cutoff would have been effective for November benefits.
People are pawning more and buying less in Huntsville in the wake of the government shutdown that has now reached into a second month, at least according to one pawn shop manager.

Sales numbers are down in general and loans are up, Matt Vinson, who manages Family Jewelry and Loan along Memorial Parkway, told AL.com.

So 10% down when it comes to sales; 10% up when it comes to loans. Normally, people are starting to ramp up for Christmas, and that has not started yet.

AL.com spoke with other pawn shop owners or managers in Huntsville, many of whom declined to comment or to go on the record.

One employee at a jewelry pawn shop on University Drive recalled conversations with a few people bringing in materials who told her it was because of the government shutdown.

A manager at a store located on Memorial Parkway said the company is experiencing exactly what Vinson described: declining sales and increased pawning.

Hundreds of thousands of government employees are going without pay across the country because Congress has not reached a funding agreement. Many of them work at Redstone Arsenal, which hosts many federal government entities and contractors.

Huntsville Business Journal estimates that 13,000 people could be affected in the Huntsville area. That represents more than $100 million in lost wages, with uncertainty surrounding back payments and about $46 million in reduced local spending.

Using hardworking Americans as political pawns

The political rhetoric around the shutdown is growing.

Congressman Dale Strong, R-Monrovia, has accused Democrats of using hardworking Americans as political pawns, in a statement to constituents on Friday.

Today marks day 31 of the Democrat inflicted government shutdown. A full month. Strong said.

Strong has refused to collect a paycheck while the impasse continues and has continued to point the finger at Democrats for refusing to agree to end the shutdown on his partys terms.

Democrats in Congress have voted 13 separate times now to keep the government closed  in a desperate effort to revive their leftist agenda that voters soundly rejected, and innocent Americans are suffering every day as a result," Strong wrote.

While Democrats continue to play political games, I want you to know that I voted for the common-sense funding measure that would have kept our government operating and ensured that there were no interruptions to military pay, veterans benefits, or other essential services. Instead of following suit and keeping our government working, Democrats are using this as an opportunity to pursue their own partisan agenda.
The farmhouse featured in the 1977 hit movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" remains in its original location on Alabama State Route 181 in Fairhope, Ala. A Sherwin-Williams paint shop is currently under construction next to it. A site plan approval to move the farmhouse was approved on Nov. 21, 2024. It expires next month, and there is no update on what the plans might be for the house. John Sharp

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is considered a landmark science-fiction film that fueled greater curiosities about the wonders and mysteries of extraterrestrial life.

Now more than 48 years since its release, the movie is sparking a question that doesnt have an answer. The latest mystery doesnt involve aliens, flashing lights or UFOs, but the fate of an old farmhouse where the movies alien abduction scene of a 3-year-old boy took place.

I think people are interested to know what is going on, said Fairhope City Council President Jack Burrell, unaware of the reasons for the issue.

The developer has until November 21 to provide some information. The house, located in the middle of an evolving new 13-lot subdivision, was authorized to be moved by the council nearly a year ago. That has not occurred yet.

Hunter Simmons, the City of Fairhopes Planning Director, said the developers have one year since the councils approval to secure a building permit in order to commence the project. If not, the projects developer can request an extension from the council to have the house relocated at a future date.

Other than those timelines, there are no other requirements to update the city, Simmons said.

He said there has been communication between the development team and the city. The developers include Jade Consultants and the appropriately named Encounters Development. Neither returned a call for comment.

Tim Herrington, a Realtor who is also working on the project, emailed AL.com to say there is no update at this time.

Simmons said there have been communications between the development team and the city about moving the farmhouse. However, no permit applications have been submitted to the city to do so.

I have not had anyone voice disappointment that it hasnt been done, said Erik Cortinas, the citys building official. Any calls I have received were mainly just curiosity, and people wanting to verify the developers intention is still to preserve and relocate the structure.

Simmons said he is hopeful that the development team is performing due diligence to ensure the preservation and move is successful.

He added, We do not want to rush such an endeavor.

Projects are ongoing at and near the farmhouse. A new Sherwin Williams paint shop is under construction to the immediate south of the farmhouse. That project was approved by the council last October.

In addition, a new office building with an orthodontics practice is under construction near Route 118 and 104. The plans for that project were approved on April 14.

The farmhouses fate drew attention on social media, where fans of the movie gathered to discuss the need to preserve it. Fairhope city officials got in on the act as well during its Nov. 21, 2024, meeting by posting an alien face marker on a map to show where the house was eventually relocating.

The developers had plans to utilize the house for office space, with access to Route 104.

However, city officials including Mayor Sherry Sullivan said they were hopeful the development team would create a historic marker or additional wayfinding information connecting the house to a movie considered among the best directed by iconic Hollywood director Stephen Spielberg.

7 1 / 7 'Close Encounters' house

There is a history of the arts that people dont necessarily associate with Alabama, said Max Romanowski, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at the University of South Alabama. But to have something like this here is something that is very special. The preservation of stuff like this is culturally and historically valuable.

The potential also exists for an unexpected tourism boom connected to the publics fascination with aliens. In nearby Pascagoula, for instance, the city celebrates a wild story about a local alien abduction during the annual Goula Palooza, held downtown in early October.

Roswell, New Mexico, has been transformed from a small rural town to a tourism mecca for alien enthusiasts and curiosity seekers.

The Fairhope farmhouse does not have an actual connection to alien activity, only the Hollywood kind.

In the movie, the farmhouse is portrayed as being in Muncie, Ind., and involved the alien abduction of a 3-year-old boy portrayed by child actor Cary Guffey.

The movie was also filmed in other Alabama cities in 1976, including Bay Minette and Mobile. The movie starred actor Richard Dreyfuss in the lead role of Roy Neary as well as the late actresses Melinda Dillon and Teri Garr.

At the time of the movies filming, Baldwin County had a population of around 106,000 residents. Since then, the county has more than doubled in size to a population of over 231,000 people.

The farmhouse itself was surrounded by nothing but rural landscape. In recent years, Route 181 has seen extra traffic lanes added. A new Publix grocery store was built almost directly across the interstate from the farmhouse. A Wawa convenience store is a short walk from the house.

Simmons said last year that he was uncertain how the house would be relocated. At the time, he said the city had become inundated with calls and emails from the movies dedicated fanbase.

The lack of activity has caught some city officials by surprise and uncertainty on the next steps.

Everything is in the same place, said Fairhope City Councilman Jimmy Conyers. I know its expensive (to move it) but I dont know what happens.
Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour attend the "Stranger Things" Season 3 World Premiere on June 28, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix) Getty Images for Netflix

The hit Netflix show Stranger Things is expected to premiere its fifth and final season later this month  but it might not have the sweetest ending off screen.

According to The Daily Mail, 21-year-old Millie Bobby Brown, who plays one of the shows leading roles, has allegedly accused her co-star David Harbour of bullying and harassment.

Millie Bobby Brown filed a harassment and bullying claim before they started shooting the last season, a source told the media outlet. There were pages and pages of accusations. The investigation went on for months.

Harbour plays former police chief Jim Hopper on the hit show while Brown plays his adopted daughter Eleven.

This news comes after shortly Harbours ex-wife Lilly Allen allegedly exposed Harbour about their breakup in her new album, West End Girl.

Part 1 of the final season of Stranger Things premieres on Netflix on November 26, followed by Part 2 on December 25 and Part 3 on December 31.
President Donald Trump speaks to members of the military aboard the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier docked at an American naval base, in Yokosuka, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) AP

President Donald Trump threatened possible U.S. military action against Islamist militants in Nigeria if the countrys government doesnt halt the groups killing of Christians.

In a post Saturday on Truth Social, Trump said hes instructing the Pentagon to prepare for possible action and threatened an immediate cutoff in aid to Nigeria, an OPEC member thats Africas most populous country.

Trump said on Friday he was designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern because of worries about the safety of Christians in the country. Republican Senator Ted Cruz has been pushing for Congress to designate Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rejected Trumps characterization of the country as religiously intolerant in a lengthy post on X. The U.S. president is disregarding the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians, Tinubu said on the social media site.

Tinubu has been under pressure this year from a rising Islamist insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, including attacks of dozens of fortified army bases. Nigerias roughly 230 million people are split between Christians and Muslims, and attacks have targeted both communities.

The militants, who emerged from the insurgency known as Boko Haram, have waged bombings, kidnappings and raids on towns and villages since 2009, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and disrupting daily life.

High-profile incidents, such as the 2014 kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, have drawn international attention to the humanitarian crisis the insurgency has created. The extremist group has also used women and girls as suicide bombers, heightening the climate of fear.

In April, Tinubu said at least 40 people were killed when Muslim gunmen attacked a Christian farming community.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, Trump said on Saturday.

Any U.S. attack would be fast, vicious, and sweet, he said.

_____

2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
It looks like the guessing game is over. Samsung has reportedly locked in the date and location for its next big flagship reveal. The highly anticipated Unpacked launch event date for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series is scheduled for February 25 next year, right in the heart of AI techSan Francisco, USA.

This isnt just another date on the calendar. The launch window itself is a bit later than the late January or early February reveals weve seen recently. Insiders suggest this minor shift gives the company enough time to finalize some strategic decisions, particularly around which models will actually launch.

Samsung tipped to launch the Galaxy S26 series on February 25

Samsung will continue to bet heavily on AI as a key selling point in its mobile flagships. Returning to San Francisco, the established global hub for artificial intelligence, is a deliberate move in this direction. The company plans to use the stage to firmly establish the Galaxy S26 as the definitive AI phone. They will also outline their future AI strategy for the tech world to see.

Regarding the S26 lineup, earlier buzz suggested Samsung might get Pro or Edge models. These models would have replaced the standard/base and Plus models. However, recent reports point to the company sticking to the familiar, reliable structure: Samsung Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. This course correction reportedly comes after the predecessor S25 Edge didnt meet sales targets.

It all comes down to power, and the S26s AI push requires serious silicon. Leaks suggest Samsung will deploy a dual-chip strategy. Many models will feature the new Exynos 2600 processor. This will mark the return of a custom Exynos chip to the high-end Ultra model in some regions. Other major markets, like the US and Canada, will get the expected Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip.

With the event locked for February 25, the stage is now set for Samsung to show the world its answer to the AI smartphone era. Recent leaks suggest that the Galaxy S26 device could feature highly improved 3x telephoto camera sensors. This could be a decisive upgrade for Galaxy S fans who are still hesitant to make the switch.
Charlie Catons extra-time goal for Accrington sealed a 2-1 victory which ended gutsy Gainsborough Trinitys interest in this seasons FA Cup.

The League Two strugglers were matched for long periods by their part-time hosts, who ply their trade three levels lower in the Northern Premier League, and started out in the competition with a first qualifying round tie in August.

Hopes of an upset and further progress rose when 22-year-old sub Sisa Tuntulwana cancelled out Paddy Maddens first-half opener for the visitors.

But, with the scores deadlocked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, Caton went on to spare Stanleys blushes.

Accrington forged in front from their first goal attempt in the 29th minute when an Isaac Heath left-wing cross saw Tyler Waltons cushioned header find Madden for a routine three-yard tap-in.

However, Gainsborough responded strongly after the break.

Half-time sub Frank Mulhern almost made an instant impact when his header was well saved by Ollie Wright.

And, after Shaun Whalleys curling effort grazed an upright at the other end, a packed Northolme was sent into raptures by Tuntulwanas 76th-minute equaliser.

The South African striker beat Wright to Butroids inswinging free-kick from the left and headed into the vacated net.

However, Accrington won it in the fifth minute of extra-time with Madden turning provider, calmly setting up substitute Caton to net from four yards.
The King should be praised for doing the right thing by stripping his brother of his titles and evicting him from Royal Lodge at Windsor. It was a strong decision, and a serious one, which is why it was not rushed.

It had to be considered carefully, not least because Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the former prince, has not been convicted of an offence. He says he is innocent, and it is one of the most important principles of British law that he is accepted as such  unless and until he is proven otherwise.

But the King was right to conclude: These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.

Mr Mountbatten Windsor is guilty of errors of judgement in associating with Jeffrey Epstein, the American financier who was found dead in his cell in 2019 after being charged with conspiracy to traffic minors for sex.

The former prince is further guilty of continuing his relationship with Epstein after he was convicted of the lesser offence of procuring a child for prostitution, as part of a plea bargain in 2008. Finally, Andrew also claimed that he ceased being in touch with Epstein earlier than was the case.

It may be too late for Andrew to redeem himself, but he should now be as helpful as he can in bringing to justice other associates of Epstein who are guilty of serious crimes.

So far, only Epstein himself and Ghislaine Maxwell have been charged and convicted in relation to crimes that, by definition, involved many other people.

The House oversight committee that is investigating Epsteins crimes has offered to take evidence from Andrew remotely, in the presence of a lawyer, and even to do so in private, so there can be no practical objection to his cooperation.

Suhas Subramanyam, a congressman from Virginia, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: He clearly has knowledge of what happened and we just want him to come forward and tell us what he knows.

And he added, rightly: If he wants to do right by the victims, he will come forward.

Andrew has brought disgrace on himself and on the royal family, not just by his association with Epstein, but by his apparent unwillingness to be straight with people about how long that association was maintained after it became impossible to deny Epsteins crimes.

The former prince did not help himself with his statement eight days ago, when the King allowed him to pretend that it was his own decision to give up his titles. Andrew made no apology for his behaviour, showed no awareness of the suffering of Epsteins victims, and expressed no humility.

Hence, King Charless more forceful announcement on Thursday. He has done what he had to do to try to insulate the monarchy from the moral failings of his brother. The King presumably acted with the agreement and possibly the encouragement of Prince William. Father and son seem to recognise that, while royal titles cannot be decided by opinion polls, the familys standing and its constitutional role, rightly limited as it is, rests upon popular consent.

Now it is up to Andrew to step up. He needs to suppress his great weakness, his sense of entitlement and his assumption that everyone else shares his self-assessment, which he shared with Emily Maitlis in that foolish interview, as being too honourable.

It is time for him to put Epsteins victims first, recognise where his duty really lies, and say what he knows.
Nathan Trevallion and Catherine Birmingham with their three children and pet dog

A British man and his wife living in the Italian wilderness are fighting a legal battle to keep their children amid claims of mistreatment.

Nathan Trevallion, a 51-year-old former chef from Bristol, and Catherine Birmingham, his Australian wife, bought a run-down farmhouse in the Abruzzo region of central Italy in 2021.

They live on the remote property with their three children  an eight-year-old girl and six-year-old twins  as well as several farm animals, largely surviving on home-grown fruit and vegetables.

But prosecutors have urged the local childrens court to remove the children, claiming they are suffering serious harm as a result of their parents back-to-nature approach, home-schooling and inadequate access to medical care.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Ms Birmingham defended their living situation, insisting she and her husband have done nothing wrong.

We are challenging societys status quo to raise our children a certain way, she said.

The family lives in a cottage without running water

The family relies on solar power for electricity and a well for water, as their home, which is six miles from Palmoli, the nearest small village, has no running water.

Police and social services were first alerted to their unconventional living arrangements in September 2024 when all five family members required emergency hospital treatment after eating wild mushrooms they had foraged.

Ms Birmingham, a former equestrian and riding teacher from Melbourne, said she and her husband were bullied and harassed by authorities while they were still recovering from food poisoning.

She said the family had been forced to flee three times this year after police showed up at their property and threatened to take the children away.

They saw we were living off grid and they labelled our house a crumbling ruin, said Ms Birmingham. The kids were really traumatised.

Nathan Trevallion and Catherine Birmingham, who said they were challenging societys status quo

Marika Bolognese, an independent lawyer appointed by the court to protect childrens rights, declined to comment because of the very delicate nature of the case.

She did, however, stress that the parents had been willing to co-operate and the children appeared to be fine.

Giovanni Angelucci, the familys defence lawyer, insisted the children were in perfect health.

They are in better physical condition than most children, he told The Telegraph. There is no evidence of maltreatment.

Last week, Mr Trevallion invited a local media outlet inside the familys simple cottage to see how they lived.

There are cracks in the walls, but the walls are strong, he said in broken Italian as the camera followed him inside. We are a clean family. Every day we sweep the floor.

A judge is expected to rule on the case within the next 30 days.

In a statement to the court, Mr Trevallion and Ms Birmingham said: We consciously changed our own lives to provide our children with parents that are able to be at home with them, food, air and water that is clean, and an environment that not only is beneficial to their brain and physical development but, most importantly, a connection.
Ross OSullivan was delighted to secure his first Group-race victory as Chally Chute rose to the top in the Comer Group International Loughbrown Stakes at the Curragh.

With Listed wins under both codes and Graded success over jumps to his name, the trainer was in search of a first strike in Pattern company on the level and saddled the 11-8 favourite in a field of 10.

The chestnut was last seen finishing second as a 66-1 shot for the Irish Cesarewitch and went on better with a three-and-a-half-length verdict over The Shunter under Donagh OConnor.

Were thrilled. Hes been a star since he arrived and won a Listed race earlier in the year, said OSullivan.

He was unlucky the last day in the Cesarewitch when he didnt get a clear run and was stopped twice. Usually thats your opportunity for one of the big ones but its great to come back here and win a Group Three.

Hes going to be some horse for next year. He has a high rating and could end up going for some of the Cup races  he could travel to England and France.

Its great for the yard and these horses are really hard to find.

Listed honours were up for grabs in the Guinness 0.0 Finale Stakes, which Joseph OBriens 7-1 shot Beset turned into a procession.

Declan McDonoghs mount was the last horse off the bridle and once given his head he charge seven and a half lengths clear of the opposition, with Royal Entry best of the rest in second.

OBrien was completing a double on the card having earlier landed the Irish EBF Maiden with 9-4 favourite James J Braddock.

Of Beset, McDonogh said: Shes had a good year, stakes placed and now a stakes winner. She has a very enthusiastic bunch of owners and they will be hot on Instagram tonight!

I went down to the two (furlong marker) on the bridle, which is a rare thing, and she picked up really well  she gave me a good feel today.
Shein has been reported by Frances consumer watchdog to authorities for selling sex dolls with a childlike appearance

Fast-fashion giant Shein has been reported by Frances consumer watchdog to authorities for selling sex dolls with a childlike appearance.

Measuring about three feet tall, the doll appeared to be designed to look like a little girl clutching a teddy bear with dark braids and a doe-eyed expression.

The 190 (170) product was described on the site as a sex dollwith erotic body and realistic genitalia.

The Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) said on Saturday the online description makes it difficult to doubt the child pornography nature of the content, adding that it had referred the matter to the public prosecutor.

The Chinese e-commerce site, best known for selling ultra-cheap clothing, electronics, beauty and homeware goods, has since removed the product from the platform and said they have launched an internal investigation.

Alice Vilcot-Dutarte, the spokesman for the DGCCRF, told Le Parisien: The announcements particularly shocked us. Imagine a child browsing the site, looking for a doll, randomly stumbling upon these products.

The DGCCRF also noted the absence of screening measures that would have prevented minors from accessing the content, and pointed out that the retail giant has already been condemned in France.

Ms Vilcot-Dutarte said: These reports concern the Shein website and brand, for which deceptive business practices, false claims, and several other non-compliance issues have already been widely identified and penalized.

Shein told Reuters: The products in question were immediately removed from the platform as soon as we became aware of these major shortcomings.

The company, which is currently based in Singapore, added that it has a zero-tolerance policy towards any content or products that violate our internal policies or applicable laws.

A screenshot of the childlike sex doll on the Shein website, before it was taken down by the e-commerce company

This year alone, Shein has been fined up to 170 million for breaching EU laws, including using online cookies without consent, for misleading customers about prices and for not declaring the presence of plastic microfibres in its products.

The incident also comes just days before the retailer is due to open its first physical shop at Pariss BHV Marais department store on Wednesday.

The opening has been criticised in the fashion capital of the world. Suppliers in France have accused Shein of destroying the retail landscape and the country is helping to lead a political revolt against the business model it represents.

The company has faced sustained criticism over allegations of forced labour and the destructive environmental impact of its mass production model.

According to the French Federation of Womens Ready-to-Wear, more than 15,000 jobs have been lost and dozens of stores have closed over the last three years due to the online marketplace.

The retailer is due to open permanent shops in five Galeries Lafayette stores across France in cities like Dijon, Grenoble, Reims, Limoges and Angers.

In the latest budget debates, members of parliament recently adopted an amendment that will remove tax benefits for fast-fashion companies like Shein and Chinese marketplace Temu, to correct their production and marketing methods.
Criminals get legal help  but I alone had to fight for my daughter

Stood in front of a judge with her whole world at stake, Sarah* remembers stumbling over her words, desperately trying to understand what was unfolding in front of her.

Across the room, her ex-husband Al*s experienced barrister spoke to the judge in jargon she could not understand. It was two years into the pairs dispute over custody of their young daughter, Elsie*  something she was terrified would put the four-year-old at risk because of his heavy drug use.

But despite her best efforts to keep Elsie safe, Sarah knew she would be left unable to protect her. A broken legal aid system left her forced to represent herself in family court, too poor to properly advocate for her child.

Sarah met Al at work 15 years prior, and the pair were happily married when Elsie came along. But when Als health worsened, he began to lean heavily on marijuana, often smoking a joint every hour, according to Sarah. When he didnt smoke, he would become angry and rude, a different person  like Jekyll and Hyde, she said.

He stopped allowing Sarah to have anyone else in the house, cutting her off from family and friends, and racked up around 11,000 worth of debt, much of which was in her name.

Eventually, she left the relationship and managed to move into a housing association property with Elsie. She says she never prevented her ex-husband from spending time with their daughter, but drew the line at overnight stays until he could prove he could keep her safe.

Sarah says she was worried about leaving her young child with her ex-partner overnight (Getty/iStock)

I knew from the marijuana smoking how hard it was to wake him up at times, she explained. How can I leave a four-year-old with him overnight? It felt irresponsible.

But Al insisted on equal access to Elsie, often refusing to leave Sarahs house after dropping her off or wedging his foot in the door to keep it open. On more than one occasion, she says he launched into a tirade of verbal abuse in front of their child.

Sarah recorded multiple instances and took the videos to the police, fearing for their safety. But she says she was advised not to pursue the allegations because a conviction was unlikely, without police even asking to see the footage.

Al later took Sarah to court, applying for a child arrangement order, a legally binding family court order that details how a child will live, spend time, and have contact with both parents.

It was just quite surreal really, she said. I felt betrayed. I couldnt believe it had come to that.

She had no financial means to afford a lawyer to represent her and began looking into whether she would be eligible for legal aid, a service that can be granted in cases where someone is considered to be protecting themselves or their child from abuse or harassment, for example, domestic abuse or forced marriage.

She reached out to dozens of solicitors in her area, but struggled to find one that provided legal aid.

Eventually, she tracked one down  but months later was told she had no proof of Als abuse, and therefore wouldnt qualify.

I replied saying, So, what am I supposed to do? Represent myself? Sarah said. And she said, Yes, you need to represent yourself.

It blew my mind, she continued. I couldnt believe that criminals get access to help automatically, whereas someone trying to fight for their daughter got nothing.

With a court date fast approaching and no money to pay for advice, Sarah was forced to appear in court by herself. Across the aisle, Al had hired a top barrister.

It made me feel so small  it was one of the worst times of my life, she said. It was little old me against someone who does this every day for a living.

How can you call that fair?

The experience ground her down, and eventually, Sarah says she agreed to things she wasnt ready for  including giving Al overnight access to Elsie.

She isnt the only one who has struggled to access help. In 2013, the government introduced the Legal Aid, Sentencing, and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO), which axed large areas of law from legal aid budgets.

Government data highlights how, since the introduction of LASPO, the number of family cases where neither party has a legal representative has tripled from 13 per cent to 39 per cent.

Richard Miller, head of justice at the Law Society, told The Independent a huge drop in legal aid providers has left the poorest members of society abandoned and forced to represent themselves in court.

Legal aid is a vital public service and it is under extreme pressure at the moment, he explained. What weve seen over the past few years is the number of firms working in this area and the number of lawyers working in this area has been falling year after year to the extent that there is now nowhere near enough coverage across the country to meet the needs of the public.

Lawyers carry a coffin during a mock funeral procession at a protest against proposed cuts to legal aid outside the Houses of Parliament in 2013 (Reuters)

He added that the purpose of legal aid is to level the playing field as there is often a power imbalance in cases of family breakdown, such as Sarahs. But their research shows many living below the poverty line have been left without help.

Mr Miller added that for legal aid to be saved, the government must commit to increasing rates for lawyers providing the service. Research shows the majority of firms doing civil legal aid make significant losses from doing it, he said.

As a result, he said Law Society data shows at least one in three people are living in a legal aid desert with no providers, leaving them unable to access the advice they should be entitled to.

Isabella Lowenthal-Isaacs, policy manager at Womens Aid, said it was clear we are a long way from ensuring that the courts are safe for women and children survivors of domestic abuse.

We know from our work with survivors that women are frequently disbelieved, their experiences of domestic abuse dismissed, and childrens voices are routinely silenced, she continued.

She said the requirement to prove abuse left survivors without representation and at an increased risk of harm.

The system, which has for so long benefited the perpetrator of domestic abuse, must change, she added. Womens experiences must be listened to, and legal aid must be provided to ensure that decisions are just and fair.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: This is a distressing case, and our thoughts are with the victim.

Legal aid is available for victims of domestic abuse in family court cases, but applicants must meet eligibility criteria, including evidence such as a police caution or court order. We know this can be difficult for those dealing with trauma, but these requirements help ensure support is provided fairly and consistently.

*Names have been changed to protect the sources anonymity.
Malachy Frame, Michael Mayes, and Christine Rice (Manuel Harlan)

When contemporary opera struggles to find its own stories to tell, it plunders promiscuously from other genres  films, theatre, TV, novels. In the process, it runs the risk of becoming a mere footnote to its sources but thats not the case with Jake Heggies Dead Man Walking.

It draws on a 1993 memoir by Sister Helen Prejean, recounting her experiences visiting prisoners on Death Row. A feature film followed in 1995, then came Heggies version, his first opera, premiered in San Francisco in 2000 and now the most performed of all 21st-century operas. Annilese Miskimmons new production for English National Opera is its first full staging in London.

Terrence McNallys text is sometimes too wordy  a few cuts might not have gone amiss  but he and Heggie build a focussed portrait of Sister Helen and Joseph De Rocher, whos been condemned to death for murdering a young couple. Composer and librettist clearly share Sister Helens opposition to capital punishment, but they dont make a sermon out of it.

The Cast of ENOs Dead Man Walking (Manuel Harlan)

Were in Louisiana in the 1980s. As Josephs execution approaches, Sister Helen visits the prison and tries to persuade him to ask for Gods forgiveness. He steadfastly maintains his innocence, while she grapples to reconcile her faith with his inevitable, and graphically portrayed, death by injection. Throughout, touches of humour balance the emotional tension, notably when nun and convict bond over their shared enthusiasm for Elvis Presley.

From the undulating, surging overture onwards, Heggie demonstrates a confident control of dramatic momentum. He places Southern gospel alongside conventional hymnody and lushly orchestrated passages that wouldn't be out of place in a 1950s Hollywood melodrama. Everything coheres, thanks not least to conductor Kerem Hasans well-paced reading.

Michael Mayes and Christine Rice in ENOs Dead Man Walking (Manuel Harlan)

The opera demands a large cast: 22 solo roles plus a large chorus, including many children (even though ENOs age advisory suggests that the opera is only suitable for those over the age of 18). Miskimmon handles the crowded stage well, helped by Alex Ealess single set, which easily switches from convent to jailhouse to courtroom and beyond.

Among the host of supporting roles, Sarah Connolly stands out, bringing both dignity and bolshiness to the part of Josephs mother. Inevitably, its the two central figures who dominate. Baritone Michael Mayes has played the operas condemned man many times and fully captures his self-righteousness and barely controlled rage, sometimes at the expense of bel canto.

No such problem with Christine Rice. While her physical presence embodies Sister Helens struggles with her faith, her voice expresses her determination to hold true to her beliefs, despite Josephs grisly death. It may have taken 25 years for London to see the opera properly staged, but it was worth the wait.

Dead Man Walking at London Coliseum, until November 18; eno.org
(The Stratford, Autograph Collection)

Stratford is not a place synonymous with culture. Formerly an industrial heartland thick with factories, the opening of the Westfield shopping centre in 2011, and the Olympic Park in 2012, revitalised this area of East London as a hub for shopping and sport. Now  a decade later  the area harbours loftier ambitions to become a new cultural hotspot, with the opening of the V&A East Storehouse and Sadlers Wells East. But can somewhere Londoners head to buy Nikes and iced matcha also offer visitors artistic enlightenment?

Leaving Stratford underground at night (19 minutes from Paddington on the Elizabeth line) the twinkling glass skyscrapers make it feel as though I have arrived in Dubai. Glittering edifices stretching to the sky; of which the hotel I am staying in is amongst the most impressive. The Stratford, in Marriotts Autograph Collection (room rates start at 179 based on two sharing a double room), is a 42-floor russet tower designed by architects, SOM, behind the Burj Khalifa.

(The Stratford, Autograph Collection)

The feeling of being transported to the UAE continues in the hotels rooftop Japanese restaurant Kokin, where floor to ceiling windows overlook this steely citadel. My friend and I eat dinner, presented with dishes exquisite as works of art: slithers of Sashimi amongst delicate flower arrangements, decorated with tiny petals; fatty morsels of perfect Wagyu beef and an elegant bottle of sparkling Jasmine tea, which tastes like Earl Grey that has had a T-total love child with champagne.

Kokin, in style, execution and price, leans into the high-end culture to which Stratford now aspires, although its less clear how the rest of the hotel fits. The reception booms with a DJ spinning dance tunes; hoodies hang in our bedroom and the mini bar feels curated by an 18-year-old, offering Stratford Pilsner, Watermelon fizz sweets and a passionfruit energy drink. Although a card in the room tells guests they can plant a seed at The Stratford amongst the urban positioning, the effort feels a little tokenistic.

The next morning, our cultural urban safari begins  starting at the ArcelorMittal Orbit: A vast twisting 376-foot red tower designed by Turner-winning artist, Sir Annish Kapoor. Its 360-viewing deck, 80-meters in the sky, overlooks surrounding iconic buildings: The London Aquatics Centre, Lee Valleys VeloPark and the Copper Box Arena, which like Orbit are an urban legacy to the 2012 Olympic games.

At times, Stratfords sleek minimalism and the sheer scale of its architecture feel alienating, and bleak  like LA without the sun

Kapoor complained that Boris Johnson forced him to add a slide to his sculpture, in an attempt to recoup its 19million cost. Doing so in collaboration with artist Carsten Holle, Kapoor turned a potential fair-ride into a creative encounter. On the worlds longest tunnel slide, youre plunged into darkness, sent hurtling towards your own existence, in something of a physical existential crisis.

The ArcelorMittal Orbit (Getty Images)

East Bank is the nucleus of Stratfords new cultural renaissance. Inspired by its namesake South Bank, it affects a similar Brutalist vibe, with boxy buildings housing the V&A, UAL, BBC and Sadlers Wells East punching up from the river bank.

We peruse the stretch, from swan pedalos, drifting on the water, which to be fair is probably more delightful in summer. And walk past artist Michael Landys playful cockney rhyming slang installation. Later, at Sadlers Wells, we watch an extraordinary performance by Marc Brew, a ballerina who profoundly reinvented his art after being made paraplegic in a car accident, working in collaboration with choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (the genius behind Beyonce and Jay Zs Apeshit video). At times, Stratfords sleek minimalism and the sheer scale of its architecture feel alienating, and bleak  like LA without the sun.

It also makes its promise as a culture epicentre feel somewhat inauthentic. Wonderful as it is that world-class venues have come here to Stratford, but it doesnt have the soul or history of say, Soho or Shoreditch. Even perusing the eclectic Big Market on Riverside East, looking at upcycled printed T-shirts and hand-knitted neon tank tops, I was left feeling it was a drop of authenticity in a neo-liberal capitalist ocean.

The David Bowie Centre is home to an archive of more than 90,000 items (PA Wire)

Yet, at the V&A East Storehouse (free entry), Stratford comes into its cultural element. The warehouse displays fragments of the V&As collection. We walk on steel bridges and transparent floors amongst glass cases in a startling, clever use of this industrial space. Being so close to items feels thrilling.

An ornate carved ceiling from a palace in Torrijos sits beside a remanent of the Robin Hood Council estate; a 70s David Mellor steel chair and an 18th century Katana, and vast Picasso produced in 1924 as a theatrical front cloth for Ballets Russes.

In the neighbouring David Bowie Centre, Ziggy Stardust costumes sit alongside handwritten Young Americans lyrics.

Here, where Stratford leans into its urban heritage and finds a culture worth seeing  and suddenly makes sense as an artistic destination.
Erling Haaland struck a brace as Manchester City beat Bournemouth 3-1 to go second in the Premier League.

Haaland scored either side of Tyler Adams equaliser before Nico OReillys first goal of the season ensured City would remain six points behind Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola may want others to shoulder some of Citys goalscoring burden but he will not want Haaland to slow down and revelled in watching the Norwegian take his tally to 13 Premier League goals in 10 appearances this season.

New duo just dropped  pic.twitter.com/THoi6tvqnn  Manchester City (@ManCity) November 2, 2025

Both of his goals were set up by Rayan Cherki, his first Premier League assists as he made only his second league start for City after losing the best part of two months to a thigh injury.

Bournemouth, who have never so much as taken a point from the Etihad, lost in the league for the first time since the opening day of the season but end the weekend in fourth place.

The Cherries had the ball in the City net inside the opening minute but Eli Kroupi was comfortably offside as he turned in David Brooks low cross from close range.

The high-flying visitors were out to unsettle City but were playing a dangerous game as they employed a high line, and it was punished in the 17th minute.

Nico Gonzalez, excellent once again in Citys midfield, played a dinked pass out of defence which Cherki headed into the path of Haaland, who had half the pitch to run at before tucking a shot under Dorde Petrovic.

Erling Haaland scores Citys first goal (Martin Rickett/PA)

City looked in control, yet eight minutes later Bournemouth were level.

Gianluigi Donnarumma felt he was fouled by Brooks as he stretched for a corner, but the ball fell for Adams to rifle home to the fury of City  with Donnarumma booked for his reaction after VAR Paul Tierney confirmed Anthony Taylors view that there was little in the contact.

The Etihad was riled up. Cherki saw a shot blocked before City demanded a penalty as Bernardo Silvas cross was blocked by Alex Jimenez, but the ball struck the Spaniards leg before his hand.

As City fans poured scorn on referee Taylor, their side retook the lead with Cherki and Haaland combining again, the Frenchman again playing Citys talisman into space before Haaland rounded Petrovic to roll the ball in.

It should have been three seconds later as Haaland set OReilly free but he was forced wide by Petrovic before Jimenez cleared off the line. Jeremy Doku then released Haaland yet again but Petrovic palmed his shot away.

That kept the door open for Bournemouth. Five minutes into the second half a quick break ended with Kroupi firing into the side-netting. Three minutes later the in-form Frenchman had an even better chance as the ball rolled to him on the penalty spot, but Donnarumma turned it away.

City needed a third and got it just before the hour. Phil Foden, making his 200th league appearance for City, laid the ball off for OReilly, who took a touch to set himself before rolling a low shot into the far corner of the net.

There would be no hat-trick for Haaland, withdrawn in the 82nd minute, and his replacement Omar Marmoush hit the side-netting late on before Petrovic denied Tijjani Reijnders.
CBBC actress Ellie Goldstein, the first celebrity with Downs syndrome to compete on the main series of Strictly Come Dancing, is the fifth contestant eliminated from the show.

Model Goldstein, 23, and her dance partner Vito Coppola faced a dance-off against EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal and professional dancer Julian Caillon during Sunday nights results show after finding themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard following the combined vote from the judging panel and public.

Performing their Halloween week routines again, Goldstein and Coppola, 33, tangoed to Abracadabra by Lady Gaga, while Sopal and Caillon danced a rumba to Stay by Shakespears Sister.

Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola and Balvinder Sopal with Julian Caillon (BBC/Guy Levy

The judges decided to save Sopal, 46, and Caillon, 30, who scored 28 points for their routine on Saturday, which was full of character, according to Craig Revel Horwood.

Coppola told Goldstein: Honestly, there are no words I can use to describe how proud I am of you, and you did really change my life so much.

You made me such a better person. At the beginning of this year, I said to myself Please, please, please can you send me a beautiful angel into my life? And now you (have) arrived.

Ive never had a little sister but I always wanted one. Now, I have you and youre my little sister forever, and your big brother is always by your side.

Asked about dancing with Coppola, Goldstein said: Ive enjoyed it so much! He is a kind person and all I wanted from day one.

You have been so heartwarming, thank you to you (Coppola).

Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola have left the show (BBC/Guy Levy/PA)

After her departure, Jon Sparkes, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, said: We are so proud of our Mencap Myth Buster Ellie for her incredible journey on Strictly Come Dancing.

Ellie has done a fantastic job of showing the nation what people with a learning disability can achieve when theyre given the spotlight to shine  shes always got a 10 from us.

Vito has also shown that when we lead with patience and kindness, everyone can be celebrated and included.

On Saturday, actor Lewis Cope and professional dancer Katya Jones clinched the first perfect score of the series after their couples choice routine to Creep by Radiohead.

The former Emmerdale actor, 30, who was told the dance could not have been made any better, impressed the judges with his tap dancing skills and synchronised dance movements.

Sundays results show featured a performance of song How To Be Human by The Celebrity Traitors star Cat Burns, accompanied by a routine from professional dancers Michelle Tsiakkas and Nancy Xu.

The Strictly professionals also performed a Monsters Ball group dance to continue the Halloween theme.

The remaining nine couples will take to the dancefloor when Strictly returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday November 8 at 6.25pm.

The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment will play on the results show to mark Remembrance Sunday.

Goldstein and Coppola will join Strictly: It Takes Two on Monday at 6.30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
First glimpse of Paddington as Perus most famous bear stars in new West End musical

Fans have had a first look at the latest incarnation of Paddington Bear, as the much-loved character stars in a new West End musical.

Written by Jessica Swale, with music and lyrics by McFly star Tom Fletcher, Paddington The Musical began previews on Saturday (1 Nov) at Londons Savoy Theatre.

A new preview clip shows Paddingtons arrival at London Paddington railway station, after making the long trip from darkest Peru.

Remote puppeteer James Hameed will be the voice of Paddington in the new play, while actress Arti Shah will provide the physical portrayal of the marmalade-loving bear on stage.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor reportedly refused to back abuse survivor statements issued by the palace (PA Archive)

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor routinely refused to sign off statements supporting survivors of abuse, it has been claimed.

The Kings brother was stripped of his prince and Duke of York titles by the monarch on Thursday, following his links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

King Charles and Queen Camilla publicly shared their "thoughts and utmost sympathies" with "the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse" as part of the announcement.

A friend of the King and Camilla told The Sunday Times that references to victims were removed from all previous statements drafted by courtiers and issued by Buckingham Palace since Andrews disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview..

Andrew was stripped of his titles on Thursday (PA)

Any such communication had required Andrews sign-off, the paper said.

The former prince denies sexually assaulting the late Virginia Giuffre, who alleged this happened on three occasions, including when she was 17, after being trafficked by Epstein.

The friend told the paper the King had lost patience and his statement announcing the removal of Andrews prince and Duke of York titles was no longer a statement by committee, its a statement from the King.

They added there had long been a sense from the royal family that voices of the victims needed to be heard in these pronouncements, because they feature so heavily in this saga and because it affects the credibility of the Queen and the Duchess of Edinburghs work campaigning against sexual abuse.

Another friend said the King and Queen were aware of the publics opinion of Andrew, adding: They have felt the public anger and they have acted.

In 2019, Andrew announced he was stepping back from public life in the wake of his Newsnight interview, saying in a statement that Epsteins suicide left many unanswered questions for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure.

But the 2022 Palace statement on the loss of his military affiliations and royal patronages, and Andrews last one on October 17, in which he pledged to stop using his Duke of York title, made no mention of abuse survivors.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Meanwhile, pressure is building on Andrew to give evidence before a powerful US Congressional committee.

King Charles and Queen Camilla publicly shared their "thoughts and utmost sympathies" with "the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse" as part of the announcement (PA)

Members of the House Oversight Committee have called for the former prince to reveal what he knew about the actions of Epstein.

Democrat Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi told BBC Newsnight that he wants Andrew to give evidence before Congress, saying: I would go so far as to subpoena him.

He added: Now, enforcing the subpoenas is not easy for somebody whos on foreign soil.

However, if Andrew wishes to come to the United States or hes here, then hes subject to the jurisdiction of the US Congress, and I would expect him to testify.

Congressman Suhas Subramanyam echoed his stance, telling BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I think this would be a great way for Andrew to clear his name.

It would be great way for us to continue our pursuit of justice for the victims, and frankly, Andrews name has come up many times from the victims, and so he clearly has knowledge of what happened, and we just want him to come forward and tell us what he knows.

Lawyer Spencer Kuvin, who represents some of Epsteins victims, also urged Andrew to testify.

He could testify about other potential co-conspirators that he saw that may have been present at the mansions here in the States that were doing inappropriate activities, he told BBC News.

The Metropolitan Police has been facing calls to fully investigate the sex abuse claims against Andrew  nearly a decade after they ruled out a criminal probe.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said it was made aware of allegations around non-recent trafficking for sexual exploitation in 2015 which related to events outside the UK and an allegation of trafficking to central London in March 2001.

They added that following the legal advice, it was clear that any investigation into human trafficking would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK, so officers concluded that other jurisdictions and organisations were better placed to pursue the specific allegations.

And in November 2016, a decision was made that this matter would not proceed to a full criminal investigation, the force said.

Media focus on Royal Lodge is continuing, with Andrew preparing to finally quit the 30-room home in Windsor by moving to a new home on the Kings private Sandringham estate in Norfolk in the new year.

On Saturday morning, a car bearing a private number plate linked to the former prince was seen leaving the grounds of Windsor Great Park.

It has been claimed Andrew is set to get a six-figure payout and an annual payment as part of his relocation settlement after being forced out of his Crown Estate home.

The former prince will receive the one-off payment to cover his move, followed by the regular stipend to prevent him from overspending in his new life as a commoner, The Guardian newspaper reported.

The yearly payment privately funded by the King would be worth several times his 20,000-a-year Navy pension, the paper added.

It is understood the King will use private funds to cover the cost, but not his Duchy of Lancaster income.

The King receives an annual private income of more than 27 million from the duchy, an ancient portfolio of land, property and assets which is held in trust for the sovereign.

Andrew will, however, be denied most of his half a million pound compensation for giving up his lease on Royal Lodge.

He was due a payout of 558,000 from the Crown Estate after agreeing to leave the mansion, but a royal source told The Telegraph there is a lot of work that needs doing with the cost of repairs affecting the amount.
Gavin Newsom says I dont want to be president as he insists Democrats can no longer play by Michelle Obama rules

California Gov. Gavin Newsom backed off from speculation that he is planning to run for president on Sunday.

One of the Democratic Partys most vocal leaders in the second Trump era, Newsom previously told CBS News that he would be lying if he said he wasnt considering running for president in 2028 in an interview that aired one week ago today.

But on Sunday, the governor sounded much less inclined towards pulling the trigger on that specific venture.

Asked by Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker, why do you want to be president?, Newsoms answer was simple.

I dont, he said.

Gavin Newsom backed away from presidential ambitions after telling CBS he'd be 'lying' if he said he wasn't considering running in 2028 (NBC - Meet the Press)

He went on to explain that while he tried to answer a question from CBSs Robert Costa honestly, his focus was entirely centered on Californias redistricting process and what it would mean for his party in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Democrats are hoping to take back one or both chambers of Congress, allowing them the levers of power to challenge the presidents agenda directly.

I'm not suggesting I am [running for president], Newsom told NBC. It was in response to someone [who] talked about it.

He added that there was nothing I dislike more than a politician that sits there and lies to you.

I'm focused on Prop 50. I'm focusing on fair and free elections. And to the extent, fate, the future, there's an alignment, you have a big enough why, you have a what and a how, you meet a moment and that moment presents itself in a year, year and a half, we'll see what happens, said the governor, referring to the redistricting amendment set to be presented to California voters.

During his interview, Newsom battled a skeptical Welker on several points.

One moment came as the two clashed over whether the U.S. Department of Justice could still be trusted to handle cases fairly; the governor expressed surprise at Welkers suggestion that such a prospect was even possible, given how the White House and DOJ have launched a campaign to target a growing list of the presidents political enemies with cases that many experts describe as flimsy and obviously motivated by a desire to punish Democrats.

The two also clashed over whether Newsom was normalizing Donald Trumps behaviour by mocking it with his Governor Newsom Press Office account on X, which has taken to mimicking Trumps all-caps insult-throwing social media statements.

It reminds me of something Michelle Obama said once, When they go low, we go high. Is there still room for that mindset for Democrats? asked Welker.

I would love to go back to that, but politics has changed. The world has changed, Newsom responded.

Despite Newsoms stated hesitance towards running for president, the governor did one thing in his interview with Welker that could, to political observers, be seen as taking another step towards that eventuallity.

The governor was asked by Welker about an issue that most journalists and Democratic officials believe will be a major issue in the 2028 presidential primary: Joe Biden. The partys trust and popularity ratings with voters are at historic lows, and the bungling of the 2024 election campaign is chiefly to blame. Democrats refused to hold a primary after Biden announced that he planned to run for re-election in 2023, with one lone congressman, Dean Phillips, desperately pleading publicly for his party to change course.

Then, the disastrous debate performance by Joe Biden in June revealed a president who appeared lost, confused and physically frail onstage, unable to effectively respond to his opponents points or finish his own coherently. By then, it was too late for a full primary contest and party figures like Rep. Jim Clyburn opposed efforts by the likes of Barack Obama to allow the partys voters to decide the issue.

Joe Biden appeared whispery and unable to finish his points during a June debate with Donald Trump in 2024 that preceded the downfall of his campaign (AFP/Getty)

Newsom told Welker that while he never had concerns about Bidens ability to do his job, he had privately raised concerns about the presidents demeanor after a fundraiser in Southern California. At that event, in May of 2024, the sitting U.S. president reportedly failed to recognize megastar Hollywood icon George Clooney, one of the Democratic Partys biggest supporters in the film industry.

The one exception, as it relates to the interaction I had with him, that gave me pause, one, was the fundraiser in Southern California. And all of us were a little taken aback, Newsom explained to Welker. The governor added that during the June debate with Trump, that person came back on that debate night and that certainly gave all of us pause.

He went on to assert that he raised his concerns to the campaign privately, with grace and humility, while echoing what former vice president Kamala Harris said about her refusal to put more pressure on her running mate to drop out: He was going to make the right decision. And so for me it wasn't my job to go out there.

That move to address the concerns about Bidens age puts the governor ahead of many of his potential rivals for the 2028 nomination, including Harris who struggled to enunciate why she herself refused to separate herself from the president and hadnt spoken out before it was too late during the media tour for her recently-published memoir, 107 Days.

Harris, in particular, is likely (along with others in the former administration) to face those questions going forward as the partys voters largely blame leadership for fumbling what many believe should have been a winnable election for the Democratic Party and pushing the GOP into twin majorities in the House and Senate.

Having refused to say that she would do anything different than Biden had she been president for four years, Harris will shoulder the burden of the entire Biden-Harris administrations record should she enter the field in 2028. This year, she declined to run for governor in California.
China to launch new-generation crewed spaceship in 2026

Xinhua) 09:01, November 02, 2025

JIUQUAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China will launch the new generation of crewed spaceship Mengzhou-1 in 2026, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

Mengzhou is developed through a comprehensive upgrade from the Shenzhou crewed spaceship. It adopts a modular design, comprising a return capsule and a service capsule, and it will provide transport between Earth and the space station.

The Mengzhou-1 crewed spaceship will make its maiden flight atop the Long March-10A carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in southern Hainan Province, and dock with the radial port of the space station's core module.

It will verify the performance of the spaceship's overall systems, while delivering environmental assessment instruments and supplies, technology demonstration payloads, crew necessities, and experiment devices for applied-science tests.

China will also launch the Shenzhou-22 and Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China next year. Each mission will carry a crew of three astronauts.

The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft will dock with the radial port of the space station's core module, while Shenzhou-23 will dock with the front port.

One astronaut of the Shenzhou-22 crew will stay in orbit for a long-duration residency experiment lasting more than one year.

The tasks of the two crewed spaceflight missions will also include conducting extravehicular activities (EVAs), delivering and retrieving payloads through the cargo airlock, continuing space science experiments and technology tests, managing space station systems, carrying out crew-support tasks, and performing education-outreach activities.

Moreover, China plans to launch the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in 2026. It will dock with the backward port of the space station's core module.

The main tasks of the cargo spacecraft include delivering crew supplies and EVAs suits, maintenance spares and propellant to keep the station safe and operational, as well as payloads and experiment samples for applied-science projects. When it deorbits, the cargo spacecraft will dispose of the waste from the space station.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
A hero rail worker who shielded passengers during a knife rampage on a London-bound train is critical but stable in hospital after undoubtedly saving peoples lives, police said.

The member of staff, who has not been named, was one of 10 victims taken to hospital following an attack on a Doncaster to Kings Cross high-speed service.

British Transport Police declared a major incident when the train came to a stop in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire after passengers pulled the emergency alarms.

The Prince and Princess of Wales have said their thoughts are with families and friends of all those impacted by the horrific events.

William also praised the first responders and train staff that acted so swiftly.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander praised the hero LNER staff member whose actions undoubtedly saved lives.

She told Times Radio: He went to work on Saturday morning to do his job and he left work a hero.

British Transport Police have reviewed CCTV footage from what happened on the train and he literally put himself in harms way so there will be people alive today because of his actions.

The LNER staff member was said to be in a critical condition. In an update on Monday morning, his condition was described as stable..

On the suspect arrested, she said he was not known to counter-terrorism police, not known to the security services and not known to the Prevent programme. She declined to say anything on the possible motive for the attack or events that led up to the incident to avoid the risk of prejudicing any future trial.

Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy, of BTP, said: This was a horrific attack that has had a wide impact.

Andrew Johnson, driver of the LNER service (Facebook)

My thoughts and those of everyone in British Transport Police are with those injured and their families  especially the brave member of rail staff whose family are being supported by specialist officers.

Having viewed the CCTV from the train, the actions of the member of rail staff were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved peoples lives.

Eyewitnesses told how there was blood everywhere.

One saw a man with a bloodied arm fleeing down a carriage yelling theyve got a knife while another saw police Taser a suspect on a platform.

The London North Eastern Railway worker is the only person still fighting for their life, BTP said, as they confirmed five of those taken to hospital had been discharged.

One of the two men arrested at the scene has been released with no further action.

A 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent who was arrested eight minutes after police were called at 7.42pm was held after a report in good faith, BTP said, but officers have since established he was not involved.

'They were stabbing everyone'



Olly Foster was on a train where ten people were stabbed - leaving nine with life threatening injuries - before police arrested two men when it stopped at Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire https://t.co/CvnJrhpbGb pic.twitter.com/5CnRPggQl9  BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) November 2, 2025

The other man, a 32-year-old black British national, remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder.

He is from Peterborough and boarded the train there, when it stopped at 7.30pm, officers confirmed.

A knife was recovered by police at the scene of the incident, which police previously said is not believed to have been motivated by terrorism.

A passenger reportedly cheated death after the attacker came at her with a knife during Saturdays train rampage in Huntingdon.

Dayna Arnold, 48, was sat in the same train carriage as the attacker after boarding at Peterborough with her pal Andy Gray, 37.

Forensic investigators at Huntingdon train station (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

She fell to the floor as other ran through the carriage when he started plunging his blade into anyone he could find, Ms Arnold said.

The site manager Dayna, from Bridlington, East Yorkshire, told The Sun: I was going with the crowd but then I got knocked into some seats.

I looked back and saw the knifeman running so I slid down to the floor. He came at me with the knife and I begged Please dont.

One man, who gave his name as Gavin, told Sky News he believed he saw the suspect Tasered before he was arrested.

In footage, having been wrestled to the ground on the platform the man wearing all black reportedly shouting at officers, Kill me, kill me, kill me.

Other videos show the moment terrified train passengers fled down a platform.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has vowed to help fund medical care for any fan involved. A number of supporters were returning to London on the train after watching the 2-2 draw with Manchester United.

Olly Foster, who also witnessed the unfolding incident, told the BBC an older man - said to be a Forest season-ticket holder - blocked the attacker from stabbing a young girl, leaving him with serious injuries to his head and neck.

Detectives investigating a major incident in Cambridgeshire can this evening confirm a 32-year-old man who was arrested is now being treated as the only suspect.



Weve established that the second man arrested was not involved in the attack.



https://t.co/RgHF95h49y pic.twitter.com/lh0FKMhfhq  British Transport Police (@BTP) November 2, 2025

Mr Foster told the broadcaster other passengers used their clothing to try to stem the bleeding.

Passengers hid in train toilets and its buffet car to protect themselves from a man with a large knife seen making his way through the train, The Times reported.

Witness Thomas McLachlan, 19, from London, told BBC News he saw people leaving the train drenched in blood.

Mr McLachlan said: There was one man clutching a white sheet to his head who looked like he was stabbed twice. (There were) really severe injuries. And there was just general fear among everyone involved.

Police have praised a heroic rail worker who tried to stop a knife attacker during the Huntingdon train stabbings (Joe Giddens/PA) (PA Wire)

David Horne, managing director of LNER, said: We are deeply shocked and saddened by yesterdays incident and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, particularly our colleague who remains in a life-threatening condition, and their family.

I would like to thank the emergency services for their quick and professional response and the care they provided to those injured.

I would also like to recognise the driver, crew and our operational response colleagues for their bravery and quick actions.

This is a deeply upsetting incident. Over the coming days we will continue to co-operate with the authorities involved and will do everything we can to support our customers and colleagues during this very difficult time.

The driver who stopped the train at Huntingdon is very shaken, but good, and has been commended by an Aslef union officer who said he had done exactly the right thing.

Forensic investigators at Huntingdon train station in Cambridgeshire (Joe Giddens/PA) (PA Wire)

Named in The Telegraph as Andrew Johnson, the paper reported that the driver is also a Royal Navy and Iraq War veteran.

Mr Johnson told ITV News: I was only doing my job. It was my colleague who is in hospital who was the brave one.

Nigel Roebuck, Aslef officer who leads on negotiations with LNER, said: He (the driver) didnt stop the train in the middle of two stations where its obviously difficult for the emergency services to reach, but he carried on going until he got to Huntingdon, where the response was pretty much already there.

Armed police officers walk on the platform alongside an LNER train (AFP via Getty Images)

Mr McFarlane said: When I spoke to the driver, he told me that he had people banging on his door telling him that people had been stabbed.

That driver has mere minutes to act and make sure that people are aware of whats going on and get that train stopped as quickly as possible in the best place and get everyone off that train as soon as possible.

Mr MacFarlane spoke to one passenger who initially thought it must be a Halloween prank.

But went on to describe what he saw in the car park: As I left the station, obviously aware that somethings going on, thats quite serious, I turn to my right outside the car park and I see someone running around the car park dressed in black looking a little bit, sort of almost like they dont know what theyre doing or where they are, theyre just running around aimlessly.

I couldnt quite tell if that was an attacker - I sort of just took it as I need to get away safely, quickly.

So I turned the opposite direction and ran up the hill away from the station to the main road.

Huntingdon station remains closed, and police have thanked the public for their patience.

The attack is understood to have started shortly after the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train left Peterborough station.

LNER, which operates East Coast Main Line services in the UK, said disruption to its services between London Kings Cross and Lincoln, Doncaster, Leeds, Bradford Forster Square and Harrogate was expected to last until Monday, with passengers advised to defer their travel where possible.

Anyone with information they believe could help police is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 quoting reference 663 of 01/11/25.
Counter-terrorism police have joined an investigation into a mass stabbing on a train in Cambridgeshire which left nine people with life-threatening injuries.

The attack happened on Saturday evening aboard the 6.25pm London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service from Doncaster to London Kings Cross. The train had just left Peterborough station when a man armed with a large knife launched into a violent rampage.

The attack is not believed to have been motivated by terrorism, British Transport Police said.

Two people remain in a life-threatening condition following the bloody rampage.

One of the two men who were arrested at the scene has been released with no further action.

A 35-year-old man who was arrested eight minutes after police were called at 7.42pm on Saturday was held after a report in good faith, BTP said, but officers have now confirmed that he was not involved.

The other man, a 32-year-old black British national, remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder.

Passengers describe scenes of panic

Passengers described scenes of chaos and terror as the man began stabbing travellers at random. Witnesses said people screamed, hid in toilets and trampled over each other trying to escape.

One man, who gave his name as Gavin, told Sky News: Essentially, as they got closer to him, started shouting, like, get down, get down. He then was waving a knife, quite a large knife, and then they detained him. I think it was a Taser that got him down in the end.

Another passenger, Olly Foster, told the BBC he initially thought the shouts of run, run, theres a guy literally stabbing everyone were part of a Halloween prank. He later realised the horror was real, saying his hand was covered in blood after leaning on a chair where someone had been injured.

Foster added that an older man blocked the attacker from stabbing a younger girl, suffering wounds to his head and neck in the process. The incident felt like forever, he said.

Emergency services search track beneath an LNER train at Huntingdon Station (AFP via Getty Images)

Armed police storm train at Huntingdon

The train was stopped at Huntingdon station, where armed officers stormed the carriages and Tasered one suspect before making arrests. Two people have been detained.

British Transport Police declared a major incident and briefly activated Plato  the national protocol for a marauding terror attack  before it was stood down.

A total of 10 people were taken to hospital, including two with life-threatening injuries and one with non life-threatening injuries.

Chief Superintendent Chris Casey said: This is a shocking incident and first and foremost my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families.

Were conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further. At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

Cordons remain in place and trains are not running through the area, with some road closures around Huntingdon station.

(PA)

Appalling and devastating, says local MP

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the mass stabbing as an appalling and deeply concerning incident, saying his thoughts were with those affected and thanking emergency services for their swift response.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was deeply saddened and urged the public to avoid comment and speculation at this early stage.

Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty called the attack appalling and devastating. He added: My thoughts are with all those victims who were injured during this heinous attack. I would like to pay tribute to the incredible and immediate response of the emergency services, particularly the Response Officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary who were first to arrive on the scene.

Train disruption to last until Monday

David Horne, managing director of LNER, said the company was deeply shocked and saddened by this serious incident.

Our thoughts are very much with everyone involved, he said. I would like to thank the emergency services for their quick and professional response and the care they have provided to those injured. The safety and wellbeing of everyone affected will remain our priority.

LNER said disruption on services between London Kings Cross and Lincoln, Doncaster, Leeds, Bradford Forster Square and Harrogate is expected to last until Monday, with passengers advised to delay travel where possible.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said: We are horrified by the mass stabbing attack on an LNER train last night. Our thoughts remain with the train crew and passengers who were either at work or going about their business on a busy Saturday night during this awful incident.

It is important we allow the emergency services and authorities to establish the full facts before commenting further.

Counter-terrorism police continue to support British Transport Police in the investigation as officers work to piece together the events that led to the shocking attack.
Huntingdon train stabbing: What security is there on trains and which services are disrupted today?

Passengers expecting to travel on East Coast Main Line services have been warned of continued disruption after Saturday evenings mass stabbing onboard a train from Doncaster to London.

British Transport Police (BTP) have confirmed that two people remain in a life-threatening condition following the bloody rampage, while two British nationals have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

LNER, which operates most intercity trains on the UKs flagship route, said disruption to its services between London Kings Cross and Yorkshire was likely to last until Monday.

David Horne, managing director of LNER, said We are deeply shocked and saddened by this serious incident, and our thoughts are very much with everyone involved.

"The safety and wellbeing of everyone affected will remain our priority. We will continue to do everything we can to support our customers and colleagues during this difficult time.

What do we know about the train involved? What measures are in place for passenger safety? And what is the impact on train services today?

Simon Calder is at London King's Cross station  the intended destination for the train.

What service was involved?

The train involved in the 1 November incident was the 6.25pm LNER departure from Doncaster in South Yorkshire to London King's Cross. It left on time and called at Retford, Newark, Grantham and Peterborough.

The service departed from Peterborough on time at 7.30pm. One more call was expected 28 minutes later at Stevenage, with arrival in the capital scheduled for 8.23pm.

(Datawrapper/The Independent)

The train was planned to travel through Huntingdon at 125mph on a fast track that does not have access to a platform.

While the attack was happening, the LNER train driver, their control room and Network Rail signallers were able to divert the train to the slow line and bring it to a halt at the first available station within 14 minutes of departure from Peterborough, with armed police attending.

This was an extraordinarily swift response. The outcome could have been far worse, had the train either stopped short of the station  with access and escape difficult  or continued to Stevenage, .

What security is in place on trains?

CCTV cameras are standard onboard trains, but passengers are especially vulnerable to attackers while travelling at 125mph in a confined space.

Currently the only pre-boarding check for passengers happens at London St Pancras International, with all Eurostar passengers and their baggage checked before departure to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. This is because the Channel Tunnel is perceived to be a key terrorist target.

For trains within the UK, British Transport Police patrol trains and stations, but the force has fewer than 3,000 officers  on a network with five million journeys a day. The BTP says patrols will be stepped up in the next few days.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said passengers would see "a high visibility presence" of police at railway stations and on trains on Sunday "to reassure the public".

She added: "My thoughts are with those who have been impacted by the shocking incident in Huntingdon last night, especially those still in hospital today.

"I'd like to pay enormous tribute to the staff and officers who responded, and the public for their patience and cooperation.

"Trains are now running in the area, however Huntingdon station remains closed with trains passing through.

"Passengers will see a high visibility presence of officers at stations and on trains throughout today who are there to reassure the public."

Rail firms will consider increasing the number of security staff on trains. There are likely to be calls for airport-style security checks before boarding trains. But given the sheer number of travellers and the constraints at stations, that seems impractical.

What are the unions calling for?

The leader of the biggest rail union, the RMT, has praised the professionalism, bravery and steadfastness  of the workers who responded to the knife attack.

General secretary Eddie Dempsey added: I will be seeking urgent meetings with government, rail employers and police to ensure that we have the strongest possible support, resources and robust procedures in place to protect our members and the travelling public.

The TSSA union, representing white-collar rail staff, highlighted the urgent need for preventive measures, heightened security, and zero-tolerance towards aggression on our transport system. The union is seeking assurances that the rail workforce receives all necessary support, including counselling and time off when needed.

What is the effect on travel today?

As police continue to investigate the knife attack on a train that ended at Huntingdon station, rail passengers have been warned: LNER services between London Kings Cross and Peterborough may be cancelled, revised or delayed.

National Rail issued an early morning update about disruption on Monday after the weekends knife attack on a train travelling from Doncaster to London.

The train was diverted to Huntingdon, where the emergency services helped passengers and crew.

The LNER train remains a crime scene that police are investigating.

Passengers are warned: The emergency services are continuing to deal with a major incident between Hitchin and Peterborough. Whilst they carry out their work some lines are still closed. Great Northern and Thameslink services will not call at Huntingdon.

LNER posted on X: We expect to run a normal service today. We still recommend checking your journey closer to the time, using our journey checker. If you have an Advance Single ticket [for Monday] then please travel on your booked service.

The train operator says unused LNER tickets for 1-2 November are valid for travel up to and including 7 November.

You dont need to change or amend your ticket, but LNER recommend making a seat reservation before you travel, the rail firm said.

Weekend engineering work in the York area has now ended meaning trains can now run between London, northeast England and Scotland once again.

The train, a crime scene, is still blocking one track on the East Coast Main Line at Huntingdon, slowing services.

The route normally connects London Kings Cross with Yorkshire, northeast England and Scotland, but planned engineering work in the York area means no trains are running beyond Doncaster.

With a number of cancellations, some LNER trains are making additional calls, which is adding to delays.

The rail firm says: Rail replacement buses will run between Newark Northgate and Lincoln in both directions in placed of cancelled train services on this route.

LNER tickets for Saturday or Sunday can be used on Monday or Tuesday, though the train operators recommends making a fresh reservation.

Services between London King's Cross on Grand Central to West Yorkshire and Hull Trains are near normal.

A forensic investigator photographing the scene on the platform by the train at Huntingdon station (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

Are train drivers taught to deal with situations like this?

Train drivers are highly trained to handle all manner of unusual circumstances and emergency scenarios. Everything is rooted in safety, and getting passengers to the safest possible location as swiftly as possible is paramount.

On this occasion the driver, along with LNER crew and control room staff, as well as Network Rail, responded with great skill and professionalism.
My tolerance for bulls*** has always been pretty primed: Imogen Poots stars in Hedda and The Chronology of Water (Freddie Miller)

A few years back, a director told Imogen Poots she had an attitude problem. I thought [his] idea was silly, she tells me. But he said that to me in front of a whole crowd of people, which was lame. He was a nice man, but we werent creatively right for one another at all, and its funny in hindsight how me not feeling comfortable, or not understanding something, warranted that comment. He was treating me like a kid. But at this point I see it as a compliment. Yay for attitude problems.

Were in a bar in Soho the day after the London Film Festival premiere of Hedda, a rambunctious rejig of Ibsens Hedda Gabler that demands no niceties of its combative leading lady. The blonde hair, half up, half down, tumbles disorderly. My tolerance for bulls*** has always been pretty primed, the 36-year-old star of 28 Weeks Later (2007) and the Oscar-winning dementia drama The Father (2020) continues. People have often assumed Im not aware of the trickery, but Ive got big eyes. I see all the stuff. Those Disney-proportioned, bulls***-detecting blue eyes blink and widen like a cat spotting its own reflection.

Poots is wearing high-waisted jeans, Nike Classics and a white T-shirt Emily Mortimer bought her at the Film Forum in New York; her nail polish is a chipped black. Inscribed across two fingers are the initials AY, in honour of a friend, the late actor Anton Yelchin. Her hands often clench and unclench. Shes sharp and solicitous, our conversation ricocheting so much that I lose track of my prepared questions. She is also very funny in that particularly English way  bone-dry one moment, nerdishly self-mocking the next. Growing up in west London, she loved cinema, obsessing over indie filmmaking titans from Terrence Malick to Peter Bogdanovich. But today there is no air of actorly pretension. This is an industry of absolute Looney Tunes parading as if theyre normal, she says at one point. And then these people make movies about the real world and the human experience. Anyway...

This is typical of Poots, thoughts and digressions spilling out. Shes supposed to be here to talk about her two new films, The Chronology of Water and Hedda. In the latter, the action has been transplanted from late-19th-century Oslo to 1950s Great Britain, where the free spirit of the title (Tessa Thompson) has moved to a country estate with her new husband, a boring academic (Tom Bateman). Its written and directed by Nia DaCosta, who shot the 2021 Candyman horror reboot with such elan. So too Hedda. Unfolding over 12 hours at a party thrown by the newlyweds, DaCostas interpretation paints an exuberant picture of desire, deceit, and a sort of prurient Fifties bacchanalia. Its really Nia to have this luscious imagery undercut with this kind of deeply salted, wounded behaviour, says Poots. She spoke a lot to the costume designer about how the dresses should emulate rotting fruit, like plums and apricots.

Inevitably, all that opulence, scheming and drunken sexual intrigue has seen Hedda compared to Saltburn, Emerald Fennells anarchic class satire. Poots isnt convinced. It just speaks of a lack of imagination, she scoffs. Theyre probably drawing on what they believe to be salacious, but there are some more risque films out there. Its tenuous.

I mention a line of dialogue in Hedda that refers to Pootss character as a muse. As a word, viewed through a modern lens, its considered problematic. I just think these days there are a lot of terms and ideas that people want to sully, turning something that was once very beautiful and inspiring into something that falls under the term victim, says Poots, waving her hands as if conducting invisible symphonies. I mean, if you think about Edie Sedgwick and Andy Warhol, he wasnt just projecting onto her. She brought something to him. It was kind of a two-way street.

Ibsen revisited: Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss and Imogen Poots in Hedda (Prime Video)

Poots also points to the late, great Diane Keaton. You could argue she was very much a muse for Woody Allen, she says, but thats because he was lucky enough and smart enough to bottle this miraculous person in front of him. I have so many muses, and whenever I feel really down, those are the things and people I return to.

A couple of days after our interview, Poots messages me to say she has been reflecting a lot on the muse conundrum. With social media, its interesting to consider how everyone has become their own muse, she writes. Thats where it starts to get troubling, because youre not looking back at history, or around you, and youre not figuring out who you are by what moves you; youre just staying put and putting filters on your face, to try and mean something to someone, or to yourself. Then everything starts to feel chillingly homogenous.

If you want to smoke cigarettes and not eat, and feel thin and sultry, thats OK. Its a rite of passage

Poots has been in the public eye ever since she played a small part, aged 15, as the younger self of a political prisoner in 2005s V for Vendetta. She landed her first significant role in 28 Weeks Later (2007), the post-apocalyptic horror sequel. Deciding against drama school, Poots learnt on the job. Its paid off. For two decades, Poots has homed in on the hairline fractures in composed characters, adding a complexity that might otherwise be left concealed. In her West End debut in 2017, she held her own opposite Imelda Staunton, lending a real depth to Honey, the sozzled, condescended-to young woman in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

There have been parts in the films of her early heroes, Bogdanovichs screwball comedy Shes Funny That Way (2014) and Malicks Knight of Cups (2015). Her sense of free-flowing naturalism was there too in Lorcan Finnegans psychological thriller Vivarium (2019), and she made a winningly fragile Jean Ross, the model for Christopher Isherwoods Sally Bowles, in BBCs 2011 drama Christopher and His Kind. But it was as the cocaine-addicted daughter of pornographer Paul Raymond in Michael Winterbottoms The Look of Love (2013) that Poots really left her mark, her performance one of flayed vulnerability.

Fearless and bracingly real: Poots (right) with co-star Thora Birch in The Chronology of Water (The Forge)

Now, in Kristen Stewarts bold directorial debut The Chronology of Water, Poots has never been more fearless or bracingly real. She portrays Lidia Yuknavitch, the San Francisco native upon whose 2011 memoir the film is based, as she tries to escape her abusive childhood by developing an obsession with swimming. It is not easy to watch  a maelstrom of grief, resilience and self-destructive desire. The films lyrical, non-linear narrative shows how Yuknavitch tried to numb the lasting psychological impacts  through competition, sexual experimentation, drug addiction. Poots was blown away by the films writer-director. Im very proud of her, she says. The stakes were so high to go and make a film when youre already a certified, very well-known movie star, so its a really brave thing to decide to do.

During the filming, their shared perfectionism meant shoots ran long. Both were equally meticulous about getting scenes exactly right, says Poots, who trained so hard for the role that she gave herself a hernia. What should take three hours would take eight.

She pauses, smiles. People like [Kristen] dont really exist any more. A real individual, a very authentic and courageous and kind person. She contrasts this with the hollow networking at industry events, where conversations feel performative and distracted. And then youre with someone like Kristen, and she is just incredibly present. Her eyes are boring through, seeing your bones.

Poots notes with approval that shes seeing a lot more directors who are women. Maybe one day, once weve got enough, we can just call them directors... we dont talk about male directors.

Shared perfectionism: Poots with the writer and director of The Chronology of Water, Kristen Stewart (2025 Invision)

Structural shifts like these are having an effect, yet Poots, who has spoken in the past about the pressure shes felt to look a certain way, says that other changes are more internalised. I did feel that pressure when I was younger, but not so much any more. There will always be idealising; its just what you do in reaction to it. Because tomorrow someone gets spooked, and suddenly theres a new ideal. Its dumb to try and chase that.

At the same time, she continues, if you want to smoke cigarettes and not eat, and feel thin and sultry while youre figuring it out, thats OK. Its a rite of passage, and everyone should get to have that. But its valuable, too, when that passage ultimately ends and you see how tedious that preoccupation is, and how boring it makes you.

Poots says shes never felt more sure of who she is. That speaks to ageing, she explains. There are quite a few years where youre oblivious to it at the time, but youre trying things on, and youre figuring it out, and youre in the wrong relationships, and youre in the wrong friendships, and there is a doubt there, but you dont act on it. These days, shes learnt to trust her gut almost immediately. Im very happy at the moment.

Flayed vulnerability: Poots in The Look of Love (2013) (Film4)

By her own admission, when she was younger, Poots sometimes felt unenthused by certain projects. In previous interviews, she couldnt even bring herself to call the 2014 video-game adaptation Need for Speed by its name, instead referring to it as the racecar film. I dont have a bad attitude about that movie any more, she says. I didnt want to be there. I was still under the impression that there was a high art, low art divide. Now I dont think there is.

Like that old Hollywood maxim one for them, one for me?

Yeah, thats bulls***, she says. There are all these rules that are supposed to be like, frame your future. I dont think thats real, but I think work is work. You have to start somewhere. I really dont like people judging young actors for taking certain roles. I think people forget that young actors have to earn money.

Nostalgia is a real sickness (Freddie Miller)

Having moved to the US when she was 19, Poots, who lives in Brooklyn, has recently felt the pull of the UK again. She blames Oasis. Its been such a thrill to have them back, she says. Im really happy about their resurgence, because I think the best music in the world... Well, its a grand statement, but I do think the English have delivered incredible bands. Ive seen some people walking around Brooklyn in Whats the Story (Morning Glory)? T-shirts and Im like, But did you know the album? Did you know it?

Im a huge fan, but the nostalgia of it is interesting, she adds. It can be a real sickness. She cites the fact that she and Brett Goldstein, her co-star in the recent romantic drama All of You, talked about getting pre-nostalgia, which is when were so excited about something that we miss it even before its happened.

Fitting, then, that the great British emblems of bad attitude have become Pootss North Star, tractor-beaming her back to England. She pulls out her phone to read a quote from an Edward Albee play: Sometimes its necessary to go a long distance out of the way in order to come back a short distance correctly. Her eyes bounce up from the screen. Isnt that great?

Hedda is streaming on Prime Video now; The Chronology of Water is out in cinemas on 6 February 2026
Reforms policies allowed extremists to spread hate, xenophobia and racism, the school claimed - Leon Neal/Getty Images

A chain of schools that compared Reform UKs policies to fascism in politics lessons has been accused of imposing deep socialist bias on children.

Students at schools run by Orion Education, which has eight academies in England, were taught that the partys policies had been exploited by extremists to spread hate, xenophobia and racism and normalise far-Right views.

Teachers showed pupils a diagram of the political spectrum in the UK, labelled as communist on the far-Left to fascist on the far-Right.

Reform was at the fascism end of the spectrum, near the British National Party.

Richard Tice, the partys deputy leader, was also pictured on a PowerPoint slide under the title How can political views lead to extremism?

Orion Education slide about the political spectrum

Orion Education slide on extremism

They also highlighted criticism of St Georges flags as a provocative and exclusionary symbol used by far-Right groups and encouraged students to read The Guardian rather than newspapers such as the Daily Mail and The Sun.

The presentations were delivered to Year 10 students and flagged to Mr Tice by a concerned parent.

Reform claims that it has seen a rising number of examples of teachers comparing its policies to fascism and says that Left-wing teachers have deliberately tried to undermine the party in classrooms.

Orion Education slide on St George flags

Mr Tice told The Telegraph: Left-wing teachers are breaching their employment contracts by imposing their deep socialist political bias on children.

They should be neutral in helping students learn all sides of politics. It is notable that no reference was made to Antifa, nor violent extremism from the far Left.

I am appalled but not surprised by this bias from a primarily Left-wing academic community.

The PowerPoint presentations included extensive discussion of the spread of Right-wing extremism and linked Reform to the spread of online hatred against immigrants.

One slide said: Whilst not extreme or far-Right, [Reform has] increased public debate around immigration and national identity.

For example, Reform UK argues for much lower immigration, deportation of illegal migrants and stricter border controls.

Supporters say this protects jobs and national identity; however, this has fuelled anti-immigrant feeling across Britain, which extremists have exploited to spread hate, xenophobia and racism, normalising far-Right views.

We are simply stating the facts

A note for staff teaching the lesson, which was not visible to students, reads: This is a very current political issue and public safety concern.

It is also important that our own political bias does not impact what we tell students. We are simply stating the facts around what is happening and that far-Right and extreme views are harmful.

The lesson went on to link the rise of Reform, which is polling 11 points ahead of Labour on average, to the Unite the Kingdom rally by Tommy Robinson supporters.

Polls show that British citizens are concerned about asylum seekers and illegal migration, which is fuelling anti-immigration sentiment and extremism, it said.

Teachers then instructed students that they should use trusted sites like BBC, The Guardian [and] Parliament.uk, instead of sites like The Sun, random blogs or YouTube channels.

Orion Education slide about the political spectrum

Orion Education slide about the media and politics

Newspapers such as the Daily Mail and The Sun often publish dramatic headlines about immigration, especially about small boat crossings in the English Channel, it said.

These stories sometimes use words like flood or invasion, making migrants sound like a threat.

This type of reporting can make people feel afraid or angry, which far-Right groups then use to support their arguments.

Simon Garrill, the Orion Education chief executive, said he had begun an investigation into the lessons after they were first reported by The Mail on Sunday.

He said he would carry out a fair and thorough process after the half-term break.

Orion Education was contacted for comment.
Intentional explosion at Harvard Medical School, two people seen running from the building

There was an intentional explosion at a Harvard Medical School building early Saturday as two people were seen running from the building, according to police.

No injuries were reported during the explosion at the Ivy League schools Goldenson building, which is situated in Harvards Longwood medical campus.

The incident took place just before 3 a.m. Saturday.

An officer responded and saw two people fleeing from the building after the fire alarm was activated, according to the Harvard University Police Department.

The Boston Fire Department Arson Unit has determined the explosion to be intentional and the FBI is assisting the university police at the scene, according to the Harvard Crimson.

It wasnt immediately clear what had caused the explosion (REUTERS)

No additional explosive devices were found during a sweep of the building.

Police released grainy photos of two people wearing face coverings and what looked like sweatshirts. There was no further information on any suspects, however.

Police circulated the photos after the explosion. (Harvard University Police Department via AP)

No one was hurt in the explosion - but police have released photos of two people wearing face coverings. (Harvard University Police Department via AP)

The Independent has contacted the Harvard University Police Department for further information.

It has been a difficult year for the elite institution amid a legal battle with the Trump administration but Harvard was still recently named one of the top three universities in the country, along with Princeton and MIT.

Harvard, the oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S., has been locked in a high-stakes clash with the Trump administration over its tax-exempt status, federal research funding, foreign student enrollment, and intellectual property.

In September, a federal judge blocked the administrations attempt to freeze more than $2 billion in Harvards research grants, ruling the move illegal.
FBI Director Kash Patel has hit back at the beyond pathetic reports that he used a government jet to see his girlfriend perform at a wrestling event, claiming they were an attempt to smear his rock-solid conservative partner.

Last week, it emerged that Patel, 45, went to see his girlfriend, 26-year-old country music singer Alexis Wilkins, perform at the Real American Freestyle event at Pennsylvania State University.

Patel has reportedly become so incensed by media stories about the incident that he ousted a senior FBI official who had been at the agency for 27 years, according to Bloomberg Law.

The FBI director took to X on Sunday to voice his frustration at the attention the story received.

The disgustingly baseless attacks against Alexis  a true patriot and the woman Im proud to call my partner in life  are beyond pathetic, Patel said. She is a rock-solid conservative and a country music sensation who has done more for this nation than most will in ten lifetimes. Im so blessed shes in my life.

FBI Director Kash Patel has lashed out at criticism hes faced for using a government jet to see his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, perform at a wrestling event (Getty Images)

Patel claimed that attacks on him and his girlfriend jeopardizes our safety and hit out at supposed allies staying silent amid the fallout.

He added: Ive always said  criticize me all you want. But going after the people doing great work, my personal life, or those around me is a total disgrace.

Patel did not reference the story, first reported by The Bulwark, that he took a government jet to see his partner perform.

His statement also did not address reports that Steven Palmer, a FBI veteran who oversaw aviation, was forced out following Patels anger over the intense media coverage.

Palmer was ousted even though Patels flight logs were publicly available, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the news of the veteran federal employees departure.

Patels spokesperson, Ben Williamson, also launched a lengthy defense of his boss on X earlier in the week and said criticism was disingenuous and dumb.

Williamson said that Patel had significantly limited personal travel compared with his predecessors Chris Wray and James Comey, and pointed out that the director pays a reimbursement in advance, adhering to government rules for personal travel.

Hes allowed to take personal time on occasion to see family, friends or his longtime girlfriend. He doesnt do it often, Williamson said.

Patel hit out at Wray, his predecessor, in 2023 when he used government jets for personal use and accused him of jetting off on out [sic] tax payer dollars while dodging accountability for the implosion of the FBI on his watch.

Last week, it emerged that Patel, 45, went to see his girlfriend, 26-year-old country music singer Alexis Wilkins, perform at the Real American Freestyle event at Pennsylvania State University (Getty Images)

The trouble began for Patel when Wilkins posted a selfie with him from the event last Saturday. It didnt take long for internet sleuths to work out how the FBI director got there, as flight logs were publicly available on flight-tracking site FlightAware.

The jet appeared to have taken a roughly 40-minute-long flight from the Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia to State College Regional Airport on October 25, according to the logs. Roughly two and a half hours later, the jet departed from State College for Nashville, where Wilkins lives. A passenger manifesto for the jet was not released.

Wilkins is a country music sensation who has done more for this nation than most will in ten lifetimes, according to Patel (Getty Images)

It has been another difficult week for the embattled FBI director.

Officials at the FBI and the Justice Department were reportedly frustrated after Patel posted that a Michigan terror investigation had been foiled before a criminal complaint was prepared and details were clear, MSNBCs Ken Dilanian reported.

This weekend, a lawyer for one of the suspects has claimed that the terror plot never existed, the Associated Press reports.

The lawyer for one of five young men arrested in what the FBI said was a conspiracy to carry out a Halloween terror attack has said his client was only part of a gaming chat.

Amir Makled, who represents a 20-year-old suspect from Dearborn, Michigan, told the Detroit News he thought there was no conspiracy and said he expected there would be no charges. He told the outlet the young men may have been looking at questionable content online, but insisted there was no evidence of a terror plot in any of their communications.

I dont know where this hysteria and this fearmongering came from, Makled told AP.
Prince William will undertake five days of engagements in Rio de Janeiro and Belem

The Prince of Wales has worked together with the King on his landmark speech to the COP climate change conference.

The Prince has had numerous conversations with his father about COP30, a source has said, sharing a draft of his speech for the monarchs thoughts ahead of time.

The trip, which will be the first time the Prince has visited Latin America in an official capacity, will see him address world leaders about climate change and the environment.

He will be representing his father and the British government at the event.

The Prince and King Charles are both extremely passionate about saving the planet, with the King having previously attended COP summits.

The King has also taken a keen interest in Prince Williams Earthshot Prize, a Palace source added, which will hold its award ceremony in Rio de Janeiro this week.

As he boarded a commercial flight to Brazil, the Prince said he was excited to experience the countrys vibrant culture and the warmth of its people.

No better place

He will undertake five days of engagements in Rio de Janeiro and Belem, and added that there is no better place to celebrate the bold leadership of those trying to save the planet.

On Wednesday, he will speak at the Earthshot Prize ceremony, where Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes will perform.

He will also tour Brazilian landmarks such as Christ the Redeemer, the Maracana stadium and the beaches.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, will join him for part of the trip.

Prince William left London after a period of extreme challenge for the Royal family, which saw his uncle Andrew Mountbatten Windsor drop his titles and confirm that he will move out of Royal Lodge over his links to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted paedophile.

In a statement as he boarded the commercial flight, the Prince said: As I depart for Rio de Janeiro, I am excited for my first visit and to experience Brazils vibrant culture, its extraordinary biodiversity, and above all, the warmth of its people.

With the worlds eyes turning to Brazil this week, there is no better place to celebrate bold climate leadership. Hosting The Earthshot Prize allows us to not only recognise those driving change, but to be inspired by them.

When we work together with optimism and courage, a more sustainable future is within our reach.

Prince Williams Earthshot Prize is now in the fifth year of its 10-year run.

The charitys events will be held on a newly created Earthshot Boulevard, where low-carbon cookies and sustainable coffee will be served. A drone show over Ipanema Beach will be powered by renewable energy on Tuesday.

Presenters at the awards show on Wednesday will include Rebeca Andrade, the most decorated Brazilian and Latin American Olympian, and Sebastian Vettel, the Formula One driver.

Speaking the day before Prince William arrived, Stephanie Al-Qaq, the British ambassador to Brazil, said: His father is incredibly popular here. They love the Royal family.

It seems that he [Prince William] is more than ready to step into that space. Hes a very credible voice.

Our Royal family has quite a unique voice globally, and even more unique on this subject.

I know hes looking forward to it. I know hes excited. Were absolutely delighted to have him and I really hope that his voice carries far.
The Department of Homeland Security, led by Kristi Noem, is considering whether to hire private contractors to track down immigrants, a new report reveals.

The Intercept described these contractors as private bounty hunters when it published a DHS document detailing the proposal on Saturday. The Request for Information document, which is intended for prospective vendors, states that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has an immediate need for Skip Tracing and Process Serving Services, which would use Government furnished case data, according to the outlet.

Skip-tracing involves gathering, analyzing, and verifying information to locate individuals who have disappeared, whether intentionally or unintentionally, according to Thomson Reuters.

The agency says contractors could be given dockets of 10,000 immigrants at a time, with additional assignments given in increments of 10,000 up to 1,000,000, according to The Intercept.

ICE is also exploring an incentive based pricing structure, and could even provide monetary bonuses for performance, according to the obtained document. One way an ICE says contractors might get a cash bonus, according to The Intercept, is by identifying a persons correct address on the first try

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is considering hiring private bounty hunters to find immigrants, a new report reveals (AP)

The Independent has contacted ICE for comment.

Federal immigration activity has ramped up this year after President Donald Trump vowed to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. The uptick in immigration raids and presence of federal immigration agents in several major cities has sparked protests throughout the country, including in Los Angeles and Chicago.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker even appealed to the Trump administration this week, asking officials overseeing the federal immigration operations in Chicago to pause their activities during Halloween weekend

Illinois families deserve to spend Halloween weekend without fear. No child should be forced to inhale tear gas or other chemical agents while trick or treating in their own neighborhood, Pritzker said in a statement.

Illinois children should not be robbed of their innocence, he continued. Let them enjoy a time-honored American tradition safely and peacefully. Please let children be children for one holiday, free from intimidation and fear.

Noem slammed Pritzker for making the request at a press conference on Thursday.

The fact that Governor Pritzker is asking for that is shameful and I think unfortunate that he does not recognize how important the work that we do is, Noem said.
Lionel Messi snagged a late goal, but it was not enough as Nashville defeated Inter Miami 21 in the first round of the MLS play-offs.

Nashville striker Sam Surridge opened the scoring in the ninth minute, and Josh Bauer doubled the lead after connecting with Hany Mukhtars corner kick.

Messi pulled one back for Miami in the 90th minute  his sixth goal in just three games against Nashville  but the visitors held on for the win.

The teams will meet again in Fort Lauderdale on November 8 for a decisive third game.

The winner of the three-game series will face either Cincinnati or the Columbus Crew in the conference semi-finals.
Earlier this year, Russia hired or simply encouraged German based criminal hackers to engage in activities that hampered or just discouraged German support for Ukraine in its battles against Russian invaders. NATO officially and financially supports Ukraine. The German military/Bundeswehr was unable to detect who was responsible.

Western intelligence agencies believe Russia recently tried, and failed to take control of Romanian security cameras. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, its Cyber War unit 26165 has been hard at work all over Europe. NATO investigators have discovered more than 10,000 hacked internet addresses. The goal was to tap into surveillance cameras so that NATO movement of troops and supplies could be monitored. Romania has a 650 kilometers border with Ukraine and its ports use Chinese surveillance cameras. These have been banned by the U.S and European countries because of security concerns. The Romanian government pointed out that it played no role in the deployment of such security cameras. Nevertheless, the Romanians are checking into this.

Western nations have had similar problems for over a decade. In 2014 a new team of hackers was identified. This one had been concentrating on finding and taking political, diplomatic and military data from NATO nations involved in opposing Russian aggression in Ukraine. This group, called APT28, was identified as Russian by numerous patterns in their code, some of which was left behind or otherwise captured. This made it clear that the creators were Russian speakers, were working somewhere in the same time zone as Moscow and using software techniques known to come from Russia. That means hacker tools that are for sale on the black market. Moreover the data being sought would mainly benefit the Russian government. This sort of attack was showing up with increasing frequency and accuracy.

Over the last decade Internet security firms, especially Kaspersky Labs, FireEye and Symantec have developed better tools for identifying the hacker organizations responsible for some of the large-scale hacker attacks on business and government networks. For example in 2013 there was a group from China identified called Hidden Lynx. This group appeared to contain 50-100 hackers, each identified by their coding style and other clues. This group was believed largely responsible for a large-scale espionage campaign called Operation Aurora that was still active. The APT28 campaign, on the other hand, was quite recent and coincided with Western efforts to halt Russian attacks on Ukraine.

Internet security firms also support their clients by identifying and describing major malware. This is software created by hackers for penetrating and stealing from target systems. For example in 2013 Kaspersky Labs discovered a stealthy espionage program called NetTraveler. This bit of malware had been secretly planted in PCs used by diplomats and government officials in over 40 countries. Also hit were oil companies and political activists opposed to China. Dissection of NetTraveler indicated it was created by about fifty different people, most of them Chinese speakers who knew how to program in English.

Kaspersky also discovered a similar bit of malware called Red October, because it appeared to have been created by Russian speaking programmers. Red October was a very elaborate and versatile malware system. Hundreds of different modules have been discovered and Red October has been customized for a larger number of specific targets. Red October was found to be in the PCs and smartphones of key military personnel in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and dozens of other nations like the U.S., Australia, Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium, Brazil, Spain, South Africa, Japan, and the UAE. The Red October Internet campaign had been going on at least since 2008 seeking military and diplomatic secrets. As a result of this discovery Internet operators worldwide shut down the addresses Red October depended on.

Red October does not appear to be the product of some government intelligence agency and may be from one of several shadowy private hacker groups that specialize in seeking out military secrets and then selling them to the highest bidder. The buyers of this material prefer to remain quiet about obtaining secrets this way. In response to this publicity, the operators of Red October apparently shut down the network. The Russian government ordered the security services to find out if Russians were involved with Red October and, if so, to arrest and prosecute them. Russia has long been a sanctuary for Internet criminals, largely because of poor policing and corruption. It may well turn out that the Red October crew is in Russia and has paid off a lot of Russian cops in order to avoid detection and prosecution. To date, the operators of Red October have not been found.

South Korea has been subjected to a growing number of Cyber War attacks and some of them were quite damaging. In the last year South Korean security researchers concluded that nearly all these attacks were the work of one group from North Korea, which has threatened Cyber War attacks but not taken credit for them. This is typical of most North Korean attacks, both conventional and now over the Internet.

What most of these large scale attacks have in common is the exploitation of human error. Case in point is the continued success of attacks via the Internet against specific civilian, military, and government individuals using psychology, rather than just technology. This sort of thing is often carried out in the form of an official looking email, with a file attached, sent to people at a specific military or government organization. It is usually an email they weren't expecting but from someone they recognize. This is known in the trade as spear fishing or phishing.

This is a Cyber War technique that sends official looking email to specific individuals with an attachment which, if opened, secretly installs a program that sends files and information from the email recipient's PC to the spear fisher's computer. Since 2012 an increasing number of military, government, and contractor personnel have received these official-looking emails with a PDF document attached and asking for prompt attention.

China has been a major user of spear fishing and apparently the Chinese government and independent Chinese hackers have been a major force in coming up with new spearfishing payloads. The methods, and source, of many spear phishing attacks have been traced back to China. Cyber War hackers there have become easier to identify because they have been getting cocky and careless. Internet security researchers have found identical bits of code, which is readable text that programmers create and then turn into smaller binary code for computers to use. Techniques for using it in hacking software used against Tibetan independence groups, and commercial software sold by some firms in China who are known to work for the Chinese military. Similar patterns have been found in hacker code left behind during attacks on American military and corporate networks. The best hackers hide their tracks better than this.

It's also been noted that Chinese behavior is distinctly different from that encountered among East European hacking operations. The East European hackers are more disciplined and go in like commandos and get out quickly once they have what they were looking for. The Chinese go after more targets with less skillful attacks and stick around longer than they should. That's how so many hackers are traced back to China, often to specific servers known to be owned by the Chinese military or government research institutes.

The East Europeans have been at this longer and most of the hackers work for criminal gangs, who enforce discipline, select targets, and protect their hackers from local and foreign police. The East European hacker groups are harder to detect when they are breaking in and much more difficult to track down. Thus the East Europeans go after more difficult and lucrative targets. The Chinese hackers are a more diverse group. Some work for the government, many more are contractors, and even more are independents who often slip over to the dark side and scam Chinese. This is forbidden by the government and these hackers are sometimes caught and punished, or simply disappear. The Chinese hackers are, compared to the East Europeans, less skilled and disciplined. There are some very, very good Chinese hackers but they often lack adult supervision or some Ukrainian gangster ready to put a bullet in their head if they don't follow orders exactly.

For Chinese hackers that behave and don't do cybercrimes against Chinese targets, the rewards are great. Large bounties are paid for sensitive military and government data taken from the West. This encourages some unqualified hackers to take on targets they can't handle. This was seen when a group of hackers was caught trying to get into a high-security network in the White House. This was the network dealing with emergency communications with the military and nuclear forces. These amateurs are often caught and prosecuted. But the pros tend to leave nothing behind but hints that can be teased out of heavy use of data mining and pattern analysis.

The U.S. Department of Defense tries to keep track of countries that have established Cyber War organizations, or just capabilities. Germany joined the ranks of countries with a formal Cyber War organization. Germany put together a Cyber War unit. It is small, with less than a hundred personnel, but Germany has a large number of Internet technology experts, and many civilian resources for a Cyber War unit to draw on.

Many of these Cyber War capable nations are trying to develop tools and techniques for attacking American military and civilian targets, via the Internet, in the future. In some respects, these Cyber Wars have already begun. In the last few years, the number of intrusion attempts on Department of Defense computers has grown to over 500 a day. The actual increase may be less than that, because as the Department of Defense increases its Internet defenses, it becomes better able to detect intrusion attacks. The number of intrusions that succeed, or at least the ones that were discovered, has been going down. But even a few successful intrusions can result in the loss of enormous amounts of valuable data.

A lot of information on the Cyber War against the United States is kept secret, since if the attackers know which of their operations are being observed, or even known about, they will take steps to get their work back into the shadows. Half the battle in Cyber War is knowing you are being attacked. The best attacks, especially to steal information, or set up monitoring programs, work best, if at all, if they are undetected.

In the United States, the U.S. Air Force has taken the lead in developing Cyber War weapons. Air force hackers are usually the first to spot new enemy intrusion techniques, and are believed to have created powerful intrusion tools and techniques themselves. It's telling that intrusions of Department of Defense computers get publicized, while you hear little about such attacks made on other countries. It could be that the United States is not making as many intrusion attempts as known Cyber War users like Russia and China. Then again, most of these intrusion attempts go undetected whether they succeed or not.

Another reason for the large number of detectable attempts on Department of Defense computers is that the United States is the highest profile target for such attacks. The detectable attacks are often by amateurs, although some of these have been tracked back to government computer systems in Russia and China.

The U.S. Air Force has many electronic warfare aircraft, and access to U.S. electronic warfare satellites. The plan is to use all these resources in any future Cyber War, finding enemy vulnerabilities wherever and whenever, and exploit them as quickly as possible. With so much of the world's electronic communications going wireless, this gives the air force lots of opportunities. But until there's a war, the public won't know how extensive the American Cyber War arsenal is, and how effective it can be.

An air force attempt to take overall control of American Cyber War efforts, by establishing a large, 40,000 personnel, Air Force Cyberspace Command/AFCYBER, did not succeed. This effort sought to combine Internet operations organizations with some of the older electronic warfare ones. All this upset the other services, who had their own Cyber War activities, and this opposition, and resistance to overall air force management by the Department of Defense, led to AFCYBER's ambitions being sharply curtailed. AFCYBER is still out there, waiting for an opportunity to show the Department of Defense, and the rest of the world, what they are capable of.
David Abraham filmed himself trapped on the London bus (Instagram / ahmed_pak45)

A London bus driver has been suspended after allegedly trapping a Jewish passenger on board and making antisemitic remarks during a confrontation in Stamford Hill, north London.

David Abraham, 52, an Orthodox Jew, claims he was forced to remain on the bus after accidentally dropping his bank card inside the drivers booth. He alleges the driver refused to return it and told him, I dont like Jewish people, The Telegraph reports.

The driver has since been suspended by operator Arriva, which has launched an internal investigation. The incident has also been referred to the Metropolitan Police, who are treating it as a potential hate crime.

Mr Abraham said the incident happened at around 1.35pm on Monday, October 27, while he was heading home from his synagogue. He claims that as he attempted to pay his fare, his card slipped into the drivers booth.

He says the driver refused to hand it back, allegedly telling him: I dont want to see a Mossad agent in my face and I dont like Jewish people.

When he appealed to other passengers for help, Mr Abraham said they appeared nervous and, after questioning the driver, chose to leave the bus.

Mr Abraham told the Jewish Chronicle: He [the driver] told me to get out [and leave the card] and said, If you dont get out, I will lock you in the bus. I didnt, and he locked me in the bus.

He said he was trapped for around an hour before calling the police, who arrived at the scene, questioned the driver, and retrieved his card.

Mr Abraham said he was very traumatised by the experience. I havent been sleeping well. Im wondering why he was behaving like this. I did nothing to him. I was very shocked. I panicked, and I was scared. Im not safe, he said.

Arriva London confirmed the driver had been suspended while investigations continue.

A spokesperson said: We are taking it extremely seriously and we will take all appropriate action once our investigation has concluded. We are a responsible employer, and we expect the highest standards from our drivers.

We never tolerate abuse in any of its forms and we will always deal with any incidents swiftly and robustly.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson added: On Monday, October 27 at 14:03, police were called to reports of a verbal dispute between two men on a bus travelling in Stamford Hill, Hackney.

No arrests have been made. An investigation is under way and anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 3847/27OCT25.
Sean Allens Lonesome Boatman was a popular local winner of the Paddy Power Cork Grand National.

The nine-year-old was an 8-1 chance under Darragh OKeeffe for the three-and-a-half-mile Listed event and dominated from the front from the outset, keeping up the gallop to prevail by six lengths.

The victory was well received by the Cork crowd, with the trainer a small local outfit based only 40 minutes away from the track.

Allen said: That is unbelievable! Darragh rode the horse in Punchestown (last May) and put this race to us. We knocked the cobwebs off him at Listowel in September as you wouldnt want to be coming to this race without a run.

Today was the plan and the man on his back  what can I say, he was brave as a lion everywhere. Even when he was five or six lengths ahead, he was still firing the horse at fences. The plan was to go a gallop and he was really on-song.

I farm in Araglin, which is 40 minutes away and this is my local course. I have eight horses and my brother Darragh, who is friendly with Darragh (OKeeffe), rides out for me and I have plenty of local support too.

Regarding plans, the trainer quipped: Pints will be drunk and well talk about it then!.

Darragh OKeeffe enjoyed a treble on the card, with his first winner being Mister Pessimistic in division one of the Paddy Power From The Horses Mouth Podcast Maiden Hurdle.

A point-to-point and bumper winner, the four-year-old was a 4-11 favourite to maintain his unbeaten record and was just under three lengths too good for Grey Jude, leaving trainer Henry de Bromhead eyeing a step up to Grade One level.

De Bromhead said: He is a lovely young horse, did it nicely in the end and the second horse is a decent horse as well. I got nervous after his mistake at the second-last but he jumped the last well and galloped out well. He is unbeaten and has done nothing wrong so hopefully hell keep progressing.

There arent many options during Christmas so he could run in Leopardstowns Grade One novice over two miles. I think nice ground is important to him.

De Bromhead and OKeeffe also teamed up to land the Paddy Power Did You Watch The Breeders Cup At All Mares Maiden Hurdle with 6-5 favourite Echoing Silence.

Declan Queally struck Listed gold as Tackletommywoowoo landed the Paddy Power How Many Days Til Christmas? Irish EBF Novice Hurdle at 3-1 under Sean OKeeffe.

The trainer said: He has come on a lot and while it is a little tricky to settle him, it isnt a massive job and when I spoke to Sean (OKeeffe) beforehand, he knew exactly what I wanted. You just have to tack on to heels and then give him the reins, and Sean rode a lovely race.

The horse was bought for small money and well done to JD Moore who found him for us. He had been placed in bumpers for a smaller trainer in England, we paid 12 grand for him and the plan was just to win a race with him.

Hell get a few pounds in the handicap now but sometimes with a horse like this, there is nothing wrong with having a high rating as you can box away racing in smaller fields and pick up money.

Eoin Griffins Ol Man Dingle was the winner of the the Grade Three Paddy Power Betting Shops Irish EBF Novice Chase, scoring at 11-4 under rider Ricky Doyle.

I put the tongue-tie back on Ol Man Dingle today  he doesnt need it but I wasnt taking any chances. Ricky gave him a lovely ride, the horse has brilliant scope but can be a little brave, said Griffin.

This horse will get an entry for the Drinmore now and while I know Willies (Mullins, champion trainer) horses have yet to reappear, firstly well enjoy today and worry about that later.
The Los Angeles Dodgers overcame the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in game seven of the World Series to become the first MLB franchise in 25 years to win consecutive titles.

The Dodgers were forced to come back from an early deficit after George Springer blasted a 442-foot three-run homer off Shohei Ohtani to give Toronto a 3-0 lead at the bottom of the third inning.

Los Angeles were able to get on the scoreboard in the fourth inning, Will Smith reaching home on a sacrifice fly.

Another sacrifice fly led to the Dodgers clawing within one in the sixth, but Toronto immediately restored their advantage thanks to a double from Andres Gimenez.

A Max Muncy solo home run at the top of the eighth made the score 4-3, and the Dodgers finally drew level in the following inning off the bat of Miguel Rojas.

Smith scored on a home run to give Los Angeles the lead at the top of the 11th, with pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto able to close out the win for the Dodgers.

The victory makes Los Angeles the first team to win back-to-back World Series since the New York Yankees in 2000.
St Louis Cathedral, is the seat of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans. The archdiocese of New Orleans filed for bankruptcy in 2020. Photograph: Joerg Hackemann/Alamy

The number of Roman Catholic dioceses in the US that have declared federal bankruptcy amid the worldwide churchs clergy abuse scandal has grown after one in central Louisiana recently filed for chapter 11 protection.

The diocese of Alexandria announced in a statement on Friday it had joined more than 40 Catholic institutions in the US which have filed for bankruptcy protection. According to Penn States law school, 28 of those bankruptcies had concluded in one of the most obvious indicators of the clergy abuse scandals fallout.

Alexandrias bishop, Robert W Marshall, explained in the statement that his diocese filed for financial reorganization because of the number of clergy sexual abuse claims with which it had been faced.

Related: New Orleans sexual abuse victims approve $230m Catholic church settlement

This action is occurring because some past priest-perpetrators sexually abused minors, actions that are evil, sinful and go against everything the church and the priesthood represent, said a letter from Marshall, who has led Alexandrias diocese since August 2020. As a result, there are financial claims pending against the diocese that exceed our means.

In taking this action, we have two goals. First, we want to do as much as we can, as fairly as we can, to compensate those who have been harmed. Second, we want to carry on the essential ministries of the diocese so we can continue to meet the needs of our parishes, parishioners and others who rely upon the Church for assistance.

The Guardian reported in October 2024 the Alexandria diocese was planning to pursue bankruptcy protection, as the archdiocese of New Orleans  its fellow Louisiana institution  had done in 2020.

On Thursday, in a nearly unanimous vote, hundreds of victims of child sexual abuse by clergy in New Orleans approved a $230m bankruptcy settlement with the archdiocese there.

Though the results of the vote are not supposed to be officially announced until 6 November, the archdiocese indicated in a court filing that unofficial returns showed the settlement had been accepted by an overwhelming 99.63% of those who had voted. Opposing the settlement was a small group of bond investors who sued the archdiocese under allegations that it committed securities fraud when it withheld interest payments it had promised to investors when they bought the churchs bonded indebtedness.

The New Orleans archdiocese bankruptcy settlement also includes agreements to release files on certain abusive priests and deacons while also setting up protections for children and vulnerable adults.

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Jewels worth 76m were stolen during a seven-minute heist at the Louvre in Paris - Abdul Saboor/Reuters

The Louvre theft was carried out by petty criminals and not organised crime professionals, a Paris prosecutor has said.

Jewels worth 76m were stolen during a seven-minute heist by two men who used a movers lift to access the museums second storey before using angle grinders to crack open display cases and fleeing on the back of scooters driven by two accomplices.

Two people were charged in connection with the heist on Wednesday, before two others were detained on Saturday.

Authorities have said the profiles of three of the four suspects do not resemble professional gangsters but small-time criminals from the northern suburbs of Paris.

Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor, told French media: This is not quite everyday delinquency... but it is a type of delinquency that we do not generally associate with the upper echelons of organised crime.

These are clearly local people. They all live more or less in Seine-Saint-Denis, she said, referring to a low-income area of the French capital.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the arrested suspects had not previously been associated with high-end organised crime - Emma Da Silva/AP Photo

French media had speculated that the suspects, who include the girlfriend of one of the suspected thieves, were amateurs because they dropped the most precious of the jewels, Empress Eugenies crown, left tools at the scene and failed to set fire to the movers truck before fleeing.

Police had arrested five people on Wednesday but released three without charge.

Two of the men detained are suspected of being those who broke into the museums Apollo Gallery a 34-year-old Algerian who has lived in France since 2010 and was detained by police as he tried to board a flight to Algeria  and a 39-year-old already under judicial supervision for aggravated theft.

Empress Eugenies crown, which was dropped during the thieves escape - Louvre Museum/Reuters

Both live in Aubervilliers, in northern Paris, and have partially admitted their involvement, Beccuau said last week.

Two more suspects, a 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, were arrested on Oct 29 and charged on Saturday.

Ms Beccuau said the 37-year-old was believed to be part of the four-man group that carried out the heist, based on DNA found in the moving truck.

She said he had a record of 11 criminal convictions for a range of offences, including traffic-related infractions, aggravated theft and an attempt to break into an automated cash dispenser.

The Paris prosecutor added that he was in a relationship with the 38-year-old woman and that they have children together, and that he and one of the two other men arrested had been convicted of the same robbery in 2015.

The thieves failed to set alight the moving truck they used to enter and exit the museum to carry out the jewel heist

Traces of the womans DNA were also found in the movers truck, but Beccuau said these DNA traces seemed to have been transferred into the truck, possibly by a person or an object later put into the vehicle.

The prosecutors office said on Saturday that both deny involvement in the heist.

Asked whether authorities believed that three of the four thieves were now under arrest, Ms Beccuau said that at least one person is still missing. She did not rule out the possibility of other accomplices being involved.

Three people who had been arrested along with the couple on Oct 29 have been freed without charge, the prosecutors office said on Saturday.
Four people have now been charged over the Louvre jewel heist. Photograph: Abdul Saboor/Reuters

The brazen daytime heist at the Louvre was carried out by petty criminals rather than professionals from the world of organised crime, the Paris prosecutor has said, describing two of the suspects as a couple with children.

The assertion comes two weeks after thieves parked a stolen truck outside the worlds most-visited museum, used a furniture lift to reach the first floor, then smashed their way into one of the museums most ornate rooms. Less than seven minutes later, they escaped on scooters with crown jewels worth an estimated 88m (76m).

The audacious heist, carried out on a Sunday in broad daylight, has prompted a reckoning in France. Four people have since been charged, but the stolen gems, which include an emerald and diamond necklace that Napoleon I gave to his second wife, Marie Louise, and a diadem set with 212 pearls and nearly 2,000 diamonds that once belonged to Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, are yet to be recovered.

At least one other perpetrator remained at large, the Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, told the Franceinfo radio network on Sunday.

French media have speculated that the thieves were amateurs after it emerged that they had dropped the most precious of the jewels  Empress Eugenies crown, made of gold, emerald and diamonds  during their escape, and had left behind tools and other items at the scene that potentially bore traces of their DNA.

This is not quite everyday delinquency  but it is a type of delinquency that we do not generally associate with the upper echelons of organised crime, Beccuau said. She described those charged as local people, saying that they all hailed from Seine-Saint-Denis, a departement north of Paris that is one of the poorest in France.

On Saturday, prosecutors said a 38-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man had been charged and remanded in custody amid accusations their DNA was found in the lift used during the theft.

The man has been charged with organised theft and criminal conspiracy, while his partner has been charged with complicity in organised theft and criminal conspiracy.

Beccuau described them as a couple who have children together. They have denied any involvement, she added. The woman was in tears as she appeared at a Paris court on Saturday, saying she feared for her children and for herself.

Days earlier, police arrested two others in connection with the raid: a 34-year-old Algerian who has lived in France since 2010, and a 39-year-old who was already under judicial supervision for aggravated theft. The men, who were charged with theft and criminal conspiracy, have partially admitted their involvement, Beccuau said last week.

All three of the men charged were known to police for previous convictions, including theft. Two of the suspects had previously been convicted in a theft case together 10 years ago, said Beccuau, who on Sunday did not rule out that there could be other accomplices.

Three people arrested along with the couple on 29 October were freed without charge, according to the prosecutors office.

When asked on Sunday about whether investigators were getting closer to finding the jewels, Beccuau demurred, citing the secrecy of the investigation.

We are examining all the possibilities on the parallel market for selling this jewellery, which I hope will not happen any time soon, she said. It could be used for money laundering, it could be used for trade; all leads are being explored.
Actress Lucy Liu has said she hopes a tragic story of a terminally ill mothers drastic actions to protect her son will prompt conversations around mental health.

The star took on the challenging role of Irene Chao, an immigrant widow with terminal cancer, and her son who is battling mental health issues as he approaches adulthood in her new film Rosemead.

Based on a true story, the movie is set within a Chinese American community in the San Gabriel Valley neighbourhood of Rosemead, California.

But while the film is set within that particular community, Liu said a lot of stigma remains around mental health in many communities across the world.

The Charlies Angels star was honoured for her latest role with The Realta Award (Irish for star) by Belfast Film Festival at the weekend.

She told the PA news agency that she was really touched to be honoured in Belfast, a place she described as having had a magical time in two years ago while filming the movie Old Guy.

Liu described being touched by the history of Northern Ireland and the transformed political atmosphere while in the city, noting a story behind everything.

That happened also in China, that happens in America. To actually live here for that month is different than just coming to visit, so I felt very connected to the community, and everyone on the crew was very warm and lovely, and really full of joy, she said.

When first approached with the script for Rosemead, Liu said she was shocked to hear the tragedy had happened so recently, in 2015, describing it as preventable.

There was, I think, a lot of fear that was going on with this mother, and, you know, she loved her son so much, and I think there was a feeling of urgency that created, you know, the unfortunate part of, you know, what happened in the end, the consequence, she said.

Theres a deep sorrow that I felt for this woman, and I think that theres a lot of misunderstanding behind her actions. So I really tried to come from a place of love and to understand how difficult it must have been for her to make that choice. And I think in her heart, she felt it was the most courageous thing she could do to save her son.

I hope viewers dont even see me in this role, I hope they just see this woman, and they see the love that she has for her son.

I hope that they can have a conversation about the movie. Its not something that you just kind of walk away with and then go on with your life. Its a discussion point, and I hope thats what people take away from it.

In visiting film festivals around the world with the film, Liu said it has been a moment to share for many.

After (viewing the film) everyone has a story of somebody that they know, in their family, or that they know as a friend or in their family line  its a moment of sharing, she said.

We found that to be the case also in the crew, where we were able to talk about things that would come up, and it wasnt forced, it was very natural, and I think thats a really nice place to convene and feel that its a safe space to talk about something and to express it, because I dont think its something good to hold in, and when you talk about it, then you realise other people can relate to it, or have had experiences like that.

Its just a really wonderful way to see that youre not alone.

Theres a lot of people that are also not the ones suffering necessarily, but the ones who are the caretakers, and I think sometimes thats even harder.
Aidan OBrien confirmed both Minnie Hauk and The Lion In Winter will return next season after coming up short in their respective races at the Breeders Cup.

Winner of the Oaks at Epsom, the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks before being narrowly denied by Daryz in the Prix de lArc de Triomphe, Minnie Hauk was all the rage to beat the boys in the Breeders Cup Turf but weakened to finish sixth behind the Willie Mullins-trained Ethical Diamond.

The Lion In Winter has failed to get his head in front as a three-year-old, but posted another fine effort in defeat in finishing third in the Breeders Cup Mile and like Minnie Hauk he will be kept in training as a four-year-old.

Minnie Hauk will stay in training, along with The Lion In Winter. There was a messy pace in her race and she ended up getting into it too early, said OBrien.

The Ballydoyle handler left Del Mar with a solitary winner courtesy of Gstaad in Fridays Juvenile Turf, leaving him on 26 Group One winners for the year  two short of his own record of 28.

While there are not many top-level events left in 2025, OBrien is not giving up hope of adding to his tally, adding: We havent much left, but still have some Group Ones to look at. Los Angeles for Japan and maybe The Lion In Winter for Hong Kong. Well see how Minnie is.

We ended up with one winner (at the Breeders Cup) and most of them ran well. Gstaad was impressive, and will head to the (2000) Guineas.
Cheeky Panda's married couple and co-founders Julie Chen and Chris Forbes.

The best decision Julie Chen ever made was convincing her soon-to-be husband, co-founder and business partner to travel five hours to a bamboo factory in China during a visit to her parents. Or was it the Crowdfunder which validated the idea to launch Cheeky Panda and take away the risk of buying their first container of stock?

Being able to assist with Britains toilet paper shortage as COVID took hold in 2020 also propelled the commercial success of Cheeky Panda, who produce sustainable bamboo household and hygiene products, to turn from a silly idea into a multi-million pound global brand.

In 2016, entrepreneurial Chen was running an online shoe venture while her husband, Chris Forbes, ran an executive search firm. Cheeky Panda was to be a lifestyle business on the side. The couple were in their early 30s, both sensed a lack of purpose in their roles at the time, and so researching bamboo toilet paper came to the fore.

Read More: I was an antiques dealer before Gen Z helped grow our stationery sales to $50m

There were a lot of things that didnt quite make sense in the industry; 100-year-old trees in national forests are cut down to make toilet paper by the big corporates and takes years to grow back, says Chen.

Chen reasoned that bamboo had the catalyst of being a viable, sustainable alternative in the tissue and paper categories, coupled with the fact that it can grow 30 times faster than trees.

Taking her fiance to that bamboo farm in China changed his purpose, says Chen. His concern was whether this was enough and that it may be a niche product, recalls Chen. But we knew we had more than enough as the bamboo all grows back.

Cheeky Panda co-founder Julie Chen has built a product both sustainable and a commercial success.

Lots of bamboo is not managed and grows wild in Asia. Only a small part is used and it is the best quality toilet paper Ive seen. We thought it was a no-brainer.

Excitement prevailed on the couples return to the UK, but Chris gave an ultimatum. If their crowdfund failed, they would shy away from going further. They secured 12,500 in no time, however, which paid for the startups first container.

Two further investors saw the eco-friendly mindset of the founders' vision and committed 100,000 each. By the end of 2016, Cheeky Panda was valued at 2m, having turned over 74,000 in its first year.

Read More: 'Our nut butter brand is on people's dating profiles  we're now courting 35m sales'

The idea of a friendly, sustainable panda first came to Chen over 20 years ago when she studied business in Japan and learned how Disney created its brand through fun, lively characters.

They paid a freelancer 700 for a design which is still the company logo today, while the two founders are famously known for wearing furry panda hats at trade shows and networking events.

In the early days, the husband-and-wife team did a smorgasbord of jobs. Forbes was the sales expert, according to his wife, and in one early pitch won 1,000 Facebook credit. With Chen working on brand marketing, she quickly used the credit to gain followers.

Cheeky Panda manufactures sustainable bamboo products such as toilet tissue, face wipes and kitchen roll.

Alongside their toilet products, the firm launched a household tissue category within the first two years. In 2018, Chen fell pregnant and couldn't find any natural, biodegradable baby wipes. The product was soon added to the company stable and attracted a different type of consumer.

The companys challenge as a startup was securing funding from banks, which left the couple not taking an income for 18 months.

Launching on Amazon then became their biggest source of income. Cheeky Panda has achieved best-seller status in the toilet paper category, while its facial tissue has also propelled the brand on Prime Day.

Read more: 'Bear Grylls was our 8,000th water filter customer and then became a co-owner'

Because the quality is so good, people try it, buy it and repeat, admits Chen.

However, it took a lot of persistence and cold calls to retailers before Planet Organic became its first client, followed by Whole Foods Market and Ocado.

COVID drove a surge in demand and, after being cold-shouldered by supermarket chains, led to Cheeky Panda shipping 200 containers in one month to supply the nations main retailers.

Cheeky Panda's co-founders have found commercial success with their quirky products.

Cheeky Panda now employs over 30 staff, with five in China working on quality control and supply management. The companys rise is underpinned by its revenue over the last five years; from 5m in 2020, 11m the following year and 13.2m in its latest accounts.

After COVID, was the demand going to go back? Chen questioned at the time. Yet, consumers stayed loyal to its quirky bamboo products.

As she says today with a smile: Once you go cheeky, you stay cheeky.

Behind the brand: CEO Julie Chen

What Ive learned

The challenge of growing a business bigger is part of the enjoyment and to learn at every stage. Ive leaned in on business management books and applied suggestions into practice to understand leadership. We now have Panda learning time on AI for one hour every week. Our challenge is to take bamboo from premium to mainstream. We are going to be the brand leading the bamboo revolution.

Read more:

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
Police remain on the scene at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire after multiple stabbings on an LNER train. Photograph: Jack Taylor/Reuters

Police are being forced to disclose the ethnicity of suspects in response to a rise in far-right speculation on social media, a former senior officer in the Metropolitan police force has warned.

On Sunday morning at 10.30am, British Transport Police said two men had been arrested after multiple stabbings on a train in Cambridgeshire: a 32-year-old black British national and a 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent. The 35-year-old was released with no further action, and was not involved in the attack, BTP said in a statement later on Sunday evening.

New guidance was issued in August to combat misinformation on social media, which spread last summer after the murder of three schoolgirls in Southport.

Campaigners have warned that the move may encourage focus on the racial background of suspects and lead to further rightwing conspiracy theories when information is not released to the public.

Dal Babu, a former chief superintendent in the UKs biggest force, said police having to disclose the race of suspects in incidents involving people of colour was an unintended consequence.

When the new guidance was issued, I warned that there was a danger that there will be an expectation for police to release information on every single occasion, he said.

I have sympathy for my former colleagues in the police. They are damned if they do and damned if they dont. They are under pressure because there is such intense speculation from the far right on social media after every major incident about the background of suspects.

You will not find pressure on social media to name the ethnicity of suspects when black players are being racially abused on social media, for example. We are in a position in our country where race is being amplified by far-right racist groups and the police are being forced to respond. It is a worry.

Ben Obese-Jecty, a Conservative MP whose constituency includes Huntingdon, where the train made an emergency stop during the stabbing incident, said it was sad but necessary that the police had to focus on swiftly releasing the ethnicities of the men arrested.

I dont like it. I understand why they do it. I think they actually have to do it now, he said, speaking at Huntingdon station shortly after British Transport Police released its statement on Sunday.

And I just think its sad that weve got to a stage where, because of the way that people leverage social media to their own ends, to push their own agendas and their narratives, the police have to get that information out there so that were dealing with facts and normal speculation.

Before police released the ethnicity of the arrested men on Sunday morning, right-leaning politicians had demanded a faster response.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, told the Telegraph: The police should have released identity details by now as they said should happen, and as happened in other recent cases. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said on X: We need to know who committed these awful attacks as soon as possible.

Far-right social media accounts have attempted to exploit the incident. An account called British Patriot  which has nearly 5,000 followers on X, including influential rightwing figures  posted an unsubstantiated claim that a knife-wielding man on the train had been shouting: Allahu Akbar.

Even after police revealed that the two arrested suspects were British nationals, attempts were made to suggest that information was being withheld.

Ben Habib, the former Reform UK co-leader who has now set up a party supported by the far-right activist known as Tommy Robinson, said that, in his mind, it was almost inconceivable that the incident was not an act of terrorism. Police said on Sunday morning: At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that this is a terrorist incident.

Related: Lets have a level playing field on publicising the ethnicity of suspects

Habib compared the statement on Sunday morning by a senior police officer, who had described both suspects as British, to official statements identifying the Southport murderer as a Welshman. It was possible that the suspects were British but, he said, adding that the police had not released their names, I will remain extremely suspicious until we get chapter and verse.

The guidance was developed by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) in recognition of public concerns and to ensure police processes were fit for purpose in an age of rapid information spread.

It was announced shortly after Reform UK accused authorities of hiding the identities and immigration status of two men  reported to be Afghan asylum seekers  charged over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Warwickshire.

In May, when a car ploughed into crowds celebrating Liverpool FCs winning of the Premier League title, Merseyside police disclosed in the public interest that the man arrested was white and British, in order to quash rumours of a terrorist attack by an Asian man.

Decisions on releasing such information would remain with police forces, with wider legal and ethical considerations also taken into account, the NPCC said. Verifying a suspects immigration status would be up to the Home Office, not the police.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said it was not right for politicians to be calling for the nationality and ethnicity of suspects to be made public  and that the release of such information should remain a police operational matter.

He said: The key thing is, it is for those in charge of operations to make the decision and make the call, rather than politicians dictating to the police to reveal the ethnicity and the origin of the family of the person responsible.

I dont think politicians should be dictating to the police when to do so, because sometimes there are  and Ive been involved in these  really good operational reasons why the authorities dont want to divulge too much information about a suspect, because theyre doing lots of other operations searching premises. Theyre looking for conspirators and stuff so theres often a good reason why they dont.
U.S. based small arms manufacturer SIG SAUER announced its new pistol mounted optics ROMEO8T-AMR/JULIET3T-AMR System. These two items are mounted on a rifle or pistol and provide the user with much improved optical sighting devices and require much less effort to use and adjust to personal preferences. These devices are weatherproof and unaffected by fog. These two devices weigh 539 g and cost $999. This is substantial improvement in red dot aiming devices. This is a fifty year old technology that is used in cameras and telescopes as well as weapons. The market is vast because it is not only military and police organizations, but hunters.

The light weight and compact size make the ROMEO8T-AMR/JULIET3T-AMR System ideal for use on pistols, many of which can be equipped with a Picatinny Rail that has become the standard mounting platform of aiming devices mounted on rifles and pistols. The American military can certainly use these aiming devices, now that they have finally obtained a stable and effective pistol. This process began in 2018 American troops began receiving a new pistol, the 9mm M17. The U.S. Department of Defense, after a ten year search, decided to replace the elderly and unpopular Beretta M9. The new M17 pistol is a variant of the SIG Sauer P320, which lost out to the Baretta in 1985 because the Baretta 9mm was a little cheaper. The M9 replaced the M1911 11.4mm/.45 caliber) pistol. Sigs M17 first appeared in 2014 as a civilian/police weapon modified to compete to replace the M9. The basic characteristics of the military and civilian versions are the same. Both are 836 gram weapons that are 203mm long and have a 17 round magazine.

Combat zone testing in Afghanistan during 2017 discovered a few problems with the militarized P320 and SIG quickly fixed these by making a few component modifications. This quick response was part of the contract for the new pistol and is expected to continue if more problems are encountered. The Baretta was notorious for having problems that took a long time to verify and even longer, if ever, to fix. SIG has a reputation for moving faster in this area and demonstrated it right away.

To help with the user testing and debugging SIG released 5,000 M18s to the commercial market, selling for $650 each. The military buys them in large quantities for less than half that price. While most civilian owners wont treat their M18s as roughly as troops or use them under harsh conditions for extended periods, these civilian users tend to be more experienced, often ex-military and another source of insightful user feedback.

The Department of Defense has bought 400,000 M17/M18 pistols so far. About half of these went to the army, while a third went to the air force and the marines received 35,000. The navy received 61,000 M18s. The army and marines issued more pistols to infantry units, recognizing that there are a lot of situations where several troops should be armed with pistols. This includes clearing caves, tunnels or other confined spaces. The M17 and the new holster were selected with this in mind and use a lot of feedback from combat experienced soldiers and marines. This feedback led to the few modifications that turned the SIG P320 into the M17 and made it much easier to train troops to quickly become quite effective and accurate.

Since the 1980s, when the M9 appeared, there have been numerous new accessories for pistols, many of them used a lot by special operations and police SWAT forces. Many troops bought their own 9mm pistols, mainly SIGs and Glocks equipped with these accessories and used them in combat. SOCOM/ Special Operations Command would pay for any successful combat pistols and accessories. A key factor in selecting SIG was its history of firing a large number of rounds without any jams or malfunctions. That is a crucial factor for combat troops who now have a pistol that is recognized as an offensive weapon and, when it is needed, must be reliable.

Experienced military and civilian pistol users agree that the P320 was the best choice although the competing Glock model was a strong alternative choice. The militarized P320 has modifications to improve performance in combat conditions. That meant tweaks that make it more reliable when exposed to mud, sand and all manner of crap associated with combat zone operations. Other modifications made it easier to take apart for cleaning under field, as in outdoors, cramped quarters and low light conditions. Other modifications for military use included improved single handed performance, easier use with either hand, able to easily install military type night and day sights and improved accuracy. The M17 also has a modification to allow a silencer to be attached.

The M17 decision came after the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force joined forces in 2014 to speed up the seemingly unending selection process. Another development that speeded things up was the fact the SOCOM had already adopted a number of other pistols to replace the M9. For example in 2011 the U.S. Navy SEALS adopted the SIG Sauer P226 9mm pistol as their Mk25 standard sidearm. This pistol was actually the same Sig Sauer P226 the SEALS have been using since the 1980s, but with a better accessory rail, a few other minor changes, and a new name. The Sig Sauer P320 was, to most users, an updated version of the P226.

The selection of the P320 was criticized mainly because it took the Department of Defense, mainly the army, a decade to select what their own evaluation team approved of back in the early 1980s and that SOCOM user experience confirmed before the 1980s were over. SOCOM came into being a few years after the M9 was adopted and immediately began planning to bring back .45 caliber pistols for its commandos while also allowing the use of alternative 9mm pistols as needed. SOCOM always had the right to do that and the army and marines paid close attention to, and adopted, new weapons and equipment SOCOM selected and then used successfully in action. Thus the SOCOM decision to keep using the .45 and select a different 9mm pistol. Actually, many Special Forces and SEAL operators never gave up using the original army .45, as it was the ideal pistol for many commando operations.

As the U.S. Army Special Forces discovered, if you are well trained and know what you are doing, you should carry a pistol in addition to your rifle. Not the official issue M9 pistol but something with a bit more stopping power. The SOCOM operators more frequently operate in small groups and fight up close. The Special Forces prefer new model 11.4mm/.45 caliber pistols, although 10mm weapons are also popular. The reason for this is that you are most likely to be using the pistol indoors, where your target is going to be really close. You want to knock the enemy down quickly before he can get at you with a knife or even his hands. In Iraq and Afghanistan, soldiers and Marines brought their own pistols and most commanders have been lenient on this issue.

The army and air force do not have the same needs as SOCOM and simply want a 9mm pistol with fewer flaws and more of the latest pistol tech than the existing M9. The air force tried to replace the M9 in 2007 and was ordered by the Department of Defense to back off. The M9 is a 914 g, 217mm long weapon that has a 125mm barrel and a magazine that holds 15 rounds. It replaced the World War I era M1911 .45 caliber ACP. This is a 1.1 kg, 210mm long weapon with a 127mm barrel and a 7 round magazine. Both pistols were only accurate at up to about 50 meters, which is fine for a pistol. The M1911 had more hitting power, while the M9 was a bit more accurate. Loaded, each pistol weighs about 230 g (half a pound) more. The M17 is more accurate than the M9 and uses a new pistol round that has more stopping power than most other 9mm rounds.

By 2014 the army and air force had a very compelling case for change. The army, in particular, found that many of its oldest M9s were literally falling apart from old age. Some components, especially the barrels, frames and locking blocks, tended to break on older, especially heavily used, weapons. Since September 11, 2001, the army has used its M9s a lot, much more than originally expected. There are also a host of other problems, like the shape, too awkward for some users, a too heavy trigger pull and lack of a Picatinny rail for easy mounting accessories. The safety switch is in an awkward position and troops in combat often accidentally put the safety on when cocking the pistol. That can be fatal for the user in combat. More modern designs like SIG Sauer, have something more efficient and less of a dirt catcher than the open-slide and spent cartridge ejection system of the M9. Another sign of the times is that the M9 is not equipped to screw on a silencer, an accessory that is more commonly used these da

Indeed, most of the problems with the M9 result from the fact that it is a design that is over three decades old. Pistol technology has improved a lot since the late 1970s and that can be seen in the pistols that are popular with police forces. Cops can often buy their own pistols and tend to get the most modern, but proven in action, models. Thus many troops in the combat zone leave the M9 they were issued back at the base and go into the field with a 9mm pistol they bought themselves and will continue to use when they leave the military. This is often a Glock 19, which is a police favorite and popular with troops in other countries. Many armies do not replace pistols as frequently as police forces or special operations troops. But in Afghanistan and Iraq, regular combat troops used pistols a lot and the M9 was not only old but, as far as features went, the design was obsolete. As you can see, its not just the wear and tear, its also obsolescence in the face of advances in pistol design.

Meanwhile, in 2012 the army had to order another 100,000 M9 9mm pistols, each costing $640. This was just to replace the M9s that were falling apart. The U.S. military, mostly the army, already has over 600,000 M9s and that purchase keeps the M9 in service at least until the end of the decade. The U.S. military adopted the 9mm pistol in 1985 largely to standardize ammunition with NATO and to replace the M911 .45 caliber pistol with something smaller and lighter. All other NATO states used 9mm for pistols. At the time it was noted that most 9mm pistols were carried by officers and support personnel, who rarely used them, in combat or otherwise. Many American combat veterans disagreed with the switch to a 9mm pistol but that advice was ignored, except in SOCOM.

But times have changed. Since 2002 American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan discovered, through combat experience, what types of weapons worked best at close range to take down the enemy. It was the same with SWAT teams and commandos all over the world. When conducting a raid and finding yourself up close and personal with someone trying to kill you, there is a need for a heavy caliber pistol or a shotgun firing 00 shot or slugs. The premier pistol for ensuring you take down someone is still the .45 caliber/ 11.4mm or .40 caliber/ 10mm, but only with a heavy bullet, pistols. There is also a .50 caliber/12.7mm pistol, but only very large people can handle this one. The 11.4 and 10mm pistols are light and handy, compared to assault rifles or shotguns, and have a long history of quickly taking down an armed and determined foe. An acceptable alternative is a modern 9mm pistol design that is reliable, has the right accessories and uses a round with more stopping power.
Pregnant Bella Culley, 19, was accused of smuggling drugs (East2West)

A heavily pregnant British teenager being held in Georgia over drug smuggling charges has finally been moved to a mother and baby unit.

Bella Culley, 19, is awaiting sentence after she was accused of smuggling 12kg (26lb) of marijuana and 2kg (4.4lb) of hashish in her hold luggage at Tbilisi International Airport in May.

The teenager has spent the last five months being forced to boil pasta in a kettle and toast bread over a candle as she was held in Georgias Rustavi Prison Number Five, according to her mother.

Inside the former Soviet jail, she also had to use a hole in the ground for a toilet and was limited to one hour of fresh air a day, and communal showers twice a week.

However, the parent revealed Ms Culley, now 35 weeks pregnant, has been transferred to a mother and baby unit where she is expected to give birth before Christmas.

Her family last week made a payment of 137,000 to reduce her sentence after reaching a plea bargain with prosecutors at Tbilisi City Court.

Lyanne Kennedy, mother of British teenager Bella Culley, outside Tbilisi City Court (Reuters)

The teen claimed she was forced to traffic the drugs by a gang that threatened to kill her family.

Her mother Lyanne Kennedy, 44, from Billingham, Teesside, said she is now able to cook for herself and is learning Georgian inside the mother and baby unit.

Describing the improved conditions since a transfer earlier this month, Ms Kennedy told the BBC: She now gets two hours out for walking, she can use the communal kitchen, has a shower in her room and a proper toilet.

They all cook for each other. Bella has been making eggy bread and cheese toasties, and salt and pepper chicken.

Ms Culley is due to give birth before Christmas after falling pregnant while travelling in southeast Asia. Her arrest in Georgia followed a period where she had been reported missing in Thailand.

Culley, then 18, was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport in Georgia earlier this year (East2West)

She initially pleaded not guilty at a hearing in July to possession and trafficking illegal drugs and said she had been tortured into transporting them. She said she was a clean person and did not do drugs.

Ms Kennedy told reporters outside the Tbilisi courthouse on Tuesday that the family had paid 500,000 lari ($186,846) to officials as part of a plea bargain and were waiting for the funds to be credited to the relevant government account.

It is understood the sum is enough money to significantly reduce the amount of time Ms Culley serves.

A further hearing is expected on Monday.
Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, Kokila Annamalai, and Mossammad Sobikun Nahar were accused of organising an unlawful procession in Singapore (Kokila Annamalai)

Sitting in court awaiting the judges verdict earlier this month, three Singaporean women accused of organising an illegal pro-Palestine protest were prepared to be outraged.

Living in a country where cases that reach court have a conviction rate as high as 97 per cent, and with an infamously low tolerance towards public protests and activism, Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, Kokila Annamalai, and Mossammad Sobikun Nahar awaited a guilty verdict and faced up to six months in jail and a S$10,000 (about 5,800) fine.

They were charged under Singapores strict Public Order Act with organising an illegal procession, yet on 21 October were sensationally acquitted by judge John Ng. Speaking to The Independent, the women describe the verdict as a surreal victory, and one that could be quietly transformative for the countrys civic landscape.

In February 2024, the activists had led around 70 people in a peaceful walk along public roads to deliver letters to the presidents office demanding that Singapore cut ties with Israel over the war in Gaza, in which health officials say more than 69,000 Palestinians have been killed. The war in Palestine has become a sensitive issue in the country, which has both a sizeable ethnic Malay-Muslim population and close ties with Israel.

I was the most confident that we would get convicted. So I had prepared a statement to read out in court after getting convicted, you know, about how, like, the system is f***** up or whatever, Annamalai, 37, tells The Independent.

The prosecution argued that the march was illegal because, though they walked along seemingly public pavements, their route passed through a prohibited area along the external perimeter of the Istana, Singapores presidential palace.

Yet in his judgement, Ng noted that there were no signs identifying the road as a prohibited area and the prosecution failed to prove that the women knew what they were doing was illegal, a crucial technical point that swayed the balance of his verdict. The tension in the courtroom broke, giving way to a surge of relief and quiet joy.

It was just a very strange reality to be in, that we are in court arguing about technicalities and legal arguments, when the essence of what we did was to be in solidarity with the Palestinians, Annamalai says.

The women faced up to six months in jail if they were found guilty (Kokila Annamalai)

The women say they were compelled to organise the protest by Singapores continued friendship with Israel, despite it committing what a UN probe has described as genocide in Gaza. As Singaporeans, the women said they found this nauseating and enraging.

For 26-year-old Nahar, the youngest of the three, the impulse was moral as much as political. There is this innate sense of responsibility to the world and to the people around, she says, especially to the people in Gaza who have suffered tremendously. Whats necessary to be done needs to get done.

She tells The Independent that her actions werent planned for publicity; she didnt expect them to become a big thing in the news. Nahar says she was motivated by the belief that more needs to be done in Singapore, where many people are unsure how to engage politically or demand accountability from the state.

Beyond the courtroom, the acquittal has stirred conversations about resistance and courage in a society known for strict limits on dissent. Annamalai says that what truly struck a chord with the watching public was not just the verdict itself, but the stance the three women maintained throughout the trial.

They say that while they never directly discussed Singapores relationship with Israel during the court hearings, their choice to wear the colours of the Palestinian flag and keffiyeh shawls in court implicitly referenced it, turning their attire into an act of protest.

The only statement you can make is in what youre wearing to court, Annamalai says. Mainstream media will take photos and use that in the article. So thats the only message you can send. We would wear keffiyehs and Palestinian flag colours. Its the only voice we have  to show our defiance.

The activists say their case has helped normalise dissent in Singapore (Kokila Annamalai)

I think the thing thats moved a lot of people in this case is the defiance weve shown, Annamalai says. Thats a very important energy to bring into our movement. In Singapores civil society theres this habit of appealing to those in power rather than defying them.

The activists say their case has helped normalise dissent in Singapore. Were trying to build a culture where the masses can mobilise, Annamalai says.

For Nahar, Annamalai and Asrori, the trial became more than a legal battle. It was about standing firm in their beliefs and showing that peaceful resistance still has meaning in Singapore.

Their acquittal, though narrow, is being viewed by younger Singaporeans as a symbolic crack in an otherwise rigid system.

On social media, supporters have hailed the three women as proof that dissent need not always end in punishment, that even small acts of defiance can spark change.

Looking back, they hope the acquittal will inspire others to resist fear and embrace collective courage. The biggest shift thats happened over the last one and a half years of our case is the masses in Singapore actually cheering for defiance, Annamalai says. Thats new. Its a validation of defiance as a strategy. Because its way past time that we keep appealing to those in power.

This win means a lot. Its about continuing to fight, even if the system is stacked against you, Annamalai says.
Fresh from more success at the Breeders Cup, team Godolphin have their eye on further action on the international stage when Tornado Alert heads for the Bahrain International Trophy later this month.

Despite Breeders Cup Classic hope Sovereignty being denied his shot at greatness and Rebels Romance agonisingly thwarted in his quest for a historic third win in the Turf, Notable Speech ensured Sheikh Mohammeds operation left Del Mar with plenty to cheer.

Now eyes turn to the Middle East, where Saeed bin Suroor will attempt to win Bahrains most prestigious race for a second time after saddling Dubai Future to see off stablemate Passion And Glory in 2022.

Fourth in the 2000 Guineas earlier this season before finishing a respectable sixth in the Derby, Tornado Alert will venture to the Bahrain fresh from registering Group One success in Germany in the summer.

Were always delighted when Saeed can win at the highest level and were excited to see him run Tornado Alert in the Middle East this winter as he closes in on his 200th Group One, said Hugh Anderson, managing director for Godolphin in the UK and Dubai.

He will go for the Bahrain Trophy and I know the Bahrain race isnt a Group One yet, but its still an important race for Godolphin and Saeed has managed him perfectly to get the Group One under his belt in Germany in the summer.

Hes a horse you should be watching through the winter in the Middle East and if anyone can get a good tune out of a horse there, it is Saeed bin Suroor.
Donald Trump was pictured mingling with guests - Samuel Corum/Getty

As the champagne flowed, dancers in flapper costumes entertained guests and Donald Trump played Gatsby.

Just hours later, some 42 million Americans lost their food aid.

The US president came under heavy criticism over the weekend after he was pictured enjoying a lavish Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago, while the government shutdown froze salaries and closed businesses.

Guests at his Palm Beach residence donned glitzy Roaring Twenties-style garb and performers weaved between the crowds as the food and drink flowed.

A dancer walks through one of the event halls - Roberto Schmidt/Getty

Donald Trump chats with a guest dressed in a prison costume - Roberto Schmidt/Getty

A little party never killed nobody was the official theme of the Halloween party, apparently in reference to the Fergie song that made up part of the soundtrack of the 2013 cinematic adaptation of F Scott Fitzgeralds 1925 novel about the moral depravity of excess.

Critics  mostly Democrats  were swift to frame the celebrations as tone deaf.

Funding ended on Nov 1 for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), food benefits relied on by some 42 million people in the US.

Donald Trump hosted a Great Gatsby party while Snap benefits were about to disappear for 42 million Americans, Gavin Newsom, the California governor and one of the presidents chief critics, wrote.

He does not give a damn about you, Mr Newsom added, with a picture of Mr Trump at the party.

The way he rubs his inhumanity in Americans face never ceases to stun me, Chris Murphy, a senator from Connecticut, wrote.

Hes illegally refusing to pay food stamp benefits... while he throws a ridiculously over the top Gatsby party for his Right-wing millionaire and corporate friends.

Giant balloons adorn a pool near the Halloween party - Roberto Schmidt/Getty

The Mar-a-Lago gathering was well attended - Samuel Corum/Getty

It is not clear whether guests at the Halloween bash paid for entry, but revellers at previous Mar-a-Lago events have forked out as much as $1,000 for tickets.

In one image from the event, a burlesque dancer posed inside a gigantic gilded Martini glass, while clips depicted showgirls performing elaborate dance routines. Other pictures showed a huge themed ice sculpture used to chill alcohol and a vast spread of desserts.

Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, Ivanka and Tiffany Trump and their husbands Jared Kushner and Michael Boulos were also in attendance.

The government shutdown is on the verge of becoming the longest in history, just before the Thanksgiving holiday.

With much of the US government funding cut off, some 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay. Around 1.4 million federal employees have been hit, with about half laid off and the rest asked to work unpaid.

On Friday, two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must pay for Snap benefits using emergency reserve funds.

Speaking to reporters en route to Mar-a-Lago, Mr Trump characterised the stalemate as so easily solved and said of the Democrats that its their fault.

We have tremendous support, but its not even support, its common sense, he said. Open up the country.

A burlesque dancer posed inside a gigantic gilded Martini glass

Showgirls performed elaborate dance routines at the event

On Sunday, Scott Bessent, the treasury secretary, said in an interview on CNN that the administration would not appeal against the court ruling and claimed that Snap benefits could begin again from Wednesday.

Travel delays were adding up at airports across the US that have been hit by the government shutdown, putting even more pressure on air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay for a month.

Last weekend, a shortage of controllers also led to a brief ground stop at Los Angeles International Airport, one of the busiest in the world.

Since then, there have been delays at major airports across the country, including John F Kennedy International Airport and those serving San Francisco, Nashville, Houston, Dallas and Washington DC.

Before the shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration was already dealing with a long-standing shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers.

The row over Mr Trumps Halloween celebrations comes after his recent demolition of the White House east wing in favour of a glitzy new ballroom. The move has proved unpopular with voters and has also led to accusations of influence buying by some of the private donors.

On Halloween, Donald Trump also revealed he has given the White Houses Lincoln Bathroom a Mar-a-Lago-style makeover.

The US president complained the sage green tiling that had been installed in the 1940s by Harry S Truman was totally inappropriate, replacing it with a white marble instead.

Polls show the public broadly blame the Trump administration for the government shutdown. His net approval rating has fallen to -18 per cent, according to an Economist poll average, which is below that of Joe Biden at the same time in his presidency.
Two people have been arrested after witnesses described seeing a man with a large knife following a mass stabbing on a train.

Armed police attended Huntingdon station after Cambridgeshire Constabulary were called at 7.39pm on Saturday  with more than 30 officers despatched to the scene.

Police said a number of people were taken to hospital after the attack on the 6.25pm train service from Doncaster to London Kings Cross.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the incident as deeply concerning and urged people to follow police advice.

We are currently responding to an incident on a train to Huntingdon where multiple people have been stabbed.



Officers are in attendance alongside @CambsCops and two people have been arrested.



Further updates will be shared here.  British Transport Police (@BTP) November 1, 2025

Witnesses have spoken of seeing a man with a large knife and passengers hiding in the toilets to escape the rampage, The Times reported.

One told the paper there was blood everywhere and people were getting stamped on by others as they tried to flee.

The witness said: I heard some people shouting we love (you).

The Sun said another witness described the attack as like something from a film, adding: It was a terrible scene, really violent.

A person wearing an emergency mediwrap blanket near to the scene in Huntingdon (Chris Radburn/PA) (PA Wire)

One man, who gave his name as Gavin, told Sky News he believed he saw the suspect tasered before he was arrested.

He said: Essentially, as they got closer to him, started shouting, like, get down get down.

He then was waving a knife, quite a large knife, and then they detained him.

I think it was a Taser that got him down in the end.

Video footage on social media showed scores of blue-light police cars and emergency vehicles in a station car park, and a team of armed police running towards the stationary train at Huntingdon station.

Officers wearing forensic suits, with a police dog, could be seen on the platform.

The attack is understood to have started shortly after the LNER train left Peterborough station.

Emergency services at the scene (Chris Radburn/PA) (PA Wire)

In his statement on X, Sir Keir Starmer said: The appalling incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning.

My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response.

Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.

Huntingdon Station is closed, National Rail said, with all lines blocked.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp urged the police and the Government to provide an update on who has been arrested as soon as possible, adding: Horrific scenes in Huntingdon, in what seems to be a brutal mass attack by two perpetrators.

In their statement following the attack, British Transport Police said on X: We are currently responding to an incident on a train to Huntingdon where multiple people have been stabbed.

Officers are in attendance alongside @CambsCops and two people have been arrested.

The appalling incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning.



My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response.



Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 1, 2025

In their statement, Cambridgeshire Constabulary said two men were arrested after the train was stopped at Huntingdon.

It read: We were called at 7.39pm with reports that multiple people had been stabbed on a train.

Armed officers attended and the train was stopped at Huntingdon, where two men were arrested. A number of people have been taken to hospital.

The incident remains ongoing and the A1307 has been closed as you approach the town centre.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was deeply saddened to hear of the stabbings and added: I urge people to avoid comment and speculation at this early stage.

#LNERUpdate Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident at Huntingdon all lines are blocked.



Train services running through this station may be delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.



Please check before you travel -

 https://t.co/o0hAZZ3XYh  London North Eastern Railway (@LNER) November 1, 2025

London North Eastern Railway (LNER), which operates East Coast Mainline services in the UK, confirmed the incident had happened on one of its trains and has urged passengers not to travel because of major disruption.

In a statement on X at 9.21pm, LNER said: We are experiencing major disruption across the LNER route. Emergency services are dealing with an incident at Huntingdon station, all lines are blocked.

Our advice is, Do Not Travel. Please defer your travel where you can.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary urged anyone with information about the incident to report it online at https://www.cambs.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report quoting incident 495 of November 1, or by calling 101.
Heidi Klum, dressed as a worm, attends her 21st annual Halloween party on Oct. 31, 2022 (2022 Invision)

Halloween has its traditions, candy, scary movies, pumpkin carving  and the annual spectacle of Heidi Klum's costume.

The supermodel-turned-TV personality is fond of surprising her guests with her elaborate costumes, like in 2022, when she arrived at the event on the end of a fishing line, encased in a slithering worm costume.

I just wanted to be something random, she explained while lying on the floor for maximum worm-like effect. I dont think Ive ever seen anyone being a rain worm before.

Her 2025 costume has now been revealed as Medusa featuring snakes in place of her hair and a rattlesnake tail. Klum posted a video to her Instagram of the depiction, with the caption: HAPPY HEIDIWEEN Dont stare too long or youll turn to stone  #HeidiHalloween.

2025 Heidi Klum Halloween Party (2025 Invision)

Medusa, in Greek mythology, was known for her petrifying effect on beholders and those looking at her face were instantly turned to stone, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Last year, she enlisted the help of several Cirque du Soleil performers as the tail feathers to her impressive peacock costume.

Heidi Klum, dressed as a worm, attends her 21st annual Halloween party on Oct. 31, 2022 (2022 Invision)

A lot of planning goes into it, you know, Klum said through her peacock beak, with husband Tom Kaulitz next to her, dressed as an egg. Because first, you have to have an idea.

At her 2008 party she dressed as Kali, the Hindu goddess of death and destruction  complete with multiple arms, dangling heads and a deep coat of blue body paint.

Heidi Klum, dressed as Kali, the Hindu goddess of death and time, attends her annual Halloween party at 1Oak on Friday, Oct. 31, 2008 (2008 AP)

Klum said she would immediately be planning her look for the following year. After tonight Ill be thinking about what Ill do next year. Its always got to be different. Completely different, she said.

Other notable Klum costumes over the years have included a giant Transformer, a clone (complete with several Klum-lookalikes) an elderly version of herself, and an alien experiment gone awry.

Heidi Klum, dressed in an eight-foot-tall "Transformer" costume, arrives to her Halloween Party in New York, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010

The star has also transformed into a terrifying butterfly, an ape, a cat, a crow  and cartoon characters including Jessica Rabbit and Fiona from Shrek.

Heidi Klum, dressed as Jessica Rabbit, attends her 16th annual Halloween party, at Lavo on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, in New York

Her tip to those still trying to decide what to wear this Halloween? Leave the store-bought masks at home.

Here we have a photo rundown of just some of Klums outfits from across the years:

Heidi Klum, third from left, poses with Heidi Clones at her 17th Annual Halloween Party at Vandal on Monday, Oct. 31, 2016, in New York (2016 Invision)

Heidi Klum, dressed as a cat, poses on the press line at Heidi's Halloween Party in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007 (AP2007)

Heidi Klum, center, in blue, arrives at her 22nd annual Halloween party at Marquee on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023 (2023 Invision)

Heidi Klum, dressed as a crow, arrives at her 10th annual Halloween party in West Hollywood, Calif. on Saturday, Oct. 31 , 2009 (AP2009)

Heidi Klum-Halloween-Photo Gallery (Heidi Klum, dressed as an elderly woman, attends her 14th annual Halloween party on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, in New York)

Heidi Klum, right, dressed as Princess Fiona and Tom Kaulitz dressed as Shrek arrive at Klum's 19th annual Halloween party at Lavo New York on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018

Heidi Klum, left, dressed as an alien, and Tom Kaulitz attend Klum's Halloween party at Cathedrale on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019 (2019 Invision)

I personally dont like it when people hide behind those full masks. I prefer when people get a little bit creative and they play with their face, when they put a lot of makeup on, model Klum told the AP in 2007. I always love that the most on me, I really go scary on the face.
President John Dramani Mahama took office in January for a second non-consecutive term - Francis Kokoroko

How far is too far in post-Brexit re-engagement with the wider world beyond Europe? Despite headlines about European resets, Labour has carried on the Tories project of flexing economic and diplomatic muscles from Africa to Asia that many thought had long atrophied.

Take Ghana. Most of the public think Britains global reconnect amounts to little more than the high-profile trade deals with the US and India  where Labour merely put the finishing touches on Conservative negotiations. But in the most sophisticated of West Africas nations, the UK is providing levels of economic assistance that would make the Chancellors forever repeated guardrails fall straight off any project back home.

Barely publicised beyond government websites, the UK has agreed to extend by 15 years the repayment period of $256 million Ghana owes Britain  and therefore ultimately the UK taxpayer. The deal also commits Britain to lending more on top to Ghana via UK export credits, underwriting British businesses to build a series of road and infrastructure projects across the country.

Ghana is not Somalia. It has long enjoyed a reputation for democratic governance. Still, in addition to owing $256 million to the British Exchequer, Ghana is also $261 million in debt to American independent power producers  liabilities ultimately underwritten by the US taxpayer. It is part of a whopping $2.5 billion the country holds in unpaid debts to energy suppliers alone.

One must question the common sense, let alone the economic case, of lending the country more. That becomes even more questionable when Ghanas current government has begun demolishing the pillars of law and democracy on which the countrys good standing was built.

President John Dramani Mahama took office in January for a second non-consecutive term. Since then, Ghana has taken a far-Leftward, anti-democratic turn. Wielding lawfare against his political opponents, he has bent the law to protect his own. The chief justice of the Supreme Court was dismissed based on a petition that was never made public; half a dozen more compliant justices have since been appointed to the same bench. Scores of legal cases against members of the presidents own party, many related to serious fraud and a major banking collapse, have been dropped.

This approach should come as no surprise from a leader who is both a socialist and a Soviet sympathiser. His autobiography  My First Coup dEtat  is partly set in Russia, a country where he studied and, by his own account, found quite agreeable. Mahama even took time out of last years election campaign to launch the books Russian edition in Moscow. Since returning to the presidency, he has made his mark on international affairs by penning an opinion article in The Guardian attacking Elon Musk and Donald Trump over South Africa.

But it is lawfare against the opposition that should most concern the money lenders in London. The most high-profile attack has been against Ken Ofori-Atta, the previous administrations former finance minister.

Ofori-Atta is nothing if not a Western man. Educated at Yale and Columbia universities, he went on to work at Morgan Stanley and Salomon Brothers before founding his own investment bank. He became one of Ghanas best-known and most successful international business leaders. Entering national politics only in middle age  and certainly not for the money  he went on to oversee major economic reforms of the banking system and steer the country through the strains of the pandemic, over a period during which Ghanas GDP per capita nearly doubled.

Only days after Mahamas return, the state turned on Ofori-Atta. Lurid accusations flew, followed by demands for his return to Ghana to face questioning. His home was raided; a special prosecutor branded him a fugitive from justice; US authorities were said to be processing an extradition request; and even an Interpol Red Notice was reportedly issued to extract him from the United States, where he was allegedly hiding.

Except he wasnt. Ofori-Atta was in the United States receiving cancer treatment. Meanwhile, the military and police had entered his home in Ghana  apparently without a warrant. No extradition request was ever made to Washington; the special prosecutor has since admitted as much. Nor were there any indictments. The special prosecutor has never pressed charges  raising the question of whether Ghanaian authorities misled Interpol into issuing the Red Notice, which in law can only be applied after formal charges have been brought.

Nearly a year later, only salacious accusations have been made against Ofori-Atta, primarily about sign off on spending in government departments outside the finance ministry. It is the equivalent of expecting to hold Chancellor Rachel Reeves personally responsible for every single individual line item of spending in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, or the Atomic Energy Agency, or the Passport Office.

It seems self-evident these attacks are underway because Ghanas current leadership perceive Ofori-Atta  a man possessing presidential bearing  as a potential serious challenger at the next election, should he go down that path. This is no way to run a democracy. Indeed, it is questionable whether the rule of law is still functioning when such a stark case of political persecution is unfolding  and whether international businesses can still rely on the legal security of their investments in Ghana.

As for the British taxpayer, questions should be asked about whether this debt assistance amounts to good money being thrown after bad. Every British government should, of course, support British businesses working abroad. But there are simple calculations. Is there the rule of law? Is the legal system sufficiently independent? What are the chances of getting the money back? The answers are obvious, even to those of us who are not government economists. Ghana under Mahama is a bad port of call for Britains global re-engagement policy.

Mat Whatley is the managing director at Okapi Train. He has managed Security operations in Nigeria, Libya and elsewhere in Africa
Two girls, both under the age of 13, were dumped out of a Ferris wheel basket in New Roads, Louisiana. Both girls fell and hit the ground. One of the girls required a helicopter flight to a hospital for treatment. (Stock image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Two girls attending a festival were injured after they were thrown from a Ferris wheel, officials said.

On Saturday November 1, the girls were attending the Harvest Festival in New Roads, Louisiana and decided to ride the Ferris wheel, according to WBRZ.

Witnesses told officials they saw three girls get into one of the Ferris wheel baskets and later saw the it tip, spilling the girls, both of whom are younger than 13-years-old, to the ground, according WBRZ.

I heard like a body, just like something falling, I heard a loud boom, Madison Fields, who was attending the festival, told the broadcaster. It was two girls, and one of the girls fell on her face, and she was really damaged.

She said she believes the basket got caught on a foreign object, which caused it to tip.

One of the girls required an airlift to hospital, witnesses said. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"It caught on to the wires, and then it tilted over, and the two girls fell out," she said.

Both girls were rushed to hospitals for treatment. One of the them was flown to a Baton Rouge hospital, according to officials.

Their condition is unknown.

In video posted to Facebook by one of the attendees, police and bystanders can be seen trying to help one of the girls, who appears to be on the ground and suffering in pain. Another group helps the other passenger out of the Ferris wheel basket.

Eddie Jones, who shot the video, told WBRZ that the incident left him fearful of the rides.

Yeah, Ill probably never get on another Ferris wheel," he said.

Fields added the she had planned to go on the ride later that day.

"It was sad and upsetting, like, because, what if that could have been me?" she told WBRZ.

The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal issued a statement that it "is actively investigating an incident in which two riders fell from a Ferris wheel ride at the New Roads Harvest Festival Saturday."

Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Rene Thibodeaux said in a statement that all of the festival's rides were shut down to allow for the state fire marshal's office to conduct an inspection. Once the inspection was complete, all of the rides except for the Ferris wheel were reopened.

The Harvest Festival, which began in late October, wrapped up as scheduled on November 2.
Alex Salmond, the former first minister, died in October 2024 at the age of 69 after suffering a heart attack - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Alex Salmond died virtually penniless after defending his reputation in two court cases, it has emerged.

Lawyers winding up the estate of Scotlands former first minister have confirmed moves to apply for a trustee in sequestration  a legal process equivalent to declaring the estate bankrupt.

Levy & McRae, the firm instructed by Salmonds widow, Moira, said the expense of his legal representation was the primary reason.

Salmond died in October 2024 at the age of 69 after suffering a heart attack on a visit to North Macedonia.

The former SNP leader won a judicial review in 2019 after a previous court case found that the way a Scottish Government investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations against him was handled was unlawful and tainted with apparent bias.

Alex Salmond faced two court hearings over the course of 18 months from 2018 - Andy Buchanan/Getty Images

However, the Scottish Government only conceded the judicial review case at the 11th hour, resulting in Salmond being handed 512,250 of taxpayers money to cover his legal costs.

Salmond was cleared of 14 sexual assault charges in a separate criminal trial in 2020. He alleged at the time there was a conspiracy among senior SNP figures around Nicola Sturgeon to imprison him, which she has vigorously denied.

His lawyers told The Sunday Times the legal actions left him on the verge of financial ruin as he lost almost all of his income from directorships and speaking engagements.

David McKie, a senior partner in Levy & MacRae and Salmonds lawyer in the two cases, said: It is a matter of profound regret that Alex had to invest so much time and money in clearing his name.

But most people will understand that faced with such attacks and an unlawful process brought against him, there was no choice for Alex but to defend himself with every resource available to him.

Salmonds lawyers claimed that not a penny of the 512,250 costs went to the former first minister or his wife, with the entirety used to cover legal bills.

Moira Salmond has restarted a compensation and damages claim against the Scottish Government - Mark Runnacles/Getty

The victorious party in any civil case recovers only about 60 to 70 per cent of their expenses, meaning Mr Salmond had to pay the balance of the huge legal bill from his own funds.

Levy and MacRae said: He won the review, but the victory came at a significant personal cost. The 512,000 was a contribution to his lawyers, not a compensation package.

Salmond also spent more than 300,000 defending himself in his criminal trial, costs that could not be recovered despite him being cleared. This means the two cases are likely to have cost him about 500,000 of his own funds.

Mr McKie said: That success came at a huge cost, both in terms of the strain imposed on him personally and in terms of the financial pressure which funding that process of vindication imposed. We now act for Moira Salmond and have been assisting with winding up Alexs estate.

He added that appointing a trustee in sequestration was very unfortunate but a necessary step to protect her interests and those of creditors.

The effect of the sequestration on Mrs Salmond is not known. They did not have any children during their 43-year marriage and lived in a former mill in the village of Strichen in Aberdeenshire.

At the time of his death, Salmond was seeking significant damages and compensation for loss of earnings from the Scottish Government, totalling a reported 3m. It emerged in August that his widow had restarted the legal action.
Andrew vetoed references to abuse in previous statements from the Royals - Karwai Tang

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor removed tributes to Jeffrey Epsteins victims from previous Buckingham Palace statements, it has emerged.

When the King announced last week that he had stripped his younger brother of his prince title and will effectively evict him from his Royal Lodge home, his historic statement was accompanied by a telling message.

It said: Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.

It was the first time the Palace had referred to survivors of abuse in connection with the former Duke of York, and it has now emerged that in earlier statements such references had been deleted after texts were sent to him before being released.

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, announced Andrew is to be stripped of his last remaining title, the honorary military rank of vice admiral.

He could also lose his campaign medal for service in the Falklands War.

The Queen is understood to have expressed concerns that Andrews association with Epstein was compromising her work with abuse victims.

The Queens support for the Wash Bag Project helps sex abuse victims - Getty

She felt deeply uncomfortable with the idea of fronting anti-abuse campaigns  such as her Wash Bag Project providing luxury toiletries to rape crisis centres, and SafeLives, which campaigns against domestic abuse  while Andrew remained within the fold.

Likewise, the Duchess of Edinburgh campaigns for the victims of abuse and is a supporter of the International Day to End Violence Against Women, the UNs Women, Peace and Security Agenda and the Governments Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative.

A royal source confirmed to the Telegraph that when the Palace previously inserted references to victims in statements, they were deleted after being sent to Andrew for approval. The development was first reported by The Sunday Times.

A friend of the King and Queen told the newspaper: There has long been a sense from the family that the voices of the victims needed to be heard in these pronouncements, because they feature so heavily in this saga and because there is no credible way the Queen and the Duchess of Edinburgh can continue to do the work they do in the areas of sexual abuse if they cant point to that.

Now the King has lost his patience. You can see this statement is no longer a statement by committee: its a statement from the King.

Another source told the Telegraph that on this occasion, the dramatic statement was a fait accompli, no to-ing and fro-ing on drafts.

The palace has issued several statements concerning Andrews association with Epstein since 2015. Such announcements were made on Andrews behalf before he was forced to step back from public duties in November 2019.

The palace has since occasionally issued further statements as it has gradually stripped back the royals titles and privileges throughout the scandal.

On Sunday, Mr Healey said Andrews last remaining title, the honorary military rank of vice admiral, would be removed by the Government. Andrew, a former naval helicopter pilot, was made a vice admiral on his 55th birthday in 2015 and retained the rank after being forced to give up his other military affiliations in 2022.

Mr Healey told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: In general, the Governments been guided by the decisions and judgments the King has made.

In defence, its exactly the same. And weve seen Andrew surrender the honorary positions hes had throughout the military, and guided again by the King, we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral that he has.

Asked whether Andrew could also lose his military medals, Mr Healey said: I dont have an update for you on that, but just as with his vice-admiral rank and title, we would be guided by the decisions the King makes.

Buckingham Palace would not rule out Andrew being forced to return his Falklands medal, according to The Times.

Ministry of Defence sources said they expected the process to be completed in short order. They said they were examining whether he should revert to the rank of commander, which he achieved during military service, or lose his naval rank completely.

It has also emerged that Andrew arranged a private tour of Buckingham Palace for a cryptocurrency boss who had agreed to pay Sarah Ferguson 1.2m.

Las Vegas entrepreneur Jay Bloom and a colleague were given the tour while the late Queen Elizabeth was in residence in June 2019 after they had been picked up from their five-star hotel in Knightsbridge.

Mr Blooms company, Pegasus Group Holdings, employed Ms Ferguson as a brand ambassador for the Bitcoin mining firm, according to an investigation by the BBC.

Jay Bloom, whose company gave Sarah Ferguson a job, at Buckingham Palace

Ms Ferguson was working with Pegasus Group Holdings at the time of the palace visit, while she was Duchess of York, to promote plans to use thousands of solar power generators to mine Bitcoin at a remote site in the Arizona desert. The project failed with only 615 of the planned 16,000 generators acquired and about 25,000 worth of the cryptocurrency mined.

In April 2021, some investors took legal action, claiming millions of dollars of investor funds were unaccounted for. A tribunal awarded the investors $4.1m, but Mr Bloom is seeking permission to appeal.

Andrew and Ms Ferguson did not respond to a detailed list of questions put to them by the BBC about their involvement with Mr Bloom and the crypto-mining venture.
by Nils Peterson

At my senior center we have a Shakespeare class led by marvelous young woman, actor, playwright, professional clown. Her main method is to assign us parts and have us read the text out loud. I taught Shakespeare for a bunch of years and did some of this. But this class makes me wish I had done more of having students read out loud. I kept most of the good lines for myself. Selfish. Speaking well-ordered words is one of the great physical pleasures. Yes, physical pleasure. The body responds to good words in the right order (when you say them out loud with appropriate energy) in the way it does to a sip of good wine at evening,

Weve been doing A Midsummer Nights Dream and I got the part of Bottom. Heres what I got a chance to read and rediscover in the reading:

Bottom: When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer. My next is Most fair Pyramus. Heigh-ho! Peter Quince? Flute the bellows-mender? Snout the tinker? Starveling? Gods my life, stoln hence, and left me asleep?

I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dreampast the wit of man to say what dream it was. Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream. Methought I wasthere is no man can tell what. Methought I was, and methought I hadbut man is but a patched fool if he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, mans hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report what my dream was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream. It shall be called Bottoms Dream because it hath no bottom. And I will sing it in the latter end of a play before the duke. Peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it at her death.

I had thought to call this piece The Poetry of Of Incoherence, but when I thought about it, that title is exactly wrong. Bottom is the most coherent of poets. What is the poets job but to find language to explain and share his experience. At this, Bottom is wonderfully successful. His experience is  to be loved by the queen of fairies while wearing an asss head. I know enough about wearing an asss head in romance to have the publisher of my first book of poems insist that the name of it be The Comedy of Desire.

And is it not a strange masculine desire to be loved by some avatar of the queen of the fairies (for isnt at first ones love object in a way an incarnation the queen of the fairies, Titania?) even while inhabiting the body of a stumbling, foolish male, in other words wearing an asss head. I dont think Im speaking for myself alone. At least I hope so. Again, here is Bottoms wonderful attempt to describe his experience, The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, mans hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report what my dream was. This mix up is such fine poetry, the coherence of incoherence. No. Im doing it again. It is coherent. It describes exactly what it feels like to be fearfully and foolishly awe-fully love. Awe is the word. Words for awe are hard to come by. This marvelous mixing of the senses comes as close as we are likely to get.

So, I insist that Bottoms Dream is right up there with the great speeches To Be or not to be, Our revels now are ended, Oh reason not the need.

Im also aware that in a world of manosphere and the dating applications that say if youre not in bed after the third date, its time to move on (or at least thats what influencers are saying, some of them). Maybe what is missing in todays romantic world is the feeling of awe. I think of Tonys song in West Side Story Maria,

Maria!

Ive just kissed a girl named Maria,

And suddenly Ive found

How wonderful a sound

Can be.

Maria!

Say it loud and theres music playing

Say it soft and its almost like praying

Maria . . .

Ill never stop saying

Maria!

And he sings her name again and again and again. Our hero has found language appropriate for his feeling of awe at falling in love. He makes one word, one name, say it all, awe and all else. At least if youre an antique romantic like me.

Of course, the ancestor of West Side Story is Romeo and Juliet. Heres Romeo trying to do the same:

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Pretty good. You try it. Imagine youre Romeo and say those words. Become Romeo in the saying. Where do you pause, which word do you emphasize? What is the state of mind that demands those words? If you felt something while trying this out, go to the internet. Get the whole speech. Become Romeo. Your body will tell you, This is fun. Lets do it some more.

P.S. Since the subject of my age came up on the way to here and there seems to be a little room for more, let me add:

A Memorable Fancy  an Attic

Thinking this morning of my age, the thought that I had climbed into the loft of my

life, I paused, pleased with the sound of the L words but thought more, no  No loft

but an attic, an attic with boxes, cartons, photograph albums, old toys, the lost leg

of the horse that pulled my toy milk wagon, the rest of the horse attached to the

wagon with frail old leather strips, the wagon, the red car I could pedal to

make it go forward which cousin Kenneth envied when it somehow got to Sweden

in 1938, in a far corner, a mysterious steamer trunk thought lost in the 1958 flood

of the Greater Miami River  thinking to stay, poke around a bit, but up pops

rascally Whitman chanting, Who, constructing the house of himself or herself, not

for a day but for all time, sees races, eras, dates, generations,/The past, the future,

dwelling there, like space, inseparable together, and thought, whoa, this attics a

bigger than I thought, thought  this has turned into a hell of a job.
Police officers attend the scene of the dog attack - Wales News Service

A dog attack has killed a nine-month-old baby in a Welsh village.

Gwent Police said its officers were called to an address in Rogiet, at around 6pm on Sunday.

Police and paramedics attended but the infant was pronounced dead at the scene.

The police force said: We received a report of a dog attack in an address in Crossway, Rogiet, around 6pm on Sunday Nov 2.

Officers attended along with paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service.

A nine-month-old baby was pronounced dead at the scene.

The dog has been seized and removed from the property.

John Davies, the chief superintendent of Gwent Police, said: We understand that there will be concerns around this incident, but officers are on scene and will be making further enquiries as the investigation progresses.

If you have concerns or information then please do stop and talk with us.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said it had dispatched one Cymru high acuity response unit, an advanced paramedic practitioner, a duty operations manager and one emergency ambulance.

Crews were supported by our hazardous area response team, the service said in a statement.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Gwent Police on 101, quoting log reference 2500349915, or to send a direct message on Facebook or X.
Bella Culley, who is reported to be eight months pregnant, was arrested at Tbilisi airport in May

A pregnant British teenager accused of drug smuggling has been making eggy bread and cheese toasties in prison in Georgia, her mother has said.

Bella Culley, 19, who is reported to be eight months pregnant, was arrested at Tbilisi airport in May.

It is alleged that she tried to smuggle 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish into the country.

Ms Culleys mother, Lyanne Kennedy, told the BBC that her daughter has been transferred to a prison with a mother-and-baby unit.

She was previously being held at Georgias Rustavi Prison Number Five, with the broadcaster having been told that she only had access to a hole in the ground for a toilet, one hour of fresh air each day and communal showers twice a week.

Ms Kennedy told the BBC that during Ms Culleys stint in the prison, she toasted bread over a candle flame and boiled pasta in a kettle.

They all cook for each other

But now she has been moved to a different prison and her conditions appear to have improved, she said.

She now gets two hours out for walking, she can use the communal kitchen, has a shower in her room and a proper toilet, Ms Kennedy told the BBC.

They all cook for each other  Bella has been making eggy bread and cheese toasties, and salt-and-pepper chicken.

Ms Kennedy told the broadcaster the family is doing everything it can to get Ms Culley home where she should be.

She said her daughters full story will come in time, adding: Until then, we are just a family doing everything we can for my daughter and grandson.

It has been reported that the teenager has described being tortured by gangsters in Thailand and forced to bring drugs into the country.

It is expected that Ms Culley will find out her sentence on Monday after her lawyers negotiated with judicial authorities in Georgia.

Her family has paid more than 137,000 as part of a plea deal aimed at reducing her sentence.

Malkhaz Salakaia, her lawyer, told the BBC that once an agreement was reached, he would appeal to the president of Georgia to pardon the teenager.
The stabbings left 11 people injured - Toby Shepheard

It was just a normal Saturday night train, buzzing with football fans and families making their way home from half-term break.

But moments after the doors shut and the train left Peterborough station at 7.30pm, there came a message over the tannoy: We are aware there is an incident... just keep yourselves safe.

What followed was 14 minutes of terror as LNER passengers were trapped on a moving train with a marauding knife attacker.

Some tried to hide in the toilets; others barricaded themselves in the buffet car as injured passengers ran through the carriages, soaking the train seats in blood.

The scene felt like something from a film, witnesses said, with one initially believing the carnage was a Halloween prank.

Police on the platform at Huntingdon station, where the train was forced to make an emergency stop - Chris Radburn/PA

In reality, it was one of Britains largest mass stabbings, which left 11 people injured, including an LNER staff member who was in critical condition on Sunday.

The devils not gonna win, the attacker told one woman, before shouting kill me, kill me at officers who wrestled him to the ground after the train was diverted to make an emergency stop at Huntingdon.

As the suspect was questioned by police on Sunday evening, tales of heroism and horror emerged from the train, including a staff member who tried to fight off the knifeman by throwing food and bottles at him.

The busy 6.25pm LNER service from Doncaster had been set to arrive at Londons Kings Cross in two hours. But the attacker boarded at Peterborough at 7.30pm, and moments later an alarm was triggered in coach J, the fourth carriage from the front.

Olly Foster was one coach back in H, and the first thing he saw was a passenger shouting: Run, run, run... theres a guy stabbing literally everyone and everything.

At first, there were a few of us kind of looking at each other thinking it was a joke  like its Halloween, it might be a prank, Mr Foster told the BBC.

But then you can kind of see in their faces theyre being serious. I put my hand on a chair, just trying to push myself forward, and then I look at my hand and its covered in blood.

And then I look at the chair and theres blood all over the chair. And then I look ahead, theres blood all on the chairs.

He began to run but his group of six became trapped at the back of the carriage. It included a young woman who was saved from the attack by an older man who had blocked the knife with his head, Mr Foster said.

He was an absolute hero, he added. He had a gash in his head and a gash in his neck.

Olly Foster said he initially thought the attack was a Halloween prank

Fearing for their lives, passengers looked for any kind of weapon and one armed himself with a Jack Daniels bottle.

In the next carriage was Alistair Day, 58, who boarded the Kings Cross train after watching Nottingham Forest draw against Manchester United.

After the door to the buffet car was locked, he saw a man at the window with his knife.

Another man on the train in a Nottingham Forest tracksuit, who was named last night as Stephen Crean, declared: Im going to go confront him.

He wasnt the biggest guy and we tried to stop him, Mr Day said. He later saw the same man lying on the platform flat-out, covered in blood.

A woman said she noticed the suspect following passengers as they fled in pure panic. She said an LNER worker tried to protect people and fend him off by throwing food and bottles at him but then he was stabbed.

b'

'

Further down the train Steve, who only gave his first name, was travelling with his children when they heard an alarm and saw people starting to panic.

He said his children were very shaken up but they were very brave about it, adding: It was just unnerving not knowing what was happening... knowing you were in a box and couldnt get out of it if you wanted to.

A lot of people were crying; one of the girls we were with had blood on her coat from when someone had tried to get past, to get away, who had been stabbed so there was a lot of upset and a lot of people were scared about what happened.

A woman came on the tannoy and said we are aware there is an incident, just keep yourselves safe, which was scary to hear because you didnt know what was going on, Steve added.

The Class 800 Azuma was due to travel through Huntingdon at 125mph on a fast track that does not have access to a platform, but the crew and signallers diverted it to the slow line and stopped at the station 14 minutes after the attack started.

The train was due to travel through Huntingdon on a fast track but crew and signallers diverted and stopped at the station after 14 minutes - Bav Media

Dayna Arnold, 48, and Andy Gray, 37, had also been at the back end of the train when the attack started.

They said they heard commotion and panic and could see a knife being thrown around.

The two then got separated in all the panic, as Mr Gray got carried away with the crowd.

Mr Gray, who works as a site manager, then saw a young lad, aged 19 or 20 had been stabbed.

He said: He had been cut and stabbed really badly. He had a gash on his arm and several puncture wounds. He was panicking saying please somebody help me Ive been stabbed. It looked like an artery bleed.

I used a belt as a makeshift tourniquet.

Dayna Arnold, 48, and Andy Gray, 37, were at the back of the train when the attack started - Ben Montgomery

Ms Arnold told The Telegraph the knifeman came at her. She said: I got knocked into some seats. I saw the knife man running, he came at me with the knife I said please, please dont.

Then something changed in his eyes and he said the devils not going to win.

Sirens wailed through the night as ambulance crews and firefighters were called to the scene. Ben Obese-Jecty, the Tory MP for Huntingdon, said he had never seen as big a response to an incident.

The first 999 call was made at 7.39pm, with officers apprehending the suspect by 7.51pm.

Credit: TikTok/Qonquest via PA

Steve went on to say: We pulled into a station and I think everybody assumed it was Stevenage because that was the next scheduled stop. We hammered on the doors to get out and the doors opened and it was Huntingdon, which wasnt what anyone was expecting.

I shouted down to the train crew on the platform what should we do, what should we do? Because I dont know whether to get off or stay on the train. And they didnt know so everyone started to run.

There was a bit of a panic and everyone ran into the station forecourt... then we ran to someones house and hammered on all the doors and pressed all the buzzers. We got let in and a very kind elderly couple looked after us until it was safe to leave.

As passengers poured out onto the platform, witnesses saw bloodied victims collapsing out of the doors and armed police running toward the train.

CCTV published by the Daily Mail shows the knife-wielding attacker, dressed all in black, calmly following passengers out before jumping over the station fence into a car park where he was confronted by police.

Essentially, as they got closer to him, [police] started shouting get down get down, a passenger told Sky News. He then was waving a knife  quite a large knife  and then they detained him.

I think it was a Taser that got him down in the end.

As passengers fled the train (left), the attacker (right) vaulted a fence and walked away carrying his knife

Viorel Turturica, 42, a taxi driver, told The Daily Mail that the man shouted kill me, kill me, kill me to the officers who arrested him.

Video footage shows the suspect, a 32-year-old black British national, being wrestled to the ground. He was being questioned by police on suspicion of attempted murder last night.

Dean McFarlane, 34, a London Underground worker, had arrived early at Huntingdon station to catch a train. He spotted a guy lying or kneeling with his head out the door covered in blood.

He said: There was a woman having a panic attack, hyperventilating, and I went over to her. I think she said she was sitting next to someone who was stabbed.

There were people screaming, people covered in blood. There was a woman with a young girl aged about three and one [person] had been attacked while protecting them.

Police at the entrance to Huntingdon station on Saturday evening - Justin Tallis/Getty Images

At one point during the incident, police declared Plato, the national code word used by emergency services when responding to a marauding terror attack.

But this was later rescinded, British Transport Police said, and officers added on Sunday that there was no indication that this was a terrorist incident.

Mr Healey, who had travelled with his wife on the same train service just hours earlier, said the UKs terror-threat level remained unchanged at substantial  meaning that an attack is considered likely  as before.

A 35-year-old who was arrested at the scene was later released without charge, police said.

The train continued to sit stationary at Huntingdon on Sunday night as emergency services tried to piece together exactly how the 14 minutes of terror had unfolded.

Additional reporting Oscar Jaeger and Susanna Galton
British Transport Police in the drivers compartment of the London-bound train on which ten people were stabbed on Saturday night - Bav Media

The driver of the train where a mass stabbing attack unfolded has been praised as a hero whose quick-thinking emergency stop saved lives.

Two British men are being held by police on suspicion of attempted murder following the knife rampage on Saturday nights 6.20pm LNER service from Doncaster to Kings Cross.

Eleven people were treated in hospital as a result of their injuries. Two of them remain in a life-threatening condition.

Fellow train staff and members of the public have pointed out that the incident - on a high-speed train with narrow carriages and few places to hide - could have been even more serious were it not for the actions of the trains driver.

On Sunday, the RMT rail union heaped praise on the staff for their role during the horrific mass stabbing incident.

Eddie Dempsey, the unions general secretary, said: I want to commend the professionalism, bravery and steadfastness of all the railway workers involved from the train crew to the driver and our members in operations who quickly assisted in diverting the Kings Cross-bound train into Huntingdon station, allowing the police and emergency services to take swift action.

Mr Dempsey added: I will be seeking urgent meetings with government, rail employers and police to ensure that we have the strongest possible support, resources and robust procedures in place to protect our members and the travelling public.

People have said were it not for the actions of the driver to pull into Huntingdon station, the attack could have been a lot worse - Bav Media

The Class 800 Azuma LNER service had departed Peterborough when the attack began and was scheduled to travel through Huntingdon at 125mph on a fast track that does not have access to a platform.

Within minutes, LNER staff had declared an emergency, alerting passengers to the jeopardy through the trains tannoy system.

The driver, crew and signallers diverted the train from its inner rail track to Huntingdon stations platform-side rail so that emergency services could rapidly board.

It stopped in Huntingdon just 14 minutes after departing Peterborough, where armed police officers, paramedics and an air ambulance were ready to respond.

Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, praised the exceptional bravery of staff and passengers on the train.

Social media users also praised the drivers actions, praising the contingency planning and decision to wait to reach the nearest station rather than immediately halting the train.

An X account for Reform UKs Lincoln Branch wrote: Seems like the attack happened not long after leaving Peterborough, & the train driver diverted from the main line to the slow line, so that the train could make an emergency stop at Huntingdon for police/ ambulance services to access. @LNER to be commended for contingency planning.

A social media user who described themselves as a former LNER employee, said:

Best wishes to all my ex-LNER colleagues and well done to the Driver, Train Manager and crew for getting the train to Huntingdon. This is a sad time but railway staff ALWAYS unite! pic.twitter.com/MRz5fOq91D  TM_Steve_ (@TM_Steve_) November 2, 2025

The two suspects were arrested within eight minutes of the 999 call being made and remain in police custody for questioning.

They were identified as a 32-year-old black British national and a 35-year-old Briton of Caribbean descent by British Transport Police.

The attack is not being treated as a terrorist incident, although police said at this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

Superintendent John Loveless of the British Transport Police said 11 people had been treated in hospital. After nine were originally presented with life-threatening injuries, four have now been discharged.
Trader Joe's

Admittedly, Im not big on store-bought premade or frozen meals. But there are a few Trader Joes items I make an exception forbecause sometimes no matter how much you like to cookwhen its 7 p.m. on a Wednesday night and its been one of those days where making dinner feels like the absolute last thing you want to do, the freezer is your friend. When perusing the frozen meal options, some might reach for the fried rice or sweet potato gnocchi, but for me, its the Trader Joes tamales that cost less than $4 and are available in a few filling options.

Courtesy of Trader Joe's

Whats So Great About Trader Joes Tamales

At just $3.79, theyre a surprisingly flavorful, no-fuss option for nights when you dont have time to plan but still want something delicious and not boring. Plus, the corn masa tamales can often be found stuffed with different flavor profiles: cheese & green chile, chicken & cheese, or beef.

My favorite are the Cheese & Green Chile Tamales which get a little kick from the green chiles, red chile puree, and Monterey Jack cheese. Each package contains two corn husk-wrapped tamales. Whether you microwave (3-4 minutes) or steam them on the stove (20-30), these tamales are a low-effort dinner thats ready in no time. While they might not be as authentic as those from a local spot like Tamale Boy in San Antonio, these Trader Joes tamales deliver a quick, flavorful turnaround when youre pressed for time.

Cedric Angeles

How I Turn These Tamales Into A Full Mexican Dinner

While you could certainly enjoy these tamales on their own, I recommend adding a topping or two. Just as I keep these stocked in my freezer for lazy weeknights, I always have a few fridge and pantry staples on hand that help level them up into a delicious Mexican-inspired dinner.

Black Beans: My number-one upgrade is adding beans. Youll rarely find my pantry devoid of black beans and I love this easy addition because they warm quickly and add extra protein to the meal. To really take it up a notch, season your beans to infuse more flavor as they heat up. I use a dash of cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and paprika.

Sauteed Onions & Peppers: If I have an onion on handwhich I almost always doIll slice it up to quickly saute while my tamales steam. If you have any bell peppers, throw those into your skillet as well.

Cheese: My fridge is never without a block of Cheddar, but Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or even a shredded Mexican blend will do. Grate it on top of the tamales immediately after cooking to let it melt.

Flavor Boosters: And of course, additions like hot sauce, a squeeze of lime juice, or fresh cilantro are always welcome too.

The best part about these tamales is that theyre truly a blank slate for any topping you might have on hand. A few other ideas include: avocado, salsa, pico de gallo, enchilada sauce, salsa verde, black bean and corn salad, or avocado-lime crema.



Read the original article on Southern Living
A visitor explores Bell Witch Cave in Adams, Tennessee. The cave is the purported onetime home of an evil witch. - Nicole Hester/The Tennessean/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

(CNN)  Scary sells. Whatever the nature of their flesh, the spirits of the dead rake in very real profits when it comes to sightseeing.

The tourists shelling out for the haunted houses that pop up in the fall like skeletons and spooky inflatables on suburban lawns are doing so for a giddy but ultimately safe experience. The destinations featured on our list below, however, are less about the commercial scare that you can buy at Halloween attractions.

This is the real deal. These sites are authentically and unintentionally weird, macabre and mysterious.

Sedlec Ossuary  Sedlec, Czech Republic

The Sedlec Ossuary, a small Catholic chapel located beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints, is thought to hold the skeletons of 40,000 to 70,000 people. - Brandon Marshall/Shutterstock

The Sedlec Ossuary is a small Roman Catholic chapel in Sedlec, Czech Republic. It also contains the skeletal remains of about 40,000 human beings dispersed throughout the interior in artistically arranged designs.

The most notable creations made of human bones are the chandelier in the center of the room and the coat of arms of the Schwarzenbergs  the most blue-blooded of Bohemian aristocrats  on the left.

Its difficult not to let your imagination run wild when pondering the sort of sick mind that conceived of things like a chandelier of human bones.

But the real motive behind it all is quite prosaic: it was simply a matter of saving space.

These bones were freely given from the bodies of devout Roman Catholics all over Europe who clamored to be buried here after the Abbot of Sedlec went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1278 and brought back soil from Golgotha where Jesus had supposedly been crucified.

So many wanted to be buried in Golgothas soil that the chapel was turned into an ossuary. The remains of the previously buried were dug up and rearranged in the 16th century: a practical if somewhat disquieting way to use limited burial space in a thrifty way.

Bell Witch Cave  Tennessee

Would you dare to visit this witch's cave? This forbidding entry descends into the Bell Witch Cave in Adams, Tennessee. - Nicole Hester/The Tennessean/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

The spirit of Southern Gothic can be embraced with a spine-tingling visit to the Bell Witch Cave, the supposed onetime home of an evil witch who plagued the Bell family of Tennessee during the 1800s.

This malevolent spirit allegedly poisoned and killed patriarch John Bell, wreaking havoc on his family, particularly his daughter Betsy. Its said the witch was a vengeful neighbor, Kate Batts.

The story is a local legend in Tennessee and its been immortalized in novels and on screen. Rumor has it that President Andrew Jackson visited the property, only to be scared away:

I had rather face the entire British Army than to spend another night with the Bell Witch, he supposedly said.

If youre in the mood for some ghost-hunting, you can visit John Bells cabin and delve into the cave. Who knows, perhaps the witch still frequents this creepy cavern?

La Isla de las Munecas  Teshuilo Lake, Mexico

A creepy old doll's head hangs on a stick on Isla de las Munecas in Xochimilco, Mexico. The macabre Island of the Dolls in Mexico City frightens many, but has fascinated celebrity visitors. - Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images

La Isla de las Munecas, or the Island of the Dolls, is the stunningly morbid creation of a man named Don Julian Santana, who lived as a hermit on an island for some 50 odd years until his death in 2001.

During his time there he amassed an impressively ghastly collection of dismembered, broken dolls and hung them on tree branches around the island, where they hang to this day, like sacrifices.

It looks cruel and disturbing, but the back story is surprisingly sweet.

Although there are several versions of the legend, they all converge upon the idea that Don Julian dedicated the dolls to the spirit of a little girl who had drowned in the canal.

Whether he communicated with the spirit, or whether the drowned girl had actually existed, are all points of contention.

But Don Julian just wanted to give his ghostly friend some toys to play with.

Battleship Island  Nagasaki, Japan

Buildings lie in ruins on Hashima Island near Nagasaki, Japan, now a popular tourist destination after being abandoned for more than 30 years - Carl Court/Getty Images

Hashima Island, also known as Gunkanjima (meaning Battleship Island as the island resembles a warship) is a 60,000-square-meter cluster of concrete ruins in the sea by Nagasaki, Japan.

In the 1950s it was the bustling home of thousands of coal mine workers. Hashima Island has been abandoned since 1974 when the coal mines shut down.

Theres always something a bit sinister about deserted islands.

Isolation is a double-edged sword; being surrounded by sea might mean an excellent vacation getaway, or getting stranded with no place to run.

A visit to Hashima Island feels like the latter. The dilapidated buildings and abandoned belongings of the former coal miners make this place feel like the most desolate island on Earth.

Although Hashima was entirely closed off until 2009, travelers are now allowed to visit. It was UNESCO recognized in 2015.

The island also served as the secret headquarters of Bond villain Raoul Silva (played by Javier Bardem) in 2012 movie Skyfall.

Catacombs  Paris, France

The Catacombs are 131 steps down under Paris where the remains of some six million people were transferred from saturated Parisian cemeteries between the end of the 18th century until 1861. - Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

Fancy descending under the streets of Paris and wandering through the catacombs, an eerie network of old caves and tunnels lined with the bones of the dead?

Now you can at one of Paris creepiest attractions, home to the bones of roughly six million people and deeper underground than the Metro and the sewer systems.

The catacombs were created to accommodate overflowing 18th century cemeteries.

Dont veer off the tourist trail though  in summer 2017, two teenagers were lost in the cavernous network for three days.

The site is about to undergo a significant overhaul  owing to its popularity and will close on November 3 for several months before reopening in 2026.

Poveglia Island  Venice, Italy

The beauty of this hard-to-reach Italian island may distract you, but it's got a creepy past: it was once a quarantine zone for plague sufferers. - Marco Secchi/Getty Images

This beautiful isle is haunted by its eerie past  it was once a quarantine zone for plague sufferers in the late 1700s.

Later, in the 1920s, it became an asylum for the mentally unwell.

Allegedly, the island is haunted by the spirits of the patients from the psychiatric hospital. Legend says a sadistic doctor, plagued by visions of the patients he had tortured, threw himself off the bell tower.

The building remains  an abandoned, rusty structure. Its spine chilling

In 2014, it nearly became a luxury hotel, but the deal fell through and it remains a macabre reminder of its terrible past.

Its not supposed to be visited by anyone, let alone tourists  but boat operators in Venice have been known to make the trip.

The Darvaza Crater, or The Gateway to Hell  Turkmenistan

The most common theory is that the crater formed in 1971 and was lit on fire shortly thereafter to prevent spreading methane gas, and it has been burning ever since. - Giles Clarke/Getty Images

Yes, there really is a crater deep in the Turkmenistan desert thats been a burning inferno for more than 50 years.

Officially called the Darvaza Crater, this incredible sight is also nicknamed the Gateway  or Doorway  to Hell.

Theres no concrete record of what exactly happened, making the fiery cavern even more intriguing.

Its said to have formed in 1971, when Soviet geologists looking for oil realized theyd stumbled across a cavern of natural gas. They set it alight to avoid the spread of methane gas.

Now its an incredible sight, in a total wilderness, although scientists say the fires are beginning to dissipate, according to BBC Wildlife. Its been a veritable tourist attraction, even if Turkmenistan isnt the easiest place to visit because of strict visa policies.

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A serial rapist was identified this week as the monster who raped and killed a 9-year-old girl in the choir loft of a Catholic church in Pennsylvania, closing a cold case that vexed authorities and tormented the victims family since 1962.

William Schrader, who was 20 when he killed ittle Carol Ann Dougherty, lived not far from the church and had been dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Army. While he was long considered the primary suspect in Carol Anns death, authorities never had enough evidence to put him away for it.

Dougherty was riding her bike on Oct. 22, 1962, on her way to the library to return a pair of books, but she stopped off at St. Marks Catholic Church in Bristol to pray. The fifth grader was found by her father, beaten to death.

Carol Ann Dougherty holding her sister, Kay Talanca, in an undated family photo. Bucks County District Attorney's Office

I stand before you with profound sorrow but with such gratitude, said Doughertys only surviving relative, younger sister Kay Talanca, at a Wednesday press conference. Because of you my family has the truth it has sought for six decades. Though nothing can bring Carol back, we can finally let her rest in peace, the truth revealed.

Talanca thanked a local reporter and a podcaster for keeping the case in the public eye.

Investigators said the evidence they needed to pin the crime on Schrader came a year ago from his stepson, Robert LeBlanc.

Before his 2002 death at 62 in a Louisiana prison, Schrader confessed to the heinous crime during a conversation with LeBlanc, who contacted authorities in the fall of 2024. Schrader claimed he murdered a girl in Pennsylvania, fearful she would report him for the rape if he let her live.

The case was closed through eyewitness accounts, Schraders confession, and a recent DNA match on a hair recovered from Carol Anns clenched fist, according to Bucks County District Attorney Jen Schorn.

William Schrader was a career criminal who died in 2002. Bucks County District Attorney's Office

A grand jury was presented with the evidence and concurred the investigation only allows the conclusion Schrader raped and murdered Carol Ann.

While Schrader passed away in 2002, his name is now definitively linked to the crime that took Carol Anns young life, a conclusion reached through the combination of decades-old evidence and recent investigative developments, said Schorn.

Detectives initially focused their murder investigation on three individuals  Frank Zuchero, Wayne Roach, and the St. Marks pastor, Rev. Joseph Sabadish  who they eventually cleared through verified alibis.

After the Dougherty murder, Schrader moved to Louisiana and got married, but eventually raped his wifes disabled daughters as well as two girls the couple fostered.

Talanca said she was relieved to finally know the truth. Michele C. Haddon / Bucks County Courier Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

At the time of his death, Schrader was serving a 21-year sentence for a horrific Halloween 1970 manslaughter and arson at the home he shared with his wife, Audrey, in Louisiana.

Schrader attacked his wife during an argument in the home and was kicked out by her in early 1970. He vowed to return and burn the house down and kill all the bitches inside it, as he gathered up his things, NBC Philadelphia reported.

He set fire to the home hours later, and one of the couples foster children, Catherine Smith, died protecting her younger sister.
NEW YORK  Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, knows young people propelled his rise to the top of the polls, he told USA TODAY on Oct. 31.

"Younger voters are, in many ways, at the heart of this campaign and where we are in this moment," Mamdani said over the phone. "These are not just the voters who have come out to vote for us at unprecedented levels. They're also the very New Yorkers who've been knocking on doors across the five boroughs."

Amid early voting numbers appearing to skew older ahead of the Nov. 4 election, Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist state lawmaker, needs Gen Z and millennial New Yorkers to maintain his lead against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has narrowed a double-digit gap polling gap in the closing days of the race.

Mamdani's June primary victory upset against Cuomo, 67, came with strong enthusiasm among the young, who resonated with his focus on addressing affordability in the nation's largest city. Older people have leaned more toward Cuomo, and older voters are more likely to vote in off-year elections.

But Mamdani looks to his younger supporters who have engaged parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles about his campaign.

Meet Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor-elect New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani arrives for a press conference at City Hall Park on Nov. 20, 2025 in New York. US President Donald Trump said he will host New York's Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for a meeting Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 after fiercely attacking the 34-year-old self-described Democratic Socialist during his recent campaign.

"I've heard this again and again from older New Yorkers," he said. "It was a younger family member who came up to them and first made the case about why it was time for a change. And I just so appreciate these younger voters, because again and again, while they've been spoken to with such condescension in our politics, they've shown that they can, in fact, be at the heart of a new kind of politics that puts working people at the heart of it."

Even as hes urged voters not to get complacent, Mamdani said hes excited by increases in overall turnout.

Were always a stronger democracy when more people participate, Mamdani said. What we've sought to show is that the strength of that democracy can also be assessed from its ability to actually deliver on the material needs of working people.

Cuomos campaign didnt respond to an email request for comment about outreach to young voters.

Appeal with younger Muslim voters

Mamdani's pitch to younger voters has resonated, particularly in immigrant enclaves, especially in fast-growing Muslim and South Asian communities. Youth-heavy immigration has come about amid increases in cost of living, according to a recent city Comptroller's Office analysis.

Hes gone through all the things we go through, Yusra Irfan, 36, a social adult day care worker, said of Mamdani while outside of a Friday jummah congregational prayer the candidate attended at the Muslim American Society Youth Center in Brooklyn. He experienced the same difficulties that we experience.

Irfan and others handed out campaign materials in English and Arabic to scores of people leaving the mosque. A campaign effort to engage Muslim New Yorkers resulted in the campaign canvassing 210 of around 300 mosques in the city, a spokesperson said.

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani gestures at a "New York is Not For Sale" rally at Forest Hills Stadium, in the Queens borough of New York City, U.S., October 26, 2025. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

Irfan began volunteering on his campaign after seeing Mamdani on TikTok. Its her first time voting for mayor since moving from India a decade ago, and she was excited about the first Muslim mayor and first Indian mayor. But as a single mother, Irfan appreciated Mamdanis platform to address costs in the city, especially on his pledge for universal child care.

Asad Dandia, a New York urban historian who is part of Mamdanis informal kitchen cabinet that advises him, said many younger voters have only ever known President Donald Trump, who has frequently attacked Muslims and nonwhite immigrant communities, including with a Muslim ban. That is particularly true in the citys South Asian communities, Dandia, 32, said.

But with Zohran's campaign, they get to be part of something that speaks to them, he said, someone that represents them. Someone who could be their older cousin or older brother.

The Mamdani campaign made early outreach in Muslim and South Asian enclaves, but they also did so on the citys left-leaning college campuses.

Students are seen on the campus of Columbia University on April 14, 2025, in New York City. An immigration judge ruled on April 11 that Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian student protester from Columbia University and a US permanent resident detained by the Trump administration, can be deported, his lawyer said.

Near Columbia University, young voters back Mamdani

Zohran is a symbol of hope, of what this country could look like and how democracy could actually be restored, Marisol Bonifaz, 19, a first-year student at Barnard College at a polling site on Columbia Universitys satellite campus, in Manhattans Harlem neighborhood, said the morning of Nov. 1, when she voted in her first city election.

Bonifaz, a Massachusetts native, has volunteered and registered around 50 other students on Columbia's campus to vote. Students are excited, but they need a plan to vote, she said.

Hes what I want to see as a change in politics, said Gabriella Gavazzi, 25, a recent Columbia physical therapy doctoral graduate. She changed her registration from her native Pennsylvania to vote for Mamdani in the general election. Our politics is just going down the drain right now.

One man, who refused to give his name but gave his age as 75, said he voted for Cuomo because he thought Mamdani was antisemitic and would destroy the city. Cuomo saved the city during the COVID-19 pandemic, the man said.

Jodie Kovler, 57, an Upper West Side resident who is Jewish, said she cast her vote for Mamdani to make it a better city for everybody, for every human being.

Her two children, both young adults in Manhattan, are also voting for Mamdani because they think he gives them the best chance to be able to continue living in their city, adding that the city is "for all young people.

Democratic candidate for New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani, dances with a supporter while campaigning at a senior center in Manhattan's Lower East Side neighborhood of New York City, October 31, 2025.

Mamdani said his focus on affordability is particularly important to young voters.

"Younger people are often denied the legitimacy that other constituencies are granted," Mamdani told USA TODAY. "And it's made to seem as if their struggles are indicative of themselves, as opposed to the ways in which our city and our state and our country has failed them, and we have made life harder and harder for these very young people."

It's become harder for young people to pursue their dreams and ambitions, he said. "What they're looking for is what each and every New Yorker is looking for," he added, "which is a city where they can do more than just struggle to afford to call it home. But in fact, a city where they could pursue the things that brought them here in the first place."

Kovler hadnt recalled young people this involved and paying attention to politics in some time. The last candidate to motivate young people, she said, was Barack Obama.

As to whether he'd have a Halloween costume, Mamdani said he was dressing as "just a tired politician."

Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zohran Mamdani talks to USA TODAY about young voters in NYC mayoral
Florida Mounts Rapid Mission To Evacuate Stranded Citizens After Monster Storm Slammed Jamaica (Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, X)

Governor Ron DeSantis announced today the successful air evacuation of 28 Floridians who were stranded in Jamaica following the devastating impact of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa. The rescue flight landed earlier Saturday at Tampa International Airport (TPA), bringing the residents home safely.

At the Governor's direction, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) launched the evacuation effort on October 31, 2025. FDEM worked closely with local officials in Jamaica to coordinate the safe return of the citizens.

Throughout my time as governor, Florida has rescued our residents from warzones and in the wake of natural disasters, said Governor Ron DeSantis. Todays operation in Jamaica brings stranded Floridians home in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. I am grateful for the efforts of our emergency management officials and partners who worked to make this happen.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall near New Hope, Jamaica, on the afternoon of October 28, 2025, as a catastrophic Category 5 storm. With maximum sustained winds of 185 mph Melissa is one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin and the strongest to ever hit Jamaica. The storm inflicted widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and essential services across the island.

Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins was on the ground at TPA to welcome the returning families.

Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins (X)

Thanks to Governor DeSantis and the Florida Division of Emergency Management, we mobilized quickly to send relief flights and bring our citizens home safely following Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, said Lt. Governor Collins. Today, I was on the ground at Tampa International Airport to welcome these families as they arrived and to ensure they received the care and support they needed.

FDEM Executive Director Kevin Guthrie praised the rapid mobilization. This rapid response reflects the strength of Floridas emergency management system and our commitment to providing timely, coordinated support, said Guthrie. Thanks to Governor Ron DeSantis decisive leadership and our teams swift action, we were able to help Floridians return home safely.

This evacuation marks the third time FDEM has conducted missions to bring Floridians home from crises abroad under Governor DeSantis leadership. Previous rescue operations included bringing residents back from Haiti in 2024 and from Israel in 2023 and 2025.

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frozen aisle at Costco - ZikG/Shutterstock

Costco is home to a wealth of high-quality products  shop around, and you'll find several dependable staples. So if the retailer suddenly discontinues a beloved item, the lack of availability can be startling. Precisely such a shock occurred when the store pulled the plug on the Kirkland Signature frozen turkey burgers.

A Costco Reddit thread chronicles the ensuing communal disappointment. "This is terrible. I've eaten these for 10 years," one user wrote. Another noted, "I have been going crazy looking for these. I went to Costco several [times,] circling the frozen [aisle] like a shark, thinking that I went crazy because I could not find them. I can't find a good replacement for them. They are amazing and have so much protein." Discussion regarding the discontinuation started in 2017, and continued for several years into the early 2020s.

The beloved item came in an eye-catching, four-pound yellow package, with each patty weighing in at 5.33 ounces, thus generating 12 burgers per purchase. Their nutrition  paired with the easy preparation  helps explain their cult status. Each turkey portion contained some 35 grams of protein, yet could be efficiently pan-fried, air-fried, or baked straight from a frozen state. Both the texture and taste appealed to shoppers; they worked perfectly for an unfussy weeknight dinner. Once decommissioned, these patties left a void in the weekly grocery haul of many Costco regulars.

Read more: 5 Frozen Costco Dinners, Ranked

Costco later released several frozen turkey burger alternatives

boxes of Bubba brand burgers - Anatoliy Tesouro/Shutterstock

According to that one Reddit thread, Costco's customer service noted a replacement would soon appear on shelves. And indeed, the frozen Columbus Seasoned Turkey Burgers soon arrived at Costco. This package conveniently comes with 10 patties, just over five ounces each; however, each burger packs in 30 grams of protein as opposed to Kirkland Signature's 35 grams. Nevertheless, consumers responded positively to these patties' flavor: "By far the best turkey burger on the market," wrote a user on a different Costco Reddit thread.

Furthermore, shoppers also spotted the Bubba brand Turkey Burgers after the Kirkland Signature discontinuation. These no longer appear on Costco's website, although they are sold at other wholesale grocers like BJ's. Worryingly, even the Columbus brand experienced a hiatus on Costco's shelves, so take note that this product category frequently goes out of stock. Turkey may be the worst burger patty to cook on the grill, but make sure to grab a frozen package. After all, there's a reason your turkey burgers might be falling apart on the grill, and you can absolutely prevent that particular travesty (for example, chilling the patties before you put them on the flames).

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Read the original article on Food Republic.
FILE - Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo speaks at the Peace Forum on Nov. 11, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

BISSAU, Guinea Bissau (AP)  A group of military officers was arrested in Guinea-Bissau this week for allegedly planning a coup, according to a statement from the armed forces Friday.

The alleged coup plot involved several senior officers who were reported missing starting Monday, and was announced the day before the general election campaign was set to begin.

This sad episode, which involves some general and senior officers of our Armed Forces, jeopardizes the peace and stability so desired for socio-economic development and the attraction of foreign investment, a statement from the armed forces General Staff reads.

The coup attempt was allegedly led by the director of a military training school, Brig. Gen. Daba Na Walna, with the support of some generals and senior officers.

No mention was made of what will happen to the alleged coup plotters or how many of them have been accused of taking part. It would be the second known coup attempt against President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who came to power in 2020.

There has been substantial controversy over Embalos term ahead of the November general elections. The small West African nation has endured multiple coups since gaining independence from Portugal more than 50 years ago in a brutal independence war.

Guinea-Bissaus constitution sets the presidential term at five years, with a maximum two terms. The opposition says Embalos term should have ended on Feb. 27 but the nations Supreme Court has ruled that it should run until Sept. 4.

However, Embalo earlier this year set the election date for Nov. 30 and said that his first term will run until then, further heightening tensions.

The opposition has refused to recognize Embalo as president. A mission by a West African regional bloc sent to Guinea-Bissau in March to help resolve the crisis left abruptly after what it said were threats of expulsion from Embalo.
VENTURA COUNTY, California  Juan Reyes lay flat on the greenhouse roof, hiding. Federal immigration agents milled through the Glass House farm below.

Reyes moved to the U.S. from Mexico at 10 years old, and though he never secured legal status, Oxnard became his home. As he hid, he thought of his wife, who is also undocumented, and their newborn daughter, a U.S. citizen.

After several hours on July 10, he surrendered. Agents bound his wrists roughly with zip ties.

Reyes, 25, was one of hundreds of immigrant farmworkers arrested by federal agents in a massive raid on a pair of Glass House Farms cannabis greenhouse facilities in Carpinteria and outside Camarillo. It was one of the largest raids nationally during President Donald Trump's current immigration crackdown.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said its agents arrested 361 alleged undocumented immigrants including six with prior convictions and 14 teen minors during the all-day operation. One worker died after falling from a greenhouse roof.

Few of those people have returned to local communities, according to data gathered from regional nonprofits and federal immigration detention records.

Together, the numbers indicate that just under half of the 361 immigrants arrested in the Glass House raid have been deported in the months since. Many others remain in federal custody, immigration advocates say, and a scattered few were released on bond. No follow-up information has been made available on the teenagers.

Primitiva Hernandez, head of the nonprofit 805 UndocuFund, said the ramifications of the raid will be felt far beyond the individuals arrested and for "generations to come."

The entrance of Glass House Farms cannabis facilities near Camarillo Oct. 27 displays a memorial to farmworker Jaime Alanis Garcia who died during the July 10 immigration raid at the property.

"Many of these people had established deep roots, had children who were U.S. citizens," Hernandez said. Now, she said, some of those children will be forced to follow their families to unfamiliar places, to "grow away from the place of their birth."

Federal officials themselves have released scant information about what happened to the people they detained during the months after the raid.

The homeland security department denied a Freedom of Information Act request for information about the whereabouts of the detainees in August, saying that an investigation connected to the raid was still open.

Immigration officials have also ignored congressional requests for information. U.S. Reps. Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village, and Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, signed letters to the homeland security department over the summer asking for details of the Glass House raid and other federal operations. Spokespeople for their offices said those letters have yet to receive a response.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson Luis Alani did not answer questions about the raid or its aftermath. He responded instead on Oct. 9 with a statement directing further questions to the U.S. Attorney.

Workers arrive Oct. 27 at Glass House Farms cannabis facilities near Camarillo where a massive immigration raid took place in July.

Ciaran McEvoy, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Los Angeles, said the office could not comment on the investigation. He declined to provide a copy of the search warrant used by federal agents during the Glass House operation, saying it remains under a court seal. The agency said in July that the operation was targeted toward potential immigration and child labor law violations.

Hernandez said a network of advocacy groups and nonprofits called the 805 Immigrant Coalition has connected with the families of 335 of the 361 people arrested in the raid. The coalition has identified 150 individuals deported to date.

Detention records for an ICE field office in Camarillo also captured a snapshot of the raids aftermath.

Within a week, deportation

The night of the raid, Reyes was taken to an ICE facility in downtown Los Angeles.

Detainees and attorneys described conditions at this LA facility as bleak. The underground bus station and basement-level processing center have a series of gated holding areas. The wait typically would be a matter of hours at the temporary stop with no beds or showers. This time, some were kept there for up to two weeks.

Detainees said they had no water and little food. They were forced to sleep on the floor and were not provided with changes of clothes.

In Reyes' case, he was finally interviewed four days after arriving. Agents asked Reyes where he was born and told him he could either sign a voluntary departure form or fight to stay.

Reyes signed the form. He didnt have enough money to hire an attorney.

Three days later, he was placed on a bus to Tijuana, where he knew no one.

Tactics turn aggressive

Vanessa Frank, a longtime Ventura immigration attorney, described increasingly aggressive tactics by ICE and a tone of intolerance over the past several months. People with lawful claims to remain in the country become collateral damage in the sweeps, she said.

Smoke from gas fills Laguna Road during an immigration raid at Glass House Farms near Camarillo on July 10.

In the court system, the pressure for speed has made it more difficult to assure people receive due process, she said. The haste not only makes it challenging for someone to find an attorney but for attorneys to prepare the case, translate documents, request reports and secure witnesses.

The overriding message has been  and people have received the message  to box people out, so that they don't come," Frank said. "And if they are here, even with lawful status, push them out."

After the Glass House raid, some may have faced immediate deportation. Others, who had previously been released while their case moved through immigration courts, were sent to detention centers after the raid.

Still others were given paperwork to sign. They could either waive their rights and leave the country or head to detention if they pursued their case. They likely did so knowing detention could happen anywhere in the country and chances for bond were few and far between, attorneys said.

They use a lot of pressure tactics to convince people to just leave, Ventura immigration attorney Gabriella Navarro-Busch said of the government. Then, the people that do decide they want to fight their case  theyre just making it really miserable for them.

The raid's effects continue to ripple out.

On Oct. 29, dozens of federal agents descended on downtown Oxnard to arrest a 31-year-old man who authorities allege interfered with the Glass House raid while protesting. His 32-year-old sister is also being sought for arrest for her role at the farm, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles.

'Pablo no habla'

Pablo Cruz Vasquez, another undocumented Glass House worker, was also among the detainees taken to downtown Los Angeles.

Pablo Cruz Vasquez, a former Glass House Farms worker who lived in Oxnard, feeds chickens at a family house in the southern Mexico city of Oaxaca.

The 35-year-old is severely hearing impaired and has limited ability to speak. He recalled his experience in detention through a text message sent from Oaxaca, typed in Spanish with the help of a sister. Federal agents, he said, made few attempts to accommodate his disability. Pablo no habla, he remembered one of them saying, or, in English, "Pablo doesnt speak."

Three days after the raid, he was taken to a room in a federal detention facility in downtown Los Angeles.

Agents brought out a pile of papers, Cruz Vasquez said. Put your name, they told him. On one page  typed out in English and full of legal jargon  an empty line waited for a signature.

Cruz Vasquez, who said he lived in the U.S. for 13 years, is limited in his ability to read Spanish and cannot read English. He said he did not understand that the document was discussing plans for his deportation. He still had not been able to contact his family in Oxnard and did not know theyd retained an attorney the same day.

He signed the form. The next morning, family said, he was moved to Tijuana.

Cruz Vasquez's family said they got in touch with the office of Brownley, whose congressional district covers most of the county. She said by email that her office had heard from the family of a Glass House worker "who was detained and deported after ICE took advantage of his disability and language barriers."

At least two other deaf immigrants detained by federal officials in recent months have been held without access to translators, according to media reports. Brownley and 31 other members of Congress penned a letter to the homeland security department in August asking for information on the treatment of detainees with disabilities. The agency has not responded, Brownley said.

Detention logs depict general trends

ICE detention logs acquired through public records requests by the Deportation Data Project tell stories similar to those of Cruz Vasquez and Reyes.

The night of the raid, 73 people were booked into detention in the agencys Camarillo facility, the logs show.

Graeme Blair, political science professor at the University of California, Los Angeles and one of the data projects leaders, said the detention logs are helpful for depicting some general trends. As administrative records, he said, they are likely to have some omissions and errors.

Alani, the ICE spokesperson, did not answer questions about the detention logs.

Within days of July 10, 45 of the people booked into the facility had been removed from the country. Some had prior deportation orders from courts, but more than half, federal agents recorded in the log, departed voluntarily.

Still in ICE custody

It was four days after the Glass House operation that Shada Mejia first heard her husbands voice, piped through a phone from a federal detention center in El Paso, Texas.

Miguel Mejia-Echeverria, a Glass House janitor and El Salvadoran citizen arrested during the raid, would be relocated 10 days later to the Torrance County Detention Facility in New Mexico.

He told his wife that he had limited access to water, and his cell was so cold his hands ached. Officers would not provide him a jacket, so another detainee gave him his before being deported. Mejia said her husband remains there.

Shada Mejia poses for a photo with her husband, Miguel Mejia-Echeverria, and their infant son last Christmas. Her husband has been in a detention center since he was arrested during the July 10 Glass House cannabis farms raid.

The federal detention log shows roughly half of the people booked into the Camarillo office remained in custody after the initial wave of deportations.

The half that were not immediately deported from Camarillo, downtown Los Angeles or other facilities were, like Mejia, pinballed across the southwest U.S., according to the most recently available log, updated in late July. Most had already passed through two to four facilities.

After the Glass House operation, the only names of the 361 arrested individuals made public by the homeland security department were six the agency said had prior criminal convictions and seven the agency said had previously been arrested. One of those names was Mejia-Echeverria, who the agency said was once arrested in connection with a hit-and-run.

The agency did not provide any other information, including whether he had been charged with the incident. The Star could not independently verify Mejia-Echeverrias alleged arrest, and Mejia said her husband was never convicted.

'Separating families is really hard'

Mejia expects her husband to remain in custody until at least his next court date, which is set for Dec. 11.

Mejia-Echeverria was the familys sole provider. Unable to afford their Oxnard rent in his absence, Mejia moved in with a family member in Camarillo so she could continue caring for their toddler, who has intellectual disabilities. Mejia-Echeverria moved to the U.S. to better support his mother and siblings in El Salvador, and they have also struggled financially during his detention without the payments they relied on.

Mejia thought their son was too young to understand his fathers absence, but she has watched the 2-year-old change since July 10. He misses evening bath time and weekend playtime with his daddy, asking for him constantly.

Separating families is really hard, Mejia said through tears. Its not just the immigrant whos involved.

Reyes and Cruz Vasquez, the two workers dropped off in Tijuana, also left family behind.

Cruz Vasquez said via text message in Spanish that with help from family, he was able to make it the 2,000 miles from Tijuana to his familys home in Oaxaca in southern Mexico.

He hasnt yet found work. With a disability, he said, its more difficult to find work in Oaxaca than in the United States.

Cruz Vasquez still hopes to return to the United States. He tries not to show his sadness to the people around him, he said, but in reality, hes afraid for his future.

Reyes, who immigrated to Oxnard to be with his parents, has no family in Mexico. He moved to Zacatecas, in the central part of the country, to live with his wifes parents, whom he had never met before. He found a job in construction.

His wife and newborn daughter left behind their life in Oxnard and joined him in Mexico shortly after he arrived, and though he is relieved to be reunited with them, he fears the violence in Zacatecas.

Reyes said he is homesick for Ventura County. He spends his days in a town hed never been to and with people hed never met before this summer.

But as far as he can tell, theres no clear path back to Oxnard.

As much as I want to go back to the U.S. because thats where I feel like my homeland is, Ive got to adapt here now," he said.

Cheri Carlson contributed to this report.

Isaiah Murtaugh covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at isaiah.murtaugh@vcstar.com or on Signal at 951-966-0914.

Makena Huey is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at makena.huey@vcstar.com. This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation's Fund to Support Local Journalism.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Workers lives upended in months since cannabis farm ICE raid
Key West street photographed - Kristi Blokhin/Shutterstock

From sea to shining sea, the U.S. is home to a wide scope of regional dishes. And if you head to Southern Florida, the Caribbean influence turns especially strong  as witnessed in a delicious serving of conch fritters. This dish involves a delicious, battered preparation of conch meat, the interior of beautiful, spiral-shaped shells found widely in Caribbean waters. Essentially a marine snail, this delicacy is especially beloved in the Bahamas, with residents later bringing the food to Key West. Vital to the economy and tourism (it's delicious, after all), the conch is an important part of life in the Bahamas.

Conch is enjoyed in several ways in southern Florida  including renditions of clam chowder (usually a la Manhattan, but we wouldn't turn our noses up at a take on a grilled New England clam chowder) and Bahamian conch ceviche  but the fritters are especially iconic. Reminiscent of a hush puppy (another Southern classic), the mollusk gets covered in a flour, egg, and milk batter, then fried to golden brown crispness. For added flavor, chopped aromatics like bell peppers, onion, celery, and even habaneros go into the mix, too. Plus, you can also expect spices like cayenne and curry powder to further heat the dish. All melded together, these fritters offer a pleasant marine-salty-spicy flavor that makes for a mouth-watering appetizer. Served alongside a spicy aioli, tartar, or cocktail sauce, they're an example of a culinary creation tied to the Bahamas.

Read more: 15 Store-Bought Barbecue Sauces, Ranked Worst To Best

Conch fritters are a prominent part of Key West's culture

conch fritters served on plate with remoulade sauce - JamesStefiuk/Shutterstock

While Florida's iconic key lime pie is Key West's most famous dish, the conch plays an equally important role. The shell itself appears on the widespread Conch Republic flag, found widely throughout the city. Due to over-harvesting, the seafood is no longer sourced locally. However, conch meat brought in from sustainable farms elsewhere in the Caribbean is still widely fried up  with abundant internet discussion regarding the top spot.

Consult a Key West Reddit thread regarding the topic, and several eateries come up in discussion. Many love The Conch Shack, a small blue walk-up restaurant featuring delicious fritters accompanied by a signature key lime aioli. Others frequent the waterside Half Shell Raw Bar, which also serves up well-liked renditions of conch chowder and conch ceviche. And there's also the iconic Conch Republic Seafood Company, which lets you try the fritters alongside a well-stocked bar and a festive atmosphere that overlooks the water.

Furthermore, continue exploration of the mollusk's Bahamian roots by adding an order of cracked conch  a simpler fried version of the dish reminiscent of calamari. Paired with varying sauces, there are many renditions of the sea snail to sample, making conch an American regional classic with roots in the Caribbean.

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Read the original article on Food Republic.
Mexican chef preparing tacos at his business - Gill_figueroa/Shutterstock

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From the seven moles of Oaxaca to the infinite number of al pastor recipes, Mexican cuisine has no shortage of variety. But when it comes to soup, those not from the country often get menudo and pozole confused. While equally delicious, Jenny Martinez, cookbook author and social media personality, spoke to Food Republic to set the record straight on their similarities and differences.

"They both originated from central Mexico[;] however[,] everyone makes it very different," said Martinez. She noted that, while not traditional, "Some regions add hominy to menudo." What makes both soups so similar is their bases: a salty, meat-laden broth rich in fat and seasonings. Both have a rojo variation, rich in chile peppers; a verde type, leaning on tomatillos and cilantro; and a blanco version, without any chiles except maybe some jalapeno. "For both soups[,] you add radish, lime, tortillas, sal y salsa," Martinez continued.

Regional variations of each dish may give them some similarities, but most of the time, you wouldn't get them confused seeing them side by side. The meat is what really separates the two; pozole mostly relies on pork and chicken, yet menudo often uses organ meat like beef tripe, sheep stomach, kidneys, or even cow's feet. Some folks even add seafood to pozole, something you'd never see with menudo. When you factor in other ingredients, preparation methods, and serving traditions, the two recipes couldn't be more different, despite both being delicious, homey meals.

Read more: Canned Cream Of Mushroom Soup Brands Ranked

Menudo is a family-style meal born from necessity

A bowl of menudo sitting on a table - Photography By Tonelson/Getty Images

Most people consider menudo as a family-style breakfast food, one you would rarely make for yourself unless you're in desperate need of its hangover-curing properties. Born from a tradition of having to make do with what you're given during a period of food scarcity, it's now a beloved dish across Mexico and the USA.

While pozole is a relatively quick recipe, nothing could be further from the truth for menudo. "Menudo comes with an extensive preparation[;] you need to clean the beef tripe, honeycomb[,] and stomach (lining of the cow) really well," Jenny Martinez told us. "Additionally, I like to soak it in vinegar, lemon[,] and salt for about 30 minutes before cooking it." Even if your butcher does most of the work for you, tripe is only edible after boiling for five minutes to an hour, making it more labor-intensive than most meats. And that's before you factor in making a stock out of simmered cow's feet and other parts  something that could take at least four or five hours.

Martinez pointed out that oregano is a small  but very noticeable  difference between the soups as well. This is especially true when using Mexican oregano, which has a powerful floral flavor compared to European varieties. For menudo blanco, you get something rich and salty, comparable to a tonkotsu ramen or classic Western beef stew. Menudo rojo may leave you sweating with each bite, but between the chewiness of the tripe and the unforgettable combination of lime and oregano, you won't be able to stop eating.

Pozole brings comfort to celebrations like Independence Day

A bowl of pozole next to radishes and spices - Santiago Castillo Chomel/Shutterstock

Whereas menudo's history comes from turning cast-off parts into something delicious, pozole has always had a happier history. A classic one-pot dish served on Mexican Independence Day, it typically marks a celebration of some kind, one that anyone would look forward to after getting a taste.

"Pozole is [simpler;] you throw everything into the pot and kind of 'set and forget it' until it's time to make the sauce," explained Jenny Martinez. Much like menudo, you need to simmer a big piece of bone-in chicken or pork to make the stock. Unlike most menudo recipes, however, you'll also be simmering a pot of hominy. When the shredded meat and hominy combine in the stock, it creates something similar to an extra-flavorful chicken noodle soup  half starch, half protein, all with plenty of salt.

When it comes to taste, pozole is far lighter than menudo, even with a hefty dose of hominy bulking it out. This is especially true of pozole verde, which has tons of acid and vegetable taste to complement the chicken. The tender hominy and simmered shreds of pork or chicken give it an almost creamy texture, particularly if you simmer the stock at a higher temperature to make it extra rich and pale. Whereas menudo gives you enough protein to tackle a day of hard labor, pozole is better as a mid-day meal when you don't want to be weighed down by a dish that's too heavy.

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Read the original article on Food Republic.
Nationwide, almost 65,000 children at 140 Head Start programs face a funding lapse and may lose access as of Monday. Lordn/Getty Images

Head Start programs are facing closures due to a federal funding lapse amid the government shutdown.

The shutdown affects nearly 65,000 children and over 22,000 staff nationwide in Head Start.

Programs rely on federal grants for 80% of funding, with some using credit to stay open.

Many Head Start programs across the country won't open their doors on Monday.

Nearly 65,000 children in Head Start programs nationwide may lose access in the coming days after missing their November 1 funding deadline for federal grants due to the ongoing government shutdown, according to the National Head Start Association. Over 22,000 staff at these centers are also at risk of losing their jobs or being furloughed.

Head Start is a federally funded program that provides childcare and early education to over 715,000 children from low-income families, from birth to age 5. Those eligible for Head Start programs are families who already rely on public assistance programs, such as SNAP, or who fall below the poverty line.

Families could be left without childcare options if their Head Start programs lose funding. "It's really scary for a lot of parents," said Tommy Sheridan, the deputy director of the National Head Start Association. "Head Start is preschool services, but it's more than just what we think of as traditional preschool. It is oftentimes the only place that children get access to nutritious meals."

Some centers nationwide may shut their doors and furlough staff, while others have already created contingency plans to stay open temporarily. They've reached for rainy day funds, taken out lines of credit, or had philanthropic donors support the programs families and staff rely on for childcare and employment.

Federal grants can account for up to 80% of a Head Start program's funding, making these funds essential to its continued operations.

Bryan Conover, the executive director of the Central Kentucky Community Action Council (CKCAC), a nonprofit agency aiding residents through programs and services, said he and his team are taking out a $1 million line of credit to keep early education centers open. They are hoping the Office of Management and Budget will reimburse these interim expenses and provide back pay to staff.

Conover is in central Kentucky, and the nine centers he oversees, along with other services for low-income families, are set to stay open until November 21. The centers serve 400 students they teach and they employ 150 staff.

Head Start programs receive annual federal grants for the coming year's funding, and with the shutdown underway, November grantees have no guidance. About 140 centers, or 10% of Head Start programs nationwide, are November grantees and are set to not get their funding renewed amid the shutdown. Conover described the situation as "dumb luck" for the shutdown to fall in this year, in this month.

Other programs receive funding at different times throughout the year. While some centers received funding before October 1, the longer the shutdown lasts, the more people are affected.

"The ripple effects of this shutdown may not be huge right now, but the longer they go, the bigger the ripples become," Conover said.

In Indiana, Rhett Cecil, the executive director of the Indiana Head Start Association, said that Indiana has 2,662 student slots at risk without funding and a loss of nearly 850 staff members. Indiana had almost 13,000 kids enrolled last year and employed 4,000 people at Head Start programs in the state.

He noted that almost 75% of the families enrolled in Head Start programs have both parents working. Without reliable childcare options, they must weigh the decision between going to work and caring for their young children.

"We're talking about 1,700 families that are going to have to make the decision starting on Monday: Do I go to work or do I take care of my children?" Cecil said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said once the government reopens, the Office of Head Start (OHS) will award grants scheduled for October 1 and November 1 to programs. They said grantees can then expect direct communication with OHS regarding a timeline for the arrival of federal funds.

Cecil, Conover, and Sheridan all said they have contacted local, state, and federal government officials and haven't received guidance on funding. Cecil said he's still "waiting for that magic email" to let him know funding is back to normal.

Jennifer Akin, the director of Head Start at the Central Kentucky Community Action Council, said she and her team have aimed to clearly communicate with parents who are in limbo for the coming weeks, unsure where their children will attend during the day after the November 21 funding.

She said the silver lining to all this is that the community is more tightly connected during these times. Akin said she and her staff had already allocated last year's funds to a holiday party in November. So the shutdown won't affect their annual Thanksgiving meal for kids and families.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Halloween candy debates can split households faster than politics. Americans spend over $250 a year on sweets, and according to Google search data from Innerbody Labs (2025), our sugar loyalties vary wildly by state. Fruit flavors dominate this year, though chocolate still fights for relevance. Heres a look at which candies won hearts across the country.

Kansas  Candy Corn

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Kansas picked Candy Corn as its top treat, which makes perfect sense for a corn-producing hub. The state ranks among the nations top 10 for corn output, so its residents may be celebrating their crop in candy form.

Colorado  Jolly Ranchers

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Jolly Ranchers hold a special place in Colorados history. The candy was first created in Golden in 1949, which makes the states affection for it more like hometown loyalty than random preference. While many states went for chocolate, Coloradans stuck with their local legacy.

Louisiana  Sour Punch Straws

Credit: Reddit

Louisiana chose Sour Punch Straws, a candy that fits its sharp and lively flavor preferences. The states food culture leans toward bold seasoning and bright taste, and these sour ropes follow the same rule. Sweet at first and tart at the end, they suit Louisianas no-half-measures approach to flavor.

Vermont  Reeses

Credit: Reddit

Vermonts favorite is Reeses, a classic mix of chocolate and peanut butter that never goes out of style. Despite having more candy stores per person than any other state, Vermonters stick with the familiar pairing thats as dependable as their love for local ice cream and maple syrup.

Pennsylvania  Hersheys Kisses

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Hershey Company began in Derry Township in 1894, and Hersheys Kisses have been wrapped in silver foil there ever since. More than favorite candy, it is a cultural symbol. Every Kiss carries a piece of local heritage and a little bragging right for being the chocolate capital of America.

Georgia  Skittles

Credit: Reddit

In Georgia, Skittles top the charts, proving the Peach State appreciates a full color palette of sweetness. The candys mix of flavorsberry, citrus, and tropicalseems to match the Southern fondness for big flavor. While chocolate-heavy states stuck with tradition, Georgia went for pure variety.

Maine  Sour Patch Kids

Credit: Reddit

Maine went with Sour Patch Kids, a candy that flips from sour to sweet in seconds. Its an oddly fitting pick for a state known for sudden shifts in weather. The brand also ranked first in eight other states, proving that Americans dont mind a little sting with their sugar.

California  Sour Punch Straws

Credit: Reddit

Sour Punch Straws fit the states love for color and creativity. The candy is practically made for TikTok close-ups, and with flavors like blue raspberry and green apple, its on-brand for a state that loves an aesthetic.

Wisconsin  Starburst

Credit: Reddit

Wisconsin is Americas Starburst stronghold, and its easy to see why. The pink Starburst remains the crowd favorite, though local fans seem to support all four flavors with equal enthusiasm. Starburst actually claimed 13 states nationwide, the highest number of any candy this year.

Utah  Reeses

Credit: Reddit

Reeses took the top spot here, tying with Vermont and Wyoming. The mix of peanut butter and chocolate feels timeless, and Utahns seem to prefer balance over novelty. Its a classic that continues to outperform flashy newcomers like Sour Punch Straws or Skittles.

Iowa  Starburst

Credit: Reddit

Iowas favorite candy is Starburst, matching the national move toward fruity flavors. The state also lists Reeses and Sour Patch Kids among its top picks. Innerbodys data shows Iowa as one of the most candy-loving states, with a mix of classic chocolate and sour fruit choices.

Texas  Sour Punch Straws

Credit: Reddit

Texas chose Sour Punch Straws, and it fits perfectly. The bright, sour flavors match the states bold taste and love for intensity. The candys sharp kick and colorful look suit a place that prefers strong flavors and big statements over anything plain or predictable.

Nebraska  Skittles

Credit: Reddit

Nebraska wears the candy crown this year. With Skittles leading the charge, the Cornhusker State ranked #1 for overall candy enthusiasm, according to Google search data. The states devotion to Skittles also aligns with its friendly rivalry with neighboring Iowa, both landing among the most candy-loving regions in the U.S.

New Mexico  Hot Tamales

Credit: Reddit

The cinnamon-flavored candy fits perfectly in a state where heat rules the cuisine. While 39 states ranked Hot Tamales near the bottom, New Mexico embraced the spice. Its a fitting choice for a region famous for red and green chilesproof that even candy preferences can have local flavor.

Alabama  Starburst

Credit: Reddit

Alabama sits proudly at the top, powered by its love for Starburst. The chewy fruit candys bright flavors clearly hit the sweet spot for the Heart of Dixie. Alabamas choice also mirrors national sentiment: 13 states crowned Starburst their favorite.
From Maine to Florida, the U.S. Atlantic Coast will have to hold back on its most caught fish, the Atlantic menhadenor as they're known in Georgia, "pogies."

Dubbed "the most important fish in the sea" by writer Bruce Franklin, bone-filled menhaden, usually about 12 to 15 inches in length, are found less on dinner plates and more as nutrient-dense bait, fish food, and supplementsoutranking salmon and other fish in their omega-3 fatty acid content. Menhaden were likely what Native Americans used to teach colonials to fertilize corn, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

But a 2025 stock assessment update found that Atlantic menhaden biomass and fecundity (reproduction potential) were lower and fishing mortality was higher than previously estimated in the 2022-2023 stock assessment. While menhaden was not found to be overfished or experiencing overfishing quite yet, other species rely on them as prey, such as ospreys, spiny dogfish, bluefish, dolphins and the overfished popular catch, the Atlantic striped bass.

"Unless we also help... the menhaden side of the equation, it's very unlikely that we are going to get to a place where we can rebuild striped bass in a timely manner," said Chesapeake Bay Foundation Maryland Executive Director and marine biologist Allison Colden.

At its four-day long 83rd annual meeting on Oct. 28 in Delaware, the 15-state coalitionthe Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)convened and proposed a new total allowable catch (TAC) limits for the Atlantic menhaden. While a multi-species report initially suggested a 50% TAC reduction for the next few years, the ASMFC's menhaden committee reached a final decision on a 20% TAC reduction for 2026 alone. Georgia was among the majority of the states that voted in favor of the reduction, represented by three proxies including Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division Director Doug Haymans.

"We are about ecological management, not just the single species, if we can," said Haymans. "But when we were presented with very little information on job reductions and the economic impact... most of the commissioners felt more comfortable saying, let's put the 20% in place for this year."

The ASFMC menhaden committee's Oct. 28 meeting in Dewey Beach, Delaware sees a full room

More: New assessment shows that numbers of one of Georgia's most popular sport fish are dwindling

Georgia's menhaden dependence

Atlantic menhaden caught as part of Maryland's Estuarine Fish Community Sampling Program

The ASMFC sets the TAC for 27 fish and shellfish species across state borders that require regional management, including Atlantic menhaden traveling from northern Florida to as far north as Nova Scotia.

"And they move out, move north, where they grow larger and mature, that's where they're actively fished," said Haymans. In Georgia, menhaden are just juveniles, about two to four inches, normally caught for bait by crabbers or sport fishermen seeking red drums.

"For Georgia, we don't have a fishery" for menhaden, said Haymans. "We buy our bait from other states." The quota for Georgia is set to just 0.25%, "which is a basically a million pounds."

Fisheries are mainly in the northern Atlantic states, and are composed of two types. The reduction fishery harvests fish for meal and oil, while the bait sector supplies bait to other commercial and recreational fisheries. So, many Georgia crabbers buy their menhaden bait from up north.

"When we think about menhaden in Georgia, we think about the crabbers, mostly," said Haymans. "Our crabbers buy about three to 400,000 pounds of bait per year to supply the crab fisheries."

Georgia's commercial blue crabbers typically use Atlantic menhaden as bait, which can account for 30 to 40% of their total costs, according to one NOAA-funded study.

And changes to menhaden availability and prices could be a blow for the state's second-most importantseafood harvest after shrimp, according to Coastal Georgia DNR, which rakes in $4.75 million annually.

Small fish feeds big fish

An angler releases a Striped Bass back to the water.

The ASMFC also looks at interactions between species in ecological reference points (ERPs) that take into account the impacts of one stock to others in its 2025 ERP menhaden report, which accounted for striped bass populations.

"The idea is if you manage for striped bass in a precautionary manner... you know that those other species are taken care of as well," said Matt Cieri of the Maine Department of Marine Resources at the Oct. 28 ASFMC menhaden meeting. So, the ERP report set an ERP F target, or "the maximum fishing mortality rate for menhaden that sustains Atlantic striped bass at their biomass target."

In order to maintain a 50% probability of not exceeding the ERP F target, the ASFMC menhaden committee set a TAC of 108,450 metric tons20% less than the 2023-2025 TAC of 233,550 metric tons, which gets split up between the 15 states based on catch history.

"At the end of the day, we recognize that that's a coin flip," said Colden. "But it's something that ensures that we are properly managing the risk to the species that we are directly managing and, of course, in this case, also all of the other species that are part of the ecosystem."

Mad for menhaden

The Oct. 28 meeting was packed with about 100 members of the public not including state representatives, estimated Haymans. More than 240 people listened in on the four- to five-hour call.

"Omega Protein, or ocean harvesters in Reedsville, brought a busload of their employees to fill the room up," said Haymans. Virginia accounts for about 75% of the Atlantic Coast's landings.

"I would never think that I would probably be speaking on the side of Omega Protein," said New Hampshire Proxy Dennis Abbott. "I again appreciate the science that was put into this. The science, though, did not deal with the socioeconomics, because we'd be crippling the lobster industry and a lot of things."

"The lobster men in New England will no longer be able to afford to work, the crabbers of Maryland, Virginia won't be able to afford to work. Chum prices will skyrocket," said bait fisherman Ross Kellerman of Virginia. "It will depress recreational activity all along the Atlantic coast."

And it's not just local Atlantic coastal economies, but global markets that fishermen say would feel the ripple effects.

"We're talking about a giant economic engine," said commercial fisherman Eric Reid of Rhode Island. "It's a worldwide market for the variety of products that the fishery itself produces."

Some recreational fishers, meanwhile, called for an end to the reduction industry itself.

The 20% TAC reduction is "grossly inadequate," said Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization President Phil Zalesak. "You can increase the commercial bait harvest by over 50%. All you have to do is end reduction fishing in the Atlantic coastal waters."

Reduction fisheries do make up the vast majority of fishing efforts, but "since 1990, reduction landings have generally been declining," said Caitlin Craig, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Marine Resources staff member who authored the 2025 menhaden single-species report. On the other hand, "the bait and recreational landings have been increasing."

Was a compromise reached?

After several motions and back-and-forth adjustments over the course of a near two-hour deliberation accompanied by public comments, a decision was reached that TAC would be reduced by 20%, or 30% less of the ERP report's recommendations. This decision would hold for 2026 as opposed to a three-year long sentencing.

"Here, today, we've had several motions," said Rhode Island's Nicole Costa. "We can come back here, hopefully with a clear mind at the annual meeting next year and tackle 2027."

As for how this rule gets enforced, while the ASFMC is not a federal body, the decision will receive federal oversight.

The ASFMC "does have a federal enforcement arm," said Haymans. "If the state is found out of compliance in the Department of Commerce, the Secretary of Commerce can basically close a fishery."

Jillian Magtoto covers climate change and the environment in coastal Georgia. You can reach her at jmagtoto@gannett.com.

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Green South Foundation, Prentice Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission responds to menhaden decline
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  Three people were stabbed, leading to the death of one man on Friday night, Oct. 31, in a home near North Nevada Avenue and Uintah Street, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD).

CSPD reported that officers responded to the 1400 block of North El Paso Street just before midnight, where they found one man and two women who had all been stabbed. Another male of unknown age and a young child were also inside the home.

All three injured people were taken to the hospital. The man died at the hospital, and the two women were treated for life-threatening injuries. The other male was also taken to the hospital for minor injuries and was later taken to the Police Operations Center for further investigation, according to CSPD. The child was not injured.

Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department

The Homicide Unit took over the investigation, and 33-year-old Matthew Regnier was arrested for the charges of Murder, two counts of Criminal Attempt-Murder, two counts of Assault, and one count of Child Abuse.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
In May 2021, cybercriminals shut down the Colonial Pipeline, halting fuel supplies across the southeastern United States and causing widespread shortages. The incident revealed how a single cyberattack can ripple through the economy, and how dependent our defense and civilian sectors are on fragile energy networks.

Attacks like this highlight the urgent need for stronger cyber defenses and remind us that energy underpins every aspect of national security. If a conflict with an adversary, such as China or Russia, were to occur, we cannot be certain that we will have reliable energy from the existing electrical grid.

The strength of the American armed forces  and of our economy  depends on reliable energy. Yet our most critical infrastructure remains dangerously vulnerable to cyberattacks and fuel supply disruptions.

Electricity demand on the battlefield is growing rapidly to power unmanned platforms, directed energy weapons, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and other power-intensive systems. Meeting this demand will be difficult in the Indo-Pacific, the Arctic and other strategic regions.

Since 2018, annual defense policy bills have required the Pentagon to pursue energy security and publish installation energy plans to ensure military services and facilities can maintain reliable power amid growing demand.

A promising solution is on the horizon. The deployment of advanced nuclear energy for our nations critical defense and civilian infrastructure would provide resilience against a cyberattack on our grid. It can also help the Pentagon reduce logistical burdens.

Several companies, including ours, are on track to deliver nuclear fission micro-reactors capable of supplying compact, resilient power to our nations military bases, operational assets and other networks vital for public health and our economic well-being.

Modern nuclear systems use advanced fuels  tiny particles that each serve as mini containment vessels, preventing the release of fission products even under extreme conditions.

These reactors are also passively safe. If the reactor temperature begins to rise unexpectedly, the physics of the system causes the nuclear reactions to slow down and maintain safety with no human or mechanical intervention needed. If power is lost, automatic control drums and shutdown rods stop the nuclear reactions instantly.

Even in a total cooling loss, the temperature of these advanced reactors stays well within safety limits, protecting people and the environment.

Recognizing their potential, President Trump issued new executive orders in May, and now federal agencies  including the Defense and Energy Departments and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission  are working together to accelerate broader use of these cutting-edge, safe reactor designs by the military and commercial actors alike.

On the margins of last months Association of the United States Army Conference, the secretary of the Army and secretary of Energy announced Project Janus, a program designed to deliver resilient, secure, and assured energy to support national defense installations and critical missions by 2028.

To succeed, the U.S. must reestablish its uranium enrichment supply chain and build more infrastructure for reactor testing. We must also grow the training pipeline for nuclear experts and engineers.

But with continued partnership across the private and public sector, these obstacles are surmountable, and we can strengthen our nation by quadrupling Americas nuclear capacity by 2050.

Dense, clean nuclear energy can provide power for a host of military use cases including early warning radars, missile defense systems, high-powered optics, directed energy and advanced manufacturing, including assets in remote and austere locations.

Power at our military installations today typically consists of large amounts of fossil fuel, usually diesel, stockpiled in tanks on or near the base.

Deploying nuclear power means our joint force would no longer need to transport diesel fuel to installations across the continental United States or to bases in Alaska and the Pacific.

Advanced nuclear reactors can help solve what U.S. military planners call contested logistics  the challenges and disruptions an adversary poses to military supply chains.

Our adversaries are likely to test our resilience with cyber-attacks on our critical infrastructure again. China and Russia are investing in advanced energy technologies as part of their military modernization strategies. Our military needs to maintain its edge in remote, distributed locations throughout the Pacific islands and on the northern slope of Alaska.

If conflict were to break out, the forces with assured access to electricity in all contested domains will prevail. Without power, military units sit still, silent, blind and defenseless.

But if the enemy can no longer disrupt or interfere with our nations ability to power the facilities that underpin our military readiness and economic vitality  and if we can energize our assets in remote, austere locations  we can deter attacks and make ourselves safer.

Deploying reliable nuclear energy is a sound, strategic move. If we act decisively, advanced nuclear power will secure Americas energy future, strengthen our military and ensure that no adversary can ever hold our power supply hostage again.

Jordan Bramble is CEO and cofounder and Tom Mancinelli is the head of strategy and policy at Antares Nuclear.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Two more suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the brazen daytime heist of Paris Louvre Museum, prosecutors say.

A 37-year-old man and 38-year-old woman, believed to be romantically involved, were arrested Oct. 29 and charged Nov. 1 on counts related to criminal conspiracy and organized theft. Both suspects deny involvement in the heist.

The arrests come days after prosecutors said two other suspects charged in the case partially admitted their involvement. All four suspects accused of robbing over $102 million worth of royal jewels remain in custody, though the stolen artifacts are still missing.

Robbery at Louvre Museum in Paris: See the priceless jewelry stolen The Louvre pyramid courtyard is seen almost completely empty following the announcement that the museum will remain closed for a second day after thieves stole priceless jewels from the museum in Paris a day earlier, in Paris on Oct. 20, 2025.

Art of the steal: From Louvre to Dresden Green Vault, why are heists happening in Europe?

Thieves broke into a second-story window, shattered a glass display case, and made off with eight pieces of royal jewelry from the Apollo Gallery before escaping on motorbikes shortly after the Louvre opened on Oct. 19.

Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau told France Info Radio on Nov. 2 that at least one person believed to have been involved with the heist is still missing. Police released three other people who were arrested along with the couple Oct. 29 without charge.

Who are the suspects?

Arrests of the two on Oct. 29 come nearly a week after two others charged for the robbery were detained.

The 37-year-old man has a record of theft, Beccuau alleged. Officials believe he was part of a four-man team that stole the jewels, based on DNA evidence found inside a truck they used.

Prior to his arrest, the man had 11 criminal convictions ranging from traffic-related offences to aggravated theft and an attempt to break into an automated teller machine. In 2015, he was arrested with one of the other suspects for a different robbery, Beccuau said.

French riot police officers walk near the glass Pyramid of the Louvre Museum, after French police arrested suspects in the Louvre heist case, in Paris, France October 27, 2025.

The two other men charged in the case include a 34-year-old Algerian individual who has lived in France since 2010 and a 39-year-old who was already under judicial supervision in an aggravated theft case. They both lived in a low-income neighborhood in northern Paris.

The womans DNA was also found in the truck, though prosecutors believe the traces were transferred there by a person or object.

The two suspects have children together, Beccuau said, and the woman was charged with complicity in organized theft.

Petty criminals or professionals?

French officials and the Louvre Museum have come under international fire in the days and weeks after the heist for security insufficiencies that allowed thieves to steal priceless artifacts in broad daylight.

Now, prosecutors say, the men who broke into the famous museum werent professional criminals, but rather, small-time local criminals.

"This is not quite everyday delinquency ... but it is a type of delinquency that we do not generally associate with the upper echelons of organized crime," Beccuau said during her Nov. 2 interview on France Info radio.

These are clearly local people. They all live more or less in Seine-Saint-Denis," she added, referring to the low-income neighborhood in Paris. The backgrounds of all four people arrested do not fit the profile of organized criminals who would have planned a complicated theft of the worlds most-visited museum, Beccuau suggested.

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paris prosecutor says Louvre thieves were amateurs. What we know
Groceries including beef, milk, mushrooms, and other food products are displayed. Photo: Christina Lengyel / The Center Square

(The Center Square)  Consumers feeling the pang of high beef prices at the grocery store may see some relief from a plan to import beef from Argentina but it's not likely to be much, according to an expert.

Marc Busch is an expert on international trade policy and law. He's also the Karl F. Landegger Professor of International Business Diplomacy at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

Busch said the increase in beef prices is the result of a combination of factors, including the lowest U.S. beef cattle headcount since 1951.

"We have a shortage of domestic beef. We have higher input prices, not least because of the tariffs, on what it takes to grow a herd, and we have a Byzantine system of import quotas that don't make a lot of sense and that keep trade from filling in where domestic production falls short," he told The Center Square.

Ground beef prices were up 12.8% over the 12 months ending in August, according to the Labor Department. U.S. beef prices have increased by more than 50% since 2020, according to figures from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. From September 2020 to September 2025, the price per pound of ground beef increased by more than $2.20. Ground beef prices hit a record high of $6.32 a pound in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently noted that Americans consume about 12 million metric tons of beef. About 10 million comes from domestic producers, leaving a shortfall of about 2 million, she said. She said the imports from Argentina wouldn't be limited.

"This is not a massive influx in the millions of tons I think that some have thought of beef from Argentina," she told Fox Business in October.

Busch said the imports could help, but not significantly.

"No one is opening the floodgates to imports here, this is dilly dallying with existing quotas," he told The Center Square. "So even if you were to give that quota to some other country, you run the risk that the pricing wouldn't be viable to make a dent anytime soon. So Australia has way too much quota, but its beef is also way too expensive, and the Argentinians aren't going to step in and suddenly answer the problem. It's not going to happen because they're too small with that quota, but it could make a slight difference in some markets at a certain price point."

President Donald Trump recently told U.S. ranchers to lower prices. Cattle producers hit back.

"The National Cattlemen's Beef Association and its members cannot stand behind the President while he undercuts the future of family farmers and ranchers by importing Argentinian beef in an attempt to influence prices," NCBA CEO Colin Woodall said in a statement. "It is imperative that President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins let the cattle markets work."

Busch called it a politically smart move, but said beef imports from Argentina are unlikely to significantly affect prices at the grocery store for U.S. consumers. He said the dispute was a protectionist one to keep prices elevated. He also dismissed the NCBA's concerns about Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Argentina, saying the country's supply was safe and that any outbreak would trigger a ban on imports. And Busch also called out the NCBA's worries about Brazilian beef being relabeled as from Argentina.

"The U.S. is on guard for transshipment of anything from anywhere through trade partners," he noted, given the existing tariffs that have upended global trade.

The Center Square reached out to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association with questions submitted through a portal on the group's website on Thursday and followed up by phone and email on Friday. The group's media team did not respond.

Busch said the solution is to import more beef, but that's politically fraught and unlikely to succeed anytime soon.

"If we had more liberalization of our market, then we might get closer faster, but it's not in the cards. This is an incredibly politically powerful constituent, and their investment in protectionism is second to none. So the answer, which is staring us in the face, isn't on the table, but instead, what you will see is rejigging at the margins and a lot of pressure from the president to lower prices, which smacks of market interference in a way that many Republicans in Congress are not going to endorse. It is in Congress that you're also hearing the loudest opposition, to the point where the narrative is this is a sellout, even with an inconsequential redistributing of quota to Argentina."
Sudans brutal civil war entered a new round of extreme violence this week after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the key city of El Fasher in Western Darfur following a year and a half of siege.

Witnesses and local reports described sexual violence, massacres and executions of civilians by the militia as tens of thousands thousands fled the city. El Fasher was seen as the last holdout in Darfur of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), whom the RSF has been fighting for the past three years in the brutal civil war. Both sides have been accused of war crimes.

Aid agencies raised concern as more than 60,000 people had fled El Fasher, but only 5,000 had arrived in the nearest city of Tawila, some 30 miles away through the desert.

Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, the Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations for Africa, told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council that there was no safe passage for civilians to leave.

Read More: Sudans Crisis in the Shadows

In the past week, the U.N. human rights office has documented widespread and serious human rights violations in and around El Fasher, she said. These include credible reports of mass killings in various locations and summary executions during house-to-house searches and as civilians have tried to flee the city.

Here is what we know about the atrocities so far.

The fall of El Fasher

Last weekend, the city of El Fasher was captured by the RSF militia after months of fighting Sudans military, a development that led to a series of reported massacres and mass killings by the group against the local population.

El Fasher, the Sudanese military's last stronghold in the region, had been under siege for some 17 months before its fall this week. The city was hosting more than a million civilians who had been displaced by the civil war from other parts of the country.

The RSF began to mass outside of El Fasher in November 2023, after having led a campaign of conquest across the Darfur region in the months prior. According to the International Crisis Group, the RSF had carried out a campaign of "massacres, sexual violence, looting and, some say, subjugation" against non-Arab communities in the territory they held in West Darfur.

On April 10, 2024, the RSF declared war on the Sudanese army and various allied groups in Al Fasher, which caused the inhabitants of the citynumbering in the hundreds of thousandsto be trapped and targeted by shelling and bombardment.

El Fasher is surrounded by desert, which is hard to traverse on foot even outside of wartime. Hunger ran rampant as the siege continued.

The city's fall marks a significant shift in the security dynamics of Sudan, Pobee told the Security Council on Thursday, adding that the implications for the countrys civil war and the wider region are profound.

The territorial scope of the conflict is broadening, she said, cautioning that drone strikes by both RSF and SAF were hitting new targets further afield across Blue Nile, South Kordofan, West Darfur and Khartoum.

Read More: Cindy McCain: It Has Never Been Harder to Be a Humanitarian

The risk of mass atrocities, ethnically targeted violence and further violations of international humanitarian law, including sexual violence, remains alarmingly high, Pobee said.

Within the first few days of sieging the city, the Sudan Doctors Network said that the RSF killed at least 1,500 people as civilians tried to flee the city, describing the situation as a true genocide. On Oct. 30, the group documented the arrival of more than 15,000 displaced persons who fled the mass killings in El Fasher and arrived in the city of Tawila.

Despite a communications blackout in the besieged city, testimony from survivors in Tawila has helped aid groups learn more about the killings. The United Nations Human Rights Office said it had seen videos that show dozens of unarmed men being shot or lying dead, surrounded by RSF fighters.

'It was like a killing field'

Witnesses who survived the massacres described scenes of chaos as RSF fighters went house to house in El Fasher, beating and shooting at people, including women and children.

It was like a killing field. Bodies everywhere and people bleeding and no one to help them, one man, Tajal-Rahman, a man in his late 50s, told the Associated Press by phone after escaping to the city of Tawila.

One witness, describing the carnage in the city, Alkheir Ismail, told Reuters by video interview that he had survived an attack by fighters riding camels near El Fasher, who rounded up a couple of hundred men outside the city and brought them to a reservoir to kill them. He said that one of his captors recognized him from his school days and let him escape.

"He told them, 'Don't kill him,'" Ismail told Reuters. "Even after they killed everyone else  my friends and everyone else."

One of the worst massacres took place at the Saudi Hospital, which was the last hospital still operating in the city during the siege.

Christian Lindmeier, a World Health Organization (WHO) spokesman, told a press briefing in Geneva that gunmen abducted doctors and nurses from the hospital before returning to kill at least 460 peopleincluding staff and patientsin several waves of attacks. Lindmeier said at least six medical staff are still being held by the group.

The Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale School of Public Health corroborated alleged executions around the Saudi Hospital and a previously unreported potential mass killing at an RSF detention site at the former Childrens Hospital in eastern El-Fasher, utilizing satellite imagery collected on October 27 and October 28 outside both sites.

The U.N. also received credible reports of organized sexual violence.

At least 25 women were gang raped when RSFs forces entered a shelter for displaced people near El Fasher University. Witnesses confirm RSFs personnel selected women and girls and raped them at gunpoint, Seif Magango, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, said.

Aid agencies have raised fears that thousands of civilians are missing, feared dead, or are trapped in El Fasher, after only a trickle of people arrived in Tawila. The U.N. estimated that some 260,000 people were living in El Fasher in late August, and said that more than 62,000 fled the city in the last week, but only 5,000 had arrived in Tawila as of Friday, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

The arrival numbers dont add up, while accounts of large-scale atrocities are mounting, said Michel Olivier Lacharite, MSF head of emergencies. Where are all the missing people who have already survived months of famine and violence in El Fasher?

Based on what patients tell us, the most likelyalbeit frighteninganswer is that they are being killed, blocked, and hunted down when trying to flee, Lacharite said.

Sudanese line for food on March 19, 2025, during Islam's holy fasting month of Ramadan. The war in Sudan has claimed tens of thousands of lives, uprooted over 12 million, and created what the International Rescue Committee described as "the biggest humanitarian crisis ever recorded". Ebrahim HamidAFP/Getty Images

MSF said most people arriving in Tawila were "women, children, and elderly people with catastrophic levels of malnutrition."

"Others, including gunshot victims, traveled on foot, hiding by daylight and trekking at night to avoid armed men along main roads," the aid agency said.

The top U.N. humanitarian official, Tom Fletcher, told the Security Council on Thursday that women and girls are being raped, people being mutilated and killed with utter impunity in El Fasher.

Tens of thousands of terrified, starving civilians have fled or are on the move, Fletcher said. Those able to flee  the vast majority women, children, and the elderly  face extortion, rape and violence on the perilous journey.

I urge colleagues to study the latest satellite imagery of El Fasher; blood on the sand, he told the chamber.

A senior RSF commander denied the reports of massacres in an interview with Reuters, calling them "media exaggeration" by th Sudanese army "to cover up for their defeat and loss" of Al Fasher.

What is the RSF?

The RSF is a Darfur-based Sudanese militia that has been fighting the Sudanese military for three years to control the nation. The RSF was formally created in 2013 by former dictator Omar al-Bashir, drawing heavily from the notorious Janjaweed militias that led the 20032005 Darfur campaign in which some 300,000 people were killed.

Read More: Reflecting on Sudans Civil War One Year Later

The RSF was the most powerful paramilitary group to emerge from the Bashir era, and the group eventually grew big enough to challenge the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which began a civil war in April 2023 that ravaged the country, claiming some 150,000 lives and forcing almost a quarter of its population of 50 million to flee their homes. The RSF has also in particular been subject to extensive accusations of utilizing sexual violence to terrorize communities.

Widespread hunger has escalated since last year, when the Famine Review Committee officially confirmed famine in the Darfur region in August 2024, as the UN estimates that over half of Sudans population, meaning at least 25 million people, are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Nearly three million displaced Sudanese have fled to other nations in Africa, including refugee camps in Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

Now, RSF controls all major urban centres in Darfur.

U.S. lawmakers react

U.S. lawmakers have accused the RSF of genocide and ethnic cleansing against Sudans non-Arab ethnic groups throughout the civil war. Now, Republicans and Democrats in Congress are calling on President Donald Trump to respond strongly to the news of massacres in El Fasher.

Some have asked Trump to designate the RSF a terrorist organization.

"The horrors in Darfurs El-Fasher were no accident  they were the RSF's plan all along, one Senator Jim Risch wrote on X Tuesday. The Idaho Republican joined Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire in a statement condemning the violence and asking for Trump to consider the designation. The RSF has waged terror and committed unspeakable atrocities, genocide among them, against the Sudanese people.

Shaheen and other lawmakers have also criticized the United Arab Emirates, which the Sudanese forces say has provided military support to the RSF.

A UAE official told TIME that the UAE has consistently supported regional and international efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire, protect civilians, and ensure accountability for violations committed by all warring parties.

We categorically reject any claims of providing any form of support to either warring party since the onset of the civil war, and condemn atrocities committed by both Port Sudan Authority and RSF, they added.

The official also said that a report from a U.N. Panel of Experts published in April found "no substantiated evidence that the UAE has provided any support to RSF, or has any involvement in the conflict."

Earlier this year, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy from Connecticut noted Trumps relationship with the UAE and their investment in Trumps stablecoin, while both Trump and his predecessor, President Joe Biden, continued to sign weapons deals with the countrys strong ally in the Middle East.

Lawmakers, including Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, have called for the passage of legislation to ban weapons sales to countries supplying weapons to the SAF or RSF, while others have called for enforcement of the UNs arms embargo in Sudan.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
People receive groceries from the Curley's House Food Bank in Miami in late October. Millions of Americans may see their food stamp benefits for November delayed or skipped. - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Food stamp recipients will only get half of their typical benefits in November, and for many, that assistance will likely be delayed.

The US Department of Agriculture said in a court filing Monday that it will only tap into the programs contingency fund, which doesnt have enough money to cover enrollees full allotments during the government shutdown. The agency said it will not use an additional pot of money to make up the difference in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the formal name for food stamps.

The move came after a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the USDA last week to either start providing full November benefits to recipients or partial benefits if the agency opts to only draw on SNAPs contingency fund. A second federal judge also ruled last week that the agency is required at least to use the contingency fund.

The USDAs unprecedented decision to halt food stamps benefits in November prompted a coalition of Democratic-led states and a group of cities, non-profits, unions and small businesses to sue last week.

Both judges said it was up to the agency whether to tap into other money to enable it to provide the full allocation. The agency has opted to transfer $750 million in unused tariff revenue dedicated to child nutrition programs to support the WIC nutrition assistance program during the shutdown but said it cant do the same for SNAP without endangering the free and reduced-price school meals and other programs.

Delayed payments

The much-needed SNAP assistance wont come that quickly for many food stamp recipients. Several procedural challenges must be overcome before the benefits can start flowing to the nearly 42 million people who receive food stamps. SNAP provides households with just over $350 a month, on average, as of May, according to the most recent USDA data.

States stopped the process of issuing benefits for November after the USDA sent them a letter on October 10 ordering them to do so. States send SNAP enrollees information to vendors every month so they can load funds onto recipients benefit cards, often days or weeks before the new month begins. Those steps need to take place before SNAP can restart.

The delay has been felt immediately. Some 3 million recipients should have received their benefits on November 1, according to an estimate by Code for America, which works with all levels of government to improve access to food assistance and other safety net programs. The number grows to nearly 13.7 million by November 5, with remaining SNAP enrollees getting their allotments on a staggered basis during the month.

They are not going out on time, Gina Plata-Nino, interim director of SNAP at the Food Research & Action Center, an advocacy group, told CNN last week of the November benefits.

Whats more, providing partial payments is much more complicated  and time consuming.

The USDA has never had to reduce benefits for all SNAP recipients before, according to a declaration filed Friday by the agency official who oversees the program. Also, state agencies will need to recode their systems to issue the smaller benefit amounts, which could result in errors.

Given the variation among State systems, some of which are decades old, it is unclear how many States will complete the changes in an automated manner with minimal disruption versus manual overrides or computations that could lead to payment errors and significant delays, said Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of the USDAs Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, in a second declaration filed Monday.

For at least some states, the process could take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, Penn said.

The USDA will provide guidance on calculating the partial payments to states on Monday, Penn told the court.

While some states have identified potential ways to issue smaller benefits quickly, the methods must be programmed, tested and verified, which could take time, Plata-Nino noted.

SNAP enrollees who receive partial benefits in November will get retroactive payments to make them whole once the government reopens, she said.

Providing full benefits would have been the fastest way to get assistance to food stamp recipients.

If the administration complies with the courts rulings to release the SNAP contingency funds immediately and supplements those amounts using its legal transfer authority, which the courts also affirmed, then SNAP benefits could begin to be issued with only a short delay, Dottie Rosenbaum, director of federal SNAP policy at the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, told CNN last week.

This story has been updated following the Department of Agricultures announcement that it would pay partial SNAP benefits for November.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The author toured Flexjet's new Gulfstream G700 private jet. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Flexjet bought $96 million Gulfstream G700 private jets to fly the ultrarich.

The G700 is part of Flexjet's shared fleet, where one flight hour costs clients up to $20,000.

I toured the ultra-luxe plane, and it's like a flying penthouse with a bedroom and kitchen.

Flying economy from New York to London is one thing. Flying the same route on a private jet is another  and it's what the rich and famous are paying tens of thousands of dollars to do.

Leading this luxury market is the Georgia-based private jet manufacturer Gulfstream and its ultra-luxe G700. Its cabin is larger than many New York City apartments.

Billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos bought a G700, while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly spent $172 million on two for government use.

The 1% can also access the luxury via the private aviation company Flexjet. It added the first of 12 planned G700s to its fractional fleet in September. Flexjet said each plane cost $96 million.

Fractional ownership is like a timeshare for airplanes. Clients purchase hours on a fleet of jets, and Flexjet handles crew and fleet management. Customers pay only for the hours they fly.

A Flexjet spokesperson said fractional hourly costs range from $6,500 to $20,000, with the G700 at the high end. For context, one hour on its most expensive jet costs roughly eight times the average American's monthly mortgage payment of about $2,300 in 2025.

The pandemic accelerated fractional ownership. Aviation Week data shows a 70% increase from June to August compared to 2019. Flexjet CEO Michael Silvestro said wealthy travelers sought cleaner, simpler travel and more privacy amid jet trackers.

Younger clients  mostly Gen Z and millennials aged 18 to 43  are also entering the market, gaining wealth through self-made and inherited means. Data from the wealth intelligence company Altrata show this group makes up 8% of the world's ultra-high-net-worth population and is projected to reach 35% by 2040.

With these clients largely insulated from economic downturns, the global fractional ownership market was about $8 billion last year and is expected to balloon to nearly $16 billion by 2033.

Ultrarich people worth more than $30 million  now about 511,000 globally and set to grow 31% by 2030  spent nearly $30 billion on private jets and yachts last year alone. See inside one of those ultimate luxuries.

The G700 is like a flying penthouse.

The G700 was on static display in White Plains, New York. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

With about 465 square feet of cabin space, the G700 has up to five living areas and is around the same size as a studio apartment in New York City.

It's larger than the city's microapartments, which average just 300 square feet.

The list price is $78 million, but a Flexjet spokesperson said the company's G700 had add-ons that raised the price to $96 million.

Flexjet's G700 features a separate bedroom.

The bedroom could be closed off by a door. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

A bedroom with a full-sized bed and a private bathroom sits at the back of the aircraft.

Flexjet said that despite the aft-placed engines, the room is very quiet.

The bathroom has nice touches.

The lavatory was nicer than some hotel bathrooms I've seen. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The G700 aft restroom features a white countertop adorned with flowers and hand towels, and the toilet is hidden under a thick seat to minimize the eyesore in the space. There is no shower.

A second bathroom is located in the galley area and is just as nice. They're far from the tight (and often messy) lavatories on most commercial airlines.

There's a lounge space for socializing or business meetings.

There were two sets of two loungers in this space. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

A forward zone is set up like an office space with large swivel loungers and tables. Power ports and cupholders are readily available.

The jet also has high-speed Starlink WiFi.

Meals can be enjoyed in the dining room.

The table between the sets of chairs can rise up and extend across the cabin. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The dining room can host up to six people thanks to a convertible table that stretches across the cabin. Standard catering is included in the hourly price.

Clients can request specific meals be catered onto the jet  and it could be practically anything, from Michelin-starred cuisine to McDonald's.

Cuddle up with a book in the lounge or watch a movie.

The TV sits across from the couch in the movie area. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Forget the headrest touch screen  Flexjet's G700 features a mini movie theater located just before the bedroom.

Here, there is a convertible couch, complete with seat belts, and a television.

The interior is not Flexjet's usual offering.

The plane has giant panoramic windows. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Flexjet is known for its grandiose cabin designs, such as the two Gulfstream G650s inspired by Bentley and the Isle of Capri.

Flexjet plans to glamorize the interior of its new G700s over time, and they will feature the standard bells and whistles in the meantime.

Private flying still comes with cabin crew.

The galley area had tools and plenty of workspace for preparing meals. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

As part of the program, Flexjet's G700 includes a specially trained cabin crew member who attends to the ultrarich clients by preparing food, serving drinks, and prepping the living spaces.

They have tools in the jet's kitchen to warm up meals, plus storage and counter space.

Flexjet's G700 configuration can hold up to 15 passengers and sleep up to nine.

The couch in the movie room can convert into a bed. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The bedroom can accommodate three people between the full bed and the convertible lounger.

There are three other sets of loungers throughout the jet that convert into single beds. A pair of side-by-side loungers turns into a double. The divan in the movie room is another sleep option for one person.

The cabin attendant has their own rest area.

The area for cabin crew at the front of the jet. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The space, complete with a bed, is located at the front of the plane behind the cockpit and can be closed off from the main living areas.

The G700 can fly up to 7,750 nautical miles nonstop.

The G700 is a dual-pilot plane. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Its maximum speed is Mach 0.935 (about 717 mph), and it can cruise at Mach 0.90 (about 690 mph).

The plane can connect faraway places like New York and Cape Town, South Africa, and Miami and Dubai nonstop.

The longer the flight, the higher the cost. A 12-hour flight at $20,000 per hour would be roughly $240,000, before any additional costs such as a fuel surcharge.

Qatar Executive also flies the G700.

The bedroom in a Qatar Executive G700. Taylor Rains/Business Insider.

Qatar Executive, the private arm of Qatar Airways, operates the G700 on a charter basis, meaning clients don't participate in a shared plan and instead pay on demand.

The one-way price between New York and Doha can cost a whopping $300,000.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Most people who grew up in the 1990s remember Free Willy, the feel-good movie that convinced millions that a whale could gain freedom from captivity if only given the chance. For a generation, it became more than a film, symbolizing what compassion could achieve. But when that Hollywood dream collided with reality, things didn't hold up to that picture.

Keiko, the real whale behind the movie, lived out that question. His journey stretched from small tanks to worldwide fame and a bold rescue mission that aimed to change the way people viewed captivity. Instead, it became a heartbreaking lesson about the limits of human good intentions and the complexity of returning a captive animal to the wild.

A Star Born in Captivity

Keikos story began in 1979 when he was captured near Iceland at about two years old. He was sent first to Marineland in Ontario, then sold to an amusement park in Mexico City. His tank there was far too small, filled with warm, chlorinated water designed for dolphins. Despite these conditions, he was cast as the lead in Free Willy, turning him into an unexpected ambassador for animal welfare.

Image via Wikimedia Commons/Nehrams2020

After the films release, public outrage surged. Fans wanted the real whale to live the same story as his on-screen version. Responding to the pressure, Warner Bros. and the Mexican park supported the Free WillyKeiko Foundation, which was created to manage his rehabilitation.

With support from donors, including Craig and Wendy McCaw, Keiko was relocated to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in 1996. There, he gained weight, adapted to colder seawater, and started catching live fish. For the first time in years, his health noticeably improved.

The Journey to Iceland

By 1998, Keiko was strong enough to be transported back to Iceland. He was placed in a sea pen in Klettsvik Bay to prepare him for life in the open ocean. Trainers monitored his progress and allowed supervised swims beyond the enclosure. Researchers tried to trace his original family using vocal and genetic studies, but came up empty-handed.

Keiko gradually adjusted to natural seawater and learned to catch fish, but his interactions with wild orcas remained brief. In hopes of encouraging independence, caretakers reduced communication with him.

They stopped calling his name and avoided gestures that might reinforce his attachment to people. Instead of adapting to solitude, Keiko appeared disoriented and sought attention whenever humans were nearby.

A Return That Wasnt

In 2002, Keiko swam more than 800 miles to Norway. Locals immediately recognized him, and he began approaching boats and shorelines seeking human contact. Crowds gathered to touch and swim beside him, forcing officials to limit access for safety reasons.

This episode showed how deeply Keiko associated humans with security and companionship. He seemed caught between two worldsneither fully wild nor captive anymore.

Image via iStockphoto/benedek

Studies after his death suggested Keiko never learned to survive independently. Tracking data revealed he rarely dove beyond 26 meters, far shallower than wild orcas, and evidence indicated he didnt hunt enough to sustain himself.

His dependence on people remained, and in December 2003, at roughly 26 years old, Keiko died of pneumonia in Norways Taknes Bay.

The Debate Over His Legacy

Keikos life ignited an ongoing discussion about the limits of rehabilitation for long-term captive animals. Some scientists believed his release caused unnecessary stress and confusion. Others viewed his final years as a moral victory, noting that he spent them swimming in natural waters instead of circling a cramped tank.

No similar release has been attempted since, and this case changed how the public and marine experts discuss captivity. It revealed both the emotional depth of orcas and the challenges of returning them to their natural environment after decades in confinement. Keiko's story remains a rare illustration of what freedom truly means.
President Trump threatened to stop all aid to Nigeria and has instructed the Pentagon to "prepare for possible action" in the West African country, accusing the country's government of allegedly failing to rein in the persecution of Christians.

In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Mr. Trump accused the Nigerian government for a second-straight day of not doing enough to prevent the killings of Christians. He threatened that the U.S. "may very well go into that now disgraced country, 'guns-a-blazing' to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities."

"If we attack, it will be fast, vicious and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!" Mr. Trump wrote.

In a post to X Saturday night in response to Mr. Trump's statement, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote, "Yes sir."

"The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria  and anywhere  must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action," Hegseth wrote. "Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities."

The Department of War is the Trump administration's preferred term for the Defense Department. "

The Nigerian government has vehemently rejected the claims, and analysts say that while Christians are among those targeted, the majority of victims of armed groups are Muslims in Nigeria's Muslim-majority north, where most attacks occur.

Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said Saturday on social media that the characterization of Nigeria as a religiously intolerant country does not reflect the national reality.

"Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so," Tinubu said. "Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths."

The warning of possible military action follows an announcement on Friday that he would designate Nigeria "a country of particular concern" as it relates to religious freedom, a move that had been pushed by some U.S. lawmakers.

The designation does not necessarily mean that sanctions, which could include a ban on all non-humanitarian aid, will be imposed, but it is one step ahead of that.

"Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria," Mr. Trump said in a social media post. "Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a 'COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN.'"

Mr. Trump said he would be asking several U.S. lawmakers to look into the matter and report back on what the response to the designation should be.

"The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!" Mr. Trump said.

Designating a "country of particular concern" under the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act is an executive prerogative that normally follows recommendations from both the congressionally mandated U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and the State Department.

The State Department usually releases its annual Report on International Religious Freedom in the spring, but has not yet done so this year. The report may or may not include "particular concern" designations, which can be done at any time. And, such designations, which authorize U.S. penalties, do not necessarily impose sanctions.

The State Department's most recent religious freedom reports cover 2023 and were released last year under the Biden administration. These reports, like others on broader human rights and human trafficking, cover the previous calendar year and are often late in being submitted.

The designation comes after Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has been trying to rally fellow evangelical Christians to urge Congress to designate Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom with claims of "Christian mass murder."

Nigeria was first placed on the "country of particular concern" list by the U.S. in 2020 in what the State Department called "systematic violations of religious freedom." But the designation did not single out attacks on Christians. The designation was lifted in 2023 in what many saw as a way to improve ties between the countries ahead of a visit by then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

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President Trump on Saturday told the Department of Defense (DOD) to prepare for possible action in Nigeria over alleged attacks on Christians in the African country.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities., Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action, the post continued. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later told Trump, Yes sir, in a post on the social platform X.

The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria  and anywhere  must end immediately, Hegseth wrote. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.

Prior to Trump and Hegseths social media comments, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said Saturday his government is committed to working with the United States.

The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians, Tinubu wrote on X. Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so.

Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it, Tinubu continued. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.

Trump previously said that Nigeria would be placed on the State Departments Countries of Particular Concern watchlist. In a Truth Social post on Friday, he asked Reps. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.) to immediately look into this matter, and report back to me.

The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries, Trump wrote. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!

The presidents order on Saturday comes after Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called on Congress to designate Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom, claiming the country has committed a Christian genocide, The Associated Press reported.

Religiously-motivated attacks have taken place against both Christian and Muslim populations, according to the APs reporting. But other attacks have occurred between farmers and herders fighting over dwindling resources.

The AP also cited data from the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data program showing that between January 2020 and this September, 385 attacks that were targeted events against Christians  where Christian identity of the victim was a reported factor resulted in 317 deaths. Over the same period, there were 417 deaths recorded among Muslims in 196 attacks.

There is no systematic, intentional attempt either by the Nigerian government or by any serious group to target a particular religion, Information Minister Idris Muhammed told the outlet.

Among those praising Trumps actions was rapper Nicki Minaj, who thanked the president on Saturday for taking this seriously.

Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude, Minaj posted on X, sharing a screenshot of Trumps Truth Social post from Friday. We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. We dont have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other. Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror & its dangerous to pretend we dont notice.

This all comes days after Nobel Prize-winning Nigerian author Wole Soyinka said his non-resident visa to enter the U.S. was rejected. He said he believes it was because he criticized Trump, which he has done for years.

I have no visa, Soyinka said at a press conference on Tuesday. I am banned, obviously, from the United States, and if you want to see me, you know where to find me.

Updated at 9:12 p.m. EDT

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Donald Trump threatened Nigeria in social media post Saturday night that he would go into the African nation guns-a-blazing with military force if they dont stop Islamic extremists from killing Christians.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians the U.S.A will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, the president wrote in a post to Truth Social Saturday evening.

I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!

Donald Trump sent a warning to the Nigerian government over the terror attacks on Christians. Getty Images

The boldfaced threat was issued one day after the US State Department placed the west African nation on the Countries of Particular Concern list, which is a designation for countries which fail to secure religious freedom for citizens.

More than 7,000 Christians have been massacred in Nigeria in the first 220 days of 2025, according to human right NGO Intersociety.

Since 2009, when Boko Haram Islamists launched an insurgency in Nigeria, more than 125,000 Christians have been slaughtered and 19,000 churches have been destroyed, that report stated.

Nigeria, Africas most populous country and biggest oil producer, vowed to fight for religious freedom following their inclusion on the Countries of Particular Concern list.

The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion, the Nigerian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday. Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.

President Trump posted to Truth Social that he would go into the African nation guns-a-blazing with military force if they dont stop Islamic extremists from killing Christians. Majority World / Shutterstock

Over 7,000 Christians have been massacred in Nigeria in 2025. AFP via Getty Images

Nigeria is a God-fearing country where we respect faith, tolerance, diversity and inclusion, in concurrence with the rules-based international order, the ministry added.

In September, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz introduced a bill called Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 that would protect Christians and other religious minorities being persecuted in Nigeria.

That legislation would impose targeted sanctions against Nigerian officials who facilitate violence against Christians and other minority groups and impose targeted sanctions against officials who enforce sharia or blasphemy laws.

With Post wires.
Catholics gather for a mass at the Church of the Assumption in Lagos on April 21, 2025. Credit - Olympia De MaismontAFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump threatened to send the U.S. military into Nigeria guns-a-blazing, citing claims of mass killing of Christians in the African nation.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, Trump posted on his Truth Social account, calling on the Nigerian government to act fast.

Trumps post included a directive for the Pentagon to prepare for possible action, to which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded: Yes sir on his social media.



"The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria  and anywhere  must end immediately," Hegseth said on X. "The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities."

Read more: Land Conflict Has Long Been a Problem in Nigeria. Heres How Climate Change Is Making It Worse

The threat came just two days after Trump threatened possible sanctions and removal of aid from the country of over 230 million people, claiming that Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.

Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter, he said on Truth Social on Friday, while announcing that he was designating Nigeria a country of particular concernan official State Department designation given to countries where religious freedom is under threat.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu challenged Trumps characterization of the nation as religiously intolerant in a statement posted to social media on Saturday, saying that it does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.

He continued, Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.

Yet, Nigeria has announced that it would welcome assistance from the United States in fighting armed groups, provided the U.S. respects its territorial integrity.

Heres what we know about the situation.

Trump is reacting to viral claims

Claims of a genocide against Christians in Nigeria have been circulating in right-wing circles since earlier this year.

The viral claims have spread quickly on social media, reaching U.S. politicians and faith-based organizations.

Riley Moore, a Republican Congressman from West Virginia, claimed earlier this week that 50,000-100,000 of our brothers and sisters in Nigeria have been murdered for their faith in Christ.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican, claimed that officials in Nigeria are ignoring and even "facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist Jihadists.

Nigerian officials and experts have countered those claims.

Cruz pushed for Trump to include announcing the West African country on a State Department watch list for countries of particular concern, which Trump did on Friday.

A vendor sells local newspapers with headlines referring to US President Donald Trump's comments about Nigeria, on the street of Lagos, Nigeria, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. Sunday AlambaAssociated Press

Cruz has been joined by some celebrities and pundits, including Bill Maher, who on his show has delivered a similar account of claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria, claiming that jihadist groups in the nation are literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country. Rapper Nicki Minaj also thanked Trump for shedding light on the issue.

Trumps forceful response to claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria mirrors his equally aggressive measures when similar claims of a genocide against white farmers in South Africa spread online.

Those claims led to his administration prioritizing white refugees from South Africa while severely limiting the number of refugees allowed from any other nation. Trump has claimed that white Afrikaners, particularly farmers, were victims of a genocide, and made the population the first refugee group to land in America during his second term.

Read more: The Long History of the U.S. Backing White South Africans

South African officials have long disputed claims that Afrikaners are victims of racial persecution.

More Muslims killed than Christians

Nigeria has been facing brutal insurgencies from jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State for years, leading to thousands of deaths, but most attacks have been carried out in the majority Muslim northeast of the country, and the majority of the victims have been Muslim, according to the Council of Foreign Relations, despite Boko Harams murderous hostility to Christians.

The country is split evenly between Christians and Muslims, and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom found in 2024 that the violence affects both populations in large numbers.

According to data collected by the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) program, there have been 20,409 deaths from 11,862 attacks against civilians in Nigeria between January 2020 and September 2025. Of that number, 385 attacks and 317 deaths were on Christian people, in which their religious identity played a factor. During the same time, 417 deaths were recorded among Muslims in 196 attacks.

The Council on Foreign Relations also notes that many attacks against Christians have taken place in the Middle Belta region of the country where all of Nigerias ethnicities liveand often involve disputes over land, water and ethnicity, in addition to religion.

How have Nigerians reacted?

Many Nigerians have disputed Trumps characterization of their country and its treatment of Christians, including some Christian leaders.

Joseph Hayab, a former chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna state, among the worst hit by the insecurity, told the Associated Press last month that he rejected the claims of Christian genocide, and said that while there have been many Christians killed over the years, and every death is lamentable, things have been better than what they were before.

Gimba Kakanda, Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria, wrote in an opinion piece this past week that claims of religious warbetray ignorance of the countrys internal dynamics.

While Western media often highlight attacks on churches and Christian communities, the reality is that these terrorists are indiscriminate in their violence, Kakanda wrote. The real danger lies in media outlets portraying Boko Haram, a group despised by both Muslims and Christians, as representative of Islam.

Responding to Trumps threat of military action on Sunday, Daniel Bwala, an adviser to the Nigerian president, said the country would welcome U.S. help to combat militants under certain conditions.

"We welcome U.S. assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity," Bwala told Reuters.

"I am sure by the time these two leaders meet and sit, there would be better outcomes in our joint resolve to fight terrorism," he said, in reference to Trumps criticism of Nigeria as a disgraced country.

Some Christian groups in Nigeria, however, have called for more to be done to protect members of their faith, as violence has undeniably affected the nation.

Last month, President Archbishop Daniel Okoh of the Christian Association of Nigeria responded to increased attention on his community to say that many Christian communities in parts of Nigeria, especially in the North, have suffered severe attacks, loss of life, and the destruction of places of worship.

We therefore renew our call on government and security agencies to take urgent, transparent, and equitable action to end the killings, safeguard vulnerable Christian communities from displacement, and ensure that perpetrators face the full weight of the law. The pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as mere statistics, he added in the statement.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi (23) celebrates at the bench after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  Marco Rossi scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and two assists, helping the Minnesota Wild stop a five-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.

Vinnie Hinostroza and Jonas Brodin padded the lead with goals in the third period, and Ryan Hartman added an empty-netter for the Wild (4-6-3), who notched their first regulation win in seven games on home ice this season.

Joel Eriksson Ek had two assists and Filip Gustavsson made 26 saves for the Wild, who were superb on special teams.

Tarasenko's backhander off a slick pass from Eriksson Ek came during a power play in the first period, and the Wild's penalty kill was 3 for 3 in keeping the Canucks out of the net with their man advantages after going just 1 for 5 over the first four games of this homestand.

Drew O'Connor scored twice and Aatu Raty had two assists for the banged-up Canucks (6-7-0), who have lost five of their last seven games and have only three regulation wins.

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes missed his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury but joined the team on this trip and was expected to return soon. Right wing Brock Boeser returned to the first line after being forced out of the last game at St. Louis with an injury.

Tarasenko, who's in his first season with Minnesota, had his first three-point game since April 1, 2024, with Florida, a span of 100 regular-season games. The 14th-year veteran has 13 goals and 19 assists in 32 career games against Vancouver.

The Wild are 16-4-1 in their last 21 games against the Canucks.

Up next

Vancouver plays on Monday at Nashville. The Predators then visit Minnesota on Tuesday as the Wild finish their six-game homestand.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Nov. 1 he has apologized to President Donald Trump for an ad run by a provincial government that angered the U.S. leader and prompted him to put a halt to trade negotiations.

"I did apologize to the president," Carney told reporters in South Korea.

The ad, which was run by the Ontario provincial government and not by the Canadian federal government, was played during World Series games and featured a snippet of remarks by former President Ronald Reagan in 1987. In the remarks, Reagan spoke critically of tariffs. The ad included the conservative icon's accurate remarks, but spliced select phrases from a longer address. Trump has criticized it as "FAKE."

Canadians fighting Trumps tariffs, surge in patriotism Alain Ejeil and his wife Joyce Takla at their Bidon Taverne Culinaire in St. Lambert, Quebec in the Montreal area at the bar. Ejeil stopped buying American food items and pulled U.S.-made wines and spirits from his shelves back in February after President Donald Trump started to taunt Canada with the threat of tariffs and American statehood. It wasn't an easy decision, he said, but as a Canadian, it was the right thing to do.

In response, Trump announced on social media he was terminating trade negotiations with Canada, and claimed the ad misrepresented Reagan's views. He also announced a 10% increase on tariffs on goods coming from the United States' neighbor to the north. Trump's move came as he has imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from countries including Canada, and as the Supreme Court on Nov. 5 is set to hear oral arguments in a case that will decide the fate of the tariffs.

Trump, tariffs and the World Series: How a TV ad upended trade talks between U.S., Canada

The ad was commissioned by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who announced the ad would be paused starting Oct. 27 "so that trade talks can resume."

"I told Ford I did not want to go forward with the ad," Carney said on Nov. 1.

Carney said he made his apology when they both attended a dinner hosted by South Korea's president on Oct. 29. Trump has said he had a "very nice" conversation with Carney at that dinner.

What did the ad show?

The 60-second ad condensed remarks made during a longer speech by Reagan in an April 25, 1987 radio address, days after he increased tariffs on some Japanese imports in response to Japan violating a semiconductor trade agreement. In that talk, Reagan made it clear he is not a fan of tariffs.

When someone says, Lets impose tariffs on foreign imports, it looks like theyre doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs. And sometimes for a short while, it works, but only for a short time, Reagan said in the ad.

The White House objected because the ad omitted another part of Reagans address. As Ive often said, the former president said in the original remarks, our commitment to free trade is also a commitment to fair trade.

Read more on how Reagan felt about tariffs.

Contributing: Michael Collins and Joey Garrison, USA TODAY; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canada PM Carney says he apologized to Trump over anti-tariff ad
Two federal judges ruled that the White House must continue paying SNAP benefits.MEGA

President Donald Trump lashed out at Democrats and federal judges over a court order compelling his administration to continue paying Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing government shutdown  even as he prepared to host a glittering, Great Gatsby-themed party at his Mar-a-Lago resort, RadarOnline.com can report.

Judge Ruling

President Trump posted a long social media statement criticizing Democrats.MEGA

On Friday, October 31, two federal judges  Indira Talwani of Massachusetts and John McConnell of Rhode Island  ruled that the White House must continue funding SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, amid the shutdown.

The decision prompted an immediate reaction from Trump, who posted a lengthy social media statement criticizing Democrats and questioning the legality of issuing payments under current conditions.

"Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do," Trump wrote. "I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT."

He continued, "Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible. It is already delayed enough due to the Democrats keeping the Government closed through the monthly payment date, and, even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out. If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay."

SNAP Benefits

Trump accused Radical Democrats of refusing to reopen the government and of causing the delays in benefit payments.MEGA

The president concluded his message by urging SNAP recipients to pressure Democratic lawmakers: "If you use SNAP benefits, call the Senate Democrats, and tell them to reopen the Government, NOW!" He even included Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's office number in his post.

While White House lawyers worked to interpret the rulings, Trump flew to Florida for the Mar-a-Lago event, a roaring 1920s-inspired costume party attended by his wealthy supporters.

The White House press pool released photos of guests in flapper dresses and tuxedos, while videos of the Jazz Age-themed revelry quickly surfaced on social media.

Government Shutdown

Trump hosted a Great Gatsby-themed party at his Mar-a-Lago resort.MEGA

Reporters questioned Trump aboard Air Force One en route to the celebration, asking whether he could redirect funds to keep the SNAP program running  similar to how he had previously shifted money for military pay during the shutdown.

"Well, it always is, but all the Democrats have to do is say, let's go," Trump replied. "They don't have to do anything. They don't, all they have to do is say, the government is open. And we only need five Democrats. But they've become a radical left party. They really have, they've become a very radical left partner. And they've lost their minds."

He added, "All they have to do is say the government is open, and that's the end of it. And you know largely, when you talk about SNAP, you're talking about largely Democrats, but I'm president. I want to help everybody. I want to help Democrats and Republicans. But when you're talking about SNAP, if you look, it's largely Democrats hurting their own people."
Getty Mount Washington in New Hampshire

NEED TO KNOW

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department received an emergency call on the evening of Oct. 26 about a hiker on Mount Washington whose headlamp and cellphone were dying

The hiker, Owen Strommer, 20, was later rescued and had no injuries

Officials warned visitors to the area to plan for winter conditions, even if it is still fall

A 20-year-old hiker was rescued from a snowy New Hampshire mountain as his headlamp and phone were rapidly dying, authorities said.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said in a news release that officers received a 911 call on the evening of Sunday, Oct. 26, about a man  identified as Owen Strommer of Wakefield, R.I.  who was on the upper reaches of the Tuckerman Ravine Trail, about 0.3 miles below the summit of Mount Washington.

Through a spotty cell phone connection, authorities discovered that Strommer was on the trail and that his headlamp and phone were nearly dead. The hiker had no backup equipment and was unprepared to spend the night.

The conditions at Mount Washingtons summit around that time were snowy  and the temperature was 21 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of 3 degrees.

A rescue operation followed that involved personnel from the Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue Team (AVSAR) and a Mount Washington State Park worker, who had a chained-up truck parked with the lights on at the top of Tuckerman Ravine Trail.

After his earlier call, Strommer managed to slowly pick his way up the trail with his dying headlamp.

Following cairns (piles of rocks used to mark the trail), Strommer eventually saw the headlights of the State Park pickup truck and scrambled his way up to the vehicle, read the news release.

Park staff met with an uninjured Strommer, who was then driven to the summit to be warmed and evaluated, the department said. He was later transported to the base of the mountain.

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Strommer was found to have done some research on his hike, but was absolutely unprepared for the conditions that he encountered above treeline, the department noted. This situation could have had a very bad outcome, and everyone involved recognized that fact.

"Strommer was grateful for the response and assistance and thanked the rescuers multiple times in the aftermath of this event, the department continued.

Officials advised visitors to the area to plan for winter conditions, even as it is still fall.



According to the New Hampshire State Parks website, Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeast with a summit of 6,288 feet.

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Ryusei Sakai, right, rides Forever Young past Flavien Prat aboard Sierra Leone to win the Breeders' Cup Classic race Saturday. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

Japanese horse racing has been on the precipice of breaking through on the U.S. scene. It seemed like it was almost there in 2021 when it won three Breeders Cup races. But after that it leveled off.

Through 10 races at this years Breeders Cup, horses from Japan underperformed. But in the 11th, the most important race in the two-day event, the breakthrough became official when Forever Young held off Sierra Leone, last years winner, to win the $7-million Breeders Cup Classic by a half-length.

The last time we saw Forever Young in this country was a year ago when the 4-year-old colt finished third in the Classic. Before that, he was third in the Kentucky Derby by a whisker while being on the receiving end of some bumping down the stretch by Sierra Leone. Without that he might have been victorious in a race that was won by Mystik Dan.

The commonality between the 2021 and 2025 Breeders Cup days was that both were run at Del Mar.

Forever Young was almost the victim of some legal chicanery on Saturday as trainer Chad Brown entered a horse  called a rabbit  with little chance to win so that he could set a fast pace. Sierra Leone, also trained by Brown, needs a fast pace to weaken the other horses, which would benefit Sierra Leones late running style.

But this time, Forever Young overcame all the obstacles thrown at him. He ran a very tactical race being placed close to the lead and never farther back than third.

Read more:Favorite Ted Noffey rumbles to win in $2-million Breeders Cup Juvenile

Forever Young paid $9.00 to win. He was followed in order by Sierra Leone, Fierceness, Journalism, Mindframe, Baeza, Nevada Beach, Antiquarian and Contrary Thinking, who was the rabbit in the 1 1/4- mile race.

It was the third Breeders Cup win for trainer Yoshito Yahagi. When asked if this was his most satisfying win, Yahagi said, through a translator: I will never, ever get satisfied until I get retired as a trainer.

We plan to go to Saudi maybe next year, which will be his last year. I like to challenge all over the world big races. And Id like to win all of it.

Forever Young was the third foreign horse to win the Classic, joining Argentine-bred Invasor in 2006 and Irish-bred Black Tie Affair in 1991.

So last time here, the horse was 75% conditioned, Yahagi said. And this time we create 100% condition. Forever Young is an amazing horse.

The winning jockey was Ryusei Sakai.

It was a huge run, said Brown of Sierra Leone. Look, the winner ran a terrific race. He was up on the pace and kicked. I think the track played against us [Saturday]. Not to take anything away from the winner, but its been speed all day."

Journalisms trainer, Michael McCarthy, was pleased by the horses fourth-place finish and how he stayed engaged with the field.

[We were] bested by a 2-year-old champion [Fierceness], a 3-year old champion [Sierra Leone] and a Japanese champion, McCarthy said. Well reload and see what we got for next year.

Baeza was the fifth pick by bettors but appeared to have been hurt at the break.

I think the start cost us a lot, said trainer John Shireffs. [Jockey Hector Berrios] said he wasnt standing still in the gate and when they opened it, he hopped a little bit. I would say he lost all chance at the start.

The Classic lost a lot of luster when the favorite, Sovereignty, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, was scratched earlier in the week when he spiked a fever. Sovereignty was the top-rated horse in the country and a possible horse-of-the-year winner. Many were hoping for a rematch with Journalism, who finished second in both those races and won the Preakness, which Sovereignty did not run in.

Trainer Bill Mott only brought two horses to the Breeders Cup, Sovereignty and Scylla. While Sovereignty didnt make the starting gate on Saturday, Scylla ($17.20 to win) sure did, winning the biggest race of the year for female horses, the $2-million Distaff.

Its certainly difficult to see what happened to Sovereignty, Mott said. I think everybody thats connected [with this sport] has been through it and we knew when it happened, he wouldnt be able to compete and not at the level that he would need to. And it seems as though hes recovering well but hes really not the story here.

Read more:Meet the Porter Ranch super fan attending his 42nd consecutive Breeders' Cup

I mean this one is about Scylla and about Junior [Alvarado, his jockey] and the Juddmonte connections.

Alvarado took her to the front and never looked back, winning the 1 1/8-mile race by 5 1/2 lengths. Nitrogen was second and Regaled finished third. Favorite Seismic Beauty contended early but then faded to 12th in the 13-horse field.

Trainer Bob Baffert picked up two Breeders Cup wins on Saturday, first in the $1-million Filly & Mare Sprint with Splendora ($7.80) and then again in the $1-million Dirt Mile with Nysos ($3.40). Baffert now has 21 Breeders Cup wins, which ties him all time with Aidan OBrien.

The Filly & Mare Sprint became less interesting when two of the favorites, Sweet Azteca (2-1 morning line) and Tamara (7-2), were scratched by the veterinarian. There was a third scratch that took the field down to seven.

Splendora won in dominating fashion by 4 3/4 lengths. He was midpack until the far turn of the seven-furlong race before jockey Flavien Prat let him loose in the stretch.

Baffert had the exacta in the Dirt Mile as Nysos and Citizen Bull battled down the stretch with Nysos besting his stablemate by a head.

I think more important [than the record] is the excitement that the horses showed up, they ran, they put on a show," Baffert said. "Coming down the stretch, I knew I was going to win it. Nysos has a lot of heart. This was the first time hes had to get on his belly and show up and so he ran down a champion.

It was exciting to watch. I would have liked to see a dead heat, to see them split. You hate to see one of them get beat, but it was a really great race.

The second richest race on the card, the $5-million Turf, was supposed be a matchup of two-time winner Rebels Romance and Minnie Hauk, who had five wins and two seconds in seven starts. They ran together for most of the 1 1/2-mile race but long shot Ethical Diamond started rolling in the top of the stretch and cruised to a 1 1/4-length win. Rebels Romance was second.

The Irish-bred Ethical Diamond, trained by William Mullins and ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle, paid $57.40 to win.

Shisospicy ($12.60) broke on top and held the lead to the finish to win the $1-million Turf Sprint, which was ran at five furlongs. The 3-year-old filly is trained by Jose Francisco DAngelo and was ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., who picked up his 22nd Cup victory.

Shes Quality was eased shortly out of the gate in the Turf Sprint by jockey Colin Keane and walked onto the equine ambulance. She was transported to an equine hospital and is back in her barn being monitored.

Ortiz picked up his 23rd win in the next race when he won the $2-million Sprint aboard Bentornato. It was also the second straight victory for DAngelo. Bentornato broke on top and was never headed in the six-furlong race. It was only his second race of the year for the 4-year-old ridgling. Bentornato finished second in last years Sprint, losing to Straight No Chaser, who finished seventh on Saturday.

Charlie Appleby won the $2 -million Mile on turf for the fourth time in five years with Notable Speech ($7.20), who had William Buick in the saddle. The 4-year-old colt won by a head over Sahlan. The last race of this years Breeders Cup, the $2-million Filly & Mare Turf was won by French-bred Gezora ($20.20) at 1 3/8 miles by a half-length for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and jockey Michael Barzalona.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A local Secret Santa is giving $1 million to deserving people in eastern Idaho this holiday season. Every day, from now until the end of the year, the East Idaho News elves will be delivering gifts from Secret Santa and well be sharing the surprise videos here.

Chelsea and her husband Nick Torres have never been the kind to ask for help. They juggle work, doctor appointments, therapy sessions, and family life  all while making sure their four children, ages 12, 8, and 5, feel loved and special.

But with two of those children  8-year-old conjoined twins Callie and Carter  daily life requires more than just dedication. It requires transportation that can safely and comfortably accommodate a non-collapsible wheelchair.

Conjoined twins are extraordinarily rare  occurring in only one in every 50,000 to 60,000 births. And of those, only about 5 to 25% survive past birth.

The familys current vehicles arent reliable. Every few months, when the twins need to travel from their Blackfoot home to Salt Lake City for medical appointments, Chelsea and her husband are forced to rent or borrow a van.

Secret Santa heard about their story and knew he had to step in. We caught up with the Torres family and dropped off a big surprise! Check it out in the video player above.

The post Life-changing surprise: Secret Santa brings hope to family of 8-year-old conjoined twins appeared first on East Idaho News.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright comments on the National Nuclear Security Administration furloughing 1,400 federal workers as part of the shutdown which began Oct. 1, during a news conference at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) in Las Vegas on Oct. 20. | Ty ONeil, Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP)  New tests of the U.S. nuclear weapons system ordered up by President Donald Trump will not include nuclear explosions, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday.

It was the first clarity from the Trump administration since the president took to social media last week to say he had instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis.

I think the tests were talking about right now are system tests, Wright said in an interview on Fox News Sunday Briefing. These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call noncritical explosions.

Wright, whose agency is responsible for testing, added that the planned testing involves all the other parts of a nuclear weapon to make sure they deliver the appropriate geometry and they set up the nuclear explosion.

The confusion over Trumps intention started minutes before he held a critical meeting in South Korea with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump took to his Truth Social platform and appeared to suggest he was preparing to discard a decades-old U.S. prohibition on testing the nations nuclear weapons.

Later that day, as he made his way back to Washington, Trump was coy on whether he really meant to say he was ordering the resumption of explosive testing of nuclear weapons  something only North Korea has undertaken this century  or calling for the testing of U.S. systems that could deliver a nuclear weapon, which is far more routine.

He remained opaque on Friday when asked by reporters about whether he intended to resume underground nuclear detonation tests.

Youll find out very soon, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, as he headed to Florida for a weekend stay.

The U.S. military regularly tests its missiles that are capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, but it has not detonated the weapons since 1992. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which the U.S. signed but did not ratify, has been observed since its adoption by all countries possessing nuclear weapons, North Korea being the only exception.

Trump announced his plans for nuclear tests after Russia announced it had tested a new atomic-powered and nuclear-capable underwater drone and a new nuclear-powered cruise missile.

Russia responded to Trumps nuclear testing comments by underscoring that it did not test its nuclear weapons and has abided by a global ban on nuclear testing.

The Kremlin warned though, that if the U.S. resumes testing its weapons, Russia will as well  an intensification that would restart Cold War-era tensions.

The post Trumps testing plans for US nuclear weapons wont include explosions, energy secretary says appeared first on East Idaho News.
by card. Sebastian Francis *

In the Archdiocese of Verapoly, the Catholic community is preparing for the beatification of the nun who founded the first Indian Carmelite congregation, combining contemplative life with service to her brothers and sisters. Cardinal Sebastian Francis, who will preside over the ceremony on 8 November: Stronger than any challenge by putting Jesus at the centre: a testimony to be imitated even today.

Kochi (AsiaNews) - At this time when Churches around the world are celebrating the solemnity of All Saints and the glorious horizon that awaits us all through the memory of our deceased, Catholics in the Indian state of Kerala are looking in a special way to the witness of Mother Eliswa Vakayil, a nun who will be proclaimed blessed on Saturday, 8 November. The ceremony will be held at the Basilica of Our Lady of Redemption in Vallarpadam, in the Archdiocese of Verapoly, and will be presided over on behalf of Pope Leo XIV by Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Archbishop of Penang in Malaysia, whose family is originally from Kerala.

Mother Eliswa (1831-1913) was a pioneer of religious life among the women of Kerala. In 1866, she founded the first female religious congregation in Kerala and the first of the Carmelite family in India, which later became the Congregation of the Teresian Carmelites. She lived in the spirit of Carmel, combining contemplative union with God with active service, especially through the education and advancement of women. In 1868, she founded the first school of the sisters with an adjoining hostel and orphanage for girls in Koonammavu, Kerala, opening new horizons for women in society and in the Church.

Below we publish a reflection written by Cardinal Sebastian Francis in view of this beatification.

The only subject of our desire should be the three letters: GOD". With this quote, Mother Eliswa sums up for us the entire purpose of our existence and mission. Her simplicity and authenticity that comes from a heart that desires to love and serve God and humanity in ordinary ways, is a testimony for us to emulate.

Humanity needs to return to the primacy of God - over and above creation and humanity and history. The motto that embodied her life was: Passion for Christ and Compassion for Humanity".

Passion for Christ includes love for the Eucharist, love for Mary and the Rosary, and love for the poor (the powerless). Compassion for Humanity includes especially children, the sick, and the poor (the powerless), excluding no one and being concerned for the salvation of all souls, especially those in most need of Gods mercy.

Mother Eliswa of the Blessed Virgin Mary, imbued with the virtues of the Blessed Mother, is indeed a "woman of all seasons". Being a woman of great substance - rooted in faith, guided by conviction and generous in love, Mother Eliswa focused on the continuity of mission, surviving and transcending numerous challenges in life, some of which we can personally relate to.

I consider it a sacred privilege to be graced with this opportunity to represent His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV and preside at this joyous celebration of the Beatification of Mother Eliswa. I am delighted to conclude my personal pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year of Hope at her tomb, to simply contemplate and celebrate her life towards sainthood, in the land of my ancestors, Kerala, India. Heaven rejoices together with us, for another woman of God for the Universal Church and for all humanity.

With palms folded in prayer, we praise and thank God for the gift and blessing of Mother Eliswa of the Blessed Virgin Mary to all of us.

To God be all Glory & Praise!

* Cardinal Archbishop of Penang, Malaysia

(with the collaboration of Nirmala Carvalho)

ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE.
The Struggle to Find Sex Education Content on Social Media

How to Spread Sex Ed Info on Social Media Platforms That Hate Sex

We all know social media can be a hotbed of hatred and toxicity, but it remains one of the most important resources many of us have when it comes to sexual health and education.

That goes especially for marginalized or minority groups. For instance, a recent University of British Columbia study found traditional sex education is failing LGBTQ students, which undoubtedly explains their increased willingness to use digital tools for health advice.

But content publishers face a constant battle as platforms restrict, ban or deplatform them over arbitrary, inconsistent and opaque rulings and policies.

RELATED: Best Sexual Health and Sex Education Resources

In late 2024, many saw the large media (including social media) companies reorienting themselves with a new political paradigm to curry favor with the incoming administration. They abolished DEI policies, turned sharply to the right  both fomenting and reflecting anti-queer and anti-trans rhetoric  and decimated their trust, safety and moderation mechanisms.

Sex ed and health online have never had it harder online.

The Importance of Social Media for Sex Ed

With deepfakes, cyberbullying and politically motivated misinformation at epidemic levels, you might think social media is the worst place to go for sex or fertility advice.

In the hands of the education system, at least parents and voters theoretically have a hand in what's taught, surely?

RELATED: What Youd Learn in Sex Ed Today That You Didnt 20 Years Ago

In a perfect world, maybe, but official sex education is woefully inadequate. Fully 90 percent of respondents to a survey from fertility services provider Miracare felt unprepared by their sex education for real-life interactions, with almost half turning to online sources for information.

Meanwhile, sex eds impact doesnt begin and end in the bedroom  44 percent of US adults surveyed by the Kinsey institute believe additional sex education would have led to healthier romantic relationships.

And as you'd expect, the internet is the first port of call for digital native generations to learn about almost everything, including sex. A McKinsey Health report revealed social media is the second most used source for health information (after healthcare providers) for 38 percent of Gen Zs, compared to 6 percent for baby boomers.

The reality is people aren't learning about sexual health in schools or having regular conversations in their day to day lives, says Greta Bollmeier, editorial manager at Winx Health. In fact, only 17 states require medically accurate sex education. The internet becomes a primary source for questions people have about their bodies and health."

As well as making it easy for users to engage with information, social media is also unique in offering the greatest bang for buck for content publishers, which might make it the perfect channel for the job.

As a sexual wellness company, spreading the word about what we do isn't straightforward, says Mariah Freya, CEO and co-founder of Beducated. We can't slap an ad on TV or a billboard and call it a day. We're a small company on a tight budget and we rely heavily on digital channels, so we really need to nail our social media game.

Everything in (Content) Moderation

Many sex educators put a lot of work into making their content age- and audience-appropriate in line with community values, which should make it easy to publish on social media  if these platforms standards were consistent.

But that's far from the case. For one, they can be subject to the political whims of a handful of tech bros, as we saw when Elon Musk took over ownership of Twitter/X, later jumping into bed with the incoming Trump administration.

For two, they often run on far-reaching and largely automated systems that conduct routine content sweeps and arbitrarily block content or ban accounts  systems with far less oversight by human moderators than they used to have, as we've seen.

Anna Lee, co-founder of Lioness, which she says is the first vibrator that gives real orgasm data, agrees. After a decade of experience, she calls social media one of the most unpredictable parts of our journey.

The goalposts are always moving, Lee notes. Ads that run for months without issue suddenly get flagged or banned without explanation. Sometimes the same creative gets approved on one channel but blocked on another.

Often, no real reason is given for bans or restrictions. Beducated shared a screenshot of their TikTok ban with us, which says only the website link in your profile violated our Community Guidelines.

We tried to get information on what really happens inside social media networks when they scan, restrict or ban content in accounts, to little avail. Meta (Facebook and Instagram) never replied, and TikTok declined to answer specific questions, offering only the following statement:

Our Community Guidelines prohibit misinformation, including medical misinformation, that may cause significant harm to people. Through our Global Fact-Checking Program, TikTok partners with over 20 IFCN-accredited fact-checking organizations around the world, who help assess the accuracy of TikTok content so our moderators can apply our misinformation policies accordingly.

Social media platforms inconsistent bans and restrictions dont just bother sex educators, with plenty of other sectors also crying foul. TruPlay, a developer that makes kids' apps and games with Christian themes, recently said that while tech platforms run ads featuring violent and graphic images that are aimed at kids, their own content is routinely flagged and banned by Google and TikTok.

As Verena Singmann, head of PR at Lovehoney Group, which describes itself as a sexual happiness company, says, Unfortunately there's no clear logic or consistency behind how these situations are handled, which makes the process difficult to navigate and even harder to cope with.

At Lioness, Lee has been further into the inner workings of Meta community standards than others we spoke to, having played what she calls 'the semantics game' with them. In one case, Meta representatives directly suggested she call her product a massager for tension relief because a massager to help you understand your pleasure would cross the line.

After vibrators like the Magic Wand began life as all-purpose massagers for tension relief that began to be used for sexual purposes until they started being marketed exclusively for masturbation, were now seeing things come full-circle, with purpose-built sex toys being asked to market themselves as all-purpose massagers.

At Beducated, Freya thinks automated content management raises its own problems.

While these systems aim to enforce community guidelines, they often result in false positives, impacting content like ours, she says.

Automated moderation is very poor at distinguishing things like porn from sex ed, agrees Dr. Justin Lehmiller, scientific advisor at Lovehoney Group, which is why a lot of educators and health organizations have found themselves censored or deplatformed simply for trying to teach people about sex and the human body.

This is the kind of thing that, if these platforms were interested in doing so, it might be possible to create clearer internal definitions around the differences between porn and sex ed, to help restrict one while promoting the other. However, the fact that

Appealing to Authority

To be completely fair, social media networks couldnt operate without some degree of automated content moderation  the entire human population probably isn't enough to keep up with the flood of social media content, let alone experienced moderators, with Instagram alone reportedly recording 4.2 billion likes every day.

And while it is disappointing that platforms dont seem to have put in effort to differentiate educational content from salacious content, it is somewhat understandable given the way important and necessary sex ed is still seen as controversial by many people.

Another major issue exists, however, and thats when publishers try to engage with platforms to make their case after bans or restrictions. The notice Beducated received contains a link to appeal, but what happens after that? When two social media accounts owned by Lovehoney Group were disabled by Meta, it resulted in a very long and cumbersome process.

RELATED: Which Countries Have the Best Sex Education?

Despite multiple follow-ups, including outreach through legal counsel, Meta provided no specific details and repeatedly cited guideline violations, Singmann says. There's no clear or reliable system for resolving bans or suspensions. Once notified of a ban, the only available option is to appeal. Recently, members of our social team were even required to submit government IDs to verify their identities.

And then, if the account is moved from 'suspended' to 'permanently disabled', she says there's no further recourse available.

"Although we've managed to reach Meta representatives directly, thanks to years of persistence, the company still refused to reinstate the account, even though there were no active content flags, says Singmann. Our legal team later sent a letter of demand, but no action was taken.

RELATED: Can A.I. Deliver Accurate Sex Education?

As for Beducated, Freya and her colleagues did instigate an appeal, but says their appeals haven't been addressed, leaving them very much in the dark.

After our Instagram account ban in February 2021 and the TikTok account ban in January 2024, where we managed to submit appeals, our Instagram account was restored almost nine months later, but the TikTok account remains banned, with no communication from the platform to date.

When asked how responsive the appeals mechanisms are, Freya answers not at all.

Singmann says when content's been flagged by Meta's AI system, it's extremely difficult to reach a human representative without insider connections.

RELATED: New Survey Shows Sex Miseducation Is Still Rampant

Many services end up buying a Meta Pro subscription as it's the only reliable way to speak with a Meta Agent directly, but even then the response is usually, 'We've passed your case on to our specialized team, Singmann says.

The Sexism of Sex Content Bans

But here's something even stranger. When everything from OnlyFans clips and revenge porn to mainstream adult studio output floods your platform, isn't it a bit hypocritical banning sex ed and health services for their content?

At Winx, Bollmeier thinks it reveals an underlying sexism overall.

Sex sells, but the way we're taught about sex  especially through mainstream heterosexual porn  is overwhelmingly focused on men's pleasure, which is harmful to both women and men. Good sex is about both partners' pleasure.

She says the orgasm gap is a perennial topic at Winx Health, where straight women orgasm significantly less than straight men during sex, something she blames on how male-centric sexual content is.

Social platforms seem comfortable with sex when it's about men's pleasure and consumption, Bollmeier notes. But when it comes to women's autonomy  conversations about birth control, abortion access, reproductive rights, not getting pregnant  it doesn't fit the narrative. It's a really frustrating double standard.

Lovehoney Group's Lehmiller also notes that theres a fine line social media platforms are trying to walk.

While platforms can benefit from having this type of content in terms of getting views, the same content is often risky with respect to their bottom line, he explains. Social networks need to navigate the demands of payment processors, advertisers and governmental and regulatory bodies, all of which have their own policies around adult content.

And where else might that sexism come from? Could the notoriously misogynistic, hyper-masculine culture inside successful online companies affect content policies as their (male) leaders reshape the digital world at every whim?

How Shifting Standards Hurt Vulnerable People

If you're skeptical you might still be asking 'so what?' Reputable advice about fertility and sexual health and assault/abuse resources isn't that hard to find. Does it really matter if a few (even most) Instagram accounts about it get banned?

RELATED: Common Sexual Assault and Violence Myths, Debunked

Unfortunately it's not just well-meaning, well-informed content creators affected, its also actual doctors. In short, the very people we're supposed to trust with health information are being deplatformed.

Worse still, social media bans dont just mean a lack of access  they could also impact the way people see the field of sex ed as a whole, which increases the risk of exposure to harmful misinformation.

I've seen examples where female patients don't have access to treatment or pleasurable experiences because these social media accounts they followed were suddenly banned, says David Ghozland, an OB/GYN, author and lecturer.

Restrictions do more harm than shutting down accounts, Ghozland explains. They compound stigma around sexual health by classifying medically accurate information as toxic. For the average user, that barrier increases shame and distrust.

RELATED: How to Kick Sexual Shame

They're not just removing content, agrees Winxs Bollmeier, they're actively harming people who need access to this information to make safe, informed decisions about their bodies and their health.

And while it wasnt exactly rosy for sex ed content creators in years past, things can seem especially bleak at the moment. It's also hard to deny the discourse has swung away from sex acceptance since Donald Trumps reelection  as Bollmeier says, Unfortunately, sex education and sexual wellness is being vilified right now.

The censorship has gotten significantly worse over the past year and it's hard to ignore the timing and the pattern we're seeing, she says. The restriction of sex education content, particularly content focused on women's reproductive autonomy, has ramped up significantly at the same time we're seeing these broader political shifts.

During the first month of this administration, reproductive information was removed from government websites, Bollmeier notes. Whether it's intentionally politically motivated or just these platforms trying to avoid controversy with the current administration, the end result is the same.

At Lioness, it was even more overt.

At one point we weren't allowed to run any Meta ads, Lee says. Meta reps told our agency to sit tight until after the election, when policies around anything related to sex were stricter.

And if social media platforms selectively curate content to adhere to a conservative sociopolitical mood in an age of post Roe vs Wade, anti-trans sentiment or the dismantling of DEI, recent research from Yale University says they could do so undetected, highlighting scary powers of opinion manipulation.

Sex Educators Shrewd Social Strategies

So in the face of so much uncertainty, is there anything content publishers can do to ensure they stay online?

Bollmeier's advice is as simple as it is depressing: Know someone who works at a social media company.

RELATED: Sex Myths It's Time We Stopped Believing

It isn't sustainable or fair, especially for individual creators or small teams like ours. We're a three-person content team trying to reach millions of people, and we shouldn't have to have personal connections inside these tech companies just to do that work.

For now, the most reliable method seems to be creative self-censorship.

Mentioning words like 'sex', 'vulva' or 'orgasm' might get you shadow-banned or even kicked off a platform, which has existential repercussions for us, says Beducated's Freya.

That means getting creative with what she calls 'algospeak: swapping words, tweaking spellings or using symbols like emojis instead of letters. Even then, she warns it's a bit of an arms race, with algorithms getting smarter and eventually catching on, meaning its only a matter of time before sex educators have to change strategies once again.

RELATED: Dirty Emojis and How to Use Them

Of course, the more they have to do so, the greater the risk that their workarounds will also mean their advice is flying over the heads of their audience  or simply isnt as findable.

It makes it trickier for people to find reliable info on sexual health, because they can't just search the straightforward terms, Freya adds. One educator

LoveHoney Group, which eventually got its two accounts reinstated thanks to persistence, connections and previous experience with the process, has its own playbook for the photos, illustrations and text posts can contain.

We've become very creative in how we talk about self-pleasure and self-love without actually talking about it, says Singmann.

Crucially, one of the most important resources content creators have to navigate the minefield of social media policies is community support, with Singmann mentioning the r/InstagramDisabledHelp subreddit in particular.

Do Social Media Platforms Have a Responsibility?

On the flip side, you could argue social media companies don't owe us anything.

Their business model is much the same as a 20th century-era TV network  you're not the customer, you're the product being sold to advertisers.

RELATED: Sex Statistics That Too Many Guys Don't Know

And when you start an account you agree to their T&Cs, unwieldy as they may be. Do content creators really have the right to complain about inconsistent bans and restrictions?

Maybe so, but at Lovehoney Group, Lehmiller reminds us about the context of social media's size and reach.

Instagram and TikTok aren't niche platforms, they've become the public square for information sharing, he says. [Social media has] overtaken television as a primary news source, so saying people can just go elsewhere rings pretty hollow. Where else is there to go where you can connect and share information on the same scale?

So in the world of sexual ed and health, especially when so many government jurisdictions are falling down on the job (or worse, letting political agendas creep in), social media might be something of a necessary evil.

And when 55 percent of adults use social media to find health information and advice 'at least occasionally', as per a recent poll, we can't ignore the impact it's having. Heres hoping that the pendulum starts to swing in the other direction before long.

Social media where sexual health and pleasure-oriented sex ed arent shadowbanned (or just simply banned outright) could be a hugely powerful tool for reducing STI transmission, shame and negative health outcomes while promoting healthy understandings of sex and desire. At least, we can dream

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2 November 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

While the recent visit of foreign diplomats to Azerbaijans liberated territories offers a symbolic nod to the countrys post-conflict reconstruction efforts, the real story lies not in the optics but in the infrastructure. The Zangezur Corridor, once a theoretical ambition, is rapidly becoming a geopolitical reality. And Azerbaijan is not waiting for permission or applause. It is building.

Since 2021, Azerbaijan has been intensively developing the segment of the corridor stretching from Horadiz to Zangilan using its own resources. This is not just a road or a railwayit is a statement. The construction of tunnels, highways, and rail infrastructure across this terrain reflects a strategic vision that transcends domestic connectivity. It is about linking East to West, North to South, and reimagining the regions economic geography.

The Zangezur Corridor is often framed in terms of its ability to connect mainland Azerbaijan to its exclave, Nakhchivan. But its implications are far broader. It offers a direct route to Turkiye, and by extension, to Europe. It shortens supply chains, reduces dependency on third-party transit routes, and enhances Azerbaijans role as a logistical hub in the South Caucasus. In a world where supply chain resilience is the new currency of power, this corridor is pure gold.

Yet the corridors full potential will only be realized if one of its most sensitive and strategic segmentsNakhchivanis developed with foresight and international cooperation. The recent announcement that Azerbaijan is considering foreign investment for the 188-kilometer railway infrastructure in Nakhchivan is a game-changer. It signals a shift from unilateral development to multilateral engagement. And it opens the door for global stakeholders to participate in a project that is as economically promising as it is geopolitically significant.

Why does foreign investment matter here? First, it brings capital and technology that can accelerate construction timelines and improve quality standards. Second, it internationalizes the corridor, making it not just an Azerbaijani asset but a shared interest among regional and global powers. Third, it creates a buffer against political risk. When multiple countries have a stake in a project, they also have a stake in its stability.

Moreover, attracting foreign investors to Nakhchivan is not just about infrastructureits about integration. It invites the world to engage with a region that has long been isolated due to geography and politics. It transforms Nakhchivan from a peripheral exclave into a central node in Eurasian connectivity. And it sends a clear message: Azerbaijan is open for business, and it is building with purpose.

Of course, challenges remain. The Armenian segment of the corridor is progressing slowly, with Yerevan reportedly working bilaterally with Washington. Coordination across borders is never easy, especially in a region with a complex history. But Azerbaijans proactive approachbuilding its own segment, engaging international partners, and maintaining diplomatic outreachpositions it as the driver of progress rather than a passive observer.

The diplomatic visits to the region, including the latest one to Jabrayil and Zangilan, serve a useful function. They allow foreign representatives to witness the scale and seriousness of Azerbaijans reconstruction efforts. They offer transparency and build trust. But they are not the engine of change. The real momentum comes from bulldozers, rail tracks, and investment agreements.

In the long run, the Zangezur Corridor could redefine the South Caucasus. It could turn historical fault lines into trade routes. It could replace isolation with integration. And it could elevate Azerbaijan from a transit country to a strategic connectorlinking Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe in a seamless flow of goods, energy, and ideas.

But this vision requires more than ambition. It requires execution. And Azerbaijan is delivering. By investing in infrastructure, courting foreign partners, and maintaining a steady diplomatic hand, it is laying the foundation for a corridor that is not just physical but transformational.

The Zangezur Corridor is no longer a dream. It is being built kilometer by kilometer, tunnel by tunnel. And with the right mix of domestic resolve and international cooperation, it could become one of the most consequential infrastructure projects of the decade.
2 November 2025 15:55 (UTC+04:00)

On November 2, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of the IDEA Public Association, Leyla Aliyeva, took part in the EcoMind 2025 conference held at the European Azerbaijan School.

According to Azernews, the event was co-organized by the IDEA Public Association and the European Azerbaijan School with the goal of promoting environmental responsibility among children and youth, as well as integrating ecological awareness and green thinking into the education process.

Before the conference, Leyla Aliyeva visited an exhibition showcasing students creative works dedicated to environmental issues, their possible solutions, and the protection of nature.

In her opening remarks, Leyla Aliyeva emphasized the importance of active youth participation in ecological initiatives and highlighted the vital role of young people in preserving the environment. She noted that raising environmentally conscious students is a guarantee of the countrys sustainable and green future.

Other speakers also shared their views on strengthening environmental responsibility in educational institutions, engaging students in eco-projects, and integrating sustainable development goals into curricula.

The event also featured a cultural segment.

Held for the first time, EcoMind 2025 aims to become a recurring platform for environmental cooperation in education. The conference brought together more than 450 participants from 30 universities, 20 public schools, and 21 private and international educational institutions.
2 November 2025 19:30 (UTC+04:00)

As part of the Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW project, an inclusive dance performance titled How Much Is Enough? was presented at the Azerbaijan State Academic Russian Drama Theatre, Azernews reports, citing Azertag

The event was attended by the initiator of the Art Weekend project, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and founder and director of the IDEA Public Union, Leyla Aliyeva.

The theater-dance performance, created by the DanceAbility Azerbaijan collective, served as an artistic response to the pressing ecological and social challenges of our time.

Developed in the context of COP29, which will be held in Baku in 2024, the production explores how everyday choicesfrom the clothes we wear to the waste we generateimpact the planets health and the future of humanity.

Speaking to an Azertag correspondent, Nigar Sultanova, director of DanceAbility Azerbaijan, said that the idea for the performance emerged amid growing public attention to issues of climate change and environmental protection, which became central themes of 2024.

We have always promoted the idea of inclusion and accessibility, but this time we decided to talk about the environment. It was important for us to do it sincerely, so over six months we met regularly with our troupe to discuss what caring for the planet truly means to us, Sultanova emphasized.

The performance was inspired by the personal stories of participants about objects they have cherished and preserved for many years.

While researching the topic, the DanceAbility Azerbaijan team discovered that around 92 million tons of textile waste are produced globally each year, while people now wear 36 percent fewer garments on average than before. These alarming figures inspired the collective to create How Much Is Enough?, a performance dedicated to consumer culture and sustainable development.

The production delves into the connection between humankind, consumption, and one of the planets most vital resourceswater.

Through movement, storytelling, and collective memory, the performance reveals the interlinkage between overconsumption, pollution, and the health of oceans, while advocating for the principles of sustainable growth and circular economy.

At the conclusion of the event, Nigar Sultanova expressed her gratitude to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Leyla Aliyeva for their support and for creating the conditions necessary to realize a project that brings together professional and amateur dancers of diverse abilities and experiences.

It should be noted that DanceAbility Azerbaijan, established in 2017, has for many years made a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of people, contributing to the creation of a society that values diversity, equality, and inclusion.
2 November 2025 19:10 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

There are places in the world where the soil remembers. Where every stone, every tree, every breeze carries the memory of a people once rooted, then torn away. Garabagh is one such place. For decades, it stood as a silent witness to destruction, its villages razed, its homes dismantledstone by stoneby Armenian forces during the years of occupation. What was once a vibrant land of culture and community was reduced to rubble, its very foundations looted and erased in an attempt to rewrite history.

But history has a way of returning home.

Today, Garabagh is rising from its ashesnot merely as a reconstruction project, but as a symbol of national resilience and spiritual restoration. The wounds of war, once raw and open, are now healing. The scars remain, but they are no longer signs of defeat. They are reminders of survival.

The Great Return program, launched by the Azerbaijani government, is not just a policyit is a movement. It is the embodiment of a promise made to those who were displaced, to those who waited decades to walk again on the soil of their ancestors. And now, that promise is being fulfilled with determination and dignity.

More than 50,000 people have already resettled in Garabagh. Among them, 22,000 are former internally displaced personsfamilies who were once forced to flee, now returning to the very homelands. These are not just numbers; they are stories of return, of rekindled hope, of lives rebuilt from the ground up.

The transformation is visible across the region. In the heart of Garabagh, in the city of Khankendi and its surrounding areas, the rhythm of life is returning. In the settlement of Karkijahan, in seven villages of the Aghdara district, and in eleven villages of the Khojaly district, preparations for resettlement are in full swing. A total of 19 residential areas are being readied for the return of their rightful inhabitants. Roads are being paved, homes are being rebuilt, and essential services are being restored.

This is not merely about infrastructureit is about identity. It is about reclaiming what was lost, not just physically, but emotionally and culturally. The return to Garabagh is a return to roots, to memory, to belonging.

What makes this revival even more remarkable is the speed and scale at which it is unfolding. Schools, clinics, and cultural centers are being established. In Khankendi, the newly established Garabagh University stands as a beacon of education and renewal. Children now walk to school where tanks once rolled. Families gather in homes where silence once reigned.

The symbolism is powerful. Where once there was desolation, now there is laughter. Where once there was exile, now there is return.

Yet, this rebirth is not without its challenges. The land still bears the remnants of warmines, ruins, and the psychological weight of trauma. But the people of Azerbaijan are not deterred. They are rebuilding not just with bricks and mortar, but with faith and fortitude.

The international community must take note. The reconstruction of Garabagh is not just a national projectit is a human one. It is a testament to what is possible when a people refuse to surrender to despair. It is a model for post-conflict recovery rooted in justice, memory, and hope.

As the sun rises over the valleys of Garabagh, it illuminates more than just new buildings. It shines on a people who have endured, who have returned, and who are now writing a new chapterone of peace, prosperity, and permanence.

Garabagh is no longer a land of loss. It is a land of life.
2 November 2025 12:10 (UTC+04:00)

Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, attended the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum as part of her official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Azernews reports, citing the Press and Public Relations Department of the Milli Majlis.

The event brought together heads of state, government, and parliaments from various countries. During the ceremony, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi delivered an address to the participants, while Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly gave an opening speech.

The ceremony continued with a cultural performance showcasing Egypts rich artistic and historical heritage, followed by an exhibition of the museums most iconic artifacts.

The Grand Egyptian Museum houses more than 100,000 artifacts representing different periods of Egyptian civilization, offering an unparalleled journey through the countrys ancient and modern history.
2 November 2025 17:00 (UTC+04:00)

As part of her working visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) Sahiba Gafarova met with President of the Arab Parliament Mohamed Alyammahi in Cairo, Azernews reports, citing the Press and Public Relations Department of the Milli Majlis.

The Department noted that Speaker Gafarova expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Muslim countries, emphasizing that these ties are built on shared religious, cultural, and moral values.

She highlighted the important role of interparliamentary cooperation in strengthening relations between nations, noting that the Milli Majlis maintains close ties with the Arab Parliament and the parliaments of its member states. Gafarova also expressed appreciation for the participation of delegations from several Arab countries in the International Parliamentary Conference held recently in Baku, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

President Alyammahi underscored Azerbaijans special place among Arab countries and extended congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the Constitution and the fifth anniversary of Victory Day on November 8.

The sides also discussed the importance of joint activities between the Milli Majlis and the Arab Parliament at the international level, with Alyammahi noting the Arab Parliaments strong cooperation with the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network, currently chaired by the Azerbaijani Parliament.

Both parties agreed to continue efforts to expand bilateral parliamentary cooperation and strengthen dialogue within multilateral platforms.
2 November 2025 18:05 (UTC+04:00)

A second round of local elections is underway in North Macedonia, Azernews reports.

The run-off vote covers 33 municipalities, with the most intense competition taking place in the capital, Skopje. More than one million eligible voters are casting their ballots to elect mayors and members of local councils.

The first round of voting was held on October 19 across 81 municipalities to choose mayors and council members. A total of 309 candidates ran for mayor, while 10,490 individuals competed overall. In that round, the ruling right-centrist party, VMRO-DPMNE, achieved a decisive victory, leading in more than 50 municipalities.

Local elections in North Macedonia are held every four years. This year marks the countrys eighth such election, following previous votes in 1996, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021.
2 November 2025 20:45 (UTC+04:00)

Russia continues to carry out nightly attacks on Ukraine using various types of weapons, targeting both residential buildings and energy infrastructure, Azernews reports.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement on social media that over the past week alone, Russia has launched nearly 1,500 kamikaze drones, 1,170 guided aerial bombs, and more than 70 missiles against Ukrainian territory.

Since last night, strikes have been reported in Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Odesa. Unfortunately, there are casualties and injuries. I extend my condolences to all those who have lost loved ones in these attacks, Zelensky said.

The president added that these assaults have caused significant damage to residential areas and critical civilian infrastructure, while numerous acts of energy terrorism have been recorded across the country.

Zelensky emphasized that Moscows main objective is to harm Ukrainian civilians:

That is why we are working actively to ensure reliable support for our energy sector during the winter months. We already have concrete agreements with our partners, he said, listing the United States, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Spain, and the European Commission among the countries contributing to Ukraines Energy Support Fund.
2 November 2025 20:15 (UTC+04:00)

Djiboutis parliament removed the age limit for presidents with a unanimous vote on Sunday, its speaker said, opening the way for leader Ismail Omar Guelleh to run for a sixth term, Azernews reports, citing Arab News.

Guelleh, 77, has held power since 1999 in the tiny Horn of Africa nation, a major port that hosts military bases for the United States, France, China, Japan and Italy.

Djiboutis lawmakers unanimously approved the change to the constitution to remove a bar on running for president past the age of 75.

The move allows Guelleh to run in the next election in April 2026, likely facing minimal opposition in a country with limited freedom of expression and press.

The National Assembly ratified the removal of the age limit today, so it is official, said parliament speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita.

Parliament had already passed the motion a week earlier in an initial vote that was then approved by Guelleh and sent back to lawmakers for the final vote.

Dileita earlier said the constitutional change was necessary to ensure the stability of the small country, in a troubled region, the Horn of Africa, with Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.

Guelleh won the last election in 2021 with 97 percent of the vote while his party, the Union for the Presidential Majority, holds the majority of parliamentary seats.

He succeeded Hassan Gouled Aptidon, the father of Djiboutis independence, in 1999 after serving as his chief of staff for 22 years.

Djibouti has only around one million inhabitants but lies on the strategic trade route of the Bab El-Mandeb Strait on the Red Sea.
2 November 2025 22:25 (UTC+04:00)

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani has confirmed that President Ahmad al-Sharaa will travel to the United States in November for official talks at the White House, Azernews reports, citing the SANA news agency.

Al-Shibani said the visit is expected to take place later this month, although no specific date was provided. The agenda will reportedly focus on Syrias post-war reconstruction efforts and the possible lifting of U.S. sanctions imposed during the conflict.

The continuation of sanctions no longer has any justification, the foreign minister said, emphasizing that their removal is essential for Syrias economic recovery and regional reintegration.

If confirmed, this will mark the first visit by a Syrian head of state to the United States since Syria gained independence in 1946. President al-Sharaa has previously met with former U.S. President Donald Trumpfirst in Riyadh and later on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

A day earlier, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack told Axios that al-Sharaas visit to Washington is tentatively scheduled for November 10. Analysts view the upcoming trip as a potential turning point in long-frozen U.S.Syria relations.
2 November 2025 23:30 (UTC+04:00)

During his official visit to Iraq, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a joint press conference in Baghdad with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, Azernews reports.

Minister Fidan announced that the agreement to be signed today between Turkiye and Iraq on water management will ensure the sustainable restoration of Iraqs water systems, marking the largest infrastructure investment in the countrys history.

Addressing the issue of the PKK terrorist organization, Fidan reiterated that Turkiye expects the group to lay down its arms and cease its terrorist activities not only in Turkiye but also in Iraq. He emphasized that Turkiye fully supports Iraqs development, stability, and prosperity.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, for his part, said that the two sides discussed the water issue, which serves the interests of both nations. He noted that a preliminary understanding had already been reached in Ankara, and with todays signing, the memorandum will officially come into force.

Following the press conference, Turkiye and Iraq signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the regulation of water flow in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The agreement is expected to end nearly 75 years of disputes between the two countries over the sharing of water resources from the two major rivers.
Has the City of Washington, NC been managed by their elected local government, and their bureaucrats, in a fiscally responsible manner to better serve the people who pay their ever advancing property taxes?

0% Yes, rising property taxes are a necessity to maintain a progressive city.100% No, excessive funding of a poorly managed government can become a shell game of corruption.0% I am afraid to say.
Foreign citizens are prohibited from contributing to US election candidates, but a group of leftwing European billionaires has found a way to influence US elections by a shady scheme of influence peddling by contributing over $2 Billion to issue based groups that push Democrat Party issues. A new report from Americans for Public Trust details who the foreign billionaires funding this influence peddling scheme are and who they are working with in the US.

One angle used by these billionaires to push leftwing policy in the United States is funding lawfare to try to get activist judges to enter politically or ideologically motivated orders. The five billionaires or billionaire families involved are the Carlsbergs of Denmark, British hedge fund billionaire Greg Skinner, British billionaire Alan Parker, the German / Dutch Brenninkmeijer family, and British billionaire Christopher Hohn. each of these billionaires funnel their money through "charities" they have created. Pushing radical environmental policy through the courts or regulation has been a particular area of concentration.

https://americansforpublictrust.org/news/bombshell-apt-report-shows-foreign-charities-dumped-billions-into-us-political-advocacy-groups-erode-democracy/

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bombshell-report-shows-foreign-charities-dumped-billions-us-political-advocacy-groups-erode-democracy

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/euro-cash-hits-d-c-billions-from-europe-try-to-shape-u-s-agenda/

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/european-billionaires-funneled-2-billion-transatlantic-ngo-network-erode-us-democracy

One would hope our government finds a way to shut down this foreign influence peddling. It is not the only effort to shape US policy through funding ideological organizations. Congressional investigations have found that Russia used to fund US environmental groups through a "charity" they bankrolled in Bermuda, as well as significant Chinese funding of US environmental groups.

Hungary dealt with this problem of foreign billionaires influence peddling in local politics by passing its famous "Anti-Soros Law" to restrict those activities, which led to a tantrum by the EU. Hungary actually made certain of their activities criminal felonies.

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/analysis/hungarys-lex-soros-prophecy-not-paranoia/

Remembering that these globalists and environmental extremists want us to eat bugs and worms instead of meat, this cartoon illustrates where they are trying to push us:
In a welcome development, Baltimore County, Maryland has been removed from the list of sanctuary counties for illegal aliens. The Democrat run county government has now signed a cooperation agreement with ICE on enforcement of immigration laws in the city, defying their state government's sanctuary state policy. County officials will now work with ICE on deporting illegal aliens found in the county.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/what-cracked-leftist-controlled-baltimore-county-stuns-residents-striking-cooperation

Meanwhile, the sanctuary state of Illinois has doubled down on trying to defy federal law enforcement. Their legislature has passed a bill, that even one of its chief sponsors admits is of doubtful Constitutionality, to ban ICE from arresting illegal aliens in courthouses or within 1,000 feet of a courthouse. Rabidly leftwing Governor Pritzker has signed it into law. When the priority target for deportation is criminal illegal aliens, where better to find them than at a courthouse? Why do Democrats want to keep and protect illegal aliens who have committed other crimes in their city or state? They just pose a threat of committing more crimes against citizens.

The bill purports to allow civil lawsuits for damages against individual federal law enforcement personnel who violate its restrictions. Maybe those who passed this bill should consider whether they themselves have now violated federal criminal laws on Obstruction of Justice or Harboring Illegal Aliens.

https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/11/01/illinois-passes-law-preventing-ice-arrests-in-courthouses/

Constitutional Law expert Professor Jonathan Turley explains why Illinois' law will not stand up in court:

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jonathan-turley-why-blue-states-new-anti-ice-laws-unconstitutional-virtue-signaling
Hollywood A-lister Lucy Liu has said she loves the history of Northern Ireland and never thought she would be recognised here for her acting achievements.

The Charlies Angels star visited the city at the weekend, to receive the Belfast Film Festivals Realta (meaning star) Award, for her performance in the new drama Rosemead, of which she is also a producer.
Police said the man was found with serious injuries. Stock photo.

A man has died after a suspected hit and run in Co Londonderry.

The victim, aged in his 60s, was found seriously injured near Dungiven in the early hours of this morning.

He passed away in hospital.

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter said there was shock in the local area.

"My heart goes out to the family and friends of the man who has tragically lost his life, she said.

"It's concerning that police believe this may have been a hit and run and I would urge anyone with information to come forward."

Sinn Fein MLA Caoimhe Archibald said: This is a tragedy and my thoughts are with the loved ones of the man who lost his life.

I would urge anyone with information to come forward to the PSNI and assist with the investigation.

Alliance councillor Amy Mairs said: Every death on our roads is a tragedy, and its deeply upsetting to hear of yet another person losing their life in this way.

My thoughts and sympathies are with the mans family and loved ones at what will no doubt be an unbelievably difficult time.

The PSNI said officers were investigating what had happened.

Detective Inspector Gillian Connolly said: Police received a report at approximately 1.35am that an injured man had been found in the Foreglen Road area.

Police said the man was found with serious injuries. Stock photo.

News Catch Up - Friday 31 October

Officers attended, alongside our colleagues from partner emergency services. The injured man was taken to hospital for treatment, but sadly died.

We are continuing to investigate the circumstances, and at this time, we believe that he may have been injured in a hit and run road traffic collision.

As part of our enquiries, we would like to hear from witnesses or anyone who may have captured dash-cam or other footage which could assist.

Separately, four men have died in road collisions across the Irish Republic this weekend.

In the latest incident, a man died in a single-vehicle crash at Lavally in Tuam, Co Galway, at around 4.30am on Sunday.

Gardai said the man aged in his 30s was pronounced deceased at the scene on the L2107 at Cappadavock.

An elderly man died in a collision in Co Galway at about 11.30pm on Friday and two men died in road incidents in Co Carlow and Co Kildare on Saturday afternoon.

Gardai said a man aged in his 80s died after a car struck a pedestrian on the Tuam Road in Loughgeorge. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Saturday, a man aged in his 30s was seriously injured after being struck by a bus on the N7 motorway eastbound, at Kill, Co Kildare at about 3.30pm. He died in hospital that evening.

Another pedestrian, a man in his 40s, died following a road crash at Ballyroughan Big, Borris, Co Carlow at 4.30pm on Saturday.
UVF leaders make rare show of unity to defuse tensions over loyalist split

There had been reports of rising tensions between the group still loyal to Stephen Matthews and those aligned with Raymond Morton.

Stephen Matthews.

Richard Sullivan Sun 2 Nov 2025 at 08:31

Loyalist leaders in east Belfast have moved to defuse rising tensions in a rare show of unity.
Tributes have been paid to an author and cartoonist  described as a true gentleman  who has died.

John Farrelly, from outside Newry, was best known by his professional name Captain Wonder.

He was widely recognised for his Deadly Irish History book series, published by OBrien Press.

A death notice said he passed away peacefully at the Evora Hospice in Newry on Friday, surrounded by his family.

His other works included Farrellys Field Guide to Irish Faerie Folk, which was published last year.

In a light-hearted tribute, publisher OBrien Press said Mr Farrelly was a man who always did a full days work  just spread out over the full week.

The publisher said his career began after he dropped out of art college.

All he wanted to do was write stories and draw pictures, so he became a freelance caricature artist, the publisher added.

His former school, the Abbey Grammar in Newry, said it was extremely saddened by news of Mr Farrellys death, adding that he would be greatly missed.

Having attended the Abbey in the 1980s, John went on to carve out a career as he achieved significant success with his Deadly Irish History series with OBrien Press and was often found in schools across the country discussing his work and divulging the odd secret or two on how to create illustrations, the school said.

"His work appeared in many comics and magazines including Viz.

Last Year he published Farrellys Field Guide to Irish Faerie Folk to great acclaim and was delighted before his death to hear that it was going to a reprint.

He took great inspiration from illustrators and poster designers such as Bernie Wrightson and Drew Struzan and was very grateful to his Abbey Art teacher, Oonagh Byrne, for her guidance and attention. Indeed, he was delighted to meet her again in his final days.

The school stated that Mr Farrellys great ambition was to walk into a strangers home and to find a piece of his work hanging on their wall. He would not have had to go far to have had his wish come true.

They added: Having witnessed the great outpouring of sadness at his recent illness he would have been overjoyed to know how well respected and admired he was as an artist and person.

Professionally he went by the name Captain Wonder and whether it was by pencil or pen, John helped us all to see something of the magic that lay within us and the world around us. He will be greatly missed."

Among those paying tribute, one described him as a witty, funny, talented fella with a big smile.

Another wrote: Rest in Peace, John. Your drawings will live on in our house forever.

Mr Farrelly spoke about his career in the Belfast Telegraph last year.

He said: I dont tend to draw many famous people, Ive done a few, but not many. I did draw the broadcaster Gerry Kelly at a wedding one time, but it was early in my career and I dont think I did a very good job. What I like about drawing caricatures is the variety. I get asked to draw all sorts of mad things.

John Farrelly. Credit: Bob McConville.

News Catch Up - Friday 31 October

One of the most bizarre things I was asked to draw was this fella dressed as a Roman centurion blowing away a zombie with a pump-action shotgun. I dont even ask any more, I just draw what Im told to draw. But its the variety that I love and the fact that a good sense of humour is an absolute must.
Some of my listeners have turned to me to champion a cause that I don't think we have any need for
More than 40,000 homes for military families are to be modernised as part of a 9 billion overhaul of armed forces accommodation.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the Government would undertake the biggest renewal of armed forces housing in more than 50 years in a drive to back Britains military families.

The plan will see almost all of the 47,700 service family accommodation (SFA) homes refurbished over the next decade, with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) promising new kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems.

Around 14,000 will receive either substantial refurbishment or be completely replaced.

Military accommodation has been heavily criticised in recent years, with a Commons committee last year finding problems with maintenance and historic underinvestment leaving two-thirds of SFA housing essentially no longer fit for purpose.

MPs also found around a third of the 133,000 single living accommodation spaces were not fit for purpose.

Around 56% of service personnel are housed in single living accommodation and 40% said poor accommodation standards had made them more likely to leave the armed forces.

The refurbishment is part of the Governments wider defence housing strategy, set to be published on Monday.

The strategy, backed by 9 billion over the next 10 years, will also include plans to build 100,000 homes on surplus MoD land, both for civilians and service personnel.

Mr Healey announced a forces first policy at Labours party conference this year, giving service families and veterans first dibs on new homes built on MoD land.

The Defence Secretary said: Every day, our British forces personnel  and their families  help to keep us all safe. In this new era of threat, we rely on them more every day. The least they deserve is a decent home.

Our new defence housing strategy will be the biggest renewal of armed forces housing in more than 50 years.

This is a new chapter: a decisive break from decades of underinvestment, with a building programme to back Britains military families and drive economic growth across the country.

The strategy follows a review of military housing led by former MP Natalie Elphicke Ross, who defected from the Conservatives to Labour shortly before the 2024 general election.

Ms Elphicke Ross, whose review surveyed more than 6,000 service families, said: For too long, military housing has been in a terrible state, this strategy seeks to change that by fixing defence family homes and delivering for the nation.
Kemi Badenoch has said she is rebuilding the Conservative Party, as she marks her first year as Tory leader.

Mrs Badenochs first anniversary since taking over as Tory leader is on Sunday, November 2.

She came to the helm of the Conservative Party after a leadership contest triggered by Rishi Sunaks resignation in the wake of the 2024 general election drubbing.

Over the last year, Mrs Badenoch has slowly started to craft a new policy platform for her Conservative Party, but has been criticised by anonymous MPs disappointed the Tories do not appear to be cutting through with voters, as Reform UK continues to occupy a similar political territory.

Despite the current political headwinds, Mrs Badenoch appeared adamant in her approach.

She said: This first year of my leadership has been about rebuilding. Rebuilding our party, our principles and our plan for Britain.

After defeat in 2024, we faced a choice: retreat into slogans, or rebuild around values. We chose to rebuild.

The Conservative Party now stands once again for what made Britain strong in the first place  responsibility, fairness, competence and pride in our nation.

She also pointed to the large number of donations the party had received over the last year, an area where it has outperformed its political rivals.

At the same time as we rebuild, we have stayed united, raised more money than the other parties combined and exposed the hypocrisy of Labours behaviour and the weakness of their policies, forcing U-turns on winter fuel payments, grooming gangs and welfare cuts, Mrs Badenoch said.

She added: Ive spent this year giving the country a serious alternative to Labours weakness: a plan for a stronger economy and stronger borders.

The Conservatives have set out detailed, costed policies to cut waste, lower taxes, control immigration and reward work. Weve shown how to fix welfare, stop the boats, cut energy bills and make work pay again.

Despite her insistence the party is providing a credible alternative to the Labour Government, the latest polling from YouGov suggested voters are yet to be convinced by Mrs Badenoch: 12% believe she is a prime minister in waiting, while 62% do not.

A majority of Conservative members, 54%, do however believe she is doing a good job as party leader, while 24% say she has done a bad job, according to the survey of 2,136 British adults carried out between October 28 and 29.

Pollsters have also suggested the Tories are less popular than the Lib Dems, as Nigel Farages Reform UK continues to lead with the public.

Danny Kruger, who defected from the Tories to Reform this year, with head of policy Zia Yusuf during a Reform UK press conference (Ben Whitley/PA)

While some ex-Conservatives, including sitting MP Danny Kruger, have defected to Reform, others have anonymously voiced concerns to the media about Mrs Badenochs leadership.

She has previously suggested she will not pay attention to attempts at regicide, especially from MPs who are not willing to put a name to their criticisms.

But backbench Tories could soon hold Mrs Badenochs future in their hands, as a grace period preventing them from submitting letters expressing no confidence in her expires once her first year in office is complete.

Bob Blackman, who as chairman of the 1922 Committee acts as a conduit for Conservative backbenchers, told the PA news agency he believed Mrs Badenochs slow and steady approach had been the correct one.

He also suggested backbenchers should come to him before airing grievances in public, telling the PA news agency: When people have got a concern, if they raise it with us then we will raise it with both the chief whip and with the leader where appropriate, but do so in private, which is the right way to do it.

It is a case of, in my view, dont whinge and moan, and certainly dont do it in public, because that doesnt do anyone any good.

Mrs Badenoch has gone through a learning curve over the last year, Mr Blackman acknowledged, but praised her improved performance at Prime Ministers Questions, which he said demonstrated she was getting well prepared and ready to actually hold the Prime Minister to account.

Mrs Badenoch also continues to face the challenge of ambitious frontbenchers who appear to be plotting potential future leadership bids.

These include shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, who has been building a platform and voice of his own on social media, and shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam.

Ms Lam has denied any involvement with a Lam for Leader website recently registered online.

Labour said that one year in, Kemi Badenochs Conservatives have shown themselves incapable of change or learning lessons from the past.

Party chairwoman Anna Turley said: They crashed the economy, sent mortgages rocketing and left NHS waiting lists at record highs.

She added: The Tories simply arent serious, and theyve learned no lessons from their 14 years in power.

Working people paid the price of their failure and they would again.
China, Saudi Arabia vow to lift ties to new high

Xinhua) 10:34, November 02, 2025

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 29, 2025. Han visited Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

RIYADH, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng Saturday concluded a five-day visit to Saudi Arabia, with the two countries pledging to lift their comprehensive strategic partnership to higher levels.

During the visit, Han met with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and addressed the ninth Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference.

When meeting with the crown prince, Han conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the crown prince.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 35 years ago, and especially since Xi's successful visit to Saudi Arabia in 2022, China-Saudi Arabia relations have made new positive progress, he said.

The fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee has sent a clear signal for China to further advance comprehensive reforms and expand high-level opening up, which will provide valuable opportunities for the future development of China-Saudi Arabia relations, Han said.

China stands ready to work with Saudi Arabia to implement the important consensus reached by their leaders, enhance high-level exchanges, expand practical cooperation in various fields, and increase people-to-people and cultural exchanges, in order to lift the China-Saudi Arabia comprehensive strategic partnership to higher levels, he said.

China, he added, is also willing to enhance coordination with Saudi Arabia on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and the G20, advance global governance in a more just and reasonable direction, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

The crown prince, for his part, asked Han to convey his best wishes to President Xi.

Noting that China is an important major country in the world, he said that Saudi Arabia and China enjoy strong political relations, which are at their highest level in history.

He added that Saudi Arabia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and stands ready to deepen cooperation with China in areas such as economy and trade, investment, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and mining to promote common development.

He said that Saudi Arabia highly appreciates China's efforts to facilitate reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and values its fair stance on the Palestinian issue, expressing hope that China will play a greater role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

Addressing the ninth FII conference, Han said that promoting development and prosperity is a common aspiration of the international community and a shared task for all countries, especially developing ones.

The concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity, as well as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, have charted the course for all countries to achieve peaceful development and common prosperity, he said.

The vice president put forward four proposals in his speech. First, strengthening innovation-driven development and promoting green development. Han said China is willing to work with all countries to promote the cooperation of traditional, emerging, and future industries, continuously stimulating development momentum, and driving the green and low-carbon transformation of the world economy.

Second, upholding openness and cooperation and promoting mutual benefit and win-win results. Noting that China has always adhered to the basic national policy of opening up, Han said China is willing to work with all countries to promote greater resilience, efficiency, and vitality in the global industrial and supply chains, and inject more certainty and positive energy into the world economic recovery and global development and prosperity.

Third, advocating people-centered development and achieving common prosperity. China has always adhered to a people-centered development philosophy and calls for jointly advancing universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, Han said, noting that China stands ready to join hands with other developing countries to share development opportunities and move forward together towards modernization.

Fourth, enhancing shared visions and deepening solidarity and coordination. Han said China is willing to work with the international community to practice genuine multilateralism, uphold the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits in global governance, work to build a more just and equitable global governance system, and join hands in building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Noting that China and the Middle East enjoy a long history of friendship and cooperation, Han said China stands ready to work with Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region to deepen friendly collaboration, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and forge a more multidimensional pattern of energy cooperation.

The two sides, he suggested, should also speed up efforts to secure new progress in financial and investment cooperation, foster new highlights in cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and explore new frontiers in innovation collaboration, so as to make fresh contributions to the development and prosperity of countries in the region and create new opportunities for global growth.

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Han attended and delivered a speech at a dinner with representatives from the Chinese and Saudi business communities, expressing the hope that the business sectors of both countries will continue to play their role as a bridge and link, uphold the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, seek common development, and jointly push the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level.

Han also visited Jeddah and met with Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng delivers a speech at a dinner with representatives from the Chinese and Saudi business communities in Saudi Arabia, Oct. 29, 2025. Han visited Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 30, 2025. Han visited Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
British Transport Police emergency responders on the platform by the train at Huntingdon station (Chris Radburn/PA)

Counter-terrorism police are involved in an investigation into a mass stabbing on a train which left nine people suffering with life-threatening injuries.

A man with a large knife is believed to have been shot with a Taser by police after going on a bloody rampage on a high speed train after it left Peterborough station in Cambridgeshire.

British Transport Police (BTP) said two people have been arrested over the stabbings which happened on the 6.25pm train service from Doncaster to London Kings Cross on Saturday.

Police said there have been no fatalities so far from the attacks which Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described as deeply concerning.

A 10th person suffered non life-threatening injuries.

BTP said a major incident was declared, and at one point declared Plato, the national code word used by police and emergency services when responding to a marauding terror attack, before the latter declaration was subsequently rescinded.

Witnesses have spoken of seeing a man with a large knife and passengers hiding in the toilets to escape the rampage, The Times reported.

One told the paper there was blood everywhere and people were getting stamped on by others as they tried to flee.

The witness said: I heard some people shouting we love (you).

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The Sun said another witness described the attack as like something from a film, adding: It was a terrible scene, really violent.

One man, who gave his name as Gavin, told Sky News he believed he saw the suspect tasered before he was arrested.

He said: Essentially, as they got closer to him, started shouting, like, get down get down.

He then was waving a knife, quite a large knife, and then they detained him.

I think it was a Taser that got him down in the end.

Olly Foster told the BBC he initially heard people shouting run, run, theres a guy literally stabbing everyone, and believed it might have been a prank related to Halloween.

A man wearing an emergency foil blanket near to the scene at Huntingdon train station in Cambridgeshire (Chris Radburn/PA)

Mr Foster said that people quickly started pushing through the carriage, and he noticed his hand was covered in blood as there was blood all over the chair he had leaned on.

An older man blocked the attacker from stabbing a younger girl, leaving him with injuries to his head and neck, Mr Foster said, adding other passengers used their clothing to try and stem the bleeding.

He said the incident felt like forever.

Video footage on social media showed scores of blue-light police cars and emergency vehicles in a station car park, and a team of armed police running towards the stationary train at Huntingdon station.

Officers wearing forensic suits, with a police dog, could be seen on the platform.

The attack is understood to have started shortly after the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train left Peterborough station.

Chief Superintendent Chris Casey said: This is a shocking incident and first and foremost my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families.

Were conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further.

At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

Our response is ongoing at the station and will be for some time.

Cordons are in place and trains are not currently running through the area, and there are also some road closures.

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MP for Huntingdon Ben Obese-Jecty called the incident appalling and devastating.

My thoughts are with all those victims who were injured during this heinous attack, he wrote on X.

I would like to pay tribute to the incredible and immediate response of the emergency services, particularly the Response Officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary who were first to arrive on the scene.

LNER, which operates East Coast Mainline services in the UK, said disruption to its services between London Kings Cross and Lincoln, Doncaster, Leeds, Bradford Forster Square and Harrogate was expected to last until Monday, with passengers advised to defer their travel where possible.

David Horne, managing director of LNER, said in a statement: We are deeply shocked and saddened by this serious incident, and our thoughts are very much with everyone involved.

I would like to thank the emergency services for their quick and professional response and the care they have provided to those injured. Anyone with information who hasnt already spoken to police is urged to contact British Transport Police.

The safety and wellbeing of everyone affected will remain our priority. We will continue to do everything we can to support our customers and colleagues during this difficult time.

A spokesperson for the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said: We are horrified by the mass stabbing attack on an LNER train last night.

Our thoughts remain with the train crew and passengers who were either at work or going about their business on a busy Saturday night during this awful incident.

It is important we allow the emergency services and authorities to establish the full facts before commenting further.
An aerial view of Falmouth, Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa (Matias Delacroix/AP)

The Prince of Wales will be donating to the relief efforts to help those affected by Hurricane Melissa.

Jamaica was left devastated this week by the hurricane, which was one of the strongest to hit the island in its history.

Melissa came ashore in Jamaica as a category five hurricane on Tuesday, carrying top winds of 185mph.

The storm also hit nearby Haiti, where it caused catastrophic flooding and killed at least 30 people, according to local authorities.

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A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: The prince and princess have also been following the terrible events in Jamaica over the last week.

He will be personally donating to the relief efforts to support those impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

Meanwhile, the King and Queen have donated to the Red Cross humanitarian appeal which will help the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) support Red Cross National Societies responding to the aftermath of the storm.

In a statement earlier this week, the King said he was deeply concerned by Hurricane Melissas destruction and described it as a reminder of the urgent need to restore the balance and harmony of nature.

Charles is currently King of Jamaica, although the countrys Prime Minister Andrew Holness has been pushing ahead with plans to make the realm a republic.

The King said: As we continue to follow the situation closely, our anxious thoughts are with all those who have been so cruelly affected by this awful storm.

Above all, our most heartfelt sympathy is with the families, friends and loved ones of those who have tragically lost their lives.

The monarch, who is also head of the Commonwealth, said he has held the greatest affection for Jamaica since his first visit to the island while serving in the Royal Navy on the West Indies station more than 50 years ago.

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I know that no disaster can break her peoples enduring spirit of strength, solidarity and steadfastness, he added.

It comes as the first charter flight carrying British citizens back from Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa landed in the UK.

Around 8,000 British nationals are thought to have been on the island, where popular tourist areas such as Montego Bay have been badly hit.

The Foreign Office has advised British nationals to use commercial flights to leave the country, but has chartered a small number of flights for those unable to do so.

The UK has also announced 7.5 million of humanitarian support, including shelter kits and solar-powered lanterns for those still without power.

Some of the money will also be used to match donations to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent.

On Sunday, shelter kits from the UK arrived in Jamaica, the Foreign Office said.
Assault accused bit hotel worker who put him in a headlock during row over unpaid bar bill

Dubliner appears in court over altercation at Belfast hotel

Dubliner Brian Matthews leaving court

John Toner Sun 2 Nov 2025 at 08:00

A man charged with assault after biting a hotel worker in a row over an unpaid bar bill has appeared in court.
A shopping centre in Co Down is about to launch its Christmas advertising campaign  and its aimed squarely at Republic of Ireland shoppers, trying to lure them over the border to take advantage of UK prices.
Its emotional even talking about it: Jon Bon Jovi excited to rekindle love affair with Ireland at comeback gig

Rock legend on the comeback that almost never happened after vocal cord nightmare

Jon Bon Jovi at Croke Park (Photograph by Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)

Ralph McLean Sun 2 Nov 2025 at 18:00

When Bon Jovi take to the stage at Croke Park in Dublin next August, one person will be feeling the emotion of that long-awaited return to Ireland more than most: Jon Bon Jovi himself.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Mostly cloudy with snow showers during the evening. Low 12F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with snow showers during the evening. Low 12F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Scattered snow showers during the morning. Then partly to mostly cloudy this afternoon. High 24F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30%..

Tonight

A few snow showers around this evening, otherwise mostly cloudy. Low 13F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Pittsfield city councilors are calling for a comprehensive review of how the Shannon Grant is being used  and whether longtime partner 18 Degrees is effectively reaching the youth most at risk of gun violence  as the grant approaches renewal.
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NORTH ADAMS  North Adams has been awarded $3.1 million in Community One Stop for Growth funding that will start work on five major projects throughout the city.

The money tackles five "high impact" projects the city has been eyeing to fix, which include Heritage State Park, the Mohawk Theater, downtown infrastructure improvements, a vacant storefront program and the Walnut Street stabilization project.

Here's how it breaks down.

Walnut Street

The program slates $2 million for reconstruction of the Walnut Street wall, "addressing longstanding infrastructure concerns and improving safety," according to a news release.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said the money will fund the repair of three-quarters of the wall, which will then be reattached to the "good portion" of the wall. The funds will also be used to address drainage problems  if the collapsing wall were to come down, everything behind it is "coming right down to State Street."

"The pipes [coming out of the wall] are so corroded that they are not catching the water," she said. "This is big because it has been affecting that neighborhood for a few years now and the wall has been in disrepair as long as I can remember."

Vacant storefronts and the Mohawk

The vacant storefront program will work alongside the North Adams Partnership to provide $50,000 of refundable tax credits to property owners to fill storefronts with new businesses. Another $50,000 will pay for a business plan for Mohawk Theater that focuses on what the city can do to sell or revitalize the long-vacant theater.

The partnership will help the city create a vacant storefront inventory, collect stakeholders in the project and help create a list of potential matches for businesses for the spaces, Executive Director Jenny Wright said.

"We'll help connect the existing community to the broader economic landscape in Western Massachusetts," she said.

Engineering plans

Heritage State Park will get $250,000 to create "architectural and engineering documents" that are needed to secure construction funding to repair the park's old buildings. It will also get $50,000 to prepare the property for "redevelopment and public use."

Finally, North Adams will get $700,000 to fund engineering plans for "critical utility and infrastructure improvements in the downtown core," particularly around Eagle and Main streets.

How One Stop works

The Community One Stop for Growth is a one-stop shop for state grant funding. Its portal combines 12 of its most popular community development grant programs and a "collaborative review process."

One Stop applications from cities were due in June, and Macksey said she typically doesn't hear if they are rewarded until Thanksgiving.

"This is big for North Adams," Macksey said. "It's really aligning awards with real projects and that's what our purpose is."

The city already has its award letters and is now awaiting the state to award contracts for each project, said Macksey. Because it already has the repair engineered for the Walnut Street Wall, she expected it would go out to bid early next year with a tentative construction date of April.

Contracts for all awards will go out around the same time she added, "but that's the one people will feel and see right away."
HOUSATONIC  While bundled in layers of clothing and safety gear, about 35 volunteers braved the rain on Friday to build homes at Prosperity Way.

Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity hosted its build day for the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, which celebrates the legacy of the late president and first lady. The Carters were known for their commitment to Habitat for Humanity's mission of bringing affordable housing to everyone.

The volunteers showed up to Prosperity Way, just off of North Plain Road in Housatonic, to assemble the modular homes, completing outdoor projects while the weather held. When the rain came, they switched to indoor work.

Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity will have six homes completed in the next few months, officials said, with an additional 14 coming in later phases.

Friday was the first day Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity hosted a Carter build day, but it wasn't the first for CEO Carolyn Valli.

"I've participated in other affiliates," Valli said, referring to the International Habitat for Humanity build days.

"But one of the things that they've been very concerned about is, across the country in rural communities, you don't get the amount of attention," she said.

That is why International Habitat for Humanity began the Rural Rally, which coincided with the annual Carter build day this year.

This allows regional Habitat for Humanity chapters to "bring attention and advocacy to projects like this that, without government support, is going to be very difficult to complete," Valli said.

Although it is the Central Berkshire branch's first time hosting a Carter work project day, the organization had around 35 volunteers show up to aid in construction.

Some of the attendees  like retiree Alan Kulberg, who previously worked in construction  are "core volunteers" for the organization. Kulberg, for example, volunteers "a good three or four days a week, just because I love doing it."

"I like to do construction. I like the mission of providing housing for people," he said.

Also among the volunteers were groups from Greylock Federal Credit Union, Team Pretty Tough and even state Sen. Paul Mark showed up.

For many volunteers, the community and camaraderie Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity has built makes the work worth it  even when it rains.

"Carolyn does a great job of keeping people in the know," said Stacey Carver, the founder of Team Pretty Tough. "So people in the community who want to help the community are pretty much avid followers and try to help whenever we can."

This energy radiated across the build site as volunteers darted between buildings, helped the main construction crew and took pit stops at the snack station.

"I know our team is excited 'cause we always like trying a new challenge and a different type of project," Carver said.

What makes this project unique is the fact that the homes are modular; Kulberg estimated that the homes came to the site "70 percent done."

Six homes are currently under construction, and Valli said they should be done within the next "four months" if the weather is good. Although the homes don't have a list price yet, Valli said Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is "pretty committed to getting a finalized number within the next 30 days."

Throughout the day, the crew battled inclement weather, Valli said. This meant that build plans were constantly in flux, but each volunteer found something to be excited about.

"I'm excited to learn how to build the stoop, because that's new to me," Carver said. "I love demo work too, but I've done that, so I'm letting others do that today."

For Valli, who was hands-on during the event, the day's highlight was much simpler.

"Talking all of the people here, the volunteers here," Valli said. "I always like to find out, like, what is their why?"
With news that Allied Irish Bank (AIB) bought out the Government's stake in the bank for 390 million, speculation is growing that it will do the same with the stake it has in Permanent TSB.

Seeing as the State recouped 20.2 billion from its investment in AIB, selling its stakes in PSTB seems very likely in the near future.

Why does the Government have a stake in Irish banks in the first place, and what is the future for the shares it currently has in banks?

Here is everything you need to know.

Why did the Government buy shares in Irish banks?

With the collapse of the global financial system in 2008, many Irish banks were faced with mounting debts. The Government had to decide whether to let these banks fail or keep them afloat by buying shares.

The Fianna Fail-led government decided to do the latter and bought stakes in various banks to stem the bleeding.

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In February 2009, the government bought 3.5 billion worth of shares in AIB. By 2011, the stakes were at 99.8 per cent, effectively nationalising the bank.

The same number of shares was bought in Bank of Ireland, but it only ever owned a 36 per cent stake in the bank overall. This meant it was the only major Irish bank to avoid being nationalized.

Bank of Ireland logos in Dublins city centre. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins

In 2011, the government acquired 4 billion worth of shares in Permanent TSB (PTSB), resulting in a 99.2 per cent ownership in the bank. Due to PSTB's heavy mortgage losses, it would be too difficult to do it through private investment.

When it comes to the now-defunct Anglo-Irish Bank, the State took full ownership of the bank, costing over 29 billion in total bailout funds.

The same went for the Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS), which they ended up taking a 100 per cent stake in before merging with Anglo-Irish and being wound down in 2011.

So while not all banks weathered the storm, the Government sought to buy shares in these banks, and when the time was right and the economy was on a better footing, they could sell their shares.

What roles does the Government have?

They have no control over the day-to-day operations of the banks, and they are not managed directly by the government. They are governed by published Relationship Framework Agreements.

They said Government policy is not to hold these investments long term and, subject to market conditions, is willing to exit in a manner that generates value for the taxpayer.

The Shareholding and Financial Advisory Division (SFAD) is responsible for:

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Monitoring the overall strategic direction of the banks;

Developing and executing plans to optimise the value of the States investments.

What stake does the Government still have?

Bank of Ireland (BOI)

In September 2022, the Minister for Finance announced that the State had completed the sale of its remaining shareholding in Bank of Ireland, making it the first Irish bank to return to full private ownership.

The government recovered almost 6.7 billion in cash from its 4.7 billion investment in and support for Bank of Ireland over the 2009-2011 period.

Allied Irish Banks (AIB)

AIB agreed with the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, to cancel the over 271 million warrants held by him for a cash payment to the State of 390 million.

The warrants, which gave the Minister the right to subscribe for ordinary shares in AIB at a specified price, were originally granted in July 2017.

A deed of warrant cancellation between AIB and the Minister was signed on Thursday to give effect to the warrant cancellation.

The warrant cancellation follows the States exit from AIBs share register in June 2025, marking the return of the company to full private ownership.

Permanent TSB (PTSB)

In May 2015, PTSB completed a capital raise of 402 million equity by way of a Placing to new institutional investors and an Open Offer to existing shareholders, along with 125 million Additional Tier 1 debt issuance, in total raising 527 million in new capital.

As part of the capital raise, the Minister was requested by the bank to sell shares to enable PTSB to meet the free float requirements of the main market listings on the Irish Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.

As a result, the Minister sold shares with a value of 97 million through a secondary offering. At the same time, PTSB repurchased the contingent capital notes for which the State received 410.5 million plus accrued interest.

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In November 2022, PTSB issued subscription shares to NatWest Group Plc (NatWest) as partial non-cash consideration for its Ulster Bank transaction.

As a result, NatWest held 16.66 per cent of the issued share capital of PTSB, and the States shareholding in the bank reduced from 74.9 per cent to 62.4 per cent.

In June 2023, the State sold a further 5 per cent stake in PTSB for 2.025 per share, generating 55.2m for the Exchequer. Following this transaction, the States shareholding in PTSB reduced from 62.4 per cent to 57.4 per cent.

Through a combination of fees, dividend income, and disposal proceeds, the State has to date recovered 2.7 billion of the 3.9 billion invested in the bank, with the States remaining 57 per cent equity stake valued at 0.5bn at March 2025.

Will the Government sell its stakes in PTSB?

PTSB, in which the State owns a 57 per cent stake, has put itself up for sale.

Shares in the bank jumped 23.4 per cent on Thursday, pushing its market value up to 1.58 billion.

The bank has hired investment bank Goldman Sachs to manage the process, it said in a statement. PTSB chief executive Eamonn Crowley told reporters on a call that he expected the process would conclude in the first half of next year.

Ireland AIB cancels warrants held by Finance Minister for cash payment of 390m to the State Read more

The board of PTSB, with the support of its largest shareholder, the Minister for Finance of Ireland, Paschal Donohoe, has concluded that it is now in the best interests of the bank and its key stakeholders to commence a formal sale process with the intention of identifying a new long-term owner of the bank, it said.

A sale would complete the return to the private sector of the domestic banks that survived the 2008 financial crisis.

Mr Donohoe said: With increased investor interest in European banks, this presents the State with the opportunity to exit its last remaining shareholding in an Irish bank after 17 years.

So it looks quite likely that the Government will sell its remaining stake in PTSB.
Sinn Fein has confirmed it will back a no-confidence motion in Education Minister Paul Givan as crowds gathered to call for his resignation.

The DUP minister has been under fire over his recent trip to Israel, during which he visited a school and asked his department to publicise it on their social media channels.

On Saturday, crowds gathered at Belfast City Hall to call for Mr Givans resignation, and Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey confirmed her party will back a no confidence petition in Mr Givan by People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll.

Mr Carroll welcomed the move, saying he is confident of getting the 30 signatures that he needs for the petition after the SDLP also indicated it would support it.

Paul Givan is going nowhere. Unionists will not be bullied by the whims of the Pan-Republican front.

I choose who serves as a DUP Minister and whatever about the faux outrage and petty politicking, Paul has my full support.  Gavin Robinson (@GRobinsonDUP) November 1, 2025

More than 12,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Mr Givan to resign.

However DUP leader Gavin Robinson said Mr Givan was going nowhere, and reiterated his full support for his party colleague.

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He also accused the protesters of a long-standing hostility towards the Jewish state and their sympathies to, and support for, the Hamas terrorists who can have no part in the future of Gaza and the Middle East.

Mr Givan said he has been vilified.

In a statement on his Facebook page on Saturday, Mr Givan said: Over the past week, I have been vilified by those who have sought to call into question my character and my commitment to the people of Northern Ireland.

The very same people among whom, today in Belfast, were shouting the antisemitic chant From the river to the sea.

He added: I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been in touch with messages of support.

I will continue to represent the people of Lagan Valley and Northern Ireland with the same energy and enthusiasm that I have always brought to public life.

Education Minister Paul Givan. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

Last week many, including teachers unions expressed concerns, with the Northern Ireland Teachers Council claiming the departments promotion of the school visit is an overtly political and divisive act and urging the post be deleted.

Rival politicians have questioned whether it was appropriate to visit Israel at a time when the country is facing international criticism for the conduct of its military offensive in Gaza.

Several unionist MLAs went on the fact finding trip as a delegation from Northern Ireland on the invitation of the government of Israel.

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Mr Carroll is to bring a no-confidence motion against Mr Givan at the Assembly on Monday.

Speaking at a rally at Belfast City Hall on Saturday afternoon before Palestine solidarity activists, education workers and community groups, Ms Hargey said her party will support the no-confidence motion.

Speakers also included Mr Carroll, Paul Doherty of the SDLP and Anthony Flynn from the Green Party.

Republicans and Sinn Fein have a long and proud history and tradition of solidarity with the Palestinian people, and we will continue to do so, she said.

A placard at a demonstration calling for Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan to resign. Photo: Rebecca Black/PA.

It is grotesque that the Education Minister has decided to visit Israel at this time when they are continuing to commit genocide, I say shame on him.

Sinn Fein will be raising this on the floor of the Assembly on Monday morning, and holding the Education Minister to account.

The vice chair of the Education Committee Pat Sheehan has also called for him to appear before the committee urgently to explain his trip and the inappropriate and unacceptable use of departmental resources, and we will look at all options to hold this minister to account.

This also includes Sinn Feins support of the motion of no confidence in the minister that is being tabled on Monday morning, and I, along with all Sinn Fein MLAs, will be proudly putting our names to that motion.

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll speaks at a rally calling for the resignation of Education Minister Paul Givan (Rebecca Black/PA)

Mr Carroll hailed the turnout at the demonstration, and said Mr Givans actions over the last week was the last straw.

Hes done a lot of abhorrent and disgusting things, but what he did this week was the last straw, and thats why were saying today, loudly and clearly, he has to go, his time is clearly up, he said, to applause, and shouts of out, out.

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I have been inundated with hundreds of emails of constituents who are appalled at what he has done, classroom assistants, teachers, Palestine solidarity people as well.

I hope that the motion I will propose at Stormont is passed, and he is sanctioned but equally the key thing that will make a difference in my view is not just the motion, is people here mobilising today but also protesting at Stormont on Monday, and every single public engagement he is on.

In a statement Mr Robinson accused Sinn Fein of using the Assembly to advance an anti-Israel agenda rather than focusing on improving Northern Irelands schools.

Their decision to back a motion of no confidence in the Education Minister over a visit to Israel is rooted in their long-standing hostility towards the Jewish state and their sympathies to, and support for, the Hamas terrorists who can have no part in the future of Gaza and the Middle East, he said.

The pan-Republican fronts futile attempt to bully and intimidate will always fail.

We will never bow to such demands which show the depth of hatred for Israel and its people. We will call out such antisemitic sentiment which should have no place in public life.

We can now see their hatred in full view. They can huff and puff all they like and for as long as they like but they will not be dictating to me about who I appoint to serve as a minster from the Democratic Unionist Party.

Paul Givan will continue to be focused on delivering real improvements for children and young people, and on supporting working families through better childcare provision.
The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has confirmed it will not back a no-confidence motion in Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan.

The party said they want to focus on finding solutions together, instead of more divisive rhetoric that delivers nothing for those we serve.

Sinn Fein and the SDLP confirmed on Saturday they will back the no-confidence motion in Mr Givan proposed by People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll.

The DUP minister has been under fire over his recent trip to Israel, during which he visited a school and asked his department to publicise it on their social media channels.

Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey speaks at a demonstration at Belfast City Hall on Saturday afternoon where crowds turned out calling for the resignation Paul Givan (PA)

Crowds gathered at Belfast City Hall to call for Mr Givans resignation on Saturday, and Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey confirmed her party will back the no-confidence petition.

Mr Carroll has said he is confident he will get the 30 signatures needed on the petition after the SDLP also indicated their support.

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More than 12,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Mr Givan to resign.

However, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the minister was going nowhere, and reiterated his full support for his party colleague.

He also accused the protesters of a long-standing hostility towards the Jewish state and their sympathies to, and support for, the Hamas terrorists who can have no part in the future of Gaza and the Middle East.

Mr Givan said he has been vilified.

In a statement on his Facebook page on Saturday, he wrote: Over the past week, I have been vilified by those who have sought to call into question my character and my commitment to the people of Northern Ireland.

The very same people among whom, today in Belfast, were shouting the antisemitic chant From the river to the sea.

Education Minister @paulgivan visited Ofek School in the Jerusalem District today to learn more about Israels innovative approaches to gifted education and inclusive learning.



The Minister engaged in discussions with Principal Racheli Yitzhak, along with representatives of the pic.twitter.com/VhVThJjMg0  Education NI (@Education_NI) October 27, 2025

He added: I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been in touch with messages of support.

I will continue to represent the people of Lagan Valley and Northern Ireland with the same energy and enthusiasm that I have always brought to public life.

Last week, teachers unions were among those expressing concern about Mr Givans trip, with the Northern Ireland Teachers Council claiming the NI Department of Educations promotion of the school visit was an overtly political and divisive act, and urging the post be deleted.

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Rival politicians have questioned whether it was appropriate to visit Israel at a time when the country is facing international criticism over its military offensive in Gaza.

Several unionist MLAs went on the fact-finding trip at the invitation of the Israeli government.

In a statement on Sunday, the UUP said it will not back the no-confidence motion in the Assembly on Monday.

As a party, we have consistently and unequivocally voiced our disgust about the tragedy of 7th October 2023, and the devastating loss of life that has followed in both Israel and Gaza, they said.

We share and understand the deep frustration and anguish felt by many across Northern Ireland at the ongoing suffering in the Middle East.

At a time when our communities are crying out for leadership and delivery from Stormont, we need a focus on finding solutions together rather than more divisive rhetoric that delivers nothing for those we serve.
The suspected arson attack on an IPAS centre in Drogheda and Micheal Martin's future as Fianna Fail leader make the front pages of Sunday's papers.

The Sunday Independent leads with a poll showing 53 per cent of people saying Micheal Martin should quit as Fianna Fail leader.

The Irish Mail on Sunday reveals DJ Carey borrowed money from his cousin shortley after his father died for cancer he did not have.

The Business Post reveals PTSB's 2.3 billion price tag is at risk from the Central Bank.

The Irish Sunday Mirror leads with the arson attack on a IPAS centre in Co Louth, where children were among the people rescued.

The Sunday World leads with Red Hurley revealing his marriage is over after he told his wife he fathered a child prior to them meeting.
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BusinessBanking & financeEarnings season Banking giants to pocket $30b in profit as lending ramps up Clancy Yeates November 2, 2025  8:00am Save 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

Australias biggest banks are expected to rake in about $30 billion in profits this financial year, helped by surprisingly strong loan growth, cost-cutting and low numbers of borrowers struggling to repay their debts. Westpac will on Monday kick off a round of full-year bank results, which will be closely watched by investors after bank shares have climbed sharply this year, thanks to favourable economic conditions. National Australia Bank and Macquarie Group will deliver their numbers in the same week, while results from ANZ Bank and a Commonwealth Bank quarterly update the following week will round out the profit reports from one of the biggest sectors on the local sharemarket. The big fours combined profits are expected to be about $30 billion this year. Dominic Lorrimer The numbers come as investors grapple with the long-running debate over the valuation of Australias banks, after a rally in bank shares this year. While CBAs meteoric share price rise was the big story for bank investors earlier this year, over the past six months the other big four banks  NAB, Westpac and ANZ  have all outperformed CBA.

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ANZ shares have surged 23 per cent in six months as investors warm to chief executive Nuno Matos planned overhaul of the bank, Westpac is up almost 18 per cent in that time, while NAB is up 21 per cent. CBA is up 3.6 per cent in six months, after retreating from its record highs of June. Related Article Opinion

Big four Australias biggest banker is staying put  but how long is too long? Elizabeth Knight Business columnist Barrenjoey analyst Jonathan Mott said the market had upgraded its earnings per share outlook for banks in the past six months, as banks were making more revenue thanks to solid credit growth, a bounce in margins, higher fees, and a strong performance from their financial markets divisions. The Australian banks have been enjoying one of the strongest revenue environments for some time, Mott said. Mott said the rally in bank shares over the past six months made it hard to be bullish on banks. However, banks have taken the markets mantle of expensive defensive stocks, which may keep valuations stretched while the global equities rally continues, Mott added.

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Opal Capital chief investment officer Omkar Joshi said banks had benefited from low numbers of customers in financial stress and solid credit growth, while the sectors profit margins had also proven resilient. They are kind of boring right now, which is exactly how you want them, Joshi said. Related Article Superannuation Super giant admits it broke corporate law as it faces hefty fine A key point of interest is likely to be banks net interest margins, which compare the cost of funds with what banks charge for loans. Despite competition in home lending from the likes of Macquarie Group, Joshi said the major banks had generally managed to stabilise margins recently. They have enough ability to manage margins both on the lending side, and on the deposit side. Its a pretty rational mortgage market as well, he said. Citi analyst Thomas Strong said banks were in an almost Goldilocks-type revenue environment, as credit growth had been much stronger than expected, while he also noted the sectors focus on cost control. He said the wildcard was likely to be bad debts, which have remained at historically low levels, benefiting the banks bottom lines.

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Westpac is expected to deliver cash earnings of $6.8 billion on Monday, which is down slightly compared with last year, according to market analysts estimates. Meanwhile, NAB is expected to make $7.1 billion, which is virtually flat compared with 2024. Analysts expect ANZ will chalk up about $6.3 billion from continuing operations for the year, though other measures of profit that include significant items will be lower than this. On Friday, ANZ said its cash and statutory profit would take an after-tax hit of $1.1 billion from previously announced redundancies, a $240 million penalty to settle four regulatory lawsuits and the shutting down of the online shopping rewards platform Cashrewards. CBA, which reports its numbers over a financial year ending on June 30, said in August that its full-year profits rose 4 per cent to $10.25 billion compared with last year. All up, the major banks are expected to deliver cash profits of slightly more than $30.6 billion, according to consensus figures cited by UBS. That is similar to the $30.7 billion the big four made last year. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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BusinessCompaniesSocial media Competition winners accuse photo studio of emotional blackmail Julius Dennis November 3, 2025  5:00am Save 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

Winners of competitions run by a photography studio say they are victims of predatory sales tactics and emotional blackmail, with some paying thousands for photos they wish they had never bought. Bellizzi Studios, which has businesses in Sydney and Brisbane, frequently run competitions for family and pet portraiture prizes on Instagram and Facebook, offering an experience and a fine artwork for your home. Julien Berthold and Lina Guarino said they were shocked to be quoted more than $5000 for a book of photos taken at the studios facility in Hendra on Brisbanes northside. The Bellizzi photo of Lina Guarino and Julien Berthold. The couple had won a $750 photo package for a shoot with their dog Waffle, and enjoyed the process. It seemed very professional, Berthold said.

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A couple of weeks later, a Bellizzi employee was flipping through images on a Zoom call. The couple said they were willing to spend some of their own money, but were blown away by the price they were told. The companys website prices the Heirloom Album at $400 per spread, and states the booklet is handmade and built to last. The booklet would have been about 20 photos the salesperson had helped the couple choose, never asking for their budget, Berthold said. When he told us the price we were like, what?! Guarino said. We saw the album at the studio  thats not worth $5500. She said the salesperson then offered them a smaller version for $3500. They said the rest of the call was a bartering process where the salesperson continued to try to upsell them.

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In the end, they received an A4 print and two digital photos for $100 more than the prize, which they had already paid as a holding fee. Its not an art piece, its just a print on cardboard, no frame, Berthold said of the photo that eventually arrived in the mail. Others have paid much more, and blame pushy sale tactics after the photos have been taken. Bellizzi says it offers premium quality prints. One woman who spoke to this masthead signed up to pay $2728 for three unframed photos with her dog.

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She said the sales consultant organised a package for them that was much more than the prizes value, before eventually telling them the price. They said they loved the photos and asked whether they could have time to think about the cost, but were told it was their only chance to decide. The woman said Bellizzis sales consultant was pushy when they said the package was out of their budget, saying: Even with the payment plan you cant afford it? Eventually, they relented and gave their details, which were used to set up a loan contract with an external provider called Humm. After the phone call ended she said she felt stupid, and that the company had pressured her to proceed with the sale.

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The next morning, she and her partner tried to cancel the loan, but Bellizzi said the contract they had signed had no cool-off period and did not allow refunds. The woman has paid about $600 of the loan and is one of 19 people in New South Wales and Queensland to complain to offices of fair trading about the company. By the time the images arrived, she said she didnt even want them. Bellizzi managing director Yury Samokhvalov said he was shocked to hear of people complaining about his businesss sales tactics.

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From day one, weve been very transparent about our pricing  its clearly displayed on our website, so there are no surprises, he said. He added prices are provided directly to each client before their appointment. One thing no one can say is that they werent informed, he said. Loading Samokhvalov said photos are never deleted. However, this masthead has seen emails where the company says the Zoom meeting is the only opportunity to see the images, encouraging all decision makers to be on the call.

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A video sent to people who enter Bellizzis competitions tells the story of a woman who got portraits of their dog just before it suddenly passed away. I will be forever grateful for those portraits, the voiceover says. Multiple competition winners said similar stories were mentioned to them by Bellizzi employees. A woman who won a photoshoot with her dog said she considers the studios tactics as emotional blackmail. It would be a real shame for this dog to die and for you not to have any photos of him, she said the salesperson said, after she had told a story about her old pet who had passed away.

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Samokhvalov said staff was not encouraged to mention deceased pets, and the team genuinely connects with clients over [a] shared love of pets. Other winners have told this masthead they have been pressured to buy photos. One woman said the sales consultant questioned whether she could make financial decisions when she said shed have to run the purchase  several thousands of dollars  past her husband. Dont you want your daughter to know you love her? she said the salesperson asked on the Zoom call. An email sent by Bellizzi says the call is necessary because this is a visual decision that needs to be considered with ones own eyes. In a statement, NSW Fair Trading said 10 people complained about Bellizzi since February 2024.

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NSW Fair Trading has engaged directly with the business to reinforce its obligations under the Australian Consumer Law and other relevant legislation, including an expectation that the business comply in future, a spokesperson said. Samokhvalov said his business had been reviewed by Fair Trading and was fully compliant. Consumer advocate Jo Ucukalo from Handle My Complaint said cooling-off periods apply when a business directly approaches you, but the lines are blurred when it comes to online competitions. A competition offered by Bellizzi Studios on Facebook. That cooling-off period is really clear when youre sitting at home and someone knocks on your door, but when you start engaging with them online your entitlement as a consumer to a cooling-off period gets very, very murky, she said.

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So if they use a honeypot like a giveaway that you can enter, youve now engaged with them in the first instance. Samokhvalov said the company has a 100 per cent satisfaction guarantee and always aims to work with the customer where possible. We understand that sometimes buyers remorse can happen, but were always transparent about our pricing and the value we deliver, he said. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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CultureMusicalsPerforming arts Opera House actor calls out audience members for touching performers Nick Galvin November 2, 2025  6:04pm Save 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

An actor in the hit musical Calamity Jane at the Sydney Opera House has called out theatre patrons for groping cast members as they pass through the audience in the production. Kala Gare in the video she shared on Instagram. Instagram Kala Gare, who plays Katie Brown in the show, has posted on social media on Sunday that for the third consecutive day, performers had been touched inappropriately during performances at the Opera House Studio. Weve had too many times of people coming up and touching people inappropriately, she said on Instagram. Were talking about people grabbing bums, touching ta-tas. Its starting to get a little crazy with people feeling a little liberal. Please dont do it for the safety of everybody.

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Come see the show. Have a great time - but dont touch us, the Melbourne performer concluded. The show, which has returned to Sydney after multiple dates around Australia over the past seven years playing to more than 75,000 people, is an immersive production in which the theatre is transformed into the Golden Garter Saloon. Its when cast members move among audience members tables that the alleged inappropriate behaviour has occurred. Director Richard Carroll said that, while he had not seen Gares social media comments, he was unaware of any complaints about audience behaviour. There has not been, to my knowledge any incident that has resulted in any sort of action by the Opera House, he said. I would assume thats just Kala expressing her own opinions about what it is and isnt OK. Obviously, its a Sunday and Im not at the Opera House.

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Its something that we have talked about with the cast before we went into the theatre  how we can make sure that they feel as safe and secure as possible. And we talked about what they were empowered to do in terms of their communication with audience and I certainly encourage all of the cast to be as clear and vocal as they want to about consent. I would assume thats Kala doing so on social media as well. Gare and producers One Eyed Man Productions have been contacted for comment. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
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Exclusive NationalDiagnosing Murder One miscarriage of justice is too many: Top lawyer builds case for baby shaking rethink Michael Bachelard and Ruby Schwartz November 2, 2025  6:00pm Save 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 best-known lawyers, former ACT attorney-general Bernard Collaery, has warned that wrongful shaken baby cases are damaging the reputation of the justice system and should prompt reform of Australias forensic medical agencies. Collaery, a criminal defence lawyer who took on the federal government in the Witness K case, agrees with retired forensic pathologist Stephen Cordner that Australia must conduct an inquiry into the science underpinning the shaken baby syndrome diagnosis. Bernard Collaery, who represented the accused in the Witness K case, and who successfully defended an early shaken baby case. Alex Ellinghausen Shaken baby syndrome is a medical diagnosis that has become highly controversial overseas. Over the past four weeks, this masthead and its podcast Diagnosing Murder have told a number of emotional stories about children who have had apparent medical episodes misdiagnosed as abuse. Parents have lost their children for years at a time to foster care or other child protection arrangements. Some have been charged, convicted and jailed based on medical testimony that elsewhere has been labelled junk science.

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Former paediatric intensive care physician James Tibballs, a 43-year veteran of the Royal Childrens Hospital, has also urged a rethink, saying: You see the start of it in North America  who knows where it will end up? The head of the federal parliaments standing committee on health, Labor MP and former paediatrician Mike Freelander, acknowledged the controversy over the diagnosis, but said it was a state issue. Any federal inquiry should look at the child protection and child removal systems more broadly, he said. Collaery said that, nationwide, there was clear evidence that were failing to protect mothers and their partners, of good character, from totally unjustified suspicion. Collaery was the ACT attorney-general from 1989 to 1991. In 2001, he represented a young carpenter accused in a high-profile case of shaking his baby. The man was acquitted in a judge-alone trial by ACT Supreme Court chief justice Ken Crispin.

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In his judgment, Crispin wrote: It is difficult to envisage any circumstances in which a medical expert would be entitled to express an opinion that the injuries must have been inflicted deliberately because divining the state of mind of an unknown person would not fall within his or her field of specialised knowledge. More than two decades later, the expert opinions of forensic doctors who swear that injuries have been deliberately inflicted remain decisive in courts across the country. One miscarriage of justice is one too many, Collaery said. Its an issue that shakes the communitys confidence in the law. Professor Stephen Cordner has called for an inquiry into shaken baby syndrome. Collaery proposed an Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry on the use of science in courts and a new national forensic medicine authority to ensure forensic doctors were independent of police, hospitals and state governments.

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We need a centre of totally independent scientists who are well paid, Collaery said. There is a desperate need for independent forensic experts across the board  when they are close to the police zone of influence, thats a problem. Sweden, Britain and several court systems in the United States have changed the way they approach these cases after becoming concerned at the quality of the science underpinning the diagnosis, which has contributed to well over 100 people being jailed in Australia since the 1990s. A man in Texas recently had his execution halted over a courts concerns. But in Australia there has been no systemic debate about the diagnosis, and forensic paediatricians argue it is settled science. Cordner has called for an independent national or international medical-scientific-legal review. Kabir (pictured in his home) told his story to the podcast Diagnosing Murder. Josh Robenstone Episode four of Diagnosing Murder, released this week, features parents Kabir and Dipika  whose real names cannot be revealed for legal reasons. They lost their child to foster care for 18 months.

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The Victorian Health Department and the office of Premier Jacinta Allan have refused to engage on the issue. Asked by this masthead if they were concerned at the recent revelations relating to the Royal Childrens Hospital, and if they were satisfied with the structure, independence and operations of its Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service (VFPMS), the department failed to answer the questions. The VFPMS has been described as the engine room of the diagnosis in Victoria. The questions the Victorian Health Department did not answer Are you concerned at recent revelations in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald about misdiagnosis of abuse involving shaken baby syndrome in Victoria?

Are you worried that people are losing their children, or being wrongly convicted, based on a scientifically doubtful diagnosis?

Respected forensic pathologist Stephen Cordner and others are calling for an inquiry into these issues in Australia. Will the Victorian government institute such an inquiry?

Are you satisfied with the structure and operations of the Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service, considering the recent criticisms from eminent people of the way it operates?

Do you have confidence that the Royal Childrens Hospital and its forensic medical unit are safe places to take their critically ill children?

Cordner has told us forensic doctors should be made independent from the Royal Childrens Hospital to ensure the independence of their reports. What is your response to that?

What does the government say to people who claim they have been wrongly accused and/or convicted in Victoria? The response: Quotes attributable to a Department of Health spokesperson: VFPMS and the Royal Childrens Hospital are high [sic] respected experts in the delivery of care for children and young people who they suspect are victims of abuse, assault or neglect. The safety, health and wellbeing of children remains our top priority and the care delivered by this statewide service is robust and best practice. The Health Department instead issued a two-paragraph statement saying: VFPMS and the Royal Childrens Hospital are high [sic] respected experts in the delivery of care for children and young people who they suspect are victims of abuse, assault or neglect. The safety, health and wellbeing of children remains our top priority and the care delivered by this statewide service is robust and best practice.

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Allans office did not respond. Related Article Diagnosing Murder This man spent six years in jail, but experts say his case has question marks all over it The childrens hospital has previously defended the VFPMS, saying its often complex work was underpinned by science which was constantly reviewed. Its doctors now prefer to call the condition inflicted head trauma. In Victoria, VFPMS doctors train specialist police and child protection officials. When a case comes to the hospital, VFPMS doctors call in the same police and child protection officials. Episode four of the Diagnosing Murder podcast reveals how the forensic doctors judgments continued to inform the police and child protection investigations in Kabir and Dipikas case over more than three years.

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Cordner, who spent 27 years as the head of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, has also called for forensic doctors to be independent from the hospital, describing the current arrangement as tiger country. When asked whether things could change, Tibballs told the podcast: The machine has got a huge amount of momentum. To change its course means changes on so many levels  in medicine and law, in the police, social workers, medical nursing  its just almost impossible. But its happening. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalDiagnosing Murder This man spent six years in jail, but experts say his case has question marks all over it Michael Bachelard and Ruby Schwartz November 2, 2025  4:00am Save 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

A young man who spent almost six years in jail for shaking his baby son has since learnt the boy had a congenital heart condition that causes seizures, casting doubt on whether the 2019 conviction was sound. Jesse Harvey was jailed for recklessly causing serious injury to his seven-week-old son Casey by shaking him  the result of a diagnosis of abuse at the Royal Childrens Hospital. Harvey has recently been released after serving his full sentence, but insists he is innocent. While he was in prison, Harveys mother died and Casey died in 2022. Jesse Harvey, who was 21 when he was jailed for violently shaking his seven-week-old son Casey in 2017. Caseys death certificate, obtained by this mastheads investigative podcast, Diagnosing Murder, reveals a South Australian coroner concluded the boys cause of death was aspiration and tracheitis [choking] on a background of acquired brain injury with epilepsy and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy  a serious congenital heart condition.

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The final episode of Diagnosing Murder interviews Harvey for the first time. He said he was speaking out because: I spent the last six years in jail for something I didnt do. I lost my son. And these people need to be held accountable because its going to continue to happen. Diagnosing Murder is investigating shaken baby syndrome. A list obtained by the podcast shows the diagnosis has played a role in jailing well over 100 people in this country since 1995. The podcast raises questions about whether the diagnosis is based on reliable scientific evidence. In Harveys trial in 2019, child abuse specialists from the Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service (VFPMS) acknowledged Casey had a heart condition, including a heart murmur, based on the findings of a Royal Childrens Hospital cardiologist. They said the enlargement of the seven-week-olds heart was moderate and that it was unlikely to have anything to do with what had caused his brain injury.

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Instead, medical evidence the VFPMS presented at Caseys trial alleged he had been shaken so violently he had been subject to quite significant forces equivalent to high velocity motor vehicle accidents, significant crush injuries to the head or falls  from a height of greater than about 10 metres. Because of the injuries and the alleged force involved, a forensic doctor dismissed other accidental or medical explanations. I was given a plea deal to say, if I plead guilty, I can stay out and look after my mum [who was ill]. I told him where to put that. Jesse Harvey speaking on Diagnosing Murder But in a report produced at the request of the Diagnosing Murder podcast, forensic pathologist Stephen Cordner observed five problems with the prosecutions medical evidence against Harvey that seem not to have been explored, or were insufficiently explored at his trial. In response to questions about the case, the Royal Childrens Hospital said it would be inappropriate to comment.

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At the trial, it was revealed that baby Casey spent three days in hospital in the lead up to the seizure that his father saw. He was treated for an infection, fever, irritability, poor feeding and vomiting. A lumbar puncture showed blood in his cerebrospinal fluid. However, asked at the trial about this, the expert doctor said Caseys illness did not show a medical cause for his seizure. It was a separate thing from what occurred [the alleged shaking], they said. The evidence for shaking, according to the court transcript obtained by this masthead, was a group of clinical findings which for decades has been associated with the diagnosis known as shaken baby syndrome. Among them were subdural haemorrhage  bleeding under the dural membrane that covers the brain  bleeding on the retina, the light sensitive layer at the back of the eye, and brain swelling. The link between these signs and shaking has come under international scientific and legal scrutiny in recent years.

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Harvey was alone with the child at the time of his seizure. He pleaded not guilty at his trial but he told this masthead his own defence team did not believe him. They did not call an expert to contradict the testimony of the VFPMS doctor and did not question the diagnosis, only suggesting that perhaps Jesse Harveys brother had shaken the baby instead. His lawyer suggested to Harvey that he plead guilty. I was given a plea deal to say, if I plead guilty, I can stay out and look after my mum [who was ill], Harvey told Diagnosing Murder. I told him where to put that. I said, Im not admitting to something I didnt do to get less time. If I was rich, I probably would have been able to afford good lawyers, and might have turned out different. Cordners report questioned five aspects of the prosecution case against Harvey.

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Among them was the existence of underlying heart disease, which was different to the heart disease he was diagnosed with at the Royal Childrens Hospital, and which was mentioned subsequently as part of the cause of Caseys death on his death certificate. A medical report written by the VFPMS doctor and used in Harveys prosecution noted a moderate enlargement of Caseys heart and said: This is likely to be an incidental finding and while clinically significant, is unlikely to be associated with Caseys presentation. In my opinion, if Australia had a Criminal Cases Review Commission, this is a case it should and would review. Former forensic pathologist Professor Stephen Cordner Heart arrhythmias are one of the well-known causes of seizures because they can reduce oxygen to the brain, leading to brain damage. Caseys arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy was in addition to his other, already complicated, illness. One MRI report referred to bilateral chronic subdural haemorrhage  evidence of bleeding over the brain some time in the past  as well as recent bleeding. The recent bleeding was one of the clinical signs that VFPMS doctors said pointed to abuse.

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But Cordner said older bleeding complicates the assessment of what caused the recent bleeding  it could even itself be a cause, or a vulnerability, leading to later bleeding. Cordner also questioned evidence from the VFPMS that changes in Caseys neck shown in an MRI scan indicated that his spinal ligaments had been damaged. This evidence formed a major part of the prosecutions conclusion that there had been forceful shaking despite the absence of any external signs of injury on Casey. Emiturus Professor Stephen Cordner, an expert in forensic medicine, wants a public review into shaken baby syndrome. Jason South Cordner said the evidence given that the damage was possibly due to partial tear or oedema was some distance from being diagnostically sure there is traumatic neck injury. In my opinion, if Australia had a Criminal Cases Review Commission, this is a case it should and would review, Cordner wrote in his opinion.

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Information obtained by this masthead also reveals the childs mother, whom we have chosen not to name for privacy reasons, suffered from a seizure disorder when she was a child, and into adulthood. When she was two months old, Caseys mother suffered similar symptoms to those that affected her son 22 years later. She too was judged to be a shaken baby. She was removed from her family and put into foster care. She was later returned to her father and grew up with him, telling Harvey her father had not been abusive. Her medical notes as a baby, like those of her son Casey, list projectile vomiting, irritability and blood-stained fluid in her head. As an adult, she took anti-seizure medication and suffered from epilepsy. All this, said Cordner, lent weight to a possible genetic factor in Caseys illness. Harvey raised his partners history of seizures with the VFPMS doctors diagnosing Casey. But, like Caseys, his mothers seizures as a baby were attributed to physical abuse. Full medical histories of the parents were not taken. The doctors excluded medical conditions after conducting an extensive panel of other tests. Harvey also pointed to Caseys illness before the seizure, saying he took his son to Ballarat Base hospital a week earlier and he was there for three days.

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Before Casey was discharged, Harvey says: I argued with the hospital left, right and centre [that they should keep him in] because he wasnt right. And they pretty much told me, theyre the doctors. Hes starting to feed well now, take him home. If he gets worse in the next 72 hours, bring him back. Forty-eight hours later, Harvey says he found Casey pale, staring, unresponsive, and having abnormal movements. Harvey said he recognised these as likely seizures and took him back to the hospital. The Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service (VFPMS) is based at the Royal Childrens Hospital. Simon Schluter Casey was later transferred to the Royal Childrens Hospital, where, at the hands of the VFPMS doctors, suspicion fell on Harvey for deliberate child abuse. Cordner has called for a broad inquiry into the science of shaken baby syndrome, saying that, while child abuse occurs, there is a real question about how well doctors can diagnose it in particular cases. In cases such as Harveys, and many others, the prosecution evidence is that the child had been violently shaken, but there are no external signs of injury such as bruising or abrasions.

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Some convictions in Australia in shaken baby syndrome cases  which are also known as abusive, or inflicted head trauma  were likely to have been wrong, Cordner said. Related Article Exclusive

Diagnosing Murder Australian court ruling in shaken baby case was ignorant and embarrassing He told the podcast there are likely 50 known medical conditions, and potentially more that are still unknown, that can cause one or more of the triad findings without abuse having occurred. Diagnosing what goes on inside a brain is inherently difficult, and this masthead acknowledges that the VFPMS makes its decisions in good faith and with the best of intentions. The Royal Childrens Hospital said in a statement that the VFPMS was underpinned by national and international research, which is constantly reviewed.

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VFPMS paediatric clinicians provide forensic expertise in evaluating complex situations and multiple injuries  In their evaluation, VFPMS clinicians consider many aspects related to a childs injuries, including a wide variety of symptoms and signs, which may be caused by other conditions. Due consideration is given to the presence of these conditions. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalAbortion Opinion Baby Priya brought compassion to the parliament. Then four men hijacked the debate Jacqueline Maley Columnist and senior journalist November 2, 2025  4:00am

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Politics can be a cynical and nasty business, but outbreaks of grace and compassion do occur. One happened on Wednesday during a parliamentary debate for the second reading speech of Baby Priyas Bill. MP after MP rose to speak with sensitivity about one of lifes most devastating experiences  the birth of a stillborn baby. Anthony Albanese meets with baby Priyas family ahead of the Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priyas) Bill. Getty Images The bill will amend workplace laws to ensure employee entitlements to parental leave extend to parents whose baby has been stillborn, or who has tragically died in infancy. The bill is named after baby Priya, who was born prematurely at 24 weeks in June 2024. For six weeks, she battled for life in the neonatal intensive care unit. Then she died. Her mother was an employee of a large organisation; she had worked there for 11 years. When she notified her employer of her babys death, she was told via text message that her parental leave had been cancelled, and she would get just one month of personal leave.

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Priyas father was able to retain his full paternity leave in the NSW industrial system  an inequality he thought was grossly unfair to his wife, who was not only bereaved but was also dealing with the physical difficulties of postpartum, but without the delight of her baby to buoy her. The bill had bipartisan support, but several male MPs used the debate about this sensitive issue to shoehorn in their objections to late-term abortion  on which more later. Sarah Witty, the member for Melbourne, has spoken about the experience of loss. Alex Ellinghausen But first, back to the gracious parts of the debate. Speaking on behalf of the opposition, Coalition employment spokesman Tim Wilson said that this is one of the most tragic and heartbreaking stories that you could ever hear as an Australian. The only thing we could extend to our fellow citizens is a sense of compassion and empathy for the tragedy that has been lived, he continued.

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Member for Melbourne Sarah Witty rose to speak about having experienced the loss of a stillborn baby herself. Related Article Abortion Hastie, Joyce ignite late-term abortion fight over paid leave for stillbirth law Losing a child at any stage is profoundly painful, yet stillborn and infant deaths are often met with silence, discomfort or avoidance, the Labor MP said. Speaking after her, Nationals MP Michael McCormack told Witty: Our hearts are with you. I say to the government, thank you. Well done. The Coalition supports it. But four Coalition MPs were more qualified in their support for the bill. They were conservative MPs Andrew Hastie, Barnaby Joyce, Henry Pike and Tony Pasin.

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They didnt have to speak during the debate. But as men who feel strongly that women shouldnt be allowed to have late-term abortions  incredibly rare events which occur only for the most extreme of medical and psychological reasons  they felt they must speak up. They were concerned that the bill would allow women who have had late-term medical abortions to claim parental leave from their employers. They argued the bill should be worded so it cannot be applied to late-term pregnancy terminations. Liberal MPs Tony Pasin (left) and Andrew Hastie. Dominic Lorrimer As my colleague Natassia Chrysanthos reported, Hastie said it was a matter of conscience for him, and it was no secret he was opposed to late-term abortions. I note the sensitivity around this, but I do call upon the government to clarify that [the bill] does not apply to late-term abortions, he said.

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Joyce said the MPs had concerns because it appeared that late-term abortions were encompassed in this. Related Article Opinion

Abortion Abortion is decriminalised Australia-wide. Why the hell are we debating it again? Jacqueline Maley Columnist and senior journalist Pasin said that paid parental leave should be available to parents and that it should be available to people who had wished to become parents but for the grace of God have not become parents through an incident or outcome. But, he said, it shouldnt be available to people who dont wish to become parents. One Nation senator Pauline Hanson has long been pushing this debate out to the extremes, as she is wont to do. Previously, Hanson has accused the Labor government of funding the murder of healthy babies where Australian women can terminate a pregnancy up to the day before birth  and access to paid parental leave of up to $22,754.

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Late-term abortions (those after 20 weeks gestation) account for fewer than 1 per cent of terminations. They are usually because of tragic circumstances such as late-diagnosed major fetal abnormalities, or situations where having the baby would severely harm the mothers mental or physical health. It is always remarkable (and for many women, offensive) to witness the spectacle of men attempting to police matters that are the business of women, their partners, and their doctors. But here we have something even more insidious. It is the implication, however deeply buried in parliamentary rhetoric, that these women, who have had late-term abortions, might try to cheat the system. They might have just endured a physical and psychological ordeal unique to their sex, but they are not truly bereaved because they didnt want their babies anyway. And yet, it is implied that they would be taking an employee entitlement intended for the legitimately bereaved. Health Minister Mark Butler noted that no female Coalition MP spoke out against the wording of the bill. The gender voting patterns of the last decade had already made it pretty clear. Then, the results of the last election put it up in blinding lights: the Coalition has a major problem with the female vote. As opposition leader, Peter Dutton, who was criticised for aping parts of the MAGA agenda in his election campaign, was firmly against bringing abortion into Australias political debate. Dutton said he supported a womans right to choose.

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And yet, there are still right-wing MPs who look to the US and see a workable playbook. Hijacking what was otherwise a gracious debate about a tragic female experience to raise a notional quibble about women who might take a payment they dont deserve? Its audacious, for sure. Jacqueline Maley is a columnist and author. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is facing a fresh test of her authority in keeping moderate Liberal MPs onside after the Nationals scrapped their commitment to the 2050 net zero climate target and pushed the case for the Coalition to water down its ambitions. On Sunday, Nationals leader David Littleproud announced the junior Coalition partys new climate policy was to bring down Australias carbon emissions in line with the rest of the world  a unanimous position agreed to by Nationals MPs at a party room meeting in Canberra. Nationals leader David Littleproud addresses the media after the net zero policy change on Sunday. Alex Ellinghausen We continue to believe that we need to reduce emissions, but weve got to do it in a better, fairer, cheaper way for all Australians, Littleproud said. We believe that we can peg ourselves to the rest of the world. Were not going to be a laggard, but were not going to streak ahead. The Nationals decision to dump net zero throws up a significant problem for Ley as MPs return to parliament on Monday. Three sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said moderates would prefer to split the Coalition than drop net zero aspirations altogether, and some were willing to quit the frontbench over the issue.

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That outcome would be disastrous for Ley, who came into the leadership with the moderates support and has already endured an embarrassing two weeks as colleagues questioned her political judgment over positions on Kevin Rudds job and the prime ministers Joy Division T-shirt. Related Article Updated

Nationals Nationals abandon net zero mandate ahead of party room meeting Coalition MPs said the net zero debate would represent the most perilous moment in Leys leadership to date. She cant capitulate here, one person who asked to remain anonymous to detail internal party discussions said. Youve got [James] Paterson, [Angus] Taylor and other senior people on the right arguing internally against dropping net zero entirely. She has a pathway through here if she stands firm. Some Nationals say their policy still gives Ley the option to keep a loose aspiration to net zero, rather than a mandate. But several senior figures in Leys camp said she needed to show leadership and articulate a strong pro-climate position this week.

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Liberal MPs were also frustrated that the Nationals were wedging them on an issue that would have significant symbolic and political consequences. The Nationals are competing with One Nation  for them, its positive. For the Liberals, its very different, said one. The independents who won blue-ribbon seats from the Liberals at the past three elections have all campaigned on stronger climate action, and the opposition needs to seize those seats back with a credible policy platform to form government. Wentworth independent Allegra Spender said Ley had been left with a choice. Either be honest that the Nationals are once again setting the Coalitions climate policy  whatever words the Libs come up with to dress up their own policy  or split with the Nationals altogether, she said. Warringah MP Zali Steggall, the first successful teal MP, said the Nationals had shown they were profoundly out of touch. But Littleproud said the Nationals decision was about bringing common sense back to climate and energy policy, noting it still planned to reduce emissions.

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This is about saying were going to live up to our commitments internationally, he said. Were going to do that sensibly, but were going to do what theyre doing at their pace, not streak ahead. What I want to do is show today some leadership. There will be arguments that were climate deniers and weve been left behind. That doesnt advance the intellectual debate in this country at all. The Nationals position was informed by policy research from senators Matt Canavan and Ross Cadell, as well as a report by Nationals-aligned think tank the Page Research Centre. Nationals leader David Littleproud and Senator Matt Canavan after a press conference following a party room meeting. Alex Ellinghausen The Page report, which was briefed at Sundays Nationals meeting, recommended ditching net zero as a target because it puts achieving an emissions goal ahead of improving the living standards of Australians.

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We should reduce emissions in line with comparable nations, not ahead of them, it said. The report recommended adopting a practical emissions trajectory of 2 to 9 million tonnes in reductions a year. Related Article Updated

Liberal Party Conservatives push to ditch net zero term in Liberal party room debate This would involve maintaining the current pace of emissions reduction, at most: Australia has averaged 9 million tonnes of carbon reductions each year since 2020. Under the Albanese governments plans, this must increase to 16 million tonnes a year to achieve the 2030 target, and rise again to 27 million tonnes a year to hit the 2035 goal. Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said the Nationals were betraying regional Australia, which was at the front line of the impacts of climate change.

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David Littleproud and the Nationals have abandoned their constituents in favour of stoking climate wars, Bowen said. Littleproud would not speculate on what would happen if the Liberals decided to keep a net zero target, but said he and Ley had discussed a structured process to ensure constructive talks between the Coalition partners. Ill let the Liberal Party get to [a settled] position themselves, and when they do, I will sit down constructively, as we have for over 100 years, he said. Former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison negotiated for the Coalition to support net zero emissions by 2050 in 2021, and the target was legislated by the Albanese government in 2022. But both Coalition parties are revisiting the pledge after their May election defeat. The Liberals review is being led by Coalition energy spokesman Dan Tehan. We will continue our methodical process, and we will continue the work of the working group, Tehan said on Sunday.

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At a three-hour meeting on Friday, Liberal MPs broadly united in favour of reducing emissions while abandoning the iron-clad legislated pledge to get to net zero by 2050. As Ley says she wants to return the Liberals to the centre of the political landscape and challenge teal MPs, she and her allies are pushing for a compromise position that would retain a goal for net zero but remove the target from legislation. A root-and-branch special commission of inquiry into the Liberal Party, which will go further than a normal election review, was also sanctioned by the partys federal executive last Friday. The probe will look into the partys federated model and state division structure and will have a particular focus on how to select more women candidates and connect with multicultural communities. It will be led by Senator James McGrath and have input from former NSW premier Mike Baird, former Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman, former federal MPs and a group of female party officials and activists including Caroline Inge, Caroline Di Russo, Sascha Meldrum, Jane Buncle, Fiona Cunningham and Danielle Young. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalPolitical leadership Opinion With the Coalition self-destructing, theres little pressure on Labor. Its starting to show Sean Kelly Columnist November 3, 2025  4:00am

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There are three dominant facts about the Australian political scene right now. The first is that, gradually perhaps, something dangerous is developing. At the last election, the Australian Federal Police told a Senate inquiry last week, threats to candidates rose by 17 per cent; also, neo-Nazis were moving more strongly into the political arena. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. There are three dominant facts about the Australian political scene right now. The Age Since the election, several polls have found One Nation doubling its support. The most worrying analysis Ive seen came from ANU political lecturer Dr Jill Sheppard, who told The Guardian it feels like the conversation that we were having 20 or 30 years ago about the Greens. And in fact this mastheads Resolve poll recently had One Nation outpolling the Greens. Meanwhile, different polls have also found immigration to be rising as an issue among voters  and, as James Campbell reported, more voters now blame immigration or population growth for housing problems than any other cause.

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The second thing to note about politics right now is that the Coalition seems utterly determined to prove it is completely removed from the concerns of voters. It is going about this in two ways  firstly by getting lost in abstractions. What are the chances ordinary Australians understand what is going on within the Coalition right now on climate? The second thing to note about politics right now is that the Coalition seems utterly determined to prove it is completely removed from the concerns of voters. On Thursday, the Australian Financial Review reported that some on the right of the Coalition want its policy to not even mention net zero any more; some moderates, meanwhile, want to keep talking about net zero but change it from being a target to an aspiration. On Friday, the Liberals held a meeting which reached some fairly vague conclusions. On Saturday, the Nationals ordinary members voted to abandon net zero, and on Sunday, Nationals leader David Littleproud confirmed this for the parliamentary party. We wait to see where the Liberals will land. There is something real going on underneath all this, on an issue that matters  but the overall impression is of a policy debate conducted by way of obscure language games, in which using or avoiding particular phrases is the most important task, as a way of indicating you are in one group or another. It feels less about policy and more about political tribalism.

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Something similar seemed to be going on with Sussan Leys attack on Anthony Albaneses Joy Division T-shirt. The attack was incomprehensible to all those Australians who had never heard of the band, and even more incomprehensible to those who had. Above all, it was silly. But it served as a nod to Sky News, which is where the matter was raised first. This, it seems, is how the Coalition presently operates, from the leader on down: as a complicated series of signals about who agrees with whom. Related Article Opinion

Political leadership What Barnaby Joyce really wants from One Nation James Massola Chief political commentator The other current Coalition habit is to talk about concrete things voters can understand  but with facts that dont bear much relation to reality. This was the case with the very poor decision of MPs, including Barnaby Joyce and Andrew Hastie, to drag a dignified parliamentary discussion on a good law providing parental leave to those who have lost babies into an ugly discussion of whether the tiny number of women who have late-term abortions (overwhelmingly for medical reasons) should receive the payment. The same went for Jacinta Prices decision a couple of months ago to claim Labor was bringing in Indian migrants because that community was likely to vote for Labor. Again, the claim was simultaneously ugly and divorced from reality. Finally, we come to the government and the last of the three dominant facts about Australian politics. Last week, Australia got a bad inflation report. Prices were rising faster than expected. It wasnt a disastrous figure  just a sign things were not quite going as smoothly as expected, which is of a piece with the performance of the Albanese government since its re-election (six months ago today).

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Lists are tedious, so lets do this quickly. In those six months, weve seen a large backdown on superannuation changes. Another backdown on home care packages. A productivity summit for which expectations were raised sky-high before being pulled back down. Anthony Albanese conceding his home deposit guarantee would raise prices (if only a little). A decision to remove procedural fairness for some asylum seekers being deported. Confusion over the governments position on Makarrata. Weakening of freedom of information laws. Related Article Opinion

Populism Australias resisting the global populist tide. But nows no time for smugness Nick Bryant Journalist and author You can argue the toss over some of these. But overall the sense is of a government that  outside of foreign affairs  has not really found its second-term footing. This brings us to the largest parliamentary debate right now  on Labors new environment laws. Asked on Sunday what would constitute unacceptable environmental harm under the laws, Environment Minister Murray Watt said his examples were if someone wanted to mine Uluru, build on the Great Barrier Reef, or drive a species to extinction. This must have sounded like an unimpeachable argument: who could disagree with laws like that? Instead, the examples emphasised the smallness of Labors ambition. This was all it could promise to stop? Mining Uluru and building on the Reef? Of course, Labors ambition might be more than this. But how would we know when this is the strongest argument it is willing to make, so afraid is it of upsetting miners and builders?

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Our current political contest is too often between a government unwilling to make real arguments and an opposition determined to argue matters obscure or confected. The result is a kind of fogginess in public debate. There are many reasons for the rise of immigration concerns and the far right; blaming the major parties alone is too easy. Still, in such an environment, it is unsurprising that simplistic arguments about immigration cut through. After all, voters arent being given much in the way of clarity or direction by their parties of government right now. Sean Kelly is author of The Game: A Portrait of Scott Morrison, a regular columnist and a former adviser to Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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The death of a Zimbabwean woman in a Krugersdorp hospital has left a deep scar among Zimbabweans who are desperate to receive health services in South Africa.Luyanda Moyo, 21, is a Zimbabwean immigrant who visited South African medical centres to give birth but was allegedly met with poor treatment and lack of attention because of her nationality.Moyo gave birth at the Yusuf Dadoo hospital in Krugersdorp to a baby weighing 4kg.Despite complaining of pain and excessive bleeding, she alleged that the medical staff in the maternity ward did not pay attention to her.Luyanda's uncle, Gibson Tshuma, told "The Star" that she was so neglected to the point of being the last patient in the ward."The Star" understands that nurses found Luyanda dead hours after giving birth.Luyanda Moyo, 21, is a Zimbabwean immigrant who visited South African medical centres to give birthShe was in so much pain that she apparently told nurses that she would rather die than bare the pain she was in.Her family is calling for an investigation into her death.Tshuma said the family was concerned that the statements uttered by Limpopo Health MEC, Phophi Rmathuba, could have caused the staff at the hospital to have a negative attitude towards illegal Zimbabwean seeking medical attention in parts of South Africa.Tshuma said when they found Luyanda's body in the hospital her clothes were covered in blood.The hospital failed to explain what happened to Luyanda."Based on the messages on her cellphone she was overdue and she was given an inducing pill even though they acknowledged that the baby was too big for her to deliver naturally," Tshuma said."The Star" listened to some voice notes that Luyanda shared with her mother before she died.In some of them the young woman was describing the unbearable pain she was in to his mother."It's so painfula they haven't checked on me, I think they will come today," Luyanda said in a voice note to her mother.Luyanda's baby boy survived and is with his grandmother but the family said it was still left with a million questions concerning how Luyanda died."We are demanding answers as to what happened, we are not getting clear answers."They induced her even when they had observed an operation was necessary and then she was ignored when she was bleeding to death," Tshuma said.The family is preparing for Luyanda's body to be transported back to Zimbabwe where her funeral will take place.The family said it was concerned that if ordinary South Africans suffered poor service at hospital, the situations was worse for foreign nationals.The Gauteng Department of Health did not respond to "The Star" questions by late afternoon yesterday.
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WorldEuropeRoyal family Top prosecutor demands fresh police investigation into Andrew claims Timothy Sigsworth and Aaron Newbury November 2, 2025  4:30am Save 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

London: Police must re-investigate sex abuse allegations against Andrew Mountbatten Windsor following the removal of his royal titles, one of Britains top former prosecutors has said. Nazir Afzal, previously chief prosecutor for North West England, said the Metropolitan Police should reopen their probe into allegations that the Kings brother sexually abused Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein. Scotland Yard decided not to conduct a criminal investigation in 2016 when the accusations, which Andrew has strenuously denied, were first made. Andrew has not released a statement since he was stripped of his titles. PA Afzal said a fresh investigation is required following the removal of Andrews royal titles and his eviction from Royal Lodge in Windsor.

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At that time, a statement hadnt been taken from Virginia Giuffre and then in 2021, a further review took place based on findings from the civil case and also from the Ghislaine Maxwell prosecution in the US, and again the matter wasnt investigated, he told BBC Radio 4s Today program. Related Article Royal family New royal row looms over Andrews place in line to the throne So this matter hasnt been investigated, never mind taken any further. Afzal said the decision not to complete a criminal probe was akin to two-tier justice. Public confidence has been shaken by this, he said. People do feel that there is some two-tier justice here  that if you are powerful, you dont get the same level of attention as you would do if you were say homeless.

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The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) could investigate if the Met did not do so, Afzal said. The IOPC have a proactive power to investigate  they have had the power since 2020 to carry out their own investigations and there is no reason why they shouldnt, he said. A spokesman for the Met said it had not previously undertaken a criminal investigation because any investigation into human trafficking would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK. Loading Officers therefore concluded that other jurisdictions and organisations were better placed to pursue the specific allegations and in November 2016, a decision was made that this matter would not proceed to a full criminal investigation. That decision was subsequently reviewed.

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On Thursday (Friday AEDT), Buckingham Palace announced that the King had removed his younger brothers remaining titles, including the right to call himself Prince Andrew. The Palace also moved to evict him from Royal Lodge, where he has lived for more than two decades. Related Article Sketch

Royal family Eviction concludes fall from grace for Queens favourite son It emerged on Friday that Andrew will not move from his 30-room property in Windsor to his new home on the Kings private Sandringham estate until the new year, meaning he will not be there when the royal family gathers for Christmas. The former prosecutors comments came after the police watchdog contacted the Met over claims Andrew asked a personal protection officer to dig up information on his accuser. According to a 2011 email leaked last month, the former prince asked his taxpayer-funded police bodyguard to investigate Giuffre, handing over her date of birth and social security number. Andrew has not commented on the claim.

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The force said it was still looking into the allegations on Saturday. The IOPC said it had contacted the Met but the force was yet to refer itself to the watchdog. A IOPC spokesman said: We have had contact with the Met, which confirmed that no referral has been made, and as a result we have no involvement with these matters. There are renewed calls to reopen the police probe into allegations that Andrew sexually abused Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein. Marija Ercegovac Elsewhere, Andrew was warned that Epstein investigators will find all the information thats out there if he refuses to testify before the US congress. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, a member of the US oversight committee, said officials would not let this go and told Andrew that speaking to the committee would be a great way for him to clear his name.

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Speaking to the BBCs Today program, Subramanyam said: I would like for him to come to our committee and tell us everything he knows about Jeffrey Epstein and the crimes that were committed. The late Jeffrey Epstein in 2017. AP I think that this would be a great way for Andrew to clear his name, it would be a great way for us to continue our pursuit of justice for the victims, and frankly, Andrews name has come up many times from the victims ... so he clearly has knowledge of what happened, and we just want him to come forward and tell us what he knows. The US House of Representatives committee on oversight is investigating how Epstein, who died in jail in New York in 2019, evaded justice for so long. In September, the committee made public the disgraced paedophiles infamous birthday book, a 238-page album compiled by his then-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a prison sentence for sex trafficking girls.

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When asked what further evidence the committee could uncover, Subramanyam replied: This is what I would tell Andrew and anyone else: even if you dont come forward with information we are going to find all the information thats out there possible. We are not going to let this go. The former Duke of York is expected to receive compensation for giving up the lease to his home  possibly as much as 550,000 ($1.1 million)  as well as an annual stipend from the Kings private funds. Sources told the Guardian this could amount to several times his 20,000 ($40,000) annual pension from the Royal Navy. The Telegraph has also learnt that concerns about how the Queens work with sexual abuse survivors might be compromised formed part of the discussions leading up to his banishment. Jonathan Dimbleby, the Kings biographer, told The Telegraph that his majesty would be feeling enormous relief that his brothers situation was now dealt with, enabling the King to move on and get on with his job as sovereign. The Kings fears that there were more revelations to come about Andrews association with Epstein proved well-founded on Saturday AEDT when yet more court documents were made public in a court in New York.

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They included an email from Andrew to Epstein in which he said it would be good to catch up in person after Epstein was released from prison for prostituting minors. Park wardens drive through the gates to the Royal Lodge. Getty Images Andrew is eighth in line to the throne and only an act of parliament could prevent him from ever becoming king. Sir Keir Starmer has so far resisted pressure to alter the royal succession, with Downing Street saying there were no plans to do so. Although it is highly unlikely that Andrew could ever ascend the throne, it is not impossible. The three royals directly ahead of him in the line of succession are Prince Harry and his children, who, as a young family in America, are unlikely candidates to serve as monarchs. The other four are the Prince of Wales and his children. The Telegraph, London

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For Halloween this year, were taking a look at some of the most memorable vampires throughout animation history, so pour yourself a cup of blood and dive in!

Well start things off with a vampire cartoon that deserves more attention: Mina and the Count, all about a short-fused vampire named Count Vlad who develops a soft spot for a happy-go-lucky young tyke. Rob Renzetti (future creator of My Life as a Teenage Robot) made six Mina and the Count shorts that aired on Cartoon Networks anthology series What a Cartoon! and Nickelodeons similar Oh Yeah! Cartoons in the mid-90s. Neither network picked it up as a series, but the characters are charming, and Renzettis boldly outlined and slickly stylized design work is always a pleasure to look at. Thats Mark Hamill (a.k.a. Luke Skywalker) doing the voice of Vlad.

Despite the popularity of Dracula in Universals classic monster movies, vampires rarely appeared in cartoons during the golden age of animation. Dracula briefly shows up among other monsters in Disneys Mickeys Gala Premier (1933), Walter Lantzs Wax Works (1934) and Terrytoons G-Man Jitters (1939), but the earliest cartoon Im aware of to prominently feature a vampire is Transylvania 6-5000 (1963), in which Count Bloodcount foolishly attempts to match wits with Bugs Bunny. This was director Chuck Jones last cartoon with Bugs before the Warner Bros. cartoon studio shut down, and it boasts stylishly spooky layouts by Maurice Noble & Bob Givens and a great scraggy vampire design by Jones himself. Several of Bloodcounts lines were later sampled in the Gorillaz song Dracula.

There are reports of audiences fainting in terror upon seeing Bela Lugosis performance in Dracula (1931), but by the 1960s, vampires were viewed as charmingly quaint in the wake of more realistically chilling horror films like Psycho (1960). The old movie monsters were now being played for laughs in sitcoms like The Munsters and novelty songs like The Monster Mash. Count Draculas appearance in the underrated Rankin-Bass stop-motion feature Mad Monster Party? (1967) is in that same campy vein.

Another early cartoon vampire is Count von Krolock, who appears in an opening credits sequence added to the U.S. release of the live-action Roman Polanski flick The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967). It isnt clear who created these titles, although the designs look like the work of Lew Gifford (of Schoolhouse Rock! fame). Polanski apparently hated this sequence, but I like it better than the movie its attached to.

Unlike witches and Frankensteins monster, who are consistently portrayed as green in cartoons, animators have never settled on a standard color for vampires. Sometimes they have pale skin, but its not out of the question to see them painted green, blue or even purple, like the mad scientist vampire in the DePatie-Freleng short Transylvania Mania (1968), directed by Gerry Chiniquy. Four years later, a slightly more iconic purple vampire would make his debut on Sesame Street.

Most of the stock vampire tropes are derived from folklore or Bram Stokers 1897 Dracula novel, but the idea of vampires being vanquished by sunlight was actually an invention of the 1922 silent movie Nosferatu. Vampires aversion to the sun is used for humor in numerous cartoons, including the classic Pink Panther short Pink Plasma (1975), directed by Art Leonardi. Distilling the typical Slavic vampire-speak down to a simple bleh bleh bleh was an inspired choice.

In terms of TV cartoons, a vampire popped up for a quick joke in a 1964 episode of The Flintstones and a few more found their way into the Beatles cartoon in 1965, but one of the first vampires to get significant screen time is Batty Man, a criminal mastermind who faced off against Underdog in 1967. I love how unashamedly cartoony the designs in these early TV cartoons were before they got the blood sucked out of them, so to speak, and we wound up with the more realistic comic book-derived aesthetic that dominated American TV animation of the late 60s and 70s. As for this clip specifically, theres a pretty glaring animation error when we cut from Underdog to a man carrying dishes without switching the background, but its hard to quibble over such a charming sequence. I love those shots of Batty Man wordlessly raging at Underdog.

TV cartoons for kids have gotten a lot of mileage out of vampires over the years, despite the fact that the vampires primary schtick  sucking blood out of peoples necks  isnt something you can really show on a childrens program, particularly after the ACT (Action for Children Television) cracked down on cartoon violence in 1968. Several cartoons in the 1970s tried to work around this by having vampires bite people by shooting lasers out of their eyes, but some more recent cartoons have managed to put a clever twist on the vampire legend that also ties into the theme of the show; in Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, the vampires suck talent out of rival rockstars, and in My Life as a Teenage Robot, the villainous Gigawatt is an energy vampire that sucks the power out of electronics. Here are just a few of the many vampires that have appeared in kids cartoons in the last several decades:

In addition to one-off villains and side characters, there have been several childrens cartoon series centered around vampires, including Ernest the Vampire, Little Dracula, Mona the Vampire, School for Vampires, Bunnicula, Monster High, Vampirina, etc. If you were a kid in the 1980s, you had not one but two cartoon series about vampire ducks to choose from: Filmations Quacula and Cosgrove Hall Productions Count Duckula. Of the two, Quacula has the better pun title, but Duckula is the funnier show.

Cartoon vampires have even shown up in tv commercials, most notably Count Chocula, the undead spokesman for the sugary General Mills cereal of the same name. Chocula was designed by illustrator Goerge Karn, who also created the earliest incarnation of the Trix Rabbit. Chocula made his first screen appearance in this 1971 ad by Bill Melendez, who famously directed the Charlie Brown holiday specials. Look for a very Peanuts-esque child at the end there.

Most cartoon vampires are takeoffs of Bela Lugosi, but the Dracula character from The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy takes inspiration from a different source: the 1972 blaxploitation film Blacula. C.H. Greenblatt, future creator of Chowder, came up with this character by imagining what Blacula would be like as an old man, adding, I basically crossed Redd Foxx and James Brown, made him speak in the third person, and voila  Dracula was born.

One of the most popular cartoon vampires is Marceline the Vampire Queen from Adventure Time. Although she occasionally drinks blood, what she actually craves is the color red, which she sucks out of strawberries, bowties, etc. Marceline became a more wholly sympathetic character as the series progressed, but I think I prefer her early appearances when she is both fun and intimidatingly unpredictable (not to mention having a more oval-shaped head and floppy noodle limbs). In the original series bible, creator Pendleton Ward described her as a wild rocker girl, adding, For Finn, Marceline embodies the allure of a daredevil. Shes fearless in her actions and words and generally throws life to the wind or rather, she throws un-life to the wind. Here she is in her debut, Evicted.

Vampires have had a big presence in anime, from feature films like Vampire Hunter D and Blood: The Last Vampire to series such as Trinity Blood, Hellsing, Vampire Knight, Shiki, Jojos Bizarre Adventure, etc. (not to mention the anime-inspired Castlevania). The first anime vampire Im aware of comes from the goofy 1968 series Monster Kid, based on a manga by Motoo Abiko, in which the young prince of Monster Land journeys to Tokyo with his three supernatural servants: the Wolf Man, Frankensteins Monster, and Dracula. I dont know whats being said here, but the drawings are so joyfully silly that it hardly matters.

The Father of Manga himself, Osamu Tezuka, also created his own vampire character: Don Dracula, who tries to adjust to modern living in Tokyo while sharing a mansion with his servant Igor and daughter Chocola (no relation to Count Chocula). The manga was published in 1979, and it was turned into a short-lived anime series in 1982. Tezukas style is synonymous with anime, but you can tell he was looking at American animators like Tex Avery with some of these wild reaction shots.

For something darker: the gothic post-apocalyptic anime feature Vampire Hunter D (1985) is one of the films that helped to popularize adult-skewing anime in the west, and it remains a cult classic. Its sequel  Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000), directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri  pushes things even farther, boasting more lavish animation and a stronger blend of action and pure horror. Heres an impressively choreographed fantasy battle between D and Carmilla from Bloodlust.

Ive never watched the anime series Hellsing Ultimate, but in looking for animated vampires for this list, the sadistic anti-hero Alucard was consistently ranked as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, anime vampire, so I would be remiss if I didnt give him a mention here.

Indie animators have taken the vampire legend in unusual directions. Kali the Little Vampire (2012) by Portuguese animator Regina Pessoa explores the theme of lost childhood by taking on the perspective of a melancholy young vampire who longs to live in the sunlight. The short was animated digitally, but Pessoa was careful to maintain her personal style  which she developed by engraving on plaster and paper  and the end result looks like a moving linocut. Thats Christopher Plummer doing the narration.

Vampires are frequently subjected to villain roles, but Dracula is the protagonist of the popular Hotel Transylvania films. Director Genndy Tartakovsky, creator of Dexters Laboratory and Samurai Jack, did a great job injecting the exaggerated poses and snappy movements of his 2d work into this computer-animated world. According to Genndy, Thats the whole goal of the director, to have such a strong point of view that you can watch that movie, and go, only Genndy could have done that. Im always very concerned about being homogenized, that nobody can tell who directed what movie. In case there was any doubt, the first Hotel Transylvania film ends with a 2d animated sequence drawn in Genndys distinctive style. As he concluded, For me, no amount of detail or realism can compete with something that is hand drawn, because its the ultimate personal expression.

And speaking of that special charm you only find in traditional animation, the recent French animated feature Little Vampire (2020), directed by Joann Sfar, is bursting at the seams with hand-drawn appeal.

And all that without even mentioning some of the animated vampires that never saw the light of day (which might be a good thing for a vampire): Don Bluth was developing a Dracula animated feature in the 90s, with a script by Joss Whedon, but it was abandoned after the financial failure of Titan A.E. And speaking of Joss Whedon, a planned Buffy the Vampire Slayer animated series never made it past the pilot stage. And on Batman: The Animated Series, Bruce Timm kept pushing to use Nocturna, a gothic seductress who wants to turn Batman into a vampire, but the network nixed her.

And on the horizon: Jorge Gutierrez, creator of El Tigre and director of The Book of Life, is currently working on an unhinged new series called El Guapo Vs The Narco Vampires, which looks spectacular based on the production art.

Who are your favorite animated vampires? Let us know in the comments below. Well end things for now with a classic Simpsons scene.
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Disney-owned networks, including ABC, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD, have gone dark on YouTube TV after the two companies were unable to reach a new carriage agreement before their contract expired late Thursday night.

The blackout will impact around 10 million YouTube TV subscribers nationwide. In addition to losing live programming, users have also lost access to previously recorded content from Disney-owned networks, including loads of animated kids and family content.

According to insider reports, negotiations between Disney and Google, which owns YouTube TV, broke down over pricing and distribution terms. Disney is said to have argued that YouTube TV refused to pay fair market rates for its portfolio of channels, while YouTube TV accused Disney of using blackout threats to force a deal that would require raising prices on customers.

Theyre now following through on that threat, YouTube TV said in a statement. This decision directly harms our subscribers while benefiting their own live TV products, including Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.

The platform went on to say it would not agree to terms that favor Disneys own streaming products and promised subscribers a $20 credit if the blackout continues. Disney, meanwhile, pointed to YouTubes size and market dominance, arguing that Google is attempting to undercut industry-standard terms.

The breakdown follows a series of high-profile distribution clashes between YouTube TV and major media companies over the past two years, including Paramount, Fox, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. Discovery. This almost certainly wont be the last.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has identified the individual who died in a boating collision on Norris Lake on Saturday morning. The victim has been identified as James Bailey, 25, of Maynardville.The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. near the Highway 33 bridge, where two vessels collided. One vessel had two occupants onboard, while Mr. Bailey was the sole occupant of the other vessel. All parties involved in the incident were fishing the same bass tournament.The two individuals occupying the same boat were transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where they were treated and released.Mr. Bailey was initially unaccounted for, prompting a search effort. His body was later recovered. He was not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) at the time of the incident.Baileys body has been sent for autopsy at the direction of the medical examiner.This marks the 26th fatal boating accident in Tennessee this year. TWRA is actively investigating the incident. Additional details will be released as they become available.The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is responsible for protecting, managing, and conserving the states fish and wildlife resources for the benefit of all Tennesseans and visitors. The agency also promotes public safety through law enforcement and boating safety education on Tennessees waterways.
Two Chattanooga men, in separate cases, have been given 10-year federal prison sentences for dealing in meth.

Bruce Wayne Sutton, 41, will be on five years of supervised release after finishing his sentence.

Federal authorities have arrested 38-year-old Bruce Wayne Sutton in Chattanooga on charges of selling large quantities of meth.

He appeared before Judge Travis McDonough.

Between June of 2020 and May of 2021, the DEA and other law enforcement agencies carried out an investigation of Sutton and others for drug sales.

Law enforcement seized kilogram quantities of meth from Sutton on two occasions, it was stated.

On May 12, 2021, Sutton was located at the Homewood Suites at 2250 Center St. Agents made contact with a female in room 313 and learned that Sutton had crawled out onto the roof. He was apprehended there.

Earlier authorities learned from confidential informants that Sutton was picking up large quantities of meth in Atlanta and bringing it to Chattanooga to sell.

Surveillance showed him going from Chattanooga to Atlanta and returning in a white Range Rover. After he had re-entered Tennessee, he was pulled over by a county deputy at the Lee Highway exit of Highway 153. He was found with a large quantity of meth.

Derrick Andrew Lacey also got 10 years in his meth case.

Prosecutors said on July 6, 2024, that agents observed Lacey leave a room at the Howard Johnson Motel and hand a yellow bag to an individual in a vehicle.

Police confiscated the bag, which contained meth, More meth was in the room along with over $5,000 in cash, digital scales and baggies.

In a third meth case, Bradden Kyle Brown got a sentence of 135 months.

Collegedale Police said they initiated a traffic stop on a black 2023 Toyota Camry driven by Lara Kate Peterson, who was also charged. Brown arrived on a motorcycle, "riding in tandem with the Camry, and acting as an escort and lookout."

A backpack in the Camry contained over 700 grams of meth. An additional 88 grams of meth were found inside the vehicle.
A Chattanooga man who was dealing in meth and deadly fentanyl has been sentenced to serve 248 months in federal prison.

Robert Pennington appeared before Judge Travis McDonough.

Prosecutors said in 2021 Pennington was a member of a drug trafficking organization that was obtained illegal drugs in the Atlanta area and selling them in Chattanooga.

Members of the conspiracy had contacts with a Georgia prison inmate, who connected members with suppliers, it was stated.

Many of the members of the group used CashApp for transactions, prosecutors said.

Pennington's role was to distribute the meth and fentanyl, it was stated.
Your latest prescription is to get outside
Home News 'Can't be dissuaded': Believers unite in prayer for persecuted Christians enduring violence

An imprisoned Indian pastor regained the strength to remain faithful after God allowed another pastor to be arrested and sent to the same prison to encourage him, showcasing the importance of fellowship with other believers facing some of the worst persecution the world has to offer.

As Christians around the world observe Sunday's International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, Voice of the Martyrs' Vice President and radio host Todd Nettleton reflected on the stories of Christians who are oppressed for their faith and the miraculous signs of God they encounter during their trials.

Nettleton encouraged believers to put themselves in the shoes of those suffering for their faith.

"The important thing is to put ourselves in their place," the ministry leader told The Christian Post, citing Hebrews 13:3, which states, "Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."

"If I were in prison, I'd want to know people were praying for me and looking out for my family," Nettleton said. "And I would want to know that they were banging the drum to say, 'Hey, this guy's not a criminal. Let him go free.'"

The VOM radio host recounted his recent trip to South Asia, where he met with Christians in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Despite threats from their communities or from the government to burn down their houses or beat them up, Nettleton said that he witnessed persecuted Christians remaining steadfast in their faith.

One story that Nettleton said deeply moved him concerned an Indian pastor who was placed in prison for four months. The radio host met the pastor a few weeks ago during his travels with VOM's international ministry team, which walks alongside persecuted Christians and listens to their stories.

"At first, [the pastor] was doing well, and he saw God at work," Nettleton recounted.

"God actually put him next to a Muslim guy who defended him to the other prisoners and said, 'Hey, leave this guy alone.' And so, that was an answer to prayer. That was kind of miraculous, and he was excited about what God's doing."

As the months dragged on, however, with the pastor enduring the separation from his family and rough conditions at the prison, he began to feel discouraged. The Indian pastor prayed that God would allow another pastor to be arrested, and the Lord answered that prayer.

"Another pastor was arrested and assigned to the bed right across from him," Nettleton said. "The two were the only Christians in the prison. The new arrival told him, 'You've got to hang on. God's going to work this out.' It gave him the strength to continue faithfully suffering in prison."

Both pastors have since been released from prison, according to Nettleton, who believes that the story shows the importance of fellowship.

"When we go through hard times, whether it be persecution, arrest, or maybe it's illness, unemployment, or some other difficulty, it just shows how important it is for us to be walking in fellowship with other believers," he said.

"One of the really powerful things we heard were stories from India of God showing up in miraculous ways," he said. "Someone is healed, or a family member is healed, and once they see the power of God, you cannot talk them out of following Jesus."

After seeing that Jesus had answered their prayers, those in India who may have initially been skeptical about Christ saw that He had the power to do things that the Gods they had been worshipping could not do, according to Nettleton.

"Once they see that kind of dramatic show of God's power, they will not be talked out of it, and they will not be persecuted out of it," the VOM radio host said.

"They'll say, 'You can burn my house down or beat me up, but I saw that Jesus was powerful, and He answered prayer,'" Nettleton added. "They cannot be dissuaded after that kind of encounter with God."

India ranks as the 11th-worst country in the world for Christian persecution on the 2025 Open Doors World Watch List. Most of the violence against Christians is often driven by Hindutva, the belief that all Indians must be Hindu.

At least twelve states in India have passed anti-conversion laws, and converts from Hinduism to Christianity may face pressure from their family, the community, or extremists to reconvert to Hinduism. Christians also regularly face the threat of death or physical assault, and extremists are known to target believers who attend house churches.

Across the globe, more than 380 million people  one in seven worldwide  face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith in Christ, according to Open Doors.

For this year's International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, Nettleton said that VOM is offering free resource kits to help churches, families and Bible study groups pray for their brothers and sisters in Christ who reside in hostile regions.

Nettleton hopes believers in the West can gain a deeper understanding of the power of prayer on Nov. 2 as they reflect on the sufferings and needs of persecuted Christians. For many Christians living in nations where their ability to worship is hindered by restrictive laws or violence, prayer is often all they have, Nettleton said.

"Thousands of churches and thousands of Christians are going to be praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters on this Sunday. And that's such an amazing thing," the Christian radio host said.

"As we think about unity in the body of Christ, we recognize that when one part of the body suffers, others are supposed to feel that pain. That's a really encouraging thing to think about," he added.
Home News The Church is dying in Syria, archbishop warns

The head of the Syriac Catholic Church in central Syria has warned that Christianity is disappearing from the country. Speaking in Rome, the archbishop said the church is dying and called for urgent international intervention to stop the collapse.

Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs, Hama and Nabek said the Christian exodus was a result of the countrys disastrous political and economic situation, which has driven tens of thousands to flee Syria in search of safety and stability, the charity Aid to the Church in Need reported.

At the launch of ACNs Religious Freedom in the World 2025 report last month, the charity reported estimates that Christians in Syria have plummeted from about 2.1 million in 2011 to around 540,000 in 2024.

Mourad warned that without political reform and security guarantees, the Church has no way to stop the ongoing wave of migration.

None of the efforts by the universal Church or the local Church managed to stem the tide of the exodus, Mourad said, because the causes are not related to the Church, but rather to the countrys disastrous political and economic situation.

He argued that a new governmental structure and functioning security system are essential to preventing further flight.

Mourad, who was kidnapped by Islamic State fighters in 2015 and escaped after five months, said the situation for Christians has grown increasingly dire, with ongoing violence and repression continuing under the new government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The archbishop compared Syrias deterioration to Afghanistan and said the public should not expect improvements in religious or other freedoms, Crux Now reports.

Mourad also raised alarm over a possible peace treaty with Israel that could transfer control of the Golan Heights. He said such a move would threaten water access for Damascus and described it as a potential act of enslavement against the citys residents.

Who would accept a treaty such as this? he asked. Where are the human rights values that should help ensure that decisions are fair for both parties?

He urged the international community to adopt a firm stance on Syrias future and encouraged all institutions operating in the country to coordinate with cultural, academic and legal bodies to rebuild public trust and promote justice. He called for training programs to restore the independence of the judiciary and support civic stability.

ACNs report launch included a petition to protect Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees religious freedom. The petition urges governments to support communities under threat and ensure access to emergency and legal aid for victims of religious persecution.

Since the fall of President Bashar Assads regime in December 2024, Syria has seen a surge in violence targeting religious minorities, particularly Christians, Druze and Alawites.

The atrocities are part of a deliberate campaign of terror, not isolated incidents, Alawites Association of the U.S. President Dr. Morhaf Ibrahim said at a recent Capitol Hill news conference.

He blamed foreign jihadis, Assad loyalists and militias tied to the interim government for the increase in violence, noting that nearly 1,500 Alawite civilians were massacred along the Mediterranean coast in March. Victims included women and girls abducted and sold into forced marriages or sexual slavery, he said.

Richard Ghazal, the executive director of In Defense of Christians, said extremist groups are now replacing the countrys former religious diversity with radical ideology. He warned that Syria is losing not only a cultural and theological bridge between East and West, but also a moderating force that once enabled coexistence.

He called on the U.S. to pressure Syrias interim leadership, now dominated by Islamic factions, to adopt constitutional safeguards for minorities and establish mechanisms of accountability. He added that the current patchwork of militias must be replaced with professional security forces to restore stability.

Ibrahim urged the U.S. Congress and the Trump administration to respond swiftly.

Ghazal said the survival of Syrias Christian communities depends on international efforts to enforce religious freedom and protect pluralism through diplomatic leverage and legal frameworks. Without that, he warned, Syrias Christian population will continue to dwindle.

The city of Antioch, where followers of Jesus were first called Christians, and the road to Damascus, where the Apostle Paul is believed to have been converted, are among the historic sites now threatened by the countrys ongoing conflict and the erasure of its Christian heritage.

A suicide bombing at Mar Elias Church in Damascus killed more than two dozen worshippers on June 22. The attacker, wearing an explosive vest, entered during Sunday morning prayers and opened fire before detonating the bomb.

The incident drew strong condemnation from human rights advocates and Christian organizations. Ghazal said the attack reflects a sobering reality for the countrys ancient Christian population. He said Syria was edging closer to losing a 2,000-year-old spiritual and cultural pillar with each act of violence and migration.
Home News This week in Christian history: Billy Graham born; Pliny Fisk sets sail for the Middle East

Throughout the extensive history of the Church, numerous events of lasting significance have occurred.

Each week marks anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths.

Some events, spanning over 2,000 years of history, might be familiar, while others might be unknown to many.

The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history, including the birth of Billy Graham, Pliny Fisk leaving for the Middle East, and the London Missionary Society holding its first meeting.
Home News Travel: In Quincy, where the past still speaks

Few places along the Mississippi River tell Americas story of belief as vividly as Quincy, the river city perched on the bluffs in the westernmost point of Illinois.

Founded in 1825 and named for President John Quincy Adams, Quincy, the county seat of Adams County, was carved from the prairies of Illinois by Yankees who migrated westward from New England and upstate New York. The early settlers carried with them Whig politics, abolitionist convictions and the Protestant work ethic. Their imprint is still visible. Even the name of the local newspaper, the Herald-Whig, recalls the old-stock Yankees.

This city of 39,463 souls has repeatedly found itself at the center of religious and moral conflicts. In 1838 and 1839, Mormons crossed the Mississippi from Missouri to escape persecution. Later, abolitionists made Quincy a key stop on the Underground Railroad.

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church or, as it prefers to be called, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and many of his followers sought refuge here after being subjected to what today would unquestionably be called genocide.

The people of Quincy showed compassion and charity amid one of the darkest chapters in Americas history. They opened their doors with churches, homes and civic halls providing sanctuary until the Mormons established a new settlement on largely undesirable swampland about 45 miles upriver in neighboring Hancock County.

Nauvoo, as Smith named the new settlement, was chartered as a city by 1840 and within a few short years, rivaled the population of Chicago. But prosperity and tolerance were fleeting. The rapidly growing and increasingly insular Mormon community alarmed non-Mormons.

By 1844, tensions erupted. Smith and his brother were murdered by a mob while incarcerated in the county jail in Carthage, seat of Hancock County. For Mormons, Smiths death is seen as an act of martyrdom  the end of a religious leader who unquestionably reshaped the religious landscape of the United States. It also ended Mormon ambitions in Illinois. Within two years, more than 12,000 adherents of the non-Christian religion began the long overland trek  using what became the California, Mormon and Oregon trails  to present-day Salt Lake City, Utah.

Today, Nauvoo (population 950) consists of a quaint downtown with mostly late 19th-century buildings and a historic district on the banks of the Mississippi River that mixes restored and reconstructed Mormon-era buildings.

The most prominent building is Nauvoo Temple, a Greek revival building modeled on the temple that was ruined after the Mormon exodus. It sits next to the Roman Catholic parish church of Sts. Peter and Paul, which by contrast is modest if not unremarkable. In the Mormonism, temples are reserved for certain practices or ordinances. While often comparable in scale to Christian cathedrals, temples are closed to non-Mormons once consecrated.

The historic district, reminiscent of Colonial Williamsburg, is predominately owned by the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, the graves of Smith, his wife and brother belong to the Community of Christ, a smaller branch of Mormonism that in recent years has refashioned itself as trinitarian.

About 25 miles east in Carthage stands the old Hancock County Jail. Also LDS-owned, it has been restored to how it appeared in 1844 when Smith and his brother were killed.

Many visitors to Nauvoo and Carthage are Mormons on a religious pilgrimage, though the story found here is instructive even for non-Mormons. The guides, dressed in vaguely period attire, may be devout Mormons, but they arent proselytizing.

Back in Quincy, the conscience of the city was again put to the test in the years leading up to the Civil War. Thats when residents defied federal law to help enslaved people travel north in search of freedom.

It was also here in 1858 that Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas met in Washington Park, a landmark square that still anchors downtown, for their sixth of seven debates. Thousands gathered to hear Lincoln attack slavery and argue against its expansion.

The city, nicknamed the Gem City, grew rapidly during the decades of the 1800s. This growth is reflected in the architecture one sees today.

Antebellum Greek revival homes, row houses with prominent bay windows and turn-of-the-last-century Queen Anne brownstone-faced mansions stand mere blocks from warehouses and other commercial buildings. Then there are the churches: Episcopal-turned-Anglican, Congregational, Evangelical and Reformed, Disciples of Christ, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic. Many seem to have practiced a kind of architectural one-upmanship with each newly built church being a little bigger or having grander details  some with too much panache  than the last.

The notable architecture isnt entirely 1800s. There are notable midcentury modern buildings, including St. Boniface Church. It replaced an earlier building used by the Ven. Augustus Tolton, the first black Roman Catholic priest in the United States.

Once located along the edge of the frontier with the Mississippi serving as the gateway to westward expansion, Quincy has flourished and faded over two centuries of existence. In days gone by, a literal whos-who passed through Quincy on the steamboats that piloted the river.

Geographically Midwestern and historically Yankee, its real identity can be hard to locate. To my Michigan ears, the English spoken here sounded a bit Southern and a bit Appalachian. Meanwhile, the surrounding Adams County and neighboring Hancock and Pike counties feel about as rural as one can find.

And yet, despite a modest population and its significant Rust Belt decline, Quincy continues to punch above its weight. Its visitors have included six U.S. presidents: Rutherford B. Hayes in 1879, William McKinley in 1899, Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, Jimmy Carter in 1979, Bill Clinton in 2000 and Barack Obama in 2010.

If you go



The History Museum on the Square is housed in Quincys castle-like Richardsonian Romanesque former public library. While small, the collection is fascinating, particularly the stained-glass from local churches and the exhibits on Tolton, the black Roman Catholic priest. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; admission is free. Other must-visit Quincy sites include the Underground Railroad Museum, the mansion belonging to John Wood (founder of Quincy and later governor of Illinois), Lincoln-era Log Cabin Village and Quincy Museum.

The Mormon church operates two visitor centers in historic Nauvoo. Both are open daily: the north center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 4 pm. on Sunday, and the south center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day except Sunday, when hours are 12 to 5 p.m. Admission to historic Nauvoo is free. Parking is also free.

Quincy is reachable by plane though service is limited. Plus, youll need a car for explore the region. By road, Quincy lies about 130 miles north of St. Louis and nearly 300 miles southwest of Chicago.

The Atrium Hotel on Third, a one-time Holiday Inn, is undergoing extensive renovations before raising the flag of Hiltons Doubletree brand. Once renovations are completed, it will be the place to stay in downtown Quincy. At least until a former downtown bank opens as a boutique hotel in 2027.

I stayed farther out at the current franchised Holiday Inn, surrounded by strip malls and big-box stores. Renovated within the last year or two, its a nicer-than-average Holiday Inn with a good all-day restaurant.

If you wanted to spend a night in Nauvoo, the Hotel Nauvoo Historic Inn & Restaurant has 1840s period rooms. Be aware the property closes Nov. 8 for the winter.

Recommended eateries in Quincy include the Patio Restaurant & Lounge, Tiramisu and BoodaLu Steakhouse, the latter of which is housed in a period building overlooking the Mississippi River.

Dennis Lennox writes a travel column for The Christian Post.
Home Opinion Sola Scriptura: The foundation of the Reformation

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenburg Church, igniting the Protestant Reformation. Luther was not trying to start a political or a spiritual revolution but attempting to begin a conversation about the theological problem of indulgences.

The sale of indulgences in the Roman Catholic Church originated, not as a spiritual matter, but as a civil one. In the Middle Ages, the Church was the state, so it not only enforced theological, but civil, standards. Indulgences, then, were first instituted for criminals to pay for offenses against the state, increasing revenue and decreasing expenses. Initially, the Church did not promise any spiritual benefit from these purchases.

Martin Luther understood that true salvation through forgiveness of sins could not be purchased with perishable things (1 Peter 1:18-19). Luther therefore rightly condemned these sales and promoted the Gospel of Gods grace, setting off a firestorm as Rome defended its stream of revenue.

Truly, at the heart of the Reformation stood the Gospel. Four principles were developed to explain the Gospel  the five solas of the Reformation. The first was sola gratia, which means grace alone. We receive salvation because God freely chose to give it. Second was sola fide, which means faith alone. Works cannot avail to justify sinners before a holy God.

The Reformers were not creating a philosophical system but trying to see what Scripture taught about salvation. And the foundational principle supporting these solas was sola scriptura, Scripture alone. The basis for the Reformers arguments was not human tradition, church dogma, or papal edicts, but Scripture itself.

The principle of Scripture alone was radical then, but it has always been controversial. The main issue with Scripture alone was not its necessity. Everyone agreed Scripture was necessary. The issue was its sufficiency. Do we need Scripture plus church tradition, papal edicts, or something else? Or do we need Scripture alone to understand God, salvation, and godly living? Do we believe in the power of Scripture to do what it says it will do? Most important, does the Scripture itself claim to be sufficient for everything necessary for life and godliness?

The Apostle Paul answered this question on death row in a Roman prison, to his protege Timothy (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This was a daunting situation for Timothy. How would he know what to do without Pauls wisdom? Paul gives Timothy a clear answer. Timothy must go to the Scriptures, which could sufficiently equip him for his God-given task. Timothy didnt need Paul; he required Gods Word. Here lies the main point, that Scripture is sufficient to equip us for everything God has called us to do. The sufficiency of Scripture alone was Pauls point to Timothy, and it is the Spirits to us as well. What we need to please God and obey Him, individually and corporately, is His Word. To see this, I want to look at three truths about Scripture from this passage.

First, we should comprehend the source of Scripture (verse 16a).

Paul tells us all Scripture is inspired by God. The Lord is the author of the entire Bible  not just parts of it. Scripture was breathed out by God and is the product of the Holy Spirit. The Bible we hold in our hands is not created from human ingenuity, opinion, philosophy, or creativity. It is the product of the mind of the eternal God.

Too easily, we are persuaded by human ideas, research, thinking, and opinions, and we neglect or reject Gods Word. Yet, we have the mind of God expressed in the Bible. Scripture stands alone as God-given and God-breathed. Everything else is a distant second.

Second, we must understand the usefulness of Scripture (verse 16b).

God has not given us some esoteric, abstract book of metaphysics. He has given us a word that is profitable, practical, and useful. None of His Words are impractical, irrelevant, out of date, or trivial  from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21.

Paul outlines four things Scriptures accomplishes. He first says Scripture is useful for teaching. What a person believes makes a critical difference in what they do and how they live. People who believe error do not receive truth. They have false doctrine, which condemns, leads to sin, and brings destruction. Christians, though, have been delivered from error. Scripture, then, is profitable for promoting a correct understanding of God, man, the world, Satan, salvation, judgment, and obedience.

Additionally, Paul says Scripture is useful for reproof. Gods Word demonstrates what is true and proves what is false. The New Testament writers often use Scripture in this double-edged way, constantly appealing to the Bible even within its pages! The third use Paul mentions is correction. Scripture is profitable for showing us where our conduct is sinful, ungodly, or wicked, and then correcting our conduct so we change direction. In conclusion, Paul says Gods Word is useful for training in righteousness. We need training, so we not only know what to do but are equipped to do it consistently.

For these things, Scripture is profitable. Gods Word teaches us to discern truth from error, put off sin, and obey. It is eminently useful and practical.

Finally, we need to consider the purpose of Scripture (verse 17).

Scriptures purpose equips us fully to live a godly life in a hostile world. The Bible is sufficient to teach us to do everything God has called us to do. If we are soaked in Scripture, we will be thoroughly trained to do Gods will.

There is one occasion when Scripture does not profit the Church or the believer, which is when people reject it (Hebrews 4:2). If Scripture seems irrelevant, impractical, or impotent, the problem is not with Gods Word. Scripture only fails to profit when people do not believe what they read. Unbelief is the sole impediment to profiting from Scripture.

Evangelicals are heirs of the Protestant Reformation. There should be no doubt that Scripture is our final authority in all matters of doctrine and practice. So, do we believe the Word of God? Or are we looking to the opinions and ideas of mere men?

Sola scriptura is a wonderful foundation, but without faith, it is useless. Let us immerse ourselves in Gods Word, believe it, and be transformed by it.
Home Opinion What was the cause of the Protestant Reformation?

What was the matter with the Protestant Reformation? It might seem like a strange question. Some might say that there was nothing the matter with the Reformation, that it was the acme of spiritual recovery of biblical Christianity in church history and therefore was a sort of golden age of biblical faith. Others might say that the matter with the Reformation was that there was one at all, since it produced the largest schism in church history.

Thats not what I mean, however, when I ask about what was the matter with the Protestant Reformation. Im not using the word matter in the normal way, which typically indicates that something is wrong. When we ask, Whats the matter with you? we are assuming that something is wrong or that were looking for fault. What I mean, by contrast, is this: What was the essence, the substance, or what is called in philosophy the material cause of the Protestant Reformation? Another way to ask it would be this: What was the chief issue that provoked such massive consequences as this split that occurred in the 16th century?

When historians consider the causes of the Protestant Reformation, they often use distinctions originally set forth by the philosopher Aristotle, and they distinguish between the formal cause and the material cause. The formal cause, the intellectual background to the issue, was a dispute over the seat of final authority that binds the Christian conscience. Well look at that under the heading of Sola Scriptura. The material cause, however, the substantive issue that was the core point of dispute, was the doctrine of justification. The Protestant view of this matter is expressed in the shorthand of the Latin phrase sola fide.

This is the first of the Latin slogans of the Reformation known as the five solas. They are sola fide, justification is by faith alone; sola gratia, salvation is by grace alone; solus Christus, salvation is through Christ alone; sola Scriptura, the sole authority that binds the conscience of the Christian is the Bible alone; and then, finally, soli Deo gloria, to God alone belongs the glory.

Sola fide is shorthand for the central issue of the Reformation, the material cause, which was the question of justification. The Protestant Reformers set forth a doctrine that our justification is by faith and by faith alone without any mixture of good works or merit on our part.

To understand sola fide in its historical context, we have to understand something about the theological dispute based on the Roman Catholic understanding of justification. At the heart of this dispute was not a tangential debate over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin or a needless controversy over pedantic points of theology that only academics care about. Rather, this issue touched the very heart of the Christian faith because the question of justification is designed to answer this deeper question: How can an unjust person possibly survive the judgment of a just and holy God?

In our day, the doctrine of justification has been degraded in terms of its perceived importance. Historically, the differences among churches over how we obtain a right standing before God were considered significant; those differences have now been minimized as having no great weight.



Were living in a time of relativism, which says that there is no objective truth, and pluralism, which declares that there are many different approaches to truth and views of truth. Therefore, people assert, doctrinal issues should never divide us because what really counts are personal relationships, not doctrine. That notion is propounded even though the New Testament is replete with Apostolic concern about correct doctrine. Sadly, thats not where the church is in this day and age, and sometimes we have to ask why.

Some people are in church Sunday after Sunday, are continually exposed to the preaching of the Gospel, and are members of the Church but have never really committed their lives to Christ. Such people, despite appearances, are under threat of the judgment of Hell because they have not truly embraced the Gospel of Christ. Those who reject the Gospel of Christ stay in their sins and remain unjustified.

Think back to the Old Testament to Davids rhetorical question, If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? (Ps. 130:3). Its rhetorical because the answer is obvious: no one. The promise of God that a day of judgment is coming  that all men will be brought into His courtroom and will be judged according to the bar of His perfect righteousness, and that those who are found wanting will be sent into the abyss of Hell  is a doctrine that many in the Church dont believe anymore. If the Church did believe it, it would preach it, and if it did believe it, justification would be just as much a theological issue today as it was in the 16th century.

If we are going to understand the upheaval that came about in the 16th century, we have to understand that the Church at that time believed in the last judgment. The Church at that time believed in the wrath of God. The Church at that time believed in the justice of God. The Church at that time believed in Hell. Thats why the central question was: How can I be saved?

People nowadays often think of being saved in terms of relationships and dynamics in this world. We are saved from bad habits, addictions, social failure, psychological deficiency, broken relationships, and so on. We are so concerned about the relationships that we have in this world that we dont even worry about the relationship that we have with a just and holy God. But the Christian faith ultimately is not the restoration of human relationships; the Christian faith at its root has to do with the repair of our relationship to God. At the center are these questions: How can a sinner escape the judgment of God? How can a sinner possibly be accepted in Gods judgment?

Something about the Reformation may come as a surprise to many Protestants. The Roman Catholic Church, in the 16th century just as now, believed that justification is by faith, by grace, and by Christ. Three of the issues that are captured in the essence of Protestant thinking are sola fide, by faith alone; sola gratia, by grace alone; and solus Christus, through Christ alone. Because of these solas, many Protestants think that the Roman Catholic Church did not believe in justification by faith or in justification by grace or in justification by Christ  but thats simply not true.

Very early, the Church had to combat the heresy of Pelagius, an Irish monk who challenged Augustine of Hippo and taught that people can be saved without grace and that people can achieve lives of perfect righteousness without any assistance from God. According to Pelagius, people dont need grace and they dont need the help of Christ; he said that grace and Christ facilitate salvation  that is, they assist in the process  but that theyre not absolutely necessary because we have it in our own power to live lives of perfect righteousness.

We must understand that the Roman Catholic Church has roundly condemned Pelagianism, time and time again. The Roman Catholic Church emphatically does not believe that people can be saved by their own righteousness without any help from God. Rather, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that faith is a prerequisite and does three things for justification. First, faith is what Rome calls the initium  that is, the initiation or the beginning of justification. Second, faith is the fundamentum or the foundation of justification. Finally, faith is the radix or the root of justification. To say that the Roman Catholic Church doesnt believe that faith is necessary for salvation is simply slanderous.

Further, the Roman Catholic Church has always taught that grace is necessary as a prerequisite for justification and that without the grace of God infused into the soul through the sacraments, wed be without hope, having to try to earn our way into Heaven on the ground and basis of our own righteousness and our own merit. Finally, the Roman Catholic Church affirms the necessity of the atonement of Christ and of the work of Christ to help us in our justification.

Rome believes that justification is by faith, by grace, and by Christ. But Rome does not believe that justification is by faith alone or by grace alone or by Christ alone. Rather, justification involves other elements. In the Roman Catholic view, faith plus works gives us justification; grace *plus* merit gives us justification; Christ plus our inherent righteousness gives us justification. The Reformers strenuously objected to these teachings, saying that our works do not count toward our justification, that we have no merit of our own of any kind that we bring before God. As the hymn writer Augustus Toplady wrote in Rock of Ages, Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.

According to the Roman Catholic Church, justification begins with baptism. Baptism is called the instrumental cause of justification. We earlier mentioned the distinctions that Aristotle made between different types of causes, and to illustrate these distinctions he talked about sculpting a statue. The material cause of the statue is the stone out of which the statue is made. The efficient cause is the sculptor. The instrumental cause is the chisel and the hammer, the tools that the sculptor uses. According to the Roman Catholic Church, the tool or instrument that God uses to bring justification to sinners is baptism. The person who is baptized receives an infusion of justifying grace, or the grace of the righteousness of Christ. That is, in baptism, something happens inwardly  the soul is infused with divine grace. If the person who is baptized cooperates with that infused or poured-in grace in baptism and assents to it, then he is in a state of justification.

In the Roman Catholic system, justification does not necessarily endure forever, however. A baptized and justified person will remain in the state of justification until or unless he commits a mortal sin. A mortal sin is so called because it kills the grace that is poured into the soul at baptism. The person who commits a mortal sin must then be justified againbut not through baptism. Justification is restored through the sacrament of penance. This sacrament is defined by the Roman Catholic Church as the second plank of justification for those who have made shipwreck of their souls. The first plank is baptism, and the second plank is penance.

According to the Roman Catholic Church, then, justification is acquired instrumentally through the sacraments. The Reformers responded that the instrumental cause of our justification is not baptism or penance; it is faith in Christ. Faith and faith alone is the tool or instrument that links us to Christ and all that He has done for us and by which we are made just in the sight of God.

This article was first published in Tabletalk, the Bible study magazine of Ligonier Ministries. Find out more at TabletalkMagazine.com or subscribe today at GetTabletalk.com.
Hundreds of tourists were left stranded as adverse weather led to suspension of flights for the third straight day at Lukla airport in the Everest region of Nepal, officials said November 2. It has been raining continuously with cloudy skies and fog leading to very poor visibility in and around the Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, the gateway to Mt Everest and other peaks of the region.Flights have not been able to operate since Thursday due to continuous rain and low visibility, said Assistant Chief District Officer of Solukhumbu district, Surendra Thapa.Tourists, who had returned to Lukla after trekking to the Everest base camp three days ago, are not finding any flight to return to Kathmandu, said officials.During this tourist season, dozens of flights operate daily, but all have been suspended now, Thapa said.Hotels in and around Lukla and nearby Namche Bazaar are full of visitors as tourists who were preparing to return after visiting the Khumbu region are stuck in Lukla.Amrit Magar, in-charge of Tara Airlines Lukla, said that around 1,500 tourists who booked tickets from the airline are stranded in Lukla.According to officials at the Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology in Kathmandu, there is no stop to heavy rain and snowfall any soon.There is a possibility of rain in the mountainous and hilly areas, including in Koshi Province, for the next couple of days, the officials added.On October 29, the Nepali and Chinese sides of the Everest region were closed to tourism due to heavy snow brought by cyclone winds, with deep snowdrifts causing a helicopter to crash as it tried to rescue stranded trekkers, authorities said.Visited by thousands of trekkers and climbers, the region around Mount Everest has been blanketed by snow since Monday as a cyclone from the Bay of Bengal churned across India, ushering in a second bout of severe snowfall in the Himalayas this month.Authorities in Nepal have halted trekking on many hiking routes due to rain at lower elevations and heavy snowfall on higher trails, and have urged hikers not to venture out or proceed with their treks in the Annapurna, Manaslu and Dhaulagiri areas, home to some of the world's highest peaks.A small private helicopter flying to Lobuche near the Everest Base Camp to rescue stranded trekkers crashed when it tried to land, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul said.
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Seeing as it's Halloween, aka the so-called season of the witch, it is perhaps worth noting that the commoner formerly known as Prince Andrew appears to have suffered what in certain circles is known as a 'Tower' moment.

In tarot, the Tower card represents a sudden, unavoidable moment of violent disruption, the destruction of long-held beliefs, the tearing down of previously unassailable certainties.

It is generally interpreted as some sort of reckoning, a fall from grace  and the effects are swift and devastating.

The card itself illustrates this: two distraught figures, one wearing a coronet, are pictured falling or being thrown from a collapsing and burning tower, lightning bolt striking the roof, dislodging  somewhat strikingly, given the circumstances  a crown, which also crashes to the ground.

Whether you believe in this sort of stuff or not, the references are spookily accurate. In the space of a few short weeks, Andrew has lost his titles, his home, his family, his entire sense of identity. He has been hurled from the lofty heights of revered royalty to the hard, cold ground below, where, by all accounts, he now lies, wondering what on earth has hit him. That's one of the most surprising things about this whole saga: how he could not have seen this coming. But apparently he did not.

Maybe he thought his brother didn't have it in him; maybe he genuinely thought he had done nothing wrong. Either way, he's had an almighty wake-up call.

I have said it before, and it bears repeating: Andrew has not been convicted of any crime. He has not, technically, done anything illegal (that we know of). In the eyes of the law, he remains an innocent man.

Nevertheless, he has faced  and continues to face  serious allegations. Scandal and sleaze seem to follow him wherever he goes (let's not forget also that whole business with the Chinese spy). He has, over the years, had ample opportunity to mount a defence of his behaviour and associations. And yet at every turn his response has only strengthened the case for the prosecution.

Scandal and sleaze seem to follow Andrew wherever he goes, writes Sarah Vine

In Tarot, the Tower is an ominous card and is generally interpreted as some sort of reckoning

From his high-handed dismissal of Virginia Giuffre's accusations to his repeated attempts to conceal the truth about the nature of his relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, it's all somehow added up to a very grubby picture of a very grabby life.

That is one thing if you are just an ordinary Joe, your average spiv on the make. But if you are a prince of the realm, it won't do. You can't have all that privilege without assuming some of the responsibility. It's just not on.

And there's no doubt that Andrew has, by any standard, let alone that of a royal, behaved appallingly.

Nonetheless, he still has his supporters  mostly men (funny, that), but they do exist. They point out that it is not a crime to be friends with a convicted sex offender, and this is of course true.

They say that inviting three people who went on to be jailed for sex offences (Harvey Weinstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Epstein) to your daughter's birthday party is an unfortunate coincidence. This could also be true. They stress that being photographed with your arm around someone does not mean you had sex with them. This is definitely true.

But if you then appear on national television professing never to have met the girl, yet it transpires, as revealed by The Mail on Sunday, that you passed her details to your protection officer, that just doesn't add up.

And when you claim to have severed all contact with Epstein yet are exposed  again by this newspaper  sending emails saying things like 'we'll play some more soon', you can't expect people not to interpret that as deeply suspicious. Especially when you've paid millions to buy the silence of this girl you've supposedly never met.

Even if Andrew is innocent of the specific allegations, as he claims, the overall situation still reeks of scandal and moral bankruptcy. His brother, King Charles, has had to make a judgment, and he has made the right one. When a branch rots, you have to cut it off, otherwise the whole tree eventually withers and dies.

King Charles, has had to make a judgment, and he has made the right one. When a branch rots, you have to cut it off, otherwise the whole tree eventually withers and dies

Virginia Giuffre repeated claims in her recently released posthumous memoir that she was trafficked to Andrew for sex on three separate occasions

But all may not yet be lost for Andrew. This could yet be the making of him. Provided no further irksome revelations emerge, he has an opportunity to leave behind the arrogant, entitled, boor that was the old Prince Andrew and build a better life as Mr Mountbatten Windsor.

All of us experience Tower moments in our lives. I've had a few myself, and each has seemed like the end of everything. But the truth is, if you are willing to accept the lessons they teach you, these shifts in fortune can become moments of great personal growth.

Every time I've been metaphorically hurled off my high tower, it's taught me some valuable and

necessary lessons about myself, my failings, my mistakes, my vanities. Ultimately, those experiences have encouraged me to try harder to do better.

I've learnt who my real friends are, and what really matters to me. I've learnt to walk away from people and situations who aren't good for me. I've learnt that it is perfectly possible to be happy with the blessings you have rather than constantly striving for more.

Sure, I had to suffer humiliation and heartache and a fair few long, dark nights of the soul to get to that point. But it was worth it.

And if Andrew embraces his new reality with the right attitude, who knows, he too might grow and learn from his mistakes. It won't be easy. But he faces a choice: live out his life in furious isolation and bitterness, or find some way to redeem himself without making excuses or trying to cut corners as he has always done.

Besides, it's not as if his situation is all that bad. There are worse predicaments to find oneself in than a cottage on a private estate in one of the most beautiful parts of Norfolk.

Life at Sandringham is hardly a hardship. He'll have a roof over his head and food in his belly. And if it was good enough for Prince Philip, who lived on the estate when he retired, it will be more than satisfactory for his wayward son. Sure, it's a far cry from what he's used to, but by most people's standards he is still very, very lucky. Indeed, by the standards of most royals who have had cause to displease their relatives, he's positively blessed.

After all, King Henry I stole Normandy off his brother and then stuck him in jail for 30 years; Edward IV had his brother George, Duke of Clarence, executed for treason; Queen Mary did the same to her cousin Lady Jane Gray; and then there was all that business with Richard III and the princes in the tower.

Not only is Andrew's head still firmly attached to his neck, he

also remains at liberty. Both

those things, if you ask me, are reasons to be grateful  and a good place to start the long climb back to respectability.
This country expects the very highest levels of probity and honesty from our politicians. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has shown herself to be sorely lacking in both.

The Mail on Sundays revelation today that she failed to heed warnings  not once, but twice  over the lucrative rental of her family home raises further serious questions about her integrity.

Ms Reeves and her husband were told by two estate agencies that to rent out their four-bedroomed house in south London they would require a 900 landlords licence.

Then there is the question of her conduct since the whole affair was exposed. She initially professed ignorance of the need for a permit, before backtracking to admit the need for one had been discussed.

The Prime Minister last week wrote to his Chancellor to say he regarded her paperwork gaffe as an inadvertent failure. But can it really be inadvertent to have made the same mistake over and over again? Crucially, it remains unclear whether Reeves was fully candid with Keir Starmer when she finally coughed up.

If she failed to tell the PM she had been advised by two experts, it raises yet more questions over her scruples.

Reeves apparent lack of transparency over her personal affairs can hardly be a surprise, however, as her party rides roughshod over promises it made to the electorate. Labour pledged not to increase taxes on working people as part of its mendacious election campaign last year. Ever since, this shameless Government has been squirming to get itself out of that deal.

In this months Budget, the Chancellor is set to exclude anyone who earns over 46,000 a year from her definition of a working person. Teachers, specialist nurses, lorry drivers and experienced police constables would come into scope for additional taxes on their income as a result.

The Government is attempting to add spurious clauses to the definition of a working person because the economy is flatlining under their stewardship, ministers have failed to get a grip on public spending and, as a consequence, Ms Reeves needs to squeeze more money from the taxpayer.

Ms Reeves (pictured) and her husband were told by two estate agencies that to rent out their four-bedroomed house in south London they would require a 900 landlords licence

This spurious 46,000 threshold will target not the mega-wealthy but, rather, more than seven million workers who are only slightly above the median full-time salary of 39,000.

The workers to be excluded from Labours manifesto pledge may perhaps have a take-home pay of 2,920 a month, after deductions for income tax, National Insurance and the minimum five per cent contribution to a workplace pension. By comparison, the current benefits cap stands at 2,110 for couples and lone parents in London, and 1,835 a month elsewhere.

Is Labour really telling us that the gap between welfare dependency and wealth is as little as 810 a month?

The Governments desperate attempt to extricate itself from its self-inflicted public spending black hole would divide Britain into three groups: benefits claimants, the low-paid and, finally, every other worker, who would be mere tax-fodder for Ms Reeves incompetence.

By proceeding down this treacherous route the Government is not merely squeezing the middle class but attempting to snuff it out of existence altogether.

In this  as in so much else  Labour is guilty of a jaw-dropping lack of integrity.
It's a conundrum we've all faced.

Opening up the cupboard or fridge to grab something to eat, only to find that item is dotted with white, blue or grey mould.

Can you eat around it? Or does it need to be chucked out straight away?

There are no official guidelines when it comes to what is or isn't safe to eatand everyone has different red lines.

But eating mouldy food can come with serious health consequences past just an upset stomach, say experts.

Consuming spoiled food exposes the body to range of microbial toxins and biochemical by-products that can cause anything from mild food poisoning to liver cancer.

And, says toxicology professor Dr Brad Reisfeld, cutting around it won't protect you.

While certain foods may give you a better chance of being able to consume a non-mouldy part unscathed, others are almost certainly ridden with toxicand invisible spores.

Because bread is porous, mould structures are able to grow throughout it and not just on the surface

So, from apples to bread to soft cheese and yoghurt, here's which foods you can just cut the mould offand which needs to be binned immediately.

Meat

It's perhaps the most obvious one to avoid.

But meat of any form should not be eaten past its sell-by date, says Professor Reisfeld.

While mould tends to be the primary concern for fruits, vegetables and dairy, bacteria is responsible for decomposing meat.

Spoiled meat may develop a slimy texture, and greenish or brownish discolouration as it begins to rot.

But the harmful bacteria that most commonly grow on meat don't always produce a noticeable change in smell - making it hard to assess whether it's gone off or not by sensory cues alone.

The smell of rotting meat is instead caused by chemicals released later in the decomposition process - which themselves can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps, as well as headaches, flushing and a sudden drop in blood pressure.

The most famous meat contaminant is Escherichia coli - or E coli (pictured) - a common beef contaminant that produces a toxin which can cause severe gastrointestinal illness

Spoiled meat can contain a number of harmful - and potentially deadly - strains of bacteria, says Prof Reisfeld.

The most famous of these is Escherichia coli - or E coli - a common beef contaminant that produces a toxin which can cause severe gastrointestinal illness and, in some cases, a dangerous kidney disease called haemolytic uremic syndrome.

Poultry, meanwhile, tends to carry a bacteria called Campylobacter jejuni, which produces a toxin that invades gastrointestinal cells, causing diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and fever.

In rare cases, it can even cause the body's immune system to attack its own nerves, leading to temporary paralysis.

Salmonella is another fear when it comes to gone-off meat - as well as raw eggs and undercooked chicken.

The bacteria works by releasing toxins into the lining of the intestine that drive painful inflammation.

And Clostridium botulinum produces the botulinum toxin - deadly even in tiny amounts - and can lurk in improperly stored or tinned meats.

If a piece of meat - cooked or raw - shows any signs of spoilage, or simply has been sitting in the fridge for too long, don't risk it.

When fruit becomes overripe, and eventually rots, it produces fungi - the fuzzy patches of green, yellow, black or white mould

Fruits

Fruits are not immune from toxins, says Professor Reisfeld.

'When they become bruised or overripe, or are stored in damp conditions, mould can easily take hold and begin producing these harmful substances,' he wrote in a piece for the Conversation.

When fruit becomes overripe, and eventually rots, it produces fungi - the fuzzy patches of green, yellow, black or white mould that are so horrifying to find on the underside of your apple.

This fungi can give off a musty smell and produce toxic chemicals called mycotoxins.

Exposure to mycotoxins, through eating, drinking, inhaling, or skin contact, can cause poisoning - called mycotoxicosis - with effects ranging from mild symptoms like flu-like illness to serious complications like organ damage and cancer.

A major type of fungi - known for infecting apples, as well as pears, cherries and peaches - is a blue mould called Penicillium expansum.

This fungus produces a toxin called patulin, which works by infecting key enzymes in cells that impair normal cell functions and harm DNA, proteins and fats in the body.

In large amounts, patulin can even cause damage to major organs like the kidneys, liver, digestive tract and immune system.

'It is tempting to just cut off the mouldy parts of a fruit and eat the rest,' said Prof Reisfeld.

'However, moulds can send out microscopic rootlike structures called hyphae that penetrate deeply into food, even in seemingly unaffected bits.

'Especially for soft fruits, where hyphae can grow more easily, it's safest to toss mouldy specimens. Do it at your own risk, but for hard fruits, I do sometimes just cut off the mouldy bits.'

Bread is one of the most tempting foods to cut a little patch of mould off and eat

Grains

Bread is one of the most tempting foods to cut a little patch of mould off and eat.

But doing so risks liver damage and even cancer, says Professor Reinsfeld.

Two of the most common fungi found on grains and nuts are Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus.

These can release mycotoxins called aflatoxins, which can trigger mutations when the molecules they produce bind to DNA.

Repeated exposure to aflatoxins can damage the liver and as even been linked to liver cancer - especially for those with existing risk factors like hepatitis B infection.

Another group of fungal pathogens that grow as mould on grains like wheat, barley and corn are called fusarium.

These tend to grow in humid environments and can make grains appear discoloured, or have a pinkish hue.

Fusarium can produce toxins that also damage cells and irritate the digestive tract, as well as disrupting how cells in the body build and maintain their outer membranes.

And bread is particularly risky.

As it's porous, or has a lot of gaps, mould could easily have spread to other areas beyond the visible patch.

These growths may not be as visible to the naked eye  but are still present.

Says Prof Reisfeld: 'If grains or nuts look mouldy, discolored or shriveled, or if they have an unusual smell, it's best to err on the side of caution and throw them out.

'Aflatoxins especially are known to be potent cancer-causing, so they have no safe level of exposure.'

Some cheeses are prized for their tangy flavour caused by chemicals produced by certain fungi - Roquefort and Stilton among them

Cheese

Mould on cheese is by no means always bad.

In fact, some cheeses are prized for their tangy flavour caused by chemicals produced by certain fungi - Roquefort and Stilton among them.

Others, like brie and Camembert, are coated in a soft, white rindmade of fungi that contributes to their flavour and texture.

But that doesn't mean that a bit of fuzzy mould on your block of cheese is safe to eat, says Professor Reisfeld.

Unwanted forms of mould tend to look fuzzy or powdery and can come in unusual colours, like greenish black or red.

These can be caused by the Aspergillis species, and should be immediately discarded.

Another species common in cheese, called Penicillium commune, is known for producing cyclopiazonic acid - a toxin that can impair nerve and muscle function.

At a high-enough level, the toxin can even cause tremors and nervous system symptoms.

Though rare, the fungus will usually produce a sharp, sour rank odour.

'As a general rule, discard soft cheeses such as ricotta, cream cheese and cottage cheese at the first sign of mold,' says Prof Reisfeld.

'Because these cheeses contain more moisture, the mould's filaments can spread easily.

'Hard cheeses, including cheddar, parmesan and Swiss, are less porous.

'So cutting away at least one inch around the moldy spot is more of a safe bet  just take care not to touch the mold with your knife.'
The Years Of The Wizard Rachel Morris (September 20, 368pp)

The man who acted as alchemist to James IV of Scotland  John Damian  had a secret laboratory in Stirling Castle. It was there that he built himself a pair of wings and attempted to fly from the castles ramparts. It may or may not surprise you to learn that the attempt was unsuccessful.

The experimentation of Sir Isaac Newton

Damian got away with a broken thigh. But we shouldnt assume that everyone laughed at him  his beliefs were perfectly normal for the 16th century. In fact his efforts at alchemy (turning base metals into gold) were matched by those of the scientist Isaac Newton, right. There was also William Cecil, Elizabeth Is chief adviser. And, crucially for Rachel Morriss book about the eras magicians (as in wizards rather than David Blaine), there was John Dee.

Another adviser to Elizabeth (he supplied the mathematical calculations that allowed her sailors to undertake journeys to the New World), Dee was the most famous magician of his age. As well as pursuing alchemy, he sold dream interpretations and astrological readings. His crystal ball and black obsidian mirror are now in the British Museum. He also owned the largest private library in England, some three to four thousand books.

Unusually for the time he kept them on shelves (cupboards were the norm), their spines facing inwards, as titles back then were painted on the edges of the pages. Dee liked to doodle in the margins, which in those days were left deliberately wide for that very purpose. Doodling was a sign of your love for your books and a way of connecting you to all the readers who came afterwards.

Wizards of the Elizabethan period believed in astrology, in perpetual motion machines, in bottles planted into the walls of a house to catch witches before they could enter. Some of the magicians would base decisions on the sieve and shears  a sieve held between the blades of a pair of scissors, which would then be allowed to turn as you asked it questions. That was the higher rank of wizard, mind you. Poorer people had to consult the cunning folk, practitioners who could provide you with potions and charms to secure love, pregnancy, protection against evil etc. Fairy stories were widely believed too.

The Years of the Wizard is available now from the Mail Bookshop

How could people fall for such nonsense? Various explanations crossed my mind as I read this book. One of the more charitable theories concerned the celestial globe, which was a normal globe mounted within an outer one showing the stars. You could move the latter as if you were God seeing how the constellations passed across the Earths surface. That must have given a feeling of control over events, and who wouldnt be tempted by that?

At other points, though, you cant help but conclude that the magicians were trying it on. John Dee had a scryer (medium) called Edward Kelley, who helped him talk to the angels, as their messages wouldnt appear directly to Dee himself. Was Kelley knowingly tricking Dee? asks Morris. Was he taking drugs? Was he mentally deranged? Or, we might add, was he just earning himself a few bob?

The German magician Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa was said to have paid his tavern bills with coins that, though they appeared to be made of gold, turned into horn afterwards. You might call that proof of wizardry. Or you might call it a magic trick of the more modern sort, one involving paint. And not a particularly well-executed one at that.
Alice Vinten, 44, now writes about her arrest for 'stalking' last February

Having spent ten years as a Metropolitan Police officer, author Alice Vinten has carried out her fair share of arrests.

But in February last year, she experienced it from the 'wrong' side of the front door, when she was arrested at 7.30am at her home in Essex.

'I wasn't quite in my pyjamas,' she recalls. 'I'd thrown on some clothes, but  and this is so embarrassing, in the moment  but I didn't have a bra on.

'I remember the excruciating shame of having to say to the two officers, both male: "Yes, I will come with you, but can I please put a bra on first?"'

A decade on from leaving the Met, Alice, 44, is an author who writes about policing, particularly from a woman's perspective.

Her last book was called The Real Happy Valley, and featured interviews with the sort of female police officers who inspired writer Sally Wainwright to create the iconic character of Sergeant Catherine Cawood, played so memorably by Sarah Lancashire.

Like the fictional Catherine, Alice is also not afraid to speak truth to power.

She is active on social media, particularly X, formerly Twitter, where in recent times she has 'called out police bullying and misogyny'. But it has, she says, made her enemies in the force.

Having spent ten years as a Metropolitan Police Officer, author Alice Vinten, pictured during her time working for the force, has carried out her fair share of arrests

A decade on from leaving the Met, Alice, 44, is an author who writes about policing, particularly from a woman's perspective

On the morning of her arrest, Alice remembers trying to stay calm to avoid panicking her teenage sons, then aged 16 and 13, who had been getting ready for school.

The officers told her she was being arrested on suspicion of stalking and harassment. They needed her to hand over her phone and her laptop. She did so.

'I even offered to give them my password. The officers didn't handcuff me, but my kids had to watch as they led me to the car.'

The sense of outrage was there, even then.

'I wanted to shout: "This is a f***ing joke. How dare you come to my house and do this in front of my children", but I knew it was important to stay calm and cooperate.'

The shame, though.

'Getting arrested is awful for anyone, but for someone who was so proud to be a police officer, it was just devastating. I am a law-abiding citizen, but I'm also someone who knows the law, and I knew I hadn't done anything wrong.

'The laws around stalking and harassment were introduced primarily to protect women from dangerous men. This was a complete subversion. Outrageous.'

In February last year Alice was arrested at 7.30am at her home in Essex while her teenage sons were getting ready for school

What on earth had Alice done? She says that even describing it as 'becoming involved in a social media spat', as I do, is overstating what happened.

'Quite simply, I'd called out poor behaviour from police officers by drawing attention to the officers' own tweets. I'd said: "You might want to look at this person because I don't think this is acceptable."'

Specifically, it was a series of social media exchanges with a female detective who had, under a pseudonym, tweeted in support of a male officer convicted of ABH, which led to Alice's arrest.

Alice discovered  from friends within the force  the woman's identity and made a formal complaint to the Metropolitan Police, tweeting that she found it outrageous that a serving officer could publicly support a colleague whose behaviour had been found to be criminal.

However, the female officer made a counter complaint, claiming that she was being stalked and harassed by Alice, whom she accused of being 'nasty' and pursuing a personal vendetta, even while the detective was on honeymoon.

'It was extraordinary. I hadn't ever messaged her directly. She would have had to go looking for the tweets that referred to her. And I didn't even know she was married,' Alice says, talking exclusively to the Daily Mail.

'There had been nothing underhand about it. In most tweets that referenced her I copied in the Met Police Twitter handle.

'Who in their right mind would stalk and harass someone and copy the police in on the message! It's insane.

'I actually think the police should have thanked me for doing their job.

'The next thing I knew, the police were arresting me, trying to silence me, criminalise me.'

Alice was held in a cell for more than 14 hours, but never charged.

She later discovered that at least two senior officers had looked at the allegations against her and concluded that there was no evidence that a crime had been committed. They did not feel that the complaint even warranted investigation.

'And yet, someone higher up gave the order that I should be arrested. Valuable police resources were used, and I maintain that the purpose was to intimidate me.'

Alice remained on bail for six months, 'with the absolute horror of this hanging over me'.

She says she suffered distress and trauma, and was prescribed medication to help her sleep. Her writing career went on hold.

She took legal action against Essex Police, alleging wrongful arrest and battery, and earlier this month she agreed to accept a financial settlement.

There is no admission of wrongdoing from Essex Police, but Alice is claiming victory  'my good name has finally been cleared'  and is now determined to speak out, not least because it is taxpayers' money that will have funded the payment from the force.

'I think it's important that members of the public know that we live in a country where calling out questionable police behaviour online can get you arrested,' she says.

The whole debacle raises worrying questions, not just about police abuse of power but about the number of officers using social media to, as Alice puts it, 'settle scores and pursue vendettas'.

She explains: 'There is a whole community on X which I call Police Twitter.

'While some officers openly post under their own name, others operate anonymously, sometimes breaking the rules of their own force about social media use.

'There is something of a pack mentality about it, and I seem to have fallen foul of it. Over the years, I haven't shied away from calling out police behaviour that I feel is worrying, but it's made me enemies.

'It's led to death threats. I've been told I should be "deep-sixed", which means getting rid of somebody. I didn't even know the term. I had to Google it.

'My address has been put on social media. I've been told I should be careful when I cross the road. I've been called a vile harridan, a failed copper, a disgrace to the force.

Alice took legal action against Essex Police, alleging wrongful arrest and battery, and earlier this month she agreed to accept a financial settlement

'Some of these accounts are operated by serving or retired police officers who have tried to ruin my reputation and my career.

'And yet I was the one who was arrested here.'

Alice says she has been targeted on different fronts, and claims there are double-standards over which complaints the police investigate.

For instance, she claims to have been a victim of the well-known trans rights activist, disgraced ex-police officer Lynsay Watson.

Watson, a trans woman, is infamous for making complaints to the police about high-profile women's rights campaigners, including Father Ted writer Graham Linehan who was arrested at Heathrow airport earlier this year. Watson was fired by Leicestershire Police for gross misconduct in 2023.

Alice, meanwhile, says she reported Watson to Essex Police over threatening emails and doxxing, where personal details are shared online.

But when she reported Watson, Essex Police said the behaviour did not constitute a criminal offence and they wouldn't be investigating it, she said.

'I asked to speak to a sergeant and one called and told me that I should have respected Watsons pronouns on Twitter.

'I believe that I was treated with disrespect because of who I am, and that I am seen by police as "anti-police".'

It wasn't always this way. Alice spent more than a decade in the Metropolitan Police, working as a uniformed officer, mainly in north London.

She resigned in 2015, however, when her children were little. She admits she felt disillusioned with the job, but stresses that she remained 'full of admiration for my former colleagues, because they do an amazing job'.

In 2018, Alice published a memoir of her time in the police called On The Line. Crime writer Ian Rankin describing it as 'fascinating stuff  a warts and all memoir from probationer days on'.

On social media, the reception from fellow officers was, 'at the time, really positive', even though she did go on TV to give a few interviews about misogyny and sexism she had experienced.

The longer she was out of the force, however, the more she started to realise how deep-rooted the sexism was.

The kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, by police officer Wayne Couzens, in March 2019, was a watershed moment  for Alice as well as in a wider sense.

She says her interactions on social media  particularly with other serving officers  became more confrontational.

'I think after Sarah Everard, I started to realise that this behaviour needed to be called out because there were examples of it all over the place.

'My thinking was  and still is  that if a police officer is behaving like a sexist bully online, then the chances are he will be behaving like a sexist bully on the job, and if you are a bully you absolutely should not hold that police badge.'

So she started to 'call out the bullies'. 'I was polite. I'd say: "Do you think you should be saying this?" I know the law.'

There is no doubt that Alice became a thorn in the side of former police colleagues, using her own detective skills to try and ascertain the identity of serving officers who were posting anonymously.

'It often wasn't difficult,' she says. She also had allies on her 'side' of Police Twitter, and references informants who passed her information such as screenshots of private conversations.

One of the officers that Alice called out was PC Thomas Karlsen.

After publicly highlighting tweets she claimed were sexist and racist, she reported PC Karlsen to his bosses. She was told this would be investigated.

Events moved faster than any disciplinary process, however.

In 2023 Karlsen resigned from the force, ahead of a misconduct hearing after an incident where he was found to have used disproportionate force while detaining a suspect  a case that resulted in a conviction for ABH.

'If anyone had just looked at his social media, they would have seen that this man should not have been in the police,' Alice says. 'If they had acted earlier, he wouldn't have been allowed to commit ABH.'

The PC Karlsen incident, though, led to online harassment of Alice, all from accounts she believed to be police-associated.

Some were anonymous. Some used pseudonyms.

She claims there was a campaign to discredit her, with Twitter users being urged to leave her books unfavourable reviews.

She received death threats. 'I'd made the cardinal sin of turning against the team, the police "family".'

It was at this point that Alice's attention turned to the female detective tweeting in support of Karlsen and, ultimately, her arrest in Febuary 2024.

Alice describes her 14 hours in a police cell as 'terrifying'.

Once again, her knowledge of the system was not helpful.

'It was a CCTV cell, with a toilet in it, but I didn't eat anything because I did not want to have to use the toilet, knowing that there would be male officers watching.

'From my time in the force, I am aware of what the procedure is. When viewed on screen there is always a small square pixilated over the lap area, but it is still humiliating.'

She says that, as the hours dragged on, she asked if there was something she could read.

'And to my horror they brought me a novel which had blood splatters all over it. Dried blood. This is going to sound ridiculous but after so many hours in that cell I started to think: "Is this some sort of threat? Is it a warning?"'

It was 10.30pm before Alice was released.

'Even that seemed to have been done in a way that emphasised how little they cared. It was dark. They'd taken my phone and I had no money.

'I said to the front desk, "is there any way someone could call me a taxi, please?" and they refused. I was left to find my own way to a taxi rank. I find that disgusting.'

Alice says that her writing work has been on hold while she has been dealing with the fall-out from her arrest, although she has been working on children's stories  under the penname Trish Nolan  and her debut picture book recently won the illustrated children's book category at the 2025 Rubery Book Awards.

'The adult stuff is about police work, gritty stuff, and I just haven't been able to do it,' she says.

She hopes this will now change.

Alice is being considered for the BBC Writer's Voices Programme after being shortlisted in the corporation's Scripted competition for a TV pilot episode, and has wider ambitions to write a script for a series.

They say write about what you know, so it would be perfectly logical for her to use her own experience with this arrest. The material is ample.

'The trouble is that if you wrote this in a script, an editor would say it was too far-fetched, that it couldn't really happen,' she says. 'And yet it did.'
Once known as a party drug for cashed-up yuppies, cocaine has quietly shifted into the suburbs - becoming a staple of middle-aged social life.

While the drug is used everywhere from New York City penthouses to cottages in the Cotswolds, the fact remains that Australians are the biggest users by far.

Australia has the most cocaine users per capita in the world - extraordinary given the drug's shockingly high street value here - and there's a significant increase in people in their forties and fifties using the drug.

It's turning up everywhere - at birthdays, baby showers, even school fundraisers. These days, it seems 'getting a bag' is as casual as grabbing a bottle of wine.

As a general practitioner, I'm seeing more patients gripped by cocaine's fallout - bank accounts emptied, relationships trashed, and mental health in ruins.

And these are the lucky ones. For Australia's over-40s, the true cost is only beginning to surface.

The risk of heart attack, stroke and sudden death climbs dramatically among older cocaine users, and if this epidemic worsens, so too will the death toll.

Cocaine may promise confidence and sociability, but for growing numbers of ordinary Aussies, it's a ticking time bomb.

General practitioner Dr Brad McKay (pictured) warns middle-aged cocaine use is on the rise, presenting a unique range of health problems

Australia has the most cocaine users per capita in the world (stock image)

What is cocaine and how does it work?

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug made from the leaves of the coca plant. Sold as a fine white powder, it's usually snorted, but can also be rubbed on gums or injected.

But the high is short-lived. Cocaine also speeds up heart rate, tightens blood vessels, and spikes blood pressure. The crash that follows can bring exhaustion, anxiety and a strong urge to use again.

Despite its reputation as a 'glamorous' party drug enjoyed by high society, cocaine carries serious risks - even after a single use.

Ageing bodies, higher stakes: The 40+ risk factor

Cocaine doesn't just give users a burst of energy - it puts the heart under serious strain.

Older adults face increased risks for heart attacks, strokes, and other serious health issues. Cocaine speeds up the heart and raises blood pressure, which can be particularly dangerous as blood vessels become less flexible with age.

This makes it easier for cocaine to cause complications, leading to conditions like abnormal heart rhythms, aortic dissection (where the main artery tears), and even sudden death.

'For many, what started as a confidence booster now leaves them anxious, isolated, or depressed - and the older you get, the more challenging it is to bounce back mentally,' writes Dr Brad McKay (stock image posed by models)

The physical toll of cocaine goes well beyond the heart, and for older people, recovery from these issues is much more difficult.

One major concern is its damaging effect on the nasal passages. Cocaine irritates the lining of the nose, leading to short-term issues like a runny or blocked nose. Prolonged use can result in more severe complications, such as holes forming in the nasal septum. Whistling when you talk can be very upsetting.

Middle-aged bodies heal more slowly and less effectively, meaning the harm caused now can linger for years.

Used occasionally, cocaine carries risks - but for those in their 40s and 50s who have used the drug socially for years, the mental health impact intensifies. Sleep gets lighter, moods swing further, and exhaustion hits harder. Age makes it tougher to recover from late nights and chemical lows.

For many, what started as a confidence booster now leaves them anxious, isolated or depressed - and the older you get, the more challenging it is to bounce back mentally.

Getting help

Lydia O'Donoghue, a mother of four from Ireland, died aged 38 from a blood clot. A pathologist's report found that 'cocaine use may have contributed' to her death

As a GP, I see plenty of middle-aged patients realising just how much cocaine has taken from them - not just money and relationships, but their sense of wellbeing.

By the time you hit your forties or fifties, the body's ability to handle the drug's effects, both physically and mentally, is much weaker than in your twenties.

Quitting is possible - and, in fact, may be more urgent for older users. Though cocaine is not as physically addictive as heroin, the social pressure to conform in environments where its use is normalised can be even more compelling, especially as it becomes more accepted in certain circles.

Just because the other mums and dads are doing it doesn't mean it's safe.

Fortunately, social and psychological support works. Breaking the habit now can prevent long-term health problems that become more likely as time goes on.

The rise of cocaine use among middle-aged Australians is a growing issue. If this trend continues, older users are likely to face serious consequences.

Whether it's health problems, anxiety, or even sudden death, the reality is clear: for anyone over 40, it's not just about having fun anymore - the risks are real and can be fatal.

Brad McKay is a medical practitioner, author, TV host, and media commentator. Since his role as the host of Embarrassing Bodies Down Under and the release of his book Fake Medicine: Exposing the wellness crazes, cons, and quacks costing us our health, he's emerged as one of the leading voices in Australian healthcare

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Therapeutic goods and treatments mentioned, including medications and medical devices, may not be suitable for everyone. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any treatment.

This content complies with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) guidelines by avoiding misleading claims, ensuring accuracy, and encouraging consumers to seek appropriate medical advice.
For Anntina Forster, weight loss jabs were a revelation.

The 42-year-old was 'always up and down' with her weight - but with GLP-1 drugs she was able to shift 28.5kg (4st 7lbs).

She dropped four dress sizes and went from 110kg (17st 5lbs) to 82.5kg (13st) on the medication.

But while she was thrilled with the results, the 'loose, heavy skin' left behind after her rapid weight loss really bothered her.

'I still couldn't wear the clothes I wanted to, which kind of drove me into getting the excess skin removed,' the mother-of-one from Birmingham, England, told Daily Mail.

'Working in the aesthetics industry, a lot of it is about how you look and I was really aware of that.

'I was going to the gym and still couldn't get in the clothes I wanted to.

Eventually, Anntina began researching cosmetic solutions and decided to fly to Turkey to undergo a tummy tuck, breast lift and liposuction - otherwise known as a 'mummy makeover'.

Anntina Forster, 42, had always struggled with her weight but managed to lose 30kg with weight loss jabs (pictured before her weight loss)

After getting down to 82.5kg, Anntina had lots of 'loose, heavy skin' so decided to fly to Turkey for a 'mummy makeover' surgery

'I'd been struggling with my weight for a long time. My son is 18 and has gone to live in Thailand so I just felt like this was the right time for me,' she said.

After forking out $13,436 (6,700) on the surgery and flights, Anntina travelled to the Turkish clinic with her 43-year-old partner Daniel Brown.

'We arrived at 3am and I went straight away into having a chest X-ray and blood tests done,' Anntina said.

'They then started marking my body for surgery hours later. I was standing there completely naked in front of my partner and three other people.

'He didn't really ask me what I wanted. He just said to my partner: "Don't worry, I'll perform a miracle."

'I felt like, "Have you not seen someone as disgusting as me before?" It was degrading.'

Soon, Anntina was wheeled down for the procedure, which took six hours.

'[After surgery] I woke up in excruciating pain, screaming, crying, delirious. I felt like I couldn't breathe,' she said.

Anntina travelled to Turkey for her surgeries - a tummy tuck, breast lift and liposuction - with her partner Daniel Brown (pictured together)

'I feel like I was butchered' Anntina told Daily Mail, after she got E. coli from her surgery

As soon as she woke from the op, Anntina noticed a wound on her stomach was leaking fluid

She noticed the wound on her stomach was leaking fluid but was told everything was 'normal' by doctors who came to check on her.

'I thought I was going through what people normally go through, but looking back, it was the start of the infection,' she said.

'I was feeling unwell and losing a lot of fluid out of my wounds. They kept saying it was normal. I knew there was something not right.'

After flying home a week later, Anntina began feeling more and more unwell, suffering from dizziness and fever, as well as fluid leaking from her wounds.

Despite reassurances from the clinic that her symptoms were normal, Anntina was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham days later with a severe infection.

'I got there and they said I was nearly in septic shock, my infection was so bad,' she revealed.

'The nurse said to me if it's travelling around your blood, there's nothing they can do. I was sitting there crying, thinking I was never going to see my son again.

'The doctors told me I had contracted E. coli, which had developed from my stomach due to the surgery in Turkey.

'They said to me if I had stayed at home one more night, I wouldn't be here. They literally saved my life.'

Anntina underwent surgery to clean her infected wound before undergoing a blood transfusion a day later.

The response Anntina received from the clinic after telling them she was seriously ill in hospital

When she complained to the clinic, their response was shocking.

The clinic's message read: 'Unless there is an official medical report confirming a surgical error, you are not permitted to post statements on social media claiming the surgery was wrong or a mistake.

'The tone of your messages has been quite rude, and it upsets us deeply, as it prevents us from helping you further.'

Anntina said: 'I told them I was in hospital seriously ill. They just take your money and don't care.

'I was disgusted by their reaction. I regret ever getting this surgery. I can't enjoy the way I look - it's holding such trauma and negativity.

After 10 days in hospital, Anntina was discharged but is now urging others to be extra cautious when choosing clinics abroad after nearly losing her life.

'I feel lucky to be alive. If I could just say to one person, "Don't do it, it's not worth it."

'Either steer clear or make sure you get proper aftercare. I feel like I was butchered.'
The nuanced conversation about workplace flexibility just got harder, and small businesses will pay the price, warns DLPA CEO Karlie Cremin after Westpac ruling.

Whats happening: The Fair Work Commission ruled in October 2025 that Westpac Banking Corporation did not have reasonable business grounds for refusing employee Karlene Chandlers request to work remotely five days per week.

Why this matters: While the decision reinforces existing legal frameworks, workplace experts warn it highlights the critical importance of rigorous documentation and genuine consultation when declining work-from-home requests, particularly for small businesses operating on tight margins.

The recent Westpac flexible work ruling should worry every Australian employer, according to Karlie Cremin, CEO of DLPA (Dynamic Leadership Programs Australia) and Crestcom ANZ. But her concern isnt about flexibility itself.

What frustrates me most about the Westpac case isnt the outcome itself, its that their weak defence has effectively shut down the nuanced conversation we desperately need about workplace flexibility, Cremin states.

The Fair Work Commission found in October 2025 that Westpac did not have reasonable business grounds when refusing part-time employee Karlene Chandlers request to work from home full-time. The Commission concluded that Westpacs evidence as to the benefits of office attendance was generalised and insufficient to establish reasonable business grounds.

System-wide impact

Cremin, who works with organisations navigating hybrid work arrangements, argues that individual productivity claims miss broader organisational impacts.

I constantly hear employees declare, Im much more productive at home. Even if that were true, which research increasingly shows it rarely is, this claim only considers individual output. What about the system-wide impact? she asks.

While you may feel more productive in your home office, the broader organisation almost always experiences friction. Communication lags. Spontaneous problem-solving disappears. Knowledge transfer slows to a crawl.

Deputy President Roberts acknowledged that Westpac accepted it was not mandatory for an individual to be in office to achieve a particular work function, but the bank asserted that teams work together more effectively with face-to-face interaction. However, the Commission found that the evidence did not establish reasonable business grounds, particularly as Chandlers team was constructed so that face-to-face contact was not an ordinary part of their work.

Workplace law experts say the case puts all Australian employers on notice that company policy alone cannot justify denying flexible arrangements.

Recent research from DLPA with the Australian HR Institute found that remote or isolated work ranks as the third most common cause of psychosocial hazard complaints in Australian workplaces.

Mutual flexibility

Genuine flexibility means both parties, employer and employee, are flexible to an equal degree, Cremin emphasises. The problems arise when that balance tips.

She points to rising unemployment and increasing redundancies as creating pressure on flexibility arrangements. When business needs change, a lack of clear agreements will hinder responsiveness. Workforces will push back on assumed rights.

Chandler, who had been employed by Westpac since 2002, had an extensive history of working remotely, including full-time remote work for periods and attending a corporate office just one day per month at other times. The Commission was persuaded that team collaboration was unlikely to be adversely affected, as the employee had consistently met performance expectations whilst working from home.

Two-tier workplaces

We see the highest erosion of performance and the greatest increase in risk when the majority work in-office whilst a small percentage operates remotely, Cremin observes. It creates a two-tier system that breeds resentment and communication breakdowns.

The Westpac case centred on specific circumstances. Chandlers closest corporate offices were approximately two hours travel away from her residence and her childrens school, where she was solely responsible for drop-off and pick-up. She initially sought approval to work at a closer bank branch two days per week, which was approved but later reversed.

Documentation matters

The Westpac ruling has made the path forward more difficult, but not impossible, Cremin states. Organisations must now be far more rigorous in documenting business needs and demonstrating genuine consultation. Small businesses, in particular, need to seek proper legal advice before declining requests.

The case underscores that the connection between the employees circumstances and the flexibility requested must be explicit and well-documented. The decision reinforces employers obligations to genuinely engage with flexible work requests and provide detailed, individualised justifications for refusals.

Cremin warns that employees also need to recognise flexibility isnt one-sided. It requires mutual accommodation, clear agreements, and honest acknowledgement of how individual arrangements impact team performance.

The debate reflects a broader societal shift about employment expectations. Research shows that hybrid working continues to empower employees, with most CEOs of white-collar businesses believing in its long-term benefits. Almost two-thirds of workers want to see work-from-anywhere models retained, and 50 per cent want the right to choose their work location, according to 2024 research from Ecosystm.

The conversation we need isnt about whether flexibility should exist -it should, Cremin concludes. Its about how we structure it fairly, document it properly, and ensure it serves both business sustainability and employee wellbeing. Westpacs lazy legal strategy has made that conversation significantly harder, and small businesses and their employees will pay the price.

For businesses navigating these challenges, experts emphasise the importance of providing genuine, individualised assessments when refusing flexibility rather than relying solely on broad policy statements.

Related: What the Westpac WFH case means for SMEs dealing with flexible work requests
It's a debate that has raged since the dawn of modern feminism in the 60s...can women have it all?

Is it possible in 2025 to balance a high-flying career and a beautiful brood of two or three children?

It certainly should be - the current Government claims to have made it easier than ever for mothers to work, with 'tax-free' and '30 hours free' childcare schemes.

However, many women juggling long days and the demands of parenthood say the workplace is still found wanting, with bosses not appreciating the '5-9' that often precedes the 9-5.

Toddlers emitting blood-curdling screams all the way to nursery, bosses unsympathetic to specific childcare needs, and pressure to perform at the pace of childless colleagues are daily hurdles faced by parents who have spoken to the Daily Mail.

They've told of their woes in trying to maintain sanity while juggling the 'imperfect storm' of motherhood and a career, which despite all efforts has left most feeling 'burnt out'.

These constant stressors can have catastrophic consequences for your mental health, says family psychologist, Dr Jo Stuart.

Family psychologist Dr Jo Stuart is pictured here with her two young children. She told the Daily Mail that modern employment requires parents to 'function like machines' and cautioned carers to implement rest periods or risk dire consequences to their mental health

'Parental burnout happens when the daily demands of parenting outweigh the emotional and physical resources we have to cope' the director of Hampstead Psychology told the Daily Mail.

'Its not just tiredness - its a deeper emotional and physical exhaustion that builds up over time when parents are constantly 'on' and dont have time to recover'.

The 25-year psychology veteran and mum listed things like getting children dressed, making breakfast and dealing with behavioural issues - within a short span of time -as primary causes of morning burnout.

'When parents start the day already depleted, even small challenges can feel overwhelming' she explained. A child refusing to get dressed or spilling breakfast can suddenly trigger tears or anger - not because the parent doesnt care, but because we can all only cope with so much before we have no more 'calm' left in the system'.

'Children are very sensitive to a parents tone and emotional state. If mornings are tense or rushed, children can absorb that stress and carry it with them into the day. Parents then go to work feeling guilty or frustrated, and the cycle repeats'.

She stressed the importance of parents seeking time for relaxation in order to relieve stress and ultimately protect children from the outcomes of parental burnout.

'We have to remember that taking time for ourselves nourishes us and then we have more space to deal with stressors, which leads to less shouting and everyone benefits' continued Dr Stuart. 'Also, just because others seem to be doing it right, we do not see what actually goes on in their morning routine.

'Ultimately, calmer mornings arent about doing everything perfectly - theyre about doing less, slowing down, and showing self compassion. When parents are more rested and emotionally grounded, children feel that stability too'.

'Mornings are like unpaid domestic work.. I feel like I have lived an entire day'

Mum-of-three Catherine Yardley likened some of her chaotic days at home with her kids to 'unpaid domestic work'

Catherine Yardley, 41, is a British author and magazine editor-in-chief. She is married to James, 38 and together they raise a 10, eight, and four-year-old.

From 7am she spends over two hours with her kids brushing their teeth, getting them dressed, doing their hair and completing the school run before she can fathom starting work.

'By the time I have dropped them [my kids] off and arrived home it is just past nine and I sometimes feel like I have lived an entire day' expressed Catherine. 'I need to take a moment after all of the chaos'.

The daily morning routine leaves Catherine flooded with intense emotions that never dissipate.

'Some people also think that parents don't pull their weight or get an easier ride. That's not true at all. You never get a break if you are a parent' she continued.

She labelled the workload dumped on mums 'unfair', as parents are 'raising the next generation' and 'the world stops without us'.

'The pressure of it always seems to be on mums. We are already the ones who do most of the unpaid domestic work.. the juggle is incredibly hard. I work a lot of evenings and weekends'.

The mum said flexible working - a formal request to your employer for working hours that suit your individual needs - should be a right for everyone and not a special privilege for parents who are made to feel they 'can't do their job' without it.

'Employers should be made to take courses on what parents go through on a daily basis'

Oliver (pictured with his wife Rebecca and their two sons Joshua, 14, and Brandon, 12) - has called on employers to take courses to improve their understanding of the parental workload

Oliver's two sons, Joshua, 14, and Brandon, 12, have autism and PDA (pathological demand avoidance), a subtype of autism defined by a refusal to comply with requests.

The 47-year-old is a computer engineer for his wife Rebecca's company, and works from their north England home. Morning burn out is a daily occurrence in their home.

'We have two children with very complex needs' said Oliver. 'Not only do we struggle with them not wanting to go to school but they smash the house up... you can't get one out of bed without the other one fighting you.

'One of them is smashing the house up [while] you're trying to get ready for work at the same time. My wife does everything she can to get one out of bed and I'm trying to get the other'.

His advice to employers of parents in similar situations - enforce mandatory courses.

'In the same way employers have training schemes for health and safety, they should have training schemes for parents of SEN (special education needs) children.

'It would be very beneficial for employers to take five or 10 minute courses that would give them an understanding of what these parents go through on a daily basis'.

'My three-year-old ran out the door last week... mornings are an imperfect storm'

Vicki Broadbent (pictured with two of her three children) narrated the distressing moment her three-year-old daughter fled their home and onto the street as she was trying to prepare for work. She wants flexible working for all mums so they can 'pause and pick up work' while their children are asleep

For some parents and carers, mornings are a playground for the most hair-raising events. Mother-of-three, Vicki Broadbent shared one that occurred in her family's Harrogate home last week.

'My 15-year-old son forgot his bag and came back home to collect it... I was on the toilet and my husband was on a work call... when he [my son] left, my three-year-old daughter ran out the door after him'.

Though the author and Good Morning Britain panelist - known as Honest Mum on Instagram - averted the potential catastrophe, the tight morning routine left her drained.

She added: 'People don't understand what it takes to get kids out of the house. Small things put together make an imperfect storm. If you want to be an active parent it can be labouring'.

The 44-year-old suggested HR departments accommodate late mornings for parents and carers.

'I spoke at events and round tables with ministers advocating for flexible working and remote working' continued Vicki.

'There is no real infrastructure for mums in the workplace. Remote working, job shares and late mornings should be a default for parents. We should be able to pause the working day and pick up hours when the child is asleep. Fathers too'.

'I feel the pressure to perform at the same level as someone without childcare responsibilities'

Social worker Bolaji, 35, says parents are pressured to perform at the same level as employees without childcare responsibilities

Bolaji, 35, raises three boys aged nine, three and one with her husband Anthony, an IT consultant.

The full time social worker says the couple are jointly responsible for getting them dressed, fed and to school on time every day, but the expectation for them to do it 'seamlessly' often leaves them burnt out.

'I feel the pressure to perform at the same level as someone without childcare responsibilities' said Bolaji.

Mornings are the worst when deadlines are looming and Anthony is away for work.

'I had a deadline and couldnt take the day off, so I had to quickly arrange childcare while trying to manage my worry and emotions.

'After getting through a full day of work, I still had to catch up late into the night once the children were asleep to finish reports on time. It was one of those moments where I felt completely drained, which happens often as a working mum'.

Her employers permit some stretch but she sympathised with parents who aren't so lucky.

'Small changes like flexible start times, the option to work from home when needed, or being able to take short-notice leave without feeling guilty would make such a big difference'.

'Work sick days should include your child - your child is an extension of you'

Emma Mortimer says extra sick days that account for children's illnesses should be made mandatory for all mums. The 32-yearold is pictured with her fiance Samukele and their 20-month-old son

Emma Mortimer is a PR client strategist and her fiance Samukele owns Duke Street Coffee shop in Manchester. Emma says family life with a 20-month-old baby means their routine is 'all over the place'.

The 32-year-old shared a descriptive account of her - very early - morning routine, aka the 'battle'.

'I set my alarm for 6am so I can have a second and clean my teeth and get dressed before he [my son] is up. Then I wake him around 6:30am then the battle begins. I get him dressed, clean his teeth, wash his face, get his shoes on, pack a bag for nursery, and be out the door if I can by 7:15am... I can tell you now I never am on time and by my luck, there's traffic or something'.

Emma spoke on the stress of juggling parental emotions with 'professionalism', despite the daily chaos that ensues most mornings.

'Until very recently, my child hated going into nursery. He cried and screamed and clung onto me for dear life and I had no other choice but to leave him there and walk away, crying myself.

'I would have to pick myself up and then get back to work like nothing happened or even go on a team call and push down how I was feeling. It's hard to know what's deemed unprofessional and what to share and what's not'.

She spoke on the grey area of using sick day allowances to care for unwell children, as well as the strain of working from home with a child in tow.

'I think sick days should include your child - your child is an extension of you and if they are sick (which they are a lot) you need to be able to give all your care and attention to your child.

'I also think working with your child is easier said than done especially depending on their age. Whenever I have had last minute childcare cancellations or issues and have had to work with my child it is hard to be fully present in both. The guilt sets in as a mum if you're not giving them attention and then you also feel like you're not doing a good enough job at work'.

'Schools should abolish homework... it puts huge pressure on parents who have busy working lives'

Faye McCann has asked schools to ban homework as one way to treat parental fatigue (The mum is pictured with her husband and their two boys)

As both a parent and employer, Faye McCann, 39, flips both sides of the coin - and it can get very uncomfortable.

'I see both sides' said Faye. 'It can be a difficult mix between keeping your job secure, your business profitable and also being a parent whose main priority needs to be the well being of their children and family'.

Faye and her husband Chris, also 39, live in Newcastle with Jett 10, and Phoenix, 6, who has autism, ADHD and is non-verbal.

Their senior roles contribute a taxing layer to an already 'high demand environment', which cause 'traumatic' mornings, said Faye.

'Phoenixs needs dictate care. He may have a huge meltdown, throw multiple breakfasts on the floor, bite himself, or me, or lash out while Im trying to calm him down, keep everyone safe, and still get both kids ready on time.

'Then I have to walk into work as if nothing has happened, even though I already feel completely burnt out, drained, worn out or stressed. But theres still a full day ahead, clients to deliver to, and people depending on me.

'I think theres an unfair constant expectation for working parents to always be ready, switched on and available - it can feel exhausting' Faye continued. 'Theres so much pressure, especially if your job involves critical support in high-demand environments'.

Faye suggested banning homework as one way to treat parental fatigue.

'Id love to see more flexibility for working parents. And I really do believe that schools should abolish or at least limit homework - it puts a huge pressure on parents who have busy working lives and can have a detriment on mental health'.

'I had an employer that would say 'what do you mean you're taking the kids to school? Isn't the mum supposed to?''

Jay Mac is asking the corporate industry to end 'discrimination' against working fathers and accommodate longer paternity leave as well as flexible working (The dad pictured with his seven-year-old son, Theo)

Jay Mac is asking the corporate industry to end 'discrimination' against working dads like himself, and to instead provide more flexibility.

The 43-year-old financial services worker shares Em, 15, and Theo, 7, with his childhood sweetheart, Nics. Together they also foster a 15-month-old - who cannot be named - in their home in Stratford, East London.

Jay is adamant him and Nic share the workload, especially during the family's 'relentless' morning routine.

'I wake up at 6am, make the [older] kids' breakfast which is toast or cereal. I get them dressed while Nics feeds and takes care of the baby. '[Theo and Em] must be out the door by 8:10am as schools starts 8:30am. Sometimes there's no time for breakfast [for myself] before jumping into meetings at 9am'.

Jay wants bosses to encourage fathers to help out during the morning rush.

'With employers there's always an expectation that work comes first - I think that's a bit unfair especially if you have kids.

'I had an employer before that would say 'what do you mean you're taking the kids [to school]? Isn't it the mum that's supposed to [do that]?' There is a stereotype that looking after the kids is primarily down to the mum - but in our house that's not the case. It's 50/50. I think it's so important to have that balance, not everything is down to mum'.

He recalled when earlier this month, his son Theo woke up crying before going on to have an anxiety attack: 'I had to call the school and say sorry Theo's going to be an hour late.

'I had to move [my] meetings about 30 minutes to the right... employers have this expectation that when you're in a meeting, you're switched on and expected to deliver and meet deadlines. It's relentless'.
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For at least a decade, the only trousers I've owned, apart from jeans, have been black and a little bit boring.

Perhaps scarred by a childhood spent in homemade purple flares and scratchy corduroy, Ive religiously steered clear of patterns and textures, preferring to stick with a small collection of GBTs (thats Great Black Trousers, the trouser equivalent of the LBD).

As soon as the weather turns, out come my trusty faves. This totals three pairs of black, wide-leg trousers, all High Street and more than a little frayed at the hem - Im 5ft 4in and, in many stores, struggle to find trousers that dont need a few inches chopping off them.

Then theres a pair of tailored capri pants which barely do up at the waist these days, and the black leather pair I wheel out for special occasions, bought in a sale eons ago. Even my faded trackie bottoms are black. My taste in trews is nothing if not predictable.

Or at least it was until a few weeks ago, when a stylish friend arrived at my house in barrel-shaped navy slacks from Uniqlo. So chic. And a steal at under 35. I realised I needed to up my trouser game immediately.

Inspired by her, I descended on my local Uniqlo and, after a mammoth try-on session, settled on a navy and khaki pair of the ankle-length curve trousers, which are fitted on the waist but so comfortable. This, for me in midlife (Im 53), is the Holy Grail. All too often I find that the trousers in my size - Im a 10 - garrote me round the middle even though theyre a perfect fit on the bottom and thigh.

Im a convert to the barrel shape, too, which billows out at the thigh before tapering in at the ankle. A stylish alternative to the wide-leg staples Ive stuck with for so long.

I also fell in love with a pair of corduroys. They were too long for me, but it turns out Uniqlo offers a free alteration service. Who knew? So I booked them in, they were ready that same day and hey presto - a whole new trouser wardrobe for just over 100.

I then trawled the rest of the High Street, finding gems in shops I never usually venture into such as Reiss and Nobodys Child.

There were many horrors along the way, like the leopard-print jeans with huge frilly back pockets. So unflattering. And plenty of waistbands which were just too tight, even though the trousers fitted well on the leg and hips. Very disheartening.

I also quickly discovered I needed to pay attention to footwear, as that can make or break a more adventurous trouser wardrobe. While trainers work with most styles, they made my legs look stumpy in cropped lengths - a flat shoe was better - and I needed a low heel to carry off flares.

By the end of my quest, Id tried on more than 60 pairs, becoming a veritable ninja in the changing room in the process, before whittling down my wish list to these stylish eight and only one pair is black!

The stitched front seams lengthen the leg, making these brushed jersey trousers super flattering as well as stylish. Good sized pockets, too. My only gripe? The hook fastening was a little snug on the waist.

A welcome update on black, and I was impressed by the fit. The leather has a subtle stretch which holds its shape, even at the knee. But I would prefer a longer length to invest in these.

With pintucks from the waist to the hem, these are the jeans that think they are trousers. They are also super comfortable, thanks to the sculpting yet stretchy denim. Expensive but versatile.

I wasnt sure about winter white but this ivory pair won me over. Beautifully tailored and sleek, they were super long. But theyre currently on sale so I can justify getting them altered. Hurrah.

My trusty black joggers are raggedy and in urgent need of an upgrade. This chic navy pair are a versatile replacement which can be dressed up or down. It comes in four different leg lengths, too.

The waist was a little rigid on these heritage check trousers. But the wide leg is super flattering and works with trainers or heeled boots. Loved The Traitors vibe and theres a matching blazer.

These barrel jeans come in nine colours but the soft white was my favourite. Midrise, which I find more comfortable, they come in two leg lengths and the oversized back pockets add to the laid-back styling.

Cosy yet chic thanks to the exaggerated barrel shape, these corduroy trousers are a collaboration between Uniqlo and cool French brand Comptoir des Cotonniers. The leg length can be altered in store at no extra cost.
Accidents that result in injury are often a temporary health annoyance.

But for one Australian mum, a series of unfortunate incidents resulted in the discovery of a far more significant and underlying issue.

Jess, 36, and her husband, John, from Victoria, had welcomed their son Nicholas in 2020 and were revelling in the joys of parenthood - even through the gruelling Melbourne COVID lockdowns.

When restrictions eased in January 2022, the family went on a beach holiday at Barwon Heads. A perfect summer's day, Nicholas was happily playing at the water's edge with his dad when Jess decided to join her niece and nephew for a paddleboard.

Like many, she lost her balance and fell into the water. However, as she landed, Jess, 36, felt her right breast slam into the board. Later that evening she took a closer look as she'd developed a bruise.

'I started to have a feel around it, and that's when I noticed that there was a lump,' Jess said.

The classic breast cancer symptom was cause for concern. But for Jess, it also dredged up a memory from a year earlier when she'd raised the issue of a breast lump with a doctor - only to have her concerns dismissed.

At that time, Jess had been a new mum struggling with breastfeeding.

Australian mum Jess was on a family beach holiday with her husband John and young son Nicholas (all pictured) when she discovered a lump in her breast

A subsequent biopsy confirmed that the Melbournian mother had stage three breast cancer

After some difficulties feeding on her right side, Jess felt a small lump. With her usual GP unavailable, she saw a different doctor and complained it was 'quite painful to feed from my right hand side', noting she felt what seemed like 'a blockage or a lump'.

Instead of investigating further, Jess said the doctor 'dismissed' it as a 'blocked milk duct' or something similar.

'I was told to just persevere,' Jess recounted. 'I didn't even suspect cancer. I took her word for it and carried on.'

Fast forward to the paddleboarding accident, and Jess realised the lump was in the exact spot as the one she'd found while breastfeeding.

On returning from the holiday in early February, Jess met with her usual GP - who immediately sent her for a mammogram and ultrasound.

Her doctor called within hours, explaining that the scan showed suspected breast cancer and referred her to a specialist.

Within 48 hours, a further biopsy confirmed she had stage three breast cancer.

'My mind just went blank,' Jess recalled.

Jess' breast cancer treatment involved a total of 16 rounds of chemotherapy, then a lumpectomy and radiation

While undergoing cancer treatment, Jess' family moved in with her parents so that they could help look after her young son Nicholas

'Hearing that word - cancer - all these horrible things go through your head. "Am I leaving my son without a mum?" That's all I could think about.'

Outside of the lump, Jess had no other obvious symptoms.

'I wasn't feeling unwell. I wasn't tired, I wasn't run down - apart from what any mother who chases around a toddler feels,' Jess said. 'Nothing that would have made me think something was wrong.'

Jess' treatment involved four rounds of AC chemotherapy, followed by 12 rounds of Taxol chemotherapy, then a lumpectomy and radiation.

'The first three months of chemotherapy every three weeks were particularly horrendous,' she said.

Describing the treatment as like being 'hit by a bus', Jess recalled extreme agony, nausea and mobility difficulties.

'I've emotionally blocked out what it was like going through all that, but it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.'

To cope, Jess' family moved in with her parents, Mary and Peter, who live in the Victorian coastal town Torquay.

Mary took on the lion's share of looking after young Nicholas while Peter diligently accompanied his daughter to every chemo session. Meanwhile, Jess' husband commuted between Melbourne and Torquay to work and support them.

After treatment, Jess - now a member of the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) - entered remission. Throughout 2023, she attended regular mammograms and ultrasounds, each returning 'all-clear'.

But then, another fateful accident struck.

Jess has explained her cancer battle to her young son Nicholas in an age-appropriate way, but admits there have been difficult moments

'In May 2024 I had a fall, slipping on some water in our laundry at home,' Jess explained. 'I went airborne and smashed onto my back.'

The fall was serious; Jess was taken by ambulance to hospital, where X-rays and CT scans showed fractures in her spine and pelvis.

But that wasn't all they showed.

In devastating news, the doctor revealed that the scans also showed signs of bone metastases.

'My world just shattered - again,' Jess said.

Further tests confirmed the cancer had returned - not just in her pelvis and hip, but also her shoulder, rib cage and skull.

The second cancer diagnosis saw Jess completely crumble.

'I just started bawling my eyes and said to the doctor: "This is a death sentence. Now, isn't it?"'

A year after Jess was in remission, scans revealed bone metastases. 'My world just shattered -again,' Jess said

The stage four cancer diagnosis was described by Jess' oncologist as non-curable, but treatable - with a range of ongoing treatment options available

When her hair started falling out as a result of cancer treatment, Jess bit the bullet and had her mother Mary shave it off (left). Her hair is slowly returning (right), and she now also embraces wearing a wig

But perhaps surprisingly, her oncologist was more optimistic than she expected. 'He told me, "It's stage four, non-curable, but treatable. It's not terminal."'

'He explained there are lots of treatment options - we start with one and if that doesn't work, move to the next.'

The first step was chemotherapy again, this time 12 rounds of Taxol.

Breast Cancer: Key Statistics * Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in women aged 20-39 * It is the leading cause of cancer-related death in this age group. * In 2023, more than 1,000 women under 40 were diagnosed * Incidence rates rates among 40-49 have increased more sharply * Rates among women aged 30-39 have risen modestly since 2000 * Younger women are often diagnosed at later stages, or with more aggressive disease Statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Advertisement

'I wasn't keen on doing chemotherapy again, but this time I only had minimal side effects.'

Thankfully, the chemotherapy reduced all the cancer spots to a microscopic size.

Next came radiation, followed by an antibody treatment that proved ineffective. Recently, Jess' doctors switched her to a new antibody infusion.

'The doctor said, "This is basically you living with cancer". It's trial and error until we got the right dose.'

Jess now undergoes regular scans to ensure the cancer spots do not increase - so far, results are promising.

'We just keep pushing, keep moving forward, keep doing the treatment, and hopefully I can live many, many more years.'

But in hindsight, Jess admits her second cancer diagnosis also made her 'very disappointed'.

After remission, Jess's follow-ups focused on breast screenings and mammograms - not broader CT scans.

She believes this was a huge miss given 'breast cancer has a high probability of returning' - and not necessarily in the same location.

'Why in this country, are we not offered PET scans following breast cancer treatment - at a minimum, every 12 months after remission?' she asks, adding that she would have gladly paid out of pocket for peace of mind.

Through all her health battles, Jess has strived to be an active and involved mum to her now five-year-old son.

'I'm doing this for him,' Jess said. 'I'm doing this so he can grow up with a mum.'

She has tried to explain her cancer to Nicholas in an age-appropriate way, but admits some parts - like losing her hair - were extremely distressing for him.

'When that little voice in your head says it's too hard and to give up - all I need to do is look at that little boy,' said Jess

Jess recalled a difficult stage where her son was reluctant to attend kinder. 'He'd say to me, "I need to be there for you in case the cancer returns." And that just completely breaks my heart.'

Despite the challenges, her son remains her motivation.

'When that little voice in your head says it's too hard and to give up - all I need to do is look at that little boy.'

Meanwhile, Jess says her 'whole outlook on life has changed'.

'I am now very much the type of person that lives day by day. It drives my husband insane, but I'll see a holiday that looks amazing and say 'Let's go!'

'Because life is too short and I don't know how much time I've got left - even though my oncologist constantly says, 'it's treatable, not terminal'.

'Where I'm at is just to live your life because you don't know what's around the corner.'
Sainsbury's has entered the Christmas adverts for 2025 by bringing back Roald Dahl's beloved BFG.

This year, the Big Friendly Giant is joined by a new sidekick, Annie, a real Sainsbury's colleague, embarking on a mission to save Christmas for Brits together.

In the wholesome tale, they manage to defeat their nemesis, The Greedy Giant, who is causing chaos with his greedy appetite.

This year, companies are facing stricter laws around what can be shown in Christmas adverts in compliance with the Labour government's upcoming ban on junk food advertising.

However, Sainsbury's offering looked as delicious as ever, featuring dry-cure gammon and a delicious Christmas dinner including pigs in blankets, Brussels sprouts and a succulent turkey from the Taste The Difference range.

Coming hot on the heels of Asda, which released this year's first advert, Sainsbury's 90-second video opens with a snowy scene showing Annie unloading the Christmas shopping while whistling the tune of Jingle Bells.

However, the sinister 48-foot Greedy Giant then steps into the frame, walking away from the Sainsbury's delivery van having just devoured all the Christmas food inside, proclaiming that the products were 'tastier than human beans'.

Annie turns to the BFG, who is delivering dreams nearby and exclaims 'BFG, we've got an unexpected guest', with the BFG responding: 'Hey, Sainsbury's, can you helps us?'

Sainsbury's supermarket has entered the battle of the Christmas adverts for 2025 by bringing back Roald Dahl 's beloved BFG

This year, the Big Friendly Giant is joined by a new sidekick, Annie, a real Sainsbury's colleague (pictured)

The Greedy Giant continues to cause chaos, stomping through the town and stealing people's Christmas dinners and breaking their decorations.

Annie and the BFG team up, using diggers to deliver the food on time, sending a glazed gammon and a packet of breadsticks on their way.

As the ad progresses, Annie and the BFG discover the giant sleeping soundly outside a Sainsbury's store following his escapades.

'Swipe my swoggles, he's swolloped the shop,' the BFG exclaims, before the giant is whisked away with the help of Sainsbury's colleagues - as the press gather round to cover the astonishing scenes.

Annie then invites the BFG to her home for Christmas lunch, but he protests: 'You haven't got room for an old sage and onions like me.' 'It's Christmas, we'll make room!' she reassures him.

'Want to be ready for anything this Christmas? Ask Sainsbury's,' the advert concludes.

Radha Davies, Sainsbury's Marketing Director, said: 'We want to help our customers have an unforgettable and magical Christmas.

'Sainsbury's is here to help the nation get ready for anything during the festive season, from spectacular centrepieces to showstopping desserts. Our innovative range of high-quality Taste the Difference food makes hosting easy.

Supermarkets are said to be facing tougher laws about what they can show in adverts this year - but Sainsbury's still managed to display a delicious offering

Annie and the BFG have to work together to defeat the Greedy Giant who is trying to sabotage Christmas

'There's something for every occasion and to bring joy to all, even when the unexpected strikes.

'We were delighted to revisit our collaboration with the Roald Dahl Story Company this year. The BFG, who is loved by all, was the perfect partner to help our brilliant colleague Annie save the day for our customers.

'We wanted to capture a spirit of heartwarming nostalgia, with the energy of a great Christmas tale. We've translated that joyful energy into our new food range, which is designed to help families and friends create wonderful memories, with delicious, quality options for every taste and budget.'

Alice O'Brien, Head of Global Commercial Partnerships at Roald Dahl Story Company, said: 'Last year the nation was captivated by two old friends back together, and this time we're adding a new giant into the mix, inspired by the fearsome inhabitants of Roald Dahl's Giant Country.

'We know the BFG lives in the hearts of households around the country, and we're excited for viewers to see him take on the ultimate foodie mission with Annie to save Christmas for all.'

To accompany the advert, Sainsbury's has also launched a range of BFG-inspired homeware and food, including Snozzcumber sweets, inspired by the Roald Dahl tale.

It comes hot on the heels of Asda's advert, which sees the Grinch shopping with his human family at a Christmas market.

The supermarket said the premise of the ad is that everyone gets 'a little bit grinchy' at Christmas.

The Greedy Giant eats an entire Sainsbury's delivery and stomps around town

Annie and the BFG team up to tell a heartwarming tale about the power of Christmas

Every year, major British retailers and supermarkets race against each other in the battle for the best festive season campaign, and while famous faces are not uncommon, the grub is almost always the biggest star.

Adverts in 2025, however, will likely look devastatingly different as they are set to be stripped bare of some of these favoured treats in compliance with the Labour government's upcoming ban on junk food advertising.

Lidl GB chief Ryan McDonnell told The Grocer: 'There's no doubt we've had to engineer our ads differently and be a lot more conservative, because there are so many products and categories that fall under HFSS regulation.'

He added that 'there's a lot of uncertainty around what the rules of play are' and that it 'remained to be seen' what that would look like across 'traditional media and social'.

The new rules, which aim to tackle childhood obesity, prohibit television ads airing before the 9pm watershed from showing foods that contain high levels of fat, sugar, or salt (HFSS).

While these were due to be enforced from October 1 before being delayed until January, some British supermarkets have adopted the strict 'nanny state' curbs under a contentious voluntary industry agreement that will put the classic Christmas ad 'under threat', according to consumer experts.
Former CNN host Jim Acosta recently said NBC was the latest news outlet to 'compromise itself' for Donald Trump after the network's parent company, Comcast, was revealed to have donated to the president's planned White House ballroom.

During Acosta's Halloween episode of his Substack live show, he said: 'All of our major TV networks right now, theyre compromised in some fashion as the U.S. evolves or mutates into having a state-dominated TV system.

'NBC is now the latest network to compromise itself. The parent company of NBC Comcast recently donated money to Trumps ballroom.'

He went on to say ABC and CBS also paid 'bribes' to the president and that CBS has been 'taken over by right-wing zealots.'

Acosta also said Fox News was 'already state TV,' and added that 'you have a situation in this country that is starting to seem like state-dominated television in the United States, or at least state compromised television here in the United States.'

The $300 million bill for the planned ballroom was bankrolled by dozens of major companies, organizations and wealthy individuals. The White House released a list of those companies on October 23 after hosting a dinner to thank them the day before.

Comcast, of course, was on the list, as well as major tech, defense and financial companies such as Amazon, Palantir, Coinbase and Lockheed Martin.

The expensive renovation has been controversial because it is the first major change to the White House's exterior since President Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded the East Wing, which traditionally houses the office of the first lady, in 1942.

During former CNN host Jim Acosta's Halloween episode of his Substack live show, he said 'NBC is now the latest network to compromise itself' for the president

His statement came after it was revealed that NBC's parent company, Comcast, donated to Trump's planned White House ballroom renovation. Trump is seen here pointing at Acosta in 2018

The planned $300 million ballroom was bankrolled by dozens of major companies, organizations and wealthy individuals

It has also come off as ill-timed and insensitive to some as the government shutdown approaches record length and thousands of federal employees have been fired and hundreds of thousands more left without pay.

The list of ballroom donors was also slammed by MSNBCs Rachel Maddow.

Last week she said: 'For every Avelo Airlines, for every Paul Weiss law firm, and all the other law firms that did corrupt deals with Trump, for every corporation  like our parent company for another hot minute, Comcast  that wants to pay for Trump to take a literal wrecking ball, excuse me, I mean an excavator to the White House,

'There may be a cost to their bottom line when they do things against American values, against the public interest, because they want to please Trump or buy him off or profit somehow from his authoritarian overthrow of our democracy.'

The hosts of 'Morning Joe' made similar critiques. On the same day Maddow made her comments, Joe Scarborough said: 'The president one week says, "Were not going to touch the East Wing." The next week, he destroys that half of the White House that has been home to such history.

'No other president in our lifetime would have even thought about doing this just on instinct, so abruptly.'

Acosta made his comments about cable news becoming 'compromised' on his Substack live show because he left CNN in late January after the network wanted to move his show's time slot.

The network's chief executive officer, Mark Thompson, offered Acosta a 12am to 2am timeslot instead of the former host's 10am slot. Acosta declined and went independent.
If you haven't yet heard of 'workslop', you soon will. It's every bit as unappealing as it sounds, as well as being one of the emerging perils in the world of artificial intelligence (AI).

The august Harvard Business Review (HBR) recently warned workslop could sabotage companies' huge investment in AI by harming productivity and eroding relationships at work.

In other words, it could be a factor in bursting the AI share price bubble that this week saw chip designer Nvidia become the world's first $5 trillion company.

Workslop has been around as long as people have had jobs.

It is exactly what it says on the tin: sloppy output masquerading as work.

Anyone who has ever been a manager will be familiar with it, though perhaps not by that name. I've always called it a 'UTE', standing for the unacceptable transfer of effort, by the producer of the bilge, on to someone else  often me  who is lumbered with sorting it out. AI has ratcheted it up to a whole new level as it enables people to spew out workslop on an epic scale  and in formats that can look quite plausible on the surface.

Exactly what it says on the tin: Workslop has been around as long as people have had jobs

The sheer volume of rubbish that can be generated so rapidly threatens to engulf workplace Canutes trying to maintain standards.

A survey by the HBR found 40 per cent of employees had received workslop in the past month. Dealing with it wastes time that could have been more profitably spent. The Review puts the cost at about $9m (6.8m) in lost productivity for an organisation of 10,000 staff. People at all levels are guilty. It sluices around from peer to peer, plumes upwards from underlings to bosses and cascades down from managers to teams.

Producers of this office effluent are, unsurprisingly, judged by their managers and colleagues as less reliable, less trustworthy and less intelligent.

Workslop leaves recipients guessing whether the senders are shirking or genuinely believe what they produced is acceptable. It undermines confidence.

And it isn't just staff; customers are losing faith in businesses for similar reasons.

Customer service is becoming an oxymoron. Recently, I asked a bot on a major tech company's website how to obtain a VAT invoice.

It didn't understand the question. After three attempts at rephrasing, I gave up.

I wonder: has anyone encountered a customer service bot that answered the question they actually asked? The ones I meet seem only able to answer enquiries I didn't make. And am I the only one who hates those FAQs? The ones that tell me things I already know, but never anything I want to find out?

If you manage to get through to a human, chances are they will have been trained to behave like a bot, and will be unable or unwilling to stray by one millimetre from their script. Too many companies have used AI to cut costs and force lower standards on customers.

The HBR found that AI use has doubled at workplaces since 2023 (before you ask, I did write this column myself).

There is enormous potential here to improve efficiency and innovation.

Yet research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab found that 95 per cent of organisations see no measurable return. It looks highly likely that workslop is a significant part of the reason.

Skiving and corner-cutting at work are often trivialised as cheeky rather than culpable. In an age of AI, we can't afford that attitude.
Some of Britain's biggest lenders have been accused of failing to come clean about the full extent of loans to so-called 'shadow banks' as fears grow that a recent spate of corporate collapses in the US could trigger another global financial crisis.

HSBC and Barclays were among big European banks accused of 'very poor disclosure' over how much money they have lent to this opaque part of the financial system, also known as the 'non-bank' lending market.

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has warned that 'alarm bells' are ringing after the collapse of sub-prime vehicle finance provider Tricolor and another US firm, car parts maker First Brands, earlier this year.

The failure of the two firms prompted Jamie Dimon, boss of America's biggest bank JP Morgan, to observe that 'when you see one cockroach, there's probably more', implying more dangers could be lurking in the non-bank sector.

Shadow banks have become a vital source of funding for consumers and firms as big name lenders have retreated from riskier funding deals since the 2008 financial crisis.

They promise higher returns for investors than the big banks, but lack transparency and are unregulated, meaning they don't have to disclose financial details.

Concern: Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has warned that 'alarm bells' are ringing

And their backers, who include fund managers, insurers and wealthy individuals, can lose all their money in a blow-up.

Mainstream banks are exposed to this risk too as they lend direct to the shadow banks.

A risky form of this lending, known as 'private debt', has expanded rapidly in recent years and is set to account for 2.1 trillion of all lending in 2029, up from 1.2 trillion last year.

Barclays, which has set aside 110 million to cover losses on dud Tricolor loans, has total exposure to private debt  defined as 'lending done outside banks and public debt markets'  of about 20 billion, mostly in the US.

But it declined to say how much it had lent to non-depository financial institutions (NDFIs)  a broader group of non-banks that include insurers, pension providers, private equity groups and hedge funds.

NDFIs provide services similar to those of traditional banks but crucially do not take deposits from the general public and are not regulated as lenders.

In a recent note, credit ratings agency Fitch warned that lending by these non-banks, while still niche, was becoming increasingly complex, meaning 'a financial shock event could reveal unexpected transmission channels' to the wider system.

It risks creating a domino effect similar to the 2008 crash when a collapse in the US mortgage market spread to other parts of the banking sector through a web of interlocking deals and financial products.

Delivering its results last week HSBC said its exposure to private credit was 'small' and in the 'single digit billions'.

But the bank refused to say what its NDFI exposure was outside the US, where regulatory filings show it at 7.3 billion, meaning there could be even more shadow bank loans on its books.

It came after HSBC's finance director Pam Kaur warned last week of knock-on 'second-and third-order risks' from another private credit blow-up.

Sheel Shah, banking analyst at JP Morgan, said the sell-off in bank shares 'was triggered by poor risk management, but more importantly, very poor disclosure in relation to NDFIs globally across the banking system'.

US banks are better at revealing how much they were on the hook for, he added, but 'European bank disclosures were worse'.

The amount lent to shadow banks by mainstream lenders is small compared with their other loans but it is growing, with HSBC recently launching a 38 billion private debt fund that focused on Asia, its biggest market.

Fitch recently said the private debt sector would 'benefit from increased transparency, as more consistent disclosures would help market participants gauge risks and resilience as the sector evolves'.

It also warned that the sector was showing 'bubble-like attributes', including 'rapid growth and financial innovation, heightened competition, growing retail participation and rising borrower leverage'.

Bailey has ordered a stress test of the shadow banking sector as fears grow that loose lending by private equity firms and hedge funds could pose a big risk to the mainstream banking sector.
Diageo is pinning its hopes on a boom in sales of its non-alcoholic Guinness Zero to revive investor confidence. The drinks giant plans to roll out the alcohol-free variant in every pub in the UK that has the black stuff on draught.

The FTSE 100 firm will this week update investors after the dramatic exit of its boss Debra Crew in July and as it battles to reverse a slump in demand as more drinkers opt to cut down or abandon alcohol.

Diageo, which also owns Johnnie Walker whisky and Smirnoff vodka, has pledged to drive sales through the growing trend for no and low alcohol drinks. Interim boss Nik Jhangiani insists the company can cash in on drinking in 'moderation' even though Diageo's shares have slumped by nearly a third this year.

Guinness Zero is key to the revival as, after a debut in pubs in 2022, it has become the UK's best-selling alcohol-free beer. It comes as the Irish brewing dynasty finds itself in the spotlight after Netflix released drama House Of Guinness, starring Louis Partridge, a month ago.

Dark stuff: Louis Partridge stars in hit Netflix series House Of Guinness

The drink now accounts for 14 per cent of all the beer brewed at the brand's historic St James's Gate Brewery in Dublin. It is so popular Diageo is preparing to move some of its non-beer brands out of the brewery to free up space.

Britain is to become the first market outside Ireland where the booze-free drink can be poured on draught after a trial in a few London pubs. In most it is only available in cans.

Diageo said the rollout would begin on approval from the UK's Food Standards Agency.

Barry O'Sullivan, managing director for Great Britain, told The Mail on Sunday: 'It will be a question of if, not when, we get that green light.'

He said it would boost pubs as more drinkers adopt habits such as 'zebra striping'  alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Having the alcohol-free variant on tap also makes non-drinkers less self-conscious when ordering, said O'Sullivan, adding: 'You don't have to explain what you're doing.'

Diageo sells 50 million of Guinness Zero in shops and online supermarkets a year  a fifth of its total sales outside pubs and bars, according to researcher NIQ. The alcoholic version accounts for one of every nine pints sold in Britain.

But Steve Clayton, at broker Hargreaves Lansdown, said there was still 'understandable nervousness' ahead of the update on Thursday with investors still waiting to see 'green shoots'. He expected trading 'to be tough' especially in China and the US amid economic gloom there.
The Government has axed a public list that named and shamed companies hit by major shareholder revolts in what one campaign group decried as 'another nail in the coffin' for high boardroom standards.

It follows pressure from corporate lobbyists who objected to leading companies and their directors being put on the 'naughty step' over issues such as ballooning executive pay because it harmed their reputation.

In 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May ordered the Investment Association (IA), a trade body that represents fund managers, to keep track of quoted firms where at least a fifth of investors had rebelled at their annual meeting.

The list was meant to improve transparency for shareholders, staff and public by pressuring quoted firms to curb executive excess, as protest votes generally are themselves not binding.

But in a surprise move Business Minister Blair McDougall has told the IA to drop the register 'to remove duplication' as part of a series of 'pro-growth' measures designed to cut red tape for firms.

The IA confirmed the register was no longer being updated.

Idea: In 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May ordered the Investment Association to keep track of quoted firms where at least a fifth of investors had rebelled at their annual meeting

'This is another small but significant nail in the coffin of our reputation for high standards of corporate governance,' said Catherine Howarth of campaign group ShareAction.

'For the last year, corporate lobbyists have been chipping away all too successfully at standards and structures which protect the investing public, both retail investors and the UK's vast number of pension savers.'

The decision was 'disappointing from a government displaying a concerning pattern of disregard for shareholder rights,' she said.

Corporate governance expert Tom Powdrill said: 'It is a bit odd to see Labour scrap an initiative intended to restrain executive pay by taking a position less radical than the Conservatives who introduced it.'

The Mail on Sunday's annual Fat Cat Files, which chart boardroom pay, will continue to publish details of FTSE 100 companies with the largest protest votes.

Our latest survey found the biggest pay revolt at engineering firm Melrose, where two-thirds of shareholders voted against a deal that saw boss Peter Dilnot scoop 45 million. Melrose said it took this 'very seriously' and would 'consider the feedback received'.

Firms are still obliged to report back to shareholders within six months of a shareholder revolt but campaigners fear this rule will also be swept away.
In June 1946, with millions dead and much of Europe still in ruin, top secret meetings were being held in Washington and London to prepare for the unthinkable.

For American intelligence chiefs, the British Isles represented a strategic threat. Were the Red Army's tanks ever to stroll into Trafalgar Square, Joseph Stalin would be free to storm through Europe.

Fearing the worst, the US Director of Naval Intelligence cabled his opposite number in Whitehall with an unusual request: Could the Royal Navy perform a topographical survey of each beach around the coast to gather enough information  from the type of sand, to tides and nearby infrastructure  to support a US-led D-Day style invasion of the UK.

Dubbed Operation Sandstone, the Americans wanted photographs and descriptions of all beaches and potential landing sites so their troops could storm ashore and 'wrest it from enemy hands', should the Soviets seize Britain.

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A Soviet invasion of the UK would effectively leave the US surrounded, with Russia's far east coast just 50 miles from Alaska. If Europe fell to communism, the US would lose a valuable buffer against the Soviet Union.

If the UK and Ireland were invaded by the Soviets, pushing Stalin's forces back would be logistically difficult as troops would have to cross 3,000 miles of ocean before storming any beaches. The D-Day landings required complete air superiority, otherwise the slow-moving landing ships would have been destroyed.

The US Army Air Force established airbases along the east coast of England. At one stage more than 200 airfields were used by the visiting aircrew and their support staff to wage long-range war against occupied Europe.

RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk were of vital strategic importance during the Cold War. Indeed, with the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), an early warning radar station in Yorkshire provided the US with advance notice of any Soviet missile launch. That is why the potential threat of a Russian invasion was taken so seriously.

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Following the request from the US Navy, the UK's Joint Intelligence Committee realised they had inadequate knowledge about the nation's coastline. The allies had learned major lessons in their preparations for amphibious landings in Sicily, Italy and then Normandy. One way to secure an advantage was to figure out the topography of the landing zone, the tides, currents and even the hardness of the sand.

Also, the team needed to determine how difficult it would be for a landing force to move forward from the beach and make it inland before they were forced to retreat by enemy troops.

The initial survey involved 'a fairly large stretch of about 1,000 miles and includes a good number of highly industrialised ports'.

According to a report prepared by Colonel Sam Bassett and buried in the National Archives in Kew, Sandstone involved: 'The reconnaissance of the UK and Eire coastline from 10 fathoms (60 feet), approaches to the beach, the beaches and exits and hinterland to the main inland communications.'

In an ideal world, the US troops would arrive in major ports along with their supplies where they could be rapidly unloaded. But in the event of a sneak Soviet attack, military air bases, ports and docks would likely be among the first targets.

This was why Operation Sandstone required extensive beach surveys along the area between the River Clyde and River Mersey. This was seen as the most likely point to start the battle to recapture the UK from Soviet control.

Serious consideration was given to using Ireland as a land bridge  a point to mass troops and equipment before launching the mission across the Irish sea. The Americans believed Ireland, which had remained neutral during WW2, could provide an excellent springboard for any attempt to retake the UK and repel a Soviet advance.

The Foreign Office were against the plan to survey the Irish coast because of 'political sensitivities', however Bassett secured the support of the Irish Defence Force chief. The copy of the subsequent report would be handed over to the Americans to assist in their doomsday planning.

Phase one of Sandstone drew a line from the south west coast of Scotland, from Bute, down to Anglesey in north Wales with the primary focus on beaches and ports along the Irish Sea between Colwyn Bay and Southport as these were most accessible from the US east coast. Landing on the UK's eastern coastline would increase the journey by at least a day and expose ships to attack from land-based Russian aircraft.

Rosyth, Glasgow, Liverpool were among the first ports surveyed as these were earmarked as the main target locations.

Blackpool was seen as a potential landing site with its seven-mile stretch of golden sand which could cope with huge numbers of troops landing in quick succession. It was vital for military planners that the initial force could hold on long enough for the industrial might of the US to mobilise fully. Without a foothold in Europe, defeating the Soviet Union would be impossible.

South Wales, Devon and Cornwall were next on the list with the focus on major ports such as Swansea, Cardiff, Plymouth and Devonport as well as smaller places such as Barnstable, Appledore, Totnes and Brixham.

The project also continued along the south coast, past naval yards in Devonport, Portsmouth and as far east as Sheerness.

Later the team were ordered to survey beaches in West Germany, Palestine and across the Middle East in case Britain needed to perform D-Day style invasions elsewhere.

Thousands of surveys were conducted, each providing a detailed analysis on the suitability of each beach for accommodating a landing force, allowing them to build a bridgehead to sustain an invasion.

By the end of 1964, approximately 700 miles of the coasts of England, Scotland and Wales had been completed along with the entire coastline of the Republic of Ireland, leaving an estimated 800 miles of coastline incomplete.

Step by step, how the Americans would invade

STEP ONE: Storming the beach

Importantly, the surveillance team took dozens of photographs of each location  including from the air  so it could be provided in a target package for the invading US Marines. Some pictures were 'stitched' together to produce a panorama showing a wide area of coastline. Significant landmarks were highlighted.

In the case of Seascale, a village in Cumbria, the file contained an Ordnance Survey map, marked to show the area which had been surveyed.

Captured in one photograph were cars parked by holidaymakers enjoying a spring seaside break, completely unaware of the top secret mission being carried out just yards away.

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Any recapture mission would likely see troops parachuted in to secure the landing beaches first. Without total air superiority, however, lumbering WWII-era transport aircraft would be easy prey for fast-moving Soviet MiGs.

Simultaneously, a flotilla of landing ship tanks (LST)  each capable of carrying ten tanks and 160 fully-equipped troops  would approach the beach at 11.5kts.

Hurtling towards Seascale, the heavy armour and infantry would storm ashore, with the aim of unloading the troops and equipment as quickly as possible.

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The survey team marked out a car park which could be used by the Americans to store equipment to support their invasion

The tank commanders, because of the investigative work of the survey team, would know what they faced as soon as they drove off the end of the ramp.

Costly mistakes had been made during D-Day with the use of Donald Duck swimming tanks, with a third foundering in the heavy seas.

Of Seascale's beach itself, the survey team wrote: 'Firm ripple-marked sand of flat even gradient, with one shallow runnel. The last 50 yards to the exit rises at a gradient of 1 in 10 and is covered by stones up to 6 inches in diameter.

'The sand is unreliable for standing on wet patches. Rocky outcrops up to 4 feet in height exist at both limits.'

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STEP TWO: Secure the beachhead

Establishing a secure bridgehead was vital.

By knocking out the UK, the Soviets would have a clear run through Europe. D-Day in 1944 would have been impossible if the fleet had to cross the entire Atlantic Ocean before storming the beaches.

At the northern end of the beach was the Windscale atomic plant where plutonium for Britain's nuclear weapons was being developed. Preventing this from falling into Soviet hands would have been critical.

STEP THREE: Moving inland

The nearest port, Liverpool, was 119 miles by road and 116 miles by rail, according to the report. No anchorages were 'particularly recommended on this piece of coast', it said, because of how exposed it was.

For any tanks or heavy vehicles coming ashore at Seascale, they were warned: 'The road east from the carpark goes under a railway tunnel of 10ft 6ins headroom.

'The better route runs south and B5344 meets the main coast road A595 in three miles.'

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STEP FOUR: Secure the nearest strategic port

'After passing through Broughton-in-Furness, A5092 connects with A590 joining A6, five miles south of Kendal,' the report said.

'At Preston the A59 runs to Liverpool. The railway station is behind the exit whence a double line runs around the coast to Liverpool.'

The Americans were advised there is a one acre car park at the beach's exit which could be used as a store dump, where supplies could be stockpiled.

Also, large ports such as Liverpool would allow millions of tonnes of equipment, supplies, weapons and troops to be rapidly unloaded and deployed to the front line.

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STEP FIVE: Link up with other US units

In the event of a nightmare scenario, it is likely that simultaneous amphibious landings would be made across the west coast to prevent Soviets from getting dug in.

The coastline from the River Clyde down to North Wales was seen as the priority as any Soviet invasion was most likely to come from the east coast. Other landings were likely to take place in Ireland, to deprive the Soviet Union of bases where they could attack shipping in the Atlantic.

Once safely ashore, the US units would seek to rapidly cross the country, forcing Soviet troops to retreat.

After securing the UK, plans would then be required to liberate Europe for a second time in a decade.

On May 17, 1966, Operation Sandstone was scrapped.
APEC leaders adopt joint declaration on deepening cooperation

Xinhua) 10:52, November 02, 2025

This photo taken on Oct. 28, 2025 shows a publicity installation of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea. (Photo by Park Jintaek/Xinhua)

GYEONGJU, South Korea, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on Saturday adopted a joint declaration on deepening cooperation for a sustainable future as they concluded a two-day meeting.

As the world stands at a pivotal juncture, the global trading system continues to face significant challenges, while the rapid advancement of transformative technologies and demographic shifts carry profound and long-term implications for APEC member economies, the Gyeongju Declaration noted.

The declaration called for strengthened cooperation and concrete actions to enable economic growth that benefits all.

Reaffirming the shared recognition that robust trade and investment are vital, the document pledged to remain committed to deepening economic cooperation to navigate the evolving global environment.

They vowed to support efforts to ensure resilient supply chains, as an integral part of global value chains, across the Asia-Pacific region, including through greater engagement of the private sector in APEC's relevant discussions.

The leaders also adopted the APEC AI Initiative as a joint step toward advancing successful AI transformation within APEC, building AI capacities at all levels, including through regional cooperation, and cultivating an investment ecosystem for resilient AI infrastructure.

As part of efforts to jointly respond to the long-term impacts of declining birth rates, aging populations, and rapid urbanization, the leaders adopted a new framework -- the APEC Collaborative Framework for Demographic Changes -- aimed at tackling the region's mounting demographic challenges.

The leaders said the framework reflects their shared commitment to developing holistic and intergenerational policies that can unlock new opportunities for growth and prosperity across the Asia-Pacific.

Acknowledging that the region's future prosperity depends on empowering the next generation, the statement emphasized the importance of providing young people with the tools and opportunities to shape their own futures.

Guided by the theme "Building a Sustainable Tomorrow," this year's APEC agenda aimed to advance regional connectivity, spur innovation-driven growth and create a more resilient future for the Asia-Pacific.

Established in 1989, APEC has become a dynamic engine of economic growth and one of the region's most important forums

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
A view of the city skyline in Singapore in 2020. Photo by Reuters

Singapore ranked first globally for the share of adults who feel safe walking alone at night, with 98% saying they felt secure, according to the Gallup Global Safety Report 2025.

This marks the 12th time Singapore has topped the safety-perception rankings by Gallup, an American multinational analytics and advisory company, since the survey began in 2006.

The report is based on more than 145,000 interviews across 144 countries and territories conducted last year.

When asked, "Do you feel safe walking alone at night in the city or area where you live?" 73% of adults worldwide said they feel safe, the highest global figure since Gallup began tracking the measure nearly two decades ago.

In Singapore, the rate was a standout 98%. Over the past five years, the share of residents reporting they feel safe has never fallen below 94%. Men and women report nearly identical levels of confidence this year: 98% of men and 97% of women said they feel safe walking alone at night in the Southeast Asian city state.

Gallup attributes Singapore's consistently high perceived safety to low crime rates, effective law enforcement and strong public order. The report also cautions that Singapore's success as a small, high-income island city-state may be difficult to replicate in other contexts.

Following Singapore in the rankings were Tajikistan (95%), China (94%), Oman (94%) and Saudi Arabia (93%).

Countries and territories where people feel safest and least safe around the world in 2024. Graphics by Gallup

At the other end of the scale, South Africa recorded the lowest share: just 33% of adults said they feel safe walking alone at night.

When Gallup first measured safety perceptions in South Africa in 2006, 41% of respondents said they felt safe walking alone at night. Since then, perceptions have generally remained lower, averaging closer to 31% in recent years.

In many South African communities  particularly under-resourced townships and informal settlements  crime, including assault, robbery and gender-based violence, remains a daily concern and continues to shape residents' perceptions of safety.

Regionally, people feel safest in the Asia-Pacific (79%) and Western Europe (77%) when walking alone at night.
A young couple has revealed their top tips for starting a business after their hair product went viral, with it now sold in 400 salons across Australia.

Hairdresser Sarah Woodger, 24, co-founded haircare brand Coastal GRL in 2023.

The New South Wales woman, who worked in local salons, high-end boutiques and even on super yachts for the mega-rich for more than seven years, noticed a gap in the market.

She found women who loved to swim at the beach or in a pool complained about the condition of their hair, with many saying it became brittle and dry.

Sarah, along with her partner Luke Miskell, 26, poured all of their savings into developing the brand's pre-swim Saltwater & Chlorine Hair Protectant.

After two years of product development, the pair launched Coastal GRL at the end of March.

'It was my mission to solve this problem,' Sarah told the Daily Mail.

'The idea behind the product is to use this to stop any problems from happening in the first place.

NSW couple Sarah Woodger, 24, and Luke Miskell, 26, poured all of their savings into starting a business

Sarah, who worked as a hairdresser in local salons, high-end boutiques and even on super yachts for the mega-rich for more than seven years, noticed a gap in the market

'It's a female product designed by a female instead of marketing bros creating women's products which capitalise on female insecurities.'

Sarah admitted she felt scared risking her life savings to develop the product, but was determined to start the business.

'I wanted to put all my money into this business. All of my life savings weren't going to fund it because it was so expensive to get started,' she said.

'That's when I decided to ask Luke if he wanted to go halves in the business together.

'We just did everything we could to start the business and not take out any loans or get help from our parents. We were really determined to do it all on our own. Luke even sold his car.

'It was a massive risk. I felt sick almost every day in the lead up to the launch just thinking about it.'

The pair said everyone discouraged their plans, and argued they should put their money into something 'more guaranteed and secure' like a property.

Luke added the company had a rough start as Sarah was continually rejected after pitching her product to boardrooms full of male investors who viewed her as 'just a young blonde' trying to promote another hair product.

Sarah realised women who loved the water were complaining about the condition of their hair, with many noticing their locks would be damaged, dry and brittle after a swim in the ocean or pool

She and her partner founded Coastal GRL and launched the brand's pre-swim Saltwater & Chlorine Hair Protectant product at the end of March

'It wasn't until I was actually sitting in some of the boardrooms with Sarah, that they started to take it seriously,' Luke said.

Sarah added: 'The biggest business challenge for me personally was that none of these big companies took me seriously. Like I'm just some young chick thinking she can sell her little hair care thing.

'They were constantly looking down on me as a young female founder and just not taking me seriously with anything. And it really grinds my gears, to be honest.'

However, Luke said he and Sarah did not give up because they truly believed in the product.

'It's weird when you've got this vision, and I trust Sarah so much,' he said.

'She trusts me, and we trusted this product so much. We knew the potential of it. That's what really keeps you going, when you just know the potential of something.'

Luke added their persistence paid off, especially once buyers knew that the product was designed by a hairdresser with years of industry experience.

'All of a sudden, we had our first five or ten salons and now we're in over 400 salons,' Luke said.

The pair said they used all their savings to develop the product, with Luke even selling his car to help get the brand started

Starting the business was not without its challenges, with Luke explaining investors were not taking Sarah seriously and would often dismiss her as a 'young, blonde girl trying to promote just another hair product'

'We've even got 200 salons on a waitlist that can't even get their hands on the product because it keeps selling out.'

Of course, while running their business there came challenges, with Luke admitting that as a 'two-man band' they are both responsible for everything that needs to be done.

The couple designed and run their website, take all their photos and are responsible for all the content on their social media accounts.

'We're up until 2am packing orders,' Luke said.

'I think a big lever we should have pulled earlier was actually starting to build a team and outsource, but at the time, we just couldn't see that as feasible financially.

'So you end up doing it a lot yourself, and you end up just burning yourself out.'

Sarah added that cash flow was definitely their biggest issue as the business has to fulfil large stock orders to service the salons before they receive payment for the products.

The pair added they're a two-man band and have done everything themselves, which has proven difficult after the product went viral and is in demand in 400 stores across Australia

The pair also encountered yet another problem after Australia Post refused to reimburse them when a delivery truck carrying hundreds of customer orders caught fire (pictured)

The pair encountered another problem when Australia Post refused to reimburse them after a delivery truck full of hundreds of orders for customers caught on fire.

The fire broke out in the truck as it travelled from Sydney to Adelaide on October 9, resulting in delays and damage to parcels.

Sarah and Luke said they were forced to resend the products to customers and pay for postage twice.

Australia Post refused to reimburse them for the products or the postage costs, leaving them 'tens of thousands of dollars' out-of-pocket.

Still reeling from their losses, Sarah said they were still going back and forth with Australia Post, but the national courier was not 'coming to the party'.

Sarah advised Aussies who want to start their own business to market their personal brand through social media from the very beginning.

She said customers love to see the 'behind the scenes' and the making of the brand, so even if it feels mundane to still make the effort to document and record the whole process.

Luke said his top tip for people starting their own business was to find a solution to a problem, or create something niche.

Luke advised those looking to start their own business to stay clear of copying a brand or product, and to create a niche brand that solves a problem

Sarah added she was proud of what she and Luke have accomplished but claimed the government needed to do more to assist young Aussies starting small businesses

He added there was no point copying another brand as the market would already be highly saturated, which meant profits would be halved before you even started.

'It's great everyone's having to go, but there's no point running out there and copying a brand, because you're already halving your market,' he said.

'There's millions of problems that aren't solved out there. You will find things that need solving, that are right in front of you.

'If you come up with something else that hasn't been done before, exactly what we did, then instead of entering an already saturated market it becomes an open market.'

Sarah also noted the government needed to provide more assistance for young Australians starting their own businesses.

The young business owner said she and Luke lived at her parents' house and would not have been able to start Coastal GRL if they were renting or paying a mortgage.

'We're well and truly old enough to live on our own and it feels silly to tell people that we still live at home, but financially, we literally have no choice,' she said.

'We wouldn't be able to do this if we were renting or buying a house.

'It would be amazing if the government could help out young Aussies who are trying to get off their feet and try something new.'
When Chen Chung-ho strolled up to two African lions at Taipei Zoo, nearly 21 years ago, visitors were left confused and stunned.

Some are said to have believed it was all part of a show, while others thought he was a trained worker who had access to the beasts' enclosure.

But soon after Chen stood in front of the lions, his bizarre behaviour made it increasingly clear that an impending danger loomed.

Armed with a Bible, he had one motive - to preach the gospel and 'convert' the lions on November 3, 2004.

Witnesses said he shouted 'Jesus will save you' as he faced the animals. The lions who were lounging under a tree stood up and approached the man.

Just like the people at the zoo, they initially seemed confused about what he was doing. He even taunted them by saying: 'Come bite me!'

He then took off his jacket and waved it around. With a roar, one of the enraged animals, a male with a huge mane, lunged at him and knocked it out of his hand.

Seconds later, it attacked and bit his right arm.

The man, seemingly now aware of the gravity of the situation, attempted to back away onto a nearby rock with his arms raised in what appeared to be the surrender position.

But the furious lion charged at him again and chomped on his right arm. The man could only exclaim in pain as he was trapped with nowhere to go.

A grab from a news report shows Chen Chung-ho being being attacked by the male lion as the female looked on. He had entered the animals' enclosure to preach the gospel to them

Although the male lion bared its teeth at Chen, it was not enough to send him running out of the enclosure

Now seated on the rocks, Chen came face to face with the 300lb beast, which attacked him once again, its growls sounding angrier with each attack.

After mauling him a few more times, Chen was left holding his leg in agony. But it is believed that he was so high on drugs that he made no attempts to escape.

Chaos erupted at the zoo as people began screaming, and zoo staff rushed to the scene to save his life.

Officials made the call to tranquilise the animals, but they were also concerned that Chen would attempt to charge at the animals. Although they considered tranquilising him too, they soon realised they did not have the appropriate dosage for humans.

Finally, they fired their dart guns at the male lion. When other darts missed their targets, it was decided that a fire hose had to be used to drive the animals away.

Shortly afterwards, another dart hit the male lion, sending it running to its cage.

But incensed, the female charged at Chen, giving officials only a few seconds to act to save his life.

They finally deterred it with the hose and shot it with the dart. Both animals were unharmed.

After Chen retreated on a nearby rock, the lion launched another attack and bit him on his right arm

According to local reports, the animals had been fed earlier in the day. If not, Chen could have sustained even worse injuries or been killed.

Incredible footage captured the heart-stopping scenes on TV at the time of the incident in November 2004.

Chen was pulled to safety and taken to the hospital. His injuries were serious but not life-threatening. Doctors said he had wounds to his arm and leg, but would survive.

One dismayed veterinarian, Chih-Hua Chang, who was present at the time, said: 'I was a bit shocked. We were all appalled as to why someone would jump in there. Everyone was nervous because anything could happen at any time.

Police later identified him as a devout Christian, and reports said he may have been suffering from psychological problems.

It was widely believed that he was re-enacting the biblical story of Daniel in the lions' den.

That story, told in the Book of Daniel, describes how the prophet Daniel was thrown into a pit of lions.

As a captive in Babylon, he refused to stop praying to his God despite an order from King Darius that all citizens must worship only the king. When Daniel was found praying, he was sentenced to death and thrown into a den of lions.

The next morning, Darius found him alive and ordered his release, declaring that Daniels God was real. According to the Bible, God had sent an angel to shut the lions' mouths.

Chen's act drew worldwide attention because it resembled that story. However, many were quick to note that his survival may not have been a miracle but sheer luck that the attack was not fierce enough to kill him.

Chen was said to have been inspired by the Biblical book of Daniel and how he was thrown into a lion's den yet survived

It was later revealed by the police that Chen was an alcoholic and also addicted to amphetamines. He is also said to have been suffering from delusions.

Chen himself was later interviewed by news outlets, where he said: 'I was on drugs and drinking excessively every day.

'And if you ask me what I was thinking, I would say I was thinking things that weren't realistic. I didn't know what I was thinking.'

Remarkably, charges were not pressed against him as authorities recognised that he needed help.

He was sent to a rehabilitation centre where he managed to stay off the drugs and get clean.

As bizarre as Chen's story is, he is far from the only one who has entered the enclosure of some of the fearsome animals.

In 2016, a man entered the pit of a lion at a zoo and stripped. He then approached the animals and began to chant what was described as 'very apocalyptic, very religious' proverbs.

The man was mauled, leading zoo officials to decide to shoot and kill the two lions, a male and a female.

The zoo justified the 'incomprehensible' decision, saying it was 'due to the circumstances and to firstly protect the life of this person'. It was later determined that the man wanted to kill himself and had left a suicide note in his clothes.

Like Chen, he was also described as 'very religious.'

Last year, one man was not so lucky when he ventured into a den in India. Prahalad Gurjar was viciously attacked after jumping into the enclosure.

According to a news release: 'Though the animal keeper and other security staff nearby tried to save the person, the animal dragged the person inside the enclosure.'

Unlike Chen, within ten minutes, Gurjar was dead.

While Daniels Biblical story ended with divine intervention, Chens ended with sedation and stitches.

And though he later insisted he had found peace, after 21 years, many still remember him not as a prophet, but as the man who tried to preach the gospel to lions and somehow lived to tell the tale.
Gangsters are using blood money to send their children to some of the best private schools in Britain.

The threat of criminals using public schools as money laundering hubs has existed for years, especially as the number of foreign students in the UK swelled.

According to the Independent Schools Council, there are more than 61,000 foreign students at UK private schools, with 10,959 from mainland China, 1,517 from Russia and 1,323 from Nigeria.

More than 50 private schools have closed or announced plans to do so this year after Labour's VAT raid came into force in January.

But the new 20 per cent tax on fees could be having more than just an effect on whether private schools remain open.

Tom Keatinge, the Director of the Centre for Finance and Security at the UK's leading defence think tank, RUSI, told the Daily Mail that questions may be raised about whether Labour's tax on private school fees is fuelling parents to pay in cash.

He said: 'There have been periods of scrutiny of the private school system over the years.

'Especially when it's oligarchs paying with cash, [the authorities] look at schools who take cash from people with questionable wealth.

'What schools will say is they are relying on banks [to check where money is coming from.]'

London private schools usually charge around 10k a term, whereas world-famous Eton, where Princes William and Harry attended, charge more than 60k for a year's tuition.

Mr Keatinge said: 'If someone is paying in cash, there is no bank [to carry out checks]  it's a problem.

'There are limits on the amount of cash an organisation can accept without reporting it and there are very clear restrictions on the use of cash for the payment of high value services.

Gregory Bell (pictured) has been jailed for 18 years and nine months after providing some of Britain's most dangerous criminals with Class A narcotics such as cocaine and ketamine

London private schools usually charge around 10k a term, whereas world-famous Eton, where Princes William and Harry attended, charge more than 60k for a year's tuition. Pictured: Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William and the then-Prince Charles attend William's first day at Eton College on September 6, 1995

An Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project revealed in 2011 that a Russian ghost company called Valemont Properties Ltd paid 10,943 into the Lloyds TSB account of the leading public school Millfield (pictured) in Somerset, via a Latvian bank

'A school would be unwise to accept cash in the best of times. There's clearly a concern about non-payment of VAT.'

Mr Keating explained that schools could be seen as 'complicit' in crimes if they accept cash, and face the risk of prosecution.

He added: 'If there's a case, I would like to see it prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.

'Up until now, there haven't been consequences. But the NCA has started to chip away at the sense of impunity.'

Earlier this month, a drug baron who paid for his daughter's private school fees with envelopes of cash he made while working as a wholesale supplier to gangs was jailed for 18 years and nine months.

Gregory Bell, 43, made millions providing some of Britain's most dangerous criminals with Class A narcotics such as cocaine and ketamine.

He owned 34 properties, mostly in east Manchester, together with two villas in Spain and lived in a prestigious rented, 2,200 per month, apartment in the upmarket Cheshire village of Prestbury.

Bell gambled much of his money - staking more than 2million into Ladbrokes and Betfred - while also splashing out more than 70,000 on designer clothing found at his home address.

The drugs tycoon educated his daughter at a private school and paid her fees by leaving an envelope of cash with the school receptionist, Manchester Crown Court heard.

He hid much of his criminal activity on the now-defunct private communications channel Encrochat, on which he went by the codenames of Castlesnail, Radiorhino and Wonkyfrog. He was also referred to as 'boss' or 'gaffer' on the platform.

But detectives managed to access Bell's encrypted mobile and uncover his operation, as well as the names of more than 70 names of drug suppliers and customers spanning Britain.

Prosecutor David Temkin KC said Bell was the head of a 'highly sophisticated' organised crime group which organised large amounts of drugs to be delivered to other major suppliers and gangs across the country.

It's not the first time a criminal has tried such a scheme.

James Ibori, 64, defrauded some of the poorest people in the world out of up to 157million of public funds during his time as Nigerian Delta State governor, lying about government contracts and embezzling cash.

James Ibori, 64, defrauded some of the poorest people in the world out of up to 157million of public funds during his time as Nigerian Delta State governor

The ex-Wickes cashier blew millions on luxury homes, a 12.6million private jet, fees at some of the UK's most expensive boarding schools for his children, first-class travel and exclusive hotels. He even bought properties in Washington DC and Texas.

The crooked politician owned a 600,000 fleet of armoured Range Rovers, a 120,000 Bentley, and a 340,000 Mercedes Maybach that was shipped directly to his lavish 3.2million mansion in Johannesburg. He also had a 2.2million home in Hampstead - paid cash for in cash in 2001 - and a 311,000 townhouse in Dorset.

Ibori served four years in a UK prison before he voluntarily returned to Nigeria in December 2016 after being told he faced deportation.

Ibori had moved to the UK in the 1980s where he married and set up home with his wife, Theresa Ibori, in Nower Hill, Pinner, Middlesex. He worked as a cashier at a building supplies store Wickes in Ruislip, Middlesex, earning around 5,000 a year.

But after his time in Britain - which saw him being convicted of petty theft - Ibori moved back in his home county and became one of Nigeria's most influential and wealthy politicians.

However, behind the scenes, he used a complex network of associates - including his wife, sister and his lover - to launder cash from his proceeds of crime.

He was eventually jailed for 13 years in 2012, after admitting to conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and conspiracy to make false instruments over a 23million fraud on Delta state and Akwa Ibom state between 2005 and 2007.

But at the time, a sentencing judge branded this sum 'ludicrously low', claiming the amount the Ibori could have embezzled might have hit a staggering 200million.

In 2023, following one of the most complex confiscation proceeding investigations in British history, the Crown Prosecution Service proved Ibori had benefited from his crimes to the tune of 101,514,315.21.

Additionally, an Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project revealed in 2011 that a Russian ghost company called Valemont Properties Ltd paid 10,943 into the Lloyds TSB account of the leading public school, Millfield in Somerset, via a Latvian bank.

The school, which has fees of up to 35,000 a year, was made aware of allegations against Valemont in 2014 and reported the transaction to the National Crime Agency.

An HMRC spokeswoman said: 'Cash payments to businesses aren't illegal. Schools and any other organisations receiving cash payments must stay alert to financial crime risks and report anything suspicious.'
A wealthy businessman was furious when he visited his luxury second home in Cornwall to find an illegal immigrant living inside.

The father of two, who wishes to remain anonymous, had arrived at the 750,000 property in St Ives with his family when he noticed a smashed window.

He walked through the front door and was stunned to see intruder Saidahmed-Hamid Ghalem, 28, preparing a meal inside the kitchen.

Ghalem, whose last address was in the Docklands area of east London, had been living in the seafront cottage for a number of days.

The homeowner, who lives in the West Midlands but rents out his fisherman's cottage on a luxury holiday let website, was said to be 'horrified' when he found the man.

He is now considering taking proceedings against authorities for failing in their duty to deal with illegal immigrants.

Second homes in the Cornish idyll are in high demand despite objections from locals who say they kill the soul of the area

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A relative told the Daily Mail: 'The person involved was subject to a deportation order so why was he still in the country?'

'He was shocked and horrified to find him in his holiday home which he had visited during the half term holidays.'

The family source added: 'It's his holiday home and he found this man, a stranger, in his kitchen and cooking food, but I am not sure what it was.

'He had been living there for a quite a few days.

'He told the man to leave the house which he did but a few days later, but he was spotted begging in the street nearby.

'He was a homeless asylum seeker who had come from London to chance his luck as there are so many vacant properties not occupied at this time of year.'

Ghalem, 28, who recently pleaded guilty to criminal damage and trespass at Truro magistrates' court was ordered to pay 1,000 in compensation, the Falmouth Packet reported.

The source said: 'He hasn't got the money to pay that back.'

Neighbours said the 50-year-old homeowner and his family were so shocked by the break-in they fled to another property in Falmouth before returning the following morning to repair the damage.

Colin Nicholls, owner of Colenso, a nearby hardware shop said: 'He just told me he'd had a break in and needed to block off a window, it wasn't until this morning that I heard about the asylum seeker moving in.

Neighbours of the homeowner claim they were as shocked as he was when they learned the truth

One told the Daily Mail they had witnessed the police arrive on the sleepy road to escort the migrant away

'It must've been awful for them. I think they asked the guy to leave and he did but then he tried to come back again a few days later.

'He told me they'd decided not to stay and had gone to Falmouth instead.

'I think he took it in good spirits and was very measured in his approach.

'I'd imagine he's quite successful and normally deals in bigger things than this, he told me they weren't going to let it ruin their weekend.

'I've seen him before, he's a really nice guy and comes down every couple of weeks with his wife.

'I don't think other second homeowners should be worried, this is an isolated incident and most of the homes are so close together it'd be very hard to break in unnoticed.'

There was no sign of the couple at their four-bedroom, semi-detached holiday home when the Daily Mail visited this week but a neighbour who didn't want to be named said: 'A mate of mine witnessed the guy getting taken away by the police.

'All I know is he broke in through the window and cooked himself some food.'

Only last month, residents in the country's most coveted destination told the Daily Mail that they have noticed a huge decline in earnings and a drop-off in tourists this year due to rampant anti-tourist and second homeowner energy.

They claimed a perfect storm of anti-tourism sentiment, unreliable weather, second homes and price hikes is pushing the vital British market to overseas rivals like Spain, Italy and Greece.

'You always see people complaining about the tourists but it's important to us,' waitress Ella Erijota said.

'I've noticed a massive decline in the amount of visitors this summer and it's concerning.

'Cornwall relies on tourism and needs it to survive.'

Last year Cornwall faced its worst summer visitor numbers in a decade, and this summer is not predicted to be much better (pictured: St Ives Harbour looking rather empty)

Shop owners and residents in St Ives, the county's most coveted destination, told the Daily Mail that they have noticed a huge decline in earnings and a drop-off in tourists this year (pictured: one of the many empty streets in St Ives)

A crude 6ft-long banner - written in black paint on a white board - was held by three people to welcome tourists to Cornwall

Cornish locals claim a perfect storm of anti-tourism sentiment, unreliable weather, second homes and price hikes is pushing the vital British market to overseas rivals

'It's been a lot quieter this year, I've definitely noticed a decline in tourism,' St Ives resident and shop worker Charlotte Cooper said.

Ms Cooper, along with several other business owners, explained that they had noticed a significant reduction in earnings this summer.

'I blame overpriced holiday homes for deterring tourists. You can get an all-inclusive holiday abroad for the same price as renting a home here for a couple days.

'And the money people do spend on B&Bs isn't even going into the town, it's going to owners elsewhere.'

She added: 'There are hardly any jobs outside of tourism, if you haven't made enough money over the summer you're struggling the rest of the year.'

The slump in visitors in Cornwall echoes similar trends in Spain where a relentless campaign of anti-tourist protests have been 'scaring away visitors'.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'It is our longstanding policy not to comment on individual cases, but when foreign nationals commit serious crimes in our country, we will always do everything in our power to deport them.

'This government deported almost 5,200 foreign national offenders in its first year in office, a 14 per cent increase on the previous year, and we will continue to do everything we can to remove these vile criminals from our streets.'
A former top model has been forced to raise tens of thousands of pounds for an operation in Germany after the NHS denied him cancer treatment.

Daniel Hettmann, 39, said his life had been almost 'like a fairytale' when as a teenager he was approached by a model scout during a trip to Paris.

He went on to meet Karl Lagerfeld, with the first year of his career seeing him walk runway shows for Chanel, Givenchy and Paul Smith - as well as feature in an Armani TV ad.

But things took an unexpected and tragic turn just five years later when, aged 22, Mr Hettmann was diagnosed with blood cancer.

The model-turned-fashion producer was put in remission after successful treatment but he sadly fell ill again in 2017 after moving to London.

Mr Hettmann was treated successfully and put in remission again.

But from 2024 he 'kept getting sick' and a blood test revealed a form of blood cancer had returned.

He underwent a stem cell transplant which initially appeared successful - but discovered this October that heartbreakingly the cancer had returned once more.

Daniel Hettmann (pictured), 39, said his life had been almost 'like a fairytale' when as a teenager he was approached by a model scout during a trip to Paris

Things took an unexpected and tragic turn when, aged 22, Mr Hettmann was diagnosed with blood cancer

The top model now runs his own Instagram account which documents his 'journey' with cancer

Mr Hettmann, who is originally from Germany, is not eligible for a second stem cell procedure on the NHS due to a little-known rule which bars anyone who has a relapse within a year of their transplant from another operation free at the point of use.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the Karl Lagerfeld protege said: 'It's been quite a roller coaster.

'I was basically told two weeks ago the cancer was back, with a mutation.

'Too much radiotherapy can actually cause cancer which is why it was not unlikely for someone with my medical history.

'Cancer can often be caused by too much treatment in the past. After everything I went through it was a lot finding out it had come back again.'

Asked how he felt discovering the cancer had returned, Mr Hettmann said: 'I think I truly felt anger for the first time. Until now I was just somebody who said "ok, it is what it is".

'That's why I never stopped working. I always took the mindset of asking what the universe wanted to tell me.'

Despite the new feelings of confusion and frustration, Mr Hettmann, who is raising money on GoFundMe, said he thought it was 'important to try and enjoy every day the best you can'.

Asked how he felt after discovering the cancer had returned, Mr Hettmann said: 'I think I truly felt anger for the first time. Until now I was just somebody who said "ok, it is what it is"'

Mr Hettmann said for him it was important to 'take it day by day, step by step' and that 'making every day miserable is not going to help'

The German-born model is now raising money on GoFundMe to pay for the costly operation

The 39-year-old added he was supposed to fly to Saudi Arabia to organise a fashion week on the day he found out the cancer had returned.

He said: 'For three days I was on my couch paralysed, not really wanting to talk and hoping I'd wake up from a bad dream.

'But on Sunday I decided to jump on a plane and I was there for 10 days - we produced all the shows.

'A lot of people thought I was crazy but we did it and it was amazing.'

Mr Hettmann said for him it was important to 'take it day by day, step by step' and that 'making every day miserable is not going to help'.

His new stem cell donor is going to be his sister which, although not a complete transplant match, has left Mr Hettmann feeling 'very optimistic'.

The German-born model is now raising money on GoFundMe to pay for the costly operation.

He said: 'It's not like I'm waking up every day with a huge smile. But it's really important my mind is in the right place.

'I owe it to myself and those I love.'
A shocking web of deceit unraveled when strangers, linked only by their DNA, discovered they were all fathered by the same fertility doctor - the very man their parents had trusted to help them conceive.

Dr Charles Henry Peete Jr, who died in 2013 at 89 years old, was later unmasked as the medical professional who used his own sperm to inseminate hopeful patients - a violation carried out without their informed consent.

After years of suffering from Marfan syndrome - a genetic condition that affects connective tissue and can cause heart, eye, bone and lung problems - Summer McKesson, 43, discovered that her mother had been one of the doctor's victims.

McKesson had never questioned her biological origins until doctors were left baffled by her condition, as she endured reoccurring and unexplained blood clots in her heart and lungs.

After she had undergone open-heart surgery - and a doctor noted grave concern for McKesson's fragile connective tissue - she learned that her heart would need constant monitoring, and that she was set to endure at least one more major surgery on the organ.

Yet McKesson, raised by her mom and who she thought was her biological father, had no family history of such a condition, which is hereditary. Doctors were puzzled.

'They had never seen a case like mine before, which was just devastating. I held so much hope that they would know the answer and that they had seen this before,' McKesson told the Daily Mail.

During her desperate search for answers, McKesson turned to 23andMe - a DNA analysis service that offers customers a look into their genetic history.

Summer McKesson, 43, discovered that her mother had been one of the doctor's victims following a long and painful battle with Marfan syndrome

In search for medical answers in her genealogy, McKesson turned to 23andMe where she discovered she had at least seven half-siblings

Dr Charles Henry Peete Jr, who died in 2013 at age 89, was unmasked as the medical professional who used his own sperm to inseminate hopeful patients

'You're grasping for straws,' she said. 'I was on my fifth surgery. I just kept trying to find every angle I could.

'I didn't know what to expect... and then I pull up my family and my DNA relatives and I have like seven half siblings - "What in the world is this? I'm shocked."'

McKesson discovered that the man she thought was her biological father had been infertile, and her parents had visited Peete after 11 years of failing to conceive.

What is Marfan Syndrome?

Marfan syndrome is an inherited disorder that affects connective tissue, the fibers that anchor your organs and provide support for bones, muscles, eyes, blood vessels and the heart. Signs and symptoms of the disorder can appear at any age, according to New York-Presbyterian. Typical signs include, but are not limited to, long arms, legs and fingers, a tall and thin body type, curved spine, chest sinks in or sticks out, flexible joints, flat feet, crowded teeth, or stretch marks not associated with weight gain or loss. In its most serious complications, Marfan can cause an aortic aneurysm, heart valve disease, or an arrhythmia in the heart. It is diagnosed through an EKG, which records the electrical activity of the heart, an echo, which evaluates the structure of the heart, an eye exam, an MRI or genetic testing. Those diagnosed may not need immediate treatment, but will be regularly monitored and often prescribed medication and a series of lifestyle changes. Advertisement

The results from the DNA analysis showed McKesson that she had at least seven half-siblings - the oldest is 61 years old while the youngest is 39.

'It took a couple months for anyone to get back to me,' she said, until finally one pointed her in Peete's direction.

'[The message] just said, "Hey, I don't want to start any drama, but if you want to dig into this, you should ask your mom if she used a Dr Peete," and - I just got chills saying that, remembering that day.'

For McKesson, her newfound ancestry was shocking.

Her mom, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, couldn't really answer her questions, and McKesson was left 'numb and paralyzed.'

'I had already been through so much with my medical history and my medical issues, and then to find out not only that I'm a sperm donor baby, but also to find out that the doctor used his sperm and that I'm a product of medical rape or fertility fraud... I was just crushed.'

While it remains unclear to McKesson if Marfan syndrome ran in Peete's family, she said it 'could also come from the fact that he was older,' as Peete was 60 at the time she was conceived.

Older parents are more likely to suffer from genetic mutations like Marfan syndrome that could then subsequently be passed on to their children.

McKesson wanted to get in touch with as many of her newly found half-siblings as possible in case they were, or could end up, suffering from similar medical issues.

Now, she has discovered 13 of her half-siblings but said there could be many more.

Four of them were Peete's born and raised children, McKesson said. One of which got in touch with another of McKesson's siblings, Jim Harris.

While it remained unclear if Marfan syndrome ran in Peete's family history, McKesson said it 'could come from the fact that he was older,' as Peete was 60 at the time she was conceived

The results from the DNA analysis showed McKesson that she had at least seven half-siblings - her oldest half-sibling is aged 61 and her youngest is 39

McKesson wanted to get in touch with as many of her newly-found half-siblings as possible in case they were, or could end up, suffering from similar medical issues

In North Carolina, Harris began exchanging emails with his newly discovered half-siblings not long after his own dad died.

Harris told CNN that his father's death caused him to spiral, and he was rocked by the discovery of having multiple siblings after being raised as an only child.

He discovered his shared genetics with Peete, including who he would discover to be Peete's daughter.

In an email to Peete's daughter, obtained by CNN, Harris wrote: 'I don't know how to tell someone this, but I figured out who your father was on Google and read his obituary. I showed this to my mom and she confirmed that he was her doctor at Duke for the procedure she had with me.

'I'm sure that this is shocking. I've been mind blown. I believe that your father is my donor.'

Harris continued to say he had reached out to another match he found through 23andMe and Ancestry, and 'they confirmed they too went to Duke.'

Peete's daughter took days to respond, but when she did, she admitted she was 'stunned, shocked and completely baffled,' CNN reported.

McKesson and her half-sibling Jim Harris (right) met up for the first time in October

'It didn't even cross my mind that my dad would've been the donor, because my dad was the most honorable human being,' she wrote to Harris.'...Being a part of whatever or however this happened just doesn't add up.'

Peete's daughter later acknowledged to Harris how he resembled her father and said: 'I think there is more to this story we may never really know.'

Meanwhile, North Carolina-based Laurie Kruppa - together with her husband, Doug - discovered Peete's crime after revealing to their children that they had been conceived through a donor.

'We were told it was a resident at the hospital who would resemble my husband - so that meant he would have blonde hair,' Kruppa exclusively told the Daily Mail.

'We're both left handed, and that's a recessive gene. So, I wanted a left handed person.'

Doug had undergone a vasectomy, so the pair were referred to Duke for fertility treatment in 1980.

The couple opted for intrauterine insemination, which had only become common in recent years at the time due to advancements in freezing and banking sperm.

The procedure involves a doctor placing the sperm directly into the patient's uterus during ovulation.

Dr Charles Henry Peete Jr is pictured in an undated photo after hunting a shark

Laurie Kruppa found out she was a victim of Dr Peete after telling her children they were born from donor sperm, and said if she had known she would have refused Peete's specimen

It took the couple seven months to conceive their eldest daughter, two visits for their second daughter, and a single visit in 1984 for their son.

'Dr Peete was older than my dad, but I didn't check any of that information out in the beginning, because I never dreamed that would happen,' Kruppa said, explaining that she didn't think to imagine having to consider Peete's characteristics and age as a donor.

'He was in his 50s. He wasn't left handed, or we would have had three left handed kids. He was very tall. So my kids are pretty tall, 6ft-5in for [my] son, 5ft-7in and 5ft-8in for my girls. But I wasn't paying a lot of attention to [Peete].'

Kruppa said that her family was on vacation when the couple decided to tell their children of their biological origins while playing Yahtzee.

'They will never play Yahtzee again,' she said, laughing.

She said her children were a 'little stunned,' but joined 23andMe to look at their biological history where they discovered the shocking truth.

It was her middle child who asked what hospital they had visited for the treatments, and if they knew the name of their doctor.

Upon learning what had happened to her, Kruppa was 'glad [her children] were all true siblings,' but with time, she grew increasingly angry.

Kruppa said her children (pictured with Laurie Kruppa) were a 'little stunned,' but joined 23andMe to look at their biological history where they discovered the shocking truth

Kruppa said that, while McKesson's medical complications were severe, her children experienced odd conditions growing up that didn't track through her medical history

'I was so stunned but I started thinking about it and I didn't think it was fair that he had done this and Duke didn't know. It took me about six months to get my act together and I wrote a really long email to Duke telling them what happened,' Kruppa said.

She said that while McKesson's medical complications were severe, her children experienced odd conditions growing up.

'One had nephrotic syndrome, my oldest one. And then when I was talking to the doctors about it, they said, "Do you have any Scandinavian background?" I have zero,' Kruppa told the Daily Mail.

Kruppa was adamant that, had she known about Peete's plans, she would have refused his sperm.

'If he would have said, "I can use my own sperm," I would have said no. Besides his age, I wouldn't have wanted somebody knowing and possibly following my kids,' she explained.

However, she also explained that she was troubled by the lack of record keeping throughout the process.

'He apparently didn't keep any notes that [the university] could find, but he must have. Either he did it to every single person or he randomly chose people to do it to,' Kruppa said.

Both McKesson and Kruppa said they had been in contact with Duke University about the shocking discovery.

Duke University said that the 'unacceptable actions could not happen today at Duke health and should never have happened'

While the university was initially responsive, its cooperation appeared to dwindle after McKesson asked for more of Peete's medical history.

'Our program is built on a steadfast commitment to operating within the highest ethical and legal standards in the field,' Duke officials said in a statement to the Daily Mail.

'We have been made aware of unacceptable actions by an individual that occurred in our program in the early days of fertility care, at least 40 years ago. The unacceptable actions could not happen today at Duke Health and should never have happened.

'Duke Health has been in communication with those individual patients and family members who have come forward and who have desired to share information with us. We continue these individual conversations, and we welcome the opportunity to communicate with other patients and family members who choose to come forward.'

Both Kruppa and McKesson considered legal action.

But, with the death of Peete and North Carolina's lack of statue against fertility fraud, McKesson admitted that it is 'pretty impossible for the victims to have any sort of justice in this situation.'

For McKesson, she found herself disappointed by the responses from Duke and Peete's family.

'The mothers deserve to know... but when they stopped responding... I just decided I really didn't have another choice but to make this public.'

Activist Eve Wiley has been working with McKesson to pass legislation allowing the offspring of fertility fraud to sue for their medical information or damages

McKesson said that informing the mothers and allowing the offspring of fertility fraud access to medical records were both important reasons for speaking out.

'But there's a piece that is a little harder to talk about... [in] these small country towns there is a chance that you could be dating or in a relationship or marrying your half sibling and then their children are at risk,' she said.

But their story is not the only one, and many activists are fighting to advocate for legislation that fight against fertility fraud, such as activist Eve Wiley, 38, who has joined forces with with McKesson.

According to Wiley, only 14 states have any kind of legislation against fertility fraud. Texas is the only state that classes the malpractice as criminal sexual assault, Wiley said.

'We push for a civil and criminal cause of action because we want offspring to have the right to sue for their medical information or any type of damages,' she told the Daily Mail.

'We're not touching on issues of unknown identity, unknown medical history - which most people have access to - [as well as] mental health issues and how they're going to have to navigate all these new half siblings [and] all of the unknowns.'

Wiley said she is pushing for bills to be written into law for the remaining states, and hopefully push for federal legislation one day.

'People are shocked when I say that nail salons are more regulated than the fertility industry in the United States,' she said.

Yet, despite the issues that cases such as Peete's has brought, both McKesson and Kruppa said their newfound family discovery has brought them to some of 'the most wonderful people.'

'It's been really cool to see how we all have similar careers or mannerisms, smiles or physical features,' McKesson said, adding that finding people that 'understand and [can] be there for you and support you' was a blessing despite the deceitful fraud that took place.
It could be something out of Richard Osman's bestselling Thursday Murder Club mystery novels and Netflix film - as pensioners take on the 'deep state'.

Yet this band of intrepid investigators in Wiltshire are on a mission not to solve any killings, but instead fend off an 18m-high shed.

Tensions have flared over expansion plans at one of Britain's national data centres - which could be foiled not by flooding risks nor eco-system damage but because a group of rural campaigners are determined to stop developers in their tracks.

Morgyn Davies, 69, is leading the campaign - while his wife Trudy's home baking skills are among the weapons being used to persuade residents to oppose development by MoD Corsham in Wiltshire.

The fight is on to stop another data centre being built in a field in the nearby village of Westwells.

The Government says building an 18m-tall storage shed just outside the site's military cyber headquarters is in the interests of national security.

But Mr Davies says it will increase village flooding risks, mask countryside tranquillity with noisy cooling fans and destroy a 'dark corridor' for several protected bat species.

Such is the professional experience of Neston and Westwells Action Group's members, the retirees are being compared to characters in Osman's Thursday Murder Club series - recently adapted as a Netflix movie starring Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie and Pierce Brosnan.

A group of pensioners in Wiltshire are campaigning against expansion plans near an MoD site - and have welcomed comparisons to Richard Osman's fictional Thursday Murder Club

Mr Davies, a decorated Ministry of Defence salvage officer, is joined by an Army engineer, accountant, recruitment expert and a district nurse.

He says the planning application by private technology firm ARK is complicated by a disused mine underneath the field where the building is earmarked to sit - one which connects to the MoD's Cold War bunker.

He added: 'By levelling the surface of the proposed site and covering it in concrete and buildings, there will be nowhere left for surface water to go.

'ARK is using the secrecy that often surrounds the security of MoD sites to be economical with the truth about the planning application.

'At the beginning, they denied there would be flood risk because the Environment Agency had apparently said this. But then when you go to the Environment Agency and they say, "We never said that", it makes you wonder what else they are trying to sneak through.

'We are horrified, having done our own investigations, at the gaps in the knowledge and the bias towards the developer in this planning process beneath an aura of secrecy about the site which is 90 per cent smoke and mirrors.

'Particularly worrying is that this latest data centre application is outside the MoD perimeter and could set a precedent for further development in the village.

'If this data centre goes ahead, they can build another and another and another and because ARK is a private company already looking to sell its portfolio, they could sell to anyone; the Chinese, the Russians, anyone - so it's not hard to see the long term national security implications.

Morgyn Davies, 69, is leading the campaign - while his wife Trudy's home baking skills are among the weapons being used to rally support near MoD Corsham in Wiltshire

'A sleepy little village where people have retired to expecting a quiet rural life, could easily become a sprawling top security town.'

And he welcomed any comparisons to Osman's fictional characters, saying: 'We most definitely are Thursday Murder Club detectives and happy to be viewed as a group of silly old pensioners with too much time on their hands.

'But our campaign has already halted the scheme by about a year so we're not going down without a fight.'

Disused MoD land on the outskirts of nearby town Corsham is also the headquarters of Crown Hosting Data Centres, a joint venture between the Cabinet Office and US-owned ARK which has six huge data centres on the site.

The plans submitted by the company for the seventh building is the first outside former military land on an 18-acre site known locally as 'Donkey Field' in the heart of Westwells - close to a retirement apartment complex which is home to 250 residents.

Since the campaign started, there have been more than 1,000 objections to the application, with ARK since resubmitting plans and adding new assurances about the flood risk and local bat species protection.

The facility is already known for its underground tunnels, codenamed Burlington, designed to host the entire British government if a Russian nuclear strike hit London.

Today it serves as the military's cyber headquarters, where staff are vetted and the centres cleared to host classified data up to the level of 'top secret'.

The fight is on to stop another data centre being built in a field in the village of Westwells

Retired district nurse Trudy, 70, NWAG's self-styled 'people person' and Mr Davies's wife, has been persuading local residents to oppose the development - and insists her home baking talents are playing a part.

She said: 'My scones are probably my forte at campaign meetings and just knocking on doors in the local village and explaining the risks of the scheme has been rewarding because most people had no idea what was happening.'

She claims contractors linked to ARK have 'sacrificed' the land to convince the planning authorities it is a brownfield site.

She added: 'Just a few weeks ago, there were beautiful flowers - now they've cut back the site to make it look like land that needs developing.'

The professional expertise of Mr Davies, a marine and flooding expert, former Army Colonel and Corsham Town councillor Victor Steadman and retired accountant Peter Clarke are said to have boosted the campaign efforts.

Another group member, recruitment consultant Natalie Williams, has researched local archives to find underground maps and its substandard drainage facilities.

Her findings show the maze of mine shafts and military facilities is far more extensive than many locals realise.

Mr Steadman, 69, said only about half the retirement complex residents knew about the development plans as letters that went to them described the plans as an extension.

Stars of the recent Netflix adaptation of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series include (left to right) Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan and Celia Imrie

Richard Osman, former co-presenter of BBC show Pointless, has become a bestselling novelist

He added: 'The implication was that this was simply like someone having a conservatory put up which made me call a public meeting to get our own Thursday Murder Club formed.

'To find a huge industrial building was being planned right on our doorstep was shocking.

'We also realised how many people are going to hear the large industrial roof fans that are already blighting people's lives from the previously built data centres.'

Mr Clarke, 64, said 'The tonal noise from the cooling fans on the existing data centre pointing towards my house drive me and everyone else mad - it's pretty constant from 3am or 4am, especially in the summer.'

While no one from ARK responded to a Daily Mail requests for comment, a company spokesman has previously said sustainability was at the heart of the project.

They added: 'We are committed to preserving habitats for native wildlife, ensuring biodiversity thrives alongside our buildings through conservation initiatives that include bat corridors and caves as well as beehives, badger setts.'
Vladimir Putin has unveiled a terrifying new weapon that could, in theory, wipe America's coast off the map.

It's called Poseidon  a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed super torpedo. And it's being described as the most fearsome device Russia has ever built.

Military analysts say it can cruise through oceans for thousands of miles, undetected, before exploding near shorelines and unleashing radioactive tidal waves that could drown cities like New York or Los Angeles in toxic water.

Russian state TV has already bragged that it could 'plunge Britain to the depths of the sea.'

Now, after fresh Russian tests, President Donald Trump has ordered the US military to restart nuclear weapon testing for the first time in 33 years.

The Cold War is back  and this time, it's underwater.

Putin, the Russian president, couldn't resist bragging. Over tea and cakes at a Moscow hospital with soldiers wounded in Ukraine, the Russian leader announced that his country had successfully tested the weapon earlier this week.

'For the first time, we managed not only to launch it from a carrier submarine,' he said proudly, 'but also to activate its nuclear power unit.'

The weapon can trigger tsunamis, like the one that ravaged this resort in southern Thailand

Then came the line that sent shivers down Washington's spine.

'There is nothing like this,' Putin declared. 'There is no way to intercept it.'

He wasn't exaggerating.

The Poseidon  named after the ancient Greek god of the sea  is said to be 20 meters long, nearly two meters wide and to weigh a staggering 100 tons. It can travel 6,200 miles and move at roughly 115 miles per hour deep underwater, where few sensors can track it.

The device is also designed to carry a two-megaton thermonuclear warhead, enough to flatten Manhattan and send a wall of radioactive seawater miles inland.

In NATO circles, it's known as 'Kanyon.'

Russia's largest submarine, the Belgorod, can carry six of them. Another, the Khabarovsk, is reportedly being built for the same purpose.

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and Putin's loyal deputy, has called it a 'true doomsday weapon.'

Experts are divided  but most agree the Poseidon represents a sinister twist in modern warfare.

Russia's Belgorod nuclear submarine can carry six of the dreaded 'doomsday' torpedoes

The Poseidon is one of Putin's biggest chips in nuclear brinkmanship with Trump

Jeffrey Lewis, a respected scholar at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, summed it up bluntly.

'It's downright terrifying,' he wrote in Foreign Policy. 'We're talking about a massive, megaton-sized thermonuclear weapon designed to produce significant, long-lasting radiation effects.'

He warned that such a 'dirty thermonuclear device' could be the kind of weapon terrorists would dream of stealing.

Christopher A Ford, a former US Assistant Secretary of State, said the weapon could 'inundate US coastal cities with radioactive tsunamis.'

And Britain's own spy chief, Lieutenant General James Hockenhull, warned that Poseidon's 'global reach' means it could strike 'from unexpected directions.'

In Washington, the news sent shockwaves through the Pentagon.

On Thursday, President Trump, currently in South Korea for a meeting with China's Xi Jinping, took to Truth Social to deliver his response.

'Because of other countries' testing programs,' Trump wrote, 'I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately.'

Then came the boast: 'Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.'

Russia immediately denied any recent nuclear tests, insisting its Poseidon trials did not involve live warheads.

The Poseidon is said to be 20 meters long, nearly two meters wide and to weigh a staggering 100 tons

'Until now, we didn't know that anyone was testing,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

But few in Washington are convinced.

Russia's military has conducted three major nuclear-related tests in a single week  a nuclear-powered cruise missile on October 21, readiness drills on October 22 and the Poseidon torpedo test on October 28.

That's enough to rattle nerves in the West  and, apparently, to jolt Trump into action.

Not everyone believes Poseidon changes the global balance of power.

Jim Mattis, Trump's former Defense Secretary, once dismissed Putin's grandstanding as 'election rhetoric.'

Speaking in 2018, Mattis said the new systems 'do not change the military balance,' since both Russia and the US have long been capable of annihilating each other's cities many times over.

But even skeptics admit the psychological impact is enormous.

'It's a terror weapon,' Ford said in 2022. 'It's designed to kill or traumatize the inhabitants of American coastal cities.'

The idea of a nuclear drone torpedo lurking unseen beneath the waves, capable of traveling from the Barents Sea to the Hudson River, is nightmare fuel for strategists everywhere.

For Putin, the Poseidon is more than just a weapon. It's a symbol.

Since the US pulled out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2001 and began expanding NATO eastward, Moscow has been obsessed with proving it can still strike back.

It can travel 6,200 miles and move at roughly 115 miles per hour deep underwater

When Putin first revealed Poseidon and the Burevestnik cruise missile in 2018, he called them a direct response to 'Western aggression.'

The Burevestnik and Poseidon tests are intended to send a clear message that Russia, in Putin's words, will never bow to Western pressure over the war in Ukraine.

In 2022, Russian state TV presenter Dmitry Kiselyov illustrated exactly what Poseidon could do.

On live television, he showed computer animations of the torpedo slamming into Britain's coastline.

A vast wave rose up, sweeping over the country and 'plunging Britain to the depths of the sea,' he said, turning the island into a 'radioactive desert.'

It was pure propaganda  but the imagery stuck.

The notion of a weapon that could wipe out entire coastlines in minutes, leaving behind poisoned water and ruined cities, is enough to make any leader sit up straight.

Poseidon may never actually be used. Most experts believe it's mainly a deterrent  a warning shot in the ongoing game of nuclear brinkmanship. But its arrival marks the dawn of a new era: one of autonomous underwater warfare, where silent, self-powered drones could deliver apocalyptic destruction.

Lewis called it 'the stuff of nightmares,' and in a world where Putin and Trump are once again flexing their nuclear muscles, nightmares suddenly feel a little too real.
The idea of a benevolent outlaw who steals from the rich to give to the poor is one that many, especially in these straitened times, might feel like they can get behind.

And, for centuries, no figure has summed up that description better than Robin Hood, the majestic hero who stands up to the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham.

Depicted dozens of times on the big and small screen, the latest iteration begins on TV this weekend.

Starring Australian actor Jack Patten as the eponymous hero, Sean Bean as the Sheriff and former Hollyoaks actress Lauren McQueen as heroine Maid Marian, the new Robin Hood series is airing in the UK on streaming platform MGM+.

So what's the truth behind the ongoing obsession with our favourite outlaw?

One of the earliest written references to a Robin Hood figure was by medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who referred to the 'haselwode where joly Robyn played'.

Some experts believe he could have had his origins in the pagan fertility figure the Green Man, stories of whom date back to the fourth century.

However, besides Chaucer's mention, there is virtually no trace of the Robin Hood of the popular imagination in medieval texts and archives.

Errol Flynn as the eponymous hero in The Adventures of Robin Hood, the 1938 film that remains a classic

A 15th century print of Robin Hood on horseback. The idea of a benevolent outlaw who steals from the rich to give to the poor is one that many, especially in these straitened times, might feel like they can get behind

At Yorkshire's Kirklees Priory, a nearby monument rather dubiously claims to be Robin Hood's final resting place. Today it is surrounded by rusted iron railings erected in the Victorian era

A man called Robin Hood is recorded as having been a servant of the Abbot of Cirencester in the 13th century. He is said to have killed a man in 1216.

But this Robin was from Gloucestershire, not Nottingham.

There was another Robin Hood in County Durham. But records show he was law abiding.

Another outlaw figure, Robert of Wetherby, was described as an 'outlaw and evil-doer of our land'. He was pursued by the Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1225.

After being captured, he was hanged. That story does not chime with the mythical Robin, who is said to have died in his bed.

The first substantial account of him to appear in printed form was a ballad titled A Geste of Robyne Hood and his Meiny.

Published in around 1500, it entertained with tales about Robin, Little John and the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham.

The eight-part story concluded with the King coming to Sherwood Forest in disguise and Robin then being royally pardoned.

Starring Australian actor Jack Patten as the eponymous hero, the new Robin Hood series is airing in the UK on streaming platform MGM+

Sean Bean as the Sheriff of Nottingham in the new Robin Hood TV series

But the ballad also included the single line: 'He did pore men much good'.

That prompted the idea of a do-gooder outlaw who steals from the rich to give to the poor, despite there being no solid evidence to back up the existence of such a figure.

A few years later, Scottish historian John Major referred in his History Of Great Britain: 'Those most famous robbers Robert Hood and Little John, who lay in wait in the woods, but spoiled of their goods only those who were wealthy.'

And at Yorkshire's Kirklees Priory, a nearby monument rather dubiously claims to be Robin Hood's final resting place.

Today it is surrounded by rusted iron railings erected in the Victorian era.

There are some real people who could have helped inspire the Robin Hood myth.

One was the mysterious Hereward the Wake. The Anglo-Saxon hero defied the Normans after William the Conqueror's invasion in 1066.

Another was Fulk FitzWarin, an outlaw in the Welsh borders who had refused to accept King John's ruling on an inheritance dispute.

He ended up being one of the barons who forced the reviled John into signing the Magna Carta at Runneymede in 1215.

The famed document limited the powers of the monarch and is celebrated to this day.

An illustration of Robin Hood being thanked after his heroics

A third figure was Eustace the Monk, who took up arms against King John from his refuge in a forest whilst, like Robin, wearing a disguise.

Travellers he held up would be allowed to go free with what they were carrying if they were honest about how much money they had.

In his 2010 book Robin Hood: The English Outlaw Unmasked, author David Baldwin outlined his theory that an outlaw called Roger Godberd was the closest real figure to the celebrated legend.

He led a gang that committed burglaries and murders in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Wiltshire in the late 13th century.

A warrant calling for his arrest said he had carried out 'so many and great homicides and robberies that no one could pass through those parts without being taken or spoiled of his goods'.

Godberd won himself a royal pardon after blaming his misdeeds on the civil conflicts ravaging England at the time.

However, the theory that Godberd was the real Hood falls down on the fact that he was roving as an outlaw more than 50 years after the reigns of King Richard and King John, when most of the Robin Hood tales are set.

The Robin Hood story has been dramatised on dozens of occasions on screen.

Kevin Costner as the eponymous hero in 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Most famously, Errol Flynn played the outlaw in the 1938 film The Adventures of Robin Hood.

The production remains a much-loved classic.

The 1991 adaptation Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starred Kevin Costner as the rebel figure, whilst Morgan Freeman portrayed the newly-invented character of Azeem.

The film received renewed attention in recent years because it featured the beloved Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland, which was cut down by vandals in 2023.

Ridley Scott's 2010 film, which starred Russell Crowe as the eponymous hero received mixed reviews from critics.

Some maligned Crowe's attempt at an English accent, saying it sounded Irish.

As for TV renditions, Richard Green's depiction in the 1950s was a fan favourite.

The new production is airing in the UK on streaming platform MGM+
He's the poster boy for Sydney's eshay subculture - all tracksuits, tough talk and street cred.

Yet Spanian's latest transformation - and the public debut of a much younger girlfriend - has loyal fans questioning his authenticity.

These days, Spanian - real name Anthony Lees - looks more like a dime-a-dozen Bondi influencer than a bloke who spent 13 years in prison and later made a fortune marketing himself on YouTube as a reformed street philosopher.

The 37-year-old ex-crim has stunned fans with his dramatic new look - including a nose job and a full set of porcelain veneers - prompting longtime loyalists to wonder if he's had a 'complete personality transplant' too.

But it's not just his appearance turning off his fans. Just weeks ago, Spanian confirmed his split from wife Angela McColl, the mother of his five-month-old son, who has hinted at sharing her side of the story.

He has since debuted his new relationship with 22-year-old Sydney woman Ava Jean Walker, posting a cosy Snapchat photo with the Harbour Bridge glittering behind them.

'I'm in the news because I have a beautiful new missus,' Spanian bragged online.

'I get a girlfriend, I'm in the news. I break up with my ex-wife, I'm in the news. I love that I'm extremely relevant.'

Anthony Lees, who creates content on social media under the name 'Spanian', has debuted his youthful new girlfriend (both pictured) after splitting from his wife of two years

Spanian 'hard-launched' his new girlfriend Ava Jean Walker on social media

Only a handful of photos showing the couple together have appeared on TikTok and Snapchat

Spanian said in another video he was 'clearly separated' from Angela and that it was a simple case of two people changing and 'fall[ing] out of love'.

'She thought it would be better if we separated and I lived here, and I did,' he said.

While he boasts of his 'extreme' relevance, not everyone is cheering him on.

Once praised for his gritty authenticity, fans now say Spanian has become 'unrecognisable' - both in looks and attitude.

'He's had the nose done, the veneers, and now he's dating someone who looks [so much] younger,' one fan commented on TikTok, a sentiment echoed across dozens of posts.

'This isn't the Spanian people followed. He's let the fame and money go to his head.'

Others took aim at the age gap.

'He needs to leave that poor girl alone, it's embarrassing,' one follower wrote.

Fans have pointed out how drastically Spanian has changed since finding fame. He has a five-month-old baby boy with estranged wife Angela McColl (right), whom he married in 2023

Angela suggested she would talk about her marriage breakdown on social media 'shortly'

The backlash risks spilling over into his food business, with some fans threatening to boycott his Spanian's Kebabs chain, which has locations in Sydney and Melbourne.

The image problem couldn't come at a worse time for Spanians Kebabs, which is gearing up to launch on Newtowns ultra-competitive King Street - a brutal strip where eateries often fail fast, including the sites previous tenant, Mr Potato.

'He used to be about the streets - now he's just another influencer flogging food,' one critic posted in a popular TikTok comment.

This follows a major setback earlier in the year, when arsonists torched one of his Melbourne trucks just days before its Preston grand opening.

Firefighters were called to the scene after the trailer was doused in accelerant and set on fire.

These days, Spanian looks more like a Bondi influencer than a bloke who spent 13 years in prison and made a fortune marketing himself on YouTube as a reformed street philosopher

Spanian brushed off the attack, claiming it was 'the biggest turnout we've ever had'.

The YouTuber spent 13 years in prison for robbery, assaults and drug offences before reinventing himself as a social media personality with more than a million followers, posting videos about Sydney's 'notorious neighbourhoods' and his streetwise redemption story.

But in the wake of his cosmetic procedures and newfound influencer lifestyle, many of his biggest fans fear he's lost the raw edge that made him famous in the first place.

'He was the voice of the streets,' one wrote. 'Now he looks like he's trying to join the cast of Love Island.'

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General Phan Van Giang, Vietnam's Minister of National Defense, and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth agreed to strengthen defense cooperation in fields including war legacy remediation and cybersecurity during the latter's official visit to Vietnam from Nov. 23.

General Phan Van Giang (L), Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth review an honor guard in Hanoi, Nov. 2, 2025. Photo by Hoang An

The two sides held talks in Hanoi on Nov. 2, during which Giang emphasized that Hegseths visit carries great significance as it takes place during the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the U.S. (19952025). The visit, he said, contributes to further strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development between the two countries, as well as their bilateral defense ties.



Both sides noted that bilateral defense cooperation has been implemented in line with the directions of high-ranking leaders of the two countries and ministries, as well as with the signed documents and agreements, including the 2011 Memorandum of Understanding on promoting bilateral defense cooperation and the 2024 updated VietnamU.S. joint vision statement on defense cooperation. The two sides have achieved positive results in areas such as delegation exchanges at all levels; regular dialogue and consultation mechanisms; cooperation in training, United Nations peacekeeping operations, military medicine, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and defense industry; as well as coordination in regional multilateral frameworks, especially the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+).



Giang expressed appreciation for the U.S. support in providing English language and professional training for Vietnamese military personnel, including in UN peacekeeping operations, through courses, workshops and conferences both in Vietnam and abroad. He noted that the equipment and facilities provided by the U.S. have significantly contributed to enhancing Vietnams capacity in UN peacekeeping operations.



The host underscored that cooperation in war consequence remediation remains a highlight in bilateral defense ties, backed by strong commitments from high-ranking leaders of both countries in key areas.



Giang highly valued the U.S.s announcement of an additional US$130 million to the Bien Hoa dioxin clean-up project, raising its total non-refundable aid from $300 million to $430 million. He also noted the recent signing of an MoU on strengthening Vietnam-U.S. cooperation in this field, marking an important milestone in the efforts.



Joint operations to recover remains of U.S. service members missing in action (MIA) in Vietnam have been effective, with 160 joint missions completed and 994 cases of remains repatriated, 740 of which have been identified.



Vietnam also appreciated the U.S. sharing of information and support in locating Vietnamese soldiers missing during the war. Since the 2021 memorandum of understanding on this cooperation, Vietnamese authorities have verified 44 of 45 information files received from the US and continue active search efforts.



Giang expressed his wish that the U.S. would continue assisting Vietnam in training and developing high-quality human resources, as well as sharing experience in cybersecurity. He affirmed that Vietnam is ready to welcome U.S. officers to study the Vietnamese language and attend international defense officers courses in the country.



The minister called on the U.S. to continue assisting Vietnam in strengthening its capacity for bomb and mine clearance and addressing chemical contamination. He also urged the U.S. to complete internal procedures to ensure the implementation of the agreed non-refundable aid sources, including the above-said additional budget of $130 million.



At the same time, he called for continued cooperation in the search for Vietnamese soldiers who died or went missing during the war. Giang said Vietnam is committed to maintaining close coordination and creating the most favorable conditions for MIA activities to achieve the highest possible results.



The minister appreciated the participation of senior U.S. defense officials and advanced defense equipment in the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024, contributing to the success of the event. He noted that Vietnam plans to hold the third edition of the expo in late 2026, and invited Hegseth and other officials from the U.S. Department of War, and U.S. defense enterprises to continue their support and participation.



Hegseth affirmed that his visit underscores the importance of the bilateral defense relationship, in line with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.



Emphasizing that cooperation in addressing war legacies remains a top priority in overall VietnamU.S. defense relations, contributing to building trust between the two countries, their armies, and people, Hegseth said the U.S. supports a peaceful and prosperous Vietnam and is committed to advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.



The two sides exchanged views on global and regional developments and issues of mutual concern. To further strengthen defense cooperation, they agreed to focus on key areas, including delegation exchanges at all levels; effective implementation of existing dialogue and consultation mechanisms; cooperation in war legacy remediation, military branches, defense industry, training, military medicine, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, cybersecurity, and UN peacekeeping; and coordination in multilateral defense frameworks, particularly within the ADMM+.



At the end of the talks, they exchanged wartime mementoes.
Locals in Surrey are furious at the news that the county will be split into two, creating a 'posh and poor' divide.

They believe it would only increase apparent unfairness and a social divide in the county, which would make their lives harder.

The authority, founded in 1889, will be divided into East Surrey and West Surrey and the 11 district councils in the area will be abolished under Angela Rayner's proposals to shake up local government.

On the one side will be Spelthorne - the district containing Ali G's famed hometown Staines and suffering below-average employment figures.

On the other will be well-to-do Reigate, which will join other areas such as Elmbridge, Tandridge and the Mole Valley to make up East Surrey.

Spelthorne residents are up in arms that the district would now come under West Surrey, alongside Woking and Runnymede.

Spelthorne suffered years of ridicule since comic Sacha Baron Cohen decided to make it the home of the character creation. In 2012, it changed its name to the more upmarket Staines-upon-Thames.

Statistics show Spelthorne's employment rate was lower than across the South East as a whole in the year ending December 2023.

Spelthorne includes the market town of Staines. Once made famous for being the home of the character Ali G, Spelthorne will now come under West Surrey, alongside Woking and Runnymede

Meanwhile, the more affluent Reigate (pictured), considered the most upmarket part of the county, will join other areas such as Elmbridge, Tandridge and the Mole Valley to make up East Surrey

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Of people aged 16 to 64 years living in Spelthorne, 74.3 per cent were employed in the year ending December 2023. This is a decrease compared with the year ending December 2022 when the local rate was 79.9 per cent.

Across the South East in the year ending December 2023, 79.3 per cent of people aged 16 to 64 years were employed. This was higher compared with the previous year, when 78.1 per cent of people were employed.

The average house price for Spelthorne was 450,000 in August 2025, an increase from 439,000 in the previous year.

In contrast, the average house price for Surrey is much higher at 587,000.

According to Rightmove, average house prices in Reigate reached an overall average of 656,141 over the last year.

Meanwhile, detached properties in the town, which is located on the main trainline to London and is popular with commuters, went for as much as 1,156,638.

All figures place the whole area well above the average house price for Britain as a whole, which is 296,000, according to the UK House Price Index.

Spelthorne's borough council, which soon will cease to exist under the new format, is controlled by councillors from the Independent Spelthorne Group, Liberal Democrats, Labour, and Green Party.

Other areas in Surrey are also controlled by the Liberal Democrats.

Staines-upon-Thames is served by a relatively busy high street, which includes a market. There are independent shops and the usual high street choices like Caffe Nero and pubs, restaurants and charity shops.

However, a number of units are empty on the main high street.

Margaret Davison, 74, who has lived in Ashford all her life, said: 'It feels like a waste of time to me. Why not focus on the issues we have at the moment like the need for more affordable housing for hardworking families. Or the huge wait at doctors surgeries or how the transport network needs improvement.

'I cannot see the benefits. Spelthorne is absolutely fine. It's safe and there's jobs but I do feel like there's some inequality in the county of Surrey.

'I'm trying not to sound negative, things could be a lot worse. But I fear this will just make us the poorer relation. Larger councils mean less of a personal touch. feel quite well connected to my council. When I have had pothole issues, I have reported them and they repair them. Why change it?

'I fear it is some sort of plan to get more Labour voters. Especially if it was Labour's idea. This area is in a bit of a mess politically, everyone seems like they're in charge.'

Staines locals were also unhappy with the idea.

John Stevens, 74 and his wife, Trish, 70, both disagreed.

John Stevens, 74 and his wife, Trish, 70, both disagreed saying it 'feels like a wasted chance to actually make a difference'

Staines-upon-Thames is served by a relatively busy high street, which includes a market

There are also independent shops and the usual high street choices like Caffe Nero and pubs, restaurants and charity shops

John said: 'It seems like it's just rearranging furniture. Nobody has actually communicated the wider benefits or what is the point of it all.

'It feels like a wasted chance to actually make a difference. I don't really believe this idea of a divide. But I suppose this could create one.

'I can't grumble about living here, it's pleasant.'

Trish added: 'We've never had any problems.'

Builder Mark Guthrie, 56, said he feared becoming a 'poor relation'.

He said: 'I'd like to study the evidence that a larger council rather than a series of smaller ones is a good idea. Surely the issues we face here in Staines are going to be very different to other parts. Surely a wider area of ground to cover is harder?

'I fear here on the east we will become a poor relation. It's a pleasant place to live. If you move to Staines thinking it's Monte Carlo then you need your head testing. But on the whole it's got everything I need and all my family live here.'

David Hinton, 68, said he also enjoyed living in the area.

He said: 'There's always improvements that could be made but I feel lucky to live here really.'

David Hinton, 68, said he also enjoyed living in the area but admitted that there are 'always improvements that could be made'

Reigate, the historic market town where average household incomes reached up to 47,500 in 2023, will become part of the 'mega council' of East Surrey.

Jack Bell, 22, from nearby Banstead, questioned why Reigate should become part of a bigger local authority when the town is seemingly doing better than other areas.

He said: 'Reigate is a really nice town. I think it is one of the nicest towns left in the area.

'The councils don't seem to be doing a very good job in other areas of Surrey. There is one borough which is in a lot of debt.

'I don't understand why we would want to go and join the others.'

Meanwhile, Sarah who moved to Reigate from Croydon four years ago, raised concerns that the changes would see her council tax increase.

She said: 'My main concern is that we will take on other councils' debt.

'I fear there may be council tax hikes as a result and that would be really frustrating for me.

'I hope the changes do not impact the good work that they already do here in Reigate and Banstead.'

The government confirmed this week that as part of the deal, the Treasury would cover the majority of Woking's debt, which was effectively declared bankrupt two years ago.

Reigate, the historic market town where average household incomes reached up to 47,500 in 2023, will become part of the 'mega council' of East Surrey

Jack Bell, 22, from nearby Banstead, questioned why Reigate should become part of a bigger local authority when the town is seemingly doing better than other areas

A recent analysis found that Woking's debt pile, at more than 2billion, was equivalent to more than 20,000 per person.

Speaking of what it is like to live in the area, Sarah, who did not want to share her surname, added: 'Reigate is a really safe town, it is lovely around here.

'I have been here nearly four years and I love it. I came from Croydon so moving from there to here is a massive step. The high street is normally absolutely rammed.'

Concerns about increased council tax were reiterated by the Conservative leader of Reigate and Banstead council, Richard Biggs who blasted Rayner's plans as 'absolutely unfair'.

'Why should our residents suffer when we have been sensible and cautious?,' he said in comments last month when the plans were still being finalised.

Reigate and Banstead Council has been under Conservative control since 2000 and the market town is represented by a Tory member of parliament.

Local elections for the new local authority of East Surrey will be held next May and the council will become operational in 2027.

Residents and business owners, however, have raised concerns that the restructure will make councillors even more distant from their local communities.

Emilia Hunt, who owns an independent homeware store in Reigate town centre, said she fears she will get less from her council as a result of the changes.

She said: 'The proposals for the council seem like a money thing, but I feel like I will get less from my council because of it.

'Reigate and Banstead Council have been brilliant for me as a small business. I have got several grants from them over the years.

'It will be less personal [going forwards], there are people at the council that I know personally but that won't be the case anymore.

'It is not a corporate council [Reigate], it is not about money, it is about helping people, which in turn makes the town grow.

'Instead of stripping the money back and letting people fail and the town fail, they have actively encouraged businesses.'

Emilia Hunt, who owns an independent homeware store in Reigate town centre, said she fears she will get less from her council as a result of the changes

According to Rightmove, average house prices in Reigate reached an overall average of 656,141 over the last year

Pictured: A general view of shops in the affluent town of Reigate

Speaking of the proposed new council areas, Ms Hunt said: 'I've seen the map of Surrey being divided into two and it just looks a bit severe.

'It doesn't feel me with utter dread and it doesn't fill me with joy either.'

The owner of clothes store, Tortanini, described Reigate as an 'affulent town' with not much crime.

He said: 'It is a great town, it is very friendly. It is a nice town to live in.

'The business is steady and it is quite an affluent town, which is great. There is not much crime.

'I think the changes are all about the cost. We do not know what the impact will be until it becomes more official.'

Meanwhile, David Hoare, the owner of Attic, an independent shop in Reigate town centre, said: 'Reigate is an affluent market town but it is becoming quieter.

'All the shopkeepers are saying there are less customers than there has been for a while.

'Obviously there are online sales. I think parking costs are putting people off. Reigate is suffering a little bit.

'I can't say whether the new proposals would create a divide in Surrey,' he added.

'But I do think reducing the number of councils would be a problem. It would be less personal.'
Taxpayers are furious after it emerged luxury foods including $145 caviar and $50 olive oil are available to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries.

The federal program, also known as food stamps, mainly helps make sure children have food to eat, and it covers purchases of all fresh foods, including fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy products, and more.

But many have been stunned to learn that high-end goods such as lobster tail and wagyu beef are also being subsidized through the program, which costs the government roughly $8billion a month.

Economic analyst Amy Nixon highlighted the gourmet goods currently available for purchase using an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card on Amazon.

'Why are our tax dollars subsidizing lobster for SNAP recipients?' the economic analyst wrote on X. 'The median income taxpayer is cutting coupons for ground beef. They only dream of buying fresh lobster.'

She posted a photo showing a single Lobster Tail available for $9.99 through Whole Foods Market, which is partnered with Amazon.

Other items that are available under SNAP include a nearly $51 can of Filippo Berio Pure Olive Oil on Amazon, Barrier Island Oysters for $1 a piece, $145 Caviar Russe Osetra, and $67.23 Wagyu Strip Steaks weighing less than a pound at Wegmans.

'Allowing a government benefit program to cover high-end items like caviar, lobster, and filet mignon provides incentive for fraudulent applications and abuse, which both stigmatizes and jeopardizes the integrity of the entire program,' Nixon told the Daily Mail.

Amy Nixon took to X to complain that SNAP beneficiaries could use their benefits to purchase luxury food items, such as lobster tail

Some items available for SNAP is $145 caviar at Wegmans

Nixon said she has no hatred towards 'poor people,' but rather that she believes the government program is 'wasteful' due to being 'loosely audited.'

'As an economist, I look for the most efficient way to achieve the objectives of public sector programs.

'The objective of SNAP is supplemental NUTRITION assistance,' she said. How can we best get nutritious, nourishing foods into the hands of vulnerable people who need them, while discouraging fraud and abuse in the system?

'While lobster tails are a whole, nutritious food, at $40 per pound, it means the remainder of meals for the month will be meager nutritional vacuums, like ramen noodles, or even skipped.

Nixon believes that the best way forward is for the program to 'provide access to healthy, whole foods that have an economical ratio of macros per dollar cost.'

'This enables families in need to feed their children nutritious meals throughout the entire month, satiating hunger and maintaining steady energy levels so they can focus in school, play sports, and ultimately feel their best every day,' she told the Daily Mail.

While many agreed with Nixon's post, others pointed out that the SNAP recipients are within their rights to spend their benefit as they choose.

'Fascinating that we are now justifying that poor people shouldnt get to eat lobster,' Dr Danish Nagda, founder of Rezilient Health replied.

President Donald Trump hands out candy to children ahead of SNAP being cut off on Saturday. SNAP has come to the forefront of Americans' minds as 42 million are set to lose their benefits on November 1 as the US government remains shut down

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Nixon said: 'While lobster tails are a whole, nutritious food, at $40 per pound, it means the remainder of meals for the month will be meager nutritional vacuums, like ramen noodles, or even skipped'

SNAP beneficiaries can also purchase wagyu beef with their benefits. In the latest Department of Agriculture (USDA) data, 41,735,210 Americans were on SNAP benefits in May 2025, accounting for roughly 22.4 million households

'This is honestly a bit sad to see folks look down on people like this. Who cares how they spend their fixed SNAP budget?'

Amazon and its partners started accepting SNAP in 2017. Those with EBT, the card used to purchase SNAP items, can also enjoy 50 percent off Amazon's grocery delivery subscription, which costs $9.99 a month at full price, and a Prime membership.

There are some stipulations to the program, recipients cannot purchase pet food, beer, wine, or liquor, food or drinks containing CBD, or food that are sold hot, such as a rotisserie chicken.

Latest Department of Agriculture (USDA) data indicates 41,735,210 Americans received SNAP benefits in May 2025, accounting for roughly 22.4 million households.

The average benefit per beneficiaries was $188.45 per month, costing taxpayers $7.8billion in the month of May.

In the 2024 fiscal year, the government spent $99.8billion on SNAP that went out to 41.7 million people, averaging $187.20 a month.

Many of the states with the highest number of participants are in the South or in high-cost-of-living states like New York and California.

The states with the most SNAP recipients in the 2024 fiscal year were Oregon, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Washington DC.

The average benefit per beneficiaries was $188.45 per month, costing taxpayers $7.8billion in the month of May

Oysters are also available through SNAP. The program, also known as food stamps, covers purchases of all fresh foods, including fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy products, and more

In 2023, 38.8 percent of beneficiaries were children. The largest category was adults aged 18 to 59, accounting for 41.6 percent. Seniors accounted for 11.1 percent.

SNAP has come to the forefront of Americans' minds as 42 million are set to lose their benefits on November 1 amid the ongoing US government shut down.

On Friday, two federal judges ruled nearly simultaneously that President Donald Trump's administration must continue to pay for SNAP using emergency reserve funds, however disruption to the benefit is still anticipated for many.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) could be similarly impacted as early as next week.

WIC is a specialized food assistance program geared toward pregnant women, new mothers, and young children.

The Trump administration has already rerouted $300million in proceeds from tariff revenue to provide additional funding to keep the program afloat after previously allocated funds were scheduled to run out earlier in October.

Amid the political dysfunction in Washington DC which many fear could lead to the longest government shutdown in history, some governors, particularly in red states, have decided to step up and provide food benefits.

Governors of Virginia, Vermont, and Louisiana have 'pledged to backfill food aid for recipients even while the shutdown stalls the federal program, though state-level details havent been announced,' per the Associated Press.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, both Democrats, have made moves to stock up food banks across their states.

A nearly $51 tin of olive oil is also available to be purchased with SNAP on Amazon. There are some stipulations to the program, such as recipients cannot purchase pet food, alcohol, food or drinks containing CBD, or food that are sold hot, such as a rotisserie chicken.

Hochul noted Monday that she planned to fast-track $30million in emergency food assistance, and Newsom is making $80million available, as well as sending the National Guard to help run food banks.

The Trump Administration has noted that states that choose to spend money on their food programs will not be reimbursed for their actions.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Nixon, SNAP, and the USDA for comment.
San Francisco officials are demanding answers after learning that dangerous levels of radiation were detected at the city's former naval shipyard nearly a year ago - but that no one told them until now.

Air filters at the decommissioned Hunters Point Naval Shipyard revealed plutonium contamination in November 2024.

It means the radiation levels are more than twice the Environmental Protection Agency's 'action level,' the threshold requiring immediate safety steps.

In a blistering letter sent to the US Navy, San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip accused federal officials of failing to alert the city after the health department only learned about the plutonium last month, nearly a year after it was first detected.

'The City and County of San Francisco is deeply concerned by both the magnitude of this exceedance and the failure to provide timely notification,' Dr. Philip wrote in the letter obtained by Mission Local.

'Such a delay undermines our ability to safeguard public health and maintain transparency. Immediate notification is a regulatory requirement and is critical for ensuring community trust and safety.'

According to Dr. Philip, the contamination was discovered when workers grinding asphalt during field operations captured plutonium particles in an air filter.

The revelation has sparked anger and fear in a city long haunted by the toxic legacy of the Hunters Point site - once a major naval repair facility and radiation testing ground during World War II and the Cold War.

The base was shuttered in 1974 yet decades later, cleanup efforts have been dogged by scandal, falsified soil tests, and persistent health concerns among nearby residents.

San Francisco officials are demanding answers after learning dangerous levels of plutonium were detected at the city's former naval shipyard nearly a year ago but nothing was said

The San Francisco Health Department has accused federal officials of failing to alert the city after air filters at the decommissioned Hunters Point Naval Shipyard revealed plutonium contamination in November 2024

San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip aid the city's Department of Public Health only learned of the plutonium finding in October nearly a year after it was first detected

Concerns now surround the radioactive isotope Pu-239 - with a half-life of more than 24,000 years - that can emit radiation for millennia and is among the most hazardous materials handled by the US military.

'Plutonium exposure can be dangerous because its half-life is so long,' Philip wrote, warning that even small airborne particles can pose risks if inhaled or ingested.

Health experts say the discovery in an air filter is particularly alarming.

'One of the ways people can ingest plutonium is through breathing it in,' said Dr. Matt Willis, a public health physician and epidemiologist, in an interview with SFGate.

'And in that case, it would lodge in the airways and can stay there for years and emit radioactive particles that, over time, can contribute to lung cancer risk. That's the worst-case scenario.'

Dr. Philip is furious at the delay to inform the city's Department of Public Health.

Officials say they have not yet received a clear explanation from the Navy as to why the information was withheld.

'The failure to alert us promptly meant the city could not take necessary measures to protect workers and surrounding communities,' Philip wrote.

The radiation levels at Hunter's Point are more than twice the Environmental Protection Agency's 'action level,' the threshold requiring immediate safety steps

The Hunter's Point site was once a major naval repair facility and radiation testing ground during World War II and the Cold War. It was finally shuttered in 1974

Nearby residents to Hunters Point have complained for years of elevated cancer rates and mysterious illnesses, claiming radioactive materials have seeped into the air and groundwater

The Hunters Point Naval Shipyard has long been at the center of environmental controversy.

The site, once used for decontaminating ships exposed to nuclear testing, became so polluted that it was placed on the EPAs Superfund list in 1989.

While part of the area, known as Parcel A, was transferred to the city in 2004 for residential development, other sections, including Parcel C, remain under Navy control. That is where the plutonium was detected last year.

Although the area is not open to the public, the incident has reignited fears that contamination may extend beyond fenced-off zones.

Nearby residents have complained for years of elevated cancer rates and mysterious illnesses, claiming that radioactive materials have seeped into the air and groundwater.

In 2018, a federal review confirmed that portions of the site had been fraudulently cleared as safe by contractors hired by the Navy prompting a massive re-testing effort that continues today.
Fast-food diners ordering deliveries from premium national restaurant brands are being sold meals prepared at budget takeaways, a Mail On Sunday investigation reveals.

Few diners hungry for a 14.75 gyro wrap from Greek cuisine outlet The Athenian, a 16 'Double Taxidriver' from Gourmet Burger Kitchen or an 11.50 Coqfighters 'Nashville Hot' fried chicken burger will realise that their meals may have been pre-cooked and then just reheated at a local burger bar, curry house or chip shop.

Dishes are ordered by customers on apps such as Deliveroo, Just Eat or Uber Eats and delivered in branded packaging to maintain the illusion that they have come straight from the upmarket restaurant's kitchen.

The business model  which is entirely legal  has been developed by franchising company Growth Kitchens.

It licenses premium fast-food brands to takeaways which sell them via delivery apps while offering their own  usually lower-priced  menus to walk-in customers.

The system is causing mounting concern among consumer protection organisations over its lack of transparency, inflated pricing and the undermining of traditional bricks-and-mortar restaurants.

The Mail On Sunday has identified fast-food shops across the country which act as so-called 'dark' or 'ghost' kitchens for high-end chains. According to the Growth Kitchens website, some cook for three or four different brands and 'in many cases the meals can be prepared in two minutes'.

At Uncle Don's Fish & Chips in Warrington, Cheshire, adverts promoted menu items from The Athenian  slogan: 'Like Athens. But here.' A counter assistant said orders could only be placed online through Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber, adding that Coqfighter fried chicken would be available in future.

Reporter Lydia Veljanovski with a Coqfighters chicken burger created at The Little Kebab House in Isle of Dogs, east London

Lots of takeaways only allow dishes to be ordered on apps such as Deliveroo and Just Eats

Asked how the kitchen managed to prepare two types of premium fast food as well as traditional fish and chips, she replied: 'It's like a franchise.'

But she claimed to know nothing about the recipes, ingredients and cooking instructions, insisting that 'the owner deals with all that'.

We later ordered a 12.95 Athenian gyro meal deal from Uncle Don's through Just Eat, taking delivery 30 minutes later nearby in packaging branded with The Athenian's logo.

The price was in sharp contrast to Uncle Don's own fare  spam fritter (2.90), chip barm (3.80), steak pudding (3.70), fish and chips (9.50) and seasoned halloumi (7). It was a similar story in Plymouth where Deliveroo promised all Athenian menu items within 20 to 30 minutes  though the chain has only seven physical restaurants, the nearest of which is 120 miles away in Bristol.

We established that our chosen 14.95 grilled halloumi box, containing four slices of Greek halloumi, pita bread and a handful of chips along with shredded cabbage, red onion and sliced tomato, was being cooked by an Asian curry and burger takeaway calling itself Baba Wok UNO Street Food.

Inside, a young assistant told us that we could order The Athenian's food only via apps. Her own takeaway menu was far cheaper  dishes include chicken curry (6.50), prawn fried rice (7.50), cheeseburger (7.99), boneless wings (6.99) and doner kebab burrito (8).

She said she did not know how the franchise worked but insisted she sourced ingredients and prepared food in line with The Athenian's instructions.

We ordered our halloumi box through Deliveroo, which described the location of her kitchen as Athenian Plymouth. We then watched it being collected from Baba Wok before we received it 200 yards away in an Athenian-branded cardboard box with a receipt marked 'Deliveroo The Athenian'.

Reporter Luke Alsford has a Gourmet Burger Kitchen beef burger delivered by a food delivery service. The burger was prepared and cooked by The Athenian Souvlaki & Gyros in Beckenham, south London

Coqfighter meals were actually prepared by several kitchens, including a waffle and pancake restaurant

Elsewhere, Coqfighters fans in Leatherhead, Surrey, can enjoy all their favourite chicken dishes via delivery apps  tenders (8.50), roast chicken (13.50), wings (10), wraps (8.50) and a chicken sandwich meal for one (18).

The Coqfighters website boasts it comprises 'just three guys and their love for chicken in all its glorious forms'.

In Leatherhead that chicken is cooked by waffle and pancakes specialists Dutch Delights. Its menu includes pancakes (4.99), waffles (7.99), sorbet (6.49) and Biscoff cookie (7.49). Another reporter was able to order a Coqfighters chicken burger over the counter in The Little Kebab House in Isle of Dogs, east London.

In Crawley, West Sussex, our hunt for a Gourmet Burger Kitchen burger took us to the Italian-themed Caramello Coffee & Gelato, which sells its own burgers (from 5.99), fries (1.99), chicken wrap (4.99), chicken burger (5.89) and Coca-Cola (2.99). Ordering similar GBK items at Caramello via a delivery app produced a spike in prices  beef burger (10.95), cheese burger (11.95), burger meal deal including fries and drink (16.45), fries 4.50 and Coca-Cola 3.99.

GBK, part of the Boparan Restaurant Group, describes itself as the 'home of the original gourmet burger since way back in 2001. We've stood up for what burgers were born to be. Juicy, delicious, handcrafted pieces of joy'.

One app delivery driver, who The Mail On Sunday has agreed not to name, told us the Growth Kitchens franchise is hurting local takeaways.

He said: 'Since Covid, ghost kitchens have taken over massively. Brands approach shops promising to provide ingredients and the training, but insist that the shop can't sell their product over the counter  they must use apps.

'This hurts local businesses more than it benefits it. The public thinks it is a physical store, but in reality it is all online.

'A chunk of revenue is being taken out of the local area. A large amount of money goes to the brand, or apps like Deliveroo, rather than the local store.

'The Government will maybe have to intervene on this. If we make a sale of 100 for example, we'll be left with 15 before tax.

'The issue we face is that if a neighbouring takeaway does it, we have to do it. Otherwise we'll be driven out of business.'

The Mail On Sunday assigned reporters as 'mystery shoppers' after it became apparent that Growth Kitchens had sent a 'memo' to franchisees instructing them not to speak to us.

However, Mate Kun, the company's chief executive and co-founder told us customers 'ultimately care' about highly rated reviews, and restaurants which cook fast, deliver on time and ensure all ordered items are present.

He said: 'That is our focus. As long as we deliver that and the food is exactly the same as the brand intended, people will love it.

'We would love to make it even more transparent. It is important people understand where their food is coming from, and I as a consumer would not have any concerns if I knew the food is exactly the same as when I walk into a restaurant. It has just happened to come from a dark kitchen or a place where the brands are being efficiently cooked next to each other by staff members.

'If that is the only way the food can arrive to me if I choose to live in Surrey, where there is a less dense population I would be pretty happy with that.'

The Growth Kitchens website tells franchise-holders: 'Our brands are engineered for delivery operations with simple cooking and negligible food waste.

'They come with bespoke, high-quality ingredients, precooked by us.

'You will just heat and assemble them into the final product. In many cases the meals can be prepared in two minutes.

'Some of our best operators realise that our brands bring larger sales and profits than their own. They tend to cook three to four brands and often choose to open a storefront with one or multiple brands.

'You will be charged a percentage of your sales, exactly the same way as delivery apps charge for your own brand.

'This includes the brand franchise fees and delivery app fees. We handle all payments and you will be paid every week on Friday.'

The Athenian, Coqfighters and Gourmet Burger Kitchen have been contacted for comment.

Additional reporting by Luke Alsford
Hundreds of illegal migrants are secretly sneaking back to the UK just weeks after being given 3,000 in British taxpayers' cash as a bribe to return home, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Our investigation has discovered the migrants are cynically gaming the Home Office's 'Assisted Voluntary Return Scheme' where they are each given a one-off payment and a plane ticket home.

Fixers brazenly offer step-by-step advice on social media detailing how to pocket the money, cheat the system and get back to Britain, openly scorning the UK Government as 'too trusting'.

The MoS investigation shows Brazilians to the forefront of the scam. One man says: 'There are jokers who come back as soon as they set foot in Brazil hahaha!'

This newspaper discovered that:

Social media posts advise illegal migrants to get a new passport when they have returned to Brazil with their cash, fly to the EU and make their way to Ireland, and then back to Britain via Belfast;

One man bragged about how he easily fooled Irish immigration authorities into giving him a five-day tourist visa  and posted photos about how easy it was to get from there back to the UK;

A Brazilian family of four were awarded 12,000 under the scheme to rebuild their house in Brazil, and six months later the father sneaked back into the UK to work illegally as a delivery rider;

One couple used the money to return to Brazil to have their baby, and then slipped back into the UK so the mother could return to work illegally as a cleaner.

Micael Fernandes (pictured) shared on TikTok how he had entered through Dublin and spent three hours in immigration where he lied to officials about 'only visiting' rather than returning to London

On his public Instagram page, Micael posted pictures from his trip, including his flight from Shannon to London with 'no immigration at all'

Micael also shared images from his travels to Limerick before flying to London from Shannon

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'This is yet another example of this weak and incompetent Labour government losing control of our borders at a time when British taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet.

'This pathetic Government is handing out money like confetti and immigrants are playing them for fools.

'The Government has to clamp down on this abuse, either by getting the Irish government to conduct biometric checks at the Irish border or introducing entry checks for people coming from Ireland to the UK mainland.'

Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK, said that 'hundreds had returned for a second bite at the cherry. This is utterly scandalous and the public will feel, justifiably, outraged.'

Since Labour's flagship 'one in, one out' returns deal came into force on August 6, about 11,518 small boat migrants have reached Britain. Only 75 have been sent back, including an Iranian who came back to Britain on a small boat within a month.

The total number of small boats arrivals since Labour came to power last year has passed 60,000.

In the year to June, there were 9,227 assisted voluntary returns  more than twice as many as the previous year under the Tories of whom 4,810 were Brazilians.

One whistleblower told the MoS as many as half are back in Britain's black economy within months, mocking the system as 'so soft.'

Another TikTok user called Junia told how people could qualify for the 3,000 assisted return by overstaying a six-month tourist visa to the UK by just one day

The total number of small boats arrivals since Labour came to power has passed 60,000

In one case, a man who left 3,000 richer under the scheme last autumn had returned by January and was working as a rider for grocery delivery firm GoPuff.

One friend said: 'Effectively he went back home for Christmas on the taxpayers' dime.'

In online forums, Brazilians brag about how easy it is to beat Britain's border system, sharing tips to slip back in undetected.

One post reads: 'Go to France, from France you go to Dublin. In Dublin you take a bus to Belfast from there you take a bus to Glasgow and finally London.'

In one TikTok clip, a Brazilian man filmed in Soho described the same route, saying 'many people who are deported' take it back.

Another man, Micael Fernandes, said: 'I entered through Dublin. I spent three hours in immigration.

'They called me a liar and said I wouldn't be allowed in, but I told them I wasn't going back to London, only visiting Ireland. They gave me a five-day visa and let me in. God knows why, haha. But my real goal was to get to London.'

On his public Instagram page, he posted pictures from his trip, including the Irish visa, and said he then went to Limerick, then flew from Shannon to London with 'no immigration at all'.

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Another TikTok user called Junia told how people could qualify for the 3,000 assisted return by overstaying a six-month tourist visa to the UK by just one day.

And Brazilian Abel Mendes, 25, told The Mail on Sunday he and his girlfriend took 3,000 from the Home Office in June after three years working illegally in London for a food-delivery app after their tourist visas expired.

They used the money to marry in Brazil, then returned to Dublin three months later with the plan to come to the UK, but decided to stay in Ireland.

He said the most common way returnees avoid detection is by 'getting a new passport in Brazil so there is no UK stamp.

'Then they fly to Ireland, sometimes via France or Spain, to make it look like tourism. Irish immigration usually believes the story.'

He said the UK's assumption of honesty makes it simple to bend the rules. 'Maybe English people don't think that way, but people from other countries, especially Brazil, take advantage of it.

'The system should be a little more difficult. They need to be smarter. You can't trust in people's goodness with so much innocence.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'Very few people re-enter the UK after a voluntary return, and we crack down hard on those who try. Our message to anyone thinking of abusing voluntary returns is clear: if you re-enter this country illegally, you will face arrest, prosecution and enforced removal.'
An Australian man has allegedly been busted trying to import $1.3million worth of cocaine into the country from Mexico via the postal service.

Mohamad Alameddine, 22, was arrested on Friday after police carried out raids at two properties in Auburn and Bass Hill, in Sydney's south-west.

Police will allege Alameddine was involved in a scheme to import 4kg of cocaine in an air cargo consignment from Chihuahua to Sydney.

The package was destined for Bass Hill and labelled as 'conveyor belt gear'.

Police will allege Alameddine called the freight forwarder twice to ask about the status of the consignment.

The delivery was detected in September by Australian Border Force authorities, who notified the Australian Federal Police.

The AFP carried out the two search warrants on Friday, with officers seizing several items including four mobile phones and SIM cards.

Footage shows Alameddine, dressed in a white shirt, black pants, socks and sandals, being escorted out of an Auburn home in handcuffs before officers placed him into the back of a vehicle.

Mohamad Alameddine, 22, from Auburn, was arrested by the Australian Federal Police on Friday

Police will allege he tried to import cocaine into Sydney via the postal service

He has been charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and was remanded in custody to face Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.

AFP Detective Acting Inspector Aaron Burgess said the seized cocaine had an estimated street value of $1.3million and had potential to be sold as 20,000 street-level deals.

'Drug trafficking, regardless of the quantity, results in significant harm to the health, safety, financial and physical security of the Australian community,' Det A/Insp Burgess said.

'Were proud to have prevented potential drug profits going into the pockets of [alleged] criminals.

'The AFP remains relentless in pursuing those import harmful drugs into Australia and bringing them before the courts.'

If found guilty, Alameddine faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
A Catholic school's Halloween float that featured a replica of the entrance gate to Auschwitz has been blasted as 'disturbing' and 'unacceptable'.

The parade float from St. Joseph Catholic School in Hanover, Pennsylvania displayed a replica of the gate to the concentration camp along with the words 'Arbeit Macht Frei,' which translates to 'Work Makes You Free.'

The German phrase was prominently displayed at concentration camps, including on the gates of Auschwitz as well as other work camps where Jews were sentenced to forced labor.

When video from the Halloween parade was shared on social media Friday night, many locals became incensed.

'Why tf would there be a concentration camp entryway on a float?' one woman wrote in a Hanover Facebook page. 'There's literally no reason that archway should be anywhere.'

'The fact that even some people think this is remotely funny should tell you a lot about the people they are,' another person commented. 'This is very disturbing.'

By Saturday, the Diocese of Harrisburg and a local cleaning company whose vehicle was used to pull the float were forced to apologize - as the man who designed the float claimed he was unaware of the symbolism.

A Pennsylvania Catholic school's float featured a replica of the gate to Auschwitz

The float included the words 'Arbeit Macht Frei,' which translates to 'Work Makes You Free,' and was prominently featured at the entrance to the concentration camp (pictured)

In a statement, Harrisburg Bishop Timothy C Senior claimed the original float design approved by the school did not include the gate, and he was 'shocked and appalled' when he saw it on the float.

'The inclusion of this image - one that represents the horrific suffering and murder of millions of innocent people, including six million Jews during the Holocaust - is profoundly offensive and unacceptable,' Senior said.

'While the original, approved design for this float did not contain the imagery, it does not change the fact that this highly recognizable symbol of hate was included.'

He continued: 'On behalf of the Diocese of Harrisburg, I express my sincere apology to our Jewish brothers and sisters, and to all who were hurt or offended by this display.

'I strongly condemn the inclusion of this symbol on the float.

'As Catholics, we stand firmly against all forms of antisemitism, hatred and prejudice, which are rampant in our society.

'The Church's relationship with the Jewish community is one of deep respect, friendship and shared faith in the one true God. Let us continue to pray for healing, understanding and unity among all of God's people.'

The bishop added that the diocese will now work with the St. Joseph Catholic School community to review the approval process and provide educational resources about the Holocaust.

Harrisburg Bishop Timothy C Senior claimed the original float design approved by the school did not include the gate, and he was 'shocked and appalled' when he saw it on the float

The float was from St. Joseph Catholic School in Hanover, Pennsylvania

He also pledged to work with the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition and the Anti-Defamation League.

Meanwhile, Metcalf Clearing, the company that volunteered to pull the float, said in a post on Facebook that it was 'not involved in the creation of its decorations or messaging.

'At the time, we were unaware of its meaning and significance,' the company shared, noting that it should have reviewed the float more carefully as it apologized for the oversight.

But the man who designed the float, Galen S. Shelley, said he, too, did not have any 'ill intent' as he did not realize the impact of the German phrase.

It was not part of his original design, he told the Patriot-News, but was included after a lit archway with lanterns on top did not ship in time.

Galen Shelley, the man who designed the float, insisted he had no 'ill intent' and was unaware of the impact of the phrase

He said he set out to build his own version of a somber entrance to a cemetery, and searched photos online.

'I wanted to illustrate the idea none of us get out of this life alive,' explained Shelley, who does not have children at the school.

'I never intended anything to be like this. I couldn't have anticipated it. I made a mistake and I ask everyone's forgiveness.'
The captain of a luxury cruise ship that left behind an 80-year-old passenger before she died on an island allegedly refused to speak to cops searching for her.

Suzanne Rees was found dead on Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef, in Far North Queensland, on Sunday after the $80,000-a-ticket voyage departed without her.

The island was the first stop of a 60-day circumnavigation of Australia, which was being run by NRMAs Coral Expeditions.

Ms Rees had been hiking in sweltering conditions with fellow passengers from the Coral Adventurer, but became separated from the group for a rest, and was left behind by the cruise ship Coral Adventurer.

Her family claim the captain was not in contact with search and rescue authorities as they looked for Ms Rees, The Australian reported.

Coral Expeditions is understood to dispute this claim.

Queensland Police declined to comment on whether the Coral Adventurer captain had cooperated with the police search coordinator.

Katherine Rees said her mother fell ill during an organised hill climb and was asked to travel back down the mountain, unescorted.

Australian grandmother Suzanne Rees was found dead on Lizard Island Saturday after the $80,000-a-ticket voyage left without her

The island in Far North Queensland was the first stop of a 60-day circumnavigation of Australia

The ship returned several hours later after the crew realised the woman was missing, but it was too late

'Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count. At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, mum died, alone,' she said.

The ship returned several hours later after the crew realised the woman was missing, but it was too late. A major search operation found her body the following day.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is investigating the incident, alongside Queensland Police and the state Coroner.

In a statement released by AMSA on Saturday, it said it had issued a notice to the master of Coral Adventurer prohibiting any new passengers from boarding the ship.

Coral Expeditions chief executive Mark Fifield said passengers and crew on the Coral Adventurer were told on Wednesday the remainder of the voyage had been cancelled due to the 'tragic passing of Suzanne Rees and previous mechanical issues'.

He added passengers would be issued a full refund, and the company was working 'to co-ordinate the return journeys of the passengers via chartered flights'.

It's understood Ms Rees was not reported missing until about 6pm on Saturday night when she failed to arrive for dinner, five hours after she was allegedly left behind.

Ms Rees's body was found 50m off the hiking trail that leads to Lizard Island's highest summit, Cook's Look, on Sunday.

Maritime safety officials will meet the 112-passenger Coral Adventurer (pictured) when it docks in Darwin on Sunday

Pictured: A helicopter is seen on Lizard Island during search efforts over the weekend

Her death came just one day after the Coral Adventurer set off from Cairns on Friday afternoon.

The ship had anchored off Lizard Island on Saturday, where passengers could take a smaller boat to hike and snorkel on the resort island, 90km north-east of Cooktown.

Yachtie Traci Ayris and her partner Matthew, who were aboard SV Vellamo anchored near Lizard Island, were listening to emergency radio transmissions sent from the Coral Expeditions vessel.

'They did headcounts for snorkellers (which we heard) but not for other guests on the island it would seem,' Ms Ayris told the Cairns Post.

'The last people came down from the track and got into tender then the (ship) left very soon after that.

'There was not a lot of time between when the last passengers left the beach to when they up-anchored. We even commented, 'Wow they left fast'.'

The first the family heard from the cruise company, Coral Expeditions, was six hours after Ms Reess body was found.

AMSA officials will meet the 112-passenger Coral Adventurer when it docks in Darwin on Sunday.

Coral Expeditions confirmed Ms Rees's death to the Daily Mail.

Ayris and her partner Matthew (pictured), who were aboard SV Vellamo anchored near Lizard Island, were listening to emergency radio transmissions sent from the Coral Expeditions vessel

'The crew notified authorities that a woman was missing, and a search and rescue operation was launched on land and sea,' Mr Fifield said.

'Following the operation, Coral Expeditions was notified by Queensland Police that the woman had been found deceased on Lizard Island.

'While investigations into the incident are continuing, we are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman's family.

'The Coral team has been in contact with the woman's family, and we will continue to offer support to them through this difficult process.

'We are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation. We are unable to comment further while this process is underway.'

Popular with divers, snorkellers and hikers, Lizard Island is one of the most remote tourism destinations on the Great Barrier Reef.

Cook's Look is the highest point on the island and follows the footsteps of British explorer Captain James Cook, who is believed to be the first European to have trekked up the mountain in 1770 after his ship Endeavour struck a reef.

'It covers four kilometres and at times is very steep so we recommend medium to high fitness and agility to safely undertake this hike,' the Lizard Island website states.

'Due to the time it takes to hike and the heat of the day, it is recommended that you hike early in the morning.

'Those that have done this hike say it is challenging but incredibly rewarding.'
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor could set up home in this 10million luxury villa on the Abu Dhabi royal family's fortified estate  with The Mail on Sunday able to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the opulent marble finishes.

The lavish property sits in the Sea Palace compound  the heavily guarded residence of the UAE's ruling family  alongside the headquarters of the Emirati navy.

Andrew, 65, was offered use of the waterfront home by president Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nayhan, whom he met when they were pupils at Gordonstoun School.

Sheik Mohamed ordered a refurbishment of a private villa within the complex following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Designers said the refurbished villa aimed to blend classical grandeur with a 'youthful and playful' interior  using bold colours and those marble finishes to modernise the 'palace-style' home.

The six-bedroom property, with a home cinema, indoor plunge pool and gym, offers the disgraced former prince the chance to live away from the media spotlight.

A particularly large kitchen is staffed by cordon bleu cooks, with fittings such as light switches, lamps and taps decorated in gold.

When the Sea Palace, built in the 18th century as a watchtower to protect from seaborne raiders, was put at Andrew's disposal in 2010, Buckingham Palace was keen to stress it was not an outright gift.

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, 65, (right) has been offered use of a waterfront home by UAE president Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nayhan (pictured left)

The six-bedroom property, with a home cinema, indoor plunge pool and gym, offers the disgraced former prince the chance to live away from the media spotlight

The lavish property sits in the Sea Palace compound  the heavily guarded residence of the UAE's ruling family  alongside the headquarters of the Emirati navy

Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, said it was 'perfect for Andrew': 'He would be happy living somewhere where the media is muzzled, where he will still be treated as a senior royal and where he can easily live under the radar.

'His personal relationships with young women are not likely to be scrutinised in Abu Dhabi.

'There has been much speculation Andrew might divide his time between Britain and the UAE, using this property as his base.'

It is believed the villa has been extensively used in the past by both Andrew and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

The prospect of Andrew embarking on a life in exile in the Gulf is the culmination of many years' friendship with Sheik Mohamed, 64, who is known as 'MBZ'.

He began visiting Abu Dhabi when he was the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment from 2001 until forced to quit ten years later due to his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

He met his one-time girlfriend, businesswoman Amanda Staveley, there in 2001  she reportedly turned down a marriage proposal.

It is believed the villa has been extensively used in the past by both Andrew and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie

He was said to have romanced Lebanese-born Christina Keserwan, 17 years his junior, in 2002 when she had a role in MBZ's racehorse team.

If he does move, Spain's former king Juan Carlos, who abdicated in 2014 after a scandal linked to deals in Saudi Arabia, will be a neighbour.

Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson is said to be considering quitting the UK.

A source said: 'Aside from her children and grandchildren, there's not a lot to keep her here. Put it this way, the invitations have dried up overnight.'
Alex Salmond died virtually penniless trying to defend his reputation in two court cases, it emerged last night.

Lawyers winding up the estate of the former First Minister have confirmed moves to apply for a trustee in sequestration, a legal process equivalent to declaring the estate bankrupt.

Mr Salmond died in October 2024 at the age of 69 after suffering a heart attack on a visit to North Macedonia.

The former SNP leader contested two court hearings over the course of 18 months beginning in 2018. It is understood the legal actions placed a huge financial strain on him.

Sources claim he lost almost all of his income from directorships and speaking engagements as a result of his determination to fight the cases and restore his reputation.

Mr Salmond won a judicial review of the Scottish governments handling of complaints against him. He was then cleared of 14 charges of sexual misconduct following a High Court trial.

Ex-First Minister Alex Salmond died in October 2024, aged 69

Mr Salmond was also pursuing a claim against the Scottish government for malfeasance  the wrongful exercise of lawful authority  which still remains active.

Last night the firm of Levy & McRae, instructed by Mr Salmonds widow, Moira, to wind up his affairs, confirmed it had identified the expense of his legal defences as the primary reason for his bankruptcy.

Senior partner David McKie, Mr Salmonds lawyer in the two cases, said: It is a matter of profound regret that Alex had to invest so much time and money in clearing his name. But most people will understand that faced with such attacks and an unlawful process brought against him, there was no choice for Alex but to defend himself with every resource available.

His legal battles first started in January 2018 when the Scottish government began an internal investigation into two complaints of harassment by two civil servants.

Mr Salmond vehemently denied the allegations and won a judicial review into the way the investigation was handled.

The Scottish government was later ordered to pay 512,000 in legal costs. However, his lawyers insisted that not a penny went to Mr Salmond or his wife, with the entirety used to cover legal bills.

In a statement, his law firm said: The victory came at a significant personal cost.

The 512,000 was a contribution to his lawyers, not a compensation package.

Weeks later Mr Salmond returned to court where he faced 14 charges of alleged sexual misconduct against nine women at the High Court in Edinburgh in March 2020.

He was ultimately acquitted of 12 charges and found not proven on one, with one charge withdrawn  but his defence lawyers cost him more than 300,000.

It suggests that Mr Salmond had to spend about 500,000 on both cases. Mr McKie said: It was a matter of great satisfaction for [Salmond], and for Moira, that he was successful in exposing the unlawful conduct of the Scottish government and then clearing his name.

But that success came at a huge cost, in terms of the strain imposed on him personally and the financial pressure which funding that process of vindication imposed.
Unitree Robotics CEO advocates global AI-robotics cooperation at APEC 2025

21:09, November 01, 2025 By Zhao Tong, Zhang Wenjie, Peng Yukai, Cui Yige ( People's Daily Online

Wang Xingxing, founder, CEO and CTO of Unitree Robotics, emphasized that cooperation and shared success are the defining themes of our time, noting that the AI-driven robotics industry could become the most powerful engine for global economic growth. He made the remarks in an interview with People's Daily Online on the sidelines of the APEC CEO Summit 2025, which took place in Gyeongju, South Korea.

Wang highlighted the vast potential for collaboration among APEC economies in smart manufacturing, AI, and robotics. "During this visit to South Korea, I've arranged meetings with local partners and potential collaborators to explore cooperative projects," he noted, adding that technological advancement is a global endeavor requiring worldwide collaboration from companies and research institutions.

Wang sees Chinese tech firms as vital bridges in the global ecosystem, both absorbing worldwide scientific achievements and contributing their own innovations. He stressed that progress in AI and robotics fundamentally depends on international cooperation.

Looking ahead to China's role as host of APEC in 2026, Wang sees it as a key opportunity to deepen global scientific and technological exchange and cooperation. He expressed his firm belief that a collaborative path is essential to unlocking the new civilizational possibilities presented by robotic technologies.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chengliang)
Sinister theories have re-emerged that four-year-old Gus Lamont may have been abducted after cops failed to find any clues at the bottom of a dam.

Gus was last seen playing in a mound of dirt near his grandparents' homestead on a sheep station 40km south of Yunta, in eastern South Australia, at about 5pm on September 27.

He had vanished by the time his grandmother went to call him in, some 30 minutes later.

Police began searching the 60,000ha property shortly after Gus disappeared but found no sign of the little boy.

The extensive land and air search for Gus was scaled back from a rescue to recovery on October 3, just hours after a photo of Gus was released by the family.

Last week, South Australia Police released a statement, revealing the search for Gus would resume, with officers draining the dam on the family's homestead on Friday to rule out the possibility Gus may have drowned.

No trace of the four-year-old was found.

With drowning ruled out, online speculation has exploded, with many refusing to believe the little boy simply wandered off.

Four-year-old August 'Gus' Lamont (pictured) went missing on Saturday, September 27

Police drained the dam on Friday but no trace of the four-year-old was found (pictured)

'They keep insisting he wandered off. I wish they'd look at other avenues,' one wrote.

'There are workers on those sheep farms. Where is their questioning? There's more to this.'

Others echoed similar frustration.

A third suggested: 'There's no way a kid disappears into thin air with only one footprint on a property that size.'

Some believe foul play is the only explanation.

'Someone has him,' one wrote.

'If an eagle or fox grabbed him, there would be signs.'

Another added: 'This whole disappearance has been suspicious from the beginning. I've always thought he's been taken. Why aren't they looking in that direction?'

Police drained the dam on Friday but no trace of the four-year-old was found (pictured)

A few offered alternative theories.

'I have this sickly feeling he's fallen into a wombat burrow,' one wrote.

But the overwhelming sentiment online remains one of unease and suspicion.

'Someone has him. No one just evaporates without anyone knowing what happened.'

Many locals were holding out hope draining the dam would bring closure for the close knit community who have been left devastated by the loss of one of their own.

One resident who has lived in town for almost 30 years told Daily Mail locals were waiting with bated breath.

'You don't want him to be found like that but at the same time at least we'd know what's happened,' they said.

The little boy was last seen outside his grandparents' house on September 27 at about 5pm.

Gus was last seen playing in a mound of dirt near his grandparents' homestead (pictured) on a sheep station 40km south of Yunta, in eastern South Australia, at about 5pm

He was under the care of his grandmother Shannon Murray while his mother Jessica and grandparent Josie tended to their herd of sheep 10km away.

Police stressed to date investigations had not uncovered 'any evidence of foul play'.

Despite their best efforts, the only trace of Gus was a single footprint found about 500m from the homestead - which police have since cast doubt on.

However, police made the tough call to scale back the search based on scientific and professional advice on how long a four-year-old could survive alone in remote terrain in freezing overnight temperatures in the clothing Gus was last seen wearing.

Gus was last seen wearing a grey broad-brimmed hat, a blue long-sleeved shirt with a Minion picture from Despicable Me on the front, light grey pants, and boots.

South Australian Assistant Police Commissioner Ian Parrott said police believe Gus wandered off and was not taken, as the only people who travel on the nearby road are station owners.

'Everything that we have found to date, every piece of information and evidence that we have explored to date, indicates that, as best as we know, Gus has wandered off from this property and we have not been able to locate him,' Parrott said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police.
Cambridge University's oldest women-only college has caused outrage by deciding to continue admitting biological men who 'self-identify' as female, in defiance of a Supreme Court ruling.

Newnham College, which has feminist Germaine Greer, actress Emma Thompson and presenter Clare Balding among its alumni, has created a gender policy stating it is open to all 'female' applicants  including those born as men.

Although it has been accepting trans-identified males since 2017, its new policy document enshrines their ability to access the single-sex space.

On Saturday night, furious campaigners pledged to report the college to the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Charity Commission over a possible breach of equalities law.

They say the stance defies April's Supreme Court ruling in which five justices unanimously said 'woman' means a biological woman and that a trans woman does not have the right to use a women-only space or service.

Postgraduate student Maeve Halligan, who co-founded a single-sex feminist society at the university, the Society of Women, said the decision shows Newnham is 'no longer an all-female college'.

Yet in a letter to students seen by The Mail on Sunday, college principal Alison Rose said the policy had been 'cleared by the college's lawyers' and would ensure it stayed 'inclusive'.

Maya Forstater, chief executive of charity Sex Matters, said: 'Following the Supreme Court's clarification that the Equality Act 2010 follows the ordinary meaning of the words male and female, the college should have been urgently reconsidering its policy to bring it back into line with the law.

Furious student founders of Cambridge University Society of Women (CUSW) Thea Sewell, Serena Worley and Maeve Halligan (left to right) are protesting Newnham College's call to let in biological men who 'self-identify' as female

Renowned feminist Germaine Greer is among the school's famous alumni

'Instead it has been looking around for loopholes. This is fruitless and foolish.'

She confirmed the college would be reported to the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Charity Commission.

Equality lawyer Audrey Ludwig, a member of the group Legal Feminist, said the college's decision was 'at serious risk of being determined as unlawful'.

Ms Halligan, who is at Lucy Cavendish College and founded the Society of Women with fellow students Thea Sewell and Serena Worley, said: 'The category of woman is being totally usurped, hijacked and attacked.

'Sexism is written into the history of Cambridge University and now it's come back in disguise.

'This historic college has some of the most famous alumni, such as Germaine Greer. I can only imagine what she would think if she saw what this college's new admissions policy was now.'

Newnham's admission policy for students is also in contrast to its hiring guidelines for research fellows, which say: 'Following the Supreme Court's decision in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025], when we refer to 'women' we mean those assigned female at birth.'

Yet Ms Rose, a former diplomat, confirmed the college's admissions policy in an email to students last week. She wrote: 'We are open to all female applicants.

'We will consider at the admissions stage those applicants who hold a form of formal identification as female on a current passport, driving licence, birth certificate or gender recognition certificate.'

Her letter came two weeks after she held a meeting with Newnham members to discuss the college's admissions policy on October 13. According to two students who attended, Ms Rose called the Supreme Court ruling a 'mess' and said the college 'is not a single-sex space'.

She allegedly repeatedly stressed in front of some 30 students there would be 'no change' to the admissions policies from previous years, which has seen trans women allowed to study at the elite college.

Ms Rose and two admissions tutors are then said to have laid out a legal 'loophole' they were planning to use to continue admitting trans women.

According to Ms Halligan and Ms Worley, the tutors said they are relying on a niche exception in Schedule 12 of the Equality Act 2010 that allows opposite sex students to attend single-sex educational settings in 'exceptional' circumstances.

But Ms Forstater said that while Schedule 12 allows a girls' school to admit a limited number of boys in the sixth-form, 'no school or college can safely, fairly or lawfully admit boys and men as if they were girls and women'.
Thousands of people who paid millions to cover their future funeral costs have been left out of pocket after an insurer suddenly cancelled their policies.

The move by firm Maiden Life was branded 'immoral' as customers were told their cover would be terminated at the end of this month.

Experts believe policy-holders, many of whom are elderly and on low incomes, were under the impression they were paying into a funeral plan.

In fact, the premium was covering customers for just one month at a time and could also be cancelled with 30 days' notice by both parties, which Maiden Life has now done following a review.

Some had paid into the scheme for decades, expecting a payment of up to 10,000 for their families when they died.

For many, their contributions have significantly surpassed any payout they might have received upon their death.

Ann Sloan, 81, said she had paid thousands in premiums over 16 years 'for nothing'.

'Maybe I lived too long,' she told BBC Radio 4's Money Box programme.

Experts believe policy-holders, many of whom are elderly and on low incomes, were under the impression they were paying into a funeral plan (file image)

'If I would have died sooner my family would have got 6,000 and that would have been enough to bury me.

'I've got two disabled sons and a daughter who has had two heart attacks so where are they going to get the money to bury me?'

She added that if she had known it was not a funeral plan, she 'would have never taken out that policy'.

The Maiden Life policies were closed to new customers in 2009 but around 2,000 are still active.

They were sold through an insurance broker, CMutual, and credit unions in Scotland.

The latter are popular providers of financial services for those who struggle to access mainstream banking  for example, if they have a poor credit record.

'It's deeply immoral and repugnant leaving thousands of vulnerable, low-income elderly people high and dry like this,' said Paul Sweeney, an MSP in the Scottish Parliament.

Maiden Life is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, meaning it can't force the firm to continue with the policies, or sanction a compensation scheme.

Its rules only cover pre-payment plans, which allow upfront payments for funeral costs so families avoid footing the bill.

James Daley, of consumer group Fairer Finance, said the regulator should investigate.

'Customers clearly didn't understand the premium was covering you for one month at a time. If people understood that then surely they wouldn't have bought it?' he said.

Doug McAllister, Labour MP for West Dunbartonshire, said: 'It's going to leave some of the poorest in a terrible position. It's heartbreaking.'

He added he'd written to City Minister Lucy Rigby asking for a meeting to discuss compensation.

A spokesman for the Association of British Credit Unions Limited trade body said: 'We recognise the distress this is causing and we are working with our member credit unions to ensure they can provide the best support.'

Some credit unions are reportedly considering legal action.

An FCA spokesman said it recognised the policyholders' 'concern', adding: 'We have engaged with all firms involved and asked the credit unions to communicate clearly with their members.

'We do not have the power to force firms to continue to offer products after they withdraw them.'

Maiden Life was contacted for comment.
Reform UK has demanded an investigation after teachers at a group of leading state schools made inappropriate and slanderous comparisons between the party and the Nazis.

Richard Tice, Reforms deputy leader, complained after discovering that staff at the Orion group, which runs eight academy schools in south London, used a picture of him in teaching materials to illustrate extremism  defined as activities which reject British Values.

The materials also placed Reform to the right of Ukip and next to the BNP and the Nazis at the fascism end of an illustration on the Left-wing/Right-wing political spectrum of beliefs.

The secondary school lessons were for pupils in Year 10.

Nigel Farages party, which enjoys a commanding lead in the opinion polls, has received increasing reports of left-wing teachers characterising Reform supporters as fascists in classrooms across the country.

Mr Tice, who was alerted to the slide shows by parents of pupils at the school, has written to Simon Garrill, the Chief Executive Officer of Orion Education, to warn that if he does not receive an adequate explanation and satisfactory apology he will refer the matter to the Charity Commission, whose rules apply to academy trusts.

Mr Tice wrote: It has come to my attention that materials referencing extremism and far Right have included my face and even compared me and Reform UK to the Nazi Party and British National Party.

This is not only factually inaccurate and grossly offensive but also defamatory in nature.

Richard Tice, Reforms deputy leader, complained after discovering that staff at the Orion group, which runs eight academy schools in south London, used a picture of him in teaching materials to illustrate extremism

Mr Tice has written to Simon Garrill, the Chief Executive Officer of Orion Education, to warn that if he does not receive an adequate explanation and satisfactory apology he will refer the matter to the Charity Commission, whose rules apply to academy trusts

The materials also placed Reform to the right of Ukip and next to the BNP and the Nazis at the fascism end of an illustration on the Left-wing/Right-wing political spectrum of beliefs

He added: These materials are, in my view and that of my legal team, in breach of education guidelines and of your obligations as a registered charity to maintain political neutrality and balance.

To present such inflammatory and misleading content to young people is a serious failing in duty and professional responsibility.

The extremism section  next to the picture of Mr Tice  defines it as activities that reject British Values like mutual respect, are fully intolerant toward others, reject democracy as a means of governance or reject the existing social order.

Next to this, it describes Reform UK as a Right-wing political party who are rising in popularity, who want stricter immigration, deportation of illegal migrants, tax cuts, anti-EU regulations, UK sovereignty and traditional education policies.

After saying far-Right beliefs can damage communities, increase hate crime and even threaten democracy, the lessons describe the role of the media as one of the main concerns, stating: Newspapers such as the Daily Mail and The Sun often publish dramatic headlines about immigration, especially about small boat crossings in the English Channel.

'These stories sometimes use words like flood or invasion, making migrants sound like a threat.

This type of reporting can make people feel afraid or angry, which far-Right groups then use to support their arguments.

And under a section entitled How can we stay safe online?, it says: Use trusted sites like the BBC, the Guardian... instead of sites like The Sun, random blogs or YouTube channels.

The teaching materials also include the opportunity to hear from our local Labour MP on his role with Parliament and policies  although it does go on to stress that it is important to remember that Labour is just one political party with specific views.

An Orion spokeswoman said: We are in receipt of the letter from Mr Tice and are currently investigating the concerns he has raised.

The Orion group is made up of five primary schools and three secondary schools.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed he has 'contact arrangements' with Donald Trump after he was asked if he had the US President's phone number.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News, Albanese suggested he and Trump were able to contact each other directly.

Albanese said on Sunday he had secured the US President's phone number.

'We are able to contact each other, and that's a good thing that we're in contact with each other,' Albanese said.

Pressed again on whether that meant he now had Trump's mobile number, he responded: 'Yeah, we have contact arrangements between each other.'

The revelations follow months of criticism over Albanese's handling of the relationship with Washington and the delay in their highly-anticipated first meeting.

During the 2025 election campaign, Albanese was forced to admit he did not have Trump's phone number and said he was not sure he even owned a mobile.

It was only last month Albanese travelled to the US for his first face-to-face sit-down meeting with Trump on October 21.

Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump shake hands after signing an $8.5billion rare earth minerals agreement

The summit also saw President Trump signal continued support for the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal, which had been placed under review.

The two leaders looked like old friends, talking and laughing; however, the warm welcome briefly went cold when Trump took aim at Australia's ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd over some of his previous unflattering comments.

In 2020, Rudd stated on social media that he considered Trump the 'most destructive' president in US history.

He deleted those comments in November 2024 after Trump's re-election, explaining it was 'out of respect' for the office of the president.

Trump was curt with Rudd after he found out he had said 'bad' things about him.

'Did an ambassador say something bad? Where is he? Is he still working for you?' he said as Albanese nodded and pointed across the table at Rudd.

'Before I took this position, Mr President,' Rudd clarified, to which Trump shot back: 'I don't like you either, and I probably never will.'

During the meeting the two leaders signed the framework for a critical minerals deal, which the US could use to lessen its reliance on China for tech components.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has confirmed he now has direct contact with US President Donald Trump but the nature of that connections remains ambiguous

Beijing has put strict rules on their exports, which has angered Trump.

Just days ago Trump complimented Anthony Albanese for doing a 'fantastic job' on a $13billion critical minerals deal, before the pair were seen clinking glasses and sitting side-by-side at an exclusive dinner.

The meeting was held at the Hilton Hotel in Gyeongju, south-eastern South Korea, on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

It marked their second sit-down meeting in as many weeks - and their warmest yet - with the Prime Minister receiving a glowing reference in Trump's opening remarks to the invite-only gathering of several APEC leaders.
Rachel Reeves is considering a move that could see the doubling of council tax for more than a million households.

The Chancellor is said to be eyeing up a 100 per cent increase on the two highest council tax bands - G and H.

The plans would see average bills rise from 3,800 to 7,800 for residents in a Band G household.

And for those living in a Band H household, the typical bill could increase from 4,580 to 9,120, according to The Telegraph.

Critics have suggested that this move would overwhelmingly impact households in London and the South East.

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, added it would leave many pensioners 'forced out of their home' as they are unable to afford the drastic increase.

She said: 'Creating new higher council tax bands will hammer people who have lived in the same house for decades, particularly pensioners, some of whom will be unable to pay this new tax and be forced out of their home.'

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK added: 'It is an assault on assets and will cause huge consternation amongst older people living in properties they bought many years ago.'

Ahead of the Budget on November 26, Reeves has been tasked with filling a 30billion black hole in the public finances.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves (pictured speaking at the CBI National business dinner in June 2025) has been tasked with filling a 30billion black hole in public finances ahead of the Budget at the end of the month

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch (pictured speaking at a rally on October 30, 2025) said that the plans to increase tax would 'hammer' people who have lived in the same house for decades, particularly pensioners

She is said to view council tax increases as one of the easiest ways to raise necessary funds.

Reeves is also reported to be considering a 20 percent charge on the holdings of those quitting the country for low tax havens which could net the Treasury 2billon.

It comes after fears were raised earlier this year that as many as 16,500 millionaires would leave the UK this year because of hostile tax changes and plummeting economic confidence.

The new 'settling up charge' is said to be very likely because the UK, alongside Italy, is currently an 'outlier' among G7 countries who already impose similar taxes.

The Chancellor has been engulfed by scandal since the Daily Mail revealed that she had been illegally renting out her south London property for 3,200 a month without the proper licence.

After initially telling Sir Keir Starmer she had been unaware of the rules, she was humiliated when emails between her husband and their lettings agency, Harvey & Wheeler, revealed extensive conversations about the need to secure the paperwork.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (pictured at a press conference on October 27, 2025) said the Chancellor's plans 'is an assault on assets'

Now a source has told this newspaper that before engaging that company, Ms Reeves and her husband had approached blue-chip estate agency Knight Frank about managing the property  and were warned about the need for the licence.

The revelation raises fresh questions about the Chancellor's initial insistence to the Prime Minister that she was not aware of the legal requirements, given that two separate estate agents raised the issue.

A Knight Frank spokesman said: 'It is standard procedure to notify all clients of their legal and regulatory obligations when letting a property.'
The punk band who called for the death of the Israel Defence Force at Glastonbury are suing a Jewish organisation after it appealed for a forthcoming gig in Manchester to be cancelled.

Bob Vylan, the duo who prompted outrage when they chanted death, death to the IDF, have called in lawyers after they were labelled antisemitic and accused of incitement by the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester ahead of next months planned concert.

The Jewish communal group have been joined by at least ten MPs who have demanded the gig scheduled for the Manchester Academy on November 5 be called off, citing the terror attack in the city earlier this month at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue.

The decision by the band to go on the offensive was last night labelled an outrage by one source in the Jewish community.

Another told The Mail on Sunday: We were shocked but perhaps not surprised to receive letters from lawyers representing Bob Vylan.

'They dont seem to realise that its their own hateful and dangerous actions that are the problem, not us.

It is understood that a letter has been sent to the JRC of Manchester, alleging defamation in labelling the band antisemetic.

Bob Vylan is also understood to be intending to take action against radio broadcaster LBC for the same reason.

Bob Vylans anger was sparked after the JRC issued a statement ahead of the gig, close to the synagogue in Crumpsall on October 2.

Pictured: Bobby Vylan, of punk duo Bob Vylan, performing on the West Holts Stage during the Glastonbury Festival this year

Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, both died in the attack, which unfolded on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, with police saying the attack was inspired by Islamist extremist ideology.

The JRC said it was deeply concerned by the venues decision to host the act, highlighting a pattern of behaviour they described as hateful and dangerous.

It said: We are deeply concerned by Manchester Academys decision to host Bob Vylan, an artist who has repeatedly engaged in rhetoric that crosses the line from legitimate political discourse into antisemitism and incitement.

We are even more alarmed given that the Director-General of the BBC accepted that he was responsible for an antisemitic broadcast by covering their Glastonbury performance - one that directly led to an increase in hate crime against the Jewish community.

Reports of antisemitic hate incidents in the UK spiked a day after Bob Vylans controversial Glastonbury performance, according to figures from a Jewish security charity earlier this year.

As well as his on-stage comments at Glastonbury. Bob Vylans frontman Pascal Robinson-Foster launched an outspoken attack in Junbe on a Jewish music manager who signed a letter of protest to stop Irish band Kneecap from performing at the festival, describing him as a Zionist.

He also referred to the boss of a record company he once worked for who would talk about his support for Israel and whom he went on to describe in abusive terms, before adding f...ing Zionists.

Last month at a gig in Amsterdam the Mr Robinson-Foster shouted on stage: F*** the Zionists. Go find them in the streets.

Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs across Greater Manchester have backed calls for the gig to be banned, while the US State Department recently revoked the bands visas citing hateful tirades.

The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which monitors antisemitism in the UK, said a total of 1,521 antisemitic incidents were reported in the first half of 2025.
National MPs have unanimously voted to ditch the party's pledge to reach net zero emissions by 2050, paving the way for a potential clash with the Liberals over Coalition climate policy.

While abandoning the 2050 target, the party has vowed to continue addressing climate change.

Nationals leader David Littleproud made the formal announcement on Sunday afternoon.

'We continue to believe that we need to reduce emissions, but we've got to do it in a better, fairer, cheaper way for all Australians,' he said.

'We believe that we can peg ourselves to the rest of the world. We're not going to be a laggard, but we're not going to streak ahead.'

Littleproud said the Nationals' decision was about bringing common sense back to climate and energy policy.

'This is about saying we're going to live up to our commitments internationally,' he said.

'We're going to do that sensibly, but we're going to do what they're doing at their pace, not streak ahead.'

Nationals leader David Littleproud (pictured) made the formal announcement on Sunday

Liberal leader Sussan Ley (pictured) has said she does not want to pursue net zero at any cost but there is broad agreement internally that Australia must reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Abandoning official climate targets sets up a potential showdown between the Nationals and their Coalition partner the Liberals, who are also reviewing their approach to climate change after their disastrous election defeat.

On Saturday, Nationals members voted to ditch net zero by 2050 from the regional party's official platform.

The vote is non-binding but widely seen as a prelude to Sunday's meeting.

Liberal leader Sussan Ley has said she does not want to pursue net zero at any cost, but party sources say there is broad agreement internally Australia must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in some way.

Littleproud said he had called Ley to inform her of the Nationals' position and that he hoped the two parties could see eye to eye on the issue, but argued the Nationals had been at the 'epicentre' of the country's transition to green energy.

Sunday's party room meeting was informed by a Page Research Centre report commissioned by the Nationals.

Under the Paris Agreement signed a decade ago, Australia and other member states must increase their emissions reduction targets every five years and cannot water them down.

The Labor government is committed to net zero by 2050 and is chasing an interim target of 62 per cent to 70 per cent emissions cuts by 2035.

Power-generating wind turbines are seen 50km south of Goulburn

A target of 82 per cent of electricity sourced from renewables by 2030 is key to meeting its climate goals.

Households, the economy and the environment will all be hit hard by unchecked climate change, Australia's first National Climate Risk Assessment revealed in September.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the internal debate within the Coalition as a 'circus,' and said Australia was particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

'It is in our national interest for there to be action to reduce our emissions and to act on climate change,' he told Sky News.
A single mother-of-two has been left with severe burns and now faces a long road to recovery following a horrific firebombing attack.

Perth disability support worker Penny Travers spent more than two weeks at Fiona Stanley Hospital's burns unit after a quarter of her body was covered in burns.

The terrifying ordeal began on October 6 when a firebomb was hurled at Ms Traver's car, but the unknown attacker failed to get the device through the window.

Instead, the firebomb caused the carport to catch fire.

As Ms Travers rushed outside to try to put out the flames, spray paint cans stored near the vehicle exploded in a fiery blast, causing serious burns.

'When I went outside to try and put the fire out, the spray paint cans I had near the vehicle exploded in my face,' she said.

'I've ended up with burns to 25 per cent of my body including my face, neck, chest and arms.'

Ms Travers was in hospital for 17 days, where she underwent a 4.5-hour surgery for skin grafts and required a blood transfusion.

Falcon mum-of-two Penny Travers (pictured) suffered burns to 25 per cent of her body in the alleged attack

Penny Travers (pictured) faces a long road to recovery following the incident

Ms Travers says a firebomb was hurled at her car (pictured), but the attacker failed to get the device through the window

To add insult to injury, while the mum was in hospital the attackers returned to finish the job on October 12.

This time they successfully burnt out her vehicle which is now a write-off.

'This was while my 16-year-old daughter was at home by herself,' she said.

'If my dog hadn't woken her up it could have been a lot worse.'

The extent of the burns means Ms Travers is off work for at least the next six weeks.

'I'll be required to wear compression garments for the next year to help with the scarring, but despite the garments I will still be scarred for life,' she said.

Originally from New Zealand, the mum has limited support from the federal government despite calling Australia home for almost 15 years.

'I have been granted a temporary benefit but it does not cover my rent, let alone any other monthly expenses,' she said.

Ms Travers (pictured) says she'll need to wear compression garments for the next year but despite the garments she'll be scarred for life

Ms Travers has started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for rent, utilities, transport and food for her family.

The Falcon mum said she is driving more than 100km to Fiona Stanley Hospital twice a week for dressing changes and physio.

Ms Travers said the shocking attack is under investigation.

'I can't say much but jealous, narcissistic psychos are horrible people,' she said.

Western Australian Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the two vehicle fires.

A spokeswoman said emergency services were called to a report of a vehicle fire outside a residential premises in Greenfields at about 4.30am on October 6.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) attended and extinguished the fire.

Ms Travers was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

On October 12 at about 5.20am, emergency services received reports of a vehicle fire at the same location. No injuries were reported.

Both fires are being treated as suspicious and Mandurah Detectives are urging anyone with any information, CCTV, mobile phone, or dash-cam vision relating to this fire to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Saturday Night Live took aim at Donald Trump's White House makeover in a chaotic HGTV-style renovation sketch which saw actor Miles Teller play both Jonathan and Drew Scott, the twin hosts of HGTV's Property Brothers.

The parody poked fun at the president's decision to demolish the historic East Wing to build a $300 million, 90,000 sq ft ballroom which is being funded entirely by private donors.

In the clip, the pair were seen arriving at the White House to oversee an over-the-top renovation.

'This week, we're taking on our biggest challenge yet - building the new White House ballroom,' Teller's HGTV host announces.

'Donald and Melania moved into this house nine years ago. They were evicted for four years, but they moved back in. Donald has a strong eye for interior design.'

As Teller's 'brothers' toured the fictionalized White House, James Austin Johnson's Trump beamed with pride.

'I put these gold urns everywhere,' he boasted. 'Like a hundred in every room. That makes me happy. It's very important to be happy these days. Really dark stuff happening in the world. Some of it is me.'

Johnson's Trump then held up a crown he received from his this week's trip to South Korea.

Saturday Night Live turned the White House into a construction zone this weekend as host Miles Teller, left, worked with James Austin Johnson's President Donald Trump, right

Miles Teller played both Jonathan and Drew Scott, the twin hosts of HGTV's Property Brothers

The four minute skit poked fun at the massive new ballroom being erected at the White House

'And here's a crown I just got from my trip to Asia. Nothing says democracy like a crown, right?'

Standing beside him, Chloe Fineman's Melania Trump offers her signature dry wit when Teller compliments her 'Halloween decorations.'

'Those are for Christmas,' she deadpans - prompting one of the biggest laughs of the night.

The skit, filmed like an HGTV makeover show, ridicules the real-life demolition of the East Wing - the traditional home base of first ladies and social offices.

In the SNL universe, Melania insists the new ballroom is necessary.

'The house is only 55,000 square feet,' she explains. 'We need more room. Donald, he loves to dance.'

SNL's Trump agreed. 'I'm a terrific dancer. Terrific dancer. Just ask your eyes,' he said.

Teller's Property Brothers then ask the fictional president about his budget.

White House Makeover pic.twitter.com/ci252wp86w  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) November 2, 2025

Chloe Fineman appeared as Melania Trump in the sketch on Saturday night

Fineman's First Lady gave Property Brothers' Teller a tour while remaking how the Halloween decorations were in fact for Christmas

'Between $350 million and infinity,' Trump replies.

The parody only escalates as Trump reveals his unconventional plans for the new addition.

'We're also going to have an MMA ring,' he says. 'Official fights, but also casual ones - you know, two mentally ill guys just whaling on each other. Do bum fights again. Remember bum fights? We love bum fights!'

'It will be ready just in time for my third term. We want this to be our forever home. Because we're not leaving. We're going to be doing something called 'coup',' Trump declared.

As the sketch ends, Teller's Property Brothers ask who will be paying for the massive renovation.

'Aren't you guys from Canada?' Trump asks suspiciously before shouting, 'ICE!' and summoning armed guards to usher the brothers away.

Agents rush in, sirens blaring, as the HGTV hosts scatter. 'There goes ICE,' Trump mutters approvingly.

'We like them. Spooky, very spooky. It's a very spooky secret police thing.'

Construction workers, bottom right, atop the US Treasury, watch watch as demolition continues on the East Wing of the White House to make room for a new ballroom,

Debris cleanup from the East Wing of the White House and construction of the new ballroom continues, as photographed through a plane window, on Friday in Washington

The SNL skit aired just days after Associated Press photos showed the real East Wing reduced to rubble, part of a controversial plan to replace the historic structure with a massive 90,000-square-foot ballroom.

Trump defended the project this week, claiming the expansion is being financed privately.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said design changes and cost overruns - from $200 million to roughly $300 million - were due to 'necessary structural modernization.'

The National Trust for Historic Preservation warned the ballroom could 'overwhelm the Executive Mansion' and 'permanently disrupt the carefully balanced classical design of the White House.'
Business leaders look forward to APEC's 'China Time'

10:27, November 02, 2025 By Zhang Wenjie, Zhao Tong, Peng Yukai ( People's Daily Online

During the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit, People's Daily Online interviewed CEOs and business leaders who shared their insights and reflections on the summit's theme, "Bridge, Business, Beyond." They expressed strong anticipation for China to take on the role of APEC host in 2026, voicing confidence in the country's capacity to foster innovation, cooperation, and sustainable growth throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chengliang)
Some of Australia's best-known cosmetics labels have been slapped with formal compliance notices after authorities found they contained a banned ingredient.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) sent out the notices to six businesses in NSW it said has used microbeads, or microscopic plastic particles.

The department said testing found the businesses were selling nine products containing the ingredient and ordered they be removed from retail shelves, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.

This move makes NSW one of the first regulators in the world to clamp down on the use of microbeads in personal care items.

Despite a federal plan a decade ago to phase out the the small plastic fragments, mostly used in exfoliating scrubs, are still turning up in stores.

Water treatment plants can't capture all of the microscopic particles, the EPA warned, so they flow straight into the environment and food chains.

'Plastic products should not belong in skincare or waterways,' EPA chief executive Tony Chappel said.

Mr Chappel pointed out that some of the particles were made from bioplastics such as polylactic acid (PLA) and cellulose acetate, yet these still do not break down and remain defined as plastic under the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act.

Some of Australia's most well known cosmetic brands have been hit with compliance notices over a banned ingredient (stock)

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) sent out notices to six businesses in NSW

A 2023 article from scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology which was quoted in the EPA material warned that microbeads 'have the potential to affect soil sediment, water, and air all at once, yet nobody is paying attention'.

The EPA said many of the affected products were exfoliating scrubs.

These products include Aesthetics Skincare's Bio Fermented Triple Action Scrub, Coles Group's KOi for Men Cleansing Face Scrub and Desert Lime, Frostbland's Alya Skin Pomegranate Facial Scrub and Exfoliating Sorbet, JMSR Australia's Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub and Cranberry Orange Exfoliator, McPherson's Consumer Products' Dr LeWinn's Essentials Gentle Exfoliant Weekly Facial Polishing Gel; and Natio's Purifying Face Scrub for Men and Ageless Skin Renewal Exfoliator.

Some of the products remain available in other states and territories.

Jan Marini lists its 'bioglycolic' body scrub as unavailable in NSW but is still sold elsewhere.

Back in 2016, state and territory environment ministers backed a voluntary industry phase-out of microbeads in rinse-off products.

Accord Australasia which is the industry body for hygiene and personal-care companies managed this voluntary campaign.

Some business said they had pulled their products from NSW but they are still available on shelves in other states where regulations aren't as strict (stock image)

In 2022, Accord and the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water declared the voluntary phase-out 'delivered' and said the target of removing 100 per cent of microbeads from rinse-off products by 2025 had been met.

Accord has since told media it is no longer coordinating control of microbeads and that the job has passed to states that legislated bans.

NSW, the ACT, Western Australia and Queensland now ban plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care products. Other states do not have the same oversight, the EPA warned.

The NSW notices carry muscle: failing to comply can attract penalties of up to $550,000, plus $55,000 per day for ongoing breaches.

A Coles spokesperson said the company acted immediately.

'Following our review of the ingredient identified in the notice, we removed the product from sale in all stores nationally,' they said.

'We have since updated our policies to ensure it is not included in any own-brand products again.'

The EPA said once companies were notified they moved quickly to remove stock.

Microbeads are a form of microplastic, and studies are increasingly finding tiny plastic particles in the natural environment.

A recent US study which tested human brain samples found microplastics made up around 0.5 per cent of average sample weight and indicated levels rose about 50 per cent since 2016.
A festive holiday weekend turned tragic for families in Mexico on Saturday when a deadly blaze engulfed a supermarket, killing at least 23 people and injuring a dozen.

The fire broke out in a Waldo's discount store in the northwestern town of Hermosillo as Mexico celebrated the Day of the Dead.

Images circulating online showed a massive fire engulfing the building, with thick black smoke billowing from the store, while flames appeared to have spread to cars parked outside the shop.

In one disturbing video, a burned man could be seen collapsing on the ground just a few metres away from the shop's entrance.

Alfonso Durazo, governor of the state of Sonora, said in a video on social media that children were among the victims.

'I have ordered a thorough and transparent investigation to clarify the causes of the accident', he said.

Most of the deaths appeared to have been from inhalation of toxic gases, said Gustavo Salas, the state's attorney general, citing its forensic medical service.

'My heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives,' President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a post on X, adding that she had directed support teams to be sent to help victims' families and the injured.

Video grab shows a thick cloud of smoke billowing out of a discount store in Mexico after a blaze broke out

At east 23 people were killed in Mexico on Saturday after a blaze broke out at a Waldo's discount shop in the city of Hermosillo

A car is set alight after the Waldo's fire spread to the vehicles parked outside

Sonora's Red Cross said its 40 staff and 10 ambulances joined in the effort, making six trips to the hospital.

The cause of the fire, now doused, was still unclear, though some media blamed an electrical failure.

City officials said the store was not the target of an attack.

Mexico is celebrating the Day of the Dead this weekend with colourful festivities in which families honor and remember deceased loved ones.

The state government said it was cancelling cultural events planned for Sunday after the incident.

The holiday, known in Spanish as 'Dia de los Muertos,' is especially popular in Mexico, but is also observed in other countries, including the US and Germany.

Families gather to honour their ancestors with altars, marigolds and sugar skulls and also offer their deceased loved ones their favourite foods.

Skeletons are central to the celebrations, symbolizing a return of the bones to the living world. Like seeds planted in soil, the dead disappear temporarily, only to return each year like the annual harvest.

Authorities and rescue teams work in the area where a fire inside a store killed multiple people, in Hermosillo, Mexico, November 1

Damaged vehicles are parked in front of a convenience store destroyed by a fire, in Hermosillo, Sonora state, Mexico, Saturday, November 1, 2025

Families place photographs of their ancestors on their ofrendas, which include paper decorations and candles, and are adorned with offerings of items beloved by their loved ones.

The Day of the Dead fire in Mexico comes just days after a tourist cruise ship burst into flames on the River Nike, forcing the evacuation of 200 holidaymakers.

Terrifying footage captured the Iberotel Crown Empress engulfed in an orange blaze with flames exploding from the windows as the vessel sailed between Luxor and Edfu, Egypt.

The fire is believed to have broken out in the ship's galley at around 6:15pm on Tuesday for reasons which are still being investigated.

The inferno spread throughout the entire hull and left the cabins completely destroyed, forcing the ship's staff to activate the emergency alarm and move passengers to the upper deck.

Empress was quickly docked at an unofficial anchorage near Esna to allow for the evacuation of some 220 tourists of varying nationalities. No injuries or deaths have been reported following the incident.

The tourists on board had been partaking in their first day of a 12-day Nile river cruise when disaster struck.

'At 6:30pm, other boats shone flashlights toward our cabins. When we opened the window, we saw a huge plume of smoke on deck,' one passenger on board told VRT News.

The tragedy unfolded as Mexico celebrated the Day of the Dead this weekend. File photo: Two women join a night procession during Dia de los Muertos

He explained that the evacuation process proved difficult as the fire had broken out on the ground floor so the tourists were not able to exit that way.

Passengers on board told how they had to leave their luggage behind as they made their quick escape.

The Public Prosecution office has begun its investigations, with initial findings indicating that the cause of the fire was an electrical short circuit in the ship's kitchen, as per local reports.
The former prince now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor faces having to change car number plates after having his Duke of York title taken away.

The King's brother has previously been seen driving Range Rovers bearing the initials DOY in a nod to his official royal title now lost following his Jeffrey Epstein disgrace.

A car bearing one of those plates was seen on Saturday being driven away from Royal Lodge in Windsor, the property he will now have to leave.

DVLA records show that two licence plates with the initials DOY which had been used by the disgraced ex-Duke are no longer registered.

A 115,000 Land Rover with a different registration - making no apparent reference to any royal status - was used by Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson when attending the Duchess of Kent's funeral last month.

The black Land Rover defender with a numberplate ending DOY was seen leaving Bishops Gate near Royal Lodge in Windsor just before 8am on Saturday.

Only a driver was in the vehicle as it left the grounds of Windsor Great Park.

Andrew has previously been pictured driving a vehicle with the same private number plate, as well as another with a different date but also the letters DOY.

A car with a DOY numberplate was seen leaving Royal Lodge in Windsor on November 1

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, pictured here on Christmas Day 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk, has now lost his titles including those of Prince and Duke of York

Huge changes in status for Andrew come after Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday he would no longer be known as a prince and would leave Royal Lodge - instead taking up residence ahead on the family's Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

King Charles stripped his brother of titles after weeks of pressure to act over Andrew's relationship with late financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew earlier last month said he would no longer use the title Duke of York following new revelations about his friendship with Epstein and renewed sexual abuse allegations by Epstein victims Virginia Roberts Giuffre in her posthumous memoir.

He has previously been pictured in dark green Range Rovers bearing DOY plates as well as a green Bentley valued at 220,000.

Experts have now described his former plates as having little worth to anyone else.

James Constantinou, co-founder and CEO owner of nationwide pawnbroker chain Prestige Pawn, told the Daily Mail: 'The plates seen on a number of vehicles associated with Andrew are of course only personal to the former Duke.

'As such, they would have been of low value and certainly low hundreds as opposed to thousands of pounds in value - even prior to his personal affairs being recently aired.

'Now that there are further rumours and revelations relating to Andrew's connections with Epstein, then I suspect even the most avid of royal memorabilia collectors would shy away from wanting to add the plates to their collection.

Andrew is pictured here driving on the Windsor Great Park estate in May 2017

'As the only potential purchasers outside the royal family would have been buyers or collectors of royal artefacts and memorabilia, then the plates are relatively worthless.'

Yet Mr Constantinou, who came to fame on Channel 4's Posh Pawn, did add: 'This doesnt mean that all plates associated with a duke are currently worthless.

'Although "Duke 1" is not in a format that would be issued by the DVLA, if it were it would likely be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.'

The Mail on Sunday last month revealed how Andrew tried to involve the Metropolitan Police and one of Queen Elizabeth's most senior aides in a campaign to smear Ms Giuffre, who had accused him of assaulting her as a teenager.

An email exposed how Andrew asked his taxpayer-funded police bodyguard to investigate the 'lying' young woman.

The prince is said to have passed on details of her date of birth and social security number, thought to have been given to him by Epstein.

He also claimed Virginia, who took her own life earlier this year, had criminal convictions.

That suggestion has not been backed up by any evidence or confirmed by police and has been strongly denied by her family.

Andrew, Virginia Giuffre and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in a photo reportedly taken in 2001, when Giuffre was 17

The downfall of Prince Andrew comes amid scandals surrounding his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (pictured together in 2010)

An earlier email expose proved that Andrew lied to Buckingham Palace and the British public when he claimed he had cut off all contact with his close friend in December 2010, following Epstein's release from prison on child-sex charges.

Twelve weeks later, he emailed the sex offender financier to say they were 'in this together' and sickeningly expressed his wish to 'play some more soon'.

Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, alleged she was forced to have sex three times with Andrew, which he vehemently denies, including when she was 17 and also during an orgy, after she was trafficked by Epstein.

Andrew paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with her in 2022, despite insisting he had never met her.

The King is said to have decided the fate of his brother Andrew with a phone call.

Palace insiders told the Times that Charles' decision was a sign of the monarch's 'steel' after he made a private phone call to Andrew to break the news of his decision, which was only made after the King wondered how his brother would cope.

A royal source said: 'For a while, there were significant welfare issues. His entire raison d'etre revolves around status. We were asking ourselves: 'Can he cope?' In the end, we reached a tipping point and he was made to see sense.'

An insider also said: 'In the past three years of the King's reign we have seen his humanity, warmth and compassion,' a royal source said. 'Now, we've seen his steel.'

The King stripped his younger brother of his prince title and announced Andrew would move out of his home at the Royal Lodge in Windsor on Thursday night

The late Virginia Giuffre, whose posthumous autobiography has now been published, is seen here with a photo of herself - this picture was taken in 2022

Buckingham Palace said on Thursday that the King's moves against Andrew were 'deemed necessary notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him'.

The statement said: 'His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew.

'Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.

'Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.

'These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.

'Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.'

The IOPC police watchdog has suggested the Metropolitan Police ask whether there are any matters it should now look into having failed to previously investigate Andrew.

A spokesperson for the Met said it was first made aware of allegations around non-recent trafficking for sexual exploitation in 2015 which 'related to events outside the UK and an allegation of trafficking to central London in March 2001'.

It has been claimed Andrew is set to get a six-figure payout and an annual payment as part of his 'relocation settlement' after being forced out of the Royal Lodge (pictured)

Andrew is seen here with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson at Ascot in 2019

They added that following legal advice, 'it was clear that any investigation into human trafficking would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK', so officers concluded that 'other jurisdictions and organisations were better placed to pursue the specific allegations'.

And in November 2016, a decision was made that this matter would not proceed to a full criminal investigation, the force said.

It has been claimed Andrew is set to get a six-figure payout and an annual payment as part of his 'relocation settlement' after being forced out of the Royal Lodge.

The annual payment privately funded by the King would be potentially worth several times his 20,000-a-year Royal Navy pension.

The report of the payout comes as claims suggest that the decision to strip Andrew of his honours and titles was influenced by the Queen's concerns about his impact on her work with sex abuse victims.

Camilla has supported survivors of sex attacks and domestic abuse for years and it was recently revealed in a new book that she herself fought off a man who groped her on a train when she was a teenager.

Andrew reportedly agreed to leave Windsor after his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson made it clear that she would be leaving the property.

She will not be moving to Sandringham and will have to find her own new home.
Keir Starmer is refusing to reopen the probe into Rachel Reeves' illegal lettings scandal despite fresh revelations today.

The PM still believes no further action is needed even though it has emerged the Chancellor was warned she needed a licence by a second firm of estate agents.

Ms Reeves has been engulfed by scandal since the Daily Mail last week revealed that she had been illegally renting out her south London property for 3,200 a month without the proper licence.

After initially telling Sir Keir she had been unaware of the rules, she was humiliated when emails between her husband and their lettings agency, Harvey & Wheeler, revealed extensive conversations about the need to secure the paperwork.

Now a source has told The Mail on Sunday that before engaging that company, Ms Reeves and her husband had approached blue-chip estate agency Knight Frank about managing the property  and were warned about the need for the licence.

The revelation raises fresh questions about the Chancellor's initial insistence to the PM that she was not aware of the legal requirements, given that two separate estate agents raised the issue.

On Saturday night a Knight Frank spokesman said: 'It is standard procedure to notify all clients of their legal and regulatory obligations when letting a property.'

Sir Keir has already rebuked his Chancellor for not checking the email chain with Harvey & Wheeler before making her original protestations of innocence.

But Defence Secretary John Healey insisted in interviews this morning that sleaze adviser Sir Laurie Magnus had made clear there was no further action needed and 'that remains the PM's view'.

Rachel Reeves was warned by a second firm of estate agents that she needed a licence to let out her family home, The Mail on Sunday has been told. Pictured: The Chancellor with her husband, Nicholas Joicey

Under pressure: Sir Keir Starmer had rebuked Ms Reeves for not checking her emails before protesting her innocence  but previously insisted there is 'no need' for further action

Ms Reeves finally applied for a licence on Friday, but still faces the threat of having to hand back a year's worth of rent  around 38,000  to her tenants for illegally renting out her south Dulwich property

Shadow Treasury Minister, Gareth Davies said: 'Each day brings fresh questions about Rachel Reeves' account. This latest revelation casts serious doubt on her claim not to have known about the need for a licence. Her story seems to shift with every explanation.

'The Prime Minister must now get to the bottom of this and order a full investigation without delay.'

It is not clear why Knight Frank did not end up managing the property on behalf of Ms Reeves and her husband Nicholas Joicey after she moved to Downing Street.

When asked if it was because of the lack of a licence, the spokesman said: 'That was not the reason.'

The Daily Mail first made the bombshell revelations about the Chancellor's lack of a licence on Wednesday evening.

After Ms Reeves claimed that she and her husband were unaware of the requirement, the Prime Minister consulted Sir Laurie Magnus, his independent adviser on Ministerial standards, who told him that further investigation was not necessary.

The emails then revealed that the couple had indeed been aware that they needed to get a licence from Southwark council to let their home in Dulwich.

The Prime Minister is desperate to exonerate Ms Reeves in order to avert the political catastrophe of losing his Chancellor less than a month before she delivers the Budget

Harvey & Wheeler said it took responsibility for the 'oversight' because the staff member responsible for applying for the licence on her behalf had suddenly resigned before the tenancy began.

Sir Laurie then told the PM Ms Reeves had committed an 'unfortunate but inadvertent error' but did not need to resign, allowing Sir Keir to clear her for a second time.

The Prime Minister wrote to her: 'It would clearly have been better if you and your husband had conducted a full trawl through all email correspondence with the estate agency before writing to me yesterday.'

Despite this, he concluded that she had acted in 'good faith' and said: 'I still regard this as a case of an inadvertent failure to secure the appropriate licence, which you have apologised for and are now rectifying'.

Ms Reeves conceded it was her responsibility to secure the so-called Selective Licence, and admitted they had found emails in which Harvey & Wheeler told them about the requirements.

The firm said they would apply for a licence on their behalf, but Ms Reeves added: 'They have also confirmed today they did not take the application forward, in part due to a member of staff leaving.

'Nevertheless... I accept it was our responsibility to secure the licence. I also take responsibility for not finding this information yesterday and bringing it to your attention.'

The Prime Minister is desperate to exonerate Ms Reeves in order to avert the political catastrophe of losing his Chancellor less than a month before one of the most critical Budgets of the modern era.

Ms Reeves finally applied for a licence on Friday, but failing to obtain a licence is a criminal offence and can be punished with an unlimited fine on prosecution, a fine of 30,000 as an alternative to prosecution, or an order to pay back up to 12 months' rent  almost 38,000 in Ms Reeves' case.

Southwark council advises tenants to apply to a tribunal to recoup rent if a landlord has not had an appropriate licence.

No 10 insists that Ms Reeves' housing scandal is different from that of Angela Rayner, who was forced to resign in September over her failure to pay 40,000 in stamp duty.

Asked if the Chancellor was 'unsackable' as she is due to deliver the Budget, the PM's spokesman said: 'These are distinct and separate cases. There was a ruling from the independent adviser in this case.

'The Prime Minister agrees with that and sees no need for any further action.'

When asked about the Knight Frank advice, Ms Reeves' spokesman said: 'You have the conclusion of Laurie Magnus, and the exchange of letters from October 30 where Rachel Reeves references correspondence from Harvey & Wheeler that says a Selective Licence would be required.'
An aid worker who has been witnessed hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the slaughter and starvation sweeping across Sudan has told of the 'nightmarish' situation.

This is the worlds biggest humanitarian crisis right now and we are at breaking point, Mathilde Vu, advocacy manager for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), told the Daily Mail.

The NRC is one of the few western NGOs currently operating in Darfur, where two years of civil war have had apocalyptic results.

This week, shocking images emerged from Al-Fasher, where rebels from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were accused of mass atrocities as they attacked the city they had besieged for more than 18 months.

The World Health Organisation said the RSF had killed more than 460 patients and staff inside the Saudi maternity hospital.

We are at breaking point, Ms Vu told the Mail in a video call.

Al-Fasher was a city of 1million people but has been ringed by the RSF with a sand berm to stop people leaving - and any outside help from entering.

Since May of 2024, no humanitarian aid has been able to get through, and no food, and no-one could leave. People are starving and have resorted to eating animal fee, said Mathilde.

This is the worlds biggest humanitarian crisis right now and we are at breaking point, Mathilde Vu (pictured), advocacy manager for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), told the Daily Mail

Displaced families from el-Fasher are pictured at a displacement camp where they sought refuge from fighting between government forces and the RSF

A woman is seen piling together sticks in a camp in the town of Tawila in war-torn Sudan's western Darfur region

They have been bombed and shelled on a weekly basis, but then this week the violence escalated and transformed into a very planned, calculated mass campaign of destruction, with a major assault on the city - especially on civilians.

Thousands and thousands of people have had to flee, but what is even more horrible is that many dont make it. Between Al Fasher and Tawila, where our base is, then are 40 miles of desert that people cross on foot, or on donkey for the most part in families or in big groups.

Along the way, they face a series of armed checkpoints or mobile gunmen, where they are likely to be detained for looting, rape and execution. Its a nightmare. Weve seen videos of people being chased and killed in cold blood.

One person we spoke to this week had been in a group of 60, and 20 of them were killed along the way. Thats why in Tawila, weve only received around 5,000 people who have made it - the very big worry is what has happened to tens of thousands of people who are fleeing all the time?

And in even the relative safety of Tawila, the half-million or so displaced people are living in appalling conditions, said Mathilde.

Were just in a complete situation of desperation. Even in June when we had 300,000 people, the place was completely overwhelmed, and that felt like breaking point.

The team felt despairing, that we were just delaying death rather than saving lives. Then the rainy season came upon us and there was a major cholera outbreak with no latrines and people defecating in the open. Flies everywhere and very little access to clean water.

But even against the backdrop of unimaginable daily horror, individual stories still have the power to shock.

The grandmother of one of the displaced, Ikram Abdelhameed, looks on next to her family while sitting at a camp for displaced people who fled from al-Fashir to Tawila

The grandmother of Ikram Abdelhameed looks on while sitting at a camp for displaced people who fled from al-Fashir to Tawila

A grandchild of Ikram Abdelhameed looks on while sitting at a camp for displaced people who fled from al-Fashir to Tawila

Mathilde admitted she found one account, from a boy aged eight or nine, heart-breaking.

He was in Al-Fasher and his parents and siblings were all killed in an artillery strike. He suffered a broken leg from shrapnel, and someone put a splint on the limb.

'Alone and wounded he remained in the city until hunger and violence forced him to flee and he escaped with others one night, just before the mass slaughter began this week.

Somehow he was able to hobble out of the city to its northern gate and continued into the desert. Eventually he was lifted onto some trucks that were transporting people into Tewila, and he arrived on October 23.

Since then, he told us he had been wandering from group to group, trying to find a family who would allow him to share their shelter.

As many as one in ten of the families arriving in Tawila have children with them who are not their own, she said.

Thats because their parents were either killed or lost on the way, so theyve been picked up and protected by a family they dont know.

One woman we talked to had two young children with her who were fleeing, and when they reached Tawila, she had to explain to them that their mother had been killed.

A medic waits in a makeshift clinic as displaced Sudanese gather after fleeing Al-Fashir city in Darfur, in Tawila

Major cities are completely destroyed, and the entire economy is collapsing', an aid worker said

Mathilde and her colleagues say that western governments have neglected the crisis which has afflicted Sudan and its neighbours.

The numbers are so high, its impossible to really contemplate, she said. Imagine 25million people in dire conditions suffering from core hunger, then 11million people displaced - its insane.

Major cities are completely destroyed, and the entire economy is collapsing. And its not just Sudan, this stretches from the Red Sea across the Sahel.

These are some of the poorest countries in the world and the frustration is seeing the world, and Western governments, particularly, not really addressing this crisis at all.

Earlier this week, the Mail revealed that the sand around Al Fasher is now stained red with pools of blood so thick they can be seen from space, following the massacre in which at least 2,000 civilians died.

Satellite images also captured piles of bodies, of mainly women and children, who were tragically targeted during the two-day ethnic purge after the city fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Following more than 18 months of brutal siege warfare, the group has now gained control over every state capital in the cast Darfur region.

Allies of the army, the Joint Forces, said on Tuesday that the RSF 'committed heinous crimes against innocent civilians, where more than 2,000 unarmed citizens were executed and killed on October 26 and 27, most of them women, children and the elderly'.

The northeast African nation was plunged into a deadly conflict in mid-April 2023, when long-simmering tensions about the future of the country between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the head of the paramilitary rebel group erupted

Fighting exploded in the capital Khartoum but rapidly spread, where it is now estimated that at least 150,000 people have been killed, including many civilians

The civil war has forced more than 14 million people to flee their homes and left some families eating grass in a desperate attempt to survive as famine swept parts of the country

The total death toll could not immediately be confirmed, but the shocking satellite images taken after the fall of El Fasher showed evidence of the mass killings.

Body-sized objects were seen in the satellite images clustered around vehicles and nearby an RSF sand berm built around the city. There have been reports of civilians being gunned down as they attempted to break out and flee the bloodshed.

Analysis by the Yale School of Public Health Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), which has been tracking the siege using open source images and satellite imagery, found clusters of objects 'consistent with the size of human bodies' and 'reddish ground discolouration' thought to be either blood or disturbed soil.

The northeast African nation was plunged into a deadly conflict in mid-April 2023, when long-simmering tensions about the future of the country between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the head of the paramilitary rebel group erupted.

Fighting exploded in the capital Khartoum but rapidly spread, where it is now estimated that at least 150,000 people have been killed, including many civilians.

The civil war has forced more than 14 million people to flee their homes and left some families eating grass in a desperate attempt to survive as famine swept parts of the country.
Disgraced former prince Andrew Mountbatten Windsor faces being stripped of his honorary vice-admiral rank and could even lose his medals, ministers say.

Andrew was made a vice-admiral on his 55th birthday in 2015 and retained the rank after giving up his other military positions in 2022 amid controversy over his friendship with the late US financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

But now Defence Secretary John Healey has suggested he could lose those honours in yet a further humiliation after ceding his titles of Prince and Duke of York.

The new moves would need the blessing of King Charles, a former Royal Navy officer and Andrew's elder brother, Mr Healey said.

Mr Healey told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: 'In general, the Government's been guided by the decisions and judgments the King has made.

'In defence, it's exactly the same - and we've seen Andrew surrender the honorary positions he's had throughout the military, and guided again by the King, we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral that he has.'

Asked whether Andrew could lose his military medals as well, Mr Healey said they were 'medals for his service' - Andrew having been part of Navy efforts in the 1982 Falklands War against Argentina.

Mr Healey added: 'I don't have an update for you on that, but just as with his vice-admiral rank and title, we would be guided by the decisions the King makes.'

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor served with the Royal Navy in the 1982 Falklands War - he is pictured here arriving back at Portsmouth Harbour after travelling on HMS Invincible

It has now been suggested that the former prince could lose his Vice Admiral ranking and medals - he is seen here at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh in September 2022

Andrew was 22 when he served as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands War - and was pictured with a rose in his mouth when welcomed back at Portsmouth Harbour, after arriving on HMS Invincible, by family including the late Queen Elizabeth II.

He was three years into his military career when he joined the taskforce which sailed 8,000 miles to the South Atlantic following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands.

He was hailed at the time for manoeuvring his Sea King so it acted as a decoy target to divert Exocet missiles away from ships.

He also took part in casualty evacuations and anti-submarine warfare and witnessed the deaths of 12 British sailors when Argentine rockets sank the SS Atlantic Conveyor.

When stripped of most of his military honours in 2022, he did retain the honorary rank of Vice Admiral which was granted by the Navy on his 55th birthday in 2015.

He had been due to be promoted to admiral on his 60th birthday in 2020 but asked to defer this after stepping down from public duties.

Andrew, who remained on the Navy's Active List until 2001, had also been Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Lossiemouth, Royal Colonel of the Royal Highland Fusiliers (2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland) and Colonel-in-Chief of the 9th/12th Lancers, the Royal Irish Regiment, the Small Arms School Corps and the Yorkshire Regiment.

Buckingham Palace announced last Thursday how Andrew would no longer be known as a prince and would leave Royal Lodge in Windsor - instead taking up residence ahead on the family's Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Andrew served in the Falklands War and started his military career as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot in 1979

King Charles stripped his brother of titles after weeks of pressure to act over Andrew's relationship with Epstein, who died in prison in August 2019 aged 66.

Andrew earlier last month said he would no longer use the title Duke of York following revelations about his friendship with Epstein and renewed sexual abuse allegations by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre in her posthumous memoir.

The Mail on Sunday last month revealed how Andrew tried to involve the Metropolitan Police and one of Queen Elizabeth's most senior aides in a campaign to smear Ms Giuffre, who had accused him of assaulting her as a teenager.

An email exposed how Andrew asked his taxpayer-funded police bodyguard to investigate the 'lying' young woman.

The prince is said to have passed on details of her date of birth and social security number, thought to have been given to him by Epstein.

He also claimed Virginia, who took her own life earlier this year, had criminal convictions, a claim which has not been backed up by any evidence or confirmed by police and has been strongly denied by her family.

An earlier email expose proved that Andrew lied to Buckingham Palace and the British public when he claimed he had cut off all contact with his close friend in December 2010, following Epstein's release from prison on child-sex charges.

Twelve weeks later, he emailed the sex offender financier to say they were 'in this together' and sickeningly expressed his wish to 'play some more soon'.

Andrew in regalia of the 2nd Logistic Battalion in New Zealand. In 2022, he lost his honorary title of Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment

Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, alleged she was forced to have sex three times with Andrew, which he vehemently denies, including when she was 17 and also during an orgy, after she was trafficked by Epstein.

Andrew paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with her in 2022, despite insisting he had never met her.

The King is said to have decided the fate of his brother Andrew with a phone call.

Palace insiders told the Times that Charles's decision was a sign of the monarch's 'steel' after he made a private phone call to Andrew to break the news of his decision, which was only made after the King wondered how his brother would cope.

A royal source said: 'For a while, there were significant welfare issues. His entire raison d'etre revolves around status. We were asking ourselves: "Can he cope?" In the end, we reached a tipping point and he was made to see sense.'

An insider also said: 'In the past three years of the King's reign we have seen his humanity, warmth and compassion,' a royal source said. 'Now, we've seen his steel.'

Buckingham Palace said on Thursday that the King's moves against Andrew were 'deemed necessary notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him'.

The statement said: 'His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew.

A Royal Navy veteran, Andrew was named the Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps until 2019. He is pictured aboard the Indian aircraft carrier INS Viraat in Mumbai, India, in May 2012

The ex-prince, who remained on the Navy's Active List until 2001, was also Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm and Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Lossiemouth (pictured above)

'Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.

'Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.

'These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.

'Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.'

It has been claimed Andrew is set to get a six-figure payout and an annual payment as part of his 'relocation settlement' after being forced out of the Royal Lodge.

The annual payment privately funded by the King would be potentially worth several times his 20,000-a-year Royal Navy pension.

The report of the payout comes as claims suggest that the decision to strip Andrew of his honours and titles was influenced by the Queen's concerns about his impact on her work with sex abuse victims.

Camilla has supported survivors of sex attacks and domestic abuse for years and it was recently revealed in a new book that she herself fought off a man who groped her on a train when she was a teenager.

The King stripped his younger brother of his prince title and announced Andrew would move out of his home at the Royal Lodge in Windsor on Thursday night

The downfall of Andrew comes amid scandals surrounding his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (pictured together in 2010)

The late Virginia Giuffre, whose posthumous autobiography has now been published, is seen here with a photo of herself - this picture was taken in 2022

Andrew, Virginia Giuffre and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in a photo reportedly taken in 2001, when Giuffre was 17 years old

Andrew reportedly agreed to leave Windsor after his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson made it clear that she would be leaving the property.

She will not be moving to Sandringham and will have to find her own new home.

A statement released by Ms Giuffre's family members following last Thursday's announcement said they would 'continue Virginia's battle' and that all abusers and abettors connected to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell needed to be held to account.'

Earlier this month, The Mail on Sunday published correspondence between Andrew and Epstein from 2011, revealing how Andrew told the disgraced financier that they should 'keep in close touch' and that they would 'play some more soon'.
Two people have been arrested after a knife rampage on a London North Eastern Railway train between Doncaster and London King's Cross.

Ten people were rushed to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge with stab wounds.

British Transport Police received reports of the incident at 7.42pm on Saturday before attending the scene in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, where armed officers boarded the train and detained the two suspects.

People are said to have hid in toilets as one suspect carried a 'big knife', witnesses said, while others claimed they were trampled on as distressed passengers attempted to flee the chaos.

Armed police descended on the platform and 'Tasered a man waving a large knife', bystanders also claimed.

Train operator LNER issued a 'do not travel' warning to passengers - while there have been concerns raised about safety on rail services and suggestions that extra airport-style security measures be put into place.

In our last poll, Mail readers were asked: 'Should Andrew be removed from the royal line of succession?'

Out of more than 28,000 votes, 93 per cent said 'yes' and seven per cent said 'no'.
Five hikers have been found dead after they were swallowed by a deadly avalanche in the Italian Alps.

The bodies of two men and one woman were recovered on Saturday, while the bodies of two other missing people, a man and his 17-year-old daughter, were found on Sunday morning in South Tyrol, northern Italy.

All five victims were German nationals.

An Alpine rescue spokesperson said the mountaineers were struck by the avalanche at about 4pm on Saturday while climbing near Cima Vertana, in the Ortles mountains, at an altitude of more than 11,500 ft.

It is unknown why the climbers were still on their way up at this relatively late hour, rescuers said.

According to initial information, the climbers were in three groups and were traveling independently of each other when the cascade of snow and ice swept them away.

Two men survived the accident and were taken by helicopter to a hospital in the near city of Bolzano.

South Tyrol is a popular region for mountaineering among tourists from Germany. The regions highest peak is Ortles, which rises to nearly 13,000 ft.

Five German mountaineers have died after being hit by an avalanche in northern Italy

A mountain rescue helicopter flies in front of the snow-covered Ortler mountains in search of missing mountaineers after an avalanche struck

Two men survived the accident and were taken by helicopter to a hospital in the near city of Bolzano. This photo released by the Italian Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps on Sunday shows the site where the five mountaineers were struck by the avalanche on Saturday

Avalanche accidents are a persistent issue in the Italian Alps, with the country registering one of the higher 10-year average annual death tolls among major ski nations.

Victims are frequently ski mountaineers or free-riders.

Some analysis suggests that the number of accidents has increased in recent years possibly due to more people heading to back-country areas immediately after fresh snowfall.

Earlier this year, a British man was swept to his death in an avalanche at the top of a French ski resort following a huge snow storm.

The 27-year-old was found buried under the snow at the entrance to the resort of Val Thorens in April.

Emergency services rushed him to Grenoble Hospital where he was declared dead the following day.
Campaigners have reported a surge in tenants demanding cash back from landlords after Rachel Reeves' illegal letting furore.

A charity recommended by the Chancellor's local council said her failure to get a licence to let her family home after moving to Downing Street had 'raised awareness'.

Justice for Tenants said calls about rent repayment orders (RROs) had jumped 26 per cent since the Daily Mail revealed the situation on Wednesday night.

Ms Reeves put her four-bedroom detached house in Dulwich on the market for 3,200 a month last year, and her register of interests states she has received rental income since September 2024.

But she did not get a 900 licence to let the property out, despite being apparently notified by two agents that one would be required.

The minister's husband was assured that the agent would take care of the licence, but Ms Reeves has apologised that the process was not followed up.

Campaigners have reported a surge in tenants demanding cash back from landlords after Rachel Reeves ' illegal letting furore

Southwark Council has vowed to crack down on unlicensed letting, with its website advising tenants that Justice for Tenants can help them get money back

The Daily Mail exclusively revealed on Wednesday night that the Chancellor had been renting out her family home (pictured) without a licence since entering Downing Street

Ms Reeves looks set to avoid enforcement measures from Southwark Council as those are typically only deployed if landlords do not act when warned about the lack of a licence.

However, the council's website advises tenants that they can apply to a Tribunal to recoup rent under a separate process.

It says the 'rent repayment orders' can be up to a year of payments, which in Ms Reeves' case would be around 38,000.

The Chancellor could be liable even though there is no suggestion she did anything wrong as a landlord apart from not getting the licence. There is no indication whether Ms Reeves' own tenants are considering applying for money to be returned.

People are pointed towards Justice For Tenants for help applying for refunds - which boasts it has a 'success rate of above 98 per cent'.

If a Tribunal makes an award for repayment, it can be enforced as if it were a debt in the county court.

Justice for Tenants outreach lead Al Mcclenahan told the Telegraph: 'Our helpline services have seen a significant increase in the number of enquiries from tenants who discovered their landlord is unlicensed following Wednesday's news about the Chancellor's own failure to license her property.

'Now, a lot of these callers have correctly identified that their landlord lacks a licence, but misunderstand the law as their property isn't covered by licensing rules.

'However, many concerned tenants do live in areas with additional HMO or Selective Licensing, meaning they could take action against their landlord  and get up to 12 months' rent repaid.'
Pregnant 'drugs mule' Bella Culley has to toast her bread over a candle flame as she awaits her sentence in a Georgian prison, her mother has claimed.

The British teenager has spent five months behind bars after she was found with 200,000 worth of cannabis in her luggage when she arrived in Tbilisi in May.

Culley, 19, reached a plea bargain this week which will see her handed a two-year sentence on Monday after her family pay an eye-watering 140,000 fine.

Speaking to the BBC, her mother Lyanne Kennedy, 44, revealed that Culley, who is 35 weeks pregnant, has been moved to a mother and baby prison after being locked up in Georgia's Rustavi Prison Number Five, where there was only a hole in the ground for a toilet and could only shower twice a week.

Now, the Teesside teen is allowed to cook for herself and has been cooking pasta in a kettle and toasting bread over a candle flame, her mother says.

Describing the improved conditions for her daughter, Lyanne said: 'She now gets two hours out for walking, she can use the communal kitchen, has a shower in her room and a proper toilet'.

She added that Culley and her cell mates all cook for each other, saying that 'Bella has been making eggy bread and cheese toasties, and salt and pepper chicken.'

Culley is due to give birth before Christmas after falling pregnant while travelling South East Asia with a man she said was not involved in drug smuggling.

Pregnant 'drugs mule' Bella Culley has to toast her bread over a candle, her mother has claimed

Culley's mother seen arriving in court on October 28.

The teenager did not not even know Georgia was a country when she was arrested, touching down in the capital, Tbilisi, in May. Prior to her arrest, she had been reported missing in Thailand.

She has insisted that a British gang threatened to kill her family if she didn't do as they told before being found with cannabis in her luggage.

Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalugelashvili told Tbilisi City Court on Tuesday: 'The plea bargain has been reached, our conditions have been met  two years of imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 Georgian Lari.'

Mr Malkhaz Salakaia, defending, said: 'I can confirm. All relevant parties have been informed as well. We would like to ask the judge to schedule one final hearing to pass the final verdict.

'She pleaded guilty, fully cooperated with the investigation, and the plea bargain has just been reached. So we would like to ask the judge to release her on bail, given her advanced pregnancy.'

But Judge Gelashvili said: 'There are no legal grounds for changing her conditions, I am afraid,' after a doctor ruled her conditions are 'satisfactory'.

On pleading guilty, Culley asked her lawyer: 'Will I be able to take the baby with me if I go back to jail?'

Culley, 19, reached a plea bargain this week which will see her handed a two-year sentence on Monday after her family pay an eye-watering 140,000 fine

Mr Salakaia responded: 'Nobody is going to take the baby away from you.'

Culley's time already served since May will be taken into account, meaning she has just over 18 months left behind bars.

It is understood that she may be permitted to move to house arrest in the last month of her pregnancy for 10 months in total.

Culley claims she was forced to peddle the drugs from Thailand to Georgia, claiming she was burned with a hot iron and shown a beheading video by a Thai gang.

She then claims she flew to Tbilisi - thinking that was the name of a country - not knowing she had 14kg of illegal cargo hidden in her bags.

It follows a huge surge in backpackers being targeted and groomed by British gangs who have flocked to Thailand.

The country recently legalised cannabis, meaning there is a massive illicit trade in smuggling it to Britain for huge mark ups.

After the National Crime Agency shut down a scheme to post it to Britain, they have reverted to grooming drug mules.

Sentencing is scheduled for 2pm local time next Monday.
Bob Maloubier and Claude Riffaud, founders of the French combat divers unit, were looking for a watch that met the specific needs of underwater missions. Fiechters prototype ticked all the boxes: water-resistant, legible, and robust. The Fifty Fathoms became the standard-issue instrument for the French Navy, and later for other armed forces.

But an administrative obstacle arose: France required military equipment to be purchased from domestic companies. Blancpain then partnered with Spirotechnique (part of the Air Liquide group), distributing the watches under the Aqualung brand. This partnership created a strong connection with Jacques-Yves Cousteau  as Air Liquide belonged to his wife's family. The Commander chose the Fifty Fathoms for his team during the filming of The Silent World.
An Illinois teen suddenly passed away after she became unresponsive during routine dental surgery.

Sophie Farmer, 17, was undergoing a wisdom teeth extraction at Northern Lakes Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center in Grayslake, about 50 miles outside of Chicago, when she passed out on July 21.

Grayslake Fire Department Chief Dan Pierre told People the 911 caller reported a person in cardiac arrest.

When paramedics arrived, Framer's heart had stopped beating, and she was not breathing.

The dental office had started an IV, and paramedics performed CPR and intubation, according to Pierre.

While in the ambulance, Farmer regained a pulse and started to breathe again, but she did not regain consciousness.

She was taken to Advocate Children's Hospital, where she died three days later on July 24, the Lake & McHenry County Scanner reported.

After three months of investigation, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office determined that she died of complications from a rare genetic disorder, ARID1B.

Sophie Farmer (pictured), 17, unexpectedly passed away after she began unconscious during routine dental surgery

After three months of investigation, the medical examiner's office determined Farmer (pictured with her father) died of complications from a rare genetic disorder, ARID1B

Her death was listed as 'natural', with the cause listed as 'complications of dental extraction surgery under sedation with ARID1B gene mutation and multiple neurologic abnormalities as contributing factors.'

ARID1B is a rare genetic disorder that causes significant developmental delays and disabilities, according to the Foundation for ARID1B Research.

'Children and adults with ARID1B-RD typically have intellectual disability of variable degree, and may also have autistic features, seizures, delays or (near) absence of speech, as well as daily living and motor impairments,' the foundation said.

'The disorder is probably underdiagnosed because of its diverse manifestations and the lack of availability of genetic diagnostic testing.'

Pierre called her death a 'sad ending to a 17-year-old girl's life,' adding that paramedics were not informed about any genetic abnormalities and that the department's incident record 'doesn't show that it was reported.'

Farmer's family described her as a 'beloved daughter' who was passionate about outdoor activities, animals and her faith.

'From the moment she came into our lives, Sophie filled our hearts with immeasurable love and laughter,' her obituary said.

'She loved boating, camping, and she never met a dog that she didn't want to keep. Above all else, Sophie loved the Lord.

Farmer's family said she 'filled our hearts with immeasurable love and laughter,' and loved to go boating and camping

She was undergoing a wisdom teeth extraction at Northern Lakes Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center (pictured) on July 21 when her heart stopped beating

'She was active in her youth group and loved to sing on the worship team. She had a tender heart for others and you would often find her praying over her friends.'

Farmer is survived by her parents, grandparents, brother and sister. Her funeral was held on August 2.
Tim Walz's daughter issued a blistering attack on Joe Rogan and his supporters, calling the podcaster a 'liar' who 'puts out misinformation.'

Hope Walz, 24, recently shared a video of herself slamming Rogan, 58, and his followers who she considers bad people.

The podcaster is a supporter of Donald Trump, but in recent times he has publicly criticized the president.

But for Hope, none of that matters.

The influencer, who's grown famous on TikTok following her father's failed bid to become the US vice president, said she and her friends consider a man a 'red flag' if they follow Rogan on social media.

The term is used to describe negative attributes that might make people steer clear of someone else, especially when it comes to romantic relationships.

'A litmus test for me and my friends for like years now has been if the guy we're talking to follows Joe Rogan on Instagram, they're a red flag and we should probably stop talking to them,' Hope said.

The Democrat's daughter went on to discuss what has happened in the past when her friends chose not to let a man go if they follow the podcaster, adding that the tactic has 'never failed us.'

Tim Walz's daughter Hope hit out on Joe Rogan and his followers, labeling them 'red flags' for following the famous podcaster

The liberal influencer also called Rogan (pictured in 2019) a 'liar' who 'puts out misinformation'

'And the times when they do follow him on Instagram and we haven't stopped talking to them, which was in the past obviously - it's never ended well. So yeah, I just want to say that I stand by that.

'It's literally never failed us and at this point it's like the first thing we do when someone starts talking to a new person. If they follow him, we're like yeah this person probably isn't a great person.

'And probably our values don't align so we're gonna move on from that, and honestly, it's worked out well for all of us,' Hope stated, adding that at times there has been 'some heartbreak' and 'disappointment' as a result of her and her friend's rule.

'But it truly is a litmus test, and I got you ladies. You should start doing it,' she continued before clarifying her views on Rogan.

'I very much stand by that. He's [Rogan] is questionable and unprofessional in my opinion, oops,' she said, rolling her eyes.

'I don't know how you have the largest podcast in the world and are able to just lie and put out misinformation and straight up lies on your platform,' Hope said, addressing Rogan directly.

The Daily Mail contacted Hope and Rogan for comment.

Since the 2024 presidential election, where her father ran alongside Kamala Harris, the Minnesota native has gained half a million TikTok followers.

Hope has gained half a million followers on TikTok following her father and Kamala Harris' White House defeat last year. (Pictured: Hope and Tim Walz)

She takes to her platforms to connect with the Gen Z population, discussing her political and pop culture opinions.

And now her push could possibly help gather more liberal voters, USA Today reported.

The outlet branded Hope her father's 'sidekick' who frequently helped the Minnesota governor throughout his campaigns.

'Walz drew a surge of media attention and prompted popular X posts on the campaign trail for cutting a rootsy profile like her father,' per USA Today.

And even though her father and Harris lost to Trump and Vice President JD Vance, the young Democrat has stayed involved in politics.

She believes she had to in order to help liberals win again in the next election, despite recent polls showing the party's favorability has hit record lows.

'There's more to all of us, and we don't do a good job at showing that, and so I'm going to show it in my own way,' Hope said of Democrats.

In a recent TikTok video she blamed the ongoing government shutdown on Trump and 'every single Republican' in Congress.

She also encouraged her followers to get vaccinated, appearing to respond to RFK Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services' skeptical stance on them.

'I do think people maybe gravitated towards me because they could see themselves,' Walz told the outlet of her followers.

'To some degree, I care deeply about issues and I'm very outspoken about them, but I'm also just a normal 24-year-old. I go to work, I go hiking on the weekend.'
A ground stop was issued at Newark Airport on Sunday morning over staffing issues as the government shutdown continues to cripple the nation.

The New Jersey airport, which sees nearly 1,200 of flights coming in and out every day, issued the advisory in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The delay is expected to last through 12.59pm on Monday, which will derail hundreds of travelers' plans.

There are currently 138 delayed and 56 cancelled flights out of Newark. Some arriving flights are facing two hour delays, according to Flightaware.

Newark is approximately the eighth busiest airport in the country, and serves about 50 carriers.

The ground stop comes after several airports across the US have faced massive staffing crises forced by the government shutdown, which began on October 1.

More than 13,000 air traffic controllers have been required to work without pay.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the stop for Newark between 7am and 8.45am, citing the impacting condition as a 'staffing' issue.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spoke out this morning about the ongoing delays across the US.

The New Jersey airport, which sees hundreds of flights coming in and out every day, issued the advisory in the early hours of Sunday morning

Stock image: Travelers stand in line at the check-in counter at Spirit Airlines at Newark Liberty International Airport on June 30

The airport is approximately the eighth busiest airport in the country , and serves about 50 carriers

'I've been talking to air traffic controllers and there really is frustration. There's a shutdown right now, the democrats are focusing on illegal healthcare,' he told ABC.

'They don't get paid as air traffic controllers. Those are burning frustrations, like in the rest of the country.'

Duffy added that 'safety is his top priority' and the administration will 'delay' and 'cancel any kind of flight across the national airspace to make sure people are safe.'

'There is a level of risk when we have a controller doing two jobs instead of one. We manage and look out for it.'

He reemphasized safety as the top priority for traveling Americans.

The Ground Delay Program - an air traffic management plan - is expected to be implemented at Newark if delays are continued.

The probability of extension was ranked at 'medium level,' meaning the ground stop may remain for a few more hours, derailing morning traveler's flight plans.

This is not the first time this week that Newark has been shut down over staffing issues. On October 29, delays lasted nearly 90 minutes at the airport.

Furious travelers who were preparing to fly out of the airport on Sunday morning expressed their rage at the ground stop.

One person wrote on X: 'Newark Airport is the biggest joke on the planet,' while another added: 'Newark Airport count your days.'

Another user slammed the current administration, writing: 'Took forever to get through Newark airport customs last night theres like nobody working.'

On Halloween, thousands of flights were delayed due to severe weather and staffing shortages resulting from the government shutdown.

Ground delays were issued across Orlando MCO, Austin-Bergstrom Airport and Nashville International Airport due to an air traffic control staffing shortage.

As of 3pm ET on Friday, 3,437 flights within, into or out of the United States have been delayed and 331 canceled, according to Flight Aware.

On Thursday, 7,250 flights were delayed and 1,249 were canceled across the country.

Thousands of passengers were left stranded in Orlando last night after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced there would be 'no certified controllers for a period of time', which would 'prevent landings' at Orlando Airport, the closest major airport to both Disney World and Universal Studios.

On October 24, chaos unfolded at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and San Diego Airport when unpaid air traffic controllers abandoned their towers.

And the issue plaguing American airports is set to continue - with even more flight interruptions expected after Congress failed to provide last-minute relief for air-traffic controllers and other federal aviation workers.

John F Kennedy Airport was among the giant international airports facing ground delays due to alarming weather and staffing crises on Friday.

The city's emergency management office wrote that JFK Airport - as well as LaGuardia - were under traffic restrictions.

JFK was under a full ground stop until midnight because of staff shortages, while further delays were caused by extreme windy conditions.

The shortages are sparking outrage among Republicans, as Vice President JD Vance warned on Thursday that holiday air travel could become a 'disaster' if the shutdown is not resolved.

'What happens when the security lines are not an hour long, but they're four hours long?

'What happens when pilots start not showing up for work because they're so focused on paying the bills, they can't fly the plane safely? That's going to lead to massive delays,' he said.

Vance added that federal workers missing paychecks could fail to show up for work, further straining airport operations.
READ MORE: The latest on Australian politics

The Coalition has slumped to its worst polling result on record as leader Sussan Ley struggles to keep control amid tense infighting.

A Newspoll, conducted for The Australian and published on Sunday, shows the Coalition's primary vote has fallen to just 24 per cent after weeks of public spats over the contentious net zero emissions target, which has led to a frontbench reshuffle.

One Nation, on the other hand, soared to a record 15 per cent as the party hoovers up right-leaning voters who say the Coalition has forgotten them. Votes for the major parties attract only 60 per cent of the vote  the lowest combined support since 1985.

Ley's leadership in particular has been a focus, with just 25 per cent of respondents in the poll satisfied with her performance, and 58 per cent unsatisfied  leaving her with a brutal net approval of 33.

This is even worse than Peter Dutton's lowest day as Opposition Leader.

Ley is battling multiple problems at once: an approval rating in freefall, Nationals MPs who have junked net zero altogether, and growing speculation Liberal colleagues could be mounting a leadership challenge.

The Nationals officially abandoned net zero on Sunday, with some Liberal MPs calling it an attempt to back the Liberals into a 'corner' and suggesting Ley should break up the Coalition.

'They are terrorists,' one unnamed Liberal MP told The Australian. 'The first rule of being a parasite is not to kill your host.'

The Coalition has crashed to its worst polling result on record with Sussan Ley's personal approval rating taking a dive

David Littleproud announced the Nationals are scrapping net zero as a policy on Sunday

The rift could see the Coalition split if some Liberal MPs get their way

Another Liberal put it just as bluntly: 'We can't keep letting the tail wag the dog.'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is understood to intend to use the Coalition's very public problems to spruik Labor's end-of-year agenda, including big environment-law changes to speed up clean-energy and housing projects.

But even he is feeling voter frustration.

Albanese slipped into negative territory for the first time since the election with the Newspoll showing just 46 per cent satisfied and 51 per cent dissatisfied.

But he still smashes Ley 5427 as preferred PM and Labor keeps a comfortable lead of 5743 in the two-party-preferred vote.

The Greens are down to 11 per cent.

One Nation has taken the lion share of the votes leaving the two major parties.

It is up 15 per cent  or four points in a month  and is now higher than its famous 1998 surge.

The PM has sunk in the polls recently but Labor is, on the whole, on solid ground in the polls

Coalition MPs are trying to reassure each other the nosedive is 'temporary' and won't last to the 2028 election.

In a span of two weeks, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Andrew Hastie have quit the frontbench and former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce walked out on the Nationals.

Ley's rating has fallen from 7 in July to 33 in the latest poll.

This puts her in the company of the least-liked opposition leaders of the past 40 years

Bill Shorten was the worst, followed by Simon Crean, Alexander Downer, and John Howard during his first-stint.

Under Dutton at the election the party's percentage was at 31.8 per cent.

Under Ley, since September , the party's polling has dropped from 29 per cent in July per cent to 24 per cent.
Erika Kirk has issued a fierce demand that the world should be able to see 'what true evil is' at her husband's suspected assassin's trial.

Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10.

His alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, was arrested and is now awaiting trial. If he is convicted of capital murder, the 22-year-old could be sentenced to death.

Erika, who is the CEO of the conservative organization her late husband once ran, sat down with Fox News's Jesse Watters in an emotional interview discussing whether she believes cameras should be allowed in the courtroom for Robinson's trial.

On Monday, District Court Judge Tony F Grant Jr ruled that cameras should be banned from showing 'him entering, exiting or standing in the courtroom'.

But the widow disagrees, telling Watters 'there is nothing to hide' and that everyone should be able to see the 'evil' that changed her life forever.

'Let everyone see what true evil is. This is something that could impact a generation and generations to come,' the mother-of-two said in the interview that is set to air on Wednesday on Jesse Watters Primetime.

She also mentioned that her husband's death was on camera and that her family has been on full display ever since.

Charlie Kirk's widow demanded cameras be allowed in the courtroom for her husband's suspected assassin's murder trial because people should be able to see 'what true evil is'

Charlie (pictured with Erika) was fatally shot while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10

'There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered,' Erika said as tears dripped down her face.

'There have been cameras all over my friends and family mourning. There have been cameras all over me, analyzing my every move, analyzing my every smile, my every tear.

'We deserve to have cameras in there. Why not be transparent? There's nothing to hide. I know there's not because I've seen what the case is built on,' she told Watters.

Erika's comments come after she said she has forgiven Robinson at her husband's memorial on September 21.

She told the crowd of more than 60,000 mourners at State Farm Stadium that her late husband would have wanted her to forgive his killer.

'He [Charlie] wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,' Erika said, sparking roars from the crowd and a standing ovation.

'That man, that young man, I forgive him,' Erika Kirk said while breaking into tears.

In addition to Robinson being granted the chance not to be filmed, Judge Grant Jr also ruled he will be allowed to wear civilian clothes for his trial.

The judge said he has allowed Robinson to wear civilian attire because 'the presumption of innocence remains'.

The suspected shooter, Tyler Robinson, 22, could face the death penalty if found guilty of capital murder

The defense argued a jury could be swayed by the sight of Robinson in jail clothes and shackles, as reported by Court TV.

Robinson, who did not appear on camera during that court ruling, was only heard speaking once when the judge asked if he could hear, 'Yes I can,' the suspected killer replied.

Although he will be allowed to avoid jail clothing, Robinson will have to wear handcuffs and shackles in the courtroom, the judge decided.

'The court recognizes that Mr Robinson has no criminal history and no record of misconduct while in custody, however the charges he faces are extraordinarily serious, carrying potential penalties of life imprisonment or death,' Judge Grant Jr added.

His restraints are not allowed to be photographed or recorded either, per the judge.

These decisions follow suit with two of the most recent prolific murder trials involving convicted murderer Bryan Kohberger and alleged assassin Luigi Mangione.

To make their case, they noted a 'highly publicized death penalty case in Ada County, Idaho' - referencing Kohberger, who pleaded guilty to brutally killing four University of Idaho students on July 2, 2025.

During his court proceedings Kohberger was allowed to wear a suit and appear without his handcuffs for his pretrial hearings.

Meanwhile, Mangione, who is accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was granted the chance to wear civilian clothes depending on what courthouse he is in.

Defense attorneys Richard G Novak, left, Michael N Burt, and Kathryn Nester, who are representing Tyler Robinson

A judge denied a request for him not to be shackled in court. He has since been seen on several occasions with restraints on his wrists and ankles during his appearances.

Robinson's lawyer previously argued: 'With each development in the case generating thousands of articles and comments online, the likelihood of potential jurors seeing and drawing conclusions regarding Mr Robinsons guilt and or deserved punishment from obvious signs of pretrial incarceration will only increase.

'Indeed, given the pervasive media coverage in this case, the repeated and ubiquitous display of Mr Robinson in jail garb, shackles, and a suicide vest will undoubtedly be viewed by prospective jurors and will inevitably lead to prospective juror perception that he is guilty and deserving of death.'
Donald Trump declared his desire for some alone time with his wife Melania at a glitzy Halloween party, a lip reader revealed.

The president hosted a Great Gatsby bash for his MAGA pals at Mar-a-Lago on Friday.

The official theme was 'A little party never killed nobody,' referencing the song from the 2013 film adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald's novel, the White House told ABC News.

Trump sat at a table with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, his wife Jeanette, as well as Judge Jeanine Pirro, and his son-in-law Michael Boulos, who is married to Tiffany Trump.

Video from the evening showed Trump whispering to Rubio about wanting to spend more time with the First Lady, lip reader Nicola Hickling told the Daily Mail.

'No small talk,' Trump said. 'One night, I dont want to be disturbed and want to spend some time with Melania before I leave.'

Guests shared photos of their 1920s-inspired outfits on social media, including Pirro, who wore a glittering green dress and other flapper garb.

Rubio's wife shared pictures of her silky white gown and long pearl necklace in a post caption, 'Great time last night at Mar-A-Lago.'

Donald Trump made a heartfelt confession to Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the First Lady at his Mar-a-Lago Halloween party

Trump told the Secretary of State, 'I dont want to be disturbed and want to spend some time with Melania before I leave'

Photos shared by Pirro showed she was sitting at the same table as the president wearing a green dress and other flapper garb

The president had a jam-packed week traveling across Asia, then stopping at the White House on Thursday to hand out candy to children with his wife before heading to his Florida residence.

Both Trump and the First Lady went viral for their interactions with kids at the trick-or-treating event.

Trump recreated his iconic 2019 candy bar moment by placing a piece of chocolate on a child who was dressed as DJ Marshmello.

Eagle-eyed fans noted that Trump played the same trick during his first term six years ago when he placed a piece of candy on top of a kid dressed as a Minion from the hit movie, Despicable Me.

Melania candidly showed off her maternal side while handing out candy, as she comforted a young girl who looked frightened by the Halloween decor surrounding her.

However, Trump's Roaring 20s themed event was not as well received with critics slamming the president for hosting the party on the day the Department of Agriculture planned to freeze payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) because it said it could no longer keep funding it due to the shutdown.

'Donald Trump hosted a Great Gatsby party while SNAP benefits were about to disappear for 42 million Americans. He does not give a damn about you,' California Governor Gavin Newsom said on X.

Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin claimed the party showed the president does not care about average Americans.

The president hosted a Great Gatsby bash for his MAGA pals at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, with the official theme of 'A little party never killed nobody,' referring to the song from the 2013 film adaption of the novel

Giant balloons were placed in the pool for decoration while guests wore 1920s inspired outfits to the party

Rubio's wife posted a picture of some of the other guests at the table with Trump, including her husband (right) and Trump's son-in-law Michael Boulos (left)

Guests shared photos of their 1920s-inspired outfits including Pirro's glittering green gown and Jeanette Rubio's silky white dress and long pearls

'Last night, Trump made it even clearer that he doesnt give a damn about anyone but himself and his wealthy friends,' he said.

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy said, 'The way he rubs his inhumanity in Americans' face never ceases to stun me.'

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly dismissed the critics, telling ABC News it is on Democrats to end the government shutdown.

'These Democrats are full of it,' she said. 'President Trump has consistently called on them to do the right thing and reopen the government, which they could do at any time.'
An unusual culprit has stripped a Colorado park of its shimmering wetlands and dam-building beavers.

Rocky Mountain National Park's Kawuneeche Valley has seen an influx of moose and elk that has led to an alarming decline of beavers and their homes.

These large mammals overgraze the willows, which are crucial for beavers' dams, causing a disruption in the ecosystem.

But the National Park Service has a plan to restore their environment and protect the affected animals.

Several forces joined together in 2020 to create Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Collaborative- a coalition plan to reserve the natural ecosystem of the park.

'KVRC aims to restore the Kawuneeche Valleys natural systems, benefitting people and wildlife,' according to its website.

A whopping $3.3 million has been raised for the environmental restoration project, Park Service ecologist Isabel de Silva Shewell told SFGate.

Rocky Mountain National Park's Kawuneeche Valley in Colorado, where the wetlands ecosystem is facing a drastic decline

Beavers and their dams are drastically decreasing in the national park as a result of the influx in moose and elk

Fences were installed along the creek on the parks west side to prevent large mammals from eating the beavers willows.

Workers have also installed 'beaver simulated dams' and plan to apply the same treatment to another waterway in the park.

'Were doing the "Field of Dreams,"' de Silva Shewell told the local outlet. 'Build it and they shall come.'

The ecosystems decline has been underway since 1953, as 94 percent of its beaver ponds and 98 percent of its tall willows have been lost.

Moose and elk are the primary contributors to the decline of willow populations, while wildfires have also damaged the wetlands.

Local government and non-profit organizations are on board, with collaborators funding the operation about $450,000, according to the park's website.

'We just have this great assortment of external grants funding the work, and Park Service staff are contributing labor support,' de Silva Shewell explained to the outlet.

Isabel de Silva (pictured) Park Service ecologist who is contributing to the restorative efforts to save the beavers

Stream along the scenic Kawuneeche Valley-Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Willows are beavers' main building supplies they need to survive in the valley, moose and elk are overgrazing on these plants

Along with the fence installation, 'low-tech structures' that mimic beaver behavior will be added.

Planting willows and other crucial plants, and removing non-native species, is also helping the valley's restoration.

'Restoration takes time, but its critical benefits make it worth the effort,' their website reads.
A man criminally charged with chopping down his neighbor's trees on a wealthy Massachusetts island scored a legal victory and had the case dropped.

Jonathan Jacoby, 55, was charged with felony vandalism, trespassing, and destroying trees on another person's land in July after he allegedly cut down several of his Nantucket neighbor's trees.

Earlier this year, his neighbor Patricia Belford, 80, accused Jacoby of breaking onto her property and cutting down 16 trees without her permission.

According to her $1.4 million lawsuit, Jacoby removed decades-old cherry, cedar and Leyland Cypress trees from the home in February 'with the specific purpose of improving the ocean view from his own property' - which he was trying to sell.

He was facing up to three years in prison until his lawyer got the case dismissed before his arraignment hearing on October 27, reported the Nantucket Current.

Jacoby's attorney, Jim Merberg, requested the charges be dropped after consulting with prosecutors.

Prosecutors told District Court Judge James Sullivan they would not be moving forward with the arraignment and acknowledged that Belford's lawsuit had been moved to federal court.

In the lawsuit, Jacoby is accused of doing unauthorized landscaping to make his stunning 4,491-square-foot beach compound at 3 Tautemo Way more appealing to potential buyers.

Jonathan Jacoby, 55, got the case dismissed after he was criminally charged with cutting down his neighbors trees near Cisco Beach (pictured) in Nantucket, Massachusetts

Earlier this year, his neighbor Patricia Belford, 80, accused Jacoby of breaking onto her Nantucket property and cutting down 16 trees (Pictured: evidence of chopped trees from Belford's lawsuit)

Nearly eight months after the alleged tree chopping, Jacoby's property sold for $7,875,000 on October 7, over $2 million less than the whopping $9,975,000 he was asking for.

The contemporary home was put on the market in May and the property listing described it as having 'sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean' and Hummock Pond.

Belford and Jacoby are next-door neighbors sharing a property line, but most of the trees taken down were far from that border, she said.

Hummock Pond, a salt-water pond on the southwestern part of Nantucket, and Cisco Beach are just fractions of a mile away from Tautemo Way.

And the only things inhibiting those 'sweeping views' of the nearby bodies of water were apparently the trees the Belfords planted in the 1970s.

Belford argued the trees added not only privacy, but value to her home - with a nursey estimating they each could cost thousands of dollars.

'Based on the number of trees removed, the replacement cost alone exceeds $486,000,' the document stated.

Belford (1 Tautemo Way) and Jacoby (3 Tautemo Way) are next-door neighbors sharing a property line, but Belford claimed Jacoby cut down trees far from the border

Belford claimed Jacob cut down the trees 'with the specific purpose of improving the ocean view from his own property' - which he was trying to sell

Jacoby's property sold for $7,875,000 on October 7. The listing description said the contemporary home has 'sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean' and Hummock Pond (pictured)

'This does not account for the historic value, loss of screening, increased noise, reduction in overall property value.

'Jacoby's actions were not only economically damaging but also emotionally devastating for Belford.'

In his response to Belford's lawsuit, Jacoby denied any wrongdoing and insisted that he had permission to chop down the trees and had done approved landscaping for his neighbor before.

'Jacoby had permission to remove the trees in question, just as he had permission to remove, and did remove, without complaint or question, two other trees on the same property on a previous occasion,' his filing said.

The next court hearing for the federal lawsuit is scheduled for April 6, 2026.
Oscar-winning actor Sir Mark Rylance has backed the controversial white poppy movement which argues Remembrance Sunday should be 'decolonised'.

Sir Mark, who featured in the World War II film Dunkirk, said next Sunday's event should 'refocus our every effort to avert war'.

The star, 65, has joined the Peace Pledge Union's (PPU) campaign and will launch its new project Every Casualty Counts, Memorial 2025.

In a social media post by the PPU, Sir Mark said: 'Remembrance Day should be a day to remember and grieve the great losses caused by war, but it should also be a day to refocus our every effort to avert war with all our tools of peaceful reconciliation of conflict.

'Too often in my life, Remembrance Day seems a kind of shoulder shrug that war is inevitable. I do not believe it is.'

He told the Telegraph he has 'always deeply admired' the meaning behind the white poppy, which he said focusses on the innocent lives that were killed at war, which 'now far outnumber the tragic military casualties'.

Sir Mark insisted the white poppy is not worn in opposition to the traditional red version, which is displayed in remembrance of military casualties.

Oscar-winning actor Mark Rylance pictured wearing a white poppy. The star has backed the controversial movement, which says Remembrance Sunday should be 'decolonised'

But one military officer described the actor's stance as a 'gut punch', saying it 'belittles' soldiers who 'paid the ultimate sacrifice'.

Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon said: 'Mark is very happy to take money to perform in a film like Dunkirk, but then just spits in the face of veterans still serving by wearing a white poppy.'

He added that the red poppy represents the blood of all those who died in the First World War while also honouring the deaths of civilians.

Colonel de Bretton-Gordon said Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Putin both viewed civilians as participants in war.

'[Putin] is trying to kill as many civilians as possible in Ukraine You shouldn't differentiate,' he added. 'I can't express it more determinedly how much I abhor this white poppy lot.'

Wearers of the white poppy, which was introduced in 1933, say it acts as a symbol of remembrance of all victims of war, regardless of their nationalities.

This year's focus for the National Alternative Remembrance Ceremony held by the PPU is looking at 'catastrophic loss of life in wars over the past year'.

Rylance pictured in 2017's Dunkirk with Kenneth Branagh. He said next Sunday's event should 'refocus our every effort to avert war'

The PPU said civilian deaths have increased over the last three years, mainly thanks to the violence in Gaza and Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Royal British Legion (RBL), which hands out the red poppy, said: 'The RBL defends the right to wear different poppies, and we welcome all conversations about the meaning of the poppy and the different ways people choose to remember.

'Our charitable objects are to support those who have served in the British Armed Forces, and their families, and the RBL's red poppy recognises their service and sacrifice in defence of peace, democracy, and freedom.'

Sir Mark won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor while starring alongside Tom Hanks in Steven Spielberg's Cold War spy thriller Bridge of Spies.
A series of solar panel rooftop fires have put Ed Miliband's green energy plans under scrutiny.

Blazes involving the renewable energy devices and their batteries rose faster than the rate of installations in 2024, soaring by 60 per cent over the last two years.

UK fire services responded to a solar panel fire once every two days, according to information collected by insurance company QBE.

Energy and Net Zero Secretary Mr Miliband is aiming to expand the UK's solar capacity to as much as 85 gigawatts by 2035 - a near fivefold increase from the current 18 gigawatts capacity.

The project mainly involves installing ground-mounted panels in vast solar farms in countryside across counties including Devon, Cornwall, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

But Mr Miliband's Solar Roadmap has also drawn up plans to fit panels on rooftops, adding to the 1.5 million already in place.

And the new data has cast doubt on their safety with 171 fires involving the equipment in 2024, up from 107 two years prior.

During the same period, the number of panels on UK rooftops has increased from 1.3 million to 1.7 million.

A series of solar panel rooftop fires have put Ed Miliband's green energy plans under scrutiny (Stock photo)

Energy and Net Zero Secretary Mr Miliband is aiming to expand the UK's solar capacity to as much as 85 gigawatts by 2035 - a near fivefold increase from the current capacity

Adrian Simmonds, a senior risk manager at QBE, told The Telegraph: 'Solar is essential to the UK's clean energy transition but the rapid pace of deployment is raising risk concerns.

'Our analysis shows fires involving solar panels have risen at twice the rate of new installations over the past two years. Safe solar panel installation and maintenance are essential to reducing fires.'

Faults were most commonly caused by inverters, electronic devices that turn the direct current emitted by the panels into the alternating current used by the electricity grid.

These devices must be well ventilated and kept away from obstructions because they create high levels of heat.

If they are wrongly placed in a loft or cupboard, they can get too hot and a blaze can start spreading quickly.

Modern solar systems also often use lithium-ion batteries, another fire risk which caused a blaze in Wickford, Essex, in August.

Fires can be particularly dangerous when they are allowed to spread from the roof down into the house itself.

The biggest risk is when panels are fitted close to or above rooftop windows or skylights.

A 1.5m mansion is seen in ruins after being destroyed by a huge fire thought to have been started by newly installed solar panels

Footage of the incident shows bright orange flames leaping 20ft into the air as it tore through the large detached property in Dorset

Mr Simmonds suggested that tighter regulations, better training and contracts stipulating that the panels must be regularly checked could all mitigate the risk of fire.

There have been several notable blazes believed to have been caused by solar panels in the last year, including a fire at a 1.5m mansion Ferndown, Dorset in May.

Firefighters were able to eventually douse the blaze, but not before it had completely destroyed the entire first floor and the roof of the mansion.

Solar Energy UK, the industry trade body, told The Telegraph: 'If properly installed and maintained, the risk of fire is exceptionally low and rooftop solar is, of course, one of the very best ways to slash energy bills. The relatively few incidents of fire should be viewed in that context.'

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman told The Telegraph: 'The risk of fire from solar panels is very low. Solar panels should always be fitted by a certified installer, and can help families save around 500 a year on their energy bills.'

The National Fire Chiefs Council was contacted for comment.
The Oregon city is committed to price containment, keeping it local and giving the passenger a radically new experience. Other airports are already asking for advice

As any traveler knows, airports across the globe are pretty much alike. The food is expensive, the big fashion brands are dominant, and global franchises control the shopping centers with prices that double and sometimes triple those in any city. This model has been perpetuated for decades and seemed impossible to change. But in Portland, Oregon, they have decided to give it a try. The stores at the new airport terminal are 100% local, the prices are exactly the same as in Portland itself, and the results seem to indicate that soon they wont be the only ones trying to break with a model that makes millions of passengers angry.

Most airports have one or several major concessionaires who build and operate vendor premises through licensing agreements or subleases. But at the Port of Portland, which manages PDX [Portland International Airport], we dont do that, says Chris Czarnecki, Director of Business and Properties at PDX. Most of our contracts are direct leases with the owners of each business, and that creates a more authentic experience for travelers while helping keep revenue inside our region.

It was not an easy task, but the renovation of the main terminal, in 2024, was the perfect opportunity to invest in a completely groundbreaking landscape. The Port of Portland is on a mission to use its resources, such as PDX, to make economic growth accessible to everyone in our region. And we had the opportunity to demonstrate that commitment with the renovation of the main terminal, which created 24 new spaces for restaurants and shops. Each of these spaces will be occupied by a local brand and 60% of them are owned by women and minorities, Czarnecki points out.

Interior of the new PDX main terminal, designed by ZGF studio. Ema Peter

Local shops and restaurants now occupy all the available spaces with priority given to small businesses, leading to new initiatives. We created the pop-up store program that we launched with the opening of the main terminal, where the Port of Portland created two rotating retail spaces each year. Its a way for small businesses that may not have the experience or financial backing to commit to a 10-year lease to learn how to operate at an airport, Czarnecki says.

The Portland model, including staff hire, emerged from a desire to eschew the schemes that govern airports around the world, as Kaitlin Hunter, senior concessions manager at PDX, explains: We wanted to make sure that the brands that were already here before the renovation could be part of the new airport, she says. We talked directly to those businesses to keep them going, and then we requested proposals for new businesses. In 2022, we encouraged community engagement through social media so that ordinary people could have a say in what they wanted to see at the airport. My team then spent hours talking to these businesses to gauge their interest and capability.

Local business benefiting from the pop-up shop program launched by Portland International Airport (USA). Celeste Noche ( 2022 Celeste Noche)

The process culminated in a selection committee made up of internal and external partners who decided which businesses to invite, evaluating the proposals according to concept, feasibility, financial statements, community involvement, and employer-employee relationship. This ensures that salespeople are a good fit for the airport and have a chance of success. And theres one last factor thats equally important, Hunter says: We also wanted to sign contracts with businesses that treated their employees well in terms of wages, benefits, hours, and policies.

A Portland Airport local business. JOSH KULLA

The reaction to the new shops and restaurants in the main terminal has been incredibly positive according to the websites that are dedicated to evaluating this type of venue and initiative. People love the options, as well as the Port of Portlands pricing policy, which prevents vendors from charging more at PDX than at their off-airport locations, Hunter says. Traveler surveys are conducted every quarter to better understand who is using the facility and how, so improvements are made daily, thanks to a huge database.

In the third quarter of 2025, the number one answer to the question, What was your best airport experience today? was, The main terminal, and concessions are a big part of that, says Hunter. One traveler, for example, commented, I love the atmosphere in general. Natural light. I love the shops and food options. And all the workers are very friendly. The airports modern and welcoming design by the local architect studio ZGF has earned it unanimous praise and multiple awards.

A Portland Airport local business. JOSH KULLA

Last June, for example, PDX was recognized as one of the most beautiful airports in the world by Prix Versailles, an architecture and design award that is announced every year at Unesco. Our concessions program will continue to focus on local brands and we will continue to look for ways to reduce barriers for businesses to operate in PDX, says Hunter. When asked if Portland is simply a one off, Czarnecki is clear: Not at all. Other airports can follow this model, he insists. In fact, several have come to us to ask us how we did it. Managing individual leases involves more work, but we think its worth it for the benefits it brings to travelers and local businesses. Every airport must find what works for it.

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Two people were killed and five more were rushed to the hospital after a devastating fire engulfed a nearly $1 million Los Angeles home.

Los Angeles firefighters responded to a vicious blaze that broke out late Saturday night at 10905 north Scoville Avenue in Sunland.

Eight adults were affected by the fatal fire, six of whom were outside the home awaiting LAFD.

'With reports of additional occupants possibly trapped inside, firefighters initiated an interior fire attack while conducting a primary search,' LAFD spokesperson Margaret Stewart said.

'Crews located one person and conducted a rapid transport to the hospital.

'Two additional patients were located but were beyond medical help and determined deceased on scene.'

One of the residents of the Sunland home was identified as 77-year-old Serouzh Setrakvartanes.

The cause of the fire is still unknown along with the identity of other deceased male victim.

A late-night house fire in Sunland claimed the lives of two people and sent five others to the hospital

The vicious blaze that broke out late Saturday night at 10905 north Scoville Avenue in Sunland (pictured)

It is unclear whether the home had working smoke alarms, as firefighters reported hearing none upon arrival.

Five adults suffered from smoke inhalation, and four were transported to the hospital while one refused medical transport.

One of the victims, an 87-year-old man, sustained critical burn injuries and was treated on the scene before being taken to the hospital.

Approximately 16 people were displaced from the two buildings on the property, according to the press release.

Shocking photos and video show the LAFD responding to the fiery destruction, with the houses windows broken and interiors charred.

The brave responders extinguished the flames within 30 minutes, the press release stated.

The LAFD Arson and Counter-Terrorism Section (ACTS) is currently investigating the fire.

The one-story, single family dwelling with two beds and two baths is almost a million dollar home - valued at $926,600

Shocking photos and video show LAFD responding to the fiery destruction, with the house having broken windows

A total of eight people were affected by the fatal fire that happened late Saturday night

The County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner will determine the identities of the deceased and their causes of death, according to the press release.

The Sunland home is a one-story, single-family dwelling with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Built in 1948, the 1,359-square-foot house has an estimated value of $926,600, according to Zillow.
Police have launched an investigation after a British man was found dead in a Costa Blanca holiday resort.

The 50-year-old's body was discovered between two parked cars in the town of Javea north of Benidorm.

An alert was sounded just before 7.45am on Sunday.

The Civil Guard said this afternoon there were no obvious signs of violence at the scene but insisted they were still awaiting the results of the autopsy.

It is not yet clear if the dead man was a local resident or was holidaying in the area.

Police were sent to the scene after a 999 call went into a regional government-run emergency response centre.

The area was then cordoned off so forensic experts could work in the street where the man's body was found.

The Civil Guard has yet to make any official comment and is not expected to do so until it has received the post-mortem results, which are unlikely to be made public as is normal in Spain.

Police are investigating the death of a British man found dead in a Costa Blanca holiday resort. The 50-year-old's body was discovered between two parked cars in the town of Javea north of Benidorm. Pictured: The street where body was found

An alert was sounded just before 7.45am. The Civil Guard said this afternoon there were no obvious signs of violence at the scene but insisted they were still awaiting the results of the autopsy. Pictured: Javea town

Police were sent to the scene after a 999 call went into a regional government-run emergency response centre

British consulate officials are understood to have been informed.

Javea is around a 45-minute drive north of Benidorm.

In May 2023, a British woman died after collapsing while taking a dip in the sea at at the resort's Arenal beach.

Reports at the time said she had keeled over while she was in shallow water near the sea's edge.

Her relatives are understood to have pulled her out of the water while witnesses phoned the emergency services.

A spokesperson for the Civil Guard in Alicante, which covers Javea, confirmed today the dead man was a 50-year-old British national.

He said on Sunday: 'At around 7:45am this morning, through a regional emergency response coordination centre, a report was received regarding the discovery of a possible deceased person on a street in the municipality of Javea.

'The offiicers dispatched to the scene confirmed the death of a 50-year-old British man.

'The Territorial Team of the Judicial Police of Calpe has taken charge of the investigations to clarify the circumstances of the incident.'
A Scots family who lost their mother in suspicious circumstances in Crete 16 years ago are ready to face the man accused of murdering her in court.

Jean Hanlon disappeared after moving to the holiday island of Crete and her remains recovered from Heraklion harbour in 2009.

Her death was initially ruled as an accident but her three sons never believed the official verdict and have spent the ensuing years to fight for justice, even hiring a private investigator to help their case.

It has now emerged a 54-year-old man will stand trial accused of her murder.

The decision marks a dramatic breakthrough for her family, originally from Dumfries, after their relentless campaigning forced Greek authorities to reopen the case four times since her body was first discovered.

Her son, Michael Porter, said the news felt absolutely amazing after years of heartbreak and disappointment.

He said: Its really reassuring. Were feeling extremely happy and positive that, finally, it looks like were going to get our mum the justice she deserves. Its absolutely amazing, you cant put it into words.

Its hard to get too excited when you get picked up so many times over the past 16 years and then knocked back. The last year has definitely been the most impressive for us since bringing in the private investigator.

Jean Hanlon disappeared after moving to the holiday island of Crete

Jean Hanlon's remains were recovered from Heraklion harbour in 2009

The man is understood to have been charged in January, but the case later appeared to collapse.

Appeal judges in Heraklion overturned that decision in August and ruled that he must stand trial for murder.

Mr Porter said the familys 28-page dossier of evidence  compiled by private investigator Haris Veramon  was instrumental in moving the case forward.

He said: Its incredible that this guy has been there from day one. Had the authorities just done a proper investigation from the beginning, then we wouldve saved a lot of years of heartbreak and financial worry and stress and heartbreak.

They have now been told the trial is likely to begin within the next six to eight months, bringing them closer than ever to closure after more than a decade of heartbreak.

Mr Porter said: This is always going to be there, its never going to leave us, even when we get justice.

Its only going to hopefully allow us to finally grieve and let her rest knowing that someone paid for it and that she got the respect and justice in the end that she deserves.

Mrs Hanlon, a former hospital secretary, had moved to the beach town of Kato, Gouves to start a new life working in tourism and hospitality.

Jean Hanlon's sons Robert, David and Michael haven't stopped searching for answers

She went missing in March 2009 during a night out after telling friends she was meeting a man at a cafe.

But she later sent a text message saying simply: Help. Four days later, her body was found in the sea at Heraklion.

Police initially insisted she had drowned accidentally, but at the demands of her distraught family, a second post-mortem examination was carried out which showed she suffered a broken neck and ribs, a punctured lung and facial injuries, and was probably dead before she entered the water.

Mr Porter said information written in his mothers diary had been vital to uncovering the truth.

He said: Mums diary gave us the best clues ever because you cant change the words of the dead.

One, two weeks before her death, she wrote how many times this guy was turning up at her house uninvited, turning up at the bottom of the street, basically stalking her because she had refused him.

The guy wasnt her boyfriend, he was someone that she met occasionally. It wasnt love, it was someone she dated, an acquaintance.

Although previously told to just stop now and live your life, he and his brother will travel to Greece to witness the proceedings.

He added: When you see your mum the way you saw her, that never leaves your mind. To think of what she must have gone through that night, it haunts you for life, and it changes you in a way that you just cant describe.

She was our mum, and the bottom line is youd do anything for your mum or anybody you love.
Former CIA director John Brennan was caught lashing out at a man who confronted him about the drama surrounding Hunter Biden's laptop.

Brennan was seen getting in national security consultant Thomas Speciale's face as he got visibly angry when asked about the infamous letter that was signed by 51 former intelligence officers, including himself, that claimed the emails were part of Russian misinformation.

Speciale posted the intense exchange to X on Saturday, claiming it occurred last Thursday following a conference.

The conservative was seen holding a beer as he approached Brennan about the letter, but before he could get all his words out, the Democrat got visibly angry.

'You misrepresented that,' the ex- CIA director said as he pointed his finger at Speciale's chest.

'We never said it was disinformation; we said it was Russian influence operations, which is what they do. Theres a big difference,' he continued as several people watched in shock to his heated reaction.

The national security consultant then tried to push back, but before he could, Brennan walked away and said: 'Im not going to waste my time with you.'

Brennan's response went against the exact wording in the letter that stated the former president's son's email had 'all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.'

Former CIA director John Brennan was seen losing his cool with national security consultant Thomas Speciale on Thursday after the infamous letter surrounding Hunter Biden's laptop drama was mentioned

The video quickly sparked reaction from online users as many applauded Speciale for getting under the liberal's skin.

'Great job Thomas. Boy, you had him pissed,' one wrote.

'Well done, sir. Very nicely done,' said another as someone else chimed in: 'Brennan falling apart is the best thing I've seen today.'

Others said that Brennan's reaction was all the American people needed to see, as one commented: 'Can you say guilty AF.'

'The walls are closing in on this criminal,' another wrote.

Biden's emails, which were first reported by the New York Post and independently verified by the Daily Mail, were leaked in October 2020.

They showed that older Biden, who was a presidential candidate at the time, had close ties to his son's business deals with an energy company in Ukraine.

The former president then 'pressured' government officials in Ukraine into firing a prosecutor that was investigating the company, per the Post.

Hunter's emails showed that his father, who was a presidential candidate at the time, had close ties to his son's business deals with an energy company in Ukraine

At the end of the heated exchange Brennan walked away from Speciale saying 'Im not going to waste my time with you'

Controversy soon followed the reveal of the emails as national security officials claimed what was on the laptop was Russian disinformation ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

Documents on the laptop, which was originally discovered at a Delaware tech repair shop, showed Hunter was paid a $1 million retainer in 2017 to represent his business partner Patrick Ho, who was being prosecuted by the US government, and that CEFC wired the Biden family a total of $5 million.

One startling email even indicated the president could have been involved in Hunter's business dealings with the Chinese.

Nearly 9,000 photos from the device also showed the First Son taking drugs and having sex with prostitutes.

The images were dated between 2008 and 2019. Some have geographic coordinates attached, showing Hunter took photos in Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas, Kosovo, the Dominican Republic, western China, London, Paris, Rome, Belgrade and across the US.

Some of the ex-intelligence officials who signed the memo have since claimed they were actively being paid by the CIA on a contract basis when they signed the letter.

Those officials were stripped of their security clearances in March by President Trump.

According to a report, high-ranking CIA officials were made aware of the letter before its publishing and some raised concerns about the political nature of the letter.

A photo of Joe Biden and his son Hunter that was recovered from his laptop

Biden also claimed there was an effort to 'break Hunter' and destroy what he said was five-and-a-half years of sobriety.

Just last month the House Judiciary Committee referred Brennan for criminal prosecution for making 'numerous willfully and intentionally false statements' to Congress.

According to the committee, Brennan lied on several occasions when testifying in May 2023.

Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, claims Brennan misled lawmakers about the infamous Steele dossier  a series of controversial and largely unverified memos by former British spy Christopher Steele that accused Donald Trump of colluding with Russia during the 2016 election.

The dossier, funded by the Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee via Washington research firm Fusion GPS, alleged ties between Trump's campaign and Russian operatives, including salacious blackmail claims, sparking significant controversy.

The referral to the DOJ does not mean that Brennan has been charged with any crime. He has not yet commented on the development.
A Chinese car manufacturer is importing more electric vehicles to Australia than are being sold to take advantage of an Albanese government policy.

EV giant Build Your Dreams has turned vacant lots into temporary storage facilities for some of the 51,000 vehicles it has imported to Australia in the last 12 months.

The manufacturer used Jamberoo Action Park copy on the NSW South Coast as a 'pre-delivery' site to store more than 1,600 imported EVs before Kiama Council recently put a end to those plans.

Images of hundreds more BYD vehicles have emerged in another private storage yard in Kilsyth in Melbourne's east.

The excess in imported EVs has allowed the manufacturer to stockpile lucrative carbon credits under the Albanese government's new vehicle efficiency standards.

Of the 51,000 vehicles BYD imported to Australia in the 12 months to September, almost 38,000 were sold, according to Register of Approved Vehicles figures.

Discrepancies between import and sales figures of its EV rivals such as Tesla, Toyota, Ford, and MG was much smaller.

BYD import figures expose the flaws of the government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard scheme, which awards car makers with credits on the number of vehicles they import rather than sales volume, sparking calls for change.

Some of the 51,000 EVs imported to Australia by Build Your Dreams are being stored in vacant lots, such as this one in Kilsyth in Melbourne's east (pictured)

A Google Earth image captured in August captured hundreds of EVs imported from China being stored at Jamberoo Action Park without approval

The scheme aims to encourage car makers to meet strict emissions targets or face penalties of up to $100 per gram of carbon for each vehicle that exceeds the target.

Those that undershoot targets are rewarded with carbon credits and favours EV brands, such as BYD, whose EV or plug-in hybrid cars emit zero or next-to-no carbon emissions.

Australian Automotive Dealer Association James Voortman has called for carbon credits at a vehicle's point of sale rather than import.

'Shifting the point of compliance from import to sale or registration would minimise the risk of dealers being burdened with excess stock,' Voortman told the Australian Financial Review.

'This change will also better reflect the intent of the NVES, which is for more fuel-efficient vehicles to be purchased by customers.'

The government has vowed to consider implementing a point-of-sales system as part of it review of the scheme next year.

BYD insists that its import numbers are due to growing demands for EVs, citing 150 per cent rise in sales.

'Thanks to careful planning and a robust supply chain, BYD has built its vehicle inventory to accommodate the further rapid growth forecast for 2026,' the company told the publication.

More than 1600 BYD vehicles have been removed from Jamberoo Action Park after a DA was recently rejected by Kiama Council

'This will ensure Australian customers can continue to drive away in their new BYD vehicles as quickly as possible.'

Jamberoo Action Park management took a swipe at the recent council decision in a lengthy statement.

'If you can't store cars in a carpark without impact to anyone, then something in the planning system clearly isn't working,' the statement read.

'We should be looking for opportunities for businesses to invest and diversify, not taking them away unnecessarily.'

The water park added BYD was forced to scale back operations as a result.

'At a time when government policy is actively encouraging the adoption of EVs, society must be able to accommodate that shift in a practical way,' management continued.

'In addition to the impact on the car carrier business, there is a direct economic impact for all businesses involved and the local community.

'Well continue to engage respectfully and transparently, but we stand by our belief that this was a practical, low-impact use of existing infrastructure that should never have been knocked back.'

EVs accounted for more than 12 per cent of new cars purchased in the first half of 2025, expanding Australia's fleet to more than 410,000 vehicles.

More than three-quarters of EVs purchased in Australia this year were made in China.
A young Sydney man has sparked a strong reaction online after dressing as Charlie Kirk for Halloween, complete with fake blood and a 'Freedom' shirt like the one the US conservative was wearing when he was shot dead.

The man was photographed over the weekend at a gelato shop, wearing a white T-shirt splattered with dark red dye and the word 'Freedom' scrawled across the front.

Many Aussies were outraged by the young man's costume.

'It's unfortunate that this is going to be one of the more popular costumes this year,' one said.

'I hope he gets a nice talking to from somebody for such an uncouth display,' a second added.

'Disgusting,' another said.

Kirk was tragically gunned down on September 10 as he spoke with students at Utah Valley University and died shortly after. Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with his murder.

A young Sydney man has sparked a strong reaction online after dressing as slain US conservative Charlie Kirk for Halloween

Kirk was gunned down on September 10 as he spoke with students at Utah Valley University and died shortly after

Kirk had built Turning Point USA into one of the most influential conservative youth organisations in America, known for its campus activism and annual conferences that drew thousands of young conservatives.

Kirk's widow, Erika, joined Donald Trump at the White House earlier this month to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously on her husband's behalf.

After his death, Erika publicly delivered a statement vowing to carry on his work as the new CEO of the organisation.

Trump eulogised Kirk at his memorial service days later and comforted Erika as she mourned the loss of her husband.
Two teenage brothers who vanished without a trace have been located safe and well.

Waleed, 13, and Loay, 18, were last seen near their home in Lalor in Melbourne's north about 1pm Sunday and hadn't been seen or heard from since, sparking a 20-hour search.

Police and the teens' family held grave fears for the brothers' welfare due to their young ages and the fact they only arrived in Australia 10 days ago.

Waleed was 140cm tall, with a small build, and short black hair, and was last seen wearing black shorts and a green T-shirt.

Loay was described as 170cm tall, with a large build and short black hair. He was last seen wearing jeans and a black T-shirt.

It's understood the teens were without mobile phones, a Victoria Police spokeswoman told radio station 3AW on Monday.

Victoria Police later confirmed that the teens have been located safe and well in 'absolutely no suspicious circumstances'.
The brother of a prominent property developer who was kidnapped outside his suburban home by an underworld gang has been located and released.

George Ayoub, 28, the younger brother of Masscon Property founder Charlie Ayoub, was kidnapped while leaving his Belfield home in Sydney's south-west shortly before 6am last Thursday.

CCTV has emerged of the terrifying moment he was grabbed by three masked men and bundled into a waiting white SUV as he walked out of his driveway to go to the gym.

Ransom demands were made to Mr Ayoub's family while he was held captive over the weekend before he was located by detectives and reunited with his relieved family on Sunday night.

Reformed gangster Peter Vaiusu took to social media hours after the abduction, to plead for Mr Ayoub's release after receiving a panicked phone call from his older brother Charlie, 37, whom he has business dealings with.

Mr Vaiusu offered to hand over $80,000 worth of gold for Mr Ayoub's safe release.

'He got kidnapped this morning, he has never been in trouble in his life, never had a criminal record, never been involved with gangs,' he said.

'But they nabbed him this morning because his brother, Charlie, has a little bit of money.

Following the kidnapping, reformed gangster Peter Vaiusu took to social media, calling for Ayoub's release and offering $80,000 worth of gold

CCTV footage shows the moment Ayoub was kidnapped

'To the gang that nabbed him this morning I'm asking you, please, let him go.

'I've lived the life, I've been charged with kidnapping myself  other gangsters  so I know how it works.

'All I'm asking for is a bit of compassion At this point, right now, it's all about the Ayoub family. This guy is not a gangster.'

It's understood that Mr Ayoub has business dealings with his older brothers Charlie, 37, and Normie, 34, and own a rural property together in the NSW Southern Highlands.

He was not known to cops prior to the incident and had no criminal history, according to NSW Police sources.

Strike force detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad tirelessly spent four days searching for Mr Ayoub in a top secret police operation before he was located and safely released late Sunday night.

Police had previously requested the media to not release details about last week's kidnapping due to operational reasons, amid fears that any publicity may result in Mr Ayoub being harmed.

An emotional Mr Vaiusu was back on TikTok early Monday morning to confirm Mr Ayoub's safe release, claiming that $1million had been put up.

'It's 3.30am, I haven't had any sleep for three days,' Mr Vaiusu said.

'The boys and I have been doing what we have to do to secure his freedom, it's a long story.

'But $1 million was put up, as of an hour ago we finally secured his freedom.

'The look on George's face when he saw us was priceless and also the tears that came from his family's face when we walked him into the house was priceless.'
As university sweethearts who met at Scotland's St Andrew's University in 2001, Prince William and Kate Middleton's fairytale love story captured the nation's hearts.

Despite a brief period of separation in 2007, cupid's arrow was aquiver and culminated in a magical Royal wedding held at London's Westminster Abbey in 2011.

But following their nuptials, while the Prince and Princess of Wales often spoken fondly about their undeniable love and support for one another, they rarely exchanged loving physical gestures in public.

Instead, eagle-eyed onlookers have noted an abundance of subtle tender moments shared between the pair over the years, perhaps most poignantly seen during the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony held in Boston in late 2022.

The Royal couple, who had arrived in the US a few days prior, attended the glitzy ceremony to hand out awards for their Earthshot Prize, set up by William himself to recognise and scale up innovative environmental ideas.

In a remarkable display of affection, a video captured at the highly anticipated event showcased the heartwarming moment William placed a tender hand on Kate's back as she slowly settled into her seat ahead of the ceremony.

According to body language expert Judi James, this tactile communication method was synonymous with 'flirt signals' and indicated the pair were in 'mutual appreciation mode'.

Discussing the 'powerful' gesture, Ms James told The Daily Mail: 'Their touches in public have always been a quietly flowing narrative of mutual affection and support while their subliminally prompted mirroring signals as they pose and move with seamless synchronicity and effortless choreography explains how like-minded they are'.

In late 2022, Prince William and Kate Middleton, who had arrived in the US a few days prior, attended the glitzy ceremony to hand out awards for their Earthshot Prize, set up by William himself to recognise and scale up innovative environmental ideas

A video captured at the event showcased the heartwarming moment William placed a tender hand on the back of Kate's back as she slowly settled into her seat. According to body language expert Judi James, this indicated the pair were in 'mutual appreciation mode'

Ms James adds that Kate and William tend to avoid 'public information broadcast' rituals such as the eternal hand-holding favoured by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, remarking that the Prince and Princess of Wales 'always scrub up sublimely'

Indeed, during their short-lived tenure as working Royals, Harry and Meghan became known for their tactile hand holding, often perceived as a tender sign of comfort amid their ongoing turmoil as members of the Firm.

Yet for Harry's estranged brother and sister-in-law, public displays of affection (PDA) are a much less common occurrence.

Instead, as Ms James highlights, the Wales's 'seem to adore keeping their intensity under wraps rather than using it as a billboard'.

But the brief moment their private love was publicly displayed offered an authentic insight into the true nature of their relationship behind closed doors.

Analysing the intricacies of their body language in that moment, Ms James suggests that William's hand placement 'could be a quick signal of approval for her speech or a steering gesture to ensure she sits elegantly'.

She notes that once Kate has settled into her seat, William 'keeps his hand in place', with his once-firm touch then becoming a 'stroke' followed by an 'all's well gentle rub' as he simultaneously 'turns his head right around to give Kate undivided eye-attention as he speaks to her'.

William's comforting gesture to Kate may indeed have been due to an abundance of controversies that had overshadowed the days leading up to the event, including a furious race row and a scandalous Netflix documentary trailer by Harry and Meghan.

Ms James adds that Kate and William tend to avoid 'public information broadcast' rituals such as the eternal hand-holding favoured by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, remarking that the Prince and Princess of Wales 'always scrub up sublimely'

William's comforting gesture to Kate may indeed have been due to an abundance of controversies that had overshadowed the days leading up to the event, including a furious race row involving William's own godmother, Lady Susan Hussey (pictured)

Before the couple had even touched down in the US, a furious race row had erupted in the UK after the Prince's own godmother, Lady Susan Hussey, who also served as the late Queen's right-hand woman for 62 years.

Lady Susan Hussey faced accusations of making racist comments to black domestic abuse campaigner Ngozi Fulani at a Buckingham Palace event.

As William and Kate were mid-flight, their Kensington Palace spokesperson issued a statement condemning the 'unacceptable' comments made by Lady Hussey - who resigned from her role in the royal household.

However, the controversy undoubtedly cast a bleak shadow over what was meant to be a 'Super Bowl' moment for the Prince.

Then, during the the first full day of their tour, Prince Harry and Meghan dropped a trailer for the bombshell Netflix documentary.

Hinting at fresh attacks on the Monarchy, it was described by Palace insiders as a 'declaration of war' on the Waleses and the Royal Family, while also dispelling any hopes that the Sussexes may have been working towards a resolution amid the ensuing conflict with the Firm.

But ever the professionals, Kate and William pushed ahead with their US tour and donned bright smiles as they walked the green carpet at the high-profile event.

Yet once they had taken their seats, the pair's rare public gestures of affection may have been a slight glimpse into the anxieties prevailing behind the scenes, with Ms James noting that both William and Kate used 'an almost equal amount of subtle tie sign touches'.

The pair's rare public gestures of affection may have been a slight glimpse into the anxieties prevailing behind the scenes, with Ms James noting that both William and Kate used 'an almost equal amount of subtle tie sign touches'

Indeed, perhaps indicative of the importance the event went well given the ensuing controversies, Ms James suggests that the subtle hand gesture acted as a 'silent compliment' to Kate from her husband.

But, rather than being pre-planned, she adds that William's unusual tie-sign or non-verbal expression of love was both 'spontaneous and important', serving as an integral part of 'a private narrative between himself and his wife'.

During the ceremony, Kate and William were sat among key activists, innovators, policy makers and performers who had all gathered to celebrate the world's up-and-coming environmental figures.

And in keeping with the evening's theme, the Princess donned a rented dress from a brand called Solace London, which the Royal obtained from online designer rental platform HURR - which charges between $91 (74) and $238 (194) to loan the gown.

Meanwhile, her dazzling art deco choker - which is believed to be worth more than $15 million - was gifted to Diana by the Queen, who herself inherited it from her grandmother Queen Mary.

Ultimately, the short but sweet moment shared between the Prince and Princess of Wales five years ago was to be remarkably indicative of what was to come.

Following the heartbreaking announcement of Kate's cancer diagnosis last year, the world began to witness an entirely different and seemingly more tactile side to the Royal couple.

As Kate embarked on her long road to recovery, and perhaps in a stark show of solidarity as a united pair, over the course of the last 18 months the couple's loving side has been showcased like never before.

Seemingly no longer fearful of PDA, when the Prince and Princess have stepped out for numerous Royal engagements, an increasing number of highly affectionate and tender moments have been captured between the two.

In keeping with the evening's theme, the Princess donned a rented dress from a brand called Solace London. Meanwhile, her dazzling art deco choker - which is believed to be worth more than $15 million - was gifted to Diana by the Queen, who inherited it from Queen Mary

Rather than being pre-planned, she adds that William's unusual tie-sign or non-verbal expression of love was both 'spontaneous and important', serving as an integral part of 'a private narrative between himself and his wife'

But for Ms James, their united body language at the Earthshot Awards signified a strong pre-existent bond between the pair, adding that it merely 'endorses the rituals of deep love and adoration we saw in Kate's video update about her cancer'.

In September 2024 following months outside of the spotlight since the Princess' cancer diagnosis emerged, Kensington Palace released the touching video of the pair and their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis.

It made for an unprecedented piece of deeply personal footage, showing an intimate portrait of the Wales family like never seen before.

At the centre of the video was a sweet show of affection between the couple as the pair even shared two kisses, despite this being something of a rarity, with the exception of their high-profile wedding kiss.

While rarely visible in the public domain, Ms James believes that the tender feelings shared between the pair never wavered, but were merely strengthened as the couple transformed from university sweethearts to the Royal couple of the decade.

Explaining the poignancy of the heartwarming Earthshot moment, she adds: 'It proves how what we were being shown about their love for each other in that video was the actual iceberg, and how the tip of that iceberg had been subtly hiding in plain sight for more than a decade'.

The Earthshot Prize was awarded to five winners: Mukuru Clean Stoves (Kenya) for Clean Our Air, Kheyti (India) for Protect & Restore Nature, Indigenous Women of the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) for Revive Our Oceans, Notpla (UK) for Build a Waste-free World, and 44.01 (Oman) for Fix Our Climate.

Indicative of his incredible commitment to the prize, which he founded in 2020 alongside Sir David Attenborough, the Prince of Wales spoke poignantly during the ceremony about the importance of finding innovative solutions to the harmful effects of climate change.

For Ms James, Kate and William's united body language at the Earthshot Awards signified a strong pre-existent bond between the pair, adding that it merely 'endorses the rituals of deep love and adoration we saw in Kate's video update about her cancer' (pictured)

He said: 'I believe that the Earthshot solutions you have seen this evening prove we can overcome our planet's greatest challenges.

'And by supporting and scaling them we can change our future.

'Alongside tonight's winners and finalists, and those to be discovered over the years to come, it's my hope the Earthshot legacy will continue to grow, helping our communities and our planet to thrive.'

Ending the evening with a note of optimism, the Prince concluded: 'In the same way the space effort six decades ago created jobs, boosted economies, and provided hope, so too can the solutions borne of tonight's Earthshot Prize winners.

'The decisions we make now will affect generations to come, which is why we must choose the path of hope, optimism, and urgency to repair our planet.'

Then, meeting the finalists for the first time at the Earthshot Prize Fellowship Retreat at Windsor Great Park the following January, he praised the innovators for their 'unbelievable' work.

Yet while the 2022 awards will be undoubtedly remembered for its inspiring finalists and crucial cause, one can't help but reflect on the poignancy of the rare tender moment shared between the Prince and Princess during a rather tumultuous tour.

In the years following, as the Royal Family's sense of stability has been routinely rocked, the couple's mutual love and support has never wavered, with the pair providing subtle signs of assurance when needed most.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been accused of having any mention of Jeffrey Epstein's victims removed from previous statements from Buckingham Palace.

The disgraced prince repeatedly refused to sign-off on statements that expressed support for victims of abuse, The Times has reported.

This is in stark contrast to the historic statement released by the Palace on Thursday confirming that Andrew will be stripped of his titles and his residence at Royal Lodge.

It emphatically ended with King Charles and Queen Camilla expressing 'their thoughts and utmost sympathies' with the 'victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.'

A friend of the King and Queen revealed to The Times that, in previous statements issued by the Palace since Andrew's disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview, references to Epstein's victims were removed.

The friend said: 'There has long been a sense from the family that the voices of the victims needed to be heard in these procurements, because they feature so heavily in this saga and because there is no credible way the Queen and the Duchess of Edinburgh can continue to do the work they do in the areas of sexual abuse if they can't point to that.

'Now, the King has lost his patience: you can see this statement is no longer a statement by committee, it's a statement from the King.'

Another friend said the King and Queen were aware of the public's opinion of Andrew, adding: 'They have felt the public anger and they have acted.'

The Times reported that Andrew did not sign off on any statements from Buckingham Palace that expressed support for the victims of abuse

The historic announcement from Buckingham Palace on Thursday mentioned that King Charles and Queen Camilla's 'thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will always remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse'

In 2019, Andrew announced he was stepping back from public life in the wake of his Newsnight interview, saying in a statement that Epstein's suicide left many unanswered questions for 'his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure'.

But the 2022 Palace statement on the loss of his military affiliations and royal patronages, and Andrew's last one on October 17, in which he pledged to stop using his Duke of York title, made no mention of abuse survivors.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

After Thursday's statement, insiders said Camilla was 'completely supportive' of her husband Charles, and was acutely aware, given her own work over many years with the victims of abuse, how important it was to express their personal sympathies with those affected  in contrast to Andrew, who has shown none.

Both Camilla and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, have been long time advocates for supporting victims of rape and sexual assault.

The Queen has visited numerous sexual assault referral centres in various countries including the Balkans where she spoke to women who were raped during the Kosovan conflict.

In 2021, she became the Patron of UK charity SafeLives as well as the Patron of the Mirabel Centre - Nigeria's first Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

In a message to mark the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in 2020, Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall, said: 'Each one of us has a part to play, to do everything in our power to raise awareness, to "reach in" to others, and to support, and be inspired by, those very brave survivors.

Camilla, in her role as Patron of SafeLives, meets domestic abuse frontline staff in a maternity unit at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in October 2022

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, attends a Women, Peace and Security roundtable in the Democratic Republic of Congo in October 2025

Following in her sister-in-law's footsteps, the Duchess of Edinburgh devotes much of her time to supporting the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Sophie has visited Washington DC where she met ambassadors working to offer better support for survivors and aiming to eradicate sexual violence in conflict around the world.

The mother-of-two is also the first member of the British royal family to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo to address the impact of sexual and gender based violence in conflict.

So there is no doubt that both royal women will have been proud of the statement released by Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

The bombshell statement said that the disgraced prince will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor - with immediate effect.

'His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,' the statement said.

'Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.

'Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.

The King was 'gravely concerned' that the future of the monarchy was at stake unless he acted decisively to banish his beleaguered brother (pictured with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson at Ascot in 2019)

The Palace had to walk a legal and constitutional tightrope to ensure moves to strip Andrew of his titles and home (pictured, Royal Lodge, where he lived with his ex-wife) did not backfire

The Sandringham estate (pictured, file photo of Sandringham House, the primary residence on the estate), where Andrew is set to move, is the monarch's private property

'These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.'

It is understood the King Charles III is in the process of sending royal warrants to the Lord Chancellor to remove his brother's titles and honours. Andrew is said to have not objected.

Although the former duke has been stripped of all his remaining titles those of his daughters, Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35, will remain.

Amid the controversy it was previously understood that His Majesty Charles was very keen to 'protect' his nieces who remain Her Royal Highnesses as granddaughters of Queen Elizabeth.

'He wouldn't have wanted to sign off on anything that would impact them,' a source told the Daily Mail.

It is understood Prince William and the Royal Family fully support the King's leadership on the recent move.

Despite the united family front, however, Buckingham Palace had to walk a legal and constitutional tightrope to ensure moves to completely strip Andrew of his birthright, titles and home did not backfire.

Given the impact of the scandal, there were also serious fears about his mental health, which had to be balanced against the need to act ruthlessly.

William, a long-term mental-health campaigner, is understood to have been particularly worried about his uncle's wellbeing.

Concerns were also raised privately by other family members including Andrew's siblings, Prince Edward and Princess Anne.

However, the King and his wife, Queen Camilla, who has long campaigned for those affected by domestic and sexual violence, were also determined to publicly show their support for victims and survivors of 'any and all forms of abuse'.
They come to Miami from all corners of the country, to the city that has established itself as the mecca of the Brazilian butt lift, or BBL, a cosmetic surgical procedure for buttock augmentation. Despite problems that have accumulated over the years, including clinics operating in legal gray areas and the highest number of deaths from cosmetic surgery in the country, the latest statistics show that nothing can move Miami from the top spot. While mortality has decreased thanks to stricter regulations and more precise surgical methods, not everything is rosy, and a large part of this vibrant industry remains in the shadows.

Thousands of people travel to South Florida each year to undergo this surgery, which involves extracting fat from different parts of the body through liposuction and injecting it into the buttocks. According to the latest statistics, of the nearly 30,000 buttock augmentation surgeries performed in the United States last year, half were performed in the southeast region, which includes Florida. Miami, with hundreds of plastic surgeons and dozens of clinics, is the epicenter of the vibrant American cosmetic surgery industry, and BBLs are the crown jewel.

It has been the fastest-growing cosmetic surgical procedure over the past decade. While the number nationwide has remained unchanged in recent years, between 2022 and 2024, it has doubled in the Southeast, according to figures from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. BBLs have also been the cosmetic surgery with the highest mortality rate. South Florida leads the nation in the number of cosmetic surgery-related deaths, and the majority of cases have been from BBLs. Alarmed, state lawmakers have passed laws regulating the practice, and the industry appears to have matured with a greater focus on patient safety. However, the sector still operates in a large regulatory vacuum, and complications continue to occur, particularly in post-operative care, according to surgeons and experts consulted for this story.

The BBL boom in Miami predates the image popularized by the Kardashians. Experts point out that its popularity is largely due to the influence of the aesthetic ideals of the large Latin American diasporas living in the region, to the warm climate, and to a culture obsessed with image, fascinated by the promise of physical transformation. Studies indicate that many patients believe that reshaping their figure boosts their self-confidence and see BBL as a way to achieve an ideal physique. Studies also point to the effect of social comparison, with exposure to curated images of curvy bodies on social media as a significant factor in the conception of these norms.

This procedure is so popular because its so powerful  theres no other that can create these results, explains Dr. Pat Pazmino, a Miami-based plastic surgeon and member of the ASPS. In the past, in plastic surgery, when we wanted to define contours or increase volume, we used implants. But you were inserting a foreign body, and implants have to be replaced. On the other hand, when you use the patients own fat graft, you can create any contour, of any size, in many areas where implants wouldnt be used. And you dont have to replace them.

BBL has been the fastest growing cosmetic surgical procedure in the last decade. Getty Images

Pazmino was part of a team that identified that most deaths from BBL occurred due to a complication called pulmonary fat embolism (PFE), which occurs when fat enters the bloodstream through veins in the gluteal muscles and impedes blood flow to the lungs. To prevent this, the adipose tissue must be injected directly above the muscle, avoiding penetration, a method that was implemented as a law in the state and has been widely adopted in the profession. Pazmino also promoted the use of ultrasound during surgery to improve visibility and avoid puncturing the muscle.

It seemed the problem had been resolved, but deaths continued, mostly at low-cost clinics that had helped boost Miamis popularity as a BBL mecca. Women from all over the U.S. were coming to Miami to get BBLs and dying. This was giving Florida and Miami a terrible image, says Pazmino. They offer dangerously low prices. If you go to Google and type BBL price Miami, youll see prices as low as $2,000 or $2,500 at these clinics, which is crazy. Because when you work with a board-certified surgeon, our prices are five or six times that amount, he adds.

In 2023, more laws were passed, but this time, rather than focusing on the method, they focused on practice. For example, the doctor had to see the patient for the first time at least 24 hours before surgery, and could only see one patient at a time.

Many of these surgeons at low-budget clinics met with patients for the first time just minutes before the procedure. Its not possible to establish a strong doctor-patient relationship in such a short period of time, Pazmino said. State law also establishes that surgeons cannot delegate the liposuction or fat grafting portion of the procedure to others, nor can they leave the operating room during surgery.

There is no national system tracking BBL case outcomes, but the measures appear to have produced a significant shift in the South Florida market, with surgeons, patients, and lawmakers hyperaware of the safety issue, Pazmino says. The good news is that the number of PFE deaths has decreased significantly in the year since the law was passed in 2023. The bad news is that patients are still dying from BBL, but from other causes, such as infections, hemorrhagic shock from bleeding, abdominal organ perforation, and inadequate postoperative recovery care. Weve made a big step forward, but our work is not done, he notes.

Existing regulations do not require the surgery to be performed in a hospital or outpatient surgery center, where the patient might spend the night for observation, and many procedures are performed in offices in shopping malls that do not offer postoperative care.

Competition is intense in Miamis crowded BBL market, and it has turned to social media to find new clients. Dozens of cosmetic surgery centers are seeking to attract customers with Christmas or Halloween discounts, simultaneous surgery packages or combos, and installment payment plans. A single BBL, for example, can cost $4,500, and a tummy tuck $3,500, but the combined price is $8,500. The combined price can include more procedures, to save time and money, the ads say.

Surgeons explain the benefits and decisions in videos on TikTok, Facebook or Instagram, and clinics post before-and-after photos, patient interviews, and tips for achieving the desired result. Images of patients in underwear or semi-nude show the areas the surgeon will work on with dashed lines painted with markers, and after-procedure images  sometimes so fresh that bruising is visible on the skin  accompanied by hashtags like #BBLMiami or #totaltransformation.

Those who are interested seek recommendations in Facebook groups about which doctor to use or where to undergo postoperative care, ensuring that its a legitimate place, with certified professionals.

Postoperative care is one of the least regulated areas of the industry. There is an entire network of post-operative care services that revolves around BBLs, particularly for those coming from out of state. Videos on social media show how some transport post-operative patients lying face down in the back of a car on disposable absorbent pads wrapped in compresses, from the clinic to a hotel. Others offer bedside care, helping them change compresses, dress, or bathe. Still others offer shaping massages to help sculpt the desired silhouette. At Miami Airport and nearby hotels, it is common to find post-operative patients wearing tight compression garments around their waist, thighs, and buttocks.

This concern led Philadelphia resident Valerie Fiorentino to cancel her plans to have a BBL in Miami. I ended up hearing too many scary stories about complications and not receiving proper care after surgery. I heard from girls who booked stays in recovery houses with the intention of being under the care of a registered nurse, only to be lied to and not given proper treatment for blood clotting and infections, she notes.

Dr. Michael Salzhauer, known on social media as Dr. Miami, where he has millions of followers, says that aftercare is just as important as the surgery itself, especially in terms of safety and that many dont anticipate how much medical attention and care theyre going to need after these procedures. Salzhauer has created a team of nurses who he says he trained over the years, who monitor his patients 24/7 for days at a hotel just yards from his clinic in the affluent Bal Harbor neighborhood north of Miami Beach. If you dont take proper care  if you dont clean them, if you dont take their vital signs, if the medications arent administered at the right times  there are a lot of things that can go wrong, says the surgeon, who estimates that half of all plastic surgery deaths in South Florida occur after the operation.

People need to know that its a serious operation. Its surgery. Its not like going to get a haircut. They have to think about all the medical details, the aftercare, and all that, so that the outcome is good and there are no problems, he adds.

Dr. Pazmino, for his part, emphasizes the importance of people ensuring they are being treated by a board-certified surgeon, but adds that you have to be a little more specific, because thats like telling someone, when they get into a car, to drive carefully. Patients should ask their doctor if a hospital would allow them to perform the surgery, to ensure they are actually certified by a legitimate board. The Florida Department of Health did not respond to a request for comment.

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This is the moment the Have I Got News For You audience applauded Andrew losing his Prince title as the show was halted for the announcement.

On Thursday night, King Charles III stripped his brother of his titles and announced Andrew would be leaving his home at Royal Lodge after paying 'a peppercorn rent' for decades.

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor - as he will now be known - has for many years been dogged by allegations he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by Epstein, which he strenuously denies.

The breaking news was reported as this week's episode of Have I Got News For You was being filmed and the producer, unsurprisingly, took the decision to halt the show to pass on the news to this week's host Jason Manford.

Mr Manford was appearing on the political satire show alongside regular panelists Paul Merton and Ian Hislop as well as fellow guests, comedian Laura Smyth and former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh.

'This is the news that Andrew is no longer a Prince,' Mr Manford announced to thunderous applause and cheers from the audience.

In reply, Mr Merton quipped: 'The bad news is he's become to King.'

The audience had a similar reaction when the live broadcast of Question Time was interrupted for the breaking news.

The breaking news was reported as this week's episode of Have I Got News For You was being filmed and the producer, unsurprisingly, took the decision to halt the show to pass on the news to this week's host Jason Manford

Mr Manford was appearing on the political satire show alongside regular panelists Paul Merton and Ian Hislop as well as fellow guests comedian Laura Smyth and former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh

Crowds at the BBC show in Bradford reacted in delight after presenter Fiona Bruce revealed that the King's brother will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

Further gleeful clapping could be heard after she announced the 65-year-old, who on Thursday was ranked the most unpopular royal ever, would lose his lease on Royal Lodge and be forced to find his own private accommodation.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, speaking on the show, said removing Andrew's titles is a 'really brave, important and right step' by the King, and sends a 'powerful message' to sex abuse victims.

'Obviously this is a huge development and a big step for the King to take.

'I have to say, just, you know, as an initial response, I really support the step that he's taken.

'I think [it's] a very powerful message to the victims of grooming and sex offences. I used to work with children who'd been abused before I came into Parliament, including many of the girls who'd been horrifically abused by grooming gangs.

'I read some of the testimony from some of the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, not just at the time, but recently, with news stories that have come to light.

'And I think, you know, given the new information that we have, I think this is a really brave, important and right step by the King, and I fully support it.'

On Thursday night, King Charles III stripped his brother Andrew of his titles and announced he would be leaving his home at Royal Lodge after paying 'a peppercorn rent' for decades

The bombshell decision came as a new poll revealed the number of Brits with a negative opinion of Andrew had skyrocketed to the highest ever level recorded for a royal.

The deeply unpopular ex-prince has seen his approval ranking drop to a mere four per cent amid his involvement with Virginia Giuffre, a YouGov polled released on Thursday shows.

The royal, who has formally been stripped of his prince title, is viewed unfavourably by a staggering 91 per cent of the population, an increase from 87 per cent in August.

Elsewhere, on this week's edition of HIGNFY, Ms Haigh launched a thinly-veiled attack on Sir Keir Starmer for treating Rachel Reeves differently.

The former Cabinet Minister, who had to quit as Transport Secretary last year over a previous fraud conviction, contrasted her treatment with how the Chancellor had been let off with an apology over renting out her family home without a licence.

Ms Haigh insisted Ms Reeves 'had made a mistake' but said the Prime Minister 'was absolutely right' to accept Ms Reeves' apology as 'she's been exonerated'.

However, when asked by Mr Hislop whether that meant people generally 'who make mistakes should be exonerated', she appeared to draw a sharp distinction between her fate and Sir Keir's lenient approach to his Chancellor.

To laughter from the audience, Ms Haigh pointedly replied: 'Well, the PM was equally magnanimous with me which is why I'm really delighted I'm still serving as Transport Secretary.'

She also re-opened a previous row with Number 10 by insisting that the PM had known about her conviction in 2014 for making a false report to police over an allegedly stolen mobile phone when he appointed her to the Shadow Cabinet in 2020.

Number 10 had insisted that the PM only accepted her resignation after 'further information' emerged.

But when asked whether Sir Keir 'was lying', Ms Haigh replied: 'Well, he never told me what the further information was.'

At the time, supporters of Ms Haigh claimed she was the victim of a 'political hit job' by Number 10 for pushing a left-wing agenda.

The Daily Mail revealed last week that Ms Reeves had broken the law by failing to obtain a licence for letting her family home in Dulwich, south London, after she moved into accommodation in Downing Street provided for the Chancellor and her family after the General Election.
Prince William fully supported the King's decision to strip Andrew of his Prince title and evict him from Royal Lodge - and royal biographer Tina Brown said the heir to the throne 'can't abide' the former Duke of York and wants him to 'disappear'.

It's a stark contrast to the loving relationship the nephew and uncle no doubt shared when the Prince of Wales was younger.

Indeed, a sweet moment from Andrew's wedding to Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey in July 1986 shows just how close the relatives once were.

Upon the bride and groom's return to Buckingham Palace following their ceremony, a four-year-old William, who served as a page boy at the nuptials, was filmed leaping with excitement into his uncle's arms before the pair shared a sweet hug.

But charming public moments like that are a thing of the past for Andrew and William, who were last filmed sharing a frosty exchange at the Duchess of Kent's funeral in September.

In painfully awkward scenes just weeks before his titles and home were taken away, Andrew was seen with his family on the steps of Westminster Cathedral, where a service had been held for Katharine, the late wife of Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent.

Andrew could be seen trying to jovially engage his nephew in conversation - but in an extraordinary exchange caught on camera, William looked deeply uncomfortable and appeared to shut down any chat with his uncle, instead preferring to remain silent.

In another tense moment during the solemn occasion, William seemingly attempted to bring Andrew's profuse grinning to a stop by covering his mouth and appearing to say something, which resulted in the disgraced royal abruptly dropping the smile.

A sweet moment from Andrew's wedding to Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey in July 1986 shows just how close the former Duke of York and Prince William (pictured sharing a hug) once were

In an unprecedented statement released on Thursday night, Buckingham Palace said the former Duke of York, 65, will now only be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

The Prince and Princess of Wales fully support the decision, sources told the Daily Mail, and made it clear that a clean break from Andrew was the only way the Royal Family can move forward.

Before he was stripped of his royal titles, William and Kate backed the King, saying they also wanted him kicked out of Windsor.

They were apparently concerned, having made it clear that Windsor will remain their home after their accession, that the estate would be 'forever tainted' if Andrew stayed there.

Last week, before the historic announcement, Tina Brown, a friend of Princess Diana who was editor-in-chief of Tatler and Vanity Fair, claimed that William and Kate 'can't abide' Andrew and want him to 'disappear'.

Writing on her Fresh Hell Substack, she claimed having him in Windsor threatened to spoil life at their 'new forever home' Forest Lodge. The couple will move in next month with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Andrew is now destined for the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, while Sarah will have to make her own arrangements and is even rumoured to be considering moving abroad, after weeks of scandal damaged the relationship between the former couple and their children.

Beatrice and Eugenie are to retain their princess titles and membership of the House of York, but are said to be deeply disappointed in their parents, although simultaneously very concerned about their father's mental wellbeing.

But charming public moments like that are a thing of the past for Andrew and William, who were last filmed sharing a frosty exchange at the Duchess of Kent's funeral in September (pictured)

Upon the bride and groom's return to Buckingham Palace following their ceremony, a four-year-old William, who served as a page boy at the nuptials, was filmed leaping with excitement into his uncle's arms before the pair shared a sweet hug (pictured)

In a bombshell statement Buckingham Palace said: 'His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.

'Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.

'Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.

'These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.

'Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.'

Sources told the Mail that the move was entirely down to the King and his advisors, without pressure from the government or other family members, such as Prince William.

'The process has been underway for some while but there was a need to get it right in the face of some very big challenges,' a source said.

The King was 'gravely concerned' that the future of the monarchy was at stake unless he acted decisively to banish his beleaguered brother, the Daily Mail understands.

The Daily Mail understands Andrew was told by royal aides on Wednesday morning of the King's plans to invoke legal moves to finally strip him of all titles and honours. Pictured: Buckingham Palace's statement announcing the move on Thursday

Despite the united family front, however, Buckingham Palace had to walk a legal and constitutional tightrope to ensure moves to completely strip Andrew of his birthright, titles and home did not backfire.

Given the impact of the scandal, there were also serious fears about his mental health, which had to be balanced against the need to act ruthlessly.

William, a long-term mental-health campaigner, is understood to have been particularly worried about his uncle's wellbeing.

Concerns were also raised privately by other family members including Andrew's siblings, Prince Edward and Princess Anne.

However, the King and his wife, Queen Camilla, who has long campaigned for those affected by domestic and sexual violence, were also determined to publicly show their support for victims and survivors of 'any and all forms of abuse'.

The Daily Mail understands that Andrew  who has fought his brother's attempts to demote him every step of the way  was told by royal aides on Wednesday morning of the King's plans to invoke legal moves to finally strip him of all titles and honours.

Previously, Andrew had only agreed not to use them voluntarily. Charles, 76, is also believed to have spoken to him personally by phone to explain his decision.

He had hoped not to have to force his brother's hand, but came to the conclusion that deep reputational damage to the monarchy was being done on a daily basis  and enough was enough.

The King was 'gravely concerned' that the future of the monarchy was at stake unless he acted decisively to banish his beleaguered brother (pictured with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson at Ascot in 2019)

However, efforts to ensure that Andrew was presented with a legally watertight ultimatum went to the wire on Thursday evening, accounting for the palace's bombshell 7pm announcement.

Camilla was 'completely supportive' of her husband, and was acutely aware, given her own work over many years with the victims of abuse, how important it was to express their personal sympathies with those affected.

Andrew faced a new round of public outrage after emails emerged earlier this month showing he had remained in contact with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein longer than he previously admitted.

That news was followed by the publication of the posthumous memoir from Andrew's sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre, who took her own life this year, aged 41.

Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, which was finished before she died, detailed three alleged sexual encounters with Andrew, who she said acted as if he believed 'having sex with me was his birthright'.

Andrew has long denied Giuffre's claims, but stepped down from royal duties after a disastrous November 2019 BBC interview in which he attempted to rebut her allegations.

The disgraced royal paid millions in an out-of-court settlement in 2022 after Giuffre filed a civil suit against him in New York. While he didn't admit wrongdoing, he acknowledged Giuffre's suffering as a victim of sex trafficking.
Prince William has said he is looking forward to visiting Brazil just days after Rio de Janeiro drug raids left more than 130 dead.

The Prince of Wales, 43, is travelling to the Brazilian capital to present his environmental Earthshot prize, an award that hands 1 million out for environmental innovations.

Speaking on Sunday as he departed from London, William said: 'As I depart for Rio de Janeiro, I am excited for my first visit and to experience Brazil's vibrant culture, its extraordinary biodiversity, and above all, the warmth of its people.

'With the world's eyes turning to Brazil this week, there is no better place to celebrate bold climate leadership. Hosting The Earthshot Prize allows us to not only recognise those driving change, but to be inspired by them.

'When we work together with optimism and courage, a more sustainable future is within our reach.'

Sources said he had spoken to his father, who has taken a keen interest in his Earthshot initiative, and shared his keynote COP30 speech with him.

British ambassador to Brazil, Stephanie Al-Qaq, added: 'We are absolutely delighted that His Royal Highness is going to be joining us. There is huge interest in the British royal family here and he is speaking to a younger generation.'

William's pre-flight comments come as thousands of police and military personnel are drafted into Rio de Janeiro for the visit.

Prince William is travelling to Rio de Janeiro to present his environmental Earthshot prize, an award that hands 1million out for environmental innovations

A woman weeps over a mass of bodies piled up in the Penha Complex, in the northern part of Rio de Janeiro, a day after the deadliest police operation in the city's history, on October 29

There are fears 'violence could erupt' after at least 132 people were killed during Rio police's deadliest ever operation against criminal gangs.

But after the 'unprecedented bloodshed' - which saw 2,500 police and soldiers on Tuesday storming the favelas of Penha and Complexo de Alemao - security is being beefed up.

A source told the Daily Mirror: 'After the unprecedented bloodshed during fierce intergang fighting, the government has drafted in thousands more officers and the military.

'All eyes will be on Rio while William is there, and there is genuine concern that violence will erupt again while he is in Brazil.'

Hundreds of protesters on Friday marched through one of the favelas targeted in the raid, calling for Rio state Gov. Claudio Castro to resign amid continued outrage over the deadly operation.

Locals, politicians, activists, grieving mothers who lost their sons in prior operations and people from other Rio neighborhoods gathered to voice their fury in Vila Cruzeiro, part of the Penha complex of favelas, where days prior residents laid out scores of bodies they had collected from a nearby green area following the raid.

Felipe Curi, Rio state police secretary, told a news conference that bodies of additional suspects were found in a wooded area where he said they had worn camouflage while battling with security forces.

He said local residents had removed clothing and equipment from the bodies, in what would be investigated as evidence tampering.

A police officer holds his gun up next to residents on a barricade during the Operacao Contencao (Operation Containment) at the Vila Cruzeiro favela in Rio this week

'These individuals were in the woods, equipped with camouflage clothing, vests and weapons. Now many of them appeared wearing underwear or shorts, with no equipment, as if they had come through a portal and changed clothes,' Curi said.

Earlier on Wednesday, in the neighborhood of Penha, residents had surrounded many of the bodies - collected in trucks and displayed in a main square - and shouted 'massacre' and 'justice' before forensic authorities arrived to retrieve the remains.

'They can take them to jail, why kill them like this? Lots of them were alive and calling for help,' resident Elisangela Silva Santos, 50, said during the gathering in Penha. 'Yes they're traffickers, but they're human.'

The tally of suspects arrested stood at 113 - up from 81 cited previously, Curi said. The state government said some 90 rifles and more than a ton of drugs were seized.

Police and soldiers had launched the raid in helicopters, armored vehicles and on foot, targeting the Red Command gang. They drew gunfire and other retaliation from gang members, sparking scenes of chaos across the city on Tuesday.

Schools in the affected areas shuttered, a local university canceled classes, and roads were blocked with buses used as barricades.

Many shops remained closed Wednesday morning in Penha, where local activist Raull Santiago said he was part of a team that found about 15 bodies before dawn.

'We saw executed people: shot in the back, shots to the head, stab wounds, people tied up. This level of brutality, the hatred that is spread - there's no other way to describe it except as a massacre,' Santiago said.

There are fears 'violence could erupt' during William's visit after at least 132 people were killed during Rio police's deadliest ever operation against criminal gangs

Rio state Gov. Claudio Castro said on Tuesday that Rio was at war against 'narco-terrorism,' a term that echoed the Trump administration in its campaign against drug smuggling in Latin America.

On Wednesday, Castro called the operation a 'success,' apart from the deaths of the four police officers.

Rio's state government said that the suspects who had been killed had resisted police.

Rio has been the scene of lethal police raids for decades. In March 2005, some 29 people were killed in Rio's Baixada Fluminense region, while in May 2021, 28 were killed in the Jacarezinho favela.

But the scale and lethality of Tuesday's operation are unprecedented.

Non-governmental organizations and the U.N. human rights body quickly raised concerns over the high number of reported fatalities and called for investigations.
Five oceanfront homes collapsed into the Atlantic this week in Buxton, North Carolina, bringing the total to be swallowed by the ocean this month to an alarming 15.

At the same time, one desperate family realized theirs was next.

As 10-foot waves battered the wooden stilts beneath their home, they called in Barry Crum  the only man in town with the equipment and nerve to fight the sea.

His team literally pick up an at-risk house and move it further away from the shore, sometimes by more than 150 feet, in hopes of buying it five to ten more years.

Crum told the Daily Mail that while non-locals may call it 'crazy,' he's moved two dozen homes to the safest patches of land left on the lot. Owners with larger plots, where road access runs further from the water, have the best chance of saving their homes.

Many owners simply let their homes surrender to the sea. The $350,000 cost to move them is too steep, the process too stressful  and after years of watching the ocean creep closer, some are ready to stop fighting the inevitable.

Letting the houses fall means they can collect an insurance payout, though its rarely more than $250,000, often barely half of what they originally paid.

This week, his crew pulled off another dramatic coastal rescue, hoisting a large home on Old Lighthouse Road back from the edge just as the waves began smashing through its pilings.

Condemned homes in Buxton, NC. Many choose to let the homes surrender to the sea, because moving them can be upwards of $350,000

Crum Works Inc. has the equipment to literally pick up an at-risk house and move it further away from the shore in hopes of buying it five to ten more years

The house, built in 1980 when dunes and vegetation still shielded it from the sea, had long since become oceanfront as erosion ripped away the beach.

We were getting 10-foot waves every few days, Crum said.

Crum grew up in the Outer Banks and already had much of the heavy equipment he needed from years of clearing debris after storms and laying sandbags.

Eventually, he realized he could use it to tackle a problem the town had talked about for years: saving homes by literally moving them.

For the families who hire him, its not just about protecting property  its about holding onto a way of life thats disappearing as fast as the shoreline.

Its not a permanent fix, Crum admitted. But if we can buy them five or ten more years, thats worth it.

The operation began on October 15 when Crums crew dismantled the deck, slipped steel beams beneath the house, and used a jacking system to raise it off its failing pilings.

The structure was then loaded onto wheel dollies and carefully rolled 60 feet inland  the first marker beyond the immediate danger zone.

One of the last remaining homes on a stretch of beach in Buxton, NC, where 15 houses have fell into the sea in just a few weeks

The coastal haven is fragile because of its geography and small size, and because it lacks protection from the ocean, such as sea walls, which Buxton may build in coming years

With standard FEMA flood insurance, a homeowner is only gonna get about $250,000 if their home falls in the ocean

Crum Works construction workers moving a home 60 feet back from the ocean in Buxton, NC, where homes have been falling into the Atlantic

A final survey in the coming weeks will determine whether it can be moved another 90 feet toward the road.

'With this house in particular, first I look for a good weather window,' Crum said.

'I'll get everything ready. We use structural beams and we build a trailer under the house.'

Custom-built hydraulic jacks then raise the home  sometimes more than 20 feet into the air.

We build the jacks ourselves. Ive lifted houses 21 or 22 feet high, he said.

Once its off the pilings, the excavator pulls it away from the surf while new supports are installed.

Carpentry crews notch and lower the structure onto its new foundation  all measured with precision. It's all measured with a large level.

'Yesterday they actually cut notches in the pilings, so you know how the house is going to stay and have a longer life,' he said.

Barry Crum and Crum Works Inc. specialize in picking up houses in Buxton, NC, and moving them further away from the shore. Homeowners pay upwards of $300,000 to hire him

Barry Crum owns the equipment that can safely move a house away from the shore in Buxton NC, where 15 homes have fallen into the sea in weeks

Others choose to let the homes fall and collect the FEMA insurance, which caps out at $250,000 usually around half of what the owner paid for the house

Why not just let it fall?

If the sea is coming for it anyway, why bother?

The reason is part financial, part sentimental.

'It kind of makes financial sense most of the time,' Crum said.

'Your standard FEMA flood insurance, you're only gonna get about $250,000.

'It's expensive to move a house, but it's not nearly as expensive as building a new one. And you can't rebuild right on the oceanfront anymore.

'Plus, if you move the house you can get back in it a lot faster than if you build one, but you can't even build one in these areas anyway anymore.

'You have to use these houses that are there or lose them.'

Buxton residents inspect the debris the fallen homes have left. Owners have to pay for their own debris cleanup and many don't leaving to Barry Crum to come in and do it

Locals check out which houses are still standing and which have been sucked away by the Atlantic following a series of rough storms

Many of the homes were second holiday homes, but many are also full-time residences leaving locals devastated by the state of things

Many of those affected are not wealthy investors, Crum said, but longtime residents with deep roots in the area.

'There is some sentiment,' he said.

'But most of the time it makes financial sense. A lot of people have worked their whole lives for their dream home and these places are full of memories.'

The future of Buxton

Crum said the local community is devastated as they watch their homes and neighbors homes eaten by the sea.

And each loss has a ripple effect throughout the small local economy.

'Think about it,' Crum said. 'Fifteen houses means fifteen families and their friends every week in the summer.

'There's the housecleaners, restaurants, fishing shops, grocery stores, it all adds up.

Lori Perkins called the four-bedroom beach home she owns in North Carolina 's Outer Banks 'a dream come true for her and her family and would often lend it to friends for free

One of the last remaining homes did fall into the ocean this week. It was owned by a woman who lived there up until August

Crumb Works Inc. works with local government to determine a safe time to go in and do debris cleanup or move a home

'When those houses fall, the whole community feels it.'

He's seen people checking out the ocean debris in tears.

'A lot of us take it personally, he said. 'It's depressing.

'Even if it's not your house, you've been working on these homes for years. We know the owners. We feel it too.'

How it started

Crum grew up in the heavy-equipment world, with his father running a similar business where he'd tag along as a kid.

He got hooked after witnessing his father help move a famous local lighthouse in the late 1990s.

'It was just fascinating to me that you could do that,' he said.

Debris left over from a home that fell into the ocean. Owners have to pay for their own clean up and some just never return to the area

The shoreline creeps closer and closer to Buxton homes, some which probably can't withstand even more more storm before they topple

Years later, he was literally handed a house that was in danger from an owner who didn't want to deal with it anymore. There was one catch.

'My first house was actually given to me,' he said.

'I just had to move it. I put the equipment together and moved it myself. That's where I live now.'

Today, Crum Works Inc. has become the go-to name in Hatteras for saving homes on the brink of disaster.

'I get by from word of mouth, it's such a unique job and people just call me to do it,' Crum said.

The cost

Moving a house is costly, with expenses depending on size, distance, permits, and rebuilding septic systems, Crum said.

In total, costs can get as high as $400,000, depending on the size of the home, how much it will take to move it, and disconnecting and reconnecting the sewer and electric.

Homeowners pay entirely out of pocket. But for many, it's worth it.

'It's not just a structure, it's someone's life, their memories. You save that, and it feels pretty good.'
A top doctor has raised concerns about Elon Musk's health after the billionaire showed apparent signs of 'rapid aging'.

Musk, 54, sparked worries during his eighth appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, released on Friday.

Dr Stuart Fischer, a New York-based physician, told the Daily Mail: 'Even at the Republican National Convention in July 2024, he was fresher-faced compared to now.'

He continued: 'The exposure, the stress, and the controversy appear to have aged him physically and emotionally.'

Dr Fischer, who did not examine or treat Musk, added that rapid aging doesn't just show on the face, 'It puts you at risk of heart attacks and strokes.'

He said: 'Being stressed all the time floods the body with cortisol and adrenaline, which accelerates wear and tear on the heart and makes blood clots more likely.

'Chronic stress also reduces nutrient absorption, so essential vitamins and antioxidants aren't used effectively, causing the rusting of cells.

'Poor sleep and eating poorly when you're stressed only make it worse.'

Concern: Musk looked 'aged' during his latest appearance on Rogan's show, a doctor claimed

Past appearance: Musk is seen on Rogan's show in 2020

High levels of stress hormones break down collagen, the protein that gives skin its firmness, elasticity, and smooth texture.

This can lead to skin becoming dull, saggy and loose, dark circles appear and wrinkles form faster.

Being stressed out also makes it more difficult to sleep, compounding the effects. It also takes a toll on the brain.

Elevated cortisol and fatigue physically shrink the hippocampus, the part of the brain critical for memory, and impair neural connections, making it harder to focus, retain information, and process emotions.

Over time, this cognitive strain can make someone appear mentally exhausted, forgetful, and less sharp - adding to the overall impression of someone ailing.

Stamina did not seem an issue for Musk during his three-hour podcast session with Rogan, but his signature awkward pauses seemed more labored.

Dr Fischer said: 'It's the stress. I don't think he was ready for the overwhelming stress of winding up in the middle of international politics over the past few years.

'Even local politics is stressful enough but the divisiveness on the national and international level is different.

'People who used to love him are now deeply upset with him, it's very draining, and he's got his companies to run at the same time.'
Tucked in the western Pacific Ocean is a country made up of more than 600 islands scattered across an expanse of ocean - five times the size of France.

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is an archipelago composed of both high volcanic islands and low-lying coral atolls, forming four island states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae.

It has an estimated population of 105,500 with just 23.6 per cent living in urban areas.

Despite being independent since 1986, many people are unaware that FSM is a country because it shares its name with the larger geographical region in Oceania

Micronesia translates literally from Greek to 'small islands' and is home to lush forests and diverse coral reefs with incredible marine biodiversity, including many species of fish, manta rays and turtles.

The Micronesia region is made up of FSM, the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru and Palau.

FSM's beauty is characterised by remote, 'castaway-worthy' scenery and unique natural and cultural attractions, from the ancient ruins of Nan Madol to the WWII wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon.

As well as its tropical climate and white sand beaches, the country is known for having a lenient visa policy, granting visa-free entry for short stays to citizens of most countries.

Chuuk Lagoon, an atoll in the Federated States of Micronesia (pictured), is home to one of the highest concentrations of World War II shipwrecks in the world

The island of Pohnpei is known for its lush jungles, ancient ruins and coral reefs

For a stay of up to 30 days, most visitors do not need a visa but must have a valid passport, a round-trip ticket and complete a form on arrival.

For longer stays, visitors need to apply for an entry permit and the total stay period for most visitors is capped at 90 days, with the possibility of extensions. US citizens can stay indefinitely in the FSM.

The islands boast serene and unspoiled beaches, clear waters and lush green surroundings.

Tours of FSM often focus on the four main islands, offering a mix of historical sites, cultural experiences and outdoor activities like diving, snorkeling and hiking.

Pohnpei, which has been dubbed Micronesia's Best Kept Secret, offers a mix of vibrant scenery and historical sites like the ancient ruins of the Nan Madol empire, located on the beach.

Often described as the 'Venice of the Pacific,' Nan Madol is a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its impressive, mysterious construction, which was completed without modern technology.

Chuuk Lagoon, an atoll in FSM, is home to one of the highest concentrations of World War II shipwrecks in the world, making it a premier wreck diving destination.

It was the Imperial Japanese Navy's main base in the Pacific until February 1944 when the US launched a two-day aerial assault on the base, which resulted in the sinking of over 50 ships and 250 aircraft.

The site contains a high concentration of intact wrecks, including merchant vessels and warships, which have become an artificial reef and a major draw for divers.

Nan Madol, an archaeological site located in the Federated States of Micronesia, is pictured

The Micronesian area in the Western Pacific Ocean consists of the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands and Guam

Traditional practices, like boat building, weaving and dance, continue to be important in Micronesian culture.

Pacific island countries are among the most vulnerable in the world to the climate crisis and there is concern that the low-lying islands could be badly affected by rising sea levels.

FSM has a focus on green initiatives related to climate change adaptation, resilience and sustainable development.

These efforts include developing climate-resilient agriculture, increasing renewable energy use, implementing integrated disaster risk management and strengthening health systems to cope with climate-induced health risks.

The country is also involved in initiatives like the 'Blue Prosperity Micronesia' project to establish marine protected areas to safeguard its ocean resources.

Fishing rights are a significant source of national revenue in FSM, alongside government employment and tourism.

It comes as the number of visitor arrivals to the island state of Yap almost doubling in the first eight months of 2024.

The Yap Visitors Bureau (YVB) attributes this growth to a comprehensive advertising, public relations, social media and trade show campaign targeting markets in Guam, the US and Europe.

Pictured: Kolonia, the capital of Pohnpei State in the Federated States of Micronesia

However, overall growth is constrained by the region's remote location and underdeveloped infrastructure.

There are no direct flights from the UK to FSM and travellers are likely to travel more than 30 hours to get there depending on the route and layovers.

United Airlines offer an Island Hopper route between Guam and Honolulu, Hawaii, via several small islands in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.

The route, originally launched by Continental Micronesia in 1968, is the only scheduled service for many of the islands.
There's been no shortage of Claudia Winkleman on screens in recent weeks, as the TV host returned to Ardross Castle for the Celebrity Traitors, and once again joined Tess Daly as the co-host of Strictly Come Dancing.

The presenter certainly has a signature style that her fans know and love, and thanks to being on two BBC shows at once, has had plenty of space to showcase her looks.

While Claudia, 53, usually looks more glammed up for her appearances on the BBC One dance competition, she opts for country chic on the BAFTA winning gameshow.

But either way, the star has a brand that she keeps going back to for more, having worn looks from the female designer over TEN times.

From jumpsuits to dresses and matching suits, Nadine Merabi appears to be a firm favourite of Claudia and her stylist team behind-the-scenes.

Here we have found a handful of the items that she's rocked while on our screens, given there's so many options for viewers to choose from.

Nadine Merabi is a northern-based British brand best known for its party wear thanks to its glitzy and glamorous designs packed with sequins and diamantes.

It makes it the perfect choice for a dressy look on the Strictly dance floor, as well as a statement piece to bring the shock factor to Ardross Castle.

She recently wore the 'Lydia' dress on the Celebrity Traitors, making a statement with the sheer black velvet embroidered lace number.

Making a perfect fit within Claudia's eye-catching wardrobe, the signature tulip skirt and padded shoulders added extra drama to the look.

The dress is currently available in sizes XS to XXL, and is priced at 395.

Elsewhere, on the last season of the Traitors, Claudia opted for the 'Meghan' jumpsuit, a black velvet all-in-one with white pearl details.

The bling-accented look is also available for 395, and in sizes XS to XXL.

While a third look saw Claudia in yet another Nadine Merabi jumpsuit, this time to present Strictly Come Dancing alongside co-host Tess, 56.

The figure-hugging gold number features a halter neck and is covered in gold sequins, with the material twisted into an accented detail at the front.

The look is currently available for 425.

Also appearing on Strictly, Claudia wore the 'Luna' Jumpsuit, an all-black velvet look that's covered in tiny sparkling rhinestones for added glitz and glam.

The jumpsuit features fit and flare bottoms and a padded shoulder top.

Available in sizes XS to XXL, the jumpsuit is currently on sale for 395.

Elsewhere, Claudia wore the sparkling 'Kira' matching two-piece suit - which also features shimmering rhinestone details to catch the eye.

The blazer and trousers combination, which can also be worn with a matching bralette top, is sold as two separate pieces on the site.

The blazer costs 295, while the trousers cost 225, making a total price of 520.

An option not for the shy types, Claudia also glitzed up the Strictly dance floor with Nadine Merabi's 'Bella' black velvet jumpsuit.

The design features sequin swirls and a stylish belt to bring in the waistline.

The look, which is available in all sizes apart form L and XXL, is priced at 345.

Another jumpsuit worn by Claudia is the 'Katarina' design.

Made from a luxurious velvet material, the statement piece features a golden neckline that appears to drip down onto the shoulders and chest - and is priced at 395.

Yet another suit worn by Claudia is the 'Lucille' white blazer: priced at 355, it also comes with matching trousers that Claudia has previously been seen wearing.

One of the final looks worn by the TV presenter is the 'Simone' dress, which is currently on sale at 300, down from 370.

The pearl-accented dress, which also comes in white and gold, is still available in all sizes despite its new bargain price.

Strictly Come Dancing continues weekends on BBC One, and Celebrity Traitors concludes next Thursday at 9pm on BBC One.
Following the release of the one-off Brookside and Hollyoaks crossover episode, soap fans have been reflecting on some of Brookside's most controversial storylines.

The Liverpool-set show, which aired from 1982 to 2003, dropped many a jaw during its time on Channel 4 by featuring the likes of incest, a murderous schoolboy and even a plague.

Brookside's reputation for going where other soaps feared to tread at the time began in the early 90s with the first ever pre-watershed lesbian kiss between Beth Jordache (Anna Friel) and Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson).

Despite airing long before the 2020 Covid pandemic, the show also featured a mystery plague that forced the residents of the Liverpool cul-de-sac to go into a self-imposed lockdown in 1995.

The shocking nature of the storylines only increased over time; in 2002, 12-year-old Anthony Murray (Raymond Quinn) brutally murdered his school bully Imelda Clough (Billie Clements).

But the show's most controversial storyline was arguably the incestuous relationship between Nat Simpson and his sister Georgia in 1996.

Following the release of the one-off Brookside and Hollyoaks crossover episode, soap fans have been reflecting on some of Brookside's most controversial storylines - including what is believed to be British TV's first ever incest scene

Brookside's reputation for going where other soaps feared to tread at the time began in the early 90s with British TV's first lesbian kiss between Beth Jordache (Anna Friel) and Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson)

In scenes that floored the nation, and what is believed to be the first time incest was ever aired on television, the pair were caught fornicating by their younger brother.

The show's creator, Phil Redmond, described the storyline as breaking the last taboo in television at the time - even if it prompted one MP to encourage viewers to complain in their millions.

The TV editor of the Liverpool Echo also defended the incest storyline, arguing that banning the subject would be an infringement of free speech.

Peter Grant told Channel 4 in 1996: 'I am one of Brookside's seven million fans. And while I have not been comfortable with the way in which the current incest storyline has been handled. I will always defend the soap's right to introduce such a subject.

'Our soaps, like good dramas are an excellent way of provoking debate and bringing issues - otherwise hidden- into the open. Even if they sometimes shock.'

But while the storyline might have had its defenders, viewers did not hold back when expressing their rage to the Broadcasting Standards Council, which received dozens of complaints from both members of the public and family campaigners.

Brookside was criticised, in particular, for airing the controversial storyline 48 minutes before the watershed.

Mary Whitehouse, the founder of the National Viewers and Listeners Association, said: 'Those shots of the brother and sister and the luscious love-making between them were an absolute disgrace. They were both naked and it panned to a shot of an undergarment thrown on to the side of the bed, which left no doubt in anyone's mind what was supposed to be happening.'

Fans are now calling for Brookside to return to screens after its nostalgic crossover episode with Hollyoaks

Despite falling audience numbers, Phil Redmond described the show's axing in 2003 as 'ridiculous', and ahead of its return, was asked if there were any Brookside storylines he was particularly proud of.

He said: 'There's two. I remember calling Sue Johnston into my office in 1986 and telling her we were thinking of doing the Sheila Grant rape storyline.

'We wanted to bring over the fact it was a violent act of dominance, and to make it a story for "Saint Shei" as she was known, Sheila was everyone's mum. We had to have someone who could carry the story and make it work.'

Another story that Redmond was proud of was Niamh's admission that she was illiterate, for shedding light on an often-overlooked issue.

The Brookside creator said: 'We had Niamh, a 40-something mum who'd raised a family, offered a promotion at work and had to fill out a form, then had to admit she couldn't read or write.'

Reflecting on the poignant episodes, the creator said: 'Those two storylines are what I think Brookie was all about.'

On October 22, Hollyoaks aired a special crossover episode with iconic Brookside characters to celebrate its 30th anniversary

One soap fan wrote on X: 'Surreal to see #Brookside close again on TV after all these years. Loved the episode! Congrats to all involved. Let's hope this leads to the show coming back'

Following the release of the one-off crossover episode fans are now calling for Brookside to return to screens.

The special, which aired on October 22, celebrated the 30th anniversary of Hollyoaks.

In September, it was confirmed Philip Olivier and Suzanne Collins would return for the episode, reprising their roles as as Tim 'Tinhead' O'Leary and Nikki Shadwick.

Sue Johnston also returned as matriarch Sheila Grant, a part she played from 1982 until 1990 alongside Paul Usher as Sheila's bad-boy son Barry Grant, and John McArdle as her second husband, Billy Corkhill.

Fans went wild over the iconic soap returning and are hoping it will lead to its return full-time.

Fans went wild over the iconic soap's return 22 years after its final episode, and are hoping it might once again be a permanent fixture on British screens.

One wrote on X: 'Surreal to see #Brookside close again on TV after all these years. Loved the episode! Congrats to all involved. Let's hope this leads to the show coming back';

'Sir Phil saying, "From one drama to another!"... Excellent! How wonderful to hear that theme tune again. Please bring #Brookside back full time! Absolutely loved the cross-over tonight X';

'One of the great TV cul-de-sacs back in action what a treat and so wonderful to see the Close and some of those classic characters again. More please!!'

Hollyoaks truly got into the Halloween spirit this October by airing an episode akin to a slasher horror movie that sees Dodger Savage brutally raped and beaten

Due to the sensitive nature of the shocking storyline, Channel 4 worked with the We Are Survivors Charity to ensure that the dark subject matter was sensitively handled

Hollyoaks Executive Producer Hannah Cheers previously described the episode as a 'love letter' to both soaps and expressed her gratitude to Sir Phil Redmond, who created both Hollyoaks and Brookside. She said: 'This episode is a love letter to both Hollyoaks and Brookside.

'Brookside gave birth to Hollyoaks - it grew up on the same site and eventually took over its sets.

'For everyone at Lime Pictures (originally Mersey TV), Hollyoaks history is deeply rooted in Brookside, and its legacy lives on through our crew and, of course, some of our cast.

'This special feels like both a moving and fitting tribute to our origin story and a chance for fans to revisit much-loved Brookside.'

Like Brookside, the anniversary episode was full of shocking scenes and featured rape and murder scenes, with a bloodbath that got off to a shocking start when serial killer Jez Blake was sucked into a plane propeller.

The anniversary episode is available to stream on E4 now.
In the most recent segment of Saturday Night Live's 'The Weekend Update,' co-host Michael Che took a jab at former Prince Andrew, who had his title and residency revoked last week amid the ongoing scandal of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

During the segment, Che joked to the American audience: 'Andrew says he can only become prince again if he gets a kiss from a young princess.'

The joke alluded to serious allegations that Andrew had a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and had sex with underage girls that were provided to him by the convicted sex offender. Andrew denies all allegations.

The accusations have caused a political firestorm for the Royal Family and have been a source of major controversy across the pond.

Andrew lied about cutting ties with Epstein, and a disturbing posthumous memoir from his alleged victim Virginia Giuffre was released on October 21, which caused the controversy to grow even more.

Giuffre, who took her own life this year at the age of 41, described years she said she spent as a sex slave to Epstein and his British madame Ghislaine Maxwell in her book titled Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice.

Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein three times for sex with Andrew, called the ex-duke 'entitled' and said he viewed sex as his 'birthright,' extracts read.

The book also alleged that her first encounter with Andrew was when she was just 17 years old, which means the former Prince would have been around 41.

The Weekend Update co-host Michael Che took a jab at former Prince Andrew, saying: 'Andrew says he can only become prince again if he gets a kiss from a young princess'

Andrew was accused of having a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and having sex with underage girls that were provided to him by the convicted sex offender

The joke about Andrew was well received by the public - with many taking to social media saying they found the segment hilarious.

One wrote: 'Weekend Update never misses  satire remains undefeated.'

Andrew denied having sex with Giuffre, but forked out millions in an out of court settlement in February 2022.

The Royal Family was prepared for the further scandal the book would likely cause, knowing it would be published in October.

And in response to the growing controversy, Buckingham Palace released a bombshell statement on October 30 announcing that Andrew will no longer be referred to as a prince and is to leave the Royal Lodge.

The former prince will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and has been stripped of all his titles. Even his honorary rank of vice-admiral is now in conversation for removal.

In Thursday's announcement from Buckingham Palace, the statement said: 'These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.

'Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.'

Andrew was served a notice to surrender his lease at the 30-bedroom Royal Lodge mansion in Windsor Great Park, where the former prince lived for two decades while paying 'peppercorn rent.'

The younger brother of the King will be moved to a property on the Sandringham estate but the specifics regarding the relocation are unknown.

A posthumous memoir released on October 21 accused Epstein of trafficking Virginia Giuffre three times for sex with Andrew

Andrew lied about cutting ties with Epstein, which was proved by this picture of him with Epstein in New York's Central Park in 2011

Andrew, Virginia Giuffre and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in a photo reportedly taken in 2001, when Giuffre was 17 years old

The Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Andrew's former home

The move to strip Andrew of his titles and residency was entirely down to the King and his advisers, without pressure from the government or other family members, such as Prince William, sources told the Daily Mail.

The King had made it clear he would not hesitate to take 'further action' if his younger brother continued to cling on to his dukedom and other honors after he lied about cutting ties with pedophile financier Epstein, the Daily Mail previously revealed.

Despite the tsunami of evidence mounting against him, Andrew was understood to still be 'digging his heels in' with a 'startling lack of contrition' - a situation the King deemed 'intolerable', sources previously said.

Saturday Night Live has previously joked about Andrew and his controversies.

In 2022, when Giuffre was suing Andrew for alleged sexual abuse, Che's co-host Colin Jost joked about the former prince being stripped of his royal duties by the late Queen Elizabeth.
Ellie Goldstein was the latest celebrity to be sent packing from Strictly Come Dancing as Balvinder Sopal survived her third dance-off.

Sunday's spooktacular Strictly results show saw Ellie and her partner Vito Coppola leave the competition following a dance off against Balvinder and Julian Caillon.

Ellie and Vito performed their Tango to Abracadabra by Lady Gaga once more while Balvinder and Julian took to the dance floor with their Rumba to Stay by Shakespears Sister.

The judges were unanimous in their decision, with Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse all choosing to save Balvinder - who has already faced two dance-offs against Ross King and Chris Robshaw.

Head Judge Shirley Ballas - who this week was the judge with the casting vote  said that she would have also chosen to save Balvinder and Julian however added that she thought 'Ellie was also outstanding throughout the whole competition'.

When asked about how much she enjoyed dancing with Vito, Ellie said: 'I've enjoyed it so much! He is a kind person and all I wanted from day one.

Ellie Goldstein was the latest celebrity to be sent packing from Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday as Balvinder Sopal survived her third dance-off

Sunday's spooktacular Strictly results show saw Ellie and her partner Vito Coppola leave the competition following a dance-off against Balvinder and Julian Caillon

'You have been so heartwarming, thank you to you [Vito].'

In an emotional speech, Vito turned to Ellie and said: 'Honestly, there are no words I can use to describe how proud I am of you and you did really change my life so much. You made me such a better person.

'At the beginning of this year, I said to myself please, please, please can you send me a beautiful angel into my life? And now you arrived. I've never had a little sister but I always wanted one.

'Now, I have you and you're my little sister forever, and your big brother is always by your side.'

Vito then said to Ellie that they will keep dancing together.

Sunday night's results show featured a performance of How to be Human by Celebrity Traitors star Cat Burns after the release of her album.

Cat's performance was accompanied by a routine from professional dancers Michelle Tsiakkas and Nancy Xu.

The Strictly Professionals also performed a devilish Monsters' Ball group routine.

Ellie and Vito performed their Tango to Abracadabra by Lady Gaga once more while Balvinder and Julian took to the dance floor with their Rumba to Stay by Shakespears Sister

The judges were unanimous in their decision, with Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse all choosing to save Balvinder - who has already faced two dance-offs against Ross King and Chris Robshaw

In an emotional speech, Vito turned to Ellie and said: 'Honestly, there are no words I can use to describe how proud I am of you and you did really change my life so much'

The remaining nine couples will take to the dancefloor next week when Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday November 8 at 6.25pm, with the results show on Sunday November 9 at 7.10pm.

Next week's results show will see the professionals joined by the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment to mark Remembrance Sunday.

Strictly's Halloween week on Saturday saw Lewis Cope blow the judges away as he received the first 40 of the series for his couple's choice dance to a quick version of Radiohead's Creep.

Reflecting on growing up in Hartlepool with his 13 siblings, Lewis left home at just 10 years old to live in London and pursue his career in performing as he admitted he often misses his family, especially his Nanna Dot.

And sure to make his family proud Lewis and his partner Katya Jones brought the house down with the incredible performance full of twists and tricks.

Lewis Cope achieved the first 40 of the series as he blew the judges away with his sensational couple's choice dance

Leaving Motsi Mabuse on her feet, Craig Revel Horwood deemed the performance 'Spooktacular' while Motsi added it was 'out of this world'.

Meanwhile Shirley Ballas was moved to tears as she thanked his family for letting Lewis follow his dreams and share his talent with the nation.

Anton Du Beke added it was the best of the series by a 'million miles' and he couldn't have done anything to make it better.

He doesn't often get his 10 paddle out, but even Craig gave the pair the top score as they achieved the first full marks of the series.
The United States is systematically expelling migrants south of the border, as the island refuses to accept them. Theres little certainty about the number of Cubans deported, nor about their status in the country

Laudel Camacho Ricardo had been sleeping on the streets of Tapachula, a city in southern Mexico, for three days. Thats when he decided to sell his gold chain and a watch for $20 (just over 350 Mexican pesos). He would never have pawned his possessions for such a low price, if not for the hunger that gripped his stomach.

These have been very hard days. Sometimes, Ive felt like I would have preferred to die, he confesses. Finding myself in a foreign country, not knowing anyone, without resources  and hungry  is a pain that Ill remember for the rest of my life.

He was no longer the Cuban immigrant and Texas warehouse worker that he had so recently been. Within a week, he was suddenly a deportee in the Mexican state of Chiapas, without money, a phone, or identification documents. This was how the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers left him on the other side of the border.

Laudel is 55-years-old, with graying hair. In the middle of his chest, he has a tattoo of the Statue of Liberty  a silhouette made with the unmistakable blue-green ink thats used in prisons. He spent a total of 22 years locked up in Cuban jail cells for his political activism, his work as an independent journalist and his protests against the Castro regime. His tattoos have been the only thing they havent been able to strip him of: neither the Cuban government each time it locked him up, nor the U.S. government when, on September 16, 2025, it notified him of an immigration appointment. Instead, the American authorities placed him in one of the detention centers that, today, are the catacombs of its immigration policy.

Without even returning his passport, the agents left him in the hands of the Mexican authorities. On September 23, after about a week in detention  a fleeting period of time when compared to the months that some spend in ICE custody  Laudel was deported by bus to Mexico. This is what happens to the majority of Cubans who are deported from the United States. The government in Havana isnt receiving them.

In negotiations with Barack Obama  as part of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations 10 years ago  Raul Castro began admitting deportees. However, the islands government retains the right to choose who it takes back and who it doesnt. To this day, the reasons why one Cuban migrant lands in Havana, another in Tabasco, Mexico, and another sent to faraway Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) remain incomprehensible.

Laudel Camacho Ricardo, in Tapachula, Mexico, in October, 2025. Cortesia

One of the theories circulating is that the Cuban government is mostly accepting citizens from more recent migration exoduses who dont have serious criminal records. But this cannot be proven. Some deportees have ended up in Mexico, or even African countries, indiscriminately.

Laudel, for his part, had no criminal charges in the United States. He braved the danger of the sea on a rustic raft from Cojimar, Havana, arriving in the U.S. just over 20 months ago, where he lived under I-220 B status, or deportation order. This is the same status that some 42,000 Cubans remain under.

Even so, many are grateful to be deported to Mexico and not to Cuba, which has collapsed due to its worst-ever economic crisis. They also prefer it to ending up in Africa. Alexander Rodriguez  a 52-year-old Cuban who spent about 10 years in prison in the United States (and now rarely leaves his home for fear of arrest)  says that, in the event of expulsion, the best thing would be to return to his home country, where he has cousins and uncles. However, he says that Miguel Diaz-Canels government wont accept him. Its better to be there than in Africa. If they send me to Mexico, thats fine, too. But if they send me to Africa, what am I going to do at this age in one of those countries?

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has ruled out any kind of negotiation that would turn Mexico into a safe third country for deportees. And Havana has received about 1,000 Cubans back since January. But the rest, for the most part, have ended up expelled from the U.S. to Mexican territory. The Economist reported that at least 731 Cuban nationals had been deported to third countries as of August 2025  the highest number publicly recorded. According to data available from the Deportation Data Project  which compiles and publishes anonymized U.S. government data sets obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or from proactively-released records  approximately 640 Cubans were deported to Mexico between January 20 to the end of July. That same month, Sheinbaum stated that her country had received approximately 6,525 foreigners, without specifying their nationalities.

Numerous organizations have denounced the dangers that these migrants face. These practices leave many people in legal limbo, without documentation or access to basic services. Theyre exposed to extortion, violence and human-trafficking, especially in southern Mexico, where the risks for migrants are high, says Maria Jose Espinosa, a foreign policy expert and executive director of the Center for Engagement and Advocacy in the Americas (CEDA). The human cost is devastating and, in many cases, irreversible. These policies tear families apart.

The path to legalization in Mexico

This is the first time that the Cuban community has faced a harsh U.S. immigration policy, after decades living under the protection of the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act. In Florida  where the majority supported Trumps return to the White House  the terror of deportations took the form of Alligator Alcatraz, the nickname given to the South Florida Detention Facility. Now, nearly a year into Trumps second term, the streets of cities like Miami have become the main danger for undocumented immigrants.

Migrants wait in a shelter in Tapachula, in April 2025. Jose Torres (Anadolu via Getty Images)

Thomas Kennedy  an immigration activist and policy analyst for the Florida Immigrant Coalition  argues that the types of raids taking place in the state are less dramatic than in Chicago or California. But what happens here is what I call a constant raid, he notes. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis administration  through the 287(g) program, which grants federal immigration powers to local and state police  has empowered the Florida Highway Patrol to arrest many people. However, in a state where Cubans are the largest foreign group, theyre not the most-affected by ICE detentions. Rather, Guatemalans and Mexicans are the principal victims.

Even so, the last 10 months of Republican rule have been devastating for many Cubans, whose naturalized relatives didnt hesitate to vote for Trump. During this time period  according to Espinosa  U.S. immigration policy has gone from protection to punishment.

The humanitarian parole program was eliminated, work permits were revoked, and deportations were expanded to countries such as Mexico and even Africa. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans who entered the country regularly are now at risk of detention or expulsion, while others live in fear of losing everything. And still others wait on the island to be reunited with their families in the United States, says Espinosa. What we are seeing is a historic setback: after decades in which Cubans were welcomed into this country, many now live in limbo, without protection or a clear path forward.

This is how Laudel survives in Mexico. After several days on the streets, it was other Cubans in the city of Tapachula who helped him get through his first days as a deportee. I ended up asking some Cubans I saw passing by for food or money. I hadnt showered and was sleeping wherever I could find shelter at night, he says. Later, those same Cubans offered him a place to stay until he could find a job, which is far from straight-forward. I dont have any documents, and that makes my situation worse. There is work, but without documentation it is impossible for a migrant, he says.

Irene Pascual, an immigration lawyer in Mexico, tells EL PAIS that the first thing a deportee must do is report to Mexican immigration authorities within 30 days. The lawyer also explains that Mexican law establishes three forms of regularization: family ties, humanitarian reasons, or expired documents, which apply to people with a prior immigration record.

Most people have no family [in Mexico], nor do they have [an immigration] record, so they must apply for refugee status with the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR), explains Pascual. Many Cubans meet the criteria of persecution and fear for their lives or of being imprisoned if they return, but each case is different. Likewise, applying for asylum is a human and constitutional right. It is the authority  COMAR  that determines during the process whether the person will be recognized as a refugee and granted the corresponding benefits.

Many migrants in Tapachula report long wait times or delays by COMAR, as well as denials of procedures and corruption. Some say that theyve had to pay up to more than $1,000 to receive their legal documents.

Laudel has already appeared before COMAR. Hes been told he will have to wait four to five months for a response to his case. He doesnt plan on returning to Cuba, where the authorities have threatened his family, saying that theyll send him back to prison. Theres also no possibility of returning to the United States. His uncertain fate now lies in Mexico.

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She is best known for her breakout role as the sultry Soviet spy in the 1985 comedy classic Spies Like Us opposite Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase.

The British-born actress later starred in the hit TV series Weird Science in which she played a sexy computer-created woman.

Then the blonde appeared in films including Kingpin with Woody Harrelson and The Perfect Score with Scarlett Johansson.

The import made a rare sighting this week in Los Angeles.

The slender siren looked effortlessly chic in a black tank top, cropped leggings and flip-flops. The movie star paired her laid-back look with aviator sunglasses and a crossbody bag.

Can you tell who she is?

She is best known for her breakout role as the sultry Soviet spy in the 1985 comedy classic Spies Like Us opposite Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase

Then the blonde appeared in films including Kingpin with Woody Harrelson and The Perfect Score with Scarlett Johansson. The import made a rare sighting this week in Los Angeles

The actress is Vanessa Angel, 58.

She was discovered by a model management agent in a London cafe as a teen then started working for Ford Models in New York City.

Angel had success as a model: she was on the covers of Vogue and Cosmopolitan.

Angel's first film role was in the 1985 American comedy Spies Like Us, in which she played a soldier in the Soviet Strategic Missile Forces who sleeps with Dan Aykroyd's character.

In 1990, she was in the film King of New York with Christopher Walken and Larry Fishburne.

The star was seen on TV's The Equalizer, then slipped into a red swimsuit to play a lifeguard on Baywatch and subsequently made an appearance on Reasonable Doubts.

She guest-starred in two episodes of Melrose Place, playing a bisexual supermodel who kissed Daphne Zuniga's character.

The Brit starred in the television series Weird Science as Lisa, the computer-generated genie from 1994 to 1998.

In 1995, Angel was cast in the role of Xena, a guest spot on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, but lost the role to Lucy Lawless.

Vanessa Angel graced the covers of Vogue, left, and Cosmopolitan, right

Angel showed off her toned frame as she stepped out

She is best known for her breakout role as the sultry Soviet spy in the 1985 comedy classic Spies Like Us opposite Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase

Then the blonde played the six kitten in Kingpin with Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray

The British-born actress later starred in the hit TV series Weird Science in which she played a sexy computer-created woman

She had a hit with the Farrelly brothers film Kingpin with Murray and Harrelson.

Angel played roles in Kissing a Fool with David Schwimmer, followed by a role in the 1999 film Made Men.

In 2004, she appeared in SuperBabies: Baby Geniuses 2, as Scott Baio's wife.

She also has roles in Sabretooth (2002) and The Perfect Score (2004).

In 2000, she guest starred in three episodes of the Sci-Fi Channel's Stargate SG-1, playing Anise, a Tok'ra archaeologist/scientist.

In 2005, Angel played herself in the Hollywood bad boys show Entourage. Next came the films Blind Ambition, and the Farrellys' Hall Pass. She played a guest role as Alison in the fifth season of Californication.
She's best known as the tough-as-nails space Marine from one of the biggest Sci-Fi blockbusters ever made  barking the immortal line, 'Let's rock!' before charging into battle.

Audiences have watched her take on aliens, be a blood-thirsty vampire and even play a foster mom in a world with a killer cyborg.

She popped up in three of a certain legendary director's biggest hits, proving she could blend into any universe he dreamed up whether that's an Irish immigrant on a sinking ship or a hotel maid in a crime-ridden city.

Though her on-screen roles slowed after her explosive debut, this actress kept busy guest-starring across acclaimed TV dramas.

These days, she's traded Hollywood sets for satin and lace, running a lingerie empire whose alphabet famously 'starts at D.'

And despite hanging up her pulse rifle, fans still salute her as one of Sci-Fi's fiercest icons at her many Comic-Con appearances.

Can you guess who?

She's best known as the tough-as-nails space Marine from one of the biggest Sci-Fi blockbusters ever made  barking the immortal line, 'Let's rock!' before charging into battle

Audiences have watched her take on aliens, be a blood-thirsty vampire and even play a foster mom in a world with a killer cyborg

It's Jenette Goldstein!

This 65-year-old actress was spotted running errands in Los Angeles this month.

Goldstein cut a casual but trendy figure, wearing boyfriend blue jeans, a flowy gray top with a speckled gray cardigan on top.

Wearing her hair up in her classic messy bun with only one gray strip visible as an accent piece, she accessorized with a black purse, sunglasses and tan slides.

Being born in Los Angeles in 1960 was the perfect recipe for Goldstein's acting aspirations and she went on to streamline her acting chops both in the US and the UK before breaking into Hollywood.

It wouldn't be until 1986 where she would have her breakout role as Private Vasquez in the hit blockbuster Aliens directed by the legendary James Cameron.

Jenette Goldstein, 65, is best known for being the confident and tough space Marine, Private Vasquez in James Cameron's blockbuster sequel hit Aliens

The 65-year-old actress was spotted running errands in Los Angeles this month, looking effortlessly chic in relaxed boyfriend jeans, a flowy gray top and a speckled gray cardigan layered over it

Another iconic film she appeared in was Terminator 2: Judgment Day, in which she played John Connors foster mother  who meets a chilling end at the hands of the shape-shifting T-1000

Goldstein expressed in an interview with TooFab magazine that she was 'surprised' by the movies long-standing success but stated she was a 'huge fan'.

One of Goldstein's biggest Sci-Fi roles was as the ruthless vampire Diamondback in Kathryn Bigelow's neo-Western classic, Near Dark (1987).

During the 80s, she'd also have small roles in The Presidio (1988), Miracle Mile (1998) and Lethal Weapon 2 (1989).

Her second biggest movie she was booked for came in the 90s, when she appeared in Cameron's other high-grossing Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) as John Connor's foster mom who is killed by cyborg T-1000.

Goldstein would pair up with powerhouse Cameron again for a minor role in Titanic (1997) as an Irish immigrant.

Outside of the big screen, Goldstein also made appearances on hit TV dramas such as ER (19982004), Six Feet Under (2001) and 24 (2004).

When her acting career began to slow down, Goldstein pivoted to entrepreneurship, launching a Los Angelesbased lingerie company, Jenette Bras, which caters to fuller-busted women

Her most recent appearance was at Fan Expo Chicago in August, where she reunited with her Aliens co-stars Mark Rolston, Paul Reiser, William Hope, and Ricco Ross

Goldstein is married to painter Aaron Noble, who is also a co-creator of her lingerie company

Her last notable role came when she voiced the USS Enterprise computer on Star Trek: Short Treks in 2019.

By the turn of the 21st century, Goldstein's acting career slowed down, and she pivoted into business, launching the lingerie brand Jenette Bras in Los Angeles in 2009.

The brands slogan, 'The alphabet starts at D', reflects its mission to cater to fuller-busted women - an idea inspired by a fitting Goldstein once had at a Bravissimo store while attending a convention in England.

In an interview with Authority Magazine, Goldstein recalled one memorable encounter that embodied her company's spirit.

'I always remember the woman who came in for a bikini because she was vacationing in Hawaii - because after three miscarriages, she was finally pregnant and they wanted to celebrate.

'The fitting ended in tears and hugs (and a bikini).'

To this day, Goldstein has attended Sci-Fi convections like Comic-Con, with her most recent appearance being at Fan Expo in Chicago in August alongside Alien co-stars Mark Rolston, Paul Reiser, William Hope and Ricco Ross.

Goldstein is married to painter Aaron Noble, who is also a co-creator of her lingerie company.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have got matching tattoos to celebrate the upcoming Wicked: For Good release.

The award-winning actresses, who star alongside each other as Glinda and Elphaba in the film series, took their friendship to the next level with new ink.

Taking to Instagram, 32-year-old Ariana posted a black-and-white snap of their tats.

It showed their palms with 'For Good' written in a simple but fancy black font.

Alongside it, she wrote: 'Happy wicked month  20 days.'

She was met with plenty of excited comments about the highly-anticipated release.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have got matching tattoos to celebrate the upcoming Wicked: For Good release

Taking to Instagram, 32-year-old Ariana posted a black-and-white snap of their tats. It showed their palms with 'For Good' written in a simple but fancy black font

The movie hits cinemas on November 21 - and many fans are looking forward to part two.

In recent weeks, Cynthia, 38, posed topless for Harper's Bazaar magazine and opened up about her success following Wicked.

Despite finding fame later in life, Cynthia explained how she feels 'fully myself right now'.

The release of the first half of Wicked last autumn took that fame to the stratosphere, as did her turn hosting the Tony Awards earlier this year.

She said: 'Being in my skin tone, as a Black woman, on mainstream TV, hosting, not even playing a character.'

Through her distinctive look, Cynthia hopes to inspire self-acceptance in others.

She explained: 'If it's the only thing I put into this world, that everyone's individual beauty is worth seeing and experiencing, and you don't have to change it for anyone else other than yourself, then I'm happy.

'If you want to change and you want to get a new nose, you want to get new lips, fine.

The movie hits cinemas on November 21 - and many fans are looking forward to part two

Ariana and Cynthia will star alongside each other for part two of the highly-anticipated film

'If that's good for you, then that's good for you - as long as it's for you.'

Cynthia emphasised her book is not a memoir but rather teachable moments from her life.

The star also discussed her upcoming project  the climactic release of Wicked: For Good.

Speaking about parting ways with her character, she said: 'Elphaba will be part of my life forever, but we need separation.

'We're not one and the same anymore, but we can be friends.'
The 1% Club viewers were left baffled as they saw Saturday night's contestants struggle to answer the 'toughest ever question'.

All three finalists who reached the ultimate question failed to answer it correctly, prompting reaction from fans online.

Comedian Lee Mack returned to hosting duties on November 1 to present the popular ITV game show.

Contestants begin with a question that 90% of the British public answered correctly during the programme's research, working down to the final query which only 1% managed to solve.

Birmingham Live reports that three participants progressed all the way to the concluding question, with Lee wishing them the best before unveiling the 1% challenge.

The question was: 'You should always read the small print very carefully. How many errors are there in the TandCs below?'

The 1% Club viewers were left baffled as they saw Saturday night's contestants struggle to answer the 'toughest ever question'

The question was: 'You should always read the small print very carefully. How many errors are there in the TandCs below?'

In turn, each player gave a different answer - but no one got it correct.

Lee told the contestants: 'Commiserations, you didn't make it into the 1% club, but congratulations on getting this far.'

Ready for the answer in 3, 2, 1...

Lee Mack disclosed there were 7 errors within the text.

Taking to X to share their thoughts, one person wrote: 'Unlucky fellas. That was a tough for the time limit #The1PercentClub.'

A second penned: 'Didnt have a clue, worked the grid out but not sure where n came from lol #The1PercentClub.'

And a third added: 'It's a hard one isn't it! #The1PercentClub.'

It comes after in recent weeks, fans of the popular gameshow were left shouting at TV screens after the 'easiest question ever'.

Three players made it to the final question, in for a chance to snap up the 93,000 prize pot.

Viewers at home were left questioning the difficulty level of the final question, with some even claiming it was too simple.

It read: 'Look at the image below. Beginning at the START each time, LLL=A and RRR = H.

'What word is represented by the following LLR, LLL, LRR, RRL, RRL.'

The 1% Club airs Saturday on ITV and ITVX
Jessica Alba is currently in Australia filming her latest movie.

And on Saturday, the American actress enjoyed some relaxing downtime on the Gold Coast.

The 44-year-old blended in with locals as she cycled through the streets of the city on an e-bike.

Jessica kept a low profile in a black cap and sunglasses as she explored the area on the rental bike.

She was dressed casually for the outing in black sport tights, a white T-shirt and a pair of comfortable sneakers.

The actress appeared completely at ease as she pedalled through the streets, with her long brunette locks flowing freely beneath her cap.

Jessica Alba (pictured) enjoyed some relaxing downtime on the Gold Coast on Saturday

The 44-year-old blended in with locals as she cycled through the streets on an e-bike

Jessica is currently filming her new Australian-based movie, The Mark, an action-spy thriller, helmed by British director Justin Chadwick.

She stars as a spy called Eden who uses a case of mistaken identity to expose a corrupt political network.

Her younger boyfriend Danny Ramirez, 33, recently joined her in Australia.

They were first romantically linked back in July - months after her split from Cash Warren, 46, in December 2024 following 16 years of marriage.

It comes after Jessica and Danny put on a loved-up display in New York City last month before she headed to Australia.

The actress looked affectionate with the younger Marvel star as they held hands on a date night.

The couple have been inseparable lately, following high-profile appearances at the US Open and New York Fashion Week.

Jessica kept a low profile in a black cap and sunglasses as she explored the area on the rental bike

She was dressed casually for the outing in black sport tights, a white T-shirt and a pair of comfortable sneakers

The actress appeared completely at ease as she pedalled through the streets, with her long brunette locks flowing freely beneath her cap

Jessica is currently filming her new Australian-filmed movie, The Mark, an action-spy thriller, helmed by British director Justin Chadwick

She stars as a spy called Eden who uses a case of mistaken identity to expose a corrupt political network

Her younger boyfriend Danny Ramirez recently joined her in Australia

Jessica and Danny were showing off their PDA just days after her estranged husband Cash confirmed his own new relationship

The movie producer has launched an even more pronounced age-gap romance, as his girlfriend, 20-year-old actress Seanna Pereira, is 26 years his junior.

Jessica and her ex Warren's latest outings with their new partners come in the wake of a new report claiming that the two are at peace with each other's age-gap romances.

'The age difference [with their younger partners] is not a big deal,' a source dished to Us Weekly.

'They think its common in Hollywood, so theres no issue. They are cool with each other dating.'

The person close to the situation added: 'Theyre happy for each other. Theres no negativity or bad feelings.'

'Theyre still good friends and just want each other to be happy. And they arent judging each other.'

Jessica and Warren are parents to daughters Honor, 17; Haven, 14; and son Hayes, seven.

Jessica wrapped a black scarf around her neck for the outing

Jessica and Danny were first romantically linked back in July - months after her split from Cash Warren, 46, in December 2024 following 16 years of marriage

Jessica and her boyfriend have been inseparable lately, following high-profile appearances at the US Open and New York Fashion Week

The actress held a designer backpack as she pushed the bike

She was seen scrolling through her phone at one point during the outing

But even if they're fine with their new partners, neither Jessica nor Warren are ready to introduce their new flames to their brood.

The source explained: 'They are incredibly protective of their kids privacy and well-being, so introducing new partners would be taken very slowly and only once a relationship is stable and serious.'

For now, the entrepreneurs' priority is maintaining a 'stable and peaceful environment for their kids'.

The Honey actress announced her split from her husband of nearly 17 years in January.
Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina have reportedly been targeted by a female stalker after the woman turned up at private events they attended separately in London on different days.

The actor, 53, rose to fame in TV detective drama Luther where his character was stalked by a psychopathic female killer.

And the plot in part appears to now be striking a resemblance to his real life with the couple also being subject to distressing cyber-stalking via their personal email addresses.

The stalker has reportedly been tormenting Idris and Sabrina since September, with the most recent instant recorded as October 21.

It is understood the police are aware of the incidents.

A source told The Sun on Sunday: 'These events were seriously distressing for Idris and his family.

Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina have reportedly been targeted by a female stalker after the woman turned up at private events they attended separately in London (pictured in 2024)

The stalker has reportedly been tormenting Idris and Sabrina since September, with the most recent instant recorded as October 21 (Idris pictured in the series Luther in 2023)

'He had no choice but to report it to the authorities because it had gone too far.

'When Sabrina was brought into it, that was clearly the final straw for him. He did what he felt he had to do to protect his wife, and his family.'

The Daily Mail have contacted Elba's representatives for comment.

Idris recently made a rare appearance with his daughter Isan at the New York Film Festival premiere of A House Of Dynamite in September.

Often joined on the red carpet by his wife Sabrina, Idris this time brought his daughter Isan, 23, along for the evening.

Idris shares daughter Isan with his ex-wife, make-up artist Hanne 'Kim' Nrgaard while he also has two sons, Riaze Foster, 32, and Winston, 11, from other relationships.

Idris's series A House Of Dynamite left critics in awe with its 'horrifically gripping and unsettling' nuclear war scenes that were dubbed 'more terrifying than most horror films'.

The American political thriller premiered at the Venice International Film Festival on September 2 and will land on Netflix on October 24.

Idris recently made a rare appearance with his daughter Isan at the New York Film Festival premiere of A House Of Dynamite in September

The movie was directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Noah Oppenheim.

Joining Idris in the cast are Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos and Moses Ingram.

The plot follows how the US president tries to deal with an incoming missile attack - and doesn't pull any punches.

'When a single, unattributed missile is launched at the United States, a race begins to determine who is responsible and how to respond,' the streaming site's synopsis reads.
Sir Anthony Hopkins has reportedly listed his California estate for 5.1 million after it was destroyed by the wildfires that tore through Los Angeles earlier this year.

The Oscar-winning actor, 87, is said to be asking $6.4 million (5.1 million) for the two adjoining plots, which were ravaged in the blaze.

Anthony originally purchased the estate in two parts back in 2018 and 2019, spending a total of $12.6 million (10 million).

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Silence of the Lambs star has remained grounded.

Speaking to The Mirror, he said: 'As we all struggle to heal from the devastation of these fires, it's important we remember that the only thing we take with us is the love we give.'

This isn't the first time Anthony's home has faced the threat of fire.

Sir Anthony Hopkins has reportedly listed his California estate for 5.1 million after it was destroyed by the wildfires that tore through Los Angeles earlier this year (pictured in February)

The Oscar-winning actor, 87, is said to be asking $6.4 million (5.1 million) for the two adjoining plots, which were ravaged in the blaze

Back in November 2018, his Malibu home narrowly escaped the Woolsey Fire, which destroyed his neighbour's property.

Even earlier, in 2000, he lost his London home in a separate blaze, though he was in Los Angeles at the time.

January's wildfires killed ten people and forced thousands from their homes, devastating the Palisades neighbourhood.

Among those affected were celebrities including Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, Diane Warren, and Ricki Lake.

Paris, 43, said she watched her waterfront Malibu home burn to the ground on live television in an emotional social media post.

'Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience,' the socialite said on X/Twitter, accompanied by a clip from KABC depicting the damage.

Anna Faris, 48, also lost her $5million mansion during the devastating Pacific Palisades fire.

The 4,000 square foot home, which she snapped up for almost $5M in 2019, was seen charred to its foundation in new images.

Anthony originally purchased the estate in two parts back in 2018 and 2019, spending a total of $12.6 million (10 million) (his home pictured in 2021)

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the star has remained grounded. In a recent interview he said: 'As we all struggle to heal from the devastation of these fires, it's important we remember that the only thing we take with us is the love we give'

Top Gun: Maverick star Miles Teller and his wife, Keleigh, bought their dream home for $7.5million in April 2023. However, their home was entirely wiped out.

Keleigh had shared several photos on Instagram at the time, the first being a dramatic photo of the blaze with a crying emoji, and the second urging evacuees to leave bowls of water on the streets for animals as they escaped.

Meanwhile, American Pie star Eugene Levy's home had also been levelled.

The 78-year-old Schitt's Creek star lost his home in LA's Pacloific Palisades neighbourhood after the rapidly spreading Westside fire burned it to the ground.

He told the Los Angeles Times that he had been caught in gridlock traffic as he tried to evacuate the neighbourhood ahead of the flames.

Levy had reportedly purchased his property back in 2006 for a relatively modest $3.9 million, according to Urban Splatter.
The Golden Bachelor Barry 'Bear' Myrden has received a cheeky Halloween tribute from one of his sons.

While most fans take the opportunity to cosplay as their favourite character for the spooky tradition, Bear's boy instead paid tribute to his dad's status as Nine's new reality star.

The photos feature Bear's oldest, Charlie Myrden, 21, holding a rose and dressed in the Golden Bachelor's familiar black tux.

Another image shows Jack posing alongside a female companion in a bar.

Bear, 61, shares three boys with his late wife, Audrey - Declan, 17, Jack, 20, and his eldest, Charlie.

It was Bear's sons who encouraged their dad to take a chance on love again by joining The Golden Bachelor.

The Golden Bachelor Barry 'Bear' Myrden (pictured) has received a cheeky Halloween tribute from one of his sons

Pictured: The photo features what appears to be Bear's son, Charlie Myrden, 20, holding a rose and dressed in the Golden Bachelor's familiar black tux

Fourteen years ago, Barry and Audrey appeared on A Current Affair in a moving two-part special that brought the nation to tears.

Back then, Barry, looked almost unrecognisable - with jet-black hair and no moustache - as he stood by Audrey's side while she battled a terminal brain tumour.

Audrey's final wish was simple but selfless: she wanted to secure a home for her husband and their three young sons.

With the help of A Current Affair, local real estate agents, and hundreds of generous Sydney tradies, that dream became a reality.

'The peace of mind that it gives me knowing that the boys and Barry have a place of their own,' Audrey said, fighting back tears during filming for Audrey's Wish.

The courageous mum - who inspired a wave of national compassion - said the love and support shown by complete strangers gave her 'an extra year of quality with my kids', including one final Christmas together in their new home.

Audrey passed away in August the following year, aged 44. Her death left Barry heartbroken and their three boys, then just four, seven and eight years old, without their beloved mum.

Audrey grew up in Nova Scotia, Canada, before meeting Barry and moving with him to Manly in 1998.

Another image shows Charlie posing alongside a female companion in a bar

Bear has three boys with his late wife, Audrey - Declan, 17, Jack, 20, and Charlie, 21. All Pictured with Bear

The couple dreamed of owning a home near the beach, but that plan was derailed when Audrey was diagnosed in 2009 with glioblastoma multiforme, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.

Having already beaten breast cancer in her 20s, she and Barry spent $90,000 on treatment, desperate for a miracle.

'How am I going to tell my children they're not going to have a mum?' Audrey told A Current Affair.

'I can't imagine what their life will be without me and what my life would be like without them. I so don't want to die. I don't. It's just so unfair. I thought what a cruel irony to give a mother a beautiful family and then to take her away from them, especially my young babies.'

Refusing to give up, Audrey's determination inspired her local community to rally around her.

A Current Affair, along with realtors Robert and Leonie Klaric, helped the family purchase a rundown home in desperate need of repair.

What followed was one of the biggest renovation rescues in Australian television history - with hundreds of tradespeople volunteering their time and materials to rebuild the house from the ground up in just 10 days.

'I'm glad I'm alive to see this happen,' Audrey said through tears as the home transformation unfolded.

More than a decade on, Barry and his sons still live in the home Audrey fought so hard to give them.
Jennifer Lawrence joined Robert Pattinson at the New York City premiere of their new film Die My Love on Saturday.

The actress, 35, and the Twilight star, 39, reunited at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater, after she recently confessed to feeding him scraps from her trashcan.

The duo matched in black, with Lawrence looking spectacular in an off-shoulder gown with a sizzling thigh-high slit.

The mom-of-two paired the look with pointed-toe black heels and a chunky black necklace. Her long blonde hair was styled straight, cascading down her back.

Lawrence  who recently admitted she's planning on a boob job  opted for a bold red lip.

Meanwhile Pattison rocked a black suit with a button-up shirt and a matching white scarf. The English actor completed the look with woven leather sandals.

Jennifer Lawrence, 35, joined Robert Pattinson, 39, at the New York City premiere of their new film Die My Love on Saturday

The actress and the Twilight star reunited at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater, after she recently confessed to feeding him scraps from her trashcan

Pattinson was also joined by fiancee Suki Waterhouse, 33, with whom he welcomed his first child last year.

She cut a stylish figure in an unconventional sleeveless gown with a structured bodice featuring an antique-style floral print.

She accessorized with a chunky necklace and wore her blonde tresses pinned up.

Later in the night, Lawrence was pictured on the Upper East Side in a glamorous navy dress and strappy heels, during another outing.

Die My Love is based on a 2017 novel by Argentine writer, Ariana Harwicz, which details a new mum's battle with postpartum depression and subsequent psychosis.

In the film, Jennifer stars as Grace, a new mother whose mental health begins to deteriorate as her marriage crumbles, with Pattison starring as her husband Jackson.

Jennifer recently revealed the revolting dish she once served Robert after he came over to her home last-minute for a gathering with friends.

She recalled having Robert over at her home during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, revealing she invited her Die My Love co-star over during a gathering with friends - only to discover she had nothing to serve him aside from discarded food.

To the shock of her friends, Jennifer pulled the food out of the trash can while Robert was in the bathroom and served it to him.

The duo matched in black, with Lawrence looking spectacular in an off-shoulder gown with a sizzling thigh-high slit

Lawrence  who recently admitted she's planning on a boob job  opted for a bold red lip

The mom-of-two paired the look with pointed-toe black heels and a chunky black necklace

Her long blonde hair was styled straight, cascading down her back

She showed off her flawless glam

Pattinson was also joined by fiancee Suki Waterhouse, 33, with whom he welcomed his first child last year

She cut a stylish figure in an unconventional sleeveless gown with a structured bodice featuring an antique-style floral print

She accessorized with a chunky necklace and wore her blonde tresses pinned up

The two shared a loved-up glance

Jennifer recently revealed that she served Robert discarded food from her trash can after he came over to her home last-minute for a gathering with friends

'He goes to the bathroom, and I do have food, but it's in the trash,' she added. 'And so while he was in the bathroom, I was just, like, pulling food out of my garbage can,' she explained

'So I had my girlfriends over, we were in our pajamas, we were watching Little Women. It was December,' she explained.

'He was like, "Hey, I just wrapped something like a block away from you,"' she said. 'And I was like, "Oh my God!" 'Cause Rob is one of the girls. He wants to gossip. He just is one of the gals. And so I was like, "Come over!"'

'But he's also like my daughter. He's a great father, he's a professional, he shows up on time, but I wouldn't trust that he, like, put a coat on... He's not going to eat on time... He brings out a very maternal.'

'He comes in, and I give him a hug, and he's like, "You have any food? I'm so hungry,"' the actress said. 'And I'm like, "Yeah, yeah, yeah! Come in, come in!"'

'He goes to the bathroom, and I do have food, but it's in the trash,' she added. 'And so while he was in the bathroom, I was just, like, pulling food out of my garbage can.'

'And my girlfriends were like,' she said, before imitating their jaw-dropped expressions. 'And I'm like,' she says, waving her hand.

'So he eats it and we're all just kind of watching him eat this trash, and then when he was finished, he was like, "I'm still hungry, is there more?"'

'And I'm like, "Well there is, but it's in the garbage."'

Shockingly, Lawrence says Pattinson helped himself to seconds of the trashed food.

'He was like, "Oh, I don't mind." 'And he just pulled it out of the trash and kept eating it,' she claimed.

Later in the night, Lawrence was pictured on the Upper East Side in a glamorous navy dress

She paired the dress with strappy heels

Lawrence and Pattinson star together in the upcoming film Die My Love, a movie based on a 2017 novel by Argentine writer Ariana Harwicz which details a new mum's battle with postpartum depression and subsequent psychosis

The actress also revealed during the talk show that she and Pattinson perform a naked interpretive dance in the film.

Lawrence laughed: 'Lynne Ramsay the director challenged us during rehearsals, Robert and I had to do interpretative dance lessons together. We both embarrass quite easily, and we didn't really know each other so it was totally humiliating'.

'Then on the first day of filming she asked whether we remembered what we did and asked if we would do it naked.'

This film is the first time Jennifer and Robert have worked together.
Just weeks after Samantha Armytage opened up about her ex Richard Lavender, there is mounting speculation that the businessman is back on the dating scene.

Armytage, 49, made headlines in December 2024, after splitting from Lavender after just four years of marriage.

There are now reports that the horse breeder has been seen with a local identity, close to his home base near Bowral, 116 km from Sydney.

Lavender has set tongues wagging in the town after keeping company with glamorous real estate agent Eloise Haydon, reported Sunday Confidential over the weekend.

Confirming that he was a long-time acquaintance of the grandmother, Richard insisted that there was no romance.

'Eloise and I are not dating. We are old friends of 30 years. She lives in Murrurundi and is moving to Queensland,' he said and added, 'I live in Berrima.'

Just weeks after Samantha Armytage opened up about her ex Richard Lavender, there is mounting speculation that the businessman is back on the dating scene. Armytage, 49, made headlines in December 2024, after splitting from Lavender after four years. Both pictured

Lavender has set tongues wagging in the town after keeping company with glamorous real estate agent Eloise Haydon (pictured)

According to the report, Hayden, who has a property business in Bowral, was close to Lavender's first wife, Kate, while the businessman went to school with her late husband, Jim.

One local who spoke to Confidential said Richard's ex-wife is not 'happy' about the rumoured romance and neither are members of his family.

'It's caused quite a stir,' the local said.

Lavender shares two daughters with his first wife, Grace and Sasha.

Daily Mail has approached Armytage and Haydon for comment.

It comes after Armytage recently opened up about her headline-making split from Lavender.

The former Sunrise star, who is rumoured to be headed for a permanent spot on Nine's Today, broke her silence over her breakup in an interview with Stellar Magazine last month.

The Channel Nine presenter said that she and Lavender had tried their best to make their marriage work before calling it a day.

Confirming that he was a long-time acquaintance of the grandmother, Lavender said there was no romance

'What I'll say for my marriage is we gave it a go. It didn't work out, so we moved on. Last year was a big year. There was a lot of change and a lot of grief,' Samantha began.

The Golden Bachelor host added it was not a spur-of-the-moment decision and both she and Richard were confident in their choice to part ways.

'I don't think anybody leaves a marriage without thinking it through quite deeply. You don't just decide one day and leave the next,' she said.

'We've all got these thoughts and fears and happy moments we share.'

In December, the former couple announced their separation on the eve of their fourth wedding anniversary.

They had tied the knot on Lavender's 40-hectare property in the picturesque Southern Highlands in NSW on New Year's Eve in 2020.

The pair began dating in April 2019, and announced their engagement in June 2020 before tying the knot at his property in rural NSW six months later.

The television veteran became the face of Farmer Wants A Wife in 2023 after first appearing as a guest host alongside former presenter Natalie Gruzlewski.

In August 2024, she shocked fans by announcing she was quitting Channel Seven after 21 years.

Armytage is now rumoured to be dating in 'secret' after squashing rumours that she was seeing Golden Bachelor star Barry 'Bear' Myrden.
Mariano Jose Nsue Obama, the son of a former minister of agriculture, wants to rule Equatorial Guinea and change the countrys name to the Republic of San Rafael Nsue Nchama

Former U.S. president Barack Obama had just turned three when another Obama, Mariano Jose Nsue Obama, was born in Equatorial Guinea 61 years ago. However, their political careers could not be more different. The year the former became leader of the Democratic Party, the latter arrived in Spain with nothing to his name. And when, in 2009, Barack Obama became president of the United States and gathered the masses in front of the Capitol, the latter held one of his most well-attended rallies in the center of Madrid... in front of eight people.

Barack Obama has now been out of power for eight years since leaving the White House, but his namesake is still not throwing in the towel. In fact, he has spent his entire life embroiled in a never-ending election campaign from which there is no respite. Although his rallies are sparsely attended, his face is widely known to anyone walking through downtown Madrid thanks to the dozens of posters he puts up himself. That is his daily routine.

Every morning, Mariano Jose Nsue Obama takes to the streets and walks for hours through the Spanish capital with a roll of tape, a stack of sheets of paper under his arm with his face printed on them, and a backpack containing a biography of Simon Bolivar. Come rain or shine, he walks the streets without missing a single lamppost, light box, construction fence, or wall on a vacant lot...

The Guinean Obama walks tirelessly and wears out a pair of shoes every month running for president among those who cannot even vote for him. Its a calling I have inside me. I could have lived my life, but I havent because something inside me drives me, which I cant avoid. Most Guineans ignore me and politics because they are only interested in putting bread on the table and living their lives, he says. Under the name of the Republic of San Rafael Nsue Nchama [because the first thing he wants to do is change the name of the country], I will be the third president of Equatorial Guinea, he insists, as his only political ideology.

Mariano Jose Nsue Obama putting up posters in the Madrid neighborhood of Villaverde. David Exposito

In recent years, from the Madrid neighborhoods of Usera and Gran Via, to La Latina and Malasana and from Tribunal to Conde Duque, his enigmatic face has appeared plastered everywhere. Long live San Rafael Nsue Nchama! Long live San Nelson Mandela! Long live Africa! Long live! read the A4 posters which include a photo of him in a suit and tie from his younger days. He claims to embody the essence of his father, Rafael Nsue Nchama, a former minister of agriculture who was shot after the coup led by Teodoro Obiang, who has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1979. He was killed for fighting for the emancipation of Black people, he says.

Since then, Nsue Obama has led the party he founded, hoping to reach power after a 30-year campaign whose biggest rally could fit around the table where the interview is taking place. Why so much effort? Because it is my destiny and I have the ability to convince people, he insists in a cafe in downtown Madrid during a break from his eternal campaign. Currently, the Guinean Obama earns about 700 ($800) a month, which he uses to pay for a room that is also his party headquarters, a temple papered from top to bottom with the faces of Black saints such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King.

The posters that Mariano Jose Nsue Obama sticks up in the street, in a box at his home in Villaverde. David Exposito

Nsue Obama hasnt held any public events for several months, but the one he staged last year on San Bernardo Street left passersby speechless. It was a Friday in September, and 20 young people who had just left school were there when he climbed onto a bench and started shouting Obama, Obama, Obama... Those passing by didnt know whether to call the police or give him a euro for his campaign. But for him, it was one of the happiest days.

Mariano Jose Nsue Obama at home. David Exposito

However, it hasnt always been like that. For many years, Mariano Jose Nsue Obama slept on the streets and lived off handouts. But he spent everything he got from charity on organizing rallies, paying for photocopies, and buying second-hand biographies of illustrious liberators such as Bolivar, Julius Caesar, and Churchill. However, no one attended the rallies he organized every month in a park, so with the money he had left, he sought out drug addicts and beggars on the street and gave them 20 [$23] to attend, he says without blushing.

The fact is that one day the strategy got out of hand. It was 12 years ago in Torrejon de Ardoz, to the east of Madrid, when he managed to gather 200 people, whom he promised 50 [$57] for attending his speech. Retirees, students, unemployed people, immigrants, and drug addicts all turned up one day in May 2013. But when Nsue Obama arrived and saw such a large crowd, he backed down. Friends, youll have to forgive me, but... What is 50 when Im offering you a future in my country? he told them. Of course, they almost beat him up.

Mariano Jose Nsue Obama giving a rally in Madrid, in a provided image.

Mariano Jose Nsue Obama flyering in Villaverde. David Exposito

On the last Friday in September, he was more resourceful and positioned himself in front of the Lope de Vega Institute on San Bernardo Street. A group of young people gathered for reasons unknown. The fact is that Obama appeared for five minutes, and delivered a 35-second political speech.

The 81-year-old dictator Teodoro Obiang Ngema has been at the helm of Equatorial Guinea for 45 years, following the 1979 coup detat in which Francisco Macias was overthrown and shot. To bring about the dictators downfall, Obama is working hard at rallies, putting up posters, giving interviews, and delivering monologues on YouTube, where he really lets loose. When he summarizes his political ideology, he says it centers on the number three: The day Malcolm X was assassinated, my mother was three months pregnant with me. My godfather [Francisco Macias Nguema] became the first president of Equatorial Guinea three years after my birth. I was born on a Wednesday, the third day of the week. I am my fathers third son with his third wife. And the day Martin Luther King was killed, I had been alive for three years, and there he stops.

Nsue Obama does not want to give out much information about his current whereabouts to avoid the repression that Obiang exercises over any kind of opposition, whether in Africa or in Spain, where he is accused of orchestrating numerous secret detentions and kidnappings. If I keep working hard, one day I will become president of Equatorial Guinea, he says with conviction. Or not, he adds, but the experience will have been worth it.

Mariano Jose Nsue Obama at his house in Villaverde. David Exposito

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Kaia Gerber and her mother Cindy Crawford put on a very glamourous display in figure-hugging sparkly dresses as they attended the LACMA Art & Film Gala on Saturday.

The model, 24, wowed in an elegant red dress as she held hands with her mother, 59, at the gltizy event.

She channelled old Hollywood glamour as she added inches to her statuesque frame with a pair of black leather stilettos.

Kaia completed her chic ensemble with a pair of silver earrings and a myriad of silver and black rings.

Meanwhile Cindy, who shares Kaia with Rande Gerber, put on an age-defying display in an elegant off-the-shoulder gold dress.

Matching with her daughter, Cindy also completed her glamourous ensemble with a pair of black heels.

Kaia Gerber, 24, and her mother Cindy Crawford, 59, put on a very glamourous display in figure-hugging sparkly dresses as they attended the LACMA Art & Film Gala on Saturday

The model showcased her slim frame in an elegant red dress as she held hands with her mother at the gltizy event

To accessorise, Cindy wore a chunky gold watch on her left hand and framed her face with a pair of gold dangly earrings.

The family outing comes after Cindy revealed earlier this year that her daughter Kaia grew up 'raiding her closet' as the pair spoke as part of a new joint fashion project.

The duo have returned for a second series of the ZaraStreaming service where they picked their 'perfect edit' wardrobe.

As they showed off a series of chic looks they chatted about being influenced by each other's style but admitted they have different approaches when it comes to fashion.

Nepo baby Kaia said as they tried on the Zara clothes: 'I think I've been so influenced by her be that consciously or subconsciously but we are also different in a lot of ways.

'But we have a lot of the same classic pieces but how we put things together differs.'

Cindy then chipped in saying: 'I grew up in Illinois and my mum didn't care about fashion and then Kaia grew up with her and her friends raiding my closet!'

She channelled old Hollywood glamour as she added inches to her statuesque frame with a pair of black leather stilettos

Kaia completed her chic ensemble with a pair of silver earrings and a myriad of silver and black rings

Meanwhile Cindy, who shares Kaia with Rande Gerber, put on an age-defying display in an elegant off-the-shoulder gold dress

Matching with her daughter, Cindy also completed her glamourous ensemble with a pair of black heels

To accessorise, Cindy wore a chunky gold watch on her left hand and framed her face with a pair of gold dangly earrings

Kaia responded saying: 'Now I mainly steal stuff from her. I don't think I have anything she wants!'

As she showed off one look - a tight black bodysuit and gorgeous flowing trousers Kaia said: 'Catwalking in front of you is like playing guitar in front of Jimmy Hendrix!'
Less was indeed more for a host of celebrities attending the 14th-annual Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Art+Film Gala on Saturday night.

The glamorous event saw the likes of Demi Moore, Paris Hilton, Kristen Wiig, Dixie D'Amelio put on daring displays in 'naked' dresses as they posed up a storm.

Demi, 62, who in the midst of a career revival after her Oscar-nominated performance in The Substance, stunned in her revealing sheer dress decorated with floral designs.

Demi made a splash in her sleeveless halter dress, which was made of a thin black mesh that hugged her slim frame and was decorated with colourful sequins arranged in floral designs.

She wore her long raven hair in thick waves that were swept over one shoulder, and she sported crimson nails that matched the red flowers of her dress.

Socialite Paris, 44, meanwhile wore a daring sheer black lace dress with a plunging neckline and matching choker.

Less was indeed more for a host of celebrities attending the 14th-annual Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Art+Film Gala on Saturday night (Demi Moore)

Paris Hilton (left), Kristen Wiig (right) and Dixie D'Amelio put on daring displays in 'naked' dresses as they posed up a storm

Elsewhere, social media personality Dixie D'Amelio wore an over-the-top sheer black dress, as her hair barely protected her chest from being exposed

Elsewhere, social media personality Dixie D'Amelio wore an over-the-top sheer black dress, as her hair barely protected her chest from being exposed.

The busy outfit included black feathers over her sleeves. She completed the look with towering silver platform heels.

Actress Kristen also left little to the imagination in a sheer black lace dress that she went braless under while wearing black panties.

This year's gala was honouring Black Panther and Creed filmmaker Ryan Coogler, who recently scored another acclaimed hit with his blockbuster Sinners, and the artist Mary Corse.

Leonardo DiCaprio continues to co-chair the event with LACMA trustee Eva Chow, which the two have done since the start of LACMA's Art+Film galas.

According to LACMA's website, proceeds from its annual gala go toward making film a greater part of its curatorial programming, as well as to fund the museum's mission in general.

In place of a traditional red carpet, the high-profile attendees posed in front of Chris Burden's iconic art piece, Urban Light, an array of two-hundred and two restored antique street lamps that graces the LA art museum's campus.

The event comes after Demi vowed to fight back against the 'desexualisation of older women' as she posed for a striking shoot with Glamour magazine after being named one of their Women of the Year.

Demi, 62, who in the midst of a career revival after her Oscar-nominated performance in The Substance , stunned in her revealing sheer dress decorated with floral designs

She wore her long raven hair in thick waves that were swept over one shoulder, and she sported crimson nails that matched the red flowers of her dress

This year's gala was honouring Black Panther and Creed filmmaker Ryan Coogler, who recently scored another acclaimed hit with his blockbuster Sinners, and the artist Mary Corse

Socialite Paris, 44, meanwhile wore a daring sheer black lace dress with a plunging neckline and matching choker

Paris put on a confident display in the daring number as she posed for the cameras animatedly

The American actress put on a very racy display for the magazine as she slipped into a strapless cut out corset with a dramatic skirt.

Demi added to her frame with towering platform heels while she accessorised with diamond earrings.

The mother-of-three proudly wore her long raven locks loose and cascading past her shoulders - as she explained that growing out her hair was a mini act of defiance.

In an accompanying chat with The Substance co-star Margaret Qualley, she was asked how she managed to get her hair so long, to which she mused: 'Yeah, I think after I shaved my head when I did G.I. Jane, which was a very powerful experience on many levels, but I just started to let it grow.'

She continued: 'And it also kind of coincided with stepping back from work to be with my kids. I just started to let my hair grow.

'And I think probably because I'm also lazy and I don't like to sit in the chair or have to go and get it done a lot.

Actress Kristen also left little to the imagination in a sheer black lace dress that she went braless under while wearing black panties

She opted for a natural and bronzed makeup look

'[We often hear] that as women get older, they shouldn't have long hair. And for some reason, to me, I didn't buy it. I didn't believe it, and it didn't make sense to me why that had to be the case.

'And I did notice, particularly women who were going through menopause, that they were.... I was looking around and seeing that they all were kind of cutting their hair in a very almost masculine way, just desexualising themselves.

'And so I think there was a combination of this attachment to it too. I don't know. Sometimes I think I've just willed it.'

Demi experienced a career revival last year with The Substance, in a phenomenon dubbed the Moore-naissance.

She was lauded for her role as Elisabeth Sparkle, a famed TV aerobics instructor who is unceremoniously sacked as she hits her 50th birthday and ends up deciding to try a body enhancement program called The Substance.

When she takes the injections she passes out and her skin splits down her spine, with her new self, Sue, played by Margaret Qualley, emerging as the sexy young woman she would love to be.

Dixie boosted her height with silver heels as she posed in the daring dress

The busy outfit included black feathers over her sleeves. She completed the look with towering silver platform heels

Carly Steel wore a stunning red and ivory rose print gown by Erdem

The price of the transformation is that they will have to spend a week in suspended animation, and a week in the real world.

The problem comes when Sue decides that she doesn't want to swap over every seven days  and when she takes some of Sparkle's fuel, the older version starts to age.

They get locked into a modern version of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, a Frankenstein where the monster is physically perfect. It's a feminist reflection on self hatred which packs a tremendous punch.

The subject of the gory horror  hailed as an instant cult classic  is the lengths which women will go to to transform themselves cosmetically and so hang on to the media spotlight.
Tess Daly gushed over 21 years of memories with her lookalike daughter Phoebe at the Strictly Come Dancing studios as she shared a sweet snap.

The Strictly host, 56, was signed as the host for Strictly alongside Bruce Forsyth in 2004 - the same year she gave birth to Phoebe, 21.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Tess shared a glamorous snap with her daughter, who she shares with radio broadcaster Vernon Kay, 51, as she revealed Phoebe had been coming to the studio for her entire life.

In the snap, Tess was seen wearing the black velvet ruched mini-dress she'd worn for Strictly's Halloween week.

Meanwhile Phoebe opted for a burgundy midi-dress featuring sequined fabric and spaghetti straps.

'Such a treat having you at the show last night @phoebeekay can't believe you've been coming for 21 years; your entire life,' Tess wrote.

Tess Daly gushed over 21 years of memories with her lookalike daughter Phoebe at the Strictly Come Dancing studios as she shared a sweet snap on Instagram on Sunday

'Such a treat having you at the show last night @phoebeekay can't believe you've been coming for 21 years; your entire life,' Tess wrote

The reminiscent post from Tess comes after it was revealed she and Claudia Winkleman are stepping away from the Strictly hosting job at the end of the series.

Phoebe, who celebrated her 21st birthday last month, is a film production student who splits her time between London and Dubai.

It's not only Phoebe's mum Tess who works in the world of showbiz - dad Vernon Kay presented a host of television programmes throughout the early 2000s and is now a BBC Radio 2 host.

She appears to be a natural at handling her growing celebrity status - as the jet-setting university student juggles her studies with red carpet appearances, and glamorous family holidays.

But Phoebe previously admitted she would rather work behind the camera and leave presenting to her parents, explaining: 'I like the production and editing side.

'I'd love to act, but will leave presenting to my mum and dad. I'm just trying to understand what I want to do.

'I think you go to uni to figure out what you want to do in life. I'd like to do some work experience, as it's hands-on, even if I start as a runner and work my way up.'

Her parents felt it was best to keep Phoebe and her younger sister, Amber, now 15, shielded from the celebrity world until they could decide whether they 'wanted to be in the spotlight or not', Vernon added.

'Phoebe is very mature,' he continued. 'I've got confidence she will know how to deal with it.'

The reminiscent post from Tess comes after it was revealed she and Claudia Winkleman are stepping away from the Strictly hosting job at the end of the series

While many nepo babies follow in their famous parents footsteps, Tess Daly and Vernon Kay's daughter Phoebe is forging her own path

Vernon took to social media last month as he wished his 21-year-old daughter a Happy Birthday - and she looked just like Tess's double.

Proud dad Vernon gushed: 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY @phoebekay 21 Today!! The celebrations are gonna be epic!! Youre the best any parent could ask for.'

Phoebe has also taken on the role as an influencer as she documents her enviable lifestyle to a steadily rising follower base.

She made her red carpet debut much later than other nepo babies - waiting until 2023 when she attended the movie premiere of John Wick Chapter 4 in London's Leicester Square.

Phoebe, then 18, looked stylish in a white draped shirt with a pair of shiny black pleather trousers as she walked arm-in-arm with her father, Vernon.

Their outing came after Vernon said he doesn't want his children to live off his and wife Tess's fame, insisting they form 'their own careers'.

At the time he told the Daily Mail he was looking at drama schools to send Phoebe to where she can combine her passions for acting and business.

The family were rubbing shoulders with the who's who of British television - with the university student having walked the red carpet at two star-studded Bafta parties in quick succession.

Phoebe (right, pictured with mum Tess Daly) previously admitted she would rather work behind the camera and leave presenting to her parents

The first time was in 2024 when Phoebe, then 19, joined her famous father at the glitzy Vanity Fair EE Rising Star Party last February.

She looked every bit a movie star herself as Phoebe donned a silver, midi-length dress for the occasion as Vernon kept a 'watchful eye' over his daughter at the event at London's Four Seasons hotel.

However, he needn't have worried as Phoebe, channeling her mother, appeared calm, composed, and graceful while posing for photographs.

A source told Hello! magazine that the father-daughter duo spent the evening mingling with guests like Emily Atack, Katherine Ryan, Ed McVey, and Matt and Emma Willis.

'At one point,' they said, 'Matt even took pictures of the pair in front of the iconic Bafta statue.'
Eva Longoria tucked into a corn dog as she enjoyed a family day out at Disneyland on Saturday.

The actress, 50, was seen taking a VIP tour guide before riding many of the park's rides, including the Pirates of the Caribbean, Mickey's Runaway Railway and the Small World ride.

She wore a black padded gilet, black leggings and a black jumper as she was joined by her husband, Jose Baston, 57.

While enjoying a bite to eat around the theme park, Eva kept a low profile, accessorising her look with a black cap worn backwards.

Jose opted for a similar sporty ensemble as he stepped out in black tracksuit bottoms, a black long-sleeved top and a black cap, worn backwards.

The couple were seen pushing a stroller as they enjoyed their day with their son Santiago, six, and pals.

Eva Longoria, 50, tucked into a corn dog as she enjoyed a family day out at Disneyland on Saturday

The actress was seen taking a VIP tour guide with her husband, Jose Baston, 57, before riding many of the park's rides, including the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Small World ride

The trip to Disney was likely welcomed by the family as the Texas native has been busy filming CNN's Eva Longoria: Searching for France and Jose has also recently undergone surgery on his shoulder.

The CNN series is a hit on the cable news channel after the success of her initial show, Searching For Mexico.

She has since travelled to neighbouring France for the next adventure in the Searching For franchise.

Eva has been so busy that she missed her pal Lauren Shanchez's wedding to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos over the summer.

However, the Desperate Housewives star did attend Lauren's bachelorette party in Paris.

Eva told People about the bachelorette: 'I had to pop in and out, so I wasnt there as long. But yeah, its so nice to celebrate love. Its just the best feeling in the world to be there and go, "Yay, love."'

The petite beauty showed up in one of Kim Kardashian's Instagram posts from the celebratory getaway, appearing alongside Kris Jenner and the bride-to-be.

The trip to Disney was likely welcomed as the Texas native has been busy filming CNN's Eva Longoria: Searching for France and Jose has also recently undergone surgery on his shoulder

Described as the 'wedding of a century,' Sanchez and Bezos exchanged vows in front of nearly 200 VIPs on San Giorgio Maggiore island in Venice, Italy, back in June.

Famous faces, including Orlando Bloom, Brooks Nader, and Jenner's daughters Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian, and Kendall and Kylie Jenner, were among the list of high-profile guests.
Kanye 'Ye' West's second wife Bianca Censori appears to be in the midst of a full-blown 'calculated brand war' against his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, whose shapewear company SKIMS makes up a reported 75 per cent of her wealth.

The Australian 30-year-old is scheduled to release her eponymous brand, Bianca, on December 11 - two months after she originally aimed to launch it.

And on Saturday, Bianca gave her 493K Instagram followers the first look at the bras, panties, waist cinchers and tights she'll soon unveil to the public.

All of the bras Censori modeled looked a tad on the retro matronly side, but her options are considerably limited with an alleged 32G cup size.

The fame-hungry exhibitionist - who curiously donned panties over pantyhose - opted to take the pictures herself with her cell phone in a mirror rather than hire a professional photographer.

After six months away from social media, Bianca first broke her silence on Halloween by Instastorying a snap of herself playing with a prop knife while wearing a strapless bodysuit.

Kanye 'Ye' West's second wife Bianca Censori (L) appears to be in the midst of a full-blown 'calculated brand war' against his ex-wife Kim Kardashian (R), whose shapewear company SKIMS makes up a reported 75% of her wealth

The Australian 30-year-old is scheduled to release her eponymous brand, Bianca, on December 11 - two months after she originally aimed to launch it

Censori paired her SKIMS-like attire with leg warmers and silver pumps.

In every single post, the former Kelektiv design consultant tagged the designer Marc Jacobs - who does not sell bras, panties or tights on his website.

Perhaps Bianca scored a collaboration with the 62-year-old tastemaker, who previously made Kim Kardashian the face of his FW/23 campaign.

The 45-year-old SKIMS CEO originally co-founded her $4B shapewear company in 2019 with married couple - Jens Grede and Emma Grede - which has now expanded into loungewear, swimwear and a men's line.

Before the launch, Kim credited the disgraced 48-year-old rapper with being her 'Ghost Creative Director' and he also designed the logo for the brand formerly known as 'Kimono Intimates'.

'This goes way beyond fashion,' a source close to the couple told Radar Online last week.

'Kanye sees this as his revenge play  he's determined to outdo Kim on every front. Bianca's brand is being crafted to mirror hers on purpose. It's designed to compete directly with everything Kim has created.'

Kardashian is said to be 'furious' and convinced 'Kanye is pulling all the strings here'.

'From the visuals to the overall vibe, Bianca's photos are pure SKIMS,' said another industry insider.

And on Saturday, Bianca gave her 493K Instagram followers the first look at the bras, panties, waist cinchers and tights she'll soon unveil to the public

All of the bras Censori modeled looked a tad on the retro matronly side, but her options are considerably limited with an alleged 32G cup size

The fame-hungry exhibitionist - who curiously donned panties over pantyhose - opted to take the pictures herself with her cell phone in a mirror rather than hire a professional photographer

After six months away from social media, Bianca first broke her silence on Halloween by Instastorying a snap of herself playing with a prop knife while wearing a strapless bodysuit

Censori paired her SKIMS-like attire with leg warmers and silver pumps

In every single post, the former Kelektiv design consultant tagged the designer Marc Jacobs (pictured October 22) - who does not sell bras, panties or tights on his website

Perhaps Bianca scored a collaboration with the 62-year-old tastemaker, who previously made Kim Kardashian the face of his FW/23 campaign

The 45-year-old SKIMS CEO originally co-founded her $4B shapewear company in 2019 with married couple - Jens Grede and Emma Grede - which has now expanded into loungewear, swimwear and a men's line (pictured September 24)

Before the launch, Kim credited the disgraced 48-year-old rapper with being her 'Ghost Creative Director' and he also designed the logo for the brand formerly known as 'Kimono Intimates' (pictured April 4)

A source close to the couple told Radar Online last week: 'Kanye (L, pictured June 21) sees this as his revenge play  he's determined to outdo Kim on every front. Bianca's brand is being crafted to mirror hers on purpose. It's designed to compete directly with everything Kim has created'

Ye - who still averages 64.5M monthly listeners on Spotify - will release his 11th studio album Bully this Friday

West is next scheduled to perform live on November 29 in Sao Paulo, Brazil

'That's entirely intentional. Kanye's built his brand on stirring the pot, and this is just his latest move to grab attention and assert control.'

Ye reportedly pays the All's Fair producer-star $200K/month in support for their four children - North, 12; son Saint, 9; daughter Chicago, 7; and son Psalm, 6 - who haven't 'heard from him in a couple months'.

Kim and West's six-year marriage ended in 2021 - the year after he hired Censori to be his Yeezy head of architecture, and they'll celebrate their third wedding anniversary on December 20.

But first, the 24-time Grammy winner - who still averages 64.5M monthly listeners on Spotify - will release his 11th studio album Bully this Friday.

Ye is next scheduled to perform live on November 29 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Australian fans have been left outraged after Oasis stars Noel and Liam Gallagher cheekily mocked the Aussie accent during their sold-out show in Melbourne on Friday.

The Britpop legends were performing a sing-along of their iconic song Don't Look Back in Anger with the packed crowd of 55,000 people at Marvel Stadium when they made the quip.

During the chorus, guitarist Noel, 58, mocked the roaring crowd over their very pronounced Australian accent.

'Anga? Anga? What the f***ing hell is "anga"?,' a confused Noel asked, as Liam looked on in amusement.

Furious fans quickly took to social media to slam the Manchester natives for making fun of the iconic Australian accent.

'As if he says it any better LMAO,' one person quipped.

Australian fans have been whipped into a frenzy after Oasis stars Noel and Liam Gallagher cheekily mocked the Aussie accent during their sold-out show in Melbourne on Friday

'He's insufferable,' a second added and another chimed in: 'International bully'.

However, another suggested the brothers were simply displaying their trademark cheeky humour.

'I was there last night, I would be surprised if anyone took offence to that comment. The Poms and the Aussies have been taking the p**s out of each other on how we pronounce words for a couple of centuries now,' one person wrote.

It comes after the outspoken brothers kicked off the Australian leg of their world tour with a literal bang on Friday night.

Oasis performed in Melbourne at Marvel Stadium to thousands of screaming fans for the first of their sold-out shows Down Under.

But the iconic brothers were left stunned halfway through their song Champagne Supernova when one fan set off flares in the middle of their set.

Footage of the incident shows the bright red light illuminating the nosebleeds before someone threw a flare into the surrounding crowd.

It landed on the ground amid the packed moshpit, burning as concertgoers attempted to back away from the glare.

The Britpop legends were performing a sing-along of their iconic song Don't Look Back In Anger with the packed crowd of 55,000 people at Marvel Stadium when the incident occurred

During the chorus, guitarist Noel cheekily mocked the crowd over their strong accent. 'Anga? Anga? What the f***ing hell is "anga"?,' a confused Noel asked the crowd, as Liam looked on in amusement

Liam, 53, and Noel didn't let the disruption interrupt their set, though the younger of the two called out the reckless act when he finished singing.

'That was naughty. Naughty, naughty, naughty,' Liam said as he wagged his finger at the culprit before continuing on with the show.

However, according to one attendee, Noel 'looked worried' about the incident.

Liam later took to social media to slam the culprit yet again.

'To the massive C*** who launched that flare into the crowd last night at the gig in Melbourne you are 1 seriously f***ed up individual. You will get yours, trust me,' he vowed.

Other fans flocked to Reddit to call out the person who lit the flare and threw it in the middle of the crowd.

'That is so f***ed up they could have burnt some poor girl's face. Hope they get arrested and banned from gigs,' one person wrote.

Oasis will perform in Melbourne again on Tuesday, with the Wonderwall fan favourites then set to head to New South Wales.

They will put on shows in Sydney at the Accor Stadium on Friday and Saturday next week, November 7 and 8, for the first time they toured the country since 2005.

The band has a huge following in Australia, with two of their albums reaching number one on the ARIA chart and their hit song Wonderwall hitting the top spot in 1996.

Last year, the band announced they were reuniting for the first time since 2009 after Noel and Liam finally put their differences aside following a long-standing feud.
Target suffered a humiliating technical faux pas during a Zoom meeting with employees.

The American retail giant announced last week that it would cut 1,000 positions and not fill 800 additional roles as the brand aims to restructure.

When Target Corp. employees logged onto the Zoom on Tuesday morning to learn their fate, they instead encountered a computer glitch and were left quite literally in the dark.

People familiar with the matter said those on the company call were met with nothing but silence and the projection of Target's big red bullseye logo on their screens, Bloomberg reported.

After the call wrapped, employees on the Zoom received an email from Target's head of human resources confirmed that they had indeed been laid off, according to the people.

The head of HR also provided a summary of the call and an apology for the technical issues.

This was not Target's first communication mishap as the brand restructures for the first time in nearly a decade.

The October 23 memo from incoming Chief Executive Officer Michael Fiddelke, which announced the cuts internally, did not include details about the downsizing or mention that affected employees would continue to be paid through early January.

When Target Corp. employees logged onto the Zoom on Tuesday morning to learn their fate, they instead encountered a computer glitch

Target announced plans to cut 1,000 jobs from its corporate workforce after three years of falling sales

Last week, some employees received a message that appeared to offer a job interview but was actually a phishing test sent by Targets security department.

A Target security manager later apologized for any added stress the exercise may have caused amid the job cuts, according to several people and an internal message reviewed by Bloomberg.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Target for comment.

Target announced the refinancing last week, it's looking to save money and reinvent itself after nearly three years of falling sales.

'The truth is, the complexity we've created over time has been holding us back,' incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke said in a memo obtained by the Wall Street Journal that will be sent to staff on Tuesday.

'Too many layers and overlapping work have slowed decisions, making it harder to bring ideas to life.'

Fiddelke, a 20-year Target veteran who currently serves as chief operating officer, will take over as CEO in February. He succeeds Brian Cornell, who will remain executive chairman.

Target's stock price has been on a roller coaster this year, losing more than 30 percent of its value since January.

Target's in-store employees have worried about their job security as the company continues to shed shoppers

Longtime CEO Brian Cornell announced that he was stepping down at the start of 2026

The past six months have been kinder to the chain, with Wall Street giving the company a 2 percent boost  and investors have pushed the stock even higher after the layoff announcement.

But analysts say problems have been spilling out of Target's Minneapolis headquarters and into the retailer's approximately 2,000 US locations.

'Cutting corporate jobs may help boost profit. However, the move alone does not solve all of Target's ills,' Neil Saunders, managing director and retail analyst at GlobalData, told the Daily Mail.

'Regardless of how the cost pie is cut, it also needs to be accompanied by a change of culture at Target.'

Saunders joined a chorus of retail experts calling for Brian Cornell to fully step away from the company after years of blistering headlines and social media firestorms.

First, the company faced backlash from conservatives after including trans-inclusive swimwear in its 2024 Pride collection. Some stores reported major boycotts and even bomb threats.

Then, Target walked back its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in a pitch to appease the Trump administration. The move angered liberal shoppers.

And, when once-loyal fans began turning away from the company, Target quietly raised some prices to stave off additional tariff costs.
The guns have fallen silentat least for nowalong the volatile Afghanistan-Pakistan border after a series of deadly clashes between Taliban fighters and Pakistani forces. The fragile ceasefire holding this uneasy calm together conceals a far deeper fracture: the unravelling of Pakistans decades-old doctrine of strategic depth. What was once the cornerstone of Islamabads regional visiona plan to control Kabul through militant proxies and use Afghanistan as a buffer against Indiahas collapsed into blowback, betrayal, and diminishing influence. The frontier that Pakistan sought to dominate has turned into a front of confrontation. For New Delhi, however, this upheaval marks not just a shift in regional dynamics but a potential opening to recalibrate its Afghan policy and shape a new form of strategic depth grounded in partnership rather than proxy. For nearly four decades, Pakistans security establishment viewed Afghanistan not as a neighbour but as an extension of its strategic geography. Since the Afghan-Soviet war of the 1980s, Islamabads military and intelligence apparatus, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), cultivated deep ties with Islamist factions that later coalesced into the Taliban. The objective was simple yet audacious: ensure that any regime in Kabul remained friendlyor at least pliableto Pakistani interests, thereby creating a buffer in case of future conflict with India.

Through the 1990s, this policy bore fruit as Pakistan became the principal backer of the Taliban regime, offering funding, training, and safe havens. Militant outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad used Afghan soil to stage attacks on Indian interests, turning cities like Khost and Kandahar into jihadist crossroads. Even after the U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban in 2001, Pakistan maintained its influence through the Haqqani network, a semi-autonomous group rooted in North Waziristan that functioned as Islamabads insurance policy in Afghan affairs.This dual gameallying with Washington in the War on Terror while covertly sustaining the very networks it was meant to dismantlegave Pakistan tactical advantages. It secured billions in aid from the United States while retaining the means to exert pressure on Indian interests in Afghanistan. Between 2008 and 2011, the Haqqani network orchestrated high-profile attacks on Indian diplomatic missions, forcing New Delhi to scale back its development footprint.

To Islamabads strategists, this was a vindication of the strategic depth doctrine: Afghanistan remained a pliable frontier that could be used to counter India without confrontation. But the edifice began to crumble. The policy of duplicity bred its own nemesis. The tribal belt that sheltered Taliban and Al-Qaeda elements soon spawned the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)an insurgency that turned its guns inward. Pakistans military campaigns in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) became endless cycles of appeasement and retaliation. The 2004 Shakai Agreement with militant commander Nek Mohammad collapsed within months. When the CIA eliminated him in the first drone strike on Pakistani soil, it symbolised not triumph but the beginning of Islamabads loss of control. Over time, the TTP morphed into a lethal domestic force, waging a brutal campaign against the Pakistani state. The re-emergence of the Afghan Taliban in 2021, after two decades of U.S. occupation, initially seemed like a strategic victory for Islamabad.

Celebrations rang out in Rawalpindi; officials spoke of historic depth restored. Yet, the Taliban that returned to Kabul were not the same subservient clients of the 1990s. Hardened by years of war and craving international legitimacy, the new leadership rejected Pakistans tutelage. When Islamabad demanded that Kabul curb the TTPs cross-border activities, the Taliban refused. Instead, they invoked Afghan sovereignty, dismissing Pakistans pleas as interference. By 2024, these tensions had erupted into direct armed clashes along the Durand Line. Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory were met with retaliatory fire. The TTP, emboldened by Taliban tolerance, resumed attacks inside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Pakistans last reliable linkthe Haqqani factionfractured as Sirajuddin Haqqani clashed with Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada over ideology and control. With Haqqanis influence waning, Islamabads leverage vanished.

This inversion of rolesthe patron turned pariah, the client turned challengermarks one of the most dramatic reversals in South Asias modern geopolitics. The concept of strategic depth now stands exposed as a strategic delusion. What was intended to give Pakistan breathing space in a future conflict with India has instead suffocated its security apparatus. The frontier Islamabad once sought to use as a launchpad has become a source of perpetual instability.

The blowback has been both ideological and territorial. From the early 2000s onward, Pakistans tribal regions became the epicentre of a transnational jihadist movement. Al-Qaeda, Uzbek fighters, and radical clerics like Maulana Fazlullah transformed local grievances into a global narrative of holy war. Extremist radio stations in Swat preached Sharia rule, and assassination attempts on General Pervez Musharraf underscored how deeply the states own Frankenstein had infiltrated its ranks. The militarys heavy-handed operations displaced millions, but failed to eliminate the insurgency. The TTP, fractured but resilient, survived by merging tribal revenge with religious zeal. Each failed peace dealfrom Swat in 2009 to North Waziristan in 2014only reinforced the militants perception that the state could be bled into submission.

By the time Osama bin Laden was discovered and killed in Abbottabad in 2011, Washingtons trust in Pakistan had evaporated. Intelligence cooperation collapsed, U.S. aid dwindled, and Pakistan found itself fighting an unwinnable internal war with limited resources and diminishing legitimacy. When the Taliban returned to power a decade later, Islamabad saw a fleeting opportunity to restore lost leverage. It facilitated limited U.S. drone operations, including the strike that killed Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul. Yet, these tactical alignments could not conceal the deeper strategic decay. The Talibans defiance, the TTPs resurgence, and growing international isolation have cornered Pakistan into an unenviable position: a state trapped between hostile forces on both sides of its western border and an unresolved crisis of extremism within.Amid this chaos, New Delhi finds itself presented with a historic opportunity. For years, Indias Afghanistan policy has been guided by cautious idealismprioritising development aid, cultural diplomacy, and people-to-people ties while avoiding direct engagement with the Taliban. This approach earned India goodwill among Afghans but limited strategic reach. The evolving situation calls for recalibration. Reopening its technical mission in Kabul and cautiously engaging with the Taliban regime signals a quiet but deliberate shift. India is not seeking to legitimize the Taliban but to ensure a presence on the groundan ear to the street, a hand in humanitarian projects, and eyes on the evolving security landscape. The way forward for India lies in combining soft power with strategic intent. By expanding connectivity projects to link Central Asia through Chabahar and beyond, deepening coordination with Iran, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, and offering technological and educational support to Afghans, India can gradually build influence rooted in partnership. Equally, the revival of a double-front strategic frameworkengaging Pakistan on both its eastern and western peripheriescould recalibrate regional power equations.

For Islamabad, managing unrest in the west while facing diplomatic assertiveness from the east would stretch resources and reduce maneuverability. The silence now hovering over the Af-Pak border is deceptive. Beneath it lies a region seething with unresolved histories and shifting ambitions. Pakistans old playbookof nurturing militancy for influencehas run its course. The Talibans assertion of independence, the TTPs unrelenting insurgency, and the erosion of Pakistans moral and strategic capital have left the doctrine of strategic depth in ruins.

For India, the moment demands vision and patiencea recognition that influence need not come from control, but from credibility and consistency. The frontier that once symbolized Pakistans dominance has become its most volatile liability. As the balance of power reshapes itself, Afghanistanlong seen as Pakistans backyardcould well become the front yard of Indias diplomacy and imagination. The question is not whether the guns will roar again, but whether New Delhi will be ready when they doarmed not with weapons, but with foresight, presence, and purpose.

Abhinav is an advocate & Columnist. Srijan is a national security analyst
More than two years after Pakistan started a crackdown against Afghan nationals, nearly 40,000 of them have left Balochistan Capital Quetta, a top provincial official has said. Since October 2023, when Pakistan asked all the foreign nationals, including Afghan illegal immigrants, to leave voluntarily or face deportation, the deadline has been extended multiple times.

Pakistan hosts over 1.7 million registered Afghan refugees, with many more living without documentation. The Government recently launched yet another repatriation drive, citing security and economic concerns, prompting thousands of Afghans to return to their home country.

The authorities have fastened the deportation measures by ordering the closure of around 54 Afghan refugee camps across the country. Quetta Commissioner Mir Ullah Badhani said that most of the Afghans who have returned home were living in the Afghan Basti (town) on the Eastern bypass of Quetta for the last 35-40 years and had constructed quarters and buildings for residence and businesses. Feroze Shah, a resident of Qadirabad, as the basti is known, said it was occupied mostly by poor people who were forced to leave or were leaving for Afghanistan, uncertain of their future and were without any proper belongings. Over the past two years, hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees have been expelled from different parts of Pakistan, some of whom are our relatives or belong to our tribes, he said.

Now the influx has grown because winter will soon start in Afghanistan, and people want to cross over so that they can settle down and find places to stay before peak cold, he added. According to the Commissioner, refugees crossing over to Afghanistan via the Chaman border have slowed down due to the recent conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Hundreds of Afghan refugees had been put up in camps near the Chaman border waiting for their turn to cross over, Badhani said.

18 militants arrested

Lahore: Eighteen militants, mostly belonging to the banned terror outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, were arrested during intelligence-based operations in Pakistans Punjab province, police said on Saturday. A statement released by the Counter terrorism department (CTD) of the Punjab police said that it arrested 18 terrorists belonging to proscribed organisations, with most of them belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The intelligence based operations were conducted across various districts of the province over the past month.

"The CTD, in collaboration with an intelligence agency, successfully foiled terror plots in Punjab. The terrorists were planning to target key buildings and installations in various cities," it said. The CTD recovered 3.02 kilograms of explosives, 14 detonators, 33 feet long safety fuse wire, and three improvised explosive devices.
Hundreds of port workers staged a mass hunger strike on Saturday to protest the interim Governments decision to lease out Bangladeshs main commercial seaport in southeastern Chattogram to foreign operators, amid a volatile political landscape ahead of the February elections. "The decision has been taken against the national interest. This decision will not be accepted under any circumstances," Anwar Hossain, leader of the Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP), an apex body of worker unions, told the rally at the port city.

The token hunger strike, joined by activists from various workers and political organisations, came a month after the port workers began protests against Professor Muhammad Yunus plan to lease out the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to UAE-based operator DP World. The protestors said the NCT at Chattogram port  Bangladeshs main trade gateway  was built with domestic funds and modern technology while it emerged as the countrys most successful container terminal. Bangladesh is the worlds second-largest garment exporter and relies heavily on Chattogram port for most of its imports and exports. Soon after assuming power after last years violent street campaign that toppled then prime minister Sheikh Hasinas Government, Yunus insisted the facility - strategically located on the Bay of Bengal  should be handed over to the best operator in the world.

His insistence sparked immediate reactions among security experts and protests in the political arena, which faded from public focus amid subsequent political turmoil. However, it resurfaced in September when Yunus said Bangladesh never explored the full potential of the Bay of Bengal, though it was an integral part of our country and expressed his Governments desire to upgrade ports at southwestern Coxs Bazar, Matarbari, and Maheshkhali. These ports can foster a regional economy and strengthen economic ties with Nepal and the Seven Sisters , benefiting all parties," he said at the ceremonial signing of the Charter.
The technologist, one of the winners of the 2025 Right Livelihood Award, promotes the social use of technology  a mission that has led her to develop, among other projects, a system to combat online child sexual abuse

Audrey Tang, 44, uses her hacker skills, her IQ of 180, and her position as Taiwans minister of digital affairs  which she has held for nearly 10 years  to make the internet a safer place. Her goal is to ensure that the web serves its users, not the other way around. Although she does not believe in democracy without technology, she tries to reduce the time she spends online by keeping her screens in grayscale and avoiding compulsive consumption of content. She also argues that artificial intelligence is a parasite that fosters polarization.

For advancing the social use of digital technology to empower citizens, renew democracy and heal divides Tang has just won one of the 2025 Right Livelihood Awards, known as the alternative Nobel. The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday, December 2, in Stockholm.

Tang is the first transgender minister in the history of her countrys cabinet. She emerged from g0V, a collective of technologists who worked to design a transparent governance model in Taiwan. Her work laid the foundation for the 2014 Sunflower Movement, when hundreds of young people occupied Taiwans parliament in protest of a trade agreement with China that had been negotiated in secret. The minister believes that the internet  though full of conflict and polarization  has the power to give citizens a direct role in policymaking and restore trust in the state: The first thing I did when I entered government was try to rebuild the trust of citizens. Taiwan was very polarized, but by 2020 we managed to raise citizen approval from 9% to 70%.

In nearly a decade in office, Tang declared broadband internet a human right, created a mask map during the coronavirus pandemic to report real-time availability, and organized several campaigns against disinformation and deepfakes (videos or images manipulated with AI). She also created the Robust and Open Online Safety Tools (ROOST) for the 2025 Paris Artificial Intelligence Summit, a decentralized and collaborative system that helps detect cases of child sexual abuse on platforms like Bluesky and Roblox.

No democracy is an island

At 15, Tang decided to leave school and began working with her father, who at the time was a political adviser to one of the presidential candidates: I got involved in politics at a very young age and realized that the internet had arrived to change everything. The internet can really listen to and amplify what the people actually feel on the ground, instead of just the few people that are the key opinion influencers or gatekeepers.

Now, Tang devotes her time to training leaders from other countries. In the United States, for example, she helped California Governor Gavin Newsom create a platform called Engaged California, aimed at generating a collective voice to speak on behalf of all citizens affected by the wildfires that devastated the area earlier this year.

She also works with Japan, where she gave this interview. Takahiro Anno, a Japanese science fiction writer, AI engineer, and political figure, read Plurality, the book Tang wrote, last year. A month before the Tokyo gubernatorial elections, he decided to run for office. Nobody knew him, but he created a platform based on Tangs principles to try to address citizens main concerns. Anno won more than 1% of the vote  over half a million ballots. Many young people believed in his proposal, and he later founded a party called Team Mirai.

I help other countries because, even though it seems weve healed the problem of polarization in Taiwan, no democracy is an island  not even Taiwan, the minister says.

Digital democracy as bubble tea

In Taiwan, the internet and democracy literally emerged at the same time, Tang explains.

The first personal computers appeared in the 1980s, coinciding with the lifting of martial law in 1987  a dictatorship imposed after World War II, when Taiwan returned to the control of the Republic of China following the withdrawal of Japanese forces. In total, there were 38 years of political repression.

Our first presidential elections were held in 1996, right when the first web browsers were created. Thats why, for us, one cannot exist without the other.

In a video posted on Instagram, the minister explains while preparing bubble tea, a typical Taiwanese drink: Internet and democracy are not two things, but rather one and the same thing. Just like bubble and tea.

Tang believes that ever since technology has existed, humans have imagined the future in the same way: Well build a robot that will then help design the next version; eventually, robots will no longer need humans anymore to make new versions, and theyll dominate us.

This idea is known as technological singularity, which Tang says is widely accepted  even in Silicon Valley, where she started working at age 16. Many people in Silicon Valley believe that this is inevitable, that the human species is just a cradle for future species that will inevitably do whatever they want with us.

But Tang doesnt see it that way: We dont need super intelligence to save us, because were already a superintelligent species. We just need to move from singularity to plurality.

The plurality Tang speaks of is the cooperation between opposites: Instead of treating conflict as a volcanic eruption that must be extinguished immediately, we should tap into that magma  that reactive energy that emerges from disagreement  to find solutions and build a kind of geothermal plant to resist the heat.

Thats exactly what she did with ROOST, the online child sexual abuse prevention system she co-created: It came from joining forces to improve a very dangerous field. Tang explains that today, anyone can produce Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), a crime thats extremely difficult to track. In some countries, certain kinds of images arent considered profane, while in others they are. So a single surveillance model would be obsolete, Tang says.

ROOST seeks to close existing gaps in digital safety by providing each community with essential, tailored tools and developing solutions that offer the protection they need. For example, to avoid sharing sensitive graphic material, Tang says they decided to convert all images into text  which is legal and also protects the victims privacy. This is what I mean by plurality: humans must come together so that technology serves us  not the other way around, she concludes.

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Nepal's Supreme Court on Sunday issued a stay order halting the government's decision to recall ambassadors from 11 countries, including China and the US. A cabinet meeting held on October 6 decided to recall ambassadors from China, Germany, Israel, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the UK, the US, and Japan, by November 6. A joint bench of Justices Sharanga Subedi and Shree Kanta Paudel issued an interim order staying the government's decision to recall the ambassadors. Most of these ambassadors were political appointees made by the previous government formed under the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist and Nepali Congress alliance. In response to the government decision, the envoys concerned had moved the Court.
Wealth management forum in Dubai highlights Mideast investment in China

Xinhua) 11:11, November 02, 2025

This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2025 shows a scene during a document-signing ceremony at a wealth management forum held by China International Capital Corporation (CICC) in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). (Xinhua/Wen Xinnian)

DUBAI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a leading investment bank, has held its wealth management forum in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), attracting around 200 participants from government, business, and financial sectors to discuss investment opportunities in China and global asset allocation.

Themed "Invest in China, Invest in Future," the forum on Friday featured nearly 20 representatives from China's leading new-economy enterprises and global asset management firms who engaged in in-depth discussions on China-UAE cooperation.

During the event, the CICC unveiled the international edition of its "China Top 50," an integrated buy-side advisory solution, for the first time in the Middle East, and signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Arab Federation for Digital Economy.

Owen Wu, member of the CICC executive committee, deputy president, and managing director of CICC Wealth Management, said that as Middle East countries are shifting from "looking East" to "going East," their sovereign wealth funds are increasingly deepening investment in China.

"As a key participant and builder in the development of China's capital markets, the CICC will continue to leverage its professional capabilities to expand China's investment network and promote new landscapes of China-UAE investment cooperation," he added.

Kevin Liu, chief offshore China and overseas strategist at CICC Research, noted that Chinese assets have performed strongly this year, with the Hong Kong market outperforming major global markets.

"The RMB has remained resilient amid a complex external environment, and exports have also exceeded market expectations," Liu said, adding that, as the global economy grows more complex, structural opportunities in China's capital markets are becoming increasingly evident. While Hong Kong, as a "super connector," will continue to play a vital role in linking Chinese and international markets.

Statistics from the People's Bank of China showed that, in the first nine months of this year, the amount of cross-border RMB receipts and payments between China and the UAE reached 864 billion yuan (about 122 billion U.S. dollars). Meanwhile, the UAE's sovereign wealth fund has also been engaged in stock, bond, and private equity investments in China.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
People look at a drinking cup from late classic period at the Princeton University Art Museum in New Jersey, the United States, on Nov. 1, 2025. After 13 years of design and construction, the new art museum of Princeton University reopened its doors to the general public with a 24-hour party from 5 p.m. Oct. 31, to 5 p.m. Nov. 1. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People listen to an introduction of the Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge by Claude Monet at the Princeton University Art Museum in New Jersey, the United States, on Nov. 1, 2025. After 13 years of design and construction, the new art museum of Princeton University reopened its doors to the general public with a 24-hour party from 5 p.m. Oct. 31, to 5 p.m. Nov. 1. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People visit the pavilion of Egyptian art at the Princeton University Art Museum in New Jersey, the United States, on Nov. 1, 2025. After 13 years of design and construction, the new art museum of Princeton University reopened its doors to the general public with a 24-hour party from 5 p.m. Oct. 31, to 5 p.m. Nov. 1. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People are seen in front of the new Princeton University Art Museum in New Jersey, the United States, on Nov. 1, 2025. After 13 years of design and construction, the new art museum of Princeton University reopened its doors to the general public with a 24-hour party from 5 p.m. Oct. 31, to 5 p.m. Nov. 1. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)
Dundalk punk heavyweights The Gakk storm Toales Live Venue tonight, Sunday, 2nd November for the official launch of their brand-new album, "An Unknown Substance On A Pristine Surface" - a blistering statement from one of Irelands most vital underground punk bands. Available on the night on vinyl and cd.

The record, released on Punkerama Records, captures The Gakks trademark raw, unfiltered energy  driving rhythms, razor-edged guitar work, and socially charged lyrics that challenge, provoke, and connect. This is punk with heart, brains, and teeth.

Recorded and produced independently, the album walks a tightrope between grit and melody, echoing the spirit of classic punk while speaking directly to the frustration and resilience of modern life.

Every track lands like a punch, but with reflection behind the roar  proof that punk can still mean something.

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Support on the night comes from The Coathanger Solution, Dublins noisy, angry punk rock n roll outfit known for their witty, hard-hitting lyrics and hook-heavy chaos, and Buck Eejit, Lisburns booze-fuelled Oi! punks who blend gallows humour and street grit in equal measure.

This will be a night of loud truth-telling and unfiltered rebellion  the sound of Irish punk at full tilt.

Tickets 10 via Eventbrite / 12 on the night. Doors open early at 5.30pm.
The Creative Spark Downtown Hub recently hosted the Blooming Minds showcase and evaluation launch, which was an event that brought together young people, artists, mental health professionals, and community members to celebrate the powerful impact of creativity on youth mental health.

The event, which tool place on Monday, September 15th, marked the official launch of the evaluation phase for the Blooming Minds Club (BMC), a youth-led, artist-supported creative arts hub designed for young people experiencing mental health difficulties.

Based at Creative Spark Dundalk, with outreach workshops held in Drogheda, Co. Louth, the project provided a space where participants could co-design and engage in a wide range of artistic activitiesfostering self-expression, connection, and wellbeing.

The showcase featured an impressive array of artwork created by the young people over the course of the programme, highlighting the transformative power of creativity in their lives.

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Attendees also had the opportunity to learn more about the programme's goals, its journey so far, and future steps as part of its formal evaluation process.

Blooming Minds Club was one of just nine projects selected nationally for support through the Creative Ireland Nurture Fund, an initiative from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Over a two-year period, the project aimed to empower young people who were attendingor have attended CAMHS to collaborate in building a sustainable creative space tailored to their needs and interests.

Placing the voice of the young people at its core, the BMC offered a unique, innovative and dynamic model where creativity became a vehicle for emotional expression, healing, and community building.

Through regular workshops and art sessions, participants explored a variety of artistic forms in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.

The Showcase & Evaluation Launch not only celebrated the artistic achievements of its young participants but also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of investing in youth-led, mental health-informed creative initiatives.

The event concluded with heartfelt reflections from participants and facilitators, all of whom underscored the lasting impact that the BMC experience had on their lives.

The Evaluation Report and a short video documentary capturing the journey of the Blooming Minds Club are now available to view on the Creative Spark website.
A Louth based residential centre for adults with disabilities has received a glowing report from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), achieving full compliance across all 16 areas inspected.

The inspection, carried out on July 16, 2025, reviewed High Lane, a four-bedroom bungalow operated by St John of God Community Services CLG. The centre, located in a rural part of County Louth, is home to four adult male residents who are supported by a team of nurses, social care workers and healthcare assistants on a 24-hour basis.

Inspectors described the home as warm and relaxed, with residents appearing happy, comfortable, and at ease with staff. The report noted that residents, many of whom communicate non-verbally, were treated with respect and supported to engage in community activities and day trips tailored to their needs.

HIQA inspectors found that the centre had made significant improvements since its previous inspection in 2024. In particular, they highlighted stronger governance and management structures, enhanced documentation, and more opportunities for residents to take part in meaningful activities.

All 16 regulations assessed, including staffing, governance, health care, communication, and fire safety, were rated compliant, meaning the centre met all statutory requirements under the Health Act 2007.

Inspectors praised the professionalism and commitment of the staff team, noting that training records were up to date and that performance appraisals were regularly carried out. Training covered a wide range of areas, including safeguarding, fire safety, infection control, first aid, epilepsy care, and a human rights-based approach.

The report found that residents personal plans and health care needs were assessed and regularly reviewed, with support plans guiding staff to provide consistent, person-centred care. The centre also demonstrated strong oversight of residents finances.

High Lane was described as clean and well-maintained, with ongoing plans for minor repair work. Fire safety systems, including regular drills and staff training, were also found to be effective. Inspectors verified that all residents had personal evacuation plans and that staff were familiar with emergency procedures.

While residents primarily communicate through non-verbal means, inspectors observed positive interactions throughout the day. Staff were praised for their sensitivity and ability to interpret residents gestures, facial expressions, and preferences.

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In one example, a resident who had recently moved into the home in June 2025 had been supported through a detailed transition plan, with family involvement and preparation visits helping ensure a smooth move.

In conclusion, HIQA stated that the centre provides a good service that meets residents needsand commended the provider for responding effectively to previous recommendations. The inspection found that governance systems were robust, quality audits were carried out monthly, and any identified issues were addressed promptly.
Third-year Nursing and Event & Hospitality Management students at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) have raised almost 4,000 for cancer charities through their annual fundraising events.

Third-year General Nursing students raised an impressive 2,804.40 for the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre in Drogheda. Their contribution will help the Centre to continue providing essential services to cancer patients and their families during the most challenging times of their lives.

The students organised a bake sale, raffle, and a range of fun activities, with generous prizes donated by local businesses across Louth and Meath. Ann Everitt-Reynolds, General Nursing Programme Director, expressed her gratitude, saying:

"We are delighted to support the Gary Kelly Cancer Centre and the fantastic work that they do. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the generous businesses whose support made our raffle possible. A special thank you to the DkIT community, families, and friends whose enthusiasm and generosity made this fundraiser a resounding success. Your continued collaboration means the world to us."

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Year 3 Event and Hospitality Management students, under the guidance of tutor Maria Roddy-Freyne, continued their long-standing tradition of supporting the Irish Cancer Societys Breast Cancer Campaign, raising a fantastic 925 through a Big Pink Coffee Morning. The event featured a raffle, awareness activities promoting breast checks, and lots of community spirit.

Maria, a breast cancer survivor who has led these initiatives since 2014, reflected on the ongoing success: Our students really enjoyed the event, which not only raised vital funds for breast cancer awareness but also strengthened teamwork and allowed them to apply what theyve learned in their course.

"Breast cancer is a cause close to many of our hearts  with nearly 3,600 women and around 30 men diagnosed in Ireland each year, early detection and awareness are crucial. Every euro raised supports research and provides essential services nationwide. Im incredibly proud of what they achieved.

Since the initiative began, DkIT students, staff, and local businesses have raised over 17,000 for the Irish Cancer Society.

Event & Hospitality Management student Jessica Commins added: We had such an amazing time at our fundraising event! Seeing everything come together after all the planning was so rewarding.

"Everyone really got into the spirit of the day, and hearing how much we raised at the end was the perfect way to wrap it up. Huge thanks to everyone who donated or came along to support  we couldnt have done it without you.
A man has been arrested following the death of a man in Dublin.

Gardai said a man, aged in his 20s, died following an incident in Tyrrelstown on November 1.

At approximately 10.30pm, gardai received reports of a disturbance at Curragh Hall Crescent, Tyrrelstown, involving a group of individuals, they said.

On the arrival of gardai, those involved had dispersed.

A short time later, a male in his 20s arrived at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown with serious injuries. The male was subsequently pronounced deceased.

Officers said another man also aged in his 20s was arrested and is being detained at a garda station in the Dublin region.

The scene at Curragh Hall is currently preserved for examination by the garda technical bureau.

The Office of the State Pathologist has been notified, they added.

A senior investigating Officer will lead the investigation from the incident room at Blanchardstown garda station.

Gardai asked any witnesses to contact Blanchardstown garda station on 01 666 7000, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
TEHRAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Saturday that two members of its Basij voluntary force were killed in a "terrorist" attack in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan.

The victims, identified as Esmaeil Shavarzi and Mokhtar Shahouzehi, were attacked and injured by "terrorists" while on a patrol mission from the county of Khash to Zahedan on Friday. They succumbed to their wounds at the hospital on Saturday, the IRGC reported through its official news outlet Sepah News, without specifying the assailants' affiliation.

Bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, Sistan and Baluchestan province has witnessed several "terrorist" attacks on both civilians and security forces in recent years. 
Marking its 170th anniversary this year, Cork Opera House has launched a new exhibition of memorabilia, Send It Home, which is now open at Cork City Library for November.

Earlier this year, Cork Opera House launched a campaign inviting members of the public to share their artefacts, personal stories, and treasured memories of the theatre.

In response, more than 1,300 individual pieces were contributed and form the foundation of the new Cork Opera House archive.

Among the many items featured are programmes dating as far back as 1909, a plaque pulled from the rubble after the Cork Opera House fire of 1955, and pantomime scripts and photos from various eras of the theatres dynamic history.

The Lord Mayor of Cork Fergal Dennehy said it was an honour for the Cork City Council library service to host Cork Opera Houses Send It Home exhibition.

The entire Send It Home campaign and the exhibition it has created is a testament to the power of storytelling and community, said Mr Dennehy.

It beautifully captures this spirit, reminding us that the Opera House is not just a building, it is a shared experience, a cherished tradition, and a symbol of Corks artistic soul.

I would encourage everyone to visit, reflect, and celebrate the remarkable journey of one of Corks most iconic institutions.

We have had a wonderful year hearing stories and gathering memorabilia, and being in a position to display the memorabilia to the public at Cork City Library is a huge privilege.

We hope everyone will come and experience it.

Cork City Librarian David OBrien added: It is exciting and gratifying to be involved in this project with Cork Opera House.
Explorer and motivational speaker Pat Falvey will be joined by ice swimmer Nuala Moore at an event in West Cork next weekend, when a local community comes together in support of a young man who is preparing an Arctic expedition for charity.

Ivan Bagnall is aiming to support Sightsavers Ireland with his Arctic Sunrise fundraiser.

Sightsavers is a global charity working to prevent avoidable blindness and promote disability inclusion. Ivans plan is to hike across Finland to see the first sunrise of 2026 in the Arctic and to host a series of events in advance of the adventure, in aid of his chosen charity.

Next Saturday, Ivans aunt, Grainne Bagnall, is hosting a special day promoting wellness and inspiration at her home at Ballymoney House in Ballineen.

The event honours the memory of Ivans late mother and celebrates courage, connection, and giving back, Grainne told The Echo.

The day begins with a forest bathing session at Manch Private Estate and Woodlands at 10.30am with a guided, meditative walk through nature designed to calm the mind and awaken the senses.

Despite the name, forest bathing involves no water or swimwear  its about slowing down, tuning in to the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest, and reconnecting with the natural world in a peaceful, restorative way, said Grainne.

In the afternoon, Ballymoney House will host a motivational talk, from 3pm5pm, featuring two of Irelands most accomplished polar adventurers.

Pat Falvey is the first Irish person to complete the Seven Summits, and has led multiple expeditions across the Arctic and Antarctic, including journeys to the South Pole and Greenlands ice cap.

Hell be joined by Nuala Moore, a world-record-holding extreme swimmer who has conquered some of the most dangerous polar waters on Earth.

This expedition is about more than reaching the Arctic  its about honouring my mothers legacy and helping others see the world more clearly, said Ivan.

Advance registration is essential for both events. See Ivan's Forest Bathing Fundraiser on Eventbrite for more.
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...

The famous poem on the Statue of Liberty shone a beacon of light, luring millions of Irish across the sea for a new life.

But who cared for many of these often forlorn, desperate huddled masses in their last days on Irish soil? Step forward the remarkable Charlotte Grace OBrien.

Born partially Deaf, a result of a hereditary trait, in 1845, Charlottes father William was an aristocrat and nationalist whose family traced their roots to Brian Boru.

She grew up in splendour at Cahirmoyle House, Co Limerick, but when she was three, her father was sentenced to transportation, from Queenstown harbour to Australia, for a failed attempt to overthrow British rule.

He was eventually pardoned but told he could not return to Ireland, so the family lived in Brussels before finally being allowed to return to Ireland when Charlotte was seven. The young girl developed a keen interest in the world of literature but sadly both her parents died while she was in her teens.

After that, Charlotte developed a close bond with her Deaf-mute older brother Willy, and they communicated with each other using their fingers, hands and gestures. However, Willy, an outgoing daredevil compared to his studious sister, died in a horse riding accident in 1871.

After all this heartache, Charlotte must have been seeking a meaning in life, and she found it when she visited Queenstown (now Cobh)  scene of her fathers transportation years before. Here, she witnessed poverty and sickness on a grand scale and saw thousands of emigrants boarding ships to a new life.

Shocked, Charlotte acquired a house, 7, West Beach, registered it as a lodging house, and took in emigrant girls and women awaiting departure to America.

Called Emigrants Home, it held up to 105 beds, and its sole purpose was to provide clean, healthy conditions where people could stay in some degree of comfort. Charlotte cared for and nursed the sick, weary and poor.

In 1882, she told an American interviewer about 3,000 lodgers stayed with her each year. She also policed the ships in the harbour on which her lodgers were destined, and said: I realised I could do nothing unless I seized the ropes into my own hands I visited the ships along with a medical officer day after day, often beginning at 6am and going through three or four ships.

Keen to find out herself what emigration was like, she sailed to the U.S in non-steerage, and reported: It was all awfully dirty and disgusting and the food bad enough, but on the other hand, the people were so friendly, so good to one another, so cheery.

I should like to see the ships provide the bedding and utensils that constitute a steerage outfit. Nobody ever thought of such a thing being done or dreamed of the provision of towels and bowls, to enable steerage folks to wash.

Charlotte ended up living in the U.S for more than a year and oversaw the establishment of the Our Lady of the Rosary mission, dedicated to immigrant aid.

She returned to reopen her Emigrants Home in Queenstown, but her health was failing. In 1878, her residual hearing left her and she became totally Deaf. She took to writing. Among her books was a 1878 novel about Fenians, Light And Shade, and she also wrote poetry and children stories and contributed to periodicals like The Nation, United Ireland, and the Irish Monthly.

Following in her fathers footsteps, she was an ardent member of the Gaelic League, set up for the restoration of the Irish language, and a staunch supporter of Charles Parnell. She mainly lived alone, but always had her three dogs and was surrounded by flowers and plants. She also developed a love of botany.

Charlotte moved to Foynes, the place where she was born, as her health declined and died on June 3, 1909, aged 64.

We, the Deaf people of Ireland, will never forget about Charlotte Grace OBriens achievements in fighting for the protection of the Irish poor and emigrants, as well many disabled and Deaf people. She was a great Irish writer in spite of her disability.

The Emigrants' Home in Cobh later became a Soldiers Home, run by Elise Sandes, and that name remains on the building.
SpaceX will reportedly receive a $2 billion contract to develop satellites for the US government, according to the Wall Street Journal . The WSJ's report detailed that SpaceX will be tasked with developing up to 600 satellites that can track missiles and aircraft and will be used for President Trump's proposed "Golden Dome" project.

Announced back in May, the president introduced a project to build an anti-missile defense system that would intercept missile attacks before reaching their target. The Golden Dome is reminiscent of Israel's Iron Dome system, but the Pentagon has yet to reveal concrete details about the project. Considering the scale of the project, it's worth noting that SpaceX's reported $2 billion contract could be one of many associated with the Golden Dome. According to the report, companies like Anduril Industries and Palantir Technologies could also be involved with the development, which the Trump administration wants to complete before the end of his presidential term.

Beyond the Golden Dome, the WSJ reported that the Pentagon is planning to use SpaceX's extensive satellite network for other purposes, including military communications and vehicle tracking. While the numbers are constantly fluctuating, SpaceX currently has more than 8,000 satellites for its Starlink service.
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At least two people were killed and three wounded in a Russian drone attack in Ukraines Odesa region early Sunday. Russia continued targeting Ukraines energy infrastructure, leaving nearly 60,000 residents without power in the Zaporizhzhia region, where two people were wounded.
BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a congratulatory message to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

In the message, Xi extended his sincere congratulations to Sisi and the Egyptian people on the occasion of the opening of the museum.

Xi expressed his belief that the Grand Egyptian Museum will leave a profound mark on Egypt's cultural history and play an important role in preserving and passing on the ancient Egyptian civilization.

He noted that China and Egypt share a time-honored friendship, and their comprehensive strategic partnership has flourished in recent years.

The two countries have enjoyed vibrant and diverse people-to-people and cultural exchanges, said Xi, adding that a grand exhibition of ancient Egyptian artifacts was successfully held at the Shanghai Museum and that a joint China-Egypt archaeological team is now working together beneath the pyramids at Saqqara to explore the mysteries of ancient Egyptian civilization.

Xi said it is encouraging to see the two ancient civilizations reaching out to each other, with the two peoples growing ever closer through mutual understanding and affinity.

As the world today is undergoing accelerated transformation unseen in a century, China and Egypt, both ancient civilizations, should continue to deepen exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, inject fresh impetus into the development of their comprehensive strategic partnership, and contribute the strength of civilizations to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, he added. 
Britains farmers have won a crucial victory in their battle against crippling labour shortages, after the NFU secured confirmation of visa allocations for the 2026 Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS).

The announcement gives the horticulture and poultry sectors long-awaited certainty to plan for the year ahead  though industry leaders warn that falling numbers of seasonal workers continue to threaten food production and farm profitability.

The decision follows a Westminster meeting between NFU President Tom Bradshaw and Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle, where Defra confirmed allocations of 41,000 visas for horticulture and 1,900 for poultry workers.

The SWS remains a short-term visa route enabling overseas workers to fill temporary roles in horticulture and seasonal poultry, and is excluded from the governments net migration figures.

The confirmation comes after Dame Angela Eagle visited a Kent soft fruit farm with Tom Bradshaw and NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board Chair Martin Emmett, where she heard directly from members about the need for clarity on visa numbers for 2026.

In recent years, farmers have faced growing labour shortages as fewer seasonal workers travel to the UK  a trend driven by global competition for farm labour, higher travel costs, and post-Brexit visa changes.

Many growers report struggling to recruit enough staff to pick crops on time, forcing them to leave fruit unharvested or scale back planting plans.

Tom Bradshaw said the NFU was pleased the government had listened to concerns and provided a firm figure for the year ahead.

Were pleased that the Minister has listened and confirmed the SWS 2026 visa allocation. While there has been a small reduction in numbers, we are hopeful it will still be sufficient for the year ahead, he said. He emphasised the vital role of seasonal workers in the UKs food chain.

Seasonal workers play a vital role in ensuring the nations fresh fruit and vegetables reach supermarket shelves, that British plants and flowers feature in celebrations across the country, and that turkeys remain the centrepiece of the Christmas table. Without them, the horticulture and seasonal poultry sectors could not function.

Bradshaw added that while the 2026 allocation offers short-term reassurance, growers need longer-term certainty to plan effectively.

Certainty is critical for these sectors, which plan in years, not months. Looking ahead, its essential that we have clarity on visa allocations through to 2029, he said.

The number of SWS visas needs to remain sufficient to allow our members to continue producing food, plants and flowers for the nation.

The NFU also recently secured greater flexibility within the SWS, allowing returning workers to re-enter the UK sooner than previously permitted  a change designed to support continuity and skills retention across farm businesses.
Cairns, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 1, 2025) - NightCafe Studio, a leading AI image generator platform, announced it has successfully scaled to support a creative community of over 25 million users. This massive scale, managed by a core team of just four people, is the subject of a new case study published by Google Cloud.

The case study details how NightCafe utilizes a "lean stack" of fully managed Google Cloud services, including Firebase, Cloud Run, and Vertex AI, to handle exponential user growth. This infrastructure efficiently manages over 100 TB of user-generated images and processes more than 100 million cloud function invocations per day, all while maintaining low latency and high reliability.

In the rapidly expanding generative AI market, NightCafe has thrived as a bootstrapped startup against heavily funded competitors. The platform's success is built on its focus on community, gamification, and providing a diverse range of AI models. The Google Cloud infrastructure provides the technical foundation for this mission.

"We expected to need dedicated infrastructure or DevOps resources as we scaled, but the managed nature of services like Cloud Run functions and Firestore meant we could focus our engineering efforts on building AI features rather than managing infrastructure," said Angus Russell, Founder of NightCafe Studio, in the case study.

By automating infrastructure management, the NightCafe team dedicates its resources to innovating and improving the user experience. For its 25 million users, this means a stable, fast, and constantly evolving platform to explore their creativity.

The Google Cloud case study serves as a powerful validation of NightCafe's technical architecture and business model, demonstrating how a small, focused team can build and operate a world-class service at a massive scale.

To read the full Google Cloud case study, visit: https://cloud.google.com/customers/nightcafe?e=48754805

Start creating AI art today with NightCafe Studio at: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/

About NightCafe Studio

NightCafe Studio is a leading AI art generator platform that empowers millions of users to explore their creativity. As a bootstrapped company, they have successfully competed with heavily funded competitors by focusing on community, innovation, and a lean, scalable infrastructure powered by Google Cloud.

NightCafe Media Contact:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/272864

SOURCE: Search Jam
Creativity plays an important role in keeping the brain active. Now, a study shows that creative experience might even slow down brain ageing. Scientists found that creative activities, like dance classes, art classes or music lessons or a hobby like gaming, had a positive impact on an artificial intelligence (AI) brain clock

Brain ageing is the biological and functional changes that happen in the brain over time. Pixabay

Creative experience might enhance brain health, which could slow down the brains ageing.

Thats according to a study by a group of international scientists across 13 countries. They found that creative activities, like dance classes  the tango proved particularly effective  or art classes or music lessons or a hobby like gaming, had a positive impact on an artificial intelligence (AI) brain clock. And the more the participant practised their art form, the younger their brain clocks were.

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We asked the lead researchers, neuroscientists Carlos Coronel and Agustin Ibanez, to explain their study.

What is brain health?

Brain health is the state of cognitive, emotional and social functioning that allows people to realise their potential, maintain their wellbeing, and adapt to changes across the course of life. It is not defined by the absence of disease but by the brains ability to sustain efficient, resilient and integrated activity that supports everyday life.

Brain ageing is the biological and functional changes that happen in the brain over time. It includes changes in structure, connectivity and metabolism that may or may not impair performance. While some decline is natural, the rate and pattern of these changes vary greatly between individuals, reflecting both vulnerability and resilience.

Many believe that art is too mysterious and intangible to study scientifically or to make a biological difference. Pixabay

Brain clocks are machine learning (AI) models designed to estimate how old a brain looks, based on brain scans or neural activity patterns. They compare neuroimaging, electrophysiological, or neuromolecular data to normal brain patterns across the lifespan.

So, by using a brain clock we can try to understand what makes a brain more resilient and what ages it faster.

What did you want to find out?

We wanted to know whether being creative isnt just fun or emotionally rewarding, but actually biologically good for the brain. Theres growing evidence that arts engagement supports wellbeing, but we still lack a solid understanding of how creativity might shape brain health.

Many believe that art is too mysterious and intangible to study scientifically or to make a biological difference. We wanted to challenge both ideas.

Could creative experiences, something that feels joyful and deeply human, also be measured in the brain? Could they help delay brain ageing in the same way that physical exercise helps the body?

Our study tested whether creativity might influence the brain clock. If your brain clock says youre younger than your real age, it means your brain is functioning more efficiently than expected.

How did you go about it?

We collected data from almost 1,400 people across different countries. Some were expert tango dancers, musicians, visual artists or gamers. Others were non-experts matched for age, education and gender from the same countries. Non-experts had no previous experience in the different disciplines.

We recorded their brain activity using techniques called magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography. They can be used to measure brain activity in real time. Then we trained computer models (machine learning models) to create a brain clock for each participant.

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The models can be trained in less than an hour. The challenge was to collect the data  from Argentina to Poland  of hundreds of participants. That would be impossible without the collaboration of many researchers and institutes worldwide.

So we used the brain clocks to predict each persons age from their data. If someones predicted brain age was lower than their real age, it meant their brain was ageing more slowly.

Finally, we used something called biophysical modelling. These models are digital brains, and we used these virtual brains to understand the biology behind creativity.

The problem with the machine learning models (the brain clocks) is, although they can learn patterns in the data to make predictions, they cant reproduce real brain activity. The biophysical models, on the other hand, are real brains in a digital world, that is, they are a mirrored copy of the brain inside a computer. These models use detailed biological and physical rules to simulate how a brain works. So, they arent AI models. Theyre generative models that can, in fact, generate brain activity from mathematical equations.

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While brain clocks can be used to measure brain health (accelerated or delayed brain ageing), the biophysical models can explain why creativity is associated with better brain health.

What did you find out?

Across every creative field, the pattern was strikingly consistent: creativity was linked to a younger-looking brain.

Tango dancers showed brains that appeared more than seven years younger than their chronological age. Musicians and visual artists had brains about five to six years younger. Gamers, about four years younger.

If someones predicted brain age was lower than their real age, it meant their brain was ageing more slowly. Pixabay

We also ran a smaller experiment where non-experts trained for just 30 hours in the strategy video game StarCraft II to see whether short-term creative learning could have similar effects.

Even in the short-term experiment, after only 30 hours of creative training, participants brain clocks ticked backward, showing a reduction of brain age between two and three years.

The more people practised their art, the stronger the effect. And it didnt matter what kind of art it was. It could be dancing, painting, music, or gaming. All helped key brain areas work better together.

These areas, important for focus and learning, usually age first, but creativity seems to keep their connections stronger and more flexible.

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Creativity, we found, protects brain areas that are vulnerable to ageing and makes brain communication more efficient (similar to building more, larger, and higher-quality roads to communicate between cities within a country).

Why is this important?

The arts and sciences, often seen as opposites, are in fact allies. Creativity shapes not only culture but biology. Our study reframes creativity as a biological pathway to brain health and resilience, not only a cultural or psychological phenomenon.

By showing that artistic engagement can delay brain ageing, this research helps us reimagine the role of creativity in education, public health, and ageing societies.

In the big picture, it expands our understanding of healthy ageing beyond disease prevention. It highlights creativity as a scalable, accessible and deeply human mechanism to sustain cognitive and emotional wellbeing across diverse populations and lifespans.

So if youre wondering whether being creative is good for you, the answer seems to be yes. Scientifically, measurably, and beautifully so. Your next dance step, brush stroke, or musical note might just help your brain stay a little younger.

Carlos Coronel, Postdoctoral researcher, Latin American Brain Health Institute, Universidad Adolfo Ibanez and Agustin Ibanez, Professor in Global Brain Health at GBHI, Trinity College

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This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The US is restarting nuclear testing after more than 30 years. Donald Trumps decision comes days after Russia tested the Burevestnik missile that no other country possesses. We talk about a possible new arms race and more in our weekly roundup

The Burevestnik cruise missile is being prepared for testing. After carrying out the final test last Sunday, Vladimir Putin claimed that the weapon had 'unlimited range'. Image courtesy: Russian defence ministry

All eyes were on Asia this week. Donald Trump was on a high-stakes tour, visiting Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. The last leg was the most crucial as Trump held talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in a first meeting in six years, in Busan amid an ongoing trade war. 12 out of 10 is how the American leader rated the meeting where they came to an agreement on almost everything.

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Just before meeting Xi, Trump made a big announcement  the US would resume nuclear testing after 33 years. Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis, he wrote on social media. The decision comes in the backdrop of Russia testing two nuclear-powered weapons.

Trump, indeed, had a busy week, even as the US government shutdown has entered its second month. Americans are feeling the heat, as hundreds and thousands of federal employees have not received their salaries. From healthcare to air travel, the impact is massive.

In the UK, Prince Andrew has continued to grab headlines over his connection to disgraced financer Jeffery Epstein. Amid growing pressure, King Charles has stripped his younger brother of his prince title; Andrew will also leave his Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge. Its the biggest consequence the royal has faced for his alleged crime and controversies.

In news from Africa, the Sudan civil war has taken a bloody turn. Thousands of civilians have reportedly been massacred by the RSF militia.

We take a look at the week that was in our weekly wrap.

1. It was a big week for Asia. Donald Trump visited three countries over five days  Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea. He met with leaders, including Japans new PM Sanae Taikaichi and Chinas Xi Jinping and some signed deals. The countries went all out to please the sometimes temperamental leader.

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MUST WATCH: President Trump has ARRIVED in Malaysia!  pic.twitter.com/GIRi1KRmLs  Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) October 26, 2025

In Malaysia, Trump secured access to critical minerals and presided over a peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia. There was also some progress on trade arrangements with the Southeast Asian countries. In Japan, Takaichi promised $550 billion in Japanese investment in America and nominated Trump for the covered Peace Nobel. South Korea, too, rolled out the red carpet, gifting the US president a replica of an ancient gold crown and the countrys highest honour.

The biggest talking point was the Trump-Xi meeting, which led to an easing of tensions. According to Potus, overall tariffs on Chinese goods would drop by 10 per cent due to progress on soybean imports, rare earths and fentanyl issues. We look back at the visit.

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A large screen shows news footage of the bilateral meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in South Koreas Busan, outside a shopping mall in Beijing, on October 30. The two leaders met face to face for the first time in six years amid growing tensions of Trumps tariff war. Reuters

2. Just before he met with Xi, Trump called on US military leaders to resume nuclear testing to keep pace with China and Russia. The announcement came just days after Russia tested a nuclear-powered missile. What is the Burevestnik cruise missile that Vladimir Putin claims no one has?

3. The US government shutdown has entered its second month. And it is about to get worse. More than a million federal employees are working without pay, and some of the countrys vital programmes are shutting down. From food aid to security, we explain how the shutdown has hit public services in America.

A sign announces the closure of the Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture, which closed after prior years funding it was using to remain open temporarily, ran out during the continuing US government shutdown in Washington, DC. Reuters

4. Britains infamous Prince Andrew is now Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. King Charles has started the process to strip the younger brother of his royal title. Thats not all. Andrew will also be evicted from Royal Lodge, the mansion in Windsor. This comes amid growing anger over the controversial royals links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. So where does Andrew go from here?

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A member of the media shows the front page of a newspaper outside the entrance to the Royal Lodge, a large property on the estate surrounding Windsor Castle, where Andrew, the younger brother of Britains King Charles, lives, in Windsor, Britain. King Charles has stripped his younger brother Andrew of his title of prince and forced him out of his Windsor home, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday, seeking to distance the royals from him over his links to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Reuters

5. Brazil saw its deadliest raid of all time. In Rio, a police raid on a drug gang turned violent, leaving more than 100 people dead. The target was the Red Gang, the countrys oldest criminal group. While police claim that all the casualties were alleged gangsters, locals are outraged. The carnage, days before Brazil hosts the COP30 climate talks, has left President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva horrified. Here is what happened.

A woman draped in a Brazilian flag marked with fake blood stains protests, the day after a deadly police operation against drug trafficking at the favela do Penha, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 29. Reuters

6. Is a genocide unfolding in Sudan? The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have taken control of El Fasher in the countrys western Darfur region. The fall of the city has resulted in mass killings of civilians, including women and children, by the militia. At least 1,500 people who tried to flee the city have been killed. This story gives you the complete picture.

7. Our last story is about a mid-air stabbing. A 28-year-old Indian, identified as Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, reportedly attacked two teenagers with a metal fork, one in the shoulder and the other in the head. When flight crew members attempted to subdue Usiripalli, he allegedly raised his hand, formed a gun with his fingers, put it in his mouth and pulled an imaginary trigger. Heres how it all unfolded.

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Thats all from us this week. If you were too busy to keep up with the news, we have you covered. You can follow more such explainers here.
HANOI, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in Vietnam's central region has risen to 35, with 5 people missing and 60 others injured, the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority said on Sunday.

More than 16,500 houses remain inundated, while 361 others were damaged.

The floods also submerged over 5,300 hectares of rice and other crops, damaged nearly 800 hectares of fruit trees, and killed or swept away more than 42,000 livestock and poultry, according to the report.

Power has been restored for most affected areas, with around 75,000 households still without electricity.

Vietnam's government has approved an emergency relief fund of 450 billion Vietnamese dong (about 17.93 million U.S. dollars) to support four cities and provinces in central Vietnam in their recovery efforts, including Hue, Da Nang, Quang Tri, and Quang Ngai. 
Janata Dal (United) candidate and the former MLA of Mokama, Anant Singh, was arrested by the Patna Police on Saturday in connection with the murder case of Jan Suraaj Party worker Dularchand Yadav

Janata Dal (United) candidate Anant Singh was arrested by Patna Police in connection with the murder of Jan Suraaj Party worker Dularchand Yadav. ANI

Janata Dal (United) candidate and the former MLA of Mokama, Anant Singh, was arrested by the Patna Police on Saturday in connection with the murder case of Jan Suraaj Party worker Dularchand Yadav. The news was confirmed by Patna senior superintendent of Police Kartikeya Sharma on Saturday night.

According to the superintendent, Singh was arrested along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjit Ram, from Bedna village. The officials mentioned that a massive police operation involving around 150 personnel was carried out at Singhs residence in Barh, near Patna, late Saturday night.

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Singh was famously known as a strongman in Bihar Politics. The former MLA was taken into custody and brought to Patna for interrogation, The Times of India reported. Further details will be shared during a scheduled press conference at 1:30 am on Sunday, the SSP said.

On 30 October, there was a clash between two groups of competing candidates. Stones were pelted, resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident. The deceased, Dularchand Yadav, aged 75 years, was a resident of the village where this clash occurred Both sides registered cases, and police started investigating the case. Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the postmortem report of the deceased, it appears that the Model Code of Conduct was violated, and it is a serious issue, SSP Patna, Kartikeya K Sharma, told local reporters.

It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested. His accomplices, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have also been arrested with him. All three will be presented before the magistrate, and due investigation will follow, he added.

What the case is about

The case pertains to the killing of former RJD leader Dularchand Yadav, who was attacked in the Mokama Tal area on Thursday afternoon while campaigning for Jan Suraajs candidate Piyush Priyadarshi. Patna DM Thiyagarajan SM said the incident was taken very seriously.

He maintained that the Model Code of Conduct will be enforced strictly, adding that all licensed arms must be deposited during polls to ensure peaceful elections. During the Mokama Tal campaign event, a violent clash erupted between rival groups, during which Yadav was shot by an unidentified assailant and later run over by a vehicle.

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The postmortem report released on Friday suggested that Yadavs ribcage was crushed, suggesting he was run over after being shot. An FIR was eventually filed by Yadavs grandson Neeraj Kumar, named Anant Singh, his nephews Karamveer and Ranveer, and two others as accused.

Police sources told TOI that further arrests may follow as the investigation is still ongoing. Reacting to the arrest, Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi told ANI, This is a good gesture, but it would have been good had they taken action sooner. Today, he was moving around in a convoy of 50 vehicles and even participated in election campaigning. When an FIR was registered against him, he should have been arrested sooner But better late than never. What is important now is how the police investigate the whole case It is a relief for his family.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India undertook strong action after Yadavs killing. It ordered the replacement of the Patna Rural SP and Mokama returning officer, and initiated disciplinary proceedings against three officials for lapses. The poll body also directed the immediate suspension of SDPO Abhishek Singh and sought a compliance report by 12 noon on November 2, 2025.

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It is pertinent to note that the Mokama Assembly seat will be voting on November 6. It is notoriously known as a stronghold of powerful bahubalis who wield influence during elections. Yadavs killing has intensified the political battle in Bihar, with opposition leaders, including RJDs Tejashwi Yadav, accusing the administration of failing to maintain law and order.
The GSAT 7R weighs a massive 4,400 kilogrammes, making it the heaviest communication satellite the nation has developed so far

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is making space history with the planned launch of the countrys heaviest-ever communication satellite on Sunday. The powerful spacecraft, officially named GSAT 7R (or CMS-03), is scheduled to lift off at 5:26 PM IST from the space centre in Sriharikota.

This new satellite is a major achievement for India.

It weighs an immense 4,400 kilogrammes, making it the heaviest communication satellite the nation has developed so far.

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To carry this massive payload, ISRO is relying on its trusted LVM3-M5 rocket. This is the same powerful launch vehicle that successfully carried Indias historic Chandrayaan-3 mission, which landed near the Moons South Pole.

Launch Day for #LVM3M5. Indias heavy-lift rocket launches #CMS03 today at 17:26 IST.



Youtube URL: https://t.co/gFKB0A1GJE

 2 Nov 2025 (Sunday)

 4:56 PM IST onwards



For more Information Visithttps://t.co/yfpU5OTEc5 pic.twitter.com/NB46ZT1Pwb  ISRO (@isro) November 2, 2025

The GSAT 7R is crucial for the Indian Navy.

It is a multi-band communication satellite, specially designed to boost the Navys communication and monitoring capabilities. Its main purpose is to strengthen the defence forces ability to communicate reliably and track activities across the wide oceanic region surrounding the Indian landmass.

Navy officials confirmed that the satellite uses advanced, India-made technology and components that were created specifically to meet their operational needs.

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The launch sequence is carefully planned. The LVM3-M5 rocket will first place the CMS-03 into a high path called the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Following the separation from the vehicle, the satellite will begin its mission in space.

This launch will be a big step for Indias defence technology and help strengthen our maritime security. ISRO will provide a live stream of the launch on its official YouTube channel for everyone to watch this important event.
Nita Ambani, chairperson of Reliance Foundation and wife of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, celebrated her 61st birthday on Saturday with a surprise celebration organised by her staff at the Ambani familys Jamnagar residence.

Businesswoman and philanthropist Nita Ambani, chairperson of Reliance Foundation and wife of industrialist Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani, celebrated her 61st birthday on Saturday (November 1, 2025) with a heartwarming surprise arranged by her staff at the Ambani familys Jamnagar residence.

A video shared by an Ambani family fan page on Instagram captured the special moments as Nita Ambani entered a room beautifully decorated with rose petals and birthday decor. Her team greeted her with a cheerful rendition of Happy Birthday as she followed a path of roses leading to a chocolate cake.

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Taking off her footwear before walking in, Nita Ambani smiled warmly as she cut the cake and shared it with her staff, spreading laughter and joy. In a playful moment, a team member dabbed frosting on her nose, prompting laughter all around. The video ended with Nita Ambani dancing happily with her team, her delight mirrored by those around her.

Dressed in a rani pink angrakha kurta embellished with golden embroidery, Nita Ambani looked radiant as she celebrated the occasion. Fans on social media praised both her elegance and her humility during the intimate celebration.

Beyond her role in the Ambani family, Nita Ambani is known for her extensive philanthropic work in education, healthcare, and rural empowerment through the Reliance Foundation. She is the founder of the Dhirubhai Ambani International School and serves as a director on the board of Reliance Industries. Her initiatives  including womens livelihood programmes, disaster relief efforts, and healthcare outreach  have made a lasting impact across communities in India.

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Disclaimer: Firstpost is a part of the Network18 group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.
India must position itself more carefully and strategically in a neighbourhood that is becoming increasingly volatile with political shiftssomething the Chinese are adept at exploiting

Indias ability to anticipate and respond to these diplomatic manoeuvres will determine whether this is a beginning of a phase of normalisation or a temporary pause to a strategic rivalry. Representational image: AFP

Things are seen to be normalising between the two Asian giants, marked by the resumption of direct flights between India and China as well as diplomatic exchanges getting more friendly than usual. In August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time after seven years for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, where he met President Xi Jinping on the sidelines.

This Tianjin moment has been talked about globally, as India, China and Russia shared a unique diplomatic moment in the backdrop of a period of turbulence in the India-US relations under the Trump administration, where India-US seems to have been having a difficult time considering Trumps erratic overtures.

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Earlier that month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had visited India and discussed the question of de-escalation and boundary delimitation between the two countries, signalling both sides larger intent to stabilise one of Asias most strained bilateral relationships in recent years. These developments are positive in nature; however, the underlying mistrust and complexity in the border situation raise a fundamental questionis it enough? Are these gestures substantial enough to truly reset the ties between India and China?

Structural Issues

Given the apparent positive trajectory in the high-level bilateral exchanges between the two countries in the past couple of months, the larger strategic community in New Delhi seems to have an opinion that China-India relations are heading towards rapprochement. This is consistent with PM Modis remark that differences with China are as natural as in a family.

However, there are some structural inconsistencies between the two countries, which are not merely superficial and require re-examination of mutual expectations.

The primary concern between the two countries, quite inevitably, is the boundary question. While the phase of de-escalation of the armed forces can be done, the next step of delimitation is highly complex. The persistent Chinese claims on northeast Indian territories like Arunachal Pradesh serve as a definite challenge.

Earlier this year, Chinas Ministry of Civil Affairs had released multiple lists of new names for locations within Arunachal Pradesh, asserting its territorial claims over the state.

For India, such provocations remain highly unacceptable and non-negotiable. The Indian response to these changes was simply that renaming of places will not change the reality. But it shows the underlying Chinese trend of trying to redefine borders through cartographic warfare and narrative building.

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Quite interestingly, this narrative construction could also be noted through Chinese state media covering the 23rd border representatives meeting details, in a somewhat different manner from what was presented on the Indian Ministry of External Affairs website.

Claims like mutual agreement of the return of the 1988-era dynamics and consensus on a mutually acceptable package solution to the border issue under the 2005 Agreement were not present in the MEA statements. But these assertions published by the Chinese media reveal Beijings larger tendency to shape perception with its own strategic narrative.

In August 2025, India hosted the 24th round of Special Representative talks with China. The talks were chaired by Special Representative of China Wang Yi and Special Representative of India Ajit Doval.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China reported that ten points of consensus were reached by both parties, including setting up an expert group under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) framework to explore early harvest of boundary delimitation on the appropriate sectors. And the creation of general-level mechanisms in the eastern and middle sectors in addition to the existing western sectors.

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Plans were also announced for the 26th round of SR talks to happen in China in 2026. However, both sides continue to maintain more than 50,000 troops on each side, making it a highly militarised frontier.

In addition to this, Chinas regional behaviour remains the continuous source of mistrust. While the perception of China in larger Asia is to detest any form of multipolarity, it champions multipolarity at the global level.

The news of China expanding its airbase close to Tawang in Arunachal highlights a pattern of behaviour which remains problematic and will necessarily create situations of further distrust between the two countries. Thus, the question of rapprochement has nothing to do with friendship but strategic convergence amidst persistent mutual distrust.

China-Pakistan Axis

While high-level diplomatic exchanges suggest normalisation, in the strategic community in China, India is still looked at with suspicion and vice versa. Chinese analysts, for instance, have recently framed Pakistans ongoing confrontation with Afghanistan as an outcome of an Indian conspiracy.

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This was simply to equate Indias Taliban outreach as directly linked to the Talibans growing discontent with Pakistan. This analysis, while being premature, showcases the strategic attitude towards India in the Chinese scholarship.

As India grows, China will be watchful of its relationship with its neighbours as well as global players like the United States, Russia, the UK and even the European Union.

From this lens of competition and containment, China, in order to deter the idea of a multipolar Asia, leverages its partnerships with politically fragile states like Pakistan to extend its diplomatic outreach either militarily or through investments.

With Pakistan, the viability of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) remains the determining concern for China to keep negotiating peace between Afghanistan and Pakistan and also find a common point in addressing the question of insurgent groups who are attacking CPEC facilities.

For India, CPEC is problematic for a lot of reasons. The most important one being its passage through disputed territories like Gilgit Baltistan, which directly infringes on Indias territorial integrity. New Delhis opposition to both CPEC and the larger Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) remains steadfast, viewing them as tools of Chinese expansionism.

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And the way Chinese analysts have consistently pushed the blame towards India for any deterrence and obstacles faced in this project shows the growing discontent regarding Indias diplomatic presence as well.

Conclusion

While efforts to normalise the relationship between two Asian powers are positive news, the way the two countries look at normalcy is different. Beijing wants India to not react to border friction and make it the centre of the relationship. India deems the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas as critical grounds for respecting each others territorial integrity and peaceful coexistence.

As neither power can ignore the other, the rapprochement is natural. Many strategic analysts attribute this thaw to the Trump Effect; however, the talks of normalisation predate Donald Trumps presidency and hence are premature in their merit.

While India remains cautious with respect to its engagement with Beijing as a partner, it needs to acknowledge that China is addressing a geopolitical gap left by the Wests absenteeism, be it in South Asia, Africa or the larger Asia Pacific.

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Hence, it is important for India to diplomatically place itself more carefully and strategically in a neighbourhood which is getting intensely volatile with more political shifts, which the Chinese are notorious for taking advantage of.

Indias ability to anticipate and respond to these diplomatic manoeuvres will determine whether this is a beginning of a phase of normalisation or a temporary pause to a strategic rivalry.

(Upamanyu Basu is an Assistant Professor of Political Science in Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
History offers abundant warnings about leaders who claim revolutionary legitimacy as justification for extra-constitutional authority, but what followed was not democracy but theocratic authoritarianism

A silent coup is unfolding in Bangladesh. Behind the facade of governance, an alliance of Islamist networks, foreign intelligence agencies, and radical ideologues is methodically dismantling the countrys most secular and stabilising institutionthe Armed Forces.

The of this quiet purge is Muhammad Yunus, once celebrated as a Nobel laureate, now at the helm of an increasingly fundamentalist-leaning regime that threatens to upend decades of democratic progress. At stake is not merely Bangladeshs political future but the security architecture of South and Southeast Asia.

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Bangladeshs International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), a domestic tribunal, issued arrest warrants for a total of 32 individuals, including 25 current and former military officers, in connection with charges of crimes against humanity and enforced disappearances during the previous Sheikh Hasina regime. The accused were ordered to be produced before the tribunal on October 22, 2025, and 15 serving officers were taken into military custody following the order.

This tribunal, which bears no relation to the International Criminal Court (ICC), has become a political instrument designed to intimidate, discredit, and ultimately dismantle Bangladeshs military establishment. Intelligence insiders warn that the list could soon expand to over 150 officers, possibly including the current chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Amid these extremely disturbing developments, on October 20, 2025, a stunning revelation on social media. Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyainan influential as well as controversial adviser to the Yunus regimepublicly announced the recruitment and training of 8,850 individuals across seven training centres. He detailed the programme: trainees would undergo martial arts, judo, taekwondo, and firearms instruction.

Sources within Dhaka confirm that this is only the first phase of a larger plan. At least five successive batches of 8,850 recruits each are scheduled to complete training by January 2026. The recruitment process reportedly includes written, viva, and physical testsall overseen by retired Bangladeshi officers with strong pro-Pakistan leanings, alongside covert representatives of Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Turkeys Milli Istihbarat Teskilat (MIT).

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These are not ordinary security exercises. Selected recruits, both male and female, are reportedly being prepared for advanced commando and espionage training in Pakistan and Turkey. Intelligence assessments suggest that a portion of these operatives will later be deployed abroadparticularly in India, Nepal, and Myanmar, as well as Western nationsto conduct subversive or intelligence-gathering missions.

The ideological justification for this armed formation is rooted in a narrative propagated by Islamist organisations aligned with the Yunus regime, especially Jamaat-e-Islami. On September 27, 2025, Jamaats Nayeb-e-Ameer, Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, declared in a New York gathering that five million Jamaat youth were ready to fight for independence against India.

He went further: If India enters Bangladesh, the bad name that was imposed on us in 1971 will be wiped off. We shall prove ourselves as true freedom fighters. One part of five million Jamaat youth will engage in guerrilla warfare, while the rest will spread inside India to implement Ghazwa-e-Hind.

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This rhetoric is not symbolic. It echoes jihadist war doctrine, portraying India as the enemy and glorifying a holy war to redeem perceived historical humiliation. For Bangladeshs security establishment, this marks a dangerous revival of 1971 revisionisman attempt to recast pro-Pakistan collaborators as freedom fighters in a new Islamist narrative.

Meanwhile, what began as street protests during July-August last year has metastasised into something far more ominous for Bangladeshs democratic future. Behind closed doors, political circles are reportedly shaping a framework that could position Muhammad Yunus in a role of exceptional influence. The parallels to Irans post-revolutionary consolidation of power are not coincidentalthey are instructive.

The proposal emerging from the October 22, 2025, political meetings represents constitutional vandalism dressed up as revolutionary necessity. According to statements from leaders of the National Citizens Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, Muhammad Yunus would issue what they euphemistically call a constitutional ordera document that exists entirely outside Bangladeshs constitution while simultaneously claiming constitutional authority.

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Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and a key architect of this scheme, has articulated the logic with remarkable candour. He declares that Yunus alone possesses legitimate authority derived from the peoples sovereign power manifested during Julys unrest. President Muhammad Shahabuddin Chuppu, according to this reasoning, has no such legitimacy and therefore cannot issue the required orders. Only Yunus can.

This is not democratic reform. This is the blueprint for Islamist theocracy or Iranian-styled autocracy, where a single individual claims to embody the popular will while operating beyond legal accountability. The fact that Jamaat-e-Islamia party with its own authoritarian tendenciesenthusiastically supports this arrangement should alarm anyone concerned about Bangladeshs democratic trajectory.

Revolutionary Legitimacy: The Oldest Trick

History offers abundant warnings about leaders who claim revolutionary legitimacy as justification for extra-constitutional authority. Irans Supreme Leader position, established after the 1979 Islamist revolution, began with similar rhetoric about revolutionary necessity and popular sovereignty. What followed was not democracy but theocratic authoritarianism.

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Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Abdullah Muhammad Tahers confirmation to local media that Yunus has agreed to implement the July Charter through such an order reveals the mechanism of this power grab. By declaring the arrangement extra-constitutional while simultaneously granting it constitutional status, they create a paradox that places Yunus above the law. He becomes both the source and the interpreter of constitutional authoritythe very definition of absolute power.

The July uprising of 2024, whatever its initial character, is being weaponised to justify this concentration of authority. Every revolution produces those who claim to speak for the people while systematically dismantling the institutions that might constrain their power. Bangladesh is witnessing this dynamic in real time.

The Purge Begins

While constitutional frameworks are being manipulated, a parallel campaign is gutting Bangladeshs military establishment. Currently 25 military officers face prosecution through the International Crimes Tribunal in what increasingly resembles a political purge rather than accountability. It is also rumoured similar cases are under processwhich will implicate at least 150 additional officers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces.

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The pattern is unmistakable and deeply cynical. Officers who followed lawful orders during the previous government now face prosecution, while those who committed far worse crimes under earlier regimes enjoy protection or even elevation. Lt Col Hasinur Rahman, one of the key plaintiffs of the ICT case, allegedly took part in extrajudicial killings during the BNP regime when he was on deputation with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)many of them Awami League supportersand now presents himself as a victim. Lt Col Tauhidul Islam Chowdhury, responsible for similar cruelties, now heads BNP chief Khaleda Zias security detail. Their crimes are forgotten because they serve the current political agenda.

Meanwhile, competent officers face prosecution for the crime of serving in RAB or the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI)positions they were assigned through standard military procedures approved by the very generals who now escape scrutiny. One officers sole transgression was seeking a Dhaka posting to access specialised education for his autistic child. Another, Lt Col Redwan, is being tried for operations against Hizb-Ut-Tahrir cells that threatened critical infrastructure in Rampura, while his commanding officer who issued the orders has been rebranded as a July Revolutionary.

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This selective justice serves an obvious purpose: destroying institutional resistance to the new order while intimidating anyone who might question it. When Army Chief General Waker Uz Zaman, who approved many of these officers postings during his tenure from 2013 to 2024, faces no consequences while subordinates go to trial, the message is clearloyalty to the new regime, not justice, determines ones fate.

Institutions Under Siege

The demoralisation of Bangladeshs military cannot be overstated. Soldiers who defended national security now watch their colleagues in handcuffs for following orders that anyone in their position would have executed. The replacement of competent generals like Lt Gen Akbar Hossain and Maj Gen Saiful Abedin with politically compliant mediocrities like Shafiuddin Ahmed and Waker Uz Zaman signals that professional merit no longer mattersonly political alignment.

When promotion depends on personal favours rather than capability, when officers advance by allowing superiors to exploit their families, the institution itself becomes corrupted beyond recognition. This is not reform; it is the deliberate degradation of Bangladeshs professional military to ensure it cannot resist political dominance.

The July Myth

The romanticisation of the July events as a peoples uprising or revolution obscures what is actually happening. Street mobilisation, regardless of its initial grievances, does not confer unlimited authority on those who claim to represent it. The same crowds that toppled one government can be manipulated to install something worse.

Bangladesh has seen this before. Popular movements against military rule gave way to increasingly authoritarian civilian governments. Each transition promised democracy; each delivered new forms of control. What makes the current moment more dangerous is the explicit rejection of constitutional governance in favour of revolutionary legitimacya framework that historically leads not to freedom but to new tyrannies.

The Road Ahead

Bangladesh faces a choice, though the window for exercising it may be closing rapidly. The infrastructure being builtextra-constitutional orders, a Supreme Leader claiming revolutionary authority, selective purges of institutional resistancefollows the Iranian model with disturbing precision.

Those constructing this system understand that revolutions create opportunities to concentrate power that normal politics cannot. By claiming to embody the July uprisings legitimacy, Yunus and his enablers seek to place themselves beyond democratic accountability while maintaining a veneer of popular mandate.

The question is not whether the previous government had flawsit clearly did. The question is whether replacing one form of authoritarianism with another, more absolute form represents progress or catastrophe. The answer should be obvious to anyone not blinded by revolutionary rhetoric.

What is being built in Bangladesh is not democracy emerging from dictatorship. It is the making of a Supreme Leader, operating beyond constitutional constraints, backed by a purged military establishment, and justified by the myth of revolutionary necessity. Iran travelled this path 46 years ago. Bangladesh appears determined to follow, with predictable results for its citizens freedoms and futures.

(Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is a journalist, writer, and editor of the newspaper Blitz. He specialises in counterterrorism and regional geopolitics. Follow him on X: @Salah_Shoaib. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
May America realise the favourable outcomes of Indias strategic autonomy and want to ensure it stays in Indias procurement and technology demand game

In the overall scheme of things and on the face of it, the 10-year defence framework agreement is most welcome. Image: X/ @SecWar

Is the tide turning with the Grand Old Party itself voting against President Donald Trumps tariff policy? Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and US President Trump himself are both suggesting that a framework trade agreement may be agreed upon between India and the US very soon. It would also probably reduce the punitive tariffs to no more than 15 per cent overall. But, with the mercurial Trump administration, one never knows till the signing and the drying of the ink.

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While the 50 per cent trade tariffs on India persist in the meantime, one of the highest in the world, peppered with constant and diplomatically offensive pressure, a freshly minted agreement on defence cooperation offers unexpected hope. Is this a first step to the classic Trump rollback or just the sniff of a parcel of deals?

The framework agreement signed at the Defence Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary for War Pete Hegseth was accompanied by many feel-good statements on the importance of the US-India defence relationship, the rule-based order, international maritime security, the Asia-Pacific and so on. But this was at the level of the defence ministers and offers a platform for a U-turn. Because the Indo-Pacific strategy to contain China is no longer a Trump administration priority. Neither is Quad, from all indications.

It does cover real-time intelligence sharing, but let us remember America refused GPS coordinates during the Kargil War. The formation of a joint task force for the Indo-Pacific, joint naval patrolling, technology transfer, and joint manufacturing of advanced military systems in India are all in the document.

It says America will manufacture drones and the F414 fighter engines in India with partial, if not full, technology transfer. Stryker armoured vehicles will begin to be produced in India in 2026. This one has been in the air for years, and meanwhile India has made a number of good armoured vehicles of its own.

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The plan is to manufacture the 31 Predator drones on order in India by 2027. America will work with India on hypersonic missile technology by 2027. It will start developing KN engines in India, and by 2035 America will transfer complete 5th-generation fighter technology. Can all this be believed? Why did America decide to draw up such an agreement for the first time ever? Is India meant to cross over into the US camp in delight?

As far as Indias defence cooperation with the US towards its Aatmanirbhar programme and technology transfer needs goes, the possibilities have always been vague. This is particularly in contrast with its progress made with France, Israel, and Russia.

However, America is not enamoured with Indias policies of strategic autonomy in order to suit its own national needs. It prefers docile allies who do as they are told. So this is a persistent hindrance to the Indo-American relationship, unlike its progress with an apparently compliant Pakistan. Now the Americans are saying Pakistan is only useful for short-term goals. But how can one defence agreement turn a persistent, more or less anti-India policy on its ear? Americans have been good at saying one thing and doing another, rather like the Chinese. Written agreements mean little to both.

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America is also busy finding ways to cooperate with China, as the Trump-Xi meeting in South Korea demonstrates, after its attempts to bully it into submission failed.

With India, the same thing applies in the minor register; we too wont be bullied, but India does not enjoy the points of leverage that China does. So America tends to renege on commitments with impunity and drag its feet generally. It does not want to lose India altogether from its sphere of influence and so keeps agreements like this one going. If it means business, it could start with delivering the F404 engines quickly for a start.

Purchases of American defence equipment by India, often necessary for their technology and quality, have to bear with interminable delays and sometimes renegotiations of cost. The American system has many barriers and checks that take time for high-technology equipment, not helped by America not being in a hurry to execute them on agreed timelines. America does not part with its codes for defence equipment and has been known to use them to cripple aircraft and other weapons at critical times.

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Nevertheless, we do have several new defence deals on the anvil and ongoing, in addition to the $25 billion in American military equipment purchases made by India since 2007. Right now there is a $3.8 billion MQ-9B armed Predator drone on order for 31 of them, being executed for completion by 2029-30. They say these will now be made in India.

The last three of six Apache helicopter gunships are being flown over in a transport aircraft for the Indian Army after a long delay. The order for 99 GE F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas MK1A, executed in 2021 for $716 million, is proceeding very slowly after a two-year stoppage in supply.

Only four engines of the 99 ordered have been delivered so far. Another follow-on order for 113 engines worth $1 billion is being negotiated and is almost ready to be signed. Yet another order for hundreds of the GE F414 engine intended for the Tejas MK2, along with an 80 per cent technology transfer and manufacture in India, is also being negotiated. Is this defence agreement saying it is through? At what price? To be built in India starting when?

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This snails pace in these orders and negotiations suggests a strategic dimension in which America is apparently not keen on seeing India make its own fighter aircraft any time soon. But perhaps it also wants to lure us away from the competition.

India is working on alternatives of its own manufacture for unmanned aerial vehicles, drones and fighters in collaboration with Safran of France, even as its fit-for-battle fighter squadrons are much below comfort levels.

India is also advancing a cooperation with Brazil for its Embraer C-390 Millennium transport aircraft in a possible barter deal for an equivalent value of Tejas fighter aircraft and Prachand helicopters.

A collaboration with Airbus is already ongoing for H125 helicopters and C295 military transport aircraft in partnership with the private sector Tata Group.

Russia is very eager to offer its latest Su-57E stealth fighter aircraft with full technology transfer and production in India in addition to the Sukhoi 30s made under licence in India with the Su-30MK1 largely customised to Indian needs.

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Very recently India has signed an agreement with Russia to jointly produce medium-sized commercial aircraft, the SJ-100, with full technology transfer in India. The message to America is that India is clearly not restricted by American sanctions imposed on Russia. This again in the context of massive delays in supplying Boeing aircraft to the Indian aviation industry as well as quality concerns highlighted by the tragic Dreamliner crash in Gujarat.

India is already very successful with its Brahmos missiles jointly developed with Russia. It extensively uses the Russian S-400 air shield, with more sets on order. Other cooperation with the UK, Russia, Germany and France in the naval engines, propulsion units, nuclear engines, submarines and specialised naval ships is a precursor to more in commercial shipbuilding as a new thrust area. While American Cummins engines are used in our light Zorowar tanks, India is trying to develop its own as well.

So, it is clear that America is not Indias only mainstay, even as the Indian Aatmanirbhar defence industry is growing very fast and is reflected in more and more export orders as well.

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Perhaps America realises these are favourable results of Indias strategic autonomy and wants to ensure it stays in Indias procurement and technology demand game.

In the overall scheme of things, however, and on the face of it, this 10-year defence framework agreement is most welcome.

The writer is a Delhi-based political commentator. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Two people were arrested after a stabbing incident broke out on a train to Huntingdon, Cambridge, injuring several passengers.

Police and emergency services search the track after the incident on a train to Huntingdon. AFP

Two people were arrested after a stabbing incident broke out on a train to Huntingdon, Cambridge, injuring several passengers. Cambridgeshire Constabulary said armed police attended the incident after officers were called at the Huntingdon station at 7:39 pm (local time) on Saturday.

Soon after the incident, the East of England ambulance service released a statement stating that they had deployed a large-scale response team to deal with the wounded. A spokesperson said numerous ambulances, tactical commanders and the hazardous area response team were at the scene, adding: We can confirm we have transported multiple patients to the hospital.

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One witness who was on the train told Sky News that someone moved through the carriage, warning others: Theyve got a knife, Ive been stabbed. The witness, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the man was extremely bloodied and that by the time the train stopped, they were basically on the floor. That person ended up collapsing on the floor. They were taken to an ambulance pretty much straight away, he said.

Witnesses also maintained that other people wounded by the attacker were seen sprinting through the train away from somebody with a knife. Later on, armed police were spotted at the site, directing their weapons at a man standing on a platform with a large blade, a witness said. The man was then incapacitated with a taser and restrained.

PM Starmer condemns the incident

While speaking to the reporters, police said that the attack happened on the 6:25 pm train service from Doncaster to London Kings Cross, shortly after the LNER train left Peterborough station. UK PM Keir Starmer released a statement stating that it was deeply concerning and urged people to follow police advice.

The appalling incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning. My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police, the prime minister said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Meanwhile, the MP for Huntingdon, Ben Obese-Jecty, said: Very reassuring to see such a quick and effective response from the emergency services." Ive simply never seen as big a response to an emergency incident as there was in terms of police, fire and ambulance," he added.

In a post on X, British Transport Police wrote: We are currently responding to an incident on a train to Huntingdon where multiple people have been stabbed. Officers are in attendance alongside CambsCops, and two people have been arrested. UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also expressed condemnation.

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I urge people to avoid comment and speculation at this early stage, she wrote in a post. Cambridgeshire Constabulary urged anyone with information about the incident to report it online, quoting incident 495 of November 1, or by calling 101.

With inputs from agencies.
King Charles will strip Andrew Mountbatten Windsor of his final naval title, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed on Sunday. The move marks the latest step in distancing the royal family from the scandal linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

King Charles is set to strip Andrew Mountbatten Windsor of his last remaining naval title, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed, as the monarch moves to close the chapter on the scandal surrounding his brothers links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mountbatten Windsor, formerly the Duke of York, will lose his honorary rank of vice-admiral  a title he was granted in 2015 and has retained despite giving up other military positions in 2022.

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Guided by the kings decisions

Speaking on BBC Ones Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Healey said ministers were working with the king to remove Mountbatten Windsors final military honour, following last weeks decision to strip him of his royal title as prince and remove him from Royal Lodge.

In general, the government has been guided by the decisions and judgments the king has made. In defence, its exactly the same, Healey said.

Weve seen Andrew surrender the honorary positions hes had throughout the military, and guided again by the king, we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral that he has.

When asked whether Mountbatten Windsor might also lose his military medals, Healey said those were medals for his service, adding: I dont have an update for you on that, but just as with his vice-admiral rank and title, we would be guided by the decisions the king makes.

Renewed scrutiny over Epstein ties

Mountbatten Windsor has faced renewed attention over his relationship with Epstein following the publication of posthumous memoirs by Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was forced to have sex with him on three occasions, including when she was 17. He has denied all allegations.

Over the weekend, newly released emails revealed that in 2010  after Epsteins release from jail for soliciting prostitution  Mountbatten Windsor wrote to the financier:

I have no immediate plans to drop by New York but I think I should at some stage soon. Ill look and see if I can make a couple of days before the summer. It would be good to catch up in person.

In the same correspondence, Epstein suggested he meet Jes Staley, a former JP Morgan executive later banned from UK banking for misleading regulators about his ties to Epstein. Mountbatten Windsor replied that he would make sure I meet [Staley] soon on another trip.

The pair were photographed together in New Yorks Central Park later that year  a meeting the former duke has since described as a wrong decision.

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Loss of royal titles and income

Mountbatten Windsor served in the Royal Navy for more than two decades, including as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War. Since stepping back from royal duties and relinquishing most military roles in 2022, he has retained the vice-admiral rank and draws a naval pension estimated at 20,000 a year  his only declared income.

Last week, Buckingham Palace confirmed that he would lose the titles of prince and Duke of York, and would be required to leave his Royal Lodge residence for private accommodation on the Sandringham estate.

Palace officials reportedly worked with the Cabinet Office to ensure the decision was handled through royal prerogative, avoiding parliamentary involvement.

According to The Guardian, the king has approved a six-figure one-off payment for his brother and may personally fund an annual stipend to prevent overspending in his new life as a commoner. Discussions over the financial package are said to be ongoing.

Although the loss of his titles takes immediate effect, Mountbatten Windsor is not expected to vacate Royal Lodge until after Christmas  meaning he will not attend the royal familys traditional gathering at Sandringham.
Turning Point USAs Andrew Kolvet accused Cienega High School teachers of mocking Charlie Kirks death, while the Vail School District denied the claim, clarifying that the T-shirts were part of a math-themed Halloween costume.

Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet has accused teachers at Cienega High School in Tucson, Arizona, of mocking the death of Charlie Kirk by wearing T-shirts splattered with fake blood and the words Problem Solved. Images of the group were widely shared on social media, sparking criticism of the Vail School District.

Kolvet, who served as executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show, posted the photo on X, writing, Concerned parents just sent us this image of whats believed to be teachers in @vailschools in Tucson, Arizona mocking Charlies murder with costumes that read Problem Solved and blood down the left side of their shirts. They deserve to be famous, and fired. He later claimed that the image had been deleted shortly after it appeared online.

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John Carruth from Vail School District has already put out a statement. He confirms the image is from Cienaga High School's math department wearing blood-stained shirts (with blood only on the left side, the side where CK was shot) as a reference to "solving math problems." https://t.co/pXjYiqofep pic.twitter.com/eNJaLpeugY  Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) November 1, 2025

Charlie Kirk, 31, was allegedly shot dead by Tyler Robinson on September 10 during an appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem. The shooting occurred at around 12:20 pm during a student Q&A session.

Vail School District issues clarification

Responding to the controversy, the Vail School District said the photo was being circulated with a false narrative. Superintendent John Carruth stated that the shirts were part of a math-themed Halloween costume designed to represent solving difficult problems.

Carruth explained that the same shirts had been worn last year as part of the same costume idea, long before recent events. A photo showing teachers wearing shirts that say Problem Solved has caused confusion and concern, he said, as quoted by kgun9.com. We want to clarify that these shirts were never intended to target any person, event, or political issue.

He added that the image had been misinterpreted and apologised for any distress caused. The teachers involved care deeply about their students and this community. Many have served Vail families for years. All of them are committed to protecting children, and none would intentionally cause hurt or pain. The shirts will not be worn again, Carruth said.

The superintendent also noted that the teachers had faced harassment online and reported the threats to police, emphasising that such actions do not reflect the values of our community. He said the district remained committed to ensuring that all staff and students feel respected and safe.

Following the clarification, Kolvet acknowledged that the shirts had been worn previously but maintained his criticism, calling the choice of costume very weird for teachers in general. He wrote, After what happened to Charlie, Im absolutely floored they wore it again. I do not believe for a second that all of them are innocent.

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In his final remark, Kolvet said, School teachers have been among the worst offenders of mocking and celebrating Charlies assassination. They should not be surprised that parents and the community are on high alert.
The revelation contradicts the former royals previous public statements about his efforts to cut ties with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein

Newly released email correspondence has revealed that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the former Duke of York, planned to catch up in person with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein just months after Epstein was released from prison in 2010.

The revelation contradicts the former royals previous public statements about his efforts to cut ties with the disgraced financier. The emails were made public on Friday as part of unsealed court documents, emerging just two days after the Duke was stripped of his titles by Buckingham Palace over spiralling scandals.

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The exchange, dated April 15, 2010, shows the former Duke responding to an email from Epstein.

Epstein had been released from jail after serving a sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor, a conviction he received in July 2009.

More from World Could Britains Andrew go to jail?

Andrew wrote that he had no immediate plans to drop by New York but suggested he would look to visit at some stage soon. He then added the crucial line: It would be good to catch up in person. The two were later photographed together in New Yorks Central Park in December of that year.

Andrew Mountbatten Windsors contradicting public claims

The friendly tone of the email directly conflicts with the account Andrew gave during his widely criticised 2019 interview with the BBCs Newsnight.

In that interview, he claimed that the sole reason for his 2010 visit to New York was to personally break off contact with Epstein, calling the meeting a wrong decision.

He insisted he had to deliver the news in person, saying doing it over the telephone was the chickens way of doing it. The newly released messages suggest the initial plan was, in fact, to maintain their personal relationship.

The correspondence was released from documents tied to a 2023 legal case.

The US Virgin Islands government sued the financial institution JP Morgan over its alleged dealings with Epstein. While JP Morgan settled the case without admitting fault, the court process has resulted in the public release of various documents, shedding new light on Epsteins high-profile connections.

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The latest emails intensify pressure on the former Duke following the palaces decision to remove his remaining titles.
KABUL, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan government has disbursed more than 136 million U.S. dollars in assistance to widows, orphans, and persons with disabilities over the past five months, the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs announced on Saturday.

According to Ministry Spokesman Mufti Faisal, over 9 billion afghanis (more than 136 million U.S. dollars) were distributed in direct financial aid to widows, orphans, and individuals with disabilities across the country during the cited period.

In addition, food and non-food assistance valued at around 10 million U.S. dollars was provided to impoverished families through cooperation with humanitarian organizations, the spokesman added.

The initiative, part of the government's broader social welfare effort, aims to alleviate economic hardships faced by vulnerable segments of society amid ongoing economic challenges. 
Trump said Xi Jinping understands the consequences if China invades Taiwan but refused to confirm whether the U.S. would defend the island, keeping Washingtons stance on Taiwan deliberately ambiguous.

US President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping understands the consequences if China invades Taiwan, while refusing to confirm whether the United States would intervene militarily, according to excerpts of a CBS 60 Minutes interview aired Sunday.

Trump said Taiwan never even came up as a subject during his meeting with Xi in South Korea on Thursday  their first face-to-face encounter in six years.

Asked if he would send US forces into action should China move on Taiwan, Trump responded: Youll find out if it happens, and he understands the answer to that.

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Pressed further, the president declined to elaborate, saying, I cant give away my secrets. The other side knows.

Trump claimed Xi and his inner circle had openly said they would not act against Taiwan while President Trump is president, because they know the consequences.

China considers self-ruled Taiwan part of its territory and has vowed to bring it under its control, by force if necessary. The US, while recognising only Beijing under the One China policy, remains Taiwans main arms supplier and has pledged to support its self-defence.

At their summit, Trump and Xi avoided the Taiwan issue, focusing instead on easing trade and technology tensions between the worlds two largest economies.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Saturday took aim at Beijing over an increase in destabilising actions in the South China Sea and committed to support Southeast Asian countries with technology to help them respond jointly to Chinese threats.

On a second day in Kuala Lumpur packed with meetings that included multilateral talks with allies Australia, Japan and the Philippines, Hegseth proposed to ASEAN defence ministers the building of shared maritime domain awareness and said China had shown a lack of respect and threatened their territorial sovereignty.

You live it on the threats we all face from Chinas aggression and course of actions in the South China Sea and elsewhere, he said.

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We need to develop our joint capabilities to respond, and this includes being able to monitor maritime conduct and develop the tools that allow us to respond quickly  ensuring that whoever is on the receiving end of aggression and provocation is then, therefore, by definition, not alone."

No one can innovate and scale like the United States of America, and were eager to share those capabilities with allies and partners, Hegseth added.

With inputs from agencies
Prime ministers, presidents and royalty descended on Cairo on Saturday to attend the spectacle-laden inauguration of a sprawling new museum built near the Pyramids to house one of the worlds richest collections of antiquities

A drone light show depicts ancient pharaoh king Tutankhamen's sarcophagus during the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), near the Giza pyramid complex, in Giza, Egypt, November 1, 2025. Reuters

Prime ministers, presidents and royalty descended on Cairo on Saturday to attend the spectacle-laden inauguration of a sprawling new museum built near the Pyramids to house one of the worlds richest collections of antiquities.

The inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum, or GEM, marks the end of a two-decade construction effort hampered by the Arab Spring uprisings, pandemic and wars in neighbouring countries.

Weve all dreamed of this project and whether it would really come true, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told a press conference, calling the museum a gift from Egypt to the whole world from a country whose history goes back more than 7,000 years.

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Spectators including President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi gathered late on Saturday before an enormous screen outside the museum, which projected images of the countrys most famous cultural sites as dancers in glittering pharaonic-style garb waved glowing orbs and scepters.

New chapter for Egypt

They were accompanied by Egyptian pop stars and an international orchestra decked out in white beneath a sky lit with lasers, fireworks and hovering lights that formed into moving hieroglyphics.

By opening the museum, Egypt was writing a new chapter in the story of this ancient nations present and future, Sisi said at the opening.

The audience included German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, and the crown princes of Oman and Bahrain.

The museums most heavily promoted attraction is the expansive collection of treasures from Tutankhamuns tomb, uncovered in 1922, including the boy-kings golden burial mask, throne and sarcophagus, and thousands of other objects.

A colossal statue of Ramses II that sat for decades in a downtown Cairo square bearing the pharaohs name now adorns the grand entry hall.

The complexs sleek design evoking the Pyramids cuts a marked contrast to the dusty and often outmoded displays in the neoclassical Egyptian Museum that opened over a century ago in central Cairo overlooking Tahrir Square.

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Old museum looted

The old museum suffered indignities in recent years, including the looting of several display cases during Egypts 2011 uprising, when antiquities theft was rife.

In 2014, the beard of Tutankhamuns burial mask broke off when workers were changing the lights in the display case, then clumsily glued back on. The following year the mask was more properly restored and put back on display.

Officials hope the new museum can end a perception fueled by such events that Egypt has been remiss in caring for its priceless treasures, and add weight to its claims for Egyptian objects held in museums abroad to be returned.

Is it a national shrine or a global showcase? A gesture of cultural sovereignty or a tool of soft power? read an article in a special edition of state-run Al-Ahram Weekly devoted to the museum, which it called a philosophy as much as it is a building.

The GEM is not a replica of the Louvre or the British Museum. It is Egypts response to both. Those museums were born of empire; this one is born of authenticity.

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The museums more than $1 billion price tag was funded in large part by Japanese development loans. Designed by an Irish firm, Heneghan Peng Architects, it covers some 120 acres, making it roughly the same size as Vatican City.

Officials are also betting that the museum, the latest in a series of mega-projects launched or completed since 2014, can accelerate a revival of tourism, a vital source of foreign currency for an economy battered by years of regional conflicts and economic uncertainty.

A series of galleries had been opened late last year but many exhibits were not accessible to the public.
A suspected electrical fault caused a supermarket explosion in northern Mexico, killing at least 23 people and injuring 11 others

The state prosecutors office said early findings suggested the incident was accidental. (Representational Image)

At least 23 people were killed and 11 sustained injuries when an explosion ripped through a supermarket in Hermosillo, northern Mexico, on Saturday, according to local officials. Investigators believe the blast, which occurred at a Waldos store in the city centre, may have been caused by a malfunctioning electric transformer.

Sonora State Governor Alfonso Durazo confirmed the death toll in a video message, noting that some of the victims were minors. He said the injured were receiving treatment in local hospitals and announced an extensive and transparent investigation to determine the cause and identify those responsible.

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The state prosecutors office said early findings suggested the incident was accidental and linked to a transformer inside the building. Authorities said the exact cause would be confirmed once firefighters deemed the site safe to enter.

A harrowing video shared on X shows thick smoke billowing from a supermarket after the explosion, as firefighters and police rush to the scene while emergency teams work to contain the blaze.

#BREAKING: At least 23 killed, 11 injured in explosion and fire at Waldos store in downtown Hermosillo, Mexico pic.twitter.com/i9YCBQJCFh  Rapid Report (@RapidReport2025) November 2, 2025

Emergency response and national support

Governor Durazo praised the swift response of emergency, security and medical teams, saying they acted with great professionalism and commitment in saving lives and bringing the situation under control. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum offered condolences on X to the victims families and said she had instructed Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez to send a support team to assist those affected.

Local media reported that some customers tried to seek shelter inside the store after the blast but were trapped by the flames. Images from the scene showed the buildings blackened facade and shattered windows. The explosion, which occurred around 2:00 pm (2000 GMT), prompted nearby businesses to close as a precaution. Authorities urged residents to avoid the area and cancelled Day of the Dead celebrations scheduled for that day.
Frances anti-fraud unit said on Saturday it had reported Asian e-commerce giant Shein for selling what it described as sex dolls with a childlike appearance.

Frances anti-fraud unit said on Saturday it had reported Asian e-commerce giant Shein for selling what it described as sex dolls with a childlike appearance.

The DGCCRF watchdog said in a statement that the description and categorisation of the items on Sheins website make it difficult to doubt the child pornography nature of the content.

Shortly after the statement, Shein announced that the dolls in question had been withdrawn from its platform and that it had launched an internal inquiry.

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On its website, the Le Parisien daily published a photo of one of the dolls sold on the platform, accompanied by an explicitly sexual caption.

The dolls measure around 80 centimetres (30 inches) in height. In the photo, it was pictured holding a teddy bear.

Imagine a child randomly clicking on and coming across these products while browsing the site looking for a doll, DGCCRF official Alice Vilcot-Dutarte was quoted as saying by Le Parisien.

The news comes in the wake of Sheins announcement in October that it intended to set up shop in a prestigious department store in central Paris  its first physical outlet.

Its outlet is due to open on Wednesday at BHV Marais, an iconic building that has stood across from Paris City Hall since 1856.

That decision provoked outrage among other clients of the upmarket store, BHV Marais, with some top fashion brands pulling their products from its shelves.

Three fines in France

Shein, which was originally founded in China, has faced consistent criticism over working conditions at its factories and the environmental impact of its ultra-fast fashion business model.

Yet the company, now headquartered in Singapore, has seen its share value skyrocket while overtaking many traditional fixtures of high street shopping in recent years.

The DGCCRF warned that the dissemination, via an electronic communications network, of child pornography is punishable by up to seven years imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 euros ($116,000).

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It said it had reported the case to French prosecutors and to Arcom, Frances online and broadcasting regulator.

France has already fined Shein three times in 2025 for a total of 191 million euros.

Those were imposed for failing to comply with online cookie legislation, false advertising, misleading information and not declaring the presence of plastic microfibres in its products.

The European Commission is also investigating Shein over risks linked to illegal products, while EU lawmakers have approved legislation aimed at curbing the environmental impact of fast fashion.
The claims surfaced following a recent hostage-prisoner exchange, part of a ceasefire agreement. Health Ministry officials in Gaza reported inspecting some of the returned bodies and claiming that they appeared emptied and stuffed with cotton.

Controversy grows amid allegations over Israels handling of bodies in Gaza.

Hamas and health officials in the Gaza Strip have once again levelled serious allegations against Israel, accusing the Israeli military of harvesting vital organs from the bodies of deceased Palestinians.

The claims surfaced following a recent hostage-prisoner exchange, part of a ceasefire agreement. Health Ministry officials in Gaza reported inspecting some of the returned bodies and claiming that they appeared emptied and stuffed with cotton. The ministry, however, stated it lacks the technical tools necessary to definitively prove the organ theft accusation.

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Past allegations and evidence

This is not the first time such grave accusations have been raised.

Last month, Dr Ismail al-Thawabta, the director of the Gaza government media office, called for an immediate international investigation into the matter, accusing the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) of serious violations against the bodies of the martyrs.

Further fuelling the controversy are findings from the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.

In November 2023, the organization tracked the IDFs confiscation of dozens of bodies from the al-Shifa medical complex. The human rights group later reported that medical professionals who examined some of the bodies found evidence suggesting organ theft, specifically citing missing cochleas and corneas as well as other vital organs like livers, kidneys, and hearts.

Targeting of Cemeteries

The accusations follow separate reports detailing military activity in Gazas burial sites. In January 2024, the Euro-Med Monitor and CNN reported that at least 12 to 16 cemeteries in the region had been targeted or attacked by the IDF.

Medical sources claimed that upon inspecting some of the bodies that were exhumed or affected, organs were found to be missing.

The Israeli military has consistently denied similar accusations in the past.

These latest claims, however, are amplifying calls from various international organisations for a comprehensive, independent investigation to determine the truth behind the allegations.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was in Vietnam on Sunday, reaffirming a partnership built on healing the scars of the Vietnam War in a trip that will test whether Washington can reassure a vital but wary partner.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was in Vietnam on Sunday, reaffirming a partnership rooted in healing the scars of the Vietnam War in a visit that will test Washingtons ability to reassure a vital but cautious partner.

Hegseth said addressing the legacies of the war, which ended 50 years ago in April, remains the foundation of our defense relationship and a top priority for this administration and the Department of Defence.

The visit also marks 30 years of diplomatic relations between the former adversaries and two years since they elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership  Vietnams highest diplomatic status. Hegseth arrived in Hanoi from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he attended a meeting of defence ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

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Postwar cooperation including clearing unexploded ordnance, recovering remains of missing U.S. service members, and cleaning up dioxin contamination from Agent Orange has formed the emotional and political backbone of US-Vietnam relations since normalization in 1995.

There had been concerns over the future of these projects after US funding cuts temporarily halted some cleanup operations before being restored.

Renewed US commitment to these efforts could help stabilise bilateral ties and create space for further defence cooperation, said Nguyen Khac Giang, a visiting fellow at the Vietnam Studies Program of Singapores ISEASYusof Ishak Institute.

War legacy cooperation is the foundation enabling deeper defense ties, he said. For Washington, it demonstrates long-term responsibility and goodwill to solve lingering war consequences. For Hanoi, it provides essential political cover for expanding relations with a former adversary.

Giang said the U.S. defense chiefs visit comes at a crucial moment. Vietnams Communist Party chief, To Lam, visited North Korea in early October  the first such trip in nearly two decades  while reports suggest Hanoi may pursue the purchase of 40 Russian Su-35 fighter jets. Vietnam is hedging against doubts about U.S. reliability in the Indo-Pacific, he said.

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The Associated Press has previously reported that Moscow and Hanoi have explored ways to maintain financial transactions despite U.S. sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Hegseths visit demonstrates Vietnams deliberate deepening of defense ties with the U.S., but strictly on Hanois terms, Giang said.

With inputs from agencies
Iraq signed a deal with Turkey on Sunday under which water infrastructure projects to be carried out by Turkish firms will be financed with revenue from oil sales, a Turkish official said.

Iraq and Turkey on Sunday signed a new agreement that will see Turkish firms undertake water infrastructure projects in Iraq, financed through revenue from Iraqi oil sales to Turkey, a Turkish official said.

According to a statement from the Iraqi prime ministers office, the two countries formalised an implementation mechanism for a water cooperation accord that was first signed last year, though specific details of the new mechanism were not disclosed.

Under the arrangement, Iraqs government will set up a committee to oversee water infrastructure projects and invite bids from Turkish companies. Payments for these projects will come from proceeds of Iraqi oil exports to Turkey, the official added.

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The first phase of the initiative is expected to include three water-harvesting dams and three land reclamation projects, an Iraqi water resources official said.

The original framework agreement, signed in April 2024 during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans visit to Baghdad, marked a renewed period of cooperation between the neighbours after years of strained relations.

Water scarcity has been a longstanding issue between the two nations, as roughly 70% of Iraqs water resources originate from neighbouring countries, primarily through the Tigris and Euphrates rivers  both of which flow from Turkey.

With inputs from agencies
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Sunday warned that Israel would intensify its military operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, following an airstrike that killed four people, according to Lebanons health ministry.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Sunday (November 2, 2025) warned that Israel would escalate its military operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, a day after an airstrike killed four people, according to Lebanons health ministry.

Amid rising tensions along the border, Katz accused Hezbollah of  playing with fire and urged the Lebanese government to enforce the disarmament agreement and remove the group from the south.

Enforcement of the maximum will continue and even intensify  we will not allow a threat to the residents of the north, Katz said in a statement.

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Four killed in Israeli airstrike

Lebanons health ministry said four people were killed and three injured in an Israeli airstrike in the Nabatiyeh district on Saturday night. According to the National News Agency, an Israeli missile struck a car around 10:30 pm (2030 GMT).

The attack came despite a ceasefire agreement signed between Israel and Hezbollah in November 2024. Israel continues to maintain troops in several southern Lebanese areas and conducts regular air raids, claiming to target Hezbollah positions.

US blames Lebanon for failing to act

US Special Envoy for the Middle East Thomas Barrack said Washington would not intervene directly but would support its ally Israel if hostilities intensified.

The state is Hezbollah, Barrack told The Associated Press, criticising Lebanon for failing to align with the shifting dynamics in the Middle East. It is really up to the Lebanese. America is not going to get deeper involved in a situation where a foreign terrorist organisation and a failed state are dictating the pace.

Katz issues fresh warning

Reiterating his stance, Katz said, Hezbollah is playing with fire, and the president of Lebanon is dragging his feet. The Lebanese governments commitment to disarm Hezbollah and remove it from southern Lebanon must be implemented.
At least 21 people have died and 30 remain missing after a landslide struck Kenyas western Rift Valley region following days of heavy rainfall

More than 1,000 homes were destroyed as mudslides swept through villages, severing roads and leaving several communities isolated. (Representational Image: Reuters)

At least 21 people were killed, and 30 remain missing after a landslide struck Kenyas western Rift Valley on Saturday. The disaster hit the hilly Chesongoch area in Elgeyo Marakwet County, following relentless rainfall during the short rainy season that has caused widespread devastation.

More than 1,000 homes were destroyed as mudslides tore through villages, cutting off several roads and isolating communities. Government rescue teams worked through the downpour to search for survivors, while 30 people with severe injuries were airlifted to a hospital in Eldoret City.

Local resident Stephen Kittony told Citizen Television that he heard a deafening noise before rushing outside with his children, fleeing in separate directions as the landslide advanced.

Government plans relocation for affected families

Authorities confirmed that rescue operations are underway despite the harsh weather. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen stated that the government is identifying an alternative settlement area for those displaced.

Chesongochs steep terrain has a tragic history of similar disasters. Landslides in 2010 and 2012 claimed dozens of lives, and in 2020, severe flooding washed away a local shopping centre.

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(With agency inputs)
Nearly 300 people have been killed in political violence in Bangladesh in the year since student-led protests toppled autocratic former leader Sheikh Hasina, the countrys main human rights group said on Sunday.

Nearly 300 people have been killed in political violence across Bangladesh in the year since student-led protests forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power, the countrys main human rights organisation said on Sunday.

In its latest report, Dhaka-based rights group Odhikar said at least 281 people had died in clashes involving political parties between August 2024 when Hasina fled to India after weeks of mass demonstrations and September 2025.

The groups quarterly report also recorded 40 alleged extrajudicial killings of suspected criminals and 153 incidents of lynching during the same period, highlighting continuing instability and weak law enforcement in the South Asian nation.

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Odhikars director, ASM Nasiruddin Elan, said that while the overall human rights situation had improved since Hasinas departure, systemic problems within security forces persisted. Law enforcement agencies are still not being held accountable, Elan said.

Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for more than 15 years, resigned and fled after a nationwide student uprising accusing her of authoritarianism and corruption. Her fall from power marked a dramatic shift in the countrys politics but also left a vacuum that, rights observers say, has fuelled ongoing factional and vigilante violence.

Yes, we dont see the frequent extrajudicial killings or enforced disappearances that we witnessed during the Hasina era, but deaths in custody, bribery, and harassment of victims are still ongoing, Elan told AFP. He said that innocent people fall prey to atrocities for their alleged involvement with the Awami League, Hasinas political party that is now banned.

Hasinas 15-year rule saw widespread human rights abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killing of her political opponents. The Odhikar report also said many people had fallen victim to extortion by political parties, regardless of their financial or social standing, in the year since Hasinas fall. Those included the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, seen as the frontrunner in elections slated for February 2026, and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which was credited with starting the protests that toppled Hasina.

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Jamaat-e-Islami, Muslim-majority Bangladeshs largest Islamist party, was also included in reports of extortion, the report said. Odhikar also said mob attacks had been relatively frequent during the period, mainly because of inefficient policing.

Police have been used to achieve party interests and were given impunity, which eventually led them to kill and torture activists affiliated with the opposition, the report said.

It said the police largely became dysfunctional and lost their morale, after Hasina fell. Bangladeshs interim government nor any of the political parties have responded yet to Odhikars report.

With inputs from agencies
BAGHDAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Saturday strongly condemned the recent attacks and killings of civilians in El Fasher, capital of Sudan's North Darfur State.

In a statement, the ministry rejected any attempts to destabilize Sudan or infringe upon its sovereignty, and warned against any form of geographical or political division of the country.

It voiced full support for "adopting the path of dialogue as a means to solve problems, renounce violence, and resort to the peaceful track."

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said Sunday it had captured the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in the besieged city of El Fasher -- a major turning point in the country's two-and-a-half-year civil war that has intensified fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Sudanese officials said Wednesday that more than 2,000 civilians have been killed by RSF forces since they seized control of the city. 
Nigeria said it would welcome US assistance in tackling Islamist insurgents if its sovereignty is respected. The response came after Donald Trump warned of fast military action over alleged persecution of Christians.

Nigeria said on Sunday (November 2, 2025) it would welcome assistance from the United States in tackling Islamist insurgents, provided its territorial integrity is respected, news agency Reuters reported.

The response came after US President Donald Trump threatened fast military action over what he described as the persecution of Christians in the country.

We welcome US assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity, Daniel Bwala, adviser to President Bola Tinubu, told Reuters. Downplaying Trumps criticism, he added: Once both leaders meet and sit, there will be better outcomes in our joint resolve to fight terrorism.

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Trump renews criticism over religious freedom

Trumps warning followed Washingtons decision to reinstate Nigeria on its list of Countries of Particular Concern for alleged violations of religious freedom  alongside China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia and Pakistan.

He also called Nigeria a disgraced country, cautioning that US forces could act swiftly if Abuja failed to curb violence against Christians.

Islamist insurgency grips northeast Nigeria

Nigeria, Africas most populous nation with over 200 million people, has battled Islamist extremism for more than 15 years. Groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have killed thousands and displaced millions  mainly in the Muslim-majority northeast.

While some Christian communities have been attacked, analysts note that most victims have been Muslims.

Violence is indiscriminate, says expert

Ladd Serwat of the US-based conflict tracker ACLED said the insurgents violence is largely indiscriminate and driven by overlapping political, ethnic, and land disputes.

Insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa often present their campaigns as anti-Christian, but in practice their violence devastates entire communities, he said.

ACLED data shows that of nearly 1,923 civilian attacks in Nigeria this year, only about 50 were explicitly targeted at Christians. Serwat dismissed claims circulating in some US right-wing circles that 100,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009, calling them unsupported by evidence.

Tinubu defends Nigerias record on religious freedom

President Tinubu, a Muslim married to a Christian pastor, rejected accusations of religious intolerance and said his administration protects freedom of faith.

He has sought to maintain a balance in government and military appointments  including naming a Christian as the countrys new defence chief last week.

Mixed reactions on the ground

Some Christians in Abuja voiced support for possible US involvement. If Donald Trump said they want to come in, they should come in  there is nothing wrong with that, said businesswoman Juliet Sur.

Airstrikes could prove difficult

Security experts warned that any US strikes in Nigeria would face significant challenges. Insurgent groups are scattered across vast regions and move fluidly between Nigeria and neighbouring countries such as Chad, Cameroon, and Niger  where US troops withdrew last year.

Analysts said Washington would likely need to rely on close cooperation with the Nigerian military  even as Trump threatened to cut off assistance to it.
Sindh is on edge as the Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM) calls for a major sit-in on the Hyderabad bypass to protest alleged enforced disappearances of Sindhi activists. The planned demonstration is expected to disrupt traffic between Karachi and Hyderabad, heightening tensions in the province.

Traffic between Karachi and Hyderabad is expected to be disrupted once again, as the Hyderabad bypass  linking the M9 Motorway with the National Highway  is set to become the site of another major sit-in protest in the coming days.

The Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM) announced the demonstration to condemn what it calls state-backed suppression and the alleged enforced disappearances of Sindhi nationalists, The Express Tribune reported.

Protest over missing activists

The announcement came after Pakistans Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed to have arrested two men previously listed by JSM as missing  Ghani Aman Chandio and Sarmad Meerani. The CTD accused both of being linked to nationalist groups allegedly involved in terrorism.

In response, JSM Chairman Riaz Ali Chandio said his party would not be intimidated into silence. The people of Sindh feel like strangers in their own land, he said. The rule of law, democracy, and justice have vanished from the province.

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Allegations of state suppression

Chandio accused authorities of systematically targeting Sindhi activists who advocate for the provinces rights, alleging that voices of dissent are being silenced through intimidation and enforced disappearances. He further claimed that while peaceful political activists are persecuted, criminals, corrupt politicians, riverine dacoits, drug traffickers, and illegal immigrants continue to operate with impunity under state protection.

Criticism of ruling PPP

The JSM chief also blamed the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for Sindhs deteriorating situation, accusing the ruling party of overseeing two decades of corruption, mismanagement, and neglect, The Express Tribune reported.

Rising tensions

With another sit-in looming, commuters on one of Pakistans busiest intercity routes are bracing for traffic chaos.

The protest underscores the widening rift between Sindhs nationalist groups and the state, amid growing anger over what activists describe as a deepening human rights crisis in the province.
The deal allows Canadian troops to join joint land exercises with the Philippine military, expanding Ottawas role beyond maritime patrols with the US, Australia, and Japan

Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro attends the ASEAN-Japan Defence Minister Informal Meeting, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Philippines and Canada have signed a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), marking a big step in strengthening defence cooperation and countering Chinas growing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.

The accord, finalised on Sunday, permits Canadian troops to take part in joint land-based exercises with the Philippine military, expanding on Canadas existing participation in multinational maritime patrols in the region alongside the United States, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines.

Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty described the agreement as a milestone in advancing Ottawas Indo-Pacific strategy, which emphasises a sustained presence in the region. We will be moving forward on training, military exchanges, information sharing, and cybersecurity cooperation, McGuinty said during a joint press conference in Manila.

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He also expressed Canadas intention to join the Philippines annual Balikatan military exercises next spring.

The Philippines, a long-standing US treaty ally, has signed similar defence cooperation agreements with New Zealand earlier this year, and already maintains VFAs with the United States, Australia, and Japan. A parallel agreement with France is currently under negotiation.

The deal comes amid heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing, with Chinese vessels frequently confronting Philippine forces in the South China Seaa waterway Beijing claims almost entirely, despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling that invalidated its expansive claims.
Russia has unveiled a new nuclear submarine, Khabarovsk, built to carry the Poseidon underwater nuclear drone  a weapon some officials have called a doomsday missile capable of devastating coastal nations. The vessel was launched at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk during a ceremony led by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.

Russia has launched a new nuclear submarine designed to carry the underwater nuclear drone known as Poseidon  dubbed a doomsday missile by some officials, news agency Reuters reported.

According to comments reported in the media, it is capable of wiping out entire coastal nations.

The Khabarovsk was ceremonially launched at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, in the presence of Russian Naval Chief Admiral Alexander Moiseyev and senior shipbuilding officials. Today marks a significant event for us  the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Khabarovsk is being launched from the stern of the renowned Sevmash, Belousov said in televised remarks.

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Built for advanced underwater warfare

Sevmash  the same yard that retrofitted Indias aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya  built the submarine to carry underwater weapons and robotic systems, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.

The Khabarovsk was designed by Rubin, the Central Design Bureau of Marine Engineering, and is intended to fulfil a range of naval missions using modern underwater weapons.

Russian state media TASS quoted the defence minister as saying the submarine will bolster the countrys ability to secure its maritime borders and safeguard its national interests across global waters.

Russian Business daily Kommersant reported that Khabarovsk-class submarines are expected to serve as the primary carriers of the Poseidon system.

Testing the Poseidon drone

Last week, Russia announced the successful testing of a Poseidon underwater drone equipped with a nuclear propulsion system.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the drone was launched from a mother submarine and features a compact nuclear reactor, reportedly much smaller than that used in strategic submarines.

Doomsday missile amid global concerns

Senior Russian officials have described the Poseidon in stark terms. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, has referred to it as a doomsday missile, while Andrei Kartapolov, chair of the Duma Defence Committee, claimed it could wipe out entire coastal nations.

Outside Russia, experts have questioned the credibility of Moscows claims regarding the Poseidons range and destructive power.

Nonetheless, statements from Kremlin and reports from the Russian media coverage underline that Moscow views the weapon as a major strategic addition to its naval arsenal.
At least two people were killed in a drone attack in Ukraines southwestern Odesa region, authorities said Sunday. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine continued to target each others infrastructure.

In this image made from video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, a Russian "Grad" self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher fires towards Ukrainian positions on an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Russian air strikes on Ukraine overnight killed two people and left tens of thousands without electricity, including the entire eastern Donetsk region, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday.

Moscow has intensified missile and drone attacks as winter nears, causing widespread power outages and forcing emergency crews to repair damaged infrastructure and manage rolling blackouts.

The fatalities were reported in Ukraines southern Odesa region, where officials said cargo trucks came under attack. In the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, nearly 60,000 residents lost power, according to local authorities.

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Zaporizhzhia regional head Ivan Fedorov said two people were injured in the overnight strikes that targeted the front-line area, sharing images on Telegram showing buildings reduced to rubble.

Ukraines national energy operator Ukrenergo said Russian attacks on the countrys power grid had triggered rolling power cuts across multiple regions on Sunday.

In a statement, Ukraines energy ministry added that some residents in the northern Chernihiv and northeastern Kharkiv regions had also lost power. Separately, the death toll from a Russian air attack that set ablaze a shop in the Dnipropetrovsk region on Saturday rose to four on Sunday, including two boys aged 11 and 14, the regions acting governor said.

Analysts and officials say Moscow has shifted tactics this year, targeting specific regions and gas infrastructure.

The attacks have grown more effective as Russia launches hundreds of drones, some equipped with cameras that improve targeting, overwhelming air defenses  especially in regions where protection is weaker.

In Russia, a Ukrainian drone strike set an oil tanker and infrastructure ablaze at Tuapse port, regional officials said Sunday.

Images on social media appeared to show flames engulfing terminal structures and a tanker at the Black Sea port, with multiple blazes visible across the port area. The Associated Press was unable to independently confirm the footage.

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A Ukrainian intelligence official told the AP that Ukrainian forces struck a tanker, loading infrastructure and port buildings.

The official said five drone strikes were recorded and the operation was carried out by special forces of Ukraines Security Service and other defense forces. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose operational details.

Local Russian authorities said two foreign civilian ships were damaged.

Tuapse is home to a major oil export terminal and a refinery belonging to state-owned Russian oil company Rosneft.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said long-range strikes on refineries inside Russia have reduced Moscows oil refining capacity by 20%, citing intelligence from Western governments.

Oil exports play a key role in funding Russias invasion of its neighbor Ukraine. While Ukrainian weapons take aim at the refineries, new sanctions from the U.S. and the European Union are aiming to cut into Moscows oil and gas export earnings.

With inputs from agencies
A wave of Russian drone and missile attacks on southern and central Ukraine killed six people, including two children, wounded several others, and left tens of thousands without power, as Moscow intensified its assault on the countrys energy grid

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a heavily damaged building following an air attack in Zaporizhzhia on October 30, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP)

A wave of Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine overnight Saturday to early Sunday killed six people, including two children, and cut power to tens of thousands, officials said.

The strikes mainly targeted Ukraines southern and central regions and left a dozen others wounded, according to regional authorities.

Russia has rejected US calls to halt its nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine.

It has instead pushed forward with its ground assault while renewing its campaign of strikes against Ukraines energy grid, in what Kyiv says is proof Moscow is not interested in peace.

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Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions. Six people died, including two children, the office of Ukraines prosecutor general said on Telegram.

The children were two boys aged 11 and 14, Ukraines human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said.

A Russian attack on the southern Zaporizhzhia region, meanwhile, left almost 58,000 households without electricity, the regions governor Ivan Fedorov said.

Russia did not immediately comment but denies targeting civilians, saying it hits energy infrastructure that powers Ukraines defence industry. Kyiv says the strikes are primarily aimed at wearing down its civilian population.

A Ukrainian drone attack on Russias Black Sea port of Tuapse early Sunday set an oil tanker ablaze and damaged port infrastructure, regional authorities said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Trumps return to Asia has been markedly different in tone, if not in intent. After years of deriding allies as freeloaders and threatening to withdraw troops unless they paid more for US protection, the president has this week struck a notably softer chord.

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport on October 31, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. - AFP

During his recent Asia tour, Donald Trump appeared determined to soothe tensions and repair frayed relationships with several long-standing US allies in the region. After months of tariffs, military threats and America First rhetoric, the president struck a markedly different tone in Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo and Seoul, signalling a return to diplomacy laced with spectacle.

In Malaysia, Trump joined local performers and waved flags at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit; in Japan, he met newly-elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aboard an aircraft carrier; in South Korea, he promised enduring US support while setting the stage for a high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping.

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Yet despite the flourish, analysts warn that even this reset cannot fully erase the uncertainty that Trumps unconventional posture has generated among Asian partners.

A softer tone in Tokyo

Trumps visit to Tokyo was his most symbolic effort yet to reassure allies rattled by his past rhetoric. Standing alongside Japans Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, he praised Tokyos defence spending and hailed Japan as a strong, fair partner. It was a sharp contrast to his earlier claims that Japan had been taking advantage of US security guarantees.

The shift came amid mounting regional uncertainty. Chinas assertiveness in the East and South China Seas, North Koreas renewed missile testing, and growing anxieties over US reliability have prompted Japan and South Korea to deepen defence cooperation. Trumps officials privately acknowledge that his renewed diplomacy aims to reassure these allies not out of sentiment, but necessity. Washingtons Indo-Pacific strategy depends on them.

Yet, as CNN reported, the charm offensive was tempered by reminders of Trumps unpredictability. He reiterated that allies must continue to shoulder their fair share of defence costs, a familiar refrain that underscores how even friendly gestures come laced with transactional expectations.

Seouls cautious optimism

In Seoul, Trump adopted a similar balancing act: conciliatory in tone, firm in message. South Korean officials welcomed his acknowledgement of shared security challenges and his emphasis on maintaining deterrence against Pyongyang. But privately, diplomats expressed concern that the presidents overtures could shift with political winds in Washington.

For many South Koreans, Trumps outreach rekindled memories of his earlier threats to reduce US troop levels on the peninsula, remarks that had once unsettled markets and emboldened North Korea. Now, with regional tensions climbing and nuclear rhetoric resurfacing in Pyongyang, Seoul is treading carefully. We appreciate the engagement, one senior official told AP, but we remember what happened last time.

Stability amid disruption

US allies in Asia entered the tour with guarded optimism. The continent has witnessed aggressive Chinese expansion, North Korean provocations and inconsistent Washington commitments. Trumps overtures including pledges to forge defence agreements and secure rare-earth supply chains offered some reassurance. He told Japans Takaichi she could ask the US for anything, and authorised South Koreas request for nuclear-powered submarines.

Still, the underlying concern remains: can allies trust a US leader whose past rhetoric has unsettled even the closest partners? It doesnt compare with what the Chinese side are offering, warned Bill Hayton of Chatham House.

Manila and Canberra: friendly words, hard choices

In the Philippines and Australia, Trumps tone was warmer still. He called both countries pillars of regional stability and offered cooperation on maritime security, a marked departure from his earlier gripes that Asian allies were taking advantage of US power. Manilas Marcos administration, still wary of balancing ties with both Washington and Beijing, cautiously welcomed the gesture.

Australia, too, has been recalibrating its defence relationship with the US under the AUKUS pact. Trumps public praise of Canberras unwavering partnership helped to steady nerves in a government that had privately worried about possible policy reversals should US politics swing again. Still, analysts quoted by Bloomberg noted that the outreach is tactical rather than transformative, a diplomatic reset designed to project confidence abroad while maintaining leverage at home.

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Transactional diplomacy returns

For all the talk of reconciliation, Trumps approach to Asia remains unmistakably transactional. His comments about defence spending, trade deficits, and fairness suggest that the underlying logic of his foreign policy has not changed  only its presentation. As The Economist observed, Asian leaders are adapting to Trumps brand of deal-making: offering concessions upfront, keeping communication channels open, and hedging against sudden reversals.

Behind closed doors, diplomats describe this as managing volatility. Trumps administration, aware of the regional unease, appears to be recalibrating the tone of engagement while leaving the core premise intact  that US alliances must yield measurable returns.

Trade, minerals and military back-drops

A key objective of the trip was to align regional partnerships around critical supply chains, especially of rare earths and other strategic minerals long dominated by China. In Japan, for instance, Trump and Takaichi signed agreements on rare-earth stockpiling and US-Japan investment worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

On defence, the US moved to deepen its footprint. A ten-year security accord with India was signed on the sidelines, and military exercises with Cambodia were slated to resume after eight years of dormancy. These actions combine economic incentives and military assurances, two pillars of Asia-Pacific strategic diplomacy.

The lingering shadow of unpredictability

For all the diplomatic embracing, one fact looms large: unpredictability remains the central feature of Trumps approach. The same leader who pledged renewed engagement abruptly skipped key sessions at the regional economic forum, leaving allies to question Washingtons long-term focus.

Moreover, access to US markets now comes at a higher pricetariffs, tougher investment terms and transactional diplomacy. While the US is offering more outreach, [nations] must still reckon with a Trump 2.0 reality and the unpredictability inherent in his approach to international relations.

Even as Trump seeks to smooth over tensions, scepticism runs deep. Japan, South Korea, and other Asian partners are quietly exploring greater defence self-reliance and diversified partnerships. The memory of Trumps threats  to withdraw troops, tear up trade deals, and question mutual defence treaties  still looms large.

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For now, Trumps outreach may buy goodwill and headlines, but the underlying question persists: can allies trust Washingtons word when its leader so often views diplomacy through the lens of negotiation rather than commitment?

In Asias corridors of power, that question defines this new chapter of Trump-era diplomacy, one that sounds conciliatory, but still speaks the language of conditional loyalty.

A strategic gamble on trust

Trumps tour marks a strategic gamble: by playing the role of friend and deal-maker, he hopes to diminish the sway of Beijing and reassert U.S. leadership in a region waiting for direction. Yet the paradox is clearstronger ties now may stem from deeper insecurities among allies. As one Japanese lawmaker put it, the fact that Japan is thinking about the unthinkable  nuclear arms after witnessing U.S. unpredictability tells its own story.

What comes next?

The true test of whether this charm offensive matters will come in follow-through: will investment deals be delivered? Will defence commitments translate into long-term capability? Crucially, will the US maintain consistent engagement beyond photo-ops and headlines?

For now, Trumps Asia tour stands as a calculated effort to reboot alliancesyet the region remains alert, less to the smiles than to the substance. As Asean foreign ministers noted, their neutrality is being eroded amid great-power competition.

The message from Washington is clear. The reception in Asia is cautious. In diplomacy as in markets: trust takes time, and credibility is built slowly.

With inputs from agencies
US President Donald Trump stirred yet another storm after he had ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria after he had condemned the countrys government for failing to protect its Christians

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on board Air Force One on October 31, 2025 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. - AFP

US President Donald Trump stirred yet another storm after he had ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria after he had condemned the countrys government for failing to protect its Christians. The order for military action from Trump came a day after he said that Christians are facing persecution in the country.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, Trump posted on social media. I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!

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The warning came shortly after Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, earlier on Saturday, pushed back against Trumps accusations. In a social media statement, Tinubu said that the characterisation of Nigeria as a religiously intolerant country does not reflect the national reality.

Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so, Tinubu said. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.

Trumps claim of Christian persecution in Nigeria

On Friday, Trump said, Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria and radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. The American leaders remarks on the matter came a week after the US Senator Ted Cruz urged Congress to designate Africas most populous country a violator of religious freedom, with claims of Christian mass murder.

Nigeria has a population of 220 million people who are equally split between Christians and Muslims. The country has been facing insecurity from various fronts, including the Boko Haram extremist group, which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law. However, the group has also been targeting the Muslim population in the country, insisting that they are not Muslim enough.

Attacks that were unleashed in Nigeria have had varying motives. There are religiously motivated ones targeting both Christians and Muslims, clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling resources, communal rivalries, secessionist groups and ethnic clashes.

While Christians are among the most targeted, analysts say that the majority of victims of armed groups are Muslims in Nigerias Muslim-majority north, where most attacks occur. Both Christian and Muslim groups operating in the country have often alleged genocide during religiously motivated attacks against both sides.

The government of Nigeria has often rejected Cruzs claims, which were discussed among Nigerians. There is no systematic, intentional attempt either by the Nigerian government or by any serious group to target a particular religion," Information Minister Idris Muhammed told The Associated Press.

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Kimiebi Ebienfa, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated the commitment of Nigeria to protect citizens of all religions. The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion, Ebienfa said in a statement on Saturday. Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.

With inputs from The Associated Press.
Police have ruled out terrorism as a motive for the attack

Two British men have been arrested for a mass stabbing on a train in eastern England on Sunday. Police have ruled out terrorism as a motive for the attack.

The suspects are a 32-year-old Black British man and a 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent, both held on suspicion of attempted murder.

The brutal attack unfolded shortly after the service departed Peterborough station at approximately 7:30 pm local time. Ten people have so far been hospitalised after the attack, with nine of them reported to have life-threatening injuries.

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The motive behind the attack still remains unclear as authorities launch an intensive investigation.

Survivors recall UK train horror

Eyewitness accounts painted a harrowing picture of the violence. One passenger, speaking to the media, described seeing a man with a large knife and recounted the sheer trauma, saying simply, There was blood everywhere.

In a rush to survive, many passengers sought refuge wherever they could, with some hiding in lavatories while others were getting stamped on in the frantic scramble to flee.

Another witness reported seeing a victim stagger through the carriage, crying out, They have got a knife; I have been stabbed. The initial chaos was heightened by screams, as one individual recalled hearing shouts of, run, run, theres a guy literally stabbing everyone.

The British Transport Police (BTP) Chief Superintendent Chris Casey acknowledged the severity of the situation but cautioned against premature speculation, stating, At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took to X (formerly Twitter) to call the incident appalling and offered his thoughts to all those affected, while thanking the emergency services for their rapid response.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla expressed their deep shock and said they were truly appalled and shocked to hear of the dreadful knife attack.

Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with those affected, and their loved ones, the British monarch said.
The officers were initially suspended after the woman accused them of assaulting her earlier this week while she was in custody at a court in Bobigny, a town in the northeastern suburbs of Paris

A protester shouts into a megaphone next to a French national flag in Marseille. Reuters

Two French policemen have been charged with allegedly raping a young woman while she was in custody, with one of the suspects apparently filming the act on his phone.

The officers were initially suspended after the woman accused them of assaulting her earlier this week while she was in custody at a court in Bobigny, a town in the northeastern suburbs of Paris.

The woman is 26, while the two accused officers are 23 and 35, according to a source close to the case.

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She had been brought before the Bobigny public prosecutors office for acts of parental neglect. The menwho were on duty at the Bobigny judicial courtinsist that the sex acts overnight Tuesday to Wednesday were consensual.

The two officers have been charged with rape and sexual assault by persons abusing their authority and remanded in custody, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement on Saturday.

On Sunday, Beccuau said a video had been discovered on the mobile phone of one of the officers under investigation.

The video lasts four seconds and shows a sexual act, a source close to the case told AFP.

The decision to charge the police officers was based on statements made by the complainant, which were corroborated by a number of elements in our case file, including the video, Beccuau told broadcaster France Info.

These are all elements that lend credibility to her word, the prosecutor added.

The case, Beccuau said, raised questions about the reality of consent when we consider that this woman was being held in a courthouse detention centre, and was therefore already deprived of her freedom of movement and was in a situation of physical constraint.

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Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said this week that if proven, these actions are extraordinarily serious and unacceptable.

France has been rocked by a series of high-profile rape cases in recent months that have sparked a debate about consent.

The French parliament this week adopted a bill defining rape as any non-consensual sexual act, a vote hailed by supporters as a move from a culture of rape to a culture of consent.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
A woman stands beside the wreckage of a car bombed by an Israeli drone in Kfar Roummane, southern Lebanon, Nov. 2, 2025.

Four people were killed and three others injured on Saturday night in an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Roummane, the country's Public Health Emergency Operations Center reported.

According to the National News Agency (NNA), an Israeli drone carried out the airstrike at around 10:20 p.m. local time (2020 GMT) on Saturday, targeting a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a guided missile on the Doha-Kfar Roummane road, on the eastern outskirts of the village. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and three others injured on Saturday night in an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Roummane, the country's Public Health Emergency Operations Center reported.

According to the National News Agency (NNA), an Israeli drone carried out the airstrike at around 10:20 p.m. local time (2020 GMT) on Saturday, targeting a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a guided missile on the Doha-Kfar Roummane road, on the eastern outskirts of the village.

Ambulance teams rushed to the scene, the NNA said.

A security source told Xinhua that the four victims were members of Hezbollah, without providing further details.

Since Nov. 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States and France between Hezbollah and Israel has been in effect, ending months of cross-border clashes that erupted following the war in the Gaza Strip.

Despite the agreement, the Israeli army has continued to occasionally launch strikes in Lebanon, saying they target Hezbollah "threats," while maintaining forces at five main positions along the Lebanese border. 

A man walks beside the wreckage of a car bombed by an Israeli drone in Kfar Roummane, southern Lebanon, Nov. 2, 2025.

Four people were killed and three others injured on Saturday night in an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Roummane, the country's Public Health Emergency Operations Center reported.

According to the National News Agency (NNA), an Israeli drone carried out the airstrike at around 10:20 p.m. local time (2020 GMT) on Saturday, targeting a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a guided missile on the Doha-Kfar Roummane road, on the eastern outskirts of the village. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

This photo shows the wreckage of a car bombed by an Israeli drone in Kfar Roummane, southern Lebanon, Nov. 2, 2025.

Four people were killed and three others injured on Saturday night in an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Roummane, the country's Public Health Emergency Operations Center reported.

According to the National News Agency (NNA), an Israeli drone carried out the airstrike at around 10:20 p.m. local time (2020 GMT) on Saturday, targeting a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a guided missile on the Doha-Kfar Roummane road, on the eastern outskirts of the village. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

This photo shows the wreckage of a car bombed by an Israeli drone in Kfar Roummane, southern Lebanon, Nov. 2, 2025.

Four people were killed and three others injured on Saturday night in an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Roummane, the country's Public Health Emergency Operations Center reported.

According to the National News Agency (NNA), an Israeli drone carried out the airstrike at around 10:20 p.m. local time (2020 GMT) on Saturday, targeting a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a guided missile on the Doha-Kfar Roummane road, on the eastern outskirts of the village. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

This photo shows the wreckage of a car bombed by an Israeli drone in Kfar Roummane, southern Lebanon, Nov. 2, 2025.

Four people were killed and three others injured on Saturday night in an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Roummane, the country's Public Health Emergency Operations Center reported.

According to the National News Agency (NNA), an Israeli drone carried out the airstrike at around 10:20 p.m. local time (2020 GMT) on Saturday, targeting a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a guided missile on the Doha-Kfar Roummane road, on the eastern outskirts of the village. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

A woman stands beside the wreckage of a car bombed by an Israeli drone in Kfar Roummane, southern Lebanon, Nov. 2, 2025.

Four people were killed and three others injured on Saturday night in an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Roummane, the country's Public Health Emergency Operations Center reported.

According to the National News Agency (NNA), an Israeli drone carried out the airstrike at around 10:20 p.m. local time (2020 GMT) on Saturday, targeting a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a guided missile on the Doha-Kfar Roummane road, on the eastern outskirts of the village. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
A Ukrainian drone strike set fire to a tanker and damaged infrastructure at Russias Tuapse oil terminal on the Black Sea, disrupting a key export route, authorities in the Krasnodar region said

No injuries were reported, though the railway station in Tuapse suffered some minor damage. (Representational Image/Reuters)

A Ukrainian drone attack overnight caused a fire and damaged a tanker and infrastructure at the Tuapse oil terminal, one of Russias main Black Sea ports, authorities in the Krasnodar region said on Sunday.

The strike on the port, a crucial outlet for Russian crude and refined product exports, came shortly after traders reported that shipments from Tuapse were expected to increase in November. Officials warned the incident could disrupt export flows.

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According to the regional administration, debris from unmanned aerial vehicles fell on an oil tanker, damaging its deck structure. A fire broke out on the vessel. The crew were evacuated, the statement said on Telegram. The administration added that port buildings and other infrastructure had also been damaged, though it was not immediately clear whether operations at the terminal were continuing.

Fires reported as Ukraine intensifies strikes on Russian energy sites

Tuapse is home to the Black Sea oil terminal and a refinery operated by Rosneft, which has been targeted multiple times by Ukrainian drones this year. Unofficial Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels shared images appearing to show fires burning at the terminal and a tanker ablaze, but those were not independently verified.

There was no immediate comment from Kyiv, and the full extent of the attack remains unclear. Ukraine has intensified its strikes on Russian oil refineries, fuel depots and pipelines in recent months, describing the campaign as retaliation for Russian assaults on its power grid.

Regional authorities also reported that falling drone fragments damaged an apartment building in the nearby village of Sosnovyi. No injuries were reported, though Tuapse railway station sustained minor damage.
An explosion erupted in a building of Harvard Medical School in Boston on Saturday morning, which the schools police department is now describing as an intentional act.

Local and federal authorities are investigating an explosion that occurred inside a building on the campus of the Harvard Medical School in Boston. Reuters

An explosion erupted in a building of Harvard Medical School in Boston on Saturday morning, which the schools police department is now describing as an intentional act. Two people were seen fleeing from the building after the explosion when a police officer from the Harvard University Police Department arrived at the scene.

The explosion and motive are currently being investigated by local and federal authorities. The school police maintained that no injuries were reported. The university went on to release still images from video surveillance footage that show two individuals at the explosion site.

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One wore khaki pants, grey Crocs, and a brown hooded sweatshirt that appeared to say NYC; the other wore dark plaid pyjama pants and a dark hooded sweatshirt. Both individuals had light-coloured ski masks. According to The New York Times, the incident took place at 2:48 am (local time) in the Goldenson building of the medical school.

Officers from the Harvard police department were dispatched after a fire alarm was activated at the building. An officer who arrived at the scene saw the individuals running from the building, Steven G. Catalano, a spokesman for the university police, said in a statement.

Authorities are terming it intentional

Soon after the reports of the blast started circulating online, the arson unit of the Boston Fire Department determined that the explosion was intentional". The swept the building but did not find additional devices.

Catalano did not reveal the extent of the damage that occurred in the building, which was built back in 1906. The site of the explosion appears to hold portions of the Neurology Department, according to the schools website.

An email obtained by The New York Times, sent to the neurobiology department by a school administrator, asked faculty and students to avoid coming to campus unless necessary, while also specifying that only part of the building was closed. While we arent able to share more details at this time, I want you to know that the building has been cleared and remains open, except for the fourth floor where the incident took place, the letter read.

Meanwhile, the FBI was assisting at the scene of the crime, and Kristen M. Setera, a spokeswoman for the Boston Field Office, said that the investigation was very active".

The incident occurred at a time when Harvard was facing scrutiny from the US President Donald Trumps administration, with the government cutting funds after the university did not agree to adopt more conservative gender values, grant access to admissions data, or make changes to the schools code of conduct.

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US President Donald Trump made heads turn after he suggested that its probably illegal to be 100% ANTI TRUMP. The remarks from Trump came while he was ranting about late-night TV host Seth Meyers on his social media platform TruthSocial

US President Donald Trump made heads turn after he suggested that its probably illegal to be 100% ANTI TRUMP. The remarks from Trump came while he was ranting about late-night TV host Seth Meyers on his social media platform TruthSocial on Saturday afternoon.

Trumps comments were in response to a TV Presenters bid on Thursdays episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers. In his rebuttal, Trump declared that Meyers may be the WORST to perform, live or otherwise.

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I watched his show the other night for the first time in years, Trump wrote. In it, he talked endlessly about electric catapults on aircraft carriers, which I complain about as not being as good as much less expensive steam catapults. On and on he went, a truly deranged lunatic.

He continued: Why does NBC waste its time and money on a guy like this??? - NO TALENT, NO RATINGS, 100% ANTI TRUMP, WHICH IS PROBABLY ILLEGAL!!!

What Meyers said

On Thursday night, Meyers took potshots at Trumps address to the members of the US military earlier this week. The speech was made on the USS George Washington aircraft carrier in Japan. During his speech, Trump asked the audience to tell him which type of catapult is better for aircraft carriers: steam or electric. Several audience members shouted back, Steam!

Theyre spending billions of dollars to build stupid electric, Trump said. And the problem, when it breaks, you have to send it up to MIT, get the most brilliant people in the world, fly them out, its ridiculous. The steam, they said they could fix it with a hammer and a blowtorch, and it works just as well, if not better, Trump continued. And I love the sight of that beautiful steam pouring off that deck  with the electric, you dont have that," he added.

Meyers played a part in Trumps remarks for his audience before remarking, The Guy spends more time thinking about catapults than Wile E. Coyote. Next, they start complaining about how our troops dont tie themselves to rockets anymore, Meyers added.

We used to strap our soldiers to the rockets, and they loved it, but then everything got woke, and they said, You cant tie a person to a rocket. But we miss those days, and were bringing them back," the TV personality continues, impersonating the president. This isnt the first time Trump has slammed Meyers.

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In August this year, Trump went on a late-night rant about a rumour he heard that NBC had extended Meyers contract  even though the network signed a four-year extension with Meyers last year. He has no Ratings, Talent, or Intelligence, and the Personality of an insecure child, Trump wrote at the time. So, why would Fake News NBC extend this dopes contract. I dont know, but Ill definitely be finding out!!! NBC has yet to comment on Trumps latest remarks.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday slammed Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar for her Somali heritage, suggesting that she should leave the country.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday slammed Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar for her Somali heritage, suggesting that she should leave the country. Trump proclaimed one of his social media rants on TruthSocial.

She should go back! he wrote on Truth Social, alongside a video of Omar speaking to a crowd. It was not immediately clear when the event was, but it has been circulating among right-leaning social media accounts for at least a couple of weeks.

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The Democratic House Representative was born in Somalia and arrived in the US when she was 8, fleeing the civil war in her country. Before this, she had spent four years in the Kenyan refugee camp as well. Trump and his MAGA allies, like Laura Loomer, were quick to amplify his post across their social media channels.

This is not the first time the American leader has suggested that Omar should leave the country. You know I met the head of Somalia, did you know that? he told reporters at the Oval Office in September. And I suggested that maybe hed like to take her back. He said I dont want her.

Omar is not worried

While her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, the four-term lawmaker told a radio host Friday that she isnt concerned by rhetoric around her immigration status.

I have no worry, I dont know how theyd take away my citizenship and deport me, she said on The Dean Obeidallah Show. But I dont even know, like, why thats such a scary threat. Like, Im not the 8-year-old who escaped war anymore. Im grown, my kids are grown. Like, I could go live wherever I want if I wanted to. Its a weird thing to wake up every single day to bring that into every single conversation, were gonna deport Ilhan.

During his first term in office, Trump called out Omar multiple times for her ethnicity. In one instance, he accused Omar of telling us how to run our country during the final months of the 2020 campaign.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth joined hands with his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Dong Jun, to create US-China military communication systems. The move is aimed at preventing disagreements or misunderstandings from spiralling into unintended conflict in the Indo-Pacific.

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth joined hands with his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Dong Jun, to create US-China military communication systems. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Hegseth noted that the move is aimed at preventing disagreements or misunderstandings from spiralling into unintended conflict in the Indo-Pacific.

In the post on Saturday, Hegseth mentioned that he had spoken with Dong on both Thursday and Friday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-PLUS in Malaysia about the need for peace, stability, and good relations between the US and China. Admiral Dong and I also agreed that we should set up military-to-military channels to deconflict and de-escalate any problems that arise, Hegseth said.

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The American defence secretary added that the US and China relations had never been better and that US President Donald Trumps meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday set the tone for everlasting peace and success for the U.S. and China.

A surprising move

Hegseths recent proclamation came in contrast to his warning at the ASEAN Defence Ministers summit. At that time, he said that Chinas sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea." We must ensure that China is not seeking to dominate you or anybody else, Hegseth added.

In the Saturday statement, Hegseth said that he and Dong will hold follow-up meetings to flesh out the details of such ties. The US-China military communications channels hold significance given the rising friction across the Taiwan Strait and Chinas aggressive naval challenges to Philippine vessels in Manilas waters in the South China Sea.

After his meeting with Hegseth, Dong told reporters that Beijing sees value in forging such links. During his talks, he told his American counterpart that the US and China should create a military-to-military relationship based on equality and respect, peaceful coexistence, and stable, positive development, Chinas Defence Ministry said in a statement Friday.

The United States has long struggled to foster reliable military-to-military communications with China. Beijing cut off all US-China military dialogues after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis Taiwan trip in 2022. The Biden administration had managed to persuade Beijing to resume key military dialogues by the end of 2024 that connected high-level military officials in discussions on issues of mutual concern.

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However, it is unclear how much of the Biden administrations efforts have continued under Trump, and the Defence Department last month declined to provide details about current US-China military communications. Interestingly, Hegseths pursuit of such links comes as the Pentagon prepares to release the National Defence Strategy in the coming weeks. With this move, the American strategy will likely shift focus away from countering China and instead focus on domestic and regional missions.
GAZA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, have been permitted to enter the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in eastern Gaza to search for the bodies of Israeli hostages, according to local sources and eyewitnesses.

Israeli public radio confirmed that the government had approved the entry of Hamas members, accompanied by Red Cross teams, into the area enclosed by the "Yellow Line," where Israeli troops have since withdrawn, to search for the remains of hostages.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is obliged to hand over the remains of 28 deceased hostages in return for 360 Palestinian militants killed in the war. However, the remains of the last 11 hostages have yet to be returned.

The delayed return of hostage bodies drew criticism from Israel, but Hamas maintains that the delays stem from difficulties in locating them amid the widespread destruction and lack of proper excavation equipment.

Earlier this week, a Hamas source also accused Israel of blocking the entry of recovery teams into the Shuja'iyya neighborhood.

Meanwhile, Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza City, told Xinhua that an Israeli aircraft bombed a group of young men who were attempting to return to their homes in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood.

Basal said one young man was killed and several others were wounded and taken to the Baptist Hospital in Gaza City. The Israeli army did not immediately comment on the incident.

The Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when a surprise attack by Hamas-led militants on southern Israel killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. The ensuing Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed 68,865 people and injured another 170,670, according to Gaza's health authorities.

Despite the ceasefire, 236 Palestinians have been killed and 600 injured since Oct. 11, the health authorities added. 
Russo-Ukraine War - 02 November 2025 - Day 1348

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

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

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

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that since the beginning of this day, there have been 168 combat clashes.

Today the Russian occupiers made 36 aviation strikes, dropped 63 controlled air bombs. In addition, the Russians involved 3759 kamikaze drones and carried out 3,822 shelling at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

Ukrainian defenders repelled one attack of Russians in the North-Slobozhansky and Kursky directions. Since the beginning of the day, the Russian opponent made six air strikes, in total dropped 12 controlled air bombs and carried out 165 shells, including nine - from the reactive systems of salpovogo fire.

In the South-Slobozhansky direction, Ukrainian troops stopped 12 Russian attacks in the areas of settlements Vovchansk, Vovchansky Khutory, Tyhe, Odradne, and towards Kolodyazny and Dvorichansky. An airstrike was hit by the settlement of Zirkuna.

In the Kupyansky direction, the Defense Forces repelled 12 Russian attacks in the areas of settlements Stepova Novoselivka, Borivska Andriyivka and towards Petropavlivka, Kurylivka and Pi any, four clashes are ongoing.

In the Lyman direction during the day, Russian zagarbniki seven times attacked the positions of Ukrainians in the areas of the settlements of Grekivka, Kolodyazi, Zarichne and towards the settlement of Korovy Yar. Currently, the fighting is not stopping in some locations.

In the Slovak direction of the Defense Forces repelled eight Russian attacks near Serebryanka, Dronivka, Fedorivka and towards Siversk.

In the Kramators komu direction, there are currently two combat clashes. Russian zagarbnyk tried to move near the settlement of Times Yar and towards Stupochok.

In the direction of Konstantinivsk, Russians 16 times attacked the positions of Defense Forces. The main efforts of the Russian invasion were concentrated in the areas of settlements Oleksandro-Shultine, Scherbinivka, Pleshiyivka, Rusin Yar and Poltavka.

In the Pokrovsky direction, the Russian zagarbnicki units 62 times tried to break through Ukrainian defense in the areas of populated areas Nikanorivka, Mayak, Mirnograd, Chervony Lyman, Rodinske, Razine, Mykolaivka, Novoekonomicne, Pokrovsk, Lisivka, Zvirove, Kotline, Udaachne, Molodetske, Novomikolaivka, Gorihove, Dachne and Philia.

Today in this direction Ukrainian soldiers zneskodili 129 Russian invaders, 95 of them - irrevocably. Seven unmanned aircraft, four units of vehicle equipment and two communication antennas have been destroyed, a combat armored vehicle, two artillery systems and a vehicle were also damaged, in addition to that the BPLA control point and ten Russian infantry shelters were damaged.

In the direction of Oleksandrivsky, the Russian enemy attacked 29 times in the areas of settlements Green Gai, Sichneve, Novoselivka, Vorone, Sosnivka, Verbove, Oleksiyivka, Ribne, Yegorivka and Krasnogirsk. One fight is still going on.

Two clashes were recorded in the direction of the Okhotniche settlement in the direction of Gulyaipilsky. Airstrikes were hit by settlements of Sweet and Zaliznycne.

The Russian offensive actions were not recorded in the Orihivsky direction.

In the Pridniprovsky direction, Ukrainian units repelled one attempt by the Russian occupiers to advance in the area of the Antonivsky Bridge. Russian aviation struck Sadovy.

In other directions, the situation has not changed significantly.

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

Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on formations of two mechanised brigades, one air assault brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade close to Andreyevka, Ikriskovshchina, Kondratovka, Pavlovka, and Sadki (Sumy region).

In Kharkov direction, units of one mechanised brigade, one motorised infantry brigade of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade have been hit close to Volchansk, Dvurechanskoye, and Okop (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 180 troops, one armoured personnel carrier, nine motor vehicles, and two field artillery guns. One electronic warfare station and one Israeli-made RADA RPS-42 radar station, as well as seven materiel depots, were neutralised.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian units engaged manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Kurilovka, Borovaya, Kupyansk-Uzlovoy, and Lesnaya Stenka (Kharkov region).

Assault detachments of the 6th Army continue to destroy the enemy group close to Kupyansk (Kharkov region).

The attempt of Ukrainian troops to breach the encirclement and reach the Oskol River south of Kupyansk-Uslovoy (Kharkov region) was thwarted. 14 militants of the 43rd Mechanised Brigade, three pickup trucks, and two ATVs of the AFU were neutralised.

Three attacks of the 151st and 92nd mechanised brigades of the AFU to lift the blockade of surrounded formations were repelled near Blagodatovka, Velikaya Shapkovka, and Nechvolodovka (Kharkov region). Up to 20 militants and one Jura armoured vehicle have been neutralised.

In the past 24 hours, up to 50 servicemen, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one Jura armoured vehicle, two lorries, five pickup trucks, and two ATVs of the AFU have been neutralised close to Kupyansk (Kharkov region).

Up to 215 troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, four armoured fighting vehicles, 18 motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns of the AFU have been neutralised in the Zapad Group's area of responsibility. Seven electronic warfare stations, one electronic reconnaissance station, and three ammunition depots were neutralised.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops inflicted losses on formations of five mechanised brigades, two air assault brigades, one assault brigade, one mountain assault brigade of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and one national guard brigade near Ivanopolye, Konstantinovka, Seversk, Slavyansk, and Reznikovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 120 troops, one German-made Leopard tank, seven armoured fighting vehicles, and six pickup trucks. One AN/TPQ-48 counter-fire radar station, three materiel depots, and one POL depot were neutralised.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. The Group's units inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one air assault brigade, one assault brigade, three assault regiments of the AFU, three marine brigades, one territorial defence brigade, and two national guard brigades close to Belitskoye, Volnoye, Grishino, Kotlino, Rodinskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Ivanovka, and Novopodgornoye (Dnepropetrovsk region).

In Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic), assault detachments of the 2nd Army continue to destroy surrounded enemy units close to a railway station and an industrial area behind a railway.

The mopping-up from AFU militants in the settlements of Gnatovka and Rog (Donetsk People's Republic) is about to be completed. Moreover, the enemy was pushed out of a fortified stronghold in the south-east of the city.

Nine enemy attacks to breach the encirclement were repelled in the northern and north-western directions.

An attempt to break through encirclement of the 425th Skala Assault Regiment of the AFU on armoured fighting vehicle to Grishino (Donetsk People's Republic) was thwarted. All the militants have been neutralised.

The units of the 5th Motorised Rifle Brigade (51st Army) continued to tighten the encirclement around the enemy group from the east, expanded the control zone in the northern, eastern, south-eastern parts of Dimitrov (Donetsk People's Republic) and liberated 26 buildings.

In the past 24 hours, up to 140 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, and two pickup trucks of the AFU have been neutralised in this area, and two AFU servicemen have been taken prisoner.

In total, more than 520 troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, six Kazak armoured fighting vehicles, and six motor vehicles of the AFU have been neutralised in the Tsentr Group's area of responsibility.

The Vostok Group's units continued to advance in the depths of the enemy's defence, inflicted losses on two mechanised brigades, three assault regiments of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades close to Danilovka, Orestopol, Tikhoye (Dnepropetrovsk region), Gulyaipole, Novoye Zaporozhye, and Uspenovka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU lost up to 240 troops, one armoured personnel carrier, two armoured fighting vehicles, 13 motor vehicles, and one artillery gun.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of one mountain assault brigade and one coastal defence brigade of the AFU near Lukyanovskoye, Stepnogorsk (Zaporozhye region), Antonovka, and Nikolskoye (Kherson region).

More than 80 troops, 12 motor vehicles, five electronic warfare stations, one ammunition depot, one POL depot, and two materiel depots were neutralised.

Operational-tactical aviation, attack drones, missile troops and artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have inflicted damage on energy facilities, which provided an operation of the Ukrainian defence industry, storage areas, and launch sites of long-range attack drones, as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 141 areas.

The Black Sea Fleet destroyed six uncrewed surface vehicles in the north-western part of the Black Sea.

Air defence systems shot down four guided aerial bombs, four HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 283 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 668 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 94,367 unmanned aerial vehicles, 634 anti-aircraft missile systems, 25,812 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,608 MLRS combat vehicles, 30,999 field artillery guns and mortars, and 45,512 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.

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PANAMA CITY, Nov. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Blazpay Token Presale continues its powerful momentum with Phase 3 live at $0.009375 per BLAZ. Over 150 million tokens have been sold out of the 157.3 million available, pushing total funds raised to $1M. As Phase 4 is approaching rapidly creating urgency for investors who want to secure tokens before the next price increase.

Blazpay stands out among Token presales with its AI-focused ecosystem, combining Conversational AI, SDK, Gamified Rewards, and Unified Services. With its expanding investor base and proven momentum, Blazpay is emerging as one of the best crypto AI coins and a top-performing crypto coin to buy in 2025.

Blazpay: Leading the Charge Among Top Crypto to Invest In

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A single dashboard that brings trading, staking, and DeFi operations together for seamless use.

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Blazpay Price Prediction  AI Crypto Meets High ROI

Market analysts forecast Blazpay to trade between $0.012 and $0.015 after Phase 3 completion, with long-term potential reaching $0.10$0.12 by 2025. With Phase 4 starting soon, momentum is building fast, making this the best moment to buy before the next jump.

Final Outlook  Blazpay Dominates the 2025 Token Presale Market

With 87% of Phase 3 already sold and $1M raised, Blazpay is proving itself as the Top Crypto to Invest In before the new phase begins. Its AI-based architecture, strong DeFi integrations, and growing investor community make it one of the most promising Token presale of 2025.

Your announcement should highlight that a new phase is starting soon, signaling limited-time entry for early buyers before prices rise again.

About Blazpay:

Blazpay merges Conversational AI, Multichain integrations, SDK innovation, Gamified Rewards, Perpetual Trading, and Unified Services into a single, seamless DeFi hub. With Phase 3 live at $0.009375 and the next phase starting soon, this is the ideal time for both retail and institutional investors to join one of the best crypto AI coins of 2025 before the next price lift.

Join the Blazpay Community

Website: https://blazpay.com

Twitter: https://x.com/blazpaylabs

Telegram: https://t.me/blazpay

Media Contact:

Contact Person: Alan Wright

Email: alan@blazpay.com

Disclaimer: This content is provided by Blazpay. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sectorincluding cryptocurrency, NFTs, and miningcomplete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

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FALMOUTH, Mass., Nov. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- What makes Falmouth real estate such a draw for those seeking refined yet peaceful coastal living? A recent HelloNation article reveals why this Cape Cod town has become one of the most desirable destinations for luxury buyers who want elegance without the crowds.

The article highlights how Falmouth real estate has quietly earned its reputation among those looking for a sophisticated balance between beauty, privacy, and community. Located on the New England coast, Falmouth combines classic Cape Cod luxury homes with a relaxed lifestyle that reflects the best of small-town living. This mix of understated elegance and natural charm appeals to high-end homeowners who want a place that feels exclusive without being isolated.

Geography plays a major role in Falmouths growing appeal. The towns sixty miles of shoreline provide a diverse collection of waterfront properties, from sprawling oceanfront estates to homes tucked within wooded neighborhoods. Areas like Surf Drive Beach, Gansett Road, and West Falmouth Harbor showcase the range of architectural styles available in Falmouth real estate, each offering unique views of Vineyard Sound and easy access to the sea. For those who dream of coastal living that feels personal and grounded, the options here are unmatched.

Downtown Falmouth brings another layer of charm. Its walkable Main Street features locally owned galleries, boutiques, and restaurants that combine village warmth with a touch of sophistication. The town manages to maintain a sense of liveliness without losing its calm rhythm. This careful balance adds value to the Cape Cod luxury homes market, as residents can enjoy fine dining and local culture without sacrificing the peace that defines the community.

Privacy remains a defining feature of Falmouths appeal. Many neighborhoods are naturally separated by conservation land, marshes, and tree-lined roads that shield homes from the bustle of main thoroughfares. Buyers searching for waterfront property that offers both access and seclusion often find that Falmouth meets their needs perfectly. This sense of space, paired with proximity to beaches and marinas, creates an environment where luxury buyers can enjoy serenity within easy reach of modern amenities.

Falmouths relationship with the ocean shapes its identity. With multiple harbors and direct access to Vineyard Sound, boating and fishing are woven into daily life. Deep-water docks at Falmouth Harbor and Quissett Harbor make it easy for residents to explore the surrounding waters or reach Marthas Vineyard by ferry. For those who value coastal living not just as a view but as a lifestyle, Falmouth offers the freedom to spend more time at sea and less time in transit.

Beyond its scenic beauty, Falmouth thrives as a community with strong local roots. Events like art walks, seasonal festivals, and farmers markets give the town an enduring sense of connection. Even as Falmouth real estate continues to grow in value and visibility, its authenticity remains intact. Residents share a collective respect for their environment, ensuring that the towns evolution complements its traditions rather than erases them.

The towns natural surroundings enhance its livability. Miles of trails, including the popular Shining Sea Bikeway, give residents a way to enjoy the outdoors year-round. The ability to see both sunrise and sunset along the New England coast within a single day captures what makes Falmouth special. For buyers who appreciate the blend of scenic charm and recreational variety, these experiences make everyday life feel like a getaway.

In terms of housing, the market reflects both variety and taste. Cape Cod luxury homes in Falmouth range from historic captains houses to new designs that honor the areas coastal heritage. Pricing depends on proximity to the shoreline and property size, but demand remains steady. Many luxury buyers who initially explore busier Cape Cod towns end up gravitating toward Falmouth for its tranquility and value. For them, the towns quiet confidence feels like a refreshing alternative to more crowded destinations.

Accessibility further adds to Falmouths reputation as a practical yet prestigious location. The towns connection to Route 28 keeps it within reach of Boston and Providence, making it ideal for second-home owners or commuters who want a waterfront property that doesnt feel remote. Strong local schools, reputable medical facilities, and year-round services ensure comfort and convenience for both seasonal and full-time residents.

The HelloNation article also underscores how Falmouth MA has achieved a rare equilibriumluxury that feels natural rather than manufactured. It is a place where coastal living can be both peaceful and sophisticated, where every detail from architecture to community design supports a life well-lived. This balance between refinement and relaxation keeps Falmouth real estate in steady demand, particularly among those who value space, beauty, and authenticity.

In the end, the draw of Falmouth lies in its quiet strength. It doesnt rely on celebrity culture or high-profile developments to define its prestige. Instead, its appeal grows from withinfrom the gentle pace of daily life, the respectful preservation of natural spaces, and the enduring charm of Cape Cod luxury homes that blend seamlessly into their surroundings.

For many luxury buyers, this combination of privacy, ocean access, and small-town warmth defines what true coastal living should feel like. As interest in the New England coast continues to rise, Falmouth stands as a testament to the idea that understated elegance often endures longer than flashier trends.

Falmouths Quiet Appeal for Discerning Coastal Buyers features insights from Serena LoPiccolo-Smith, Luxury Real Estate Expert of Falmouth, MA, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative edvertising approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

Patrick McCabe

info@hellonation.com

www.hellonation.com





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TEHRAN, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday his government is fully committed to supporting the development of the country's "peaceful" nuclear program, according to a statement from his office.

Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran's nuclear program is intended to meet domestic needs and improve living standards, not to develop weapons.

He said Iran's nuclear activities have been the target of "negative and biased propaganda" aimed at convincing the public that nuclear energy is synonymous with atomic weapons.

The president said his administration will "strongly back the progress and expansion" of Iran's nuclear capacities, so Iran's nuclear industry can gain a bigger share of the global market.

He said Iran should accelerate the production of radiopharmaceuticals and the development of modern medical technologies, describing them as essential.

"Colonial powers are trying to prevent independent nations, including Iran, from acquiring advanced technologies," he added.

Western governments have long accused Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the charge, saying its nuclear program is peaceful and focused on power generation and medical uses. 




Foresight Constellation grows to five satellites, up by three since January 2025

25 cm SAR resolution enables GIQ platform to provide faster, sharper insights

Strengthens UAEs sovereign Earth Observation capability and international collaboration



ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company with global reach, and ICEYE , the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations, today announced the successful launch of three SAR satellites in its Earth Observation (EO) constellation, Foresight-3, Foresight-4, and Foresight-5, into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Launched via integrator Exolaunch, the Foresight satellites successfully lifted off aboard the Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission with SpaceX from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, USA. The spacecraft has established communication, and early routine operations are underway.

First launched in August 2024, followed by another launch in January 2025 , the Foresight Constellation combines SAR imagery and Space42s AI platform, GIQ, to accelerate the delivery of decision-grade geospatial intelligence to governments, industries, and partners worldwide.

Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42, said: Expanding the Foresight Constellation to five satellites in just over one year demonstrates our commitment to operating as a center of excellence for space innovation, and enhances the space ecosystem we are developing, that can scale globally from Abu Dhabi. By combining sovereign capability with global collaboration, together with ICEYE, we deliver intelligence that matters across industries and borders. Space42s strategy is to lead the premium geospatial intelligence market, and todays milestone is proof of execution at speed and scale.

Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE, said: Working with Space42 demonstrates how ICEYEs technology and operational expertise can help partners establish sovereign satellite capabilities. By launching mid-inclination SAR satellites, we are enabling Space42 to deliver persistent coverage across key regions at middle latitudes. We look forward to building even greater capabilities in the UAE and collaborating with our partners as they advance their space ambitions.

Technology Edge

The Earth Observation constellations key differentiator is its geospatial intelligence capability. Operating at 25-centimeter resolution enables GIQ to convert continuous visibility into real-time insights, delivered directly into decision workflows, with daily revisit rates, sharper detection of change, and lower latency in intelligence delivery.

Across industries, the benefits of SAR constellations are tangible. SARs strategic value was demonstrated in Turkey in 2023, when it confirmed the safety of the Ataturk Dam after a major earthquake while all other monitoring systems failed, and in 2024 during the UAEs historic flooding.

These real-world cases illustrate why demand is accelerating. The global SAR market is projected to grow from $5.8 billion to $9.8 billion by 2030. With SAR systems, governments can accelerate emergency response by up to 90%, infrastructure operators can reduce predictive maintenance costs by as much as 30%, and enterprises can reduce operational inefficiencies by a quarter.

International Collaboration

Partnership is central to the UAEs model of progress and to how Space42 operates. The Foresight Constellation exemplifies distributed manufacturing and cross-border collaboration. The satellites were produced in Finland, tested and integrated for the first time in Abu Dhabi at Space42s Space Systems Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) facility, and launched from the United States. This model accelerates innovation, reinforcing Space42s role as a global player in the space industry.

Strengthening the UAEs Leadership in Earth Observation

With Foresight-1 and Foresight-2 already in orbit, the addition of three new SAR satellites further strengthens decision accuracy and advances the Space42s Earth Observation program towards full constellation maturity targeted for 2027.

The milestone supports the UAEs National Space Strategy 2030 while reinforcing the countrys leadership in geospatial intelligence, satellite innovation, and advanced manufacturing. The Foresight EO Constellation places the UAE among only 20 countries worldwide that operate SAR space assets.

With Abu Dhabi now home to the regions first SAR AIT facility, Space42 continues to strengthen the foundation of high-tech manufacturing and talent development within the UAEs industrial base.

About Space42

Space42 (ADX: SPACE42) is a UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company that integrates satellite communications, geospatial analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities to enlighten the Earth from space. Formed in 2024 by the successful merger of Bayanat and Yahsat, Space42s global reach allows it to address the rapidly evolving needs of its customers in governments, enterprises, and communities. Space42 comprises two business units: Space Services and Smart Solutions. Space Services focuses on upstream satellite operations for both fixed and mobility satellite services. Smart Solutions integrates geospatial data acquisition and processing with AI to inform decision-making, enhance situational awareness, and improve operational efficiency. Major shareholders include G42, Mubadala, and IHC.

For more information, visit: www.space42.ai ; follow us on X: @space42ai

Legal Notice and Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations and assumptions about future events. These statementsidentified by terms such as expect, will, or similarare subject to risks and uncertainties and may prove inaccurate. They reflect information available as of the date hereof, and the companies disclaim any obligation to update them. No assurance is given that any forward-looking statement will occur, and undue reliance should not be placed on them. This announcement does not constitute a financial promotion or an offer to buy or sell securities in any jurisdiction.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:

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Dubai, UAE, Nov. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is entering the final stretch of its presale as excitement builds around the upcoming V1 protocol rollout. The project has now raised over $18 million, crossing another major milestone in its roadmap while gaining growing attention as one of the top DeFi cryptocurrencies to watch ahead of 2026.





Rapid Presale Progress

The presale continues to attract heavy demand, marking one of the strongest early-stage performances in the DeFi sector this year. More than 17,600 holders have already joined the Mutuum Finance (MUTM) community, signaling strong belief in the platforms long-term roadmap and real-world use case.

The project is currently in Phase 6, with each token priced at $0.035. So far, over 785 million tokens have been sold, bringing this stage close to 80% completion. As investor participation grows, the next presale phase will lift the price to $0.04, followed by a confirmed launch price of $0.06.

MUTM first launched at $0.01 in Phase 1, meaning its value has already climbed by 250% through the presale stages. By the time of launch, that appreciation will reach nearly 500%, positioning early participants for potential token appreciation.

This steady, transparent price progression has helped Mutuum Finance stand out from less-organized presales in the market. Each stage has sold out faster than the one before, creating clear momentum as the project advances toward its next milestones. The combination of a rising token price, strong fundraising, and growing community engagement continues to fuel optimism that MUTM could become one of the best cryptocurrencies to watch heading into 2026.

Building a Functional DeFi Ecosystem

Mutuum Finance is developing a non-custodial lending and borrowing platform designed to make decentralized finance more efficient and reliable. The system is based on smart contracts, which handle all lending operations automatically without the need for intermediaries.

When users deposit crypto assets, they receive mtTokens, which act as yield-bearing receipts tied to their deposits. These mtTokens increase in value as borrowers repay loans, giving depositors a simple and transparent way to earn passive income. Borrowers, meanwhile, can access funds by using supported assets as collateral.

Each loan follows specific Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratios that depend on the volatility of the asset being used as collateral. For example, a stable asset like USDT might have an LTV ratio of around 75%, meaning a user could borrow up to $750 worth of assets for every $1,000 in USDT they deposit. In contrast, a more volatile asset such as ETH might carry a lower LTV limit  for instance, 60%  to reduce liquidation risk.

If the collaterals value drops below its safety threshold, a liquidation process automatically begins. This ensures the protocol remains solvent and that lenders are protected from potential losses, while borrowers have clear visibility into how much collateral they must maintain to keep their positions secure.

Security and Community Confidence

Investor trust has played a major role in driving Mutuum Finances strong presale results. The project successfully completed a CertiK audit, one of the most respected reviews in the blockchain industry. Mutuum earned a 90/100 Token Scan score, confirming that its smart contracts meet high standards of safety and reliability. This gives investors more confidence that the platforms foundation is solid and that their funds are protected from common vulnerabilities.

To strengthen this further, the team launched a $50,000 bug bounty program. This program rewards security researchers who help identify and report potential issues before the mainnet goes live. It shows that the team values transparency and wants to build long-term trust through open testing and third-party involvement.

Community engagement is another key factor behind the projects growing momentum. Mutuum Finance runs a 24-hour leaderboard, where the top daily contributor earns $500 worth of MUTM tokens. This has created a fun, competitive environment that keeps investors active and involved throughout the presale. It also adds an extra layer of openness, as every contribution and reward is visible to the community.

The platform has also made participation simple. Users can buy MUTM tokens directly with a card, skipping complicated wallet setups or token swaps. There are no purchase limits, allowing both small investors and larger participants to join easily. This accessibility has helped the presale attract a wide range of contributors  from newcomers entering crypto for the first time to experienced traders looking for their next high-potential project.

V1 Protocol Launch Confirmed for Q4 2025

Mutuum Finance is now preparing for the V1 rollout, set to launch on the Sepolia Testnet in Q4 2025. This first version of the protocol will introduce the main functional components that form the backbone of Mutuums lending ecosystem.

The update will include the Liquidity Pool, where users can lend or borrow assets such as ETH and USDT. These assets were chosen for their liquidity and reliability, making them ideal for early testing. mtTokens will represent deposits and automatically generate yield, while Debt Tokens will reflect borrowed balances. To maintain system stability, a Liquidator Bot will manage under-collateralized loans automatically.

Once testing is complete, the team plans to expand to additional tokens and integrate across multiple chains, setting up the foundation for large-scale adoption.

Stablecoin and Layer-2 Plans

Looking beyond the initial release, Mutuum Finance plans to launch its own USD-pegged stablecoin, backed by overcollateralized loans within the platform. The stablecoin will be minted and burned dynamically, which helps ensure long-term sustainability and balance within the system.

The team also intends to deploy on Layer-2 networks, improving scalability and lowering transaction costs. Together with planned oracle integrations  such as Chainlink price feeds  these upgrades will strengthen the protocols reliability and make it more competitive with top-tier DeFi projects.

What sets Mutuum Finance apart from most early-stage crypto projects is its combination of clear structure, verified security, and product readiness. Its not just selling a concept  the team has shown consistent progress across roadmap milestones, from its audit completion to community engagement and upcoming testnet deployment.

With over $18 million raised, an audited smart-contract system, and the V1 protocol nearing launch, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is positioning itself as one of the best new DeFi cryptos heading into 2026. Its structured presale model, utility-based design, and transparent progress have already built a strong foundation  and as Phase 6 edges toward completion, investor anticipation continues to rise.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Disclaimer: 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. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.
Washington, D.C., Nov. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Former CIA officer and national security analyst Buck Sexton says a quiet revolution is underway inside the American economy.

In a newly released interview, Sexton detailed how what hes calling Manhattan II, is triggering a wave of innovation and investment not seen since the post-World War II industrial boom.

The first Manhattan Project minted millionaires, Sexton said. I believe were about to see that again with what Im calling Manhattan 2.

A New Era of American Wealth and Power

Sexton says Manhattan II represents more than a defense project  its an all-encompassing plan to rebuild U.S. infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology leadership.

It triggered a massive economic boom that reshaped the entire American economy, he explained, referring to the original 1940s Manhattan Project All told, thats an estimated $2.2 trillion in targeted government investment in the coming decade  not speculation, not wishful thinking.

That spending, Sexton says, will be spread across multiple sectors  from AI infrastructure and semiconductors to energy and defense systems  fueling job creation, new industries, and massive opportunities for private investors.

I believe were going to have AI infrastructure built out on a scale never seen before.

The Policy Shift That Set It All in Motion

According to Sexton, the economic resurgence began when Trump overturned the previous administrations restrictive AI policy, removing what he calls the handcuffs on American innovation.

Biden had a real chance to put America far ahead in the Artificial Superintelligence race years ago  but to be blunt he blew it.

On literally day one of his new term Trump ripped Bidens Executive Order 14110 to shreds and launched his own new one.

That moment, Sexton says, unlocked the flow of capital and unleashed what could be the largest coordinated technological investment in modern history.

The Coming Wave of Manhattan II

The effects, Sexton argues, will ripple far beyond Washington and Wall Street.

This is how new industries are born, he said. AI will impact everything  from defense and healthcare to logistics and power. Every company connected to this initiative could see extraordinary gains.

He points to the first Manhattan Project as precedent: It didnt just change warfare; it rebuilt the entire American economy.

Now, Sexton believes Manhattan II will do the as America reclaims its global economic and technological dominance.

The stakes literally couldnt be higher, Sexton warned.

About Buck Sexton

Buck Sexton is a former CIA counter-terrorism officer who personally debriefed President George W. Bush during the Iraq War. He was also hand-picked to replace the late great Rush Limbaugh as the co-host of Americas highest-rated radio program with over 15 million followers.

Today, Sexton combines his intelligence background and national security expertise to analyze the economic, political, and defense trends shaping Americas future.
VERO BEACH, Fla., Nov. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- What if Florida homeowners could reduce their property tax bill while gaining added legal protection for their homes? Thats exactly what the states homestead exemption offers, according to a HelloNation feature featuring Alex MacWilliam of Alex MacWilliam Real Estate. In the article, MacWilliam explains how the homestead exemption helps residents of Indian River County secure both immediate financial relief and long-term stability through one of Floridas most valuable homeowner benefits.

As outlined in the HelloNation article, the homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of a homeowners primary residence, leading directly to lower property tax payments. Homeowners who occupy their property as a permanent residency on or before January 1 of the tax year may qualify for up to $50,000 in exemptions. The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes, including school district levies, while the second $25,000 applies only to non-school taxes. This straightforward reduction can make a meaningful difference in annual tax obligations for Florida residents.

MacWilliam notes that for Indian River County homeowners, the homestead exemption not only lowers the yearly property tax bill but also provides an additional layer of legal protection. Under Floridas constitution, a homesteaded property is shielded from forced sale by most creditors, with limited exceptions for specific debts like mortgages, property taxes, and contractor liens. This safeguard allows homeowners to retain their property through financial challenges and adds a sense of long-term security to homeownership.

The HelloNation feature also highlights the Save Our Homes provision, a key component of Floridas homestead exemption that limits how much the assessed value of a homesteaded property can increase each year. The cap  3 percent or the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower  ensures that property taxes remain predictable even as market values rise. This protection has become especially valuable in areas like Indian River County, where real estate appreciation has outpaced income growth in recent years.

To qualify for the homestead exemption, homeowners must apply through their county property appraisers office, typically by March 1 of the year for which theyre seeking the benefit. Proof of permanent residency is required, often through documentation such as a Florida drivers license or voter registration. Once approved, the exemption and its accompanying benefits remain in place as long as the homeowner continues to occupy the property as their primary residence.

MacWilliam points out that understanding the homestead exemption is important for both current residents and prospective buyers. For new homeowners, the exemption provides a clear financial incentive to establish permanent residency, while for longtime residents, it represents one of the most effective tools for maintaining affordability amid rising property values.

The homestead exemption serves not only as a financial advantage but also as a strategic part of long-term planning for homeowners across Indian River County. By combining property tax relief, legal protection, and a safeguard against rapid assessment increases, it strengthens the foundation of homeownership and stability within the community.

The article, Floridas Homestead Exemption Protects Homeowners & Saves Them Money , features insights from Alex MacWilliam of Alex MacWilliam Real Estate, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative edvertising approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from real estate and finance to home improvement and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

Patrick McCabe

info@hellonation.com

www.hellonation.com





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:

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Washington, D.C., Nov. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a newly released interview, former CIA officer and national security analyst Buck Sexton has revealed the inner workings of what he calls the most important race in human history  the competition to build the worlds first Artificial Superintelligence, or AI Brain.

Sexton says the initiative  what he calls Manhattan II  represents a national effort on par with the original Manhattan Project that ended World War II. Only this time, the goal isnt atomic power, but digital supremacy .

Because just like in World War 2 were in a global arms race to control a breakthrough technology. And whoever wins this race  controls the world.

The Vision Behind the AI Shift

Sexton explains that Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) marks the next leap beyond ordinary AI  not simply systems that learn, but systems that think, capable of autonomous reasoning and decision-making.

Artificial Superintelligence Could Be The Key To America Building The First Fully Autonomous AI Powered Military.

He warns that the nation that achieves this first will not only dominate militarily but economically  controlling global communications, logistics, finance, and energy through a single, all-knowing computational network.

Whoever controls this form of AI controls the world.

According to Sexton, that realization sparked Trumps immediate push to reverse what he viewed as dangerous restrictions on AI innovation.

Trumps Executive Order Ignites a Technological Arms Race

Sexton says what he calls Manhattan II began the day President Trump took office.

On literally day one of his new term Trump ripped Bidens Executive Order 14110 to shreds and launched his own new one.

That single decision, Sexton explains, removed the bureaucratic barriers that had slowed Americas most advanced research labs and defense programs. It instantly removed the shackles from Americas AI tech geniuses, he said.

Within weeks, top U.S. defense contractors, data scientists, and semiconductor firms were pulled into what insiders now refer to as the AI race  a competition to create the system that will power the next century.

Inside the $2.2 Trillion Blueprint

Sexton says the project involves massive federal and private-sector collaboration:

Were talking about contracts of $500 billion to build out AI infrastructure  the networks, systems, and data processing hubs that AI systems depend on; $280 billion to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing; $175 billion in AI defense shields; and a staggering $1.4 trillion earmarked for energy.

All told, Sexton added, thats an estimated $2.2 trillion in targeted government investment in the coming decade  not speculation, not wishful thinking.

This, he says, isnt just about machines  its about building the neural framework of the next global superpower .

The Global Stakes

Sexton cautions that the United States is not alone in this pursuit. China, he says, has already mobilized its industrial base toward AI militarization at unprecedented scale.

China has the capacity to build 500,000 of these AI-powered drones per month. Some reports suggest they already have over a million of them.

If China wins the race to Artificial Superintelligence, Sexton warns, the balance of power will shift permanently. If China gets it first  they stay first forever. No one else will ever catch up.

The Future Is Being Built Now

Sexton believes Manhattan II will determine whether America leads or falls behind in the next technological age.

This new AI race is our last chance to reclaim it. To put America back in the lead. To build our future, not give it away or beg for it.

He calls it the race to build the AI Brain  a contest not for profit or politics, but for civilizations future.

About Buck Sexton

Buck Sexton is a former CIA counter-terrorism officer who personally debriefed President George W. Bush during the Iraq War. He was also hand-picked to replace the late great Rush Limbaugh as the co-host of Americas highest-rated radio program with over 15 million followers.

Today, Sexton leverages his intelligence background and Washington network to uncover how defense, technology, and economic forces are shaping the next era of American power.
China, Russia pledge to further enhance investment cooperation

Xinhua) 11:20, November 02, 2025

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, co-chairs the 12th meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang co-chaired the 12th meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov in Beijing on Saturday, and the two sides pledged to enhance investment cooperation.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China is willing to work with Russia to continuously enhance the quality and efficiency of investment cooperation under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, constantly enrich the connotation of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, and better enhance the well-being of the people of both countries.

He spoke positively of the progress and achievements in China-Russia investment cooperation over the past year, and put forward a four-point proposal that aims to deepen bilateral cooperation.

First, the two sides should focus on key areas, strengthen exemplary leadership, and strive to deliver more practical results. Second, they should enhance communication and coordination, leverage their complementary strengths, and deepen and substantiate investment cooperation. Third, they should strengthen supply-demand alignment, tap into cooperation potential, and actively explore new areas for investment. Fourth, they should continue to broaden openness, improve the business environment, and steadily boost enterprises' confidence in cooperation.

Manturov said that Russia is ready to give full play to the steering and coordinating role of the Russia-China Investment Cooperation Committee, foster a fair and transparent business environment, steadily advance key projects, actively cultivate new growth drivers, and take Russia-China relations to new heights.

Following the meeting, Ding and Manturov witnessed the signing of cooperation documents.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, co-chairs the 12th meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
MOSCOW, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia launched a new nuclear submarine, the Khabarovsk, in the port city of Severodvinsk, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday.

A launching ceremony of the nuclear submarine was held at JSC Production Association Sevmash, a major Russian shipbuilding enterprise, the ministry said in a release.

The submarine, equipped with underwater weapons and robotic systems, will enable Russia to defend its national interests in the oceans, according to the release.

"I would like to thank everyone involved in the submarine's creation for their conscientious and high-quality work. The vessel still has to undergo a series of sea trials. I wish the crew and the commissioning team success in conducting them," Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov was quoted as saying by the ministry. 
There were plenty of new smartphone launches on the other side of the ocean in the last couple of weeks, but the US market has been pretty quiet. That doesnt mean there arent any discounts this week, of course.

This is probably not a good sign  the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is under $700 for a 256GB unit and the upgrade to 512GB is only $40. Never mind the S25+ (which is out of stock on Amazon, anyway), the S25 Edge is now cheaper than the vanilla Galaxy S25! Unless you settle for the 128GB S25, which you probably shouldnt.

Despite their different sizes  6.7 screen on the Edge and 6.2 on the vanilla phone  they weigh basically the same at 163g. Unfortunately, their batteries are pretty similar too, 3,900mAh/4,000mAh. On the plus side, the Edge gets you a 200MP main camera, something that was previously reserved for the Ultra.

Speaking of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, its price has been pretty stable at around $1,000  under if you can live with 256GB storage, over if you need 512GB. Heres how the S25 Ultra and S25 Edge compare.

While the vanilla S25 has its petite size as an advantage, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is taller and wider than the S25 Edge  thicker (7.4mm vs. 5.8mm) and heavier too (190g vs. 163g), of course. So, the FE price probably has to drop even lower since theres only $40 separating the 256GB models. The FE is a solid mid-ranger, but its 1080p+ display and year-old Exynos 2400 chipset dont compare well with the 1440p+ display and Snapdragon 8 Elite of the premium Edge.

The OnePlus 15 launched in China and it is surely headed for a global release, but when it might be available in the US is anyones guess. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 13 is having a last hurrah with a solid discount, especially on the 512GB unit.

Theres no 15R yet, not officially, anyway (OnePlus did unveil the Ace 6). So, the OnePlus 13R costing $533 for a 256GB unit looks like a better deal than the S25 FE. It uses a year-old chipset too, but its the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. And the 6.78 display has a higher 1264p+ resolution (both are LTPO). The telephoto camera wins on resolution (50MP vs. 8MP) but has a shorter focal length (2x/47mm vs. 3x/75mm). On the plus side, you get a larger battery (6,000mAh vs. 4,900mAh) and fast wired charging (80W vs. 45W), even if you lose wireless charging (15W on the FE).

Apple recently unveiled new iPad Pros with the latest M5 chipset  those became available last week and are already sporting a $50 discount. Its not much, but its more than new Apple products typically get.

The revamped Apple MacBook Pro 2025 14.2 laptop also brings M5 power and a $50 discount.

If you want an Android tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Tab S10 FE+ come in 10.9 and 13.1 sizes with 90Hz IPS LCDs. Now, these are FE tablets so they have mid-range power with an Exynos 1580. Still, they are fast enough for DeX multitasking.

We are currently reviewing the CMF Headphone Pro and early impressions are quite good. These cheap over-ear headphones have solid build quality, good sound and capable noise cancellation. Cheap as they are, $100 normally, they are even cheaper now with a $16 discount.

You can also have a look at the Nothing Headphone (1)  those cost $300 (no discount at the moment), so theres a vast chasm between them and the CMF. They sure are stylish, even if their style isnt for everyone, and are quite capable. Still, at over 3x the price, they are a tough sell over the CMF Headphone Pro.

We may get a commission from qualifying sales.




Haiti - Security : New offensive strategy of the Haitian National Police





The Haitian National Police (PNH) is thinking of the impoverished families living in makeshift tents, of the children whose parents have to beg for food. It is thinking of its valiant police officers who are fighting gangs in the Central region, Artibonite, and Kenscoff, allowing the country to breathe new life.



It is encouraging to see that the PNH's new offensive strategy is bearing fruit in the Central region and Artibonite, where gangs continue to be defeated and pushed back. This is evidenced by the neutralization of about ten gangs in Lascahobas, the death of the lieutenant of gang leader Olritch, alias "M60" from Fort Sainclair, and the fact that Olritch himself was seriously wounded. We can also mention the recapture of the administrative district in downtown Port-au-Prince, where cabinet meetings are now being held.



The Central Directorate of Administrative Police (DCPA) maintains control of the front lines in the Central region and is anticipating terrorist incursions, with the support of local residents. While some casualties have been reported, particularly among police supporters, the police, backed by foreign forces, are continuing their offensive to retake territories controlled by the gangs. The roads connecting the Central region to the Artibonite Valley, notably the entrance to Deluge, are now free of all barricades.



On Tuesday, October 28, faced with the police's firepower, the "Taliban" gang terrorists simply refused to face the security forces and chose to flee. This demonstrates a renewed offensive momentum for the Haitian National Police (PNH) in their fight to restore law and order.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46100-haiti-flash-the-haitian-national-police-announces-a-series-of-victories-against-terrorist-gangs.html



HL/ S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Universite Soleil dHaiti reduced to ashes:

An arson attack reduced Universite Soleil dHaiti (USH), founded by Jean Renel Senatus, former senator for the West Department in the 50th legislature, to ashes.



Mayor of Montrouis house burned down

The home of Elysee Blaise, the interim executive agent at the Montrouis City Hall, and that of his mother, were burned down by armed individuals belonging to the "Taliban" gang.



Miss Universe : Melissa Queenie Sapini will represent Haiti

Melissa Queenie Sapini, a Haitian-American journalist and television host, has been chosen to represent Haiti at the 74th Miss Universe pageant, which will be held in Thailand from November 2nd to 21st. Melissa is also involved in social activism. She co-founded with her mother The Two Queens Foundation, an organization that funds education in Haiti and supports literacy programs.



Laurent Saint-Cyr in Qatar

On Saturday, November 1st, Laurent Saint-Cyr, President pro tempore and Coordinator of the Transition Council, arrived in Doha, Qatar, to participate in the Second World Summit for Social Development, held from November 4th to 6th. Upon his arrival at Hamad International Airport, Saint-Cyr and the Haitian delegation were greeted by Ibrahim bin Yousif Fakhro, Director of the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and by Jean-Marie Francois Junior Guillaume, Haiti's Ambassador to the State of Qatar.



Roadwork notice in Port-au-Prince

The Port-au-Prince City Hall informs residents and the general public that, as part of the rehabilitation work on Faustin 1er Road, the section between Avenue Jean Paul II and Bois Patate (Canape-Vert) will be closed to traffic from Saturday, November 1st to Sunday, November 9th, 2025. This work will be carried out by the Port-au-Prince City Hall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works. This temporary closure is essential to ensure the proper execution of the work and the safety of road users and workers.



USA : Aid for victims of Melissa:

The United States is providing assistance to Haitians affected by Hurricane Melissa. Thanks to supplies pre-positioned by the State Department, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has already distributed 2,907 plastic tarps and shelter kits to 32 sites for displaced persons and host families affected by the floods in Port-au-Prince, and is currently conducting assessments in the south of the country for further distributions.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















BANGKOK, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's commitment to further opening-up has enabled Thailand and other Global South countries to forge closer partnerships with China, contributing to shared prosperity, a Thai economist has said.

Sompop Manarungsan, president of Bangkok-based Panyapiwat Institute of Management, told Xinhua in a recent interview that China has long upheld multilateralism, actively participating in the work of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.

The win-win cooperation approach not only supports China's sustainable growth but also creates new opportunities for Thailand and other developing countries, he said.

China has remained Thailand's largest trading partner for years. According to China's General Administration of Customs, in the first half of this year, bilateral trade reached 76.1 billion U.S. dollars, up 17 percent year-on-year.

Moreover, China is Thailand's second-largest export market and the top destination for over 40 percent of Thailand's agricultural exports.

Sompop said Thailand is now implementing the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023-2027), while the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China adopted the Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan at its fourth plenary session.

The two countries share many development goals, such as innovation-driven growth and green transformation, he said, adding that strengthening cooperation in areas such as smart tourism, digital services and artificial intelligence will inject new momentum into bilateral trade and contribute to regional prosperity.

Sompop said green development will become a new highlight in future Thailand-China cooperation. With its favorable geographic conditions and abundant solar resources, Thailand can draw on China's experience to expand renewable energy use and further advance its sustainable energy development to benefit more people, he added.

As a veteran expert on the Chinese economy, Sompop said Chinese modernization differs from the Western model. While Western countries focus on materialism and individualism, China values inclusiveness and common prosperity, while its political system also ensures strong policy continuity and effective implementation, he added.

The success of Chinese modernization rests on two key pillars -- technological innovation and talent cultivation, Sompop said, noting that over the past two decades, China has made remarkable strides in science and technology, while continuing to invest heavily in education and human capital, particularly in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

These twin engines, supported by openness and inclusiveness, allow this process to generate new opportunities for the world, he said. 
If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, Trump wrote. Just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians.

In a post on Truth Social, the US president accused Nigerias government of allowing extremist groups to carry out attacks on Christian communities. He said he had directed the Department of War (formerly Pentagon) to prepare for possible military strikes.

Donald Trump has warned that the United States military could enter Nigeria guns blazing if the government fails to stop violence against Christians. He also threatened to halt all US aid to the country.

The message drew immediate attention both in Nigeria and abroad. Trump claimed that Nigeria was a disgraced country and said the US would no longer tolerate genocidal acts against Christians. He did not cite sources for his claims.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth responded directly to Trumps post, saying: Yes sir. The Department of War is preparing for action.

The statement triggered alarm in Nigeria, where reactions from officials have focused on rejecting the idea that the state is enabling religious persecution.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said Nigeria remained committed to religious equality and rejected Trumps characterisation. The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, Tinubu said in a written statement.

He also repeated that Nigerias constitution protects religious freedom. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it, he wrote on social media platform X.

Nigerian government officials moved to contain diplomatic fallout from Trumps message. A statement from Nigerias foreign ministry reaffirmed the countrys commitment to fighting violent extremist groups. It also expressed hope that the United States would remain a close ally.

Daniel Bwala, a senior adviser to Tinubu, told AFP that the government was not interpreting Trumps post as a literal threat. We know the heart and intent of Trump is to help us fight insecurity, Bwala said. He also proposed a direct meeting between Trump and Tinubu to discuss the threat of jihadist violence.

Bwala told the BBC that US assistance would be welcome if coordinated with Nigerias authorities. Nigeria is a sovereign country, he said. Any military action should be carried out together.

The row comes as Nigeria continues to struggle with extremist groups in the north. Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have carried out attacks for more than a decade, targeting both Muslim and Christian communities. The violence has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.

Recent data challenges the idea that Christians are disproportionately targeted. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), extremist groups have killed both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria. Since 2009, roughly 53,000 people have died in such attacks.

Between 2020 and 2025, Nigeria experienced around 390 attacks targeting Christians, resulting in approximately 320 deaths. During the same period, about 420 Muslims were killed in nearly 200 separate incidents.

Trump claimed that 3,100 Christians had been killed in Nigeria. He did not provide a source. In 2023, US-based Christian group Open Doors said 89 percent of Christians killed worldwide were killed in Nigeria. That report has been disputed by independent researchers.

Human rights organisations and international monitors have found no clear evidence that Christians are deliberately targeted more than other groups in the country.

In addition to the northeast, central Nigeria has seen frequent deadly clashes between Muslim herders and Christian farmers. These conflicts, often related to land and resources, have also led to large numbers of civilian deaths on both sides.

Despite the complex nature of the violence, Trump has framed the issue in religious terms. On Friday, he said Nigeria was a Country of Particular Concern due to what he called an existential threat to Christians. That designation allows the US State Department to consider sanctions.

The Nigerian information minister Mohammed Idris told the Financial Times that the violence is not one-sided. More Muslims have been killed in these attacks than Christians, he said.

Trumps comments mark a shift in his previous approach to US foreign policy. He has often argued that American troops should not be involved in overseas conflicts. But in recent months, he has approved military strikes against suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean and the Pacific. He has also renamed the Pentagon the Department of War.

The US has worked with Nigerian authorities in the past, including intelligence support during the 2014 Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping. But full-scale military intervention would represent a significant change in US-Nigeria relations.

As the political fallout continues, many Nigerians have urged their government to intensify efforts against extremist groups to prevent external involvement.

HT
Vaughan Fitzpatrick, Westfeldt descendant and Ferncliff Park visionary, dies at age 76

Vaughan Fitzpatrick

Vaughan Fitzpatrick, a native son of New Orleans and world-traveling oil company executive who as a fifth generation descendant of the Westfeldts of Rugby Grange never forgot his connection to the Fletcher community, died on Tuesday, Oct. 28, in New Orleans, at the age of 76. Cause of death was an aggressive form of cancer that was discovered only a few weeks ago, family members said.

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Born on July 3, 1949, to Frances James Gasquet Westfeldt Coo Fitzpatrick and William Harry Fitzpatrick, Victor Vaughan Owen Fitzpatrick enjoyed a successful and colorful career in key postings around the world for the Chevron Oil Co.

His lasting contribution to Henderson County and its industrial and tourism economy came in his visionary decision, along with his brothers, to sell the family land between the Asheville Regional Airport and the French Broad River to form Ferncliff Industrial Park.

Fitzpatrick was among the successful line of descendants of Gustaf Adolphus George Westfeldt, patriarch of the Rugby Grange and the vast landholdings around it. A Swedish immigrant who excelled in business and banking, founded the Westfeldt Bros. coffee-importing business in New Orleans and prized higher education for all his children  sons and daughters alike  G.A.G. Westfeldt and his wife, Jane McLoskey Westfeldt, were contemporaries of George Washington Fletcher, the physician, builder, Confederate Army surgeon and civic leader for whom the town is named; the nationally syndicated humorist Bill Nye, the renowned poet Sidney Lanier, of Tryon; and many other early Fletcher settlers.

Among the cousins in Vaughans generation were Thomas Dugan Westfeldt II, who in 1976 became the fifth generation Westfeldt to work at Westfeldt Brothers Inc., and who serves as the coffee importers president; Chaffe McIlhenny, of Jeter Mountain; Paul C.P. McIlhenny, the Tabasco Co. CEO who died in 2013; and many other peers accomplished in business, medicine, historic preservation, the arts and other fields.

'America's most beautiful industrial park'

The vision of Vaughan and other Henderson County leaders in the late 2000s  county commission chair Bill Moyer, Bill Lapsley (a civil engineer in private practice at the time and a founder decades earlier of the Committee of 100 and the current county commission chair), Partnership for Economic Development President/CEO Andrew Tate, Partnership board members, Duke Power and many more  led to the creation of the 262-acre Ferncliff Industrial Park. The property became home to Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., one of the regions top tourist attractions, GF Linamar and FedEx. Those leaders recognized that the land was an ideal site for manufacturing  mostly flat, next to a regional airport, minutes from a 5-lane state highway and (the now six- and eight-lane) I-26. Creation of Ferncliff was crucial, too, given that only 1 percent of land in Henderson County is zoned industrial and most raw land sites are less than 50 acres.

A North Carolina secretary of commerce once called Ferncliff "America's most beautiful industrial park;" at Vaughan's insistence, manufacturers must be LEED-certified, ensuring that their processes are green and sustainable.

The vision of the industrial park was, How can we do it in a way thats in lockstep with the community, that provides the community good, clean, sustainable jobs and, at the same time, is gorgeous, just like the mountains around it, Vaughan said in a 13-minute video produced by Real Digital Imaging of Brevard about the making of Ferncliff. I think Ferncliff proves that it can be done in communities that dont expect it and that cherish it once its been created.

'Vaughan of Arabia'

The third of four boys born to William and Frances Fitzpatrick, Vaughan attended Woodberry Forest School, the University of Colorado and Tulane Law School. (William Harry Fitzpatrick, Vaughan's father, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1951 for a series of editorials on the constitutional issue of "Government by Treaty.")

Vaughan learned Arabic at MECAS in Lebanon and at St. Anthonys College, Oxford, and, following his fathers footsteps, joined the U.S. Navy, serving as an officer in the Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy.

During his career at Chevron, he lived in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, India, Turkey, London and Moscow. His deep interest and respect for Arabic culture made him welcome at tables from Beirut to Khartoum. "Vaughan of Arabia" was his affectionate sobriquet in Saudi. His many overseas postings provided rich fodder for his stories  some true, some embellished  that fascinated his contemporaries and mesmerized his grandchildren.

When they weren't traveling the world, Vaughan and his first wife, Mary, cherished their time in Hendersonville. After retiring from Chevron, Vaughan threw himself into relocating the familys summer home at Ferncliff, the Green House, in order to preserve its spirit. With the help of the Whole Log Co. in Zirconia, he coordinated the disassembly and reassembly of the home on Bryson Mountain, a ridgetop the family knew as Two-Jack mountain for the barter of two donkeys for the land. Vaughan enjoyed nothing more than hiking the ridge, a grandchild strapped to his chest while he crooned songs of his youth and told tall tales.

Vaughan was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary, after a loving 41 years of marriage. When Vaughan met Melissa, his beloved second wife, her companionship rekindled his joie de vivre. They shared a love of adventure and wanderlust and traveled the world in the years they had together. Vaughan is survived by Melissa, and by his and Mary's two sons, Fletcher and Welles, and his three grandchildren.

The family plans to announce details of a funeral service, to be held on Nov. 12 in New Orleans.

* * * * *

For this news obituary, Lightning editor Bill Moss drew on his personal relationship with Vaughan, who was a primary living source for the editor's 2013 book, The Westfeldts of Rugby Grange.
JERUSALEM, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to disarm Hamas and demilitarize the Gaza Strip, saying his government would keep targeting remaining militant cells despite a ceasefire that took effect last month.

"Some Hamas cells remain active in parts of Gaza under our control, and we are systematically eliminating them," Netanyahu told ministers, citing areas in Rafah and Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

"Disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip is our guiding principle," he said, adding that it was a goal he had agreed on with U.S. President Donald Trump. "If it cannot be achieved one way, it will be achieved another."

Netanyahu said Israeli forces would continue to act to protect troops still in Gaza, adding that Israel would notify its U.S. allies of operations "but will not ask their permission." He said Israel would not compromise its "supreme security responsibility."

His remarks came as the White House works to preserve the ceasefire and secure further hostage releases, even as Israeli strikes have continued, though at a reduced pace.

Gaza health authorities said on Sunday that at least 236 Palestinians had been killed and 600 wounded by Israeli fire since the truce began more than three weeks ago, bringing the total death toll since Oct. 7, 2023, to 68,865.

Netanyahu also urged Lebanon's government to enforce its commitment to disarm Hezbollah, accusing the group of rearming, and warned that Israel would act in self-defense if necessary.

Separately, Defense Minister Israel Katz called on Beirut to remove Hezbollah forces from southern Lebanon, saying in a statement that "maximum enforcement will continue and intensify -- we will not allow any threat to residents of the north."

The Israeli military said it killed four members of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force on Saturday in the latest strike, part of ongoing cross-border attacks that have persisted despite the ceasefire reached last November. 
LONDON, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Nine people were injured after a stabbing attack on board a train in eastern England, police said on Sunday.

The train was travelling from Doncaster to London before an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station to allow police to intervene.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, including a 32-year-old and a 35-year-old, both born in Britain, said the police in a statement.

Of the nine injured, four have been discharged from hospital, and two remain in a life-threatening condition, according to the statement.

"At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that this is a terrorist incident," it said, adding that counter-terrorism officers are supporting the investigation as they "work to establish the full circumstances and motivation."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the "appalling incident" is "deeply concerning," urging people to follow the advice of local authorities.

Defence Secretary John Healey told Sky News on Sunday that early assessment indicates the stabbing was an "isolated attack." 
BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping at more than 10 bilateral and multilateral events during the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and his state visit to South Korea has guided the Asia-Pacific cooperation, demonstrated the responsibility of a major country and consolidated good-neighborly friendship, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while briefing reporters on the conclusion of Xi's trip.

At the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, Xi called for joint efforts to safeguard the multilateral trading system, build an open economic environment in the region, keep industrial and supply chains stable and smooth, advance the digital and green transformation of trade, as well as promote universally beneficial and inclusive development, said Wang.

Xi also announced that China's Shenzhen will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November next year, emphasizing that China is ready to take the opportunity of hosting the event to work with all parties to build together an Asia-Pacific community, said the Chinese foreign minister.

He also noted that Xi and U.S. President Donald Trump had an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning the China-U.S. relationship and world peace and development in Busan, where Xi pointed out that the two countries are fully able to help each other succeed and prosper together.

The meeting between the two heads of state in Busan marks a historic moment in China-U.S. relations, Wang said.

The Chinese foreign minister noted that the trip also marked Xi's first state visit to South Korea in 11 years, during which he had in-depth exchanges of views with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in a friendly atmosphere and reached a series of important consensuses on cooperation, including the reaffirmation of the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership.

Facts have shown that China and South Korea should pursue common development on the basis of mutual respect, and seek win-win cooperation while shelving differences, he said.

This visit also promoted practical cooperation between China and South Korea, said Wang, as both sides agreed to accelerate the second phase negotiations of China-South Korea free trade agreement, further enhance multilateral coordination, support multilateralism and safeguard free trade.

During the visit, Xi also elaborated on the guiding principles of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China through various forms, including bilateral talks, meetings, public addresses and written speeches, said Wang.

Xi stressed that the Chinese economy is like a vast ocean and will continue to bring more development opportunities to the global business community, and that investing in China means investing in the future, said Wang.

During the visit, Xi also met with the leaders of Canada and Thailand, and had friendly exchanges with representatives from other economies to enhance mutual trust, build consensus and promote cooperation, Wang added. 
by Xinhua writers Yang Shenshen and Hong Zehua

GUANGZHOU, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- At each Canton Fair, Iranian businessman Amin Khoshnavaz can often be seen guiding large groups of buyers from his homeland -- sometimes more than 100 at a time.

When Khoshnavaz first joined his father's business, he helped Iranian businesspeople connect with Chinese partners at the fair. And what began as a family business two decades ago has gradually grown into a bridge for trade, tourism and information exchange between the two countries.

The Canton Fair -- officially known as the China Import and Export Fair -- has become a necessary event for businesspeople from Iran to explore the Chinese market. And Khoshnavaz has been attending for more than 15 years.

"It's not only a fair for trade, which is just about buying or selling. It's about ideas, culture, partnership and trust. It has feelings, energy, and a kind of happiness. Every time I come here, I feel inspired," he said.

Khoshnavaz believes the fair is particularly helpful for businesspeople who are exploring the market, as it gathers a large variety of industries under one roof.

"In other exhibitions, you go to a specific sector -- for instance, cameras, textiles and furniture -- then talk about prices and make deals. But here at the Canton Fair, you can explore everything, get new trade ideas, and open your mind," Khoshnavaz noted.

He described the fair as "a university for business," where small ideas can grow into global ventures. "You meet people from Russia, Korea, Africa -- from everywhere. This is what free trade really means," he said.

He noted that a growing number of people in the Iranian business community are showing interest in Chinese products, and are eager to bring more Chinese-made goods and innovative products to the Iranian market.

Language barriers, however, can limit cooperation between China and Persian countries, according to Khoshnavaz. He said that most information about China available in Iran today is translated from English sources, which sometimes creates misunderstanding.

He and his partners have launched a bilingual online platform, the Iran Directory. The project provides news, travel and business information about Iran in the Chinese language, aiming to help Chinese audiences understand Iran in an improved manner. "We want to fill this gap," he said.

The project also features Iranian culture and lifestyle sections, covering topics from history and food to art and tourism. Khoshnavaz hopes the project will help strengthen the friendship between the two nations.

Recently, the Iran Directory team has started building a business-to-business platform for Chinese travel agencies, helping them book services and organize tours more efficiently in Iran. Khoshnavaz said that he believes people-to-people exchange is essential to deepening ties.

"Nowadays, more Iranians come to China to study or do business. And more Chinese friends are interested in Iran. These exchanges create understanding and cooperation," he said.

His company also provides consultation services and market reports for Iranian enterprises planning to attend the Canton Fair, while assisting Chinese firms in seeking Iranian partners. "Our goal is to connect, to bridge. That's what is written on my business card," he said.

Khoshnavaz remains optimistic about the future of China-Iran cooperation and is committed to enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples.

"We have a long history of friendship. Challenges exist, but with goodwill and effort, we can overcome them," he said. 
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan has reopened the Torkham border crossing in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to facilitate the return of Afghan refugees to their home country, officials said Saturday.

Bilal Rao, deputy commissioner of Khyber district of the province, told the media that the border crossing resumed operations on Saturday morning to allow the repatriation of Afghan families who had been waiting on the Pakistani side for weeks.

He said hundreds of Afghan nationals had arrived at the immigration center, where documentation procedures were underway before allowing them to cross into Afghanistan.

The repatriation process had been suspended on Oct. 11 after clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan erupted, prompting Islamabad to close all border crossings for trade and travel.

A ceasefire was formally reached in Doha on Oct. 19, but Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said during a media briefing on Friday that the border will remain "closed for trade for now," adding that the resumption of commercial activity will depend on the security situation.

The closure of border crossings had halted bilateral trade for weeks, leading to rising prices of essential goods in parts of Pakistan. 
YINCHUAN, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- On a bright morning, 71-year-old Zhu Jingui leans forward in a packed classroom, pen in hand and eyes fixed on the screen as the teacher demonstrates how to edit a video on a smartphone.

This is a digital skills class at Ningxia Elderly University in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Zhu takes quick notes, capturing not only the lesson but also his determination to stay connected in an increasingly digital world.

"I used to ask my kids about everything," he said. "Now I can pay bills, book train and plane tickets, shop online and order food -- all with the help of my smartphone."

Zhu is among some 16,000 students enrolled at the university, which started as a modest program with just two classrooms in 1984 and has since grown into a vibrant institution offering more than 90 majors, from photography and music to artificial intelligence (AI).

"Since the new campus opened in 2019, enrollment has surged," said Shi Xiaoqing, deputy director of the university's academic affairs office. "Some classes fill up within minutes, and more than half are oversubscribed."

Fully funded by the government, the school charges between 100 and 600 yuan (about 14 to 85 U.S. dollars) per year depending on the course, and is open to anyone aged 50 to 78. The faculty includes university professors, cultural workers and medical professionals.

By the end of 2023, China was home to 76,000 senior universities and schools. Across the country, a growing number of retirees like Zhu are returning to the classroom, forming the world's largest community of elderly learners.

For many, learning has evolved beyond self-improvement. It's about finding a sense of purpose.

Feng Junying, a retiree who once dreamed of becoming a photographer, found her opportunity at a senior university. There, she mastered camera work, video editing and drone photography. She began traveling with classmates across China to capture landscapes and cultural heritage sites, with her award-winning photos now featured in exhibitions.

Recently, she enrolled in an AI course. "Now I use AI to name my photos and generate new ideas," she said. "I want to use these tools to serve society."

Another student, Bai Yuefeng, 66, joined a recitation class eight years ago. At the time, she couldn't speak standard Mandarin. Today, she organizes fashion shows, song performances and anti-fraud awareness plays at her local community center.

For Bai, age is just a number; what matters most is attitude. "We have been given great opportunities and resources," she said. "The most important thing is to give back and stay useful, even in old age."

China is home to the world's largest elderly population, with more than 310 million people aged 60 and above by the end of 2024, accounting for over one-fifth of its total population.

From expanding lifelong learning opportunities and promoting volunteer services to developing senior-friendly tourism, China is taking proactive steps to help older adults lead active, meaningful lives.

As part of a broader push to improve elderly welfare during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China has completed home renovations and elderly-friendly facility upgrades for 2.24 million households with special needs, established 2,990 model elderly-friendly communities, and opened 86,000 community canteens for seniors.

Many grandparents are also defying traditional expectations of devoting retirement to childcare, choosing instead to pursue personal growth and fulfillment.

After retiring, Zhu joined the "Silver Age Action" initiative, launched in 2003 to mobilize retirees to volunteer in underdeveloped regions. He spent several years teaching at mountainous schools in Ningxia.

So far, elderly volunteers have participated in the initiative over 7 million times, helping 400 million people through projects supporting rural revitalization, education and public health.

"Those in their 60s are generally healthy, well-educated and rich in life experience and skills," said Yuan Xin, vice president of the China Population Association. "The elderly are a social asset, not a burden."

At Ningxia Elderly University, students talk less about slowing down and more about catching up -- not just with technology, but with life itself. In classrooms filled with laughter and flickering screens, a quiet revolution is unfolding, one that's redefining what it means to age in modern China.

Zhu's schedule remains packed with Tai Chi, yoga, ballroom dance, volunteering and community events. His wife studies cheongsam culture and fitness dance.

"As long as I keep learning, I'll never fall behind the times," he said. 
KABUL, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces have arrested 144 people over attempting to cross the border and sneak into the neighboring Iran illegally, a statement of the national army in the western region said Sunday.

According to the statement, two suspected human traffickers are also among the detainees who were arrested by the army personnel stationed in the western Herat province of Afghanistan.

Aimed at strengthening border security and preventing unlawful movement across the frontiers, the security forces would continue such operations, the statement asserted.

Previously, the security forces also arrested 202 individuals along the border with Iran over attempting to sneak into the neighboring country a couple of weeks ago.

Although hundreds of Afghan refugees return from Iran daily to their homeland Afghanistan, numerous Afghans leaving for Iran illegally everyday to escape poverty and unemployment in their post-war country.

The Afghan government has vowed to check human trafficking and illegal crossing to the neighboring states. 
China lodges stern representations, strong protests with Japan over its wrong acts, remarks concerning Taiwan during APEC meeting

Xinhua) 11:41, November 02, 2025

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China expresses its firm opposition and has made serious demarches and protests to Japan over the Japanese leader's wrongful comment and action concerning Taiwan on the sidelines of APEC meetings, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Saturday.

On both Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted on social media photos and comments about her meeting and exchange with personnel of the authorities of China's Taiwan region during APEC Leaders' Week, referring to the person as "Senior Advisor to the Presidential Office of Taiwan."

In response to a relevant query, the spokesperson said that the Japanese leader deliberately met with the personnel of the authorities of China's Taiwan region during the APEC Leaders' Week and hyped it on social media, adding that those actions severely violated the one-China principle, the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and basic norms of international relations, and sent a gravely wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" forces.

"Those actions are egregious in nature and impact," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson noted that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair and at the core of China's core interests. How it is handled bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations and basic trust in Japan, and is a red line that must not be crossed.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration, the spokesperson said, pointing out that given its long history of colonial rule over Taiwan, Japan bears undeniable historical responsibilities on the Taiwan question and therefore should all the more act with extra prudence.

China strongly urges Japan to abide by the spirit of the four political documents between the two countries and honor the commitments Japan has made, reflect on and address its wrongdoings, take concrete measures to undo the negative impact, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and act on its statement of building a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship fit for the new era, the spokesperson said.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
MANILA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- South Korean conglomerate DL Group's subsidiary, DL E&C, has been partnering with the Philippines' largest private-sector electric distribution utility company, Meralco, to pursue small modular reactor (SMR) projects in the Philippines, the Philippine Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Sunday.

A feasibility study was launched in August for a 320-megawatt SMR in the near term, said the PCO in a news release.

SMRs are compact nuclear plants that can safely produce clean, stable energy using less land and shorter construction periods than traditional facilities.

On Saturday, Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos met with top officials of DL Group in Busan, South Korea, on the sidelines of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting to discuss the company's energy prospects and other ventures in the Philippines.

DL Group, with core businesses in construction, petrochemicals, and energy, was founded in 1939. 
A screen shows police cars on duty near a railway station in Huntingdon of Cambridgeshire, Britain, Nov. 2, 2025. Two people have been arrested after multiple people were stabbed on train in Britain, police said on Saturday. It remains unclear how many people have been stabbed or how serious the injuries are. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

LONDON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Two people have been arrested after multiple people were stabbed on train in Britain, police said on Saturday.

It remains unclear how many people have been stabbed or how serious the injuries are.

Police were called at 19:39 GMT with reports that multiple people had been stabbed on a train to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

The train operator LNER website confirmed "emergency services are dealing with an incident between Stevenage and Peterborough."

"Major disruption is expected until the end of the day," LNER said in a statement. 
The travel and tourism sector is predicted to grow 5.8% every year until 2032 (World Travel & Tourism Council). This should bode well for hotels.

Yet with rising costs, plus intense and growing competition  there are currently +8,000 hotel opening projects in the pipeline globally, bringing an additional 514,000 rooms (Sleeper)  things arent so simple in reality.

The onus is increasingly on hotel marketing and revenue teams to drive demand and revenue in an operating environment that gets tougher every day. So what are they doing right now to evolve, compete, and thrive?

Were going on tour with Travel Market Life for a series of Hotelier Roundtable Discussions  designed to get to the root of where we are, and how to make progressive change for the better. Heres what hoteliers had to share at the Independent Hotel Show, London 2025 (IHS 2025), when we got together to discuss this very subject.

Defining resilient features will determine a hotels future

Standing the test of time as a hotel ultimately comes down to being reactive to the world around us. So what are hotels grappling with right now, and what are they focusing their time and energy on?

According to Inna Nekrassova, Director of Revenue at Hotel Cafe Royal, new hotel openings are having a particular impact on the luxury market. Luxury hotels in London are quite resilient and theres enough demand , she said. But hotels are having to become more creative in the ways they make money and attract clientele, including forming interesting partnerships and collaborations.

Parity is another issue hoteliers agree is a major challenge, despite technology thats in place to help hotels manage rates. Nekrassova describes it as the three-headed dragon  you chop one head off, and lower rates suddenly appear somewhere else.

In 75% of hotel rate searches, at least one online travel agency (OTA) shows a lower price than the hotel's own website (123Compare.me).

Adam Hamadache, a marketing expert from Formula, believes this is partly due to subsidiary companies. Even though youre not giving your inventory to some of these OTAs, low rates are appearing , he said. You need to keep on top of them. Its a challenge for direct bookings.

So where are the opportunities for hotels to counter some of these issues?

Part of the strategy for Luxury Family Hotels is to tap into key trends arising in the travel sector, in a deep and meaningful way. Group Marketing and Revenue Director Teresa Kingston explained how Luxury Family Hotels doesnt just allow children, their hotels actively celebrate children. At the same time, woven into each stay is delivering services to parents they really value, such as two hours of childcare a day, and helpful extras such as pushchairs and sterilising services so they dont have to pack the kitchen sink.

With multi-generational travel and travel with dogs surging in popularity, the hotel group works hard to make these travellers truly welcome. And this connects with the wider trend towards experiences, which is central for Luxury Family Hotels. As a hotelier, were no longer selling a bedroom , Kingston explained. Were selling the experience of the area and location, and we just so happen to have a bedroom in a beautiful hotel that you can stay in.

This approach feeds directly into building strong loyalty too, as it makes people want to return. Its about the emotional connection they have with the brand , she said. We see a lot of loyalty because we bring families in at a younger age, and then they want to return with their children.

In-house collaboration must go further

Siloed working within hotels is an historic issue, particularly between marketing and revenue teams. But according to many hoteliers at IHS 2025, this is starting to change.

Our marketing team and revenue team sit together , Kingston said. Thats very intentional. We believe that commercial performance and brand storytelling go hand in hand.

Hotel Cafe Royal also recently moved its marketing and revenue teams together. Its been working really well , Nekrassova said. What helps is aligning KPIs for both departments . By creating more clarity between the two teams about which days they need help for driving demand, and which days marketing spend isnt necessary, theyre driving tangible results. Marketing collaboration has been at the forefront of driving performance and profitability at Hotel Cafe Royale.

According to David Ohandjanian, the founder of UP Hotel Agency, the coming together of marketing and revenue teams is enabling them to look beyond just occupancy and average daily rate (ADR). Theres a need to look at profitability and cost per acquisition (CPA) , he said. Theres a massive profitability area thats ignored, and if youre able to look at it with marketing and revenue teams in unison, it can shift the needle.

AI does not replace human brilliance in hospitality

With the adoption of AI becoming ever-prevalent, what difference is AI making to hotel revenue and marketing? Striking the balance between technology and humans is being widely discussed in hotel circles. We feel like were at a cliff at the moment, Ohandjanian described. Yet he says many hoteliers agree that theres still a need for human brilliance.

At Luxury Family Hotels, the team is using AI to support specific business needs. We use it a lot to analyse guest data, because sometimes you can miss something , Kingston said. From a marketing perspective, everyone gets writers block. It can really help in the starting sentence to bring something to life.

Many hotels are using Googles Performance Max for travel goals (PMTG) to great effect. Thanks to its intelligent application of AI with guest data to find high-value audiences, acquisition costs have dropped by 19% according to Cendyns Hotel Digital Marketing Performance Index.

Hotels are increasingly using AI agents to support personalised guest communications too, which can in turn support upselling and revenue generation. One success story here is a WhatsApp AI agent called Amanda, built and implemented by Biteluxe for The Queen at Chester Hotel [Hoteliers' Voice podcast with Hotel Manager of The Queen of Chester Hotel available now]. Traditional email upselling wasnt working for the hotel, and the town centre location meant many guests were going out to local restaurants for their meals. Since Amanda was implemented, the hotel has doubled its sleeper-diner ratio.

Founder and CEO of Biteluxe, Prem Jethwa-Odedra, explained that this strategy was all about connecting with guests more deeply, and meeting them where they spend time. For guests, WhatsApp is really easy, he said. From the guest perspective, when they receive a WhatApp message from the hotel  as long as its not a static message  guests tend to feel more cared for.

The nature of AI also means it can learn from the interactions it has with guests to identify opportunities. This is how The Queen at Chester realised there was a market for offering early check-in for guests, after Amanda received numerous queries about it. They monetised it and made it a product , Jethwa-Odedra said. Its been so successful that theyve had to manage demand by adjusting pricing, which is a great problem to have.

Tuning into the hospitality ecosystem

The revenue and marketing teams thriving in the current context are the ones remaining agile to the trends that are meaningful to guests, while working more collaboratively between teams.

Technology and AI are addressing some pain points with some brilliant results, although we have to remain vigilant that the solutions hotels implement alleviate issues, rather than aggravate the art of operating hotels.

Ultimately, were all part of an ecosystem that can flourish  with the help of innovation, team spirit, and savvy choices.

Listen to the LIVE podcast recording from The Independent Hotel Show London 2025, available on Travel Market Life Podcast through Apple, Spotify and most podcast channels.

Find out more about our forthcoming tour with Travel Market Life for Hotelier Roundtable Discussions, where well have some key conversations with hoteliers about where we are now, and how we can forge a positive path forward.

Ryan Haynes

Director | Lead Consultant

Haynes MarComs Ltd
GAZA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Hamas on Sunday rejected U.S. accusations that its members looted humanitarian aid bound for the Gaza Strip, calling the claims false and politically motivated.

"We strongly condemn the false accusations made by U.S. Central Command regarding the alleged looting of an aid truck," Hamas said in a statement. It described the U.S. allegations as "baseless and unjustified," accusing Washington of trying to justify "further reductions of already limited humanitarian aid."

Hamas said no international or local aid agencies, nor any drivers working with convoys, had reported such an incident.

"The continued U.S. adoption of the Israeli narrative only deepens its immoral bias and makes it a partner in the blockade and the suffering of the Palestinian people," the group said.

U.S. Central Command said Saturday that a U.S. drone had observed suspected Hamas operatives seizing an aid truck from a convoy in southern Gaza. CENTCOM said the truck was part of a humanitarian convoy carrying supplies provided by Israel and that the driver's fate remained unknown.

Hamas said the image released by CENTCOM was fabricated. 
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The people of Nepal have the best relationship with nature, while Britons are some of the least nature connected, according to a comprehensive first-of-its-kind psychological study of 61 nations.

Research has shown that nurturing a nature-connected lifestyle, with better relationships with other species, can improve ones psychological well-being and also protect biodiversity.

Studies have also shown that countries that do not foster such a behaviour among their people may face a higher risk of biodiversity loss.

However, very little is known about how nature connectedness varies across countries.

Now, a new psychology survey of 57,000 people across 61 countries reveals how cultural, economic, and geographical factors influence peoples attitudes towards nature.

Boats are moored near the shore of Phewa lake at Nepal's Pokhara ( AFP via Getty Images )

The researchers found that Nepalese people are the most nature-connected, followed by the people of Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh and Nigeria.

Britain ranked 55th among the 61 countries, with the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain making the last six on the list.

Several indicators are significantly linked to a countrys nature connectedness, according to the study, published in the journal Ambio.

Researchers led by Miles Richardson from the University of Derby found that the strongest such indicator was a high level of spirituality among its people.

This includes the culture of people feeling, thinking, and valuing their place in the living world, psychologists explained.

They also found that a high level of the World Bank-introduced measure called ease of doing business was associated with less nature connection.

Surprisingly, there was a very weak correlation between nature connectedness and membership of environmental organisations, researchers wrote in the study.

Key findings suggest that socioeconomic conditions, biodiversity, spirituality, and attitudes towards technology are associated with nature connectedness, they wrote.

Increased urbanisation, mean income and internet use were some of the other factors found linked to having less connection with nature.

Balancing spiritual evolution with technological development is key for countries to address their human-nature disconnect, scientists said.

For a renewed relationship with nature, structural socioeconomic systems and biodiversity efforts must align with techno-spiritual aspects, they wrote.

Overall, the findings can provide practical ways to help further improve humannature relationship, scientists noted.

Implementing better policies to increase peoples sensory, spiritual, and emotional engagement with nature in all parts of life, including education, health, housing, and arts, can benefit countries, they concluded.
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Police are investigating whether the man accused of trying to kill 10 people during the Huntingdon train attack is linked to a string of knife incidents in the hours before the bloody rampage.

Anthony Williams, 32, was charged on Monday morning with 10 counts of attempted murder after an attack on an LNER train to London Kings Cross on Saturday evening.

He has also been charged with one count of attempted murder over an incident at Pontoon Dock DLR station in London in the early hours of Saturday, where a victim was slashed in the face with a knife.

Detectives are now also investigating whether the suspect is linked to another three knife incidents which took place in Peterborough in the run-up to the attack on Saturday.

open image in gallery Anthony Williams has been remanded into custody and will appear at Cambridge Crown Court on 1 December ( X )

Cambridgeshire Police said a 14-year-old boy was stabbed on Friday evening in the city centre. He was taken to hospital and was said to have suffered minor injuries.

Fifteen minutes later, a knifeman entered a barbers in Fletton, Peterborough, although the incident was only reported to police two hours later.

A second report of a knifeman at the same barbers shop was made at 9.25am the next day. When police arrived 18 minutes later, officers could not find the suspect at the scene.

The three terrifying incidents will form part of the British Transport Polices investigation into the Huntingdon train horror, detectives said on Monday.

open image in gallery Scunthorpe United player Jonathan Gjoshe was one of the victims affected by the train attack on Saturday ( Instagram/sufcofficial )

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs on Monday that the public will have "many unanswered questions" about the train attacker and there is "much more" the government could be doing with "new and emerging technology" to tackle knife crime.

She paid tribute to the "breathtaking bravery" of those on the train, including one of the staff members who put himself in harm's way and confronted the attacker.

She said: "On Saturday, he went to work to do his job  today, he is a hero, and forever will be. "

The LNER staff member is in a critical but stable condition in hospital following the stabbings on the high-speed service.

Responding to shadow home secretary Chris Philp, Ms Mahmood said: "This government will consult on a legal framework so that all police forces across the country can use live facial recognition technology, confident that they will not find themselves defending those decisions in courts in the future."

She added: "I think there is much more that we can do to use new and emerging technology in order to help us tackle this type of criminality."

Ms Mahmood said the "majority" of those who are in possession of a knife receive "reasonably lengthy prison sentences", adding: "When we know more about the circumstances of this particular case, we will know if there are other lessons for us to draw, and other areas of policy for us to consider."

open image in gallery Ritzy barbers in Fletton, Peterborough ( PA )

On Monday, Cambridgeshire Police confirmed it referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct watchdog in relation to the incidents in Peterborough, but the organisation said it did not meet the criteria for a referral.

The fresh scope of the probe came as dramatic new details emerged about how the horrific attack on board the busy train in Cambridgeshire unfolded.

Dozens of travellers were forced to barricade themselves in carriages and try to shield themselves from the brutal stabbings.

Stephen Crean, 61, described how he was stabbed six times after he confronted the attacker, armed with nothing but his fists.

The Nottingham Forest supporter said he was returning back from a match when he heard a carriage door open and people running and shouting run, run, run, mans got knife.

open image in gallery Victim Stephen Crean is recovering at home in southwest London ( PA )

They had all packed into the buffet car and the toilets and locked the doors, as you do, and so that was it for me, he told The Telegraph.

He came towards me and said to me, Do you want to die?. Thats what he said.

Mr Crean said he was stabbed numerous times, including in his left hand, back, bottom and head. He managed to escape the attacker by crawling into an empty toilet and locking the door before the train arrived at Huntingdon station.

Passengers had pulled the emergency alarms on the LNER service and it was diverted to Huntingdon, where the suspect was arrested.

open image in gallery A custody van, believed to be carrying Anthony Williams, leaves Peterborough Magistrates court on Monday ( PA )

Scunthorpe United player Jonathan Gjoshe was also one of the victims affected by the train attack on Saturday, the club has confirmed.

In a post on X, the club said he sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the attack, but remains in hospital.

Mr Williams appeared in the dock at Peterborough Magistrates Court in handcuffs with four security officers alongside him on Monday and spoke softly to confirm his name, age and address.

He was not asked to enter pleas and when asked his address, he mumbled: No fixed abode.

open image in gallery Forensic officers prepare to enter the train on Saturday evening ( AFP/Getty )

According to court documents, he allegedly used a large kitchen knife in both the London and Huntingdon attacks.

Mr Williams has been charged with the attempted murder of Scott Bletcher; Michael Paffett; Kevin Deely; Jonathan Gjoshe; David Presland; Sachin Balakrishnan; Stephen Crean; Samir Zitouni; Rasza Aslam and Scott Green. He is also accused of the attempted murder of Isaiah Ishmael Idris earlier the same day at a DLR station.

Mr Williams also faced a charge of assault, which relates to him allegedly attacking a male police officer in custody after being arrested, leaving him with a broken nose, the court heard.

District judge Ken Sheraton remanded Mr Williams into custody to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on 1 December.

It is understood he is not known to the security services or counterterrorism policing, and had not been referred to the governments anti-extremism scheme Prevent.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said there would be an increase in visible police patrols at stations but insisted public transport was safe.

Armed police were seen patrolling busy London stations, including Kings Cross, on Monday morning.

open image in gallery Armed police were seen patrolling busy London stations including Kings Cross on Monday morning ( AP )

The prime minister ruled out installing airport-style scanners in train stations, saying it would not be proportionate or practical.

Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesperson said the government takes all acts of crime extremely seriously on our railways and on our public transport network, adding: Its important to strike a balance between the impact on the rail network and passengers journeys.
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When people began to flee down the train carriage shouting run, run, theres a guy literally stabbing everyone, terrified passengers thought it was a Halloween prank.

But when Olly Foster leant on a chair and found it soaked in blood, he realised something horrific was unfolding.

Eleven people onboard the London-bound LNER train from Doncaster were hurt in the mass stabbing attack, including nine seriously injured. They were rushed to hospital after the train made an emergency stop at Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire.

Follow live updates on the attack here

British Transport Police have said there is nothing to suggest the rampage was terror-related as they question two British nationals on suspicion of attempted murder.

Everything we know about how the attack unfolded

The 6.25pm service from Doncaster departed on time. The London-bound train sped through the Midlands and into Cambridgeshire, making brief stops at Retford, Newark, and Grantham as planned. The service looked set to arrive at Kings Cross before 8.30pm on Saturday night.

At around 7.39pm, as the train passed between its scheduled stops of Peterborough and Stevenage, a passenger made a desperate call reporting a multiple stabbing to emergency services.

open image in gallery Police officers and members of the emergency services search the track beneath an LNER train at Huntingdon Station ( AFP/Getty )

Witnesses said passengers fled from a man with a large knife, with some hiding in the toilets to escape the rampage.

One told The Times there was blood everywhere and people were getting stamped on by others as they tried to flee.

The witness said: I heard some people shouting we love [you].

Another witness described the attack as like something from a film, telling The Sun: It was a terrible scene, really violent.

One man told Sky News he believed he saw the suspect tasered before he was arrested by armed officers.

Essentially, as they got closer to him, started shouting, like, get down get down, he said.

He then was waving a knife, quite a large knife, and then they detained him. I think it was a Taser that got him down in the end.

open image in gallery The attack took place after the train left Peterborough ( Datawrapper/The Independent )

Olly Foster told the BBC he thought the attack may have been a Halloween prank when he heard people shouting run, run, theres a guy literally stabbing everyone.

Mr Foster said that people quickly started pushing through the carriage, and he noticed his hand was covered in blood as there was blood all over the chair he had leaned on.

An older man blocked the attacker from stabbing a younger girl, leaving him with injuries to his head and neck, Mr Foster said, adding other passengers used their clothing to try and stem the bleeding. He said the incident felt like forever.

British Transport Police said a major incident was declared, and at one point declared Plato, the national code word used by police and emergency services when responding to a marauding terror attack, before the latter declaration was subsequently rescinded.

The train was planned to travel through Huntingdon at 125mph on a fast track that does not have access to a platform.

But the quick-thinking train driver and crew, working with the signallers, were able to divert the train to the slow line and bring it to a halt at the first available station within 14 minutes of departure from Peterborough, with armed police waiting.

Video footage on social media showed scores of blue-light police cars and emergency vehicles in a station car park, and a team of armed police running towards the stationary train at Huntingdon station.

The 10 people injured were rushed to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. Police confirmed there had been no fatalities, although nine of the victims are being treated for life-threatening injuries.

open image in gallery Armed police at Huntingdon station ( AFP/Getty )

Were conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further, chief superintendent Chris Casey said.

At this early stage, it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

However defence secretary John Healey told Sky News on Sunday morning that early assessments suggest the incident was an isolated attack.

In a statement on X, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said: The appalling incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning.

My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response.
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Kemi Badenoch marks a year since taking over as Conservative Party leader on Sunday, November 2.

Here, the PA news agency sets out a brief timeline of Mrs Badenochs leadership of the Tories.

 November 2024

Mrs Badenoch won the Conservative leadership contest to succeed Rishi Sunak following the partys drubbing at the general election.

She saw off five other senior Conservatives in the contest: Sir James Cleverly, Dame Priti Patel, Sir Mel Stride, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat.

All of them have since gone on to occupy positions in her shadow ministerial team.

 December 2024

Mrs Badenoch engaged in a spat with Reform UKs Nigel Farage, claiming his partys online membership counter was providing a false number and was ticking up automatically.

The Reform leader threatened legal action, but it did not materialise.

open image in gallery Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch took over the helm after a disasterous general election for Rishi Sunak ( PA Wire )

 January 2025

The Conservative leader began setting out her stall for the party with a speech at the start of the new year.

In it she criticised the Conservatives failed promises to deliver on lowering immigration, and the decision to pursue Brexit without a plan. She insisted to the media she would not make policy announcements off the cuff, but would slowly build a new political platform through discussion with Tory members.

That same month, Mrs Badenoch was accused of jumping on a bandwagon after criticising the Government for not instigating a grooming gangs inquiry in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

Tech billionaire Elon Musks criticism of the decision resulted in an online pile-on for Home Office minister Jess Phillips. Mrs Badenoch faced questions about her own partys record on dealing with the grooming gang scandal.

 May 2025

The Conservative suffered heavy defeats in the May local elections. Mrs Badenoch apologised to her party over the result.

Ahead of time, at the launch of the Tory local election campaign, she had warned it would be a difficult round of voting for the party following the general election loss.

 July 2025

Senior Conservative figures announced they were defecting to Reform UK in a major challenge for Mrs Badenochs leadership. They included former Conservative chairman Jake Berry, and David Jones, a former Welsh secretary.

 September 2025

open image in gallery Danny Kruger is among the MPs to join Reform from the Tories in the past 12 months ( PA Wire )

High-profile defections to Reform continued to prove a headache for the Conservative leader. Sitting Conservative MP Danny Kruger joined Reform and promised to help get it ready for government. Other Tory figures to join the party included former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, and former health minister Maria Caulfield.

 October 2025

Mrs Badenochs first Conservative party conference as leader took place. The event was described as subdued compared with previous Conservative conferences. But it also resulted in a series of major policy announcements for the Tories, setting out the future direction under the new leader.

These included confirmation  after a review led by former justice minister Lord Wolfson  that the party will support leaving the European Convention on Human Rights in order to tackle migration.

Mrs Badenoch also made the surprise announcement that the Tories would scrap stamp duty, a tax paid by house buyers, on the purchase of their main homes.
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Stood in front of a judge with her whole world at stake, Sarah* remembers stumbling over her words, desperately trying to understand what was unfolding in front of her.

Across the room, her ex-husband Al*s experienced barrister spoke to the judge in jargon she could not understand. It was two years into the pairs dispute over custody of their young daughter, Elsie*  something she was terrified would put the four-year-old at risk because of his heavy drug use.

But despite her best efforts to keep Elsie safe, Sarah knew she would be left unable to protect her. A broken legal aid system left her forced to represent herself in family court, too poor to properly advocate for her child.

Sarah met Al at work 15 years prior, and the pair were happily married when Elsie came along. But when Als health worsened, he began to lean heavily on marijuana, often smoking a joint every hour, according to Sarah. When he didnt smoke, he would become angry and rude, a different person  like Jekyll and Hyde, she said.

He stopped allowing Sarah to have anyone else in the house, cutting her off from family and friends, and racked up around 11,000 worth of debt, much of which was in her name.

Eventually, she left the relationship and managed to move into a housing association property with Elsie. She says she never prevented her ex-husband from spending time with their daughter, but drew the line at overnight stays until he could prove he could keep her safe.

open image in gallery Sarah says she was worried about leaving her young child with her ex-partner overnight ( Getty/iStock )

I knew from the marijuana smoking how hard it was to wake him up at times, she explained. How can I leave a four-year-old with him overnight? It felt irresponsible.

But Al insisted on equal access to Elsie, often refusing to leave Sarahs house after dropping her off or wedging his foot in the door to keep it open. On more than one occasion, she says he launched into a tirade of verbal abuse in front of their child.

Sarah recorded multiple instances and took the videos to the police, fearing for their safety. But she says she was advised not to pursue the allegations because a conviction was unlikely, without police even asking to see the footage.

Al later took Sarah to court, applying for a child arrangement order, a legally binding family court order that details how a child will live, spend time, and have contact with both parents.

It was just quite surreal really, she said. I felt betrayed. I couldnt believe it had come to that.

She had no financial means to afford a lawyer to represent her and began looking into whether she would be eligible for legal aid, a service that can be granted in cases where someone is considered to be protecting themselves or their child from abuse or harassment, for example, domestic abuse or forced marriage.

She reached out to dozens of solicitors in her area, but struggled to find one that provided legal aid.

Eventually, she tracked one down  but months later was told she had no proof of Als abuse, and therefore wouldnt qualify.

I replied saying, So, what am I supposed to do? Represent myself? Sarah said. And she said, Yes, you need to represent yourself.

It blew my mind, she continued. I couldnt believe that criminals get access to help automatically, whereas someone trying to fight for their daughter got nothing.

With a court date fast approaching and no money to pay for advice, Sarah was forced to appear in court by herself. Across the aisle, Al had hired a top barrister.

It made me feel so small  it was one of the worst times of my life, she said. It was little old me against someone who does this every day for a living.

How can you call that fair?

The experience ground her down, and eventually, Sarah says she agreed to things she wasnt ready for  including giving Al overnight access to Elsie.

She isnt the only one who has struggled to access help. In 2013, the government introduced the Legal Aid, Sentencing, and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO), which axed large areas of law from legal aid budgets.

Government data highlights how, since the introduction of LASPO, the number of family cases where neither party has a legal representative has tripled from 13 per cent to 39 per cent.

Richard Miller, head of justice at the Law Society, told The Independent a huge drop in legal aid providers has left the poorest members of society abandoned and forced to represent themselves in court.

Legal aid is a vital public service and it is under extreme pressure at the moment, he explained. What weve seen over the past few years is the number of firms working in this area and the number of lawyers working in this area has been falling year after year to the extent that there is now nowhere near enough coverage across the country to meet the needs of the public.

open image in gallery Lawyers carry a coffin during a mock funeral procession at a protest against proposed cuts to legal aid outside the Houses of Parliament in 2013 ( Reuters )

He added that the purpose of legal aid is to level the playing field as there is often a power imbalance in cases of family breakdown, such as Sarahs. But their research shows many living below the poverty line have been left without help.

Mr Miller added that for legal aid to be saved, the government must commit to increasing rates for lawyers providing the service. Research shows the majority of firms doing civil legal aid make significant losses from doing it, he said.

As a result, he said Law Society data shows at least one in three people are living in a legal aid desert with no providers, leaving them unable to access the advice they should be entitled to.

Isabella Lowenthal-Isaacs, policy manager at Womens Aid, said it was clear we are a long way from ensuring that the courts are safe for women and children survivors of domestic abuse.

We know from our work with survivors that women are frequently disbelieved, their experiences of domestic abuse dismissed, and childrens voices are routinely silenced, she continued.

She said the requirement to prove abuse left survivors without representation and at an increased risk of harm.

The system, which has for so long benefited the perpetrator of domestic abuse, must change, she added. Womens experiences must be listened to, and legal aid must be provided to ensure that decisions are just and fair.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: This is a distressing case, and our thoughts are with the victim.

Legal aid is available for victims of domestic abuse in family court cases, but applicants must meet eligibility criteria, including evidence such as a police caution or court order. We know this can be difficult for those dealing with trauma, but these requirements help ensure support is provided fairly and consistently.

*Names have been changed to protect the sources anonymity.
Close Virginia Giuffre speaks about Prince Andrew in resurfaced Panorama interview: 'I was a toy'

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Unseen footage of a BBC interview with the late Virginia Giuffre has aired, in which she reflected on her introduction to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

I was a toy. I was there to be passed around, she said. But I was still a human being with feelings and emotion and sadness. And to know that this man had daughters, that he was still capable of abusing me. It's... it just doesn't make sense.

In the interview, which featured on BBC Panorama on Tuesday night, the late Ms Giuffre told the story of how she met Andrew in London in 2001 when she was 17 years old.

The prince vehemently denies the allegations that Ms Giuffre was forced to have sex with him three times after being trafficked by Epstein. Ms Giuffre told the BBC: "He knows what happened, I know what happened. And there's only one of us telling the truth."

Andrew was formally stripped of his remaining royal titles on Thursday. A statement from Buckingham Palace said Andrew continued to deny all allegations against him.
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Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will be stripped of his honorary rank of vice-admiral, the defence secretary has announced, which is the disgraced royals last remaining military title.

John Healey said his department was working to remove the rank, which Andrew was awarded on his 55th birthday in 2015.

He handed back his other honorary military titles in 2022 over his connections with the disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The honour hit the headlines four years ago following reports he wanted to wear an Admirals uniform to the Duke of Edinburghs funeral.

Mr Healey said that ministers had been guided by the decisions and judgments the King has made.

He added: Weve seen Andrew surrender the honorary positions hes had throughout the military... we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral that he has.

But he would not comment on whether or not Andrew would be able to keep his medals, including the campaign medal he received for his service in the Falklands War.

open image in gallery Defence secretary John Healey confirmed the move on Sunday ( PA )

The King stripped his brother of his peerages and the title of prince on Thursday amid the continuing fallout of the Epstein scandal.

Royal author Valentine Low said the latest move will be a blow to Andrew But even after doing this, Andrew is still going to be in the headlines and will continue to be for a long time.

He has been associated with the Royal Navy since 1979, when he began officer training, subsequently serving as a helicopter pilot and was part of the task force deployed to the Falklands following Argentinas invasion in 1982.

He ended his active naval career in 2001 with the rank of commander, but nearly a decade and a half later received an honorary promotion to vice-admiral.

Meanwhile, it has been claimed that Andrew routinely refused to sign off on official statements that supported survivors who had abuse connected to Epstein.

A friend of the King and Camilla told The Sunday Times that references to victims were removed from all previous statements drafted by courtiers and issued by Buckingham Palace since Andrews disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019.

open image in gallery Andrew is to be stripped of his honorary rank of vice-admiral. Pictured in naval uniform ( PA Archive )

Any such communication had required Andrews sign-off, the paper said.

The former prince denies sexually assaulting the late Virginia Giuffre, who alleged this happened on three occasions, including when she was 17, after being trafficked by Epstein.

The friend told the paper the King had lost patience and that this weeks statement announcing the removal of Andrews prince and Duke of York titles was no longer a statement by committee, its a statement from the King.

It comes as the BBC revealed Andrew arranged a private tour of Buckingham Palace for businessmen from cryptocurrency mining firm, Pegasus Group Holdings, which agreed to pay his ex-wife up to 1.4m.

The company employed Sarah Ferguson as a "brand ambassador" for a crypto-mining scheme - which lost investors millions when it failed.

She was reportedly paid more than 200,000 for her work and a leaked contract suggests she was in line for an additional bonus worth 1.2m.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
The health service is often described as a kind of religion for the UK public.

But with signs that Rachel Reeves is preparing to protect cash for the NHS at the same time as she raises taxes, will the bond between the British people and the NHS be tested? Will taxpayers support the chancellor ensuring more money for the NHS even if it means less in their own bank accounts?

What is happening?

Rachel Reeves is preparing for what is shaping up to be the make-or-break moment of her political career  this months Budget.

On 26 November the chancellor will stand up and announce what is widely expected to include a series of tax rises.

Economists have even predicted that between this years Budget and last years Ms Reeves will, in just 17 months in power, raise more in taxes than anyone in her position for more than half a century. Capital Economics suggests she could increase levies by as much as 38bn at the end of this month, on top of the 41.5bn she raised last year, more than any of her predecessors since 1976 did across an entire parliament.

What is the problem Reeves is trying to solve?

The UKs finances are faltering.

Labour was left a difficult inheritance by the last Tory government, made worse, as the government is now highlighting, by the long-term effects of Brexit, and exacerbated by Donald Trumps tariff war.

Since then a combination of Labour U-turns, higher borrowing and sluggish economic growth mean Ms Reeves is facing warnings she must raise taxes or tear up her flagship borrowing rules, potentially sending the markets into a tailspin.

Economists have warned she needs at the very least to raise tens of billions of pounds to deal with the economys problems and create some headroom against future shocks.

Rachel Reeves will deliver her crucial Budget on 26 November ( PA )

How does this affect the NHS?

Ms Reeves is reported to have told aides her major priorities for the Budget are cutting national debt and slashing NHS waiting lists.

At the same time defence secretary John Healey fuelled talk of a major tax rise when he, like Sir Keir Starmer last week, refused to recommit his party to its promise not to raise rates of income tax, national insurance or VAT.

Will the need to shield the NHS be used to justify the first rise in income tax in decades?

Is the NHS a potential silver lining for ministers?

Mr Healey also said he did not agree with the health secretary Wes Streeting that there was a growing sense of despair in the country.

While there was still a sense that times are still tough, he said that voters were recognising that things like NHS waiting times were improving.

Ministers see the health service as one of the few things actually getting better in Britain, albeit from a low ebb after it was ravaged during the Covid pandemic.

But with warnings already being sounded over this years potential winter crisis in the NHS, the government cannot afford to become complacent.

Tax rises are likely to be targeted and not affect everyone. The gamble that the Treasury may take is that for those who are hit they will prefer to be able to see their GP than have some extra money in their pockets. Time will tell.
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Nearly 300 organisations have issued a rallying cry for a full-throated defence of the European Convention on Human Rights  accusing politicians of using it as a scapegoat with devastating effects.

The ECHR, an international treaty signed by 47 Council of Europe member states to protect fundamental human rights, has come under fire from both Reform UK and the Tories, who have pledged to quit the convention if they win the next election.

In response, groups ranging from Liberty to Refuge, health charity Parkinson's UK and the Centre for Military Justice have warned that the ECHR protects the rights of ordinary people every day up and down the country from victims of sexual violence to LGBT+ service personnel, public interest journalists to mental health patients.

They have accused politicians of using our human rights as a scapegoat. [and] escalating, irresponsible rhetoric targeting migrant and minoritised communities, which has devastating real-world consequences.

open image in gallery Kemi Badenoch said the Tories would leave the ECHR if elected ( PA Wire )

Sam Grant, director of external affairs at Liberty, which organised the statement from 292 organisations, said: There are people in powerful positions who want us to believe that we would be better off without the ECHR  dont believe them.

For decades our human rights laws have underpinned all of our daily lives by giving us the ability to speak freely, love who we want, and live in peace. These rights were hard-won and we must not allow governments now or in the future to take them away.

The statement, which has been signed by organisations including Ben & Jerry's, Shelter, Mind, Disability Action and the Centre for Women's Justice, argues the ECHR is fundamental to our democracy and enables ordinary people, of all backgrounds, to hold the state and public bodies accountable.

Developed after the Second World War, with the UK playing a leading role, the ECHR and the Human Rights Act (HRA), which incorporates it into British law, have protected the rights of ordinary people every day up and down the country; from victims of sexual violence to LGBT+ service personnel, public interest journalists to mental health patients and victims of serious injustice (from Hillsborough to Windrush), the groups said.

The ECHR helped bring peace finally in Northern Ireland, through the Good Friday Agreement, and has improved the quality of public services. We reject the narrative that human rights are not in the interests of the public  everyone in our society would be much worse off without these key protections.

Attacks on the ECHR, they say, have often been based on myths, over-simplifications, inaccuracies, and scaremongering, particularly around migration.

Leaving the convention would not solve problems like the backlog of asylum cases or migrants taking dangerous small boats across the Channel, they said, but would bring about years of legal uncertainty, undermine our international position, and cause harm to the rights of both migrants in the UK and our wider communities.

open image in gallery Former attorney general Dominic Grieve (Liam McBurney/PA) ( PA Archive )

They called on politicians to stop using our human rights as a scapegoat, level with the British public about the significant costs of ECHR withdrawal (such as the impact on the Good Friday Agreement) and end the escalating, irresponsible rhetoric targeting migrant and minoritised communities, which has devastating real-world consequences for people who are often already made vulnerable by wider social and economic marginalisation and stigmatisation.

They also call on Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour government to make the positive case for our human rights protections and how they empower ordinary people across the UK adding Now is the time for a full-throated defence of the ECHR and HRA.

The fightback against moves to scrap the ECHR comes just weeks after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch announced she would withdraw from the international treaty if she won the next election, leading former Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve to accuse her of a death wish for her party.

Mrs Badenochs move to the right came as part of a bid to reverse her partys decline in the face of the rise of Nigel Farages Reform UK - who just last week attempted to bring forward legislation for the UK to quit the convention.

The move was blocked by MPs, who voted against the motion to bring forward a bill by 96 to 154, majority 58.

Andrea Simon, executive director of the End Violence Against Women argued the ECHR is a crucial tool in the fight to end violence against women and girls, providing victims and survivors with access to support, safety and justice when they are failed by the state.

The ECHR means police have a duty to investigate VAWG, and that frontline support services can demand that local authorities protect women and girls at immediate risk, by providing alternative housing for survivors of domestic abuse. Violence against women and girls is entirely preventable, and it relies on a world with human rights for all, she said.

In her annual conference speech in Manchester last month, Mrs Badenoch said: "Well-meaning treaties and statutes, like the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Convention on action against Trafficking, drafted with the best of intentions in generations gone by ... are now being used in ways never intended by their original authors.

Meanwhile, Mr Farage has said that leaving the convention was the unfinished business of Brexit, saying the UK is not sovereign all the while we are part of the ECHR.

A government spokesperson said:We have been clear that the UK will remain a member of the European Convention on Human Rights as we do not need to withdraw to deliver meaningful reform."
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Nov. 2, 2025. Han visited Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah from Nov. 1 to 2. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

KUWAIT CITY, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- China attaches great importance to China-Kuwait relations and stands ready to promote bilateral practical cooperation in various fields, said visiting Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.

During his stay in the Gulf state from Saturday to Sunday, Han met separately with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah.

When meeting with the Kuwaiti emir, Han conveyed cordial greetings and best wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Han said that China always cherishes its friendship with Kuwait and attaches great importance to developing their relations.

Since 2022, President Xi and the Kuwaiti emir have met twice and reached a series of important consensuses, providing strategic guidance for the development of China-Kuwait relations to higher levels, Han added.

He said that the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee has sent a clear signal that China is further advancing comprehensive reforms and expanding high-level opening up, which will create opportunities for the development of China-Kuwait relations.

China is ready to work with Kuwait to deepen political mutual trust, implement the bilateral cooperation documents signed in the presence of the two heads of state, and strive for substantive progress at an early date, so as to achieve in-depth and solid development of the China-Kuwait strategic partnership, Han said.

Han said the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi has charted the course for reforming and improving the global governance system. China believes that Kuwait will actively support the initiative and welcomes Kuwait's participation in the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, he added.

China appreciates Kuwait's long-term support and promotion of cooperation between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Han said, expressing the hope that Kuwait, as the current rotating chair of the GCC, will further exert positive influence in this regard.

The Kuwaiti emir, for his part, asked Han to convey his high respect to President Xi.

The emir noted that Kuwait was the first Gulf Arab state to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, which reflects the strategic and forward-looking nature of bilateral relations.

Kuwait, he said, highly appreciates and supports the Global Governance Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi, especially the recently proposed Global Governance Initiative.

Reaffirming his country's firm adherence to the one-China policy, he expressed Kuwait's willingness to work with China to jointly build the Belt and Road, effectively implement relevant bilateral cooperation documents, and push Kuwait-China relations to higher levels.

Kuwait, the emir added, also stands ready to actively help lift GCC-China and Arab-China cooperation to new levels.

When holding talks with the Kuwaiti crown prince, Han said that Kuwait is a country with unique and significant influence in the Middle East, and China has always placed Kuwait in an important position in its foreign policy in the region.

Under the strategic guidance of President Xi and the Kuwaiti emir, the strategic partnership between the two countries has continued to move forward in recent years, Han said.

Noting that the next year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Kuwait, Han said China is willing to take this opportunity to work with the Kuwaiti side to implement the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state, deepen political mutual trust, enhance practical cooperation in various fields, and elevate bilateral relations to new levels.

China is also ready to strengthen coordination with Kuwait to promote greater progress in China's cooperation with Arab and GCC countries, and jointly promote multilateralism and advance global governance in a more just and equitable direction, said Han.

The Kuwaiti crown prince said the friendship between Kuwait and China is close and solid, and Kuwait supports China in safeguarding its core interests and stands ready to expand cooperation with China, implement bilateral cooperation projects, and promote greater development of Kuwait-China relations.

Noting that the global order is undergoing profound changes, the crown prince said that Kuwait firmly supports multilateralism, highly appreciates China's upholding of justice in international affairs, as well as its fair stance on the Palestinian issue, adding that Kuwait is ready to enhance multilateral coordination with China and make joint efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East.

When meeting with the Kuwaiti prime minister, Han said China and Kuwait are good friends and partners, and bilateral relations have in recent years made positive progress.

Han said China-Kuwait cooperation is highly complementary and has great potential, adding that China is ready to work with Kuwait to upgrade practical cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, effectively advance key projects, and bring the China-Kuwait strategic partnership to new heights.

The prime minister said Kuwait values the friendship and mutual trust with China, adding that his country stands ready to work with China to implement the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state, and accelerate bilateral cooperation projects, so as to translate the high level of bilateral relations into more tangible cooperation outcomes, and open a new chapter in bilateral ties.

During his stay, Han attended a welcome ceremony hosted by the Kuwaiti crown prince. 

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Nov. 2, 2025. Han visited Kuwait at the invitation of Al-Sabah from Nov. 1 to 2. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Nov. 2, 2025. Han visited Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah from Nov. 1 to 2. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
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The boss of the UKs largest trade union has said she cannot guarantee that Keir Starmer will remain the leader of the Labour Party after next Mays elections, which are widely predicted to be disastrous for the prime minister.

Christina McAnea, the general secretary of Unison, also hit out at what she said were a series of own goals by Labour since it came to power last July, as she called for a reset.

Asked if she thought Sir Keir would still be Labour leader after May, she replied: Who knows?

She added: I dont know, depending on what happens in May, what Keir will feel about it or indeed the Labour MPs will feel about it. I suspect he will be  but I could not honestly guarantee it.

Unison general secretary Christina McAnea ( PA Wire )

Her comments follow months of mounting tensions between Labour and the unions which erupted over the summer when another major union, Unite, accused the party of not being on the side of workers.

Last month chancellor Rachel Reeves was also warned that she could trigger Labours biggest donors to disaffiliate from the party if she continues to pander to the right in her upcoming Budget.

Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary Steve Wright warned that there was growing pressure on unions to end political donations to the party.

Opinion polls show Labour trailing Nigel Farages Reform UK, with experts warning it could even come third in next Mays Welsh elections. At the same time it could lose in another former Labour heartland, Scotland, and face a drubbing in local elections across England.

Ms McAnea also hit out at the partys record in government, saying it was shocking what has been happening.

She told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that voters who backed the party last year expected to have more money in their pockets.

While the government has had successes, Ms McAnea warned they had been masked. Asked who was to blame, she said: It has to be the Labour governments fault.

She added that she had no idea why the party had stripped the winter fuel allowance from millions of pensioners last year, describing it as one of a series of own goals since it took office.

Her comments come after The Independent revealed Sir Keir and Ms Reeves will face a cabinet backlash if the chancellor breaks Labours manifesto pledge and raises income tax in the Budget later this month.

Ms Reeves is widely predicted to raise taxes as she struggles to fill a multibillion-pound hole in the nations finances.

Sir Keir stood by her this week after she admitted she failed to obtain the correct licence to rent our her south London property.

But it follows a series of scandals in recent weeks which saw the PM forced to sack ambassador to Washington Lord Mandelson, and lose his deputy, Angela Rayner, after she admitted she had not paid enough tax when buying a flat.
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The U.S. cannot unilaterally carry out any military operation in Nigeria over its claims of Christian persecution in the West African country, a Nigerian presidential spokesman told The Associated Press Sunday.

Such military threat from Donald Trump is based on misleading reports and appears to be part of Trumps style of going forceful in order to force a sit-down and have a conversation, according to Daniel Bwala, a spokesman for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.

Bwala was responding to Trump's comment on Saturday that he has ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria over alleged Christian persecution in the country.

Here are five things to know about the issue:

Trump's guns blazing threat

Trump on Saturday doubled down on his allegations that the government is failing to rein in the persecution of Christians in the West African country, whose population of 220 million is split almost evenly between Christians and Muslims.

If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities, Trump posted on social media.

Trumps threat came after he designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern, a formal U.S. declaration of countries it says are failing to act over religious freedom violations.

The threat and designation came after U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and some American celebrities alleged that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria, without evidence. Some went as far as alleging a Christian genocide."

The Associated Press found that both Christians and Muslims are killed in Nigerias security crises, and that victims are often determined by their locations and not due to their religion.

Nigeria denies Christians are persecuted

Cruz and Trump relied on old reports from more than a decade ago when Nigerias home-grown Boko Haram Islamic group launched an insurgency to enforce their brutal interpretation of Shariah law, said Bwala.

When it comes to matters of military operation in Nigeria, this is a matter that two leaders have to agree on. It is not something unilaterally you can do especially since that country is a sovereign state and that country is not aiding and abating that (crime), he said.

Tinubu has also rejected claims of a Christian persecution and said his country is one with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.

Joseph Hayab, a former chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna state, also dismissed claims of Christians persecution being carried out.

Hayab, a pastor in a conflict hot spot, however, said the government needs to do more to secure lives in conflict-battered villages.

Christians and Muslims face violence

Nigeria has for many years struggled with deadly security crises, and the violence have affected both Christians and Muslims, each group making up almost half of the country's population.

The violence, which is mainly in northern Nigeria, is often perpetuated by Boko Haram insurgents and by armed gangs that authorities have said include mostly former herders who took up arms against farming communities after persistent clashes between herders and farmers.

The crisis is far more complex than a simple religious framing suggests. The geography of violence largely determines who becomes the victim, said Taiwo Hassan Adebayo, a researcher at the Institute of Security Studies.

Nigeria's military has carried out air strikes and special operations targeting the hideouts of the armed gangs. Tinubu also recently replaced the country's security chiefs as he seeks to bolster their operations.

'Massive state failure'

While some analysts have dismissed the claims of Christians being targeted in Nigeria, they said they government has failed to act decisively against armed groups.

In too many cases, the perpetrators have gotten away with it, and the impunity is deeply indicative of massive state failure, said Cheta Nwanze, a partner at the Lagos-based SBM Intelligence research firm.

Nigerian must step up action against insecurity to prevent the opportunity for external interference, said Taiwo Hassan. The criticism and pressure from Washington did not happen in a vacuum. Its a result of many years of failure."
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Halloween night turned into an unimaginable tragedy when three teenagers were killed while another was critically injured in a two-car crash on a Pennsylvania roadway.

The deadly crash happened around 9:30 p.m. Friday on Bristol Road between Folly and Pickerton roads in Bucks County, according to Warrington Township Police.

Investigators said a 15-year-old driver was behind the wheel of a Toyota Camry carrying four teenagers when it collided with a Ford Explorer traveling in the opposite direction. The driver of the SUV was not injured.

In what was described as a side-angled crash by police, the most severe damage concentrated on the passenger side of the sedan.

The impact was catastrophic. The 15-year-old driver, 18-year-old front-seat passenger and a 16-year-old boy riding in the back seat were all pronounced dead at the scene.

Three teens were killed and one was critically injured after the car crash on Halloween night ( Warrington Township Police Department via Crimewatch )

A 14-year-old boy, also in the back seat, was rushed to a Philadelphia hospital, where he remains in critical condition and is preparing for surgery, police said.

Front seat passenger, Aziz Umidovich Amonov, 18, of Feasterville Trevose, is the only victim who has been identified. The other three are minors.

Three of the four occupants were juveniles, and their names are not being released at this time, Warrington Township Police said in a statement on Saturday. Our hearts and prayers are with the families and friends of those involved during this unimaginable time.

Police said they are working closely with local school districts to provide counseling for grieving students. Two of the victims attended Neshaminy High School, where one was a freshman and the other a senior.

In a statement, Neshaminy School District said: We have been informed of a car accident that took place in Warrington, PA last night. Reports from the police indicate that three teens lost their lives in the crash, and a fourth remains in critical condition. It has been confirmed that two of the deceased attended Neshaminy High School. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the students, as well as to everyone in our school community who is mourning the loss.

The crash remains under active investigation by Warrington Township Police.

The Warrington Township Police Department extends its deepest sympathies to the families, friends, and school communities affected by this tragic event. they said.
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Three individuals have been killed following a US military strike against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Saturday.

Mr Hegseth, announcing the operation via social media, stated that the targeted vessel was linked to a US-designated terrorist organisation, though he did not specify the group involved.

This incident marks at least the fifteenth such operation conducted by the US military in the Caribbean or eastern Pacific regions since early September.

This vessellike EVERY OTHERwas known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics, Hegseth said in a posting on X.

The U.S. military has now killed at least 64 people in the strikes.

Trump has justified the killings as a way of stopping the flow of drugs into the States ( Getty Images )

Trump has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States. He has asserted the U.S. is engaged in an armed conflict with drug cartels, relying on the same legal authority used by the Bush administration when it declared a war on terrorism after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The strikes come as the Trump administration has deployed an unusually large force of warships in the region.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has decried the military operations, as well as the U.S. military buildup, as a thinly veiled effort by the U.S. administration aimed at ousting him from power.

The Trump administration has yet to show evidence to support its claims about the boats that have been attacked, their connection to drug cartels, or even the identity of the people killed in the strikes.
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Scott Bessent didnt miss his opportunity to take a dig at Ontario Premier Doug Ford and the Toronto Blue Jays after their heartbreaking World Series defeat during a Sunday morning appearance on CNN with Jake Tapper.

The U.S. Treasury Secretary pushed back when asked by Tapper about President Donald Trumps plans to levy additional tariffs against Canada after, accusing Ontario officials of election interference.

."He didn't put on a 10 percent tariff, he threatened to put on a 10 percent tariff," Bessent said. "And Jake, this is unacceptable. I read the premier of Ontario spent $75 million sending propaganda across the U.S. border "

Tapper cut him off and reminded him that the "propaganda" he was mentioning was just former footage of Ronald Reagan speaking about tariffs in his own words. Bessent ignored the comment and did not engage with Tapper's clarification.

"It's the equivalent of election interference," Bessent continued. "Nobody likes foreign election interference, nobody likes foreign governments trying to sway public opinion for their own good."

open image in gallery Scott Bessent said that Ontario Premier Doug Ford was still smarting from the Blue Jays World Series defeat to the Dodgers. ( CNN )

Tapper then sought clarification about the possibility of a 10 percent tariff, asking if there's a chance that Trump drops the idea entirely after he received an apology from Ford

"We'll see," Bessent said. "I do think it was a big setback for the Canadian government, and the premier of Ontario should be ashamed, he's probably still smarting from the Blue Jays' loss last night."

"That's harsh," Tapper replied, before congratulating Los Angeles Dodgers fans.

Will Smiths homer in the 11th inning secured back-to-back World Series titles for the Dodgers, making them the first team to achieve the feat since the New York Yankees in 2000. Despite a fake Truth Social post suggesting otherwise, the president promptly confirmed they would be visiting the White House.

The ad at the center of the controversy that Tapper and Bessent were discussing contained a clip of Reagan explaining in 1987 that tariffs cause trade wars and economic crises. In response, Trump said he would increase tariffs on goods coming out of Canada by 10 percent, and Washington ended its trade talks with Canada.

The ads ran during World Series games on U.S. televisions.

Trump claimed after the ad was released that it was intended to "interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court," which is currently reviewing a legal challenge to the president's tariffs.

open image in gallery Trump ends trade talks with Canada after an anti-tariff advert featuring Ronald Reagan was ran by the Ontario Premier ( Ronald Reagan Presidential Library )

Canadian PM Mark Carney said on Saturday that he had apologized to Trump and told Ford not to run the ad.

The president was offended by the act, or by the ad, rather, Carney said. Its not something I would have done  which is to put in place that advertisement  and so I apologized to him.

Some Canadians liked the ad, and support its message. Wab Kinew, the premier of Manitoba, said he thought it was good that the ad made Trump "squirm," according to the New York Times.

I think its good that President Trump has to squirm and that hes being reminded that Republicans and Mr. Reagan were totally against tariffs, Kinew told reporters earlier this week.

As of Friday, Trump said he has no plans to restart trade talks with Canada.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom backed off from speculation that he is planning to run for president on Sunday.

One of the Democratic Partys most vocal leaders in the second Trump era, Newsom previously told CBS News that he would be lying if he said he wasnt considering running for president in 2028 in an interview that aired one week ago today.

But on Sunday, the governor sounded much less inclined towards pulling the trigger on that specific venture.

Asked by Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker, why do you want to be president?, Newsoms answer was simple.

I dont, he said.

open image in gallery Gavin Newsom backed away from presidential ambitions after telling CBS he'd be 'lying' if he said he wasn't considering running in 2028 ( NBC - Meet the Press )

He went on to explain that while he tried to answer a question from CBSs Robert Costa honestly, his focus was entirely centered on Californias redistricting process and what it would mean for his party in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Democrats are hoping to take back one or both chambers of Congress, allowing them the levers of power to challenge the presidents agenda directly.

I'm not suggesting I am [running for president], Newsom told NBC. It was in response to someone [who] talked about it.

He added that there was nothing I dislike more than a politician that sits there and lies to you.

I'm focused on Prop 50. I'm focusing on fair and free elections. And to the extent, fate, the future, there's an alignment, you have a big enough why, you have a what and a how, you meet a moment and that moment presents itself in a year, year and a half, we'll see what happens, said the governor, referring to the redistricting amendment set to be presented to California voters.

During his interview, Newsom battled a skeptical Welker on several points.

One moment came as the two clashed over whether the U.S. Department of Justice could still be trusted to handle cases fairly; the governor expressed surprise at Welkers suggestion that such a prospect was even possible, given how the White House and DOJ have launched a campaign to target a growing list of the presidents political enemies with cases that many experts describe as flimsy and obviously motivated by a desire to punish Democrats.

The two also clashed over whether Newsom was normalizing Donald Trumps behaviour by mocking it with his Governor Newsom Press Office account on X, which has taken to mimicking Trumps all-caps insult-throwing social media statements.

It reminds me of something Michelle Obama said once, When they go low, we go high. Is there still room for that mindset for Democrats? asked Welker.

I would love to go back to that, but politics has changed. The world has changed, Newsom responded.

Despite Newsoms stated hesitance towards running for president, the governor did one thing in his interview with Welker that could, to political observers, be seen as taking another step towards that eventuallity.

The governor was asked by Welker about an issue that most journalists and Democratic officials believe will be a major issue in the 2028 presidential primary: Joe Biden. The partys trust and popularity ratings with voters are at historic lows, and the bungling of the 2024 election campaign is chiefly to blame. Democrats refused to hold a primary after Biden announced that he planned to run for re-election in 2023, with one lone congressman, Dean Phillips, desperately pleading publicly for his party to change course.

Then, the disastrous debate performance by Joe Biden in June revealed a president who appeared lost, confused and physically frail onstage, unable to effectively respond to his opponents points or finish his own coherently. By then, it was too late for a full primary contest and party figures like Rep. Jim Clyburn opposed efforts by the likes of Barack Obama to allow the partys voters to decide the issue.

open image in gallery Joe Biden appeared whispery and unable to finish his points during a June debate with Donald Trump in 2024 that preceded the downfall of his campaign ( AFP/Getty )

Newsom told Welker that while he never had concerns about Bidens ability to do his job, he had privately raised concerns about the presidents demeanor after a fundraiser in Southern California. At that event, in May of 2024, the sitting U.S. president reportedly failed to recognize megastar Hollywood icon George Clooney, one of the Democratic Partys biggest supporters in the film industry.

The one exception, as it relates to the interaction I had with him, that gave me pause, one, was the fundraiser in Southern California. And all of us were a little taken aback, Newsom explained to Welker. The governor added that during the June debate with Trump, that person came back on that debate night and that certainly gave all of us pause.

He went on to assert that he raised his concerns to the campaign privately, with grace and humility, while echoing what former vice president Kamala Harris said about her refusal to put more pressure on her running mate to drop out: He was going to make the right decision. And so for me it wasn't my job to go out there.

That move to address the concerns about Bidens age puts the governor ahead of many of his potential rivals for the 2028 nomination, including Harris who struggled to enunciate why she herself refused to separate herself from the president and hadnt spoken out before it was too late during the media tour for her recently-published memoir, 107 Days.

Harris, in particular, is likely (along with others in the former administration) to face those questions going forward as the partys voters largely blame leadership for fumbling what many believe should have been a winnable election for the Democratic Party and pushing the GOP into twin majorities in the House and Senate.

Having refused to say that she would do anything different than Biden had she been president for four years, Harris will shoulder the burden of the entire Biden-Harris administrations record should she enter the field in 2028. This year, she declined to run for governor in California.
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Saturday Night Live poked fun at President Donald Trump and New York Citys mayoral candidates in its latest Cold Open sketch.

The late-night comedy show parodied the recent mayoral debates between candidates Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa on Saturday evening. But another politician was quick to crash the event: Trump, played by James Austin Johnson.

It's me! They can pretend this election is about housing and taxes, but we all know it's about me, right? Because I'm going to be very involved, very hands on, Johnsons Trump declared part-way through the debate.

The fictional Trump mentioned each candidate by name, but started to mumble when he got to Mamdani. Earlier, Mamdanis character, played by Ramy Youssef, joked that his opponents would pronounce my name in ways you couldnt even begin to imagine.

James Austin Johnson starred as President Donald Trump in the latest 'Saturday Night Live' Cold Open sketch ( Saturday Night Live/NBC )

The fictional Trump also quipped that his go-to bagel order is Big Mac with a hole in the middle, referencing the presidents well-documented love of McDonalds.

Trumps character went on to joke about the presidents recent MRI scan. This comes after Trump revealed he had a MRI and that the results were perfect on Monday. The reason for the scan is still unclear.

I did so well on a cognitive test that they immediately gave me an MRI, the fictional Trump said.

The character also said hell be adding New York City Mayor to his list of duties.

I may not live in New York anymore, but I'm always watching lurking in the shadows, much like the late, great Phantom of the Opera  terrible what happened to him in terms of opera, with regard to being burned by chandelier, the character mused. Perhaps I'll add New York Mayor to my list of duties.

New Yorkers will elect a new mayor on Tuesday, though many people have already voted early. The latest polls show that Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, still maintains a comfortable lead over his opponents, The New York Times reports.

Trump has commented on Mamdani throughout the mayoral hopefuls campaign, often falsely labeling him a communist (Mamdani says he is a democratic socialist). In September, the president threatened to withhold federal funds from New York City if Mamdani wins. Meanwhile, Mamdani has pledged to work with the president if elected.
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President Donald Trump has been blasted for attending a lavish Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago hours before a vital food assistance program relied upon by millions of Americans was about to lapse.

Some 42 million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program but because of the on-going government shutdown, funding for the critical scheme ended on November 1.

Meanwhile, Trump was pictured enjoying himself at the Halloween bash at his Palm Beach residence, surrounded by guests in Roaring 20s-style getup.

Gatsby and a little party never killed nobody was the official theme of the night, according to the Associated Press.

Prominent Democrats accused the president of prioritizing his billionaire friends over the American people.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump has been blasted for attending a lavish Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago hours before a vital food assistance program relied upon by millions of Americans was about to lapse ( REUTERS )

open image in gallery Gatsby and a little party never killed nobody, was the official theme of the night, according to the Associated Press ( Getty Images )

Donald Trump hosted a Great Gatsby party while SNAP benefits were about to disappear for 42 million Americans, said California Governor Gavin Newsom in a post on X. He does not give a damn about you.

Trump hosts a Gatsby party for billionaires while SNAP benefits expire for 41 million Americans today, California Rep. Ro Khanna added on X. Tax the rich. Feed hungry Americans.

The way he rubs his inhumanity in Americans face never ceases to stun me, said Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut. Hes illegally refusing to pay food stamp benefitswhile he throws a ridiculously over the top Gatsby party for his right wing millionaire and corporate friends.

Trump was sat next to his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, at a table in the center of the room.

Dancers in flapper costumes were pictured entertaining guests at the party.

Responding to the criticism, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Independent that Democrats are full of it.

President Trump has consistently called on them to do the right thing and reopen the government, which they could do at any time, Kelly said. Unfortunately, Gavin Newscum, Chuck Schumer, and Congressional Democrats would rather push health care for illegal immigrants than save American citizens from suffering.

open image in gallery Trump was pictured enjoying himself at the Halloween bash at his Palm Beach residence, surrounded by guests in Roaring 20s-style getup ( AFP via Getty Images )

open image in gallery Meanwhile, SNAP funding for millions of Americans lapsed on November 1 ( Getty Images )

On Halloween, Trump also revealed he has renovated the bathroom in the White House Lincoln Bedroom.

I renovated the Lincoln Bathroom in the White House, he said on Truth Social, sharing pictures of the new gold and marble look. It was renovated in the 1940s in an art deco green tile style, which was totally inappropriate for the Lincoln Era. I did it in black and white polished Statuary marble. This was very appropriate for the time of Abraham Lincoln and, in fact, could be the marble that was originally there!

Legal challenges were mounted Friday as a federal judge ordered Trump to release emergency funding for SNAP before the Nov. 1 cut off, while another ruled that the government is likely illegally blocking the emergency money.

Trump said he wanted the courts to clarify how he can legally fund the program as soon as possible and blamed Democrats for the funding lapse.

I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT, he posted on Truth Social on Halloween.

open image in gallery Dancers dressed in 1920s flapper costumes were pictured at the party ( AFP via Getty Images )

open image in gallery Prominent Democrats accused the president of prioritizing his billionaire friends over the American people ( REUTERS )

If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay, Trump added.

In a ruling from the bench Friday, Rhode Island District Judge Jack McConnell said there is no doubt, and it is beyond argument, that irreparable harm will continue to occur if the government stops funding SNAP, which supports nearly 42 million Americans and their families.

Families are already experiencing terror at the prospect that they will lose access to benefits on Saturday without urgent congressional action or the Trump administrations intervention, he said during a virtual court hearing.

open image in gallery On Halloween, Trump also revealed he has renovated the bathroom in the White House Lincoln Bedroom ( Donald Trump / Truth Social )

Massachusetts District Judge Indira Talwani, meanwhile, is giving the Trump administration until Monday to decide if it will release those emergency funds to keep SNAP afloat. But she said the governments suspension of the program is likely unlawful.

Were not going to make everyone drop dead, she said during a hearing in the case Thursday.

McConnell ordered the administration to use emergency funds  which amount to more than $5 billion  to keep SNAP running during the federal government shutdown, at least partially, and to identify other potential federal funds to support the program, absent any new funding from Congress.

A lawsuit from Democratic leaders from 25 states argues that the Department of Agriculture is legally required to continue funding the program as long as there are contingency funds to support it.

With reporting from Alex Woodward
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President Donald Trump suggested that it is probably illegal to be 100% ANTI TRUMP in a rant about late-night TV host Seth Meyers.

Trump shared the tirade via Truth Social on Saturday afternoon, after the TV personality mocked the president on Thursdays episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers. Trump declared that Meyers may be the WORST to perform, live or otherwise.

I watched his show the other night for the first time in years, Trump wrote. In it he talked endlessly about electric catapults on aircraft carriers which I complain about as not being as good as much less expensive steam catapults. On and on he went, a truly deranged lunatic.

He continued: Why does NBC waste its time and money on a guy like this??? - NO TALENT, NO RATINGS, 100% ANTI TRUMP, WHICH IS PROBABLY ILLEGAL!!!

The Independent has contacted NBC for comment. When asked about the post, a White House official referred The Independent to Trumps comments.

President Donald Trump suggested it's 'PROBABLY ILLEGAL' to be '100% ANTI-TRUMP' in a Truth Social rant aimed at Seth Meyers ( Getty Images for Perelman Perfor )

On Thursday night, Meyers took aim at Trumps speech to members of the U.S. military earlier this week on board the U.S.S. George Washington aircraft carrier in Japan. There, Trump asked the audience to tell him which type of catapult is better for aircraft carriers: steam or electric. Several audience members shouted back, Steam!

They're spending billions of dollars to build stupid electric, Trump said. And the problem, when it breaks, you have to send up to MIT, get the most brilliant people in the world, fly them out, its ridiculous.

The steam, they said they could fix it with a hammer and a blowtorch, and it works just as well, if not better, Trump continued. And I love the sight of that beautiful steam pouring off that deck  with the electric, you don't have that.

Meyers played part of Trumps remarks for his audience before remarking: Guy spends more time thinking about catapults than Wile E. Coyote.

Next, they start complaining about how our troops don't tie themselves to rockets anymore, Meyers added.

Meyers, impersonating Trump, continued: We used to strap our soldiers to the rockets, and they loved it, but then everything got woke and they said, You can't tie a person to a rocket. But we miss those days, and we're bringing them back.

This isnt the first time Trump has taken aim at Meyers. In August, Trump went on a late-night rant about a rumor he heard that NBC had extended Meyers contract  even though the network signed a four-year extension with Meyers last year.

He has no Ratings, Talent, or Intelligence, and the Personality of an insecure child, Trump wrote at the time. So, why would Fake News NBC extend this dopes contract. I dont know, but Ill definitely be finding out!!!
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President Donald Trump would not directly answer whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China attacked it during an interview with CBS News program 60 Minutes.

His sit-down with anchor Norah ODonnell, pre-recorded Friday at Mar-a-Lago, marked the first time he has appeared on the program since he launched and later settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit over one of the shows reports featuring Kamala Harris.

ODonnell quizzed the president about Taiwan following his meeting with Chinas Xi Jinping in South Korea last week.

You have said that Xi Jinping wouldn't dare move militarily on Taiwan while you're in office. But what if he does? ODonnell asked. Would you order U.S. forces to defend Taiwan?

You'll find out if it happens, and he understands the answer to that, Trump replied, referring to Xi, and added that the issue of Taiwan never even came up during their meeting.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump would not directly answer whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China made a move during an interview with CBS News program 60 Minutes ( 60 Minutes / X )

He never brought it up because he understands it, and he understands it very well, Trump said.

When ODonnell pressed the president further, Trump continued to dig his heels in.

I can't give away my secrets, he replied. I dont want to be one of these guys that tells you exactly what's going to happen if something happens. The other side knows, but I'm not somebody that tells you everything, because you're asking me a question.

While Taiwan has long claimed its independence, Beijing considers it part of China and says it wants "reunification"  which would be against the wishes of most Taiwanese people. There have been fears that Xi could try to seize the island nation, which has a population of about 23 million and which is a global leader in the crucial semiconductor chip industry.

The U.S. has helped fund Taiwans defense  without recognizing it as an independent country  for decades. However, the Washington Post reported in September that Trump declined to approve $400 million in military aid to Taiwan this summer.

The full interview is due to air Sunday evening. Trump also discussed Venezuela, Israel, the government shutdown, immigration, and his attempts to deploy the National Guard to cities around the country, according to CBS News.

Trump sued CBS in November 2024, alleging 60 Minutes had deceptively edited an interview with Harris.

open image in gallery Trump sued CBS in November 2024, alleging 60 Minutes had deceptively edited an interview with Kamala Harris ( CBS News )

The network initially fought the suit, calling it meritless, but in July CBS and its parent company Paramount settled with Trump for $16 million.

Trumps dispute with the network had far-reaching political, economic, and journalistic ramifications.

In April, a top producer at 60 Minutes announced he was quitting, alleging the storied news show had lost its journalistic independence.

Stephen Colbert, host of CBSs Late Show, criticized the eventual settlement as a big fat bribe, as part of his regular criticisms of Trump. That same month, the network announced the Late Show will shutter next year.

Executives described the decision to cancel Colbert as a purely financial one, though critics argued the network was bending the knee to appease the Trump administration, which held sway over a then-pending merger between Paramount and Skydance, a media company led by David Ellison, the son of Oracle founder and Trump backer Larry Ellison.

The merger was approved in August, and CBS News is now led by Bari Weiss, a former New York Times opinion writer and founder of the publication The Free Press, a new media outlet that frequently criticizes so-called woke topics.

Josh Marcus contributed reporting
JERUSALEM, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israel announced on Sunday a comprehensive reform in high-tech taxation aimed at boosting investment, reducing bureaucracy, and encouraging skilled professionals abroad to return home, according to a joint statement issued by the Finance Ministry, the Tax Authority, and the Israel Innovation Authority.

The reform seeks to increase tax certainty, remove barriers for investors, and support the continued growth of Israel's hi-tech sector.

Under the new framework, multinational companies will find it easier to operate in Israel, acquire local technology firms, and manage research and development centers in the country.

The plan also introduces incentives for investment funds and venture capital, featuring simpler taxation rules and greater transparency. A uniform income tax rate will apply to carried interest for both Israeli and foreign funds, while Israeli funds will be exempt from value-added tax (VAT) on carried interest.

Foreign investors will also be exempt from capital gains tax on direct investments in Israeli hi-tech companies, regardless of investment size or local presence.

To attract skilled Israelis working abroad back to the country, the reform includes tax exemptions on income earned overseas and credits for foreign taxes already paid.

According to the joint statement, the overhaul is designed to make Israel more competitive globally, foster innovation, and solidify its position as a leading hub for technology and entrepreneurship. 
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Just days before New York Citys mayoral election, frontrunner Zohran Mamdani released a new campaign ad of him appealing to voters  entirely in Arabic.

The Democratic candidate, who is Muslim and recently delivered a speech condemning Islamophobia, appears in the ad in a bodega with a Palestinian flag displayed behind the counter.

I know what youre thinking  I might look like your brother-in-law from Damascus, but my Arabic needs some work, Mamdani says in the video.

Still, I would love to ask for your support on November 4th.

In the ad, Mamdani  who previously released an ad in Spanish  pets a bodega cat and vows to make New York more affordable. Im from you, and for you, he says.

open image in gallery Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim and recently delivered a speech condemning Islamophobia, appears in the ad in a bodega with a Palestinian flag displayed behind the counter ( Zohran Mamdani/X )

A longtime pro-Palestinian activist and staunch critic of Israel, 34-year-old Mamdani, who won the primary in stunning fashion, has faced criticism for his outspoken positions on Israel and Gaza, which have become a flashpoint in the race.

Those attacks have amped up in the weeks leading up to the race, drawing allegations from some Democrats that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is leaning into Islamophobia in the final stretch of the campaign.

Appearing on a conservative radio station in October, Cuomo appeared to laugh along at the hosts suggestion that Mamdani would be cheering another 9/11 attack. Thats another problem, Cuomo replied.

Hours later, at an event endorsing the former governor, outgoing Mayor Eric Adams invoked the possibility of terrorist attacks in New York City, seeming to suggest  without explanation  they would be more likely under a Mamdani administration.

At a debate the same month, Sliwa, the Republican candidate, called Mamdani a supporter of global jihad.

open image in gallery New York City Mayor Eric Adams, left, and Independent candidate former New York governor Andrew Cuomo pose at a New York Knicks game in October, just days before the mayoral election ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

While Mamdani alluded to the recent verbal attacks in his speech, he aimed his words at his fellow Muslim New Yorkers.

The dream of every Muslim is simply to be treated the same as any other New Yorker, he said. And yet for too long we have been told to ask for less than that, and to be satisfied with whatever little we receive." No more, he added.

But the attacks continued in response to Mamdanis new ad on X.

The Islamic takeover of NYC is here, wrote Laura Loomer, the right-wing conspiracy theorist known for her anti-Muslim opinions.

Mamdanis Arabic-language ad dropped as candidates sprint into the final stretch before Tuesdays election.

open image in gallery New York Mayor candidate Curtis Sliwa meets a New York City Police Department officer as he campaigns in the New York City subway system ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Cuomo, 67, and Sliwa are offering their closing arguments, each framing the democratic socialist Mamdani as a risky choice for the city.

Cuomo, running as an independent Democrat, has warned that Mamdanis policies would lead the city into ruin, urging Republicans to back him instead of Sliwa.

Republicans, there are two choices, me or Mamdani. Dont waste your vote, Cuomo said in a recent Fox Business interview.

Sliwa, 71, founder of the Guardian Angels anti-crime patrols, has spent the final days of the campaign in the citys subways and streets, pledging to restore safety and focus on quality-of-life issues.

Mamdani, 34, appears undeterred. His campaign has leaned on grassroots energy, drawing massive crowds at rallies with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

With early voting concluding Sunday, hes shaking hands with everyone form social media influencers to airport taxi drivers as he urges his supporters not to grow complacent, the Associated Press reported.

People say We got this. Its over. Cuomo is cooked, he says in one of his many popular online videos. Do not believe it.
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A woman in Kentucky expecting to open a box full of medicine instead found a pair of human arms and a number of human fingers on ice.

Shocked by her discovery, she called 911. Scott Daniel, the coroner for Christian County, Kentucky, traveled to her home to retrieve the human remains, the New York Times reports.

Daniel took the twos arms and four fingers to the local morgue. On Tuesday, a courier removed the remains, though its unclear where they were taken.

About a day after receiving the digits, the woman finally received her medicine.

The package was sent from Nashville, and was supposed to be delivered to a school or hospital in the city for surgical training, Daniel told the Times.

A woman in Kentucky received a package she thought was her medicine, but instead found it contained human body parts intended for a surgical training program ( Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The parts inside the package were from four different individuals.

The courier who delivered the package, or woman who received them, have not been identified.

In response to a question about the source of the body parts, Daniel said he "didn't ask."

I mean, Id assume, obviously, I think they came from cadavers that had been donated," he told the Times.

Daniel said he believes the woman who received the parts "did the right thing" by calling 911 and reporting the discovery.
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A heavily pregnant British teenager being held in Georgia over drug smuggling charges has finally been moved to a mother and baby unit.

Bella Culley, 19, is awaiting sentence after she was accused of smuggling 12kg (26lb) of marijuana and 2kg (4.4lb) of hashish in her hold luggage at Tbilisi International Airport in May.

The teenager has spent the last five months being forced to boil pasta in a kettle and toast bread over a candle as she was held in Georgias Rustavi Prison Number Five, according to her mother.

Inside the former Soviet jail, she also had to use a hole in the ground for a toilet and was limited to one hour of fresh air a day, and communal showers twice a week.

However, the parent revealed Ms Culley, now 35 weeks pregnant, has been transferred to a mother and baby unit where she is expected to give birth before Christmas.

Her family last week made a payment of 137,000 to reduce her sentence after reaching a plea bargain with prosecutors at Tbilisi City Court.

open image in gallery Lyanne Kennedy, mother of British teenager Bella Culley, outside Tbilisi City Court ( Reuters )

The teen claimed she was forced to traffic the drugs by a gang that threatened to kill her family.

Her mother Lyanne Kennedy, 44, from Billingham, Teesside, said she is now able to cook for herself and is learning Georgian inside the mother and baby unit.

Describing the improved conditions since a transfer earlier this month, Ms Kennedy told the BBC: She now gets two hours out for walking, she can use the communal kitchen, has a shower in her room and a proper toilet.

They all cook for each other. Bella has been making eggy bread and cheese toasties, and salt and pepper chicken.

Ms Culley is due to give birth before Christmas after falling pregnant while travelling in southeast Asia. Her arrest in Georgia followed a period where she had been reported missing in Thailand.

open image in gallery Culley, then 18, was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport in Georgia earlier this year ( East2West )

She initially pleaded not guilty at a hearing in July to possession and trafficking illegal drugs and said she had been tortured into transporting them. She said she was a clean person and did not do drugs.

Ms Kennedy told reporters outside the Tbilisi courthouse on Tuesday that the family had paid 500,000 lari ($186,846) to officials as part of a plea bargain and were waiting for the funds to be credited to the relevant government account.

It is understood the sum is enough money to significantly reduce the amount of time Ms Culley serves.

A further hearing is expected on Monday.
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Russia launched a blistering assault on Ukraine overnight, killing at least six people and injuring 35. Some 430 drones and 18 missiles targeted the country, Ukraines president said, calling the strikes a deliberate and calculated attack aimed at causing maximum harm to people and civilian infrastructure.

Ukraines air force said most of the drones and missiles were shot down, but officials said falling debris and fires damaged high-rise apartments, a school, a medical facility and administrative buildings across nine districts in the city of about three million.

"At that moment you don't know what to do first: save yourself, your child, or run to help people, because so many people were screaming and needed help," said Anastasia, 29, whose apartment block was hit.

The attacks came just two days after Russias foreign ministry indicated it was ready to resume direct talks with Ukraine on ending the war in Istanbul. An official told TASS the ball is in Ukraines court.

Russia continues to escalate its strikes on Ukraine while coordinating its messaging to present a show of good faith to the United States. Nearly four years since the invasion, the Kremlin maintains its maximalist designs on Ukraine.

Zelensky said that Ukraine was responding to the strikes with long-range strength, and called for greater sanctions to be imposed on Russia.

open image in gallery The overnight attacks hit residential buildings, despite Russias insistence it does not target civilians ( AFP/Getty )

Russia has waged a devastating aerial campaign against Ukraine since its all-out invasion of its neighbour nearly four years ago. US-led diplomatic efforts this year to stop the fighting have so far come to nothing.

Friday's aerial assault, which also targeted Odesa in the south and Kharkiv in the northeast, was mostly aimed at Kyiv, where drones and missiles smashed into high-rise apartment blocks, according to Zelensky.

Mariia Kalchenko said it was a miracle she survived after her building was hit. "I didn't hear anything, I just realised that my hair was on fire," the 46-year-old volunteer rescue dog handler said.

In the Odesa region, Russian drones struck a busy street on market day in Chornomorsk, killing two people and injuring 11 others, including a 19-month-old girl, regional military administration chief Oleh Kiper said.

Moscow denies targeting civilian areas, with the Russian Defense Ministry saying Friday it carried out an overnight strike on Ukraine's "military-industrial and energy facilities."

Analysts nevertheless accuse Russia of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure in order to wound morale.

open image in gallery Eight of the capital's 10 districts reported damage. Emergency crews fought fires in apartment blocks, debris from explosions was strewn across yards and cars parked in the streets were set ablaze ( Reuters )

Natia Seskuria, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said that the systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure was a central element of Russias strategy, designed to terrorise the Ukrainian population and erode public morale.

The underlying calculation is that a war-weary society subjected to sustained attacks might exert pressure on the government to accept almost any settlement that promises an end to hostilities, she told The Independent.

Thus far, however, this strategy has proven ineffective, as Ukrainians have demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination in the face of ongoing aggression.

Fridays attack was the biggest on Kyiv in almost three weeks. Most recent Russian aerial attacks have aimed at electricity infrastructure around the country ahead of the bitter winter months.

With no sign of the war abating, millions of Ukrainians face one of the harshest winters in years as humanitarian organisations scramble to deliver essentials to the frontlines and affected areas.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warned on Friday that people whose livelihoods have been destroyed by the war are entering the winter with no financial buffer to support themselves.

open image in gallery At least six people were killed in the strikes overnight, Ukrainian officials said ( Reuters )

Frequent power cuts continue to plunge neighbourhoods into darkness, cut heating and force hospitals to use emergency power. For older people and vulnerable people in high-rise buildings, blackouts can mean hours or days of isolation without elevators, heat, and often without food or medicine, the IFRC warned.

Almost four years of conflict have eroded peoples resources. Many families are entering this winter with no financial buffer  seven out of ten people said they dont have any savings left, said Jaime Wah, Deputy Head of Delegation for IFRC in Ukraine.

We have been providing support to people for several years, but our resources are also running thin, Wah added. The scale of the needs is overwhelming, and with each passing day, those needs only grow.

Keir Giles, a fellow of the Russia and Eurasia programme at Chatham House, told The Independent that Moscows attacks are designed to cause the maximum possible misery and suffering among the civilian population.

Thats the principle we saw applied in Syria, in Chechnya and in countless others of Moscows wars dating back decades and centuries, he said.

Mr Giles said Ukraine was the victim of Russias attempts to demoralise its victims through inhumanity.

Thats the reason for attacks on maternity hospitals, and nurseries, targeting the most vulnerable in society, as well as for the systematic torture and starvation of Ukrainian military and civilian captives  not for any objective purpose other than deliberate and demonstrative cruelty.

These attacks continue despite Russias insistence that it is open to talks moving towards a ceasefire.

open image in gallery ( Reuters )

Foreign ministry official Alexei Polishchuk said on Wednesday that Russia was ready to resume negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul. No face-to-face talks have taken place between the two sides since they met in the Turkish city on July 23.

Overtures towards peace come after a proposed summit between Russias Vladimir Putin and US president Donald Trump broke down in October, reportedly over Moscows intransigence over its demands.

The two leaders have not met since August, when a summit held in Alaska failed to produce a deal. Mr Trump said the meeting was very productive, but the diplomatic push to end the war has yet to yield any results.
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Passengers expecting to travel on East Coast Main Line services have been warned of continued disruption after Saturday evenings mass stabbing onboard a train from Doncaster to London.

British Transport Police (BTP) have confirmed that two people remain in a life-threatening condition following the bloody rampage, while two British nationals have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

LNER, which operates most intercity trains on the UKs flagship route, said disruption to its services between London Kings Cross and Yorkshire was likely to last until Monday.

David Horne, managing director of LNER, said We are deeply shocked and saddened by this serious incident, and our thoughts are very much with everyone involved.

"The safety and wellbeing of everyone affected will remain our priority. We will continue to do everything we can to support our customers and colleagues during this difficult time.

What do we know about the train involved? What measures are in place for passenger safety? And what is the impact on train services today?

Simon Calder is at London King's Cross station  the intended destination for the train.

What service was involved?

The train involved in the 1 November incident was the 6.25pm LNER departure from Doncaster in South Yorkshire to London King's Cross. It left on time and called at Retford, Newark, Grantham and Peterborough.

The service departed from Peterborough on time at 7.30pm. One more call was expected 28 minutes later at Stevenage, with arrival in the capital scheduled for 8.23pm.

open image in gallery ( Datawrapper/The Independent )

The train was planned to travel through Huntingdon at 125mph on a fast track that does not have access to a platform.

While the attack was happening, the LNER train driver, their control room and Network Rail signallers were able to divert the train to the slow line and bring it to a halt at the first available station within 14 minutes of departure from Peterborough, with armed police attending.

This was an extraordinarily swift response. The outcome could have been far worse, had the train either stopped short of the station  with access and escape difficult  or continued to Stevenage, .

What security is in place on trains?

CCTV cameras are standard onboard trains, but passengers are especially vulnerable to attackers while travelling at 125mph in a confined space.

Currently the only pre-boarding check for passengers happens at London St Pancras International, with all Eurostar passengers and their baggage checked before departure to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. This is because the Channel Tunnel is perceived to be a key terrorist target.

For trains within the UK, British Transport Police patrol trains and stations, but the force has fewer than 3,000 officers  on a network with five million journeys a day. The BTP says patrols will be stepped up in the next few days.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said passengers would see "a high visibility presence" of police at railway stations and on trains on Sunday "to reassure the public".

She added: "My thoughts are with those who have been impacted by the shocking incident in Huntingdon last night, especially those still in hospital today.

"I'd like to pay enormous tribute to the staff and officers who responded, and the public for their patience and cooperation.

"Trains are now running in the area, however Huntingdon station remains closed with trains passing through.

"Passengers will see a high visibility presence of officers at stations and on trains throughout today who are there to reassure the public."

Rail firms will consider increasing the number of security staff on trains. There are likely to be calls for airport-style security checks before boarding trains. But given the sheer number of travellers and the constraints at stations, that seems impractical.

What are the unions calling for?

The leader of the biggest rail union, the RMT, has praised the professionalism, bravery and steadfastness  of the workers who responded to the knife attack.

General secretary Eddie Dempsey added: I will be seeking urgent meetings with government, rail employers and police to ensure that we have the strongest possible support, resources and robust procedures in place to protect our members and the travelling public.

The TSSA union, representing white-collar rail staff, highlighted the urgent need for preventive measures, heightened security, and zero-tolerance towards aggression on our transport system. The union is seeking assurances that the rail workforce receives all necessary support, including counselling and time off when needed.

What is the effect on travel today?

As police continue to investigate the knife attack on a train that ended at Huntingdon station, rail passengers have been warned: LNER services between London Kings Cross and Peterborough may be cancelled, revised or delayed.

National Rail issued an early morning update about disruption on Monday after the weekends knife attack on a train travelling from Doncaster to London.

The train was diverted to Huntingdon, where the emergency services helped passengers and crew.

The LNER train remains a crime scene that police are investigating.

Passengers are warned: The emergency services are continuing to deal with a major incident between Hitchin and Peterborough. Whilst they carry out their work some lines are still closed. Great Northern and Thameslink services will not call at Huntingdon.

LNER posted on X: We expect to run a normal service today. We still recommend checking your journey closer to the time, using our journey checker. If you have an Advance Single ticket [for Monday] then please travel on your booked service.

The train operator says unused LNER tickets for 1-2 November are valid for travel up to and including 7 November.

You dont need to change or amend your ticket, but LNER recommend making a seat reservation before you travel, the rail firm said.

Weekend engineering work in the York area has now ended meaning trains can now run between London, northeast England and Scotland once again.

The train, a crime scene, is still blocking one track on the East Coast Main Line at Huntingdon, slowing services.

The route normally connects London Kings Cross with Yorkshire, northeast England and Scotland, but planned engineering work in the York area means no trains are running beyond Doncaster.

With a number of cancellations, some LNER trains are making additional calls, which is adding to delays.

The rail firm says: Rail replacement buses will run between Newark Northgate and Lincoln in both directions in placed of cancelled train services on this route.

LNER tickets for Saturday or Sunday can be used on Monday or Tuesday, though the train operators recommends making a fresh reservation.

Services between London King's Cross on Grand Central to West Yorkshire and Hull Trains are near normal.

open image in gallery A forensic investigator photographing the scene on the platform by the train at Huntingdon station ( Joe Giddens/PA Wire )

Are train drivers taught to deal with situations like this?

Train drivers are highly trained to handle all manner of unusual circumstances and emergency scenarios. Everything is rooted in safety, and getting passengers to the safest possible location as swiftly as possible is paramount.

On this occasion the driver, along with LNER crew and control room staff, as well as Network Rail, responded with great skill and professionalism.
Armed police officers are at the scene after multiple people were stabbed on a train to Huntingdon on Saturday evening (1 November).

Officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the British Transport Police were called to Huntingdon railway station shortly after 7.30pm following reports of the attack.

Footage shared on social media shows armed officers running towards the train as ambulances arrived in the station car park.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: Armed officers attended and the train was stopped at Huntingdon, where two men were arrested. A number of people have been taken to hospital.

The A1307 and the railway station remain closed.
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If the reports emerging from the city of el-Fasher in the Darfur region of western Sudan are even remotely true, then it is a name that will live in infamy. The rebels known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the area from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) some days ago after an 18-month siege, and thousands have been the victims of atrocities. The Yale University Humanitarian Research Lab has been monitoring the situation using human intelligence sources and satellite imagery, and says it is a Rwanda-style wave of hyper-violence (recalling the indiscriminate mass killings in 1994 there).

It would hardly be surprising if that were the case, such has been the viciousness of the fighting and the routine fact of genocide taking place across this fractured nation. While the worlds eyes have been trained on the merciless conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, the civil war in Sudan, less enmeshed in great power rivalries and with fewer geopolitical connections, has attracted less attention. Yet the scale of human suffering in the last few years has been on a historic, unimaginable scale, with sadistic killing allied to famine and administrative collapse: 11.7 million people forcibly displaced, with 4.2 million seeking asylum outside their own country; hundreds of thousands of children dead through malnutrition; widespread rape and violence against civilians, much of it ethnically motivated.

The foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, describes the situation in stark, honest terms: Atrocities, mass executions, starvation and the devastating use of rape as a weapon of war, with women and children bearing the brunt of the largest humanitarian crisis in the 21st century.

Aside from the RSF and the SAF there are many more ever-shifting factions and militias driven by ethnic hatreds, tribal loyalties and even more mercenary motives, and the country, never stable, has descended into a kaleidoscope of horrors since the long-running civil war reignited in April 2023.

Never known for rushing to judgement, even the Trump administration has recognised the extent of the crimes against humanity that have been and still are being committed in Sudan. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, in his confirmation hearing in January was forthright: In an era in which the term genocide has been misappropriated to almost an international slander, this is a real genocide by its very definition. This is the ethnic targeting of specific groups for extermination, for elimination.

That the Sudanese civil war attracts so little international attention is partly because it is a tragically intractable conflict, or, more accurately, constantly evolving sets of conflicts. At its base are conflicts about land and water, exacerbated by climate change and cultural differences that seem irreconcilable. It inspires only despair.

What is happening now in Sudan can be traced back to rivalries between the Arab and non-Arab populations, Muslims and non-Muslims, between the north, south and west of the country, between warlords and tribes that were simmering even before independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Since then the country has barely known stability, with the fighting in recent years centring on the capital Khartoum and the Darfur region, one of the most deprived and desperate places on Earth. Even after South Sudan finally broke away and became independent in 2011, the conflicts in the rest of the republic continued, with the RSF now at war with the Sudanese authorities growing out of the pro-Arab Janjaweed militias.

Yet over the years the conflict has been punctuated by attempts at peace, brokered by nearby and interested powers such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Ethiopia, as well as by the United Nations, the African Union, East African Community and the local Intergovernmental Authority on Development. What is new in making an already appalling situation far worse is the unprecedented levels of foreign interference, including by some nations nominally promoting peace in Sudan  including the United Arab Emirates, the Wagner Group, Russia (apparently playing both sides and also drawing in Ukraine), Turkey and Iran  plus the warring factions in Yemen. Such involvement has meant that Sudan, one of the poorest places in the world, has seen the deployment of the most complex of modern military technology, such as drones, as well as medieval techniques of human cruelty.

Mr Rubio has called this out, and specifically criticised the UAEs alleged supply of hardware to the RSF, and his lead should be followed by all responsible Western nations. For the moment President Donald Trump seems more preoccupied with Nigeria and a threat to invade it all guns blazing to defeat Islamist insurgents. Still, given his new-found passion for peacemaking, he may also make some time to push allies, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to back peace negotiations again. The violence of a great arc of terrorism and instability  stretching from the Sahel through the Horn of Africa into the Middle East  is now intensifying, with one consequence being a likely further wave of refugees heading towards Europe.

The immediate aim, however, as in Gaza and Ukraine, has to be the delivery of adequate humanitarian aid  a huge project in the worlds worst humanitarian disaster. As elsewhere too, it requires a ceasefire between warring parties who dont see a pause in fighting as serving their own interests. Despondency is the natural reaction, but the diplomatic work has to go on even in the face of the challenges, and even with the reality that the killing may get worse before any of the various armed groups are either sated or exhausted.
Sydney Sweeney is the perfect woman. According to societys beauty standards, she literally couldnt be more meticulously honed. With pouted lips, glossy hair, doe eyes, high cheekbones, and what looks like an effortlessly crafted slender frame, she has gone to the exact right lab and emerged with the exact right features that the world has told her she needs in order to be very, very pretty.

She also happens to be an incredibly talented, Emmy-nominated actor, one who has most recently been critically praised for her role as the former professional boxer Christy Martin in a biopic about the sporting star  personally, Im a fan of Euphoria (Ive never, ever been happier! screeches her character, Cassie, in one memorable scene). From her interviews, it also seems like the 28-year-old is a very nice and pleasant person. To be clear, thats beauty, talent, success and possibly also kindness.

Tick, tick, tick. Bonus tick.

And yet, in the last few months, Sweeney has become a lightning rod for online rage. There are rumours that shes a fervent Trump supporter (over the summer, it emerged that shed registered as a Republican voter a few months before Trump won the US presidency), that she might be an advocate for eugenics (blame a poorly thought-out American Eagle campaign), and that she might have brought Maga-inspired hats to her mothers birthday party. Nothing the actor has said or done confirms any of this, but it has been enough to catalyse a hate campaign, one that reached its apex last week when the actor had the audacity to remind us she has breasts. Yes, really.

On Wednesday evening, the actor wore a sheer silver gown to Varietys Power of Women event in Beverly Hills. Designed by Christian Cowan, the gown exposed her nipples, prompting a deluge of criticism. Dress for the occasion  its not Playboy, commented one person on an Instagram post of Sweeney shared by Variety. That dress doesnt empower but overpower, added another. Others argued that the dress was worn in poor taste and encouraged the objectification of women.

Sydney Sweeney appeared with Sharon Stone in a sheer dress at the Variety Power of Women event on Wednesday ( Getty Images )

Sadly, this isnt surprising. And while I look absolutely nothing like Sweeney (a tragedy on which I can only blame my parents) and am far from a Hollywood celebrity, I can relate to the way shes being targeted. Because as women, were damned if we do and damned if we dont, especially if, like Sweeney, were doing rather well. The same conflicting limitations are imposed on us all: be pretty but not beautiful! Be successful but not independently wealthy! Be confident but not arrogant! And so on.

These are the paradoxical wheels on which modern femininity spins. And were reminded of that time and time again. Take the time a distant relative made a flippant remark about how Im often wearing next to nothing at parties, or the occasion when a friend criticised me for sharing too many photos of myself on Instagram. Ive been criticised for making too much and too little of an effort at events, and dont get me started on the way people police female writers for daring to take an interest in a wide range of subjects; sometimes I write about violence against women, and sometimes I write about shoes. Thats just me!

But women arent allowed to be layered, and Sweeney is a perfect encapsulation of those limitations.

Remember the way the actress was shamed for the way she bulked up for the role of Christy? Without artifice (makeup, filter, and Photoshop), she is really ugly! read one comment on Instagram, while another stated: She knocked up? Stung by a nest of wasps? Sweeney has spoken out about the various criticism she has received, telling Vanity Fair last year: Its very disheartening to see women tear other women down, especially when women who are successful in other avenues of their industry see younger talent working really hard  hoping to achieve whatever dreams that they may have  and then trying to bash and discredit any work that theyve done.

The actor went on to call out the hypocrisy of an industry that purports to be about female empowerment. After all, we live in a post-#MeToo, body-positive, fourth-wave feminist era where women are celebrated for their agency and success, dont we? All of it is fake and a front for all the other s*** that they say behind everyones back, Sweeney told the magazine. Sadly, a few months later, were seeing just how right she was  and apparently still is.
courts

Echelon, one of Irelands largest data-centre developers, has settled a US court case with two American companies it accused of hijacking multi-billion-dollar plans to build facilities in South Carolina.

Lawyers for Nimol, the parent company of Echelon, and the two US firms, MPD Electric Cooperative and Marlboro Development Team (MDT), recently filed a document with the South Carolina District Court stating that they had mutually agreed to dismiss the case.
Enterprise Irelands new programme is an export development pathway

They say entrepreneurs see opportunity everywhere. But while the whole world could theoretically offer a market for your product or service, the reality of starting to export is daunting for most people, and for companies.

It can feel impossible to know what country to start with and how to tackle exporting there.

Ideally, every company planning to export would have an experienced advisor in Ireland and expert help in their target market. And that is exactly what Enterprise Irelands new Get Exporting programme is set to deliver.

It has been designed to give Irish businesses an export development pathway. In other words, they get customised help to start selling overseas and build their international revenue.

If you participate, you get one-to-one support to walk you step-by-step through preparing for export, so you can achieve your first sales and build from there.

Its a highly practical programme that ensures you emerge with a completed export plan that sets out the actions you need to take.

The programme gives you access to expert local help in key export markets

It includes all the help you could need to start selling overseas, including workshops, webinars, templates, tools and strategic advice from export advisers and market specialists.

Get Exporting is also agile and flexible in nature: you can join at whatever stage you are at in your export journey and seek the specific help you need.

Once you apply, Enterprise Ireland assesses your export readiness and the suitability of your product or service for export.

Crucially, the programme also gives you access to expert local help from Enterprise Irelands market advisors operating in key export markets.

They can help you research a market, refine your plan, road test your assumptions, generate leads or understand potential local pitfalls.

In the Get Exporting pilot programme earlier this year, participating firms also found they gained huge value from peer-to-peer learning.

The programme is mostly online, but it also includes in-person sessions where those taking part can learn from each other as well as from programme facilitators.

While the programme helps you pin down your value proposition for export, it also helps build the confidence and expertise you need to thrive in international markets. That could include pitching skills, sales skills, negotiation skills and so on.

You can take part in the programme if you have a manufacturing or services business with the ambition and potential for export sales. (It doesnt currently extend to food and drink firms.)

Even if youve started to export, youre still eligible if your annual export sales dont exceed 10,000 in any overseas market, including Northern Ireland.

While Get Exporting is a joint initiative of Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Office network, InterTradeIreland and Udaras na Gaeltachta, your business doesnt need to be affiliated to any of these organisations in order to apply.

The programme is a key pillar in achieving Enterprise Irelands goal of enabling 2,000 first-time exporters by 2030.

To register your interest in joining the Get Exporting programme in early 2026, email today getexporting@enterprise-ireland.com or visit Enterprise-Ireland.com/getexporting.

Linda Earlie and Manus Rooney are both senior executives in new exporters at Enterprise Ireland
LONDON, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- A 32-year-old British man is being treated as the sole suspect in a stabbing attack on a train in eastern England Saturday evening, police said on Sunday.

Earlier, police said they had arrested a 32-year-old man and a 35-year-old man, both British nationals, but the latter has now been released without further action.

"The 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in police custody," police said, adding that a knife was recovered at the scene.

At least 11 people were stabbed on board the train travelling from Doncaster to London before it made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station to allow police to intervene.

An eyewitness told local media that they saw a man with a bloodied arm fleeing down a carriage, yelling "They've got a knife," with blood covering the chairs. Another witness said people were trampling over one another, and some were hiding in the toilets to escape.

A rail staff member who tried to stop the attack remains in life-threatening condition, while five others injured have now been discharged, according to authorities.

The injured employee's actions "were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved many people's lives," British Transport Police said.

Police added that there is currently nothing to suggest the attack was a terrorist incident. Counter-terrorism officers are assisting the investigation as authorities "work to establish the full circumstances and motivation."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the "appalling incident" as "deeply concerning," urging people to follow advice from local authorities.

Defence Secretary John Healey told Sky News on Sunday that early assessments indicate the stabbing was an "isolated attack." 
AA Irelands chief financial officer, John Allen, is getting a 1.5m bonus after the roadside assistance and insurance broker group was sold to US private equity firm Abry Partners.

The amount to be paid to Allen was revealed in a filing published by AA Ireland on the Companies Registration Office (CRO) last week.
The State has finally exited AIB, the bank it bailed out after the financial crash.

Paschal Donohoe, the Minister for Finance, has agreed to cancel over 271 million warrants in return for a cash payment of 390m. The warrants, which gave the minister the right to buy ordinary shares in AIB at a certain price, were granted in July 2017.
Adrian Weckler: From reform school in Kentucky to master of the Silicon universe  how it all went right for Nvidias Jensen Huang

With its mind-boggling $5trn valuation, the Nvidia bosss company is now worth more than every country in the worlds GDP  bar the US and China  and every pizza ever sold

Nvidias main risk, according to biographer Stephen Witt, is how dependent everything is on him, personally. 'There's no-one else. He has no successor.' Photo: Getty

Adrian Weckler Sun 2 Nov 2025 at 01:00

Last week, Nvidia became the first company to surpass a $5 trillion (4.4 trillion) valuation.
From the Lotto to Marty Morrisseys words with Bakhurst over BBC links  what we learnt from RTE at media committee
Asylum-seekers working here will face bill of up to 238 a week for accommodation

Citizenship would be denied for those who refuse to pay

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan. Photo: Frank McGrath

Mary Regan Sun 2 Nov 2025 at 23:24

Asylum-seekers who are working in Ireland will have to pay between 15 and 238 a week for their accommodation in Ipas centres under plans to be discussed by the Government on Monday.
Carrie Crowley returns to TV presenting role to host series about transforming old buildings

Actress hoping to build on her many screen successes in recent times

Carrie Crowley will return to our screens on TG4 on November 19

Barry Hartigan Sun 2 Nov 2025 at 06:30

Actor Carrie Crowley is returning to presenting on television for the first time since the 1990s. The star of the Oscar-nominated An Cailin Ciuin (The Quiet Girl) will be making a return to the small screen  on TG4  in a new series about communities giving old buildings a new lease of life.
LATEST | Ivan Yates gave media coaching to Taoiseach and five Fianna Fail ministers

Fianna Fail confirms Yates provided four hours of interview and debate training to Jim GavinFive of the Taoiseachs Cabinet ministers, James Browne, Darragh OBrien, Norma Foley, James Lawless and Dara Calleary say they have received coaching from Mr YatesJustice Minister Jim OCallaghan says nothing improper in Fianna Fail retaining the services of broadcasterCoimisiun na Mean now wants answers from RTE and Newstalk on Yates's on-air activities

Fianna Fail confirm Ivan Yates coached presidential hopeful Jim Gavin in two sessions

Fionnan Sheahan, Mary Regan and Deirdre Barry Mon 3 Nov 2025 at 22:00

Ivan Yates gave media coaching to Taoiseach Micheal Martin in the run-up to the last General Election and to five other Fianna Fail ministers as well as to Jim Gavin, it has emerged.
Mary May McGee, who has died at the age of 81 after a short illness, made legal and social history in Ireland when she and her husband Shay won a Supreme Court case against the States ban on contraception in 1973.

Her family remember her as a loving mother and grandmother with a wicked sense of humour who never sought credit for the role she played in breaking the Catholic Churchs grip on the sexual health of generations of Irish women.
Our world has been turned upside down: 88 pages of character letters submitted for Terence Crosbie, as his appeal over rape conviction is lodged

Emotional letters were provided to the court by his wife, friends and family

Terence Crosbie has been sent to the notorious Souza-Baranowski Correctional Centre, the only supermax security prison in the State of Massachusetts

Ali Bracken Sun 2 Nov 2025 at 06:30

Dublin firefighter Terence Crosbie has lodged an appeal against his conviction for raping a woman and continues to maintain his innocence, his lawyer told the Sunday Independent this weekend.
Record number of house sales fell through in Dublin this year, says agent

Trumps tariff threats, buyer remorse and high renovation costs behind this trend

Property agent Owen Reilly

Niamh Horan Sun 2 Nov 2025 at 06:30

A record number of homes that went sale agreed fell through during the summer and into the autumn months, a leading Dublin estate agent has said.
BAGHDAD, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq, Mohamed Al Hassan, underscored here the organization's commitment to supporting Iraq's Nov. 11 parliamentary elections, according to a statement by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.

During his meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Al Hassan reaffirmed the UN's dedication to "continuing its support for Iraq in the electoral process and enhancing political and economic stability."

While reviewing the final preparations for the national vote, Hussein emphasized the Iraqi government's "commitment to ensuring transparent and fair elections that reflect the will of the Iraqi people," and expressed appreciation for the ongoing technical support from the UN.

The two sides also touched upon regional and international developments and ways to boost cooperation between Iraq and the UN to advance stability and sustainable development, the statement added.

More than 21 million eligible Iraqis are set to vote to elect a 329-member parliament for a four-year term.

Iraq's last parliamentary election in 2021 sparked violent clashes in Baghdad and led to nearly a year of political deadlock before a government was formed. 
Safety at risk as row erupts over working hours for Coast Guard air crew

Irish Aviation Authority accused of failing in its oversight duty to support crew safety by allowing a 24-hour roster system to be logged as a total of 16.5 hours

A coastguard rescue helicopter. Stock image

Lorna Siggins Sun 2 Nov 2025 at 06:30

Irish Coast Guard helicopter search and rescue crews believe their conditions have worsened since the Rescue 116 crash due to an interpretation of working-time regulations.
TDs call for convicted members of Puska family to be deported

Fianna Fails Willie ODea supports immediate deportation to prisons in Slovakia so Irish taxpayers wont have to foot bill

Jozef Puska

Ali Bracken Sun 2 Nov 2025 at 06:30

Three TDs have called for members of the Puska family convicted of crimes linked to the murder of Ashling Murphy to be deported upon completion of their jail sentences.
The Irish swindle  French police issue warning over charming Irish fraudsters

Student is latest victim of ATM theft in which Irish tourists con people out of large sums of money

The scam takes place with the victim withdrawing money from a cash machine. Stock photo: Getty

Julia Molony Sun 2 Nov 2025 at 06:30

The stranger was tall and well-built, with striking blue eyes and a strong Irish accent. He approached a French university student on his way to class in the centre of Toulouse earlier last month, and introduced himself politely in English.
Gardai at the scene of the fire at the IPAS Centre on Georges Street, Drogheda

A woman who lived in the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre in Drogheda, Co Louth, which was set on fire in an arson attack, said her "children are lucky to be alive".
Our columnist is feeling pretty and its all down to a few essentials and some trusty professionals

Ive been watching The Summer I Turned Pretty with Mini, my 10-year-old, and her bestie Biba, and yes I get far more emosh than they do #teambelly. Anyhoo, it got me thinking about The Season I Turned Pretty. After hitting the big 50 and entering the madness of menopause, honestly, I felt like I fell apart, so Ive done a few things to, eh, turn pretty! Something Ive learnt as Ive got older is you need to invest in people over products  let me show you how.

Fitness Fun

Having always hated exercise, I finally found someone that makes me come back. Every single week. Sometimes twice a week! Jessica Kavanagh is a genius. Not only is she a personal trainer with her Rathmines studio Inform Fitness (informfitness.ie) but the grit and determination she shows competing worldwide as Irelands first IFBB Bikini Pro is iconic. While I wont be doing that any time soon, I love that she understands that everyone needs a different approach to their fitness and a tailored nutrition plan.

Toothy Tri

With my great advanced age, my teeth decided to move around so I had to embark on my Invisalign journey, as the kids call it on social media. I had heard great things about Seapoint Dental Clinic in Dublin (seapointclinic.ie) and my relationship with the clear plastic braces began. I have to admit I found it hard to start as you have to leave them in for 22 hours per day, but Im on it now. I cant wait to dazzle you all with my smile.

Bloomin Good Botox

While looking after my skin with suitable skincare for texture and tone, Botox is the business for that extra bit of better. Im a big believer in doing your research and finding the person thats right for you, especially when it comes to injectors. Sisters Jane and Katherine Mulrooney (drmulrooney.com) have helped me hold back the tides of time. Theyre both doctors and skilled in cosmetic procedures.

Hair We Go

A great cut can take years off you, so I go to the amazing Christian Shannon at Brown Sugar (brownsugar.ie), who knows exactly how to give me the perfect cut to flatter my face shape. He convinced me to cut my hair shorter a few years ago, which gave it much more body and made it much easier to manage.

Elta MD UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50, 60, instituteofdermatologists.ie

Super SPF

It was Professor Caitriona Ryan from the Institute of Dermatologists that turned me onto Elta MD UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 (60, instituteofdermatologists.ie), which is a lightweight SPF that helps to even out skin tone and is non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.

Poco Beauty Skintuition Foundation, 32, pocobeauty.com

All About the Base

Cher sang If I Could Turn Back Time, and a great foundation can take years off you. Im enjoying Poco Beauty Skintuition Foundation (32, pocobeauty.com) at the moment. Pippa OConnor Ormonds foundation is basically skincare with coverage so it nourishes your skin from within. It also evens out skin tone, smooths texture and strengthens the skins barrier.

Mind Yourself

The most significant glow-up for me lately has been BTL Exomind (500 a session, ailesburyclinic.ie). It uses magnetic stimulation on the brain and helps with anxiety. As someone with ADHD in menopause, let me tell you, it works!

Westman Atelier Petite Petal Edition Set, 82, shop.cashelpalacehotel.ie

Boutique buys

I love dropping into The Boutique at Cashel Palace Hotel on our way to West Cork, as they have a fabulous retail space with an emphasis on wellbeing. It stocks great items, such as the Westman Atelier Petite Petal Edition Set (82, shop.cashelpalacehotel.ie) with mini blush, highlight and lipstick.

Lifting the lid

Blephs are the new Botox! Blepharoplasty is a type of surgery that repairs and corrects drooping eyelids, puffiness and undereye bags by removing or repositioning excess skin, fat, and muscle. If youre getting your eye lids done, make sure to schedule your Botox appointments wisely. Its better to let Botox wear off so the surgeon can accurately assess your natural brow and eyelid position for optimal surgical results.

Triona McCarthy lets us in on her secrets to staying pretty. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Trionas budget friendly beauty buys

Fab facials

I love a word-of-mouth recommendation and thats how I found Agne at Absolue Skin (absolueskin.ie) on Upper Pembroke Street in Dublin. Her facial sculpting massages are fabulous, and they range from Kobido (from 100) that boosts circulation, releases muscle tension and improves fine lines, and another more intensive one called the Reconstructive Facelifting Massage (145) that aims to restore symmetry and reshape the face.
It may feel longer, but barely a week has passed since Catherine Connollys victory in the presidential election sparked jubilation among her supporters. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald called it a watershed moment in Irish politics. The president-elect herself believes the message that came through clearly and loudly from the result is that a new republic is needed.

The results of the latest Sunday Independent poll suggests that excitable predictions of the first majority left-wing government in the countrys history being formed after the next election may still be a trifle premature.

The winds should be blowing fair for any credible alternative government

At 64pc, the number of people who disapprove of how the current Government is doing its job has certainly gone up again, while satisfaction ratings for the humiliated leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have both fallen sharply. Three-quarters think there was too little help given to ease the cost of living in the budget, and 82pc dont have faith in the coalitions handling of immigration. The winds should be blowing fair for any credible alternative government.

Instead, parties on the left are still strikingly failing to capitalise fully on voter dissatisfaction.

Sinn Fein has gone up by two points, and Labour and the Social Democrats by one point a piece, but its a relatively modest swing given the celebrations last weekend. There remains only the narrowest of gaps between those who, if forced to choose, would prefer a government fronted by FF and FG, and those who would back a broad left-leaning alliance led by Sinn Fein.

Supporters of that longed-for left unity will no doubt argue that it is early days yet, and that there is plenty of time to work out how to bring together in common cause the diverse forces which sent Catherine Connolly into the Aras.

Conferences are planned. Conversations are being had. Serious consideration must be given to maximising the vote transfers needed to pick up those crucial final seats.

The Galway West by-election will be the first real test of the ability of the motley crew behind this new movement to bury their differences rather than each other.

Disaffection is in the air. In Ireland, it seems that traditional caution still prevails

There must be some twinges of concern on their part all the same at todays poll. Incumbent governments of all stamps are in trouble around the world. Disaffection is in the air. In Ireland, it seems that traditional caution still prevails.

If many voters do not see a credible alternative to the status quo, then the blame must lie with those offering radical change for not providing one, not least when the issues which people consistently identify as their top priorities (housing, the cost of living, healthcare) are the very ones where the left should be romping home.

Could it be that self-styled progressive politicians are still spending a disproportionate amount of their time talking animatedly about issues which few people prioritise in this poll?

A mere 1pc of respondents rated Irish unity among the top two issues facing the country. The war in Gaza was named by only 4pc. Both loomed large in the recent presidential campaign; but when it comes to choosing a government rather than a symbolic figurehead, the left in Ireland clearly still has a considerable way to go before persuading a weary country that they have viable solutions to offer to peoples problems as well as fine-sounding slogans.

Neglecting to do so yet again would be a dereliction of duty as well as a failure of opportunity.
Relay for Life Wexford concluded their Decade of Hope year by handing over a huge amount of money to the Irish Cancer Society.

Relay for Life Wexford concluded their Decade of Hope year by handing over a huge amount of money to the Irish Cancer Society.

Relay for Life Wexford concluded their Decade of Hope year by handing over a huge amount of money to the Irish Cancer Society.

Relay for Life Wexford concluded their Decade of Hope year by handing over a huge amount of money to the Irish Cancer Society.

Relay for Life Wexford concluded their Decade of Hope year by handing over a huge amount of money to the Irish Cancer Society.

October marked the conclusion of the milestone Decade of Hope year for Relay For Life with two heartfelt community events, a tree planting ceremony at Ferrybank and a cheque presentation at the nearby Bridge Centre.

The afternoon, earlier in the month, began at the Tree of Hope in Ferrybank, where the Bride Street Folk Group performed a musical tribute that set a reflective tone for the ceremony.

Sam Freegrove shared an original poem written especially for the occasion, while Saoirse Bates delivered a touching reading. Paddy Murphy prepared the ashes to be added to the Tree of Hope, symbolising remembrance, renewal, and the lasting spirit of the community.

A special thank you went to Wexford County Council for assisting with the groundwork and digging the trench for the Tree of Hope, and to The Bridge Centre for hosting the subsequent gathering.

After the ceremony, attendees gathered at The Bridge Centre for refreshments and the official cheque presentation to the Irish Cancer Society.

Through the incredible efforts of teams, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters, Relay For Life Wexford proudly presented 227,500, funding vital cancer research, care, and support services.

Were deeply grateful to everyone who continues to make Relay For Life Wexford such a powerful force for good, said Melrona ONeill on behalf of the committee.

Over the past ten years, our community has shown extraordinary compassion, creativity, and determination, proving that together, hope truly lives here in Wexford.

They extended their sincere gratitude to everyone who has walked, donated, performed, volunteered, or supported Relay For Life Wexford and made such a profound positive impact over the course of the past decade.
Pictured at the 2025 National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards were Shay Howell, Barry Kelly, Therese Nolan and Niamh Bolger, Wexford Age Friendly Programme Manager from Baile an Roigh, Wexford, who received the Age Friendly Housing Award (sponsored by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage). The winners were announced at the ninth annual ceremony in Galway, organised by Age Friendly Ireland, the national organisation implementing the Governments vision of an Age Friendly Ireland. Image: Andrew Downes NO REPRO FEE

An innovative social housing scheme in Wexford that enables older people to remain independent for as long as possible has been awarded the Age Friendly Housing Award at the 2025 National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards.

The winners were announced at the ninth annual ceremony in Galway, organised by Age Friendly Ireland, the national organisation implementing the Governments vision of an Age Friendly Ireland.

The Age Friendly Housing Award (sponsored by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage) ultimately went to Baile an Roigh, Rosslare, Wexford. The awards highlight the commitment of communities across the country to improving the quality of life for older people.

Hosted by Galway City and County Councils at the Galmont Hotel and MCed by RTEs Marty Whelan, the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards celebrate excellence across eight categories, each aligned with World Health Organization (WHO) Age Friendly themes.

Now in their ninth year, the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards shine a spotlight on the people, projects, and partnerships driving real change for older people in towns, cities, and rural areas right across Ireland.

The Baile an Roigh, Rosslare project has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to creating inclusive, supportive communities where older people can live well, feel valued, and stay connected. The new houses are all two-bedroom, high specification semi-detached bungalows with a Building Energy Rating (BER) of A3, heat pump, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), triple glazed windows and doors, and water softener.

Key features include step-free access throughout, accessible bathrooms, wide corridors, generous space, energy-efficient systems, and easy-to-use fixtures and fittings. Together, these homes create a safe, sustainable and inclusive community for people of all ages and abilities.

Speaking at the awards, Minister of State for Older People and Housing, Kieran ODonnell TD, said: Ireland is a country that collectively celebrates and values our older people. These National Awards serve as a way to acknowledge the exceptional projects and initiatives for older people throughout Ireland and to continue to promote the message about the importance of making sure that our society is inclusive for everyone across the life course. These awards celebrate the impact of large and small projects on older peoples quality of life.

As Minister for Older People, I would like to thank the event organiser, Age Friendly Ireland as well as all of the shortlisted projects for the high calibre of work they do to transform Ireland into an Age Friendly society, he added.

Catherine Lenihan, Chair of the National Network of Older Peoples Councils, said: The National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards showcase the spirit of what being age friendly is all about. The quality and creativity of projects nationwide demonstrate Irelands commitment to the Age Friendly vision. Congratulations to all the winners and shortlisted projects whose innovative ideas have truly improved the quality of life for older people. I look forward to seeing these ideas adapted and replicated in communities across the country.

Eddie Taaffe, Chief Executive of Wexford County Council greatly welcomed the win for a project that has made a positive impact on the lives of the older population in Wexford.

"I am delighted to see a project from Wexford receive national recognition at this years Age Friendly Achievement and Recognition Awards. This initiative is a wonderful example of how creative, collaborative approaches can make a real difference to the lives of older people. I want to congratulate everyone involved in this achievement and look forward to seeing the impact the initiative makes across the county  and its potential to be replicated nationally, he commented.

Pat Dowling, Chair of the Age Friendly Awards Selection Panel added As my first year chairing the judging panel, I was both honoured and inspired to witness the breadth of work taking place across the country. We visited every shortlisted project and were deeply impressed by the impact each and every one is having on its community. Selecting the winners was no easy task. A warm congratulations to all who were recognised for their outstanding examples of Age Friendly innovation.
From Moroccan deserts to Irish shores, Wicklows annual storytelling celebration returns with ten days of tales, laughter and connection  proving that good stories travel anywhere.

For ten days this November, Bray becomes Irelands capital of the spoken word as the Yarn Storytelling Festival returns to the Mermaid Arts Centre and venues across Wicklow. Now in its 16th year, Yarn remains one of the countrys most distinctive arts gatherings  a festival that celebrates the ancient art of oral storytelling while stretching it in new directions.

Running from November 8 to 18, the programme threads together folklore, theatre, family fun and cross-cultural collaboration. If you think storytelling is all fairies and firesides, Yarn will change your mind.

At its heart, Yarn is about connection. Its run as a community festival with a simple mission: to bring storytelling to as many people of all ages as possible. In a culture dominated by screens and scrolls, Yarn reminds audiences that stories are a living art  something felt, spoken and shared.

From cosy library sessions in Bray to candle-lit lodge gatherings in Glenmalure and Lynams of Laragh, each event is designed to draw listeners into that ancient circle where imagination meets voice. And this years international exchange ensures that the stories told in Bray will echo far beyond Wicklows shores.

Highlights include the headline event From Desert Sands to Island Shores, an Ireland-Morocco residency exchange that pairs Irish tellers Eimear Burke and Joe Brennan with Moroccan counterparts Zouhair Khaznaoui and Zakia Elyoubi. The project, at the Mermaid on Friday, November 14, promises a vivid blend of desert myth and Celtic legend.

Yarn opens with family storytelling from Sinead OBrien at Ballywaltrim Library on Saturday, November 8 (11 am), setting the tone for a programme that spans the whimsical to the wonderfully dark.

Later that day, Slow Stitches with Ciara Brehony at Bray Town Hall invites participants to combine thread and thought in a mindfulness workshop exploring sewing as narrative. At Killruddery House, Moroccan storyteller Zakia Elyoubi brings her own family tales to Wicklow audiences.

Those who like their stories with a chill will find plenty to savour in Daniel Morden and Diarmuid ODrisceoils Folk Horror Stories (Tuesday, November 11), while Catherine Brophys one-woman show A Fortunate Life (Wednesday, November 12) promises humour and heart in equal measure. Both at the Mermaid.

Local history also gets its moment at the main venue in Bray Maritime History: Celebrating a Century on the Waves (Thursday, November 13, 8pm), a fundraising evening honouring the towns sea-faring heritage through the local sailing, rowing and sea scouts clubs.

For younger listeners, Tales Along the Road (Mermaid, Friday, November 14, 11 am) and family storytelling with Baden Prince (Bray Library, Saturday, November 15, 11 am) continue Yarns long tradition of sparking imagination in children. Baden Prince is also at the Harbour Bar on Sunday, November 16, where donations will be collected for Wicklow RNLI.

On Saturday night comes A Wolf Shall Devour the Sun at the Courthouse Arts Centre in Tinahely  a mythic, multi-layered performance for those aged 8+  and 3Bcome Taller: Breaking Barriers at the Mermaid, where three tellers who set a Guinness World Record at the International Storytelling Festival in Marrakech will tell you a myriad of tales, bringing the curtain down on a week of wonder.

Most events are free or low-cost, but capacity is limited, so early booking through mermaidartscentre.ie is advised.
Blessington Community College opened its doors to a day of film and culture as 97 transition year students took part in a workshop led by Polish director Bodo Kox.

Bodo is recognised in his homeland for his creative and unconventional approach to cinema, and the workshop saw students explore the art of filmmaking, while strengthening cultural connections between Ireland and Poland.

Throughout the day, students collaborated closely, crafting their own short films with a single master shot. This hands-on experience allowed them to dive into the intricacies of teamwork and creativity, revealing how every detail shapes the final product.

Under Koxs guidance, they discovered the thrill of seeing their ideas come to life on screen and the value of collaboration in bringing their vision to fruition. For many, it was their first taste of life behind the camera, where they learned the importance of every angle and every take.

Adding a cultural and historical perspective, Aleksandra Pitra-Kox led a panel discussion connecting Stanley Kubricks Barry Lyndon, partly filmed in County Wicklow, with the work of 18th-century painter Daniel Chodowiecki from Gdansk and its ties to the heritage of Krokowa Castle in Poland.

As the workshop drew to a close, students gathered to watch their completed scenes. The experience brought a sense of pride and reflection, with each group showcasing unique perspectives and creativity. This blend of history, art, and contemporary filmmaking helped students see cinema as both a creative process and a way to explore identity and heritage.

The event was coordinated by former student and graduate of the Academy of Young Leaders and Ambassadors of the Polish Diaspora, Pola Zahorska.
TRIPOLI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- A total of 45 undocumented migrants were rescued off the coast of the eastern Libyan city of Tobruk, Libyan newspaper Al-Watan reported Saturday.

The migrants, identified as 23 Egyptian nationals and 22 Sudanese nationals on a rubber boat, were rescued by the Libyan Coast Guard about 222.2 km north of Tobruk, Al-Watan reported.

They received necessary medical and humanitarian assistance, and were then referred to a detention center to complete legal procedures, it reported.

Libya has been a major transit point for migrants trying to reach Europe since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. Smuggling networks have thrived amid political division and insecurity, exposing migrants to repeated Mediterranean shipwrecks.

The country remains split between the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity and an eastern administration allied with Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army. 
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly has emphasised the need for better representation of working-class voices in the media because if youre only going to hear elite opinions were never going to get anywhere.

The daytime host appeared on the BBCs Desert Island Discs, where she also discussed the ITV cutbacks which will see her eponymous show reduced to 30-minute episodes that will be shown for just 30 weeks a year from 2026.

Kelly, who has appeared on national TV since the mid-1980s, told the programme: Things have to change.

I have been through so many regime changes in my life. For me this is just another one, but its seismic.

She said the part of the reorganisation that upsets her most is breaking up the great team that she works with.

Were hoping that we can save as many jobs as we can, thats the aim right now, she said.

But you know what, its just the world we live in.

Kelly, who grew up in Glasgow before moving to East Kilbride in her early teens, said she was crushed when told she would not get a job at the BBC due to her working-class Scottish accent.

She was eventually hired for TV-am by an Australian who did not recognise her accent.

Lorraine Kelly in 1989 (PA)

She told Desert Island Discs presenter Lauren Laverne: I really worry about working-class people not being given the opportunity that I had.

We talk about diversity quite rightly, but theres a whole raft of working-class people of all colours, all creeds, all religions, who are being left behind.

And that all comes down to money because these kids cannot afford to come to London, to live in London, because its impossible for them to do that.

And therefore they cant get the jobs that they absolutely should be allowed to do.

You have to hear these voices, because thats what our country is made up of, and if youre only going to hear elite opinions were never going to get anywhere  or whoever can shout the loudest on social media  we end up in an appalling state.

Kelly said at the start of her career she applied for every single job at the BBC.

I applied for farming correspondent at BBC Aberdeen. I mean I wouldnt have known one end of a cow from another.

Lorraine Kelly laughs with the Queen during a reception in Buckingham Palace earlier this year (PA)

Kelly, who has hosted her own show, Lorraine, on ITV since 2010, said of interviewing celebrities and politicians: My thing is, and I think I learned that from my parents, is just treat everybody the same. It doesnt matter who they, how much they think of themselves. Everyone is the same.

Kelly chose Starman by David Bowie; Rock The Casbah by The Clash and Mama Said by Dusty Springfield among her desert island discs.

She said of Bowie: At school we all loved him. There was a gang of Bowie fans, I found my tribe.

Kelly added: I was a bit of a swot. I actually enjoyed school. I loved learning, I was like a little sponge.

I kind of bumbled and stumbled my way into television. All I really wanted to do was write. That was always, always the ambition.

I knew I wanted to be a journalist. I was nosy  well I would say curious  and kind of thats what Ive been doing my whole job. Ive been going why, why, why?'

Lorraine Kelly with her daughter Rosie after she was awarded an OBE by the Queen for services to charity and the armed forces (PA)

Kelly said becoming a mother had also made me so much better at my job.

You have so much more empathy, you have so much more understanding. It definitely, definitely made me better, she said.

Asked about her on-air persona, she told Laverne: I am very much myself, but its a version of myself. I mean if I was really myself, Id be taken off the air.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is to be stripped of his honorary rank of vice-admiral. (Lauren Hurley/PA)

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will be stripped of his honorary rank of vice-admiral, the British Defence Secretary has confirmed.

John Healey said his department was working to remove the rank, which Andrew was awarded on his 55th birthday in 2015.
A forensic investigator photographing inside the train at Huntingdon train station in Cambridgeshire, after a number of people were stabbed on the train on Saturday. Two people have been arrested after British Transport Police were called to the incident. Picture date: Sunday November 2, 2025. Joe Giddens/PA Wire

When passengers boarded the busy 6.25pm train from Doncaster to Kings Cross, many were eager to arrive into London less than two hours later  but the train would never make it that far.
( Image credit : Shah Rukh Khan/ IG | SRK at the Met Gala )

Fans from Peru wish to meet SRK

( Image credit : Shah Rukh Khan/ IG | SRK's seflie )

( Image credit : Shah Rukh Khan / IG | SRK poses for the camera )

Fans gather outside Mannat as SRK turns 60

Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan turned 60 on November 2, and as always, his birthday celebration turned into a grand spectacle outside his iconic Mumbai home, Mannat. Thousands of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor, some travelling from across India and even overseas, including a group from Peru.Claudia Calle and Manigret Aparicio travelled from Peru to Mumbai to personally wish Shah Rukh Khan on his birthday. Claudia, who manages an SRK fan club in Peru, told PTI that her admiration for the actor began after watching his 2004 hit Veer Zaara with her husband. She said she instantly fell in love with Shah Rukh and went on to watch all his earlier films on DVD, including Karan Arjun, Baazigar, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Describing her devotion, Claudia said their home is adorned with posters and memories of the superstar, calling it a tribute to him. She added that words can hardly express their love for the actor, saying, Shah Rukh means love.Claudia and Manigrets devotion to Shah Rukh Khan is so profound that they named their home in Peru Mannat, inspired by the actors famous residence in Bandra. The two also carried a special handmade gift for him, a set of around 26 to 27 figurines depicting some of his most beloved film characters from movies like Ra.One, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, and Jawan, among others.As Shah Rukh Khan marked his 60th birthday, thousands of fans thronged outside his iconic Mumbai home, Mannat, transforming the streets into a spectacle of love and celebration. From early morning, crowds gathered with banners, posters, and chants dedicated to the superstar, creating an atmosphere charged with emotion and excitement. Admirers from across India, and even abroad, joined the festivities, continuing a long-standing tradition of celebrating SRKs birthday at Mannat. As evening descended, the celebrations reached their peak with fireworks, music, and cheers lighting up the night in honour of Bollywoods King Khan.
What is The Survival List all about?





( Image credit : Instagram| @blakelively| Blake Lively stuns in effortless elegance )

The Survival List: Release date and cast details explained





Blake Lively wins big as Justin Baldonis $400mn lawsuit is dismissed





( Image credit : Instagram| Still from the movie It Ends With Us )

Blake Lively is back, and this time, she isnt just stealing the spotlight, shes rewriting it. After months of legal drama with her It Ends with Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni,, swirling rumours, and hushed talk of a comeback, the Gossip Girl alum is making a powerful return to the big screen with, an action-rom-com packed with as many emotional turns as her own off-screen journey. And just as cameras begin to roll, theres an unexpected twist: Baldoni has officially dropped his defamation lawsuit against her.In, Blake plays a high-profile reality TV producer whose plane crash-lands on a remote island. What follows is a mix of chaos, comedy, and survival, both literal and emotional. But behind the scenes, this isnt just another role. Blake is producing the film too, marking her official return to creative control.The story feels almost poetic. As her character learns to survive with nothing but grit and intuition, Blake herself is reclaiming her ground in Hollywood and doing it on her own terms.It was confirmed that Blake Lively will portray Annie inwhile also producing the film with Marc Platt. Since Lionsgate just acquired the film, there have been *no official casting announcements* yet, as the team is still *searching for a director to steer the project in time for production*.On the timeline in question, it is reported that The Survival List may go into early production next year. If everything goes according to plan, fans would expect a theatrical release sometime around 2027.As Blake prepares to step back into the spotlight, her off-screen journey remains just as compelling, especially with the recent developments surrounding her legal clash with Justin Baldoni.Earlier this year, headlines buzzed with tension as Justin Baldoni filed a jaw-dropping $400 million lawsuit against Lively, accusing her of defamation after she raised harassment concerns during. The case was messy, public, and deeply personal.But now? Its over.According to recent court filings, Baldonis lawsuit has been dismissed, closing a turbulent chapter for both stars. A federal judge ruled that Livelys prior statements were legally protected, effectively clearing her name. The timing couldnt have been more dramatic, right as she steps back in front of the camera.
( Image credit : X | @Yuchenj_UW| Screenshot of the AI council interface )

Did PewDiePie build his own AI?

( Image credit : X | @scaling01 | PewDiePie looking frustrated at a monitor )

PewDiePie's latest vid is chaos. He builds a "council" of 8 local AI models with personalities to debate & vote on answers. Rule: unproductive ones get "killed" & replaced. They start colluding, turn against him, & rig votes to avoid deletion. Couldnt be more PewDiePieish. pic.twitter.com/u8dOOwaSyh  Raj Dangi (@philosrach) November 1, 2025

PewDiePie's AI council experiment takes a ruthless turn

( Image credit : X | @TheAhmadOsman | PewDiePie's AI Experiment Takes a Surprising Turn PewDiePie's AI Experiment Takes a Surprising Turn )

In a shocking turn of events, PewDiePie's latest experiment spiralled out of control when the system he created reportedly rebelled against him. Interestingly, the bots turned hostile after he threatened to delete them, turning a tech experiment into a shocking digital standoff. The YouTuber developed what he refers to as "the council", a group of AI (artificial intelligence) chatbots operating under a democratic system, programmed to respond to questions through collective consensus. Let's find out more.Felix PewDiePie Kjellberg, one of YouTube's most influential creators, has transitioned into a more peaceful and family-oriented lifestyle in Japan. This new chapter has allowed him to slow down and explore his long-standing passion for technology.In recent videos, he's been seen experimenting with Linux, building custom PC's and diving into artificial intelligence. These tech-focused videos are often featured alongside his regular Japan vlogs. On October 31, 2025, PewDiePie released a video with the title STOP. Using AI Right Now. In the now viral video, Felix explained that his goal was to 'max out' his computer's performance, which he initially planned to dedicate to cancer research.According to, the idea appeared simple at the beginning and using eight GPUs capable of running AI models at once, PewDiePie gave each system a unique personality, forming what he called his 'council.'Instead of turning to Google or ChatGPT for answers, he posted his questions to the council, each AI offering its own response, voting collectively and delivering a final decision based on consensus. But problems soon surfaced. Only a few AIs performed effectively, while the rest repeatedly failed and never received votes.PewDiePie's response was drastic; he decided to remove the underperformers and replace them with new AI personalities. To optimise results, he even built an automated system that continuously created new members for the council, making sure each AI was aware that failure meant deletion.
Outrage grows online after Arizona school teachers seen wearing blood-stained white t-shirts on Halloween



Concerned parents just sent us this image of what's believed to be teachers in @vailschools in Tuscon, Arizona mocking Charlie's murder with costumes that read "Problem Solved" and blood down the left side of their shirts.



They deserve to be famous, and fired. pic.twitter.com/bs95p2lkU0  Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) November 1, 2025

All of these teachers need to be fired immediately.



Sick and evil. They arent even hiding it anymore. https://t.co/Tdh7sZtZQ1  Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 1, 2025

Its been really disturbing to see teachers across the country glorifying a murder just because they disagreed with the victim. https://t.co/lcZlZ93nkq  Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) November 1, 2025

Don't you see? They view you as a problem and they want you DEAD. https://t.co/CFEmLHXBeh  Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) November 1, 2025

If you cant beat them, kill them



Problem solved



This seems to be their mantra https://t.co/fDTs2oCWaO pic.twitter.com/bThkMfdxhy  Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) November 1, 2025

District issues apology, denies political intent



( Image credit : Facebook | School administration releases statement following online backlash )

UPDATE: Vail Schools said these math teachers wore the same costume last year. I was waiting for confirmation, and it appears they did. I am updating the thread with the image. We've seen enough evil since Charlie's murder that I'd actually be relieved if this isn't another https://t.co/pXjYiqofep pic.twitter.com/viQJYBsbIZ  Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) November 1, 2025

How Charlie Kirk's Freedom shirt became a Halloween trend



( Image credit : X/ @HazelAppleyard | Many online shared their pics after 'dressing up' as Charlie Kirk for Halloween )

A group of teachers at Cienega High School in Vail, Arizona, has come under fire after wearing Halloween T-shirts splattered with fake blood and the slogan Problem Solved. The maths teachers were photographed posing together in white shirts marked with red stains down the left side. Once the images surfaced online, many accused them of poor judgment and insensitivity, with some linking the look to the September 10 killing of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, who was shot in the left side of his neck in Utah.Cienega High School teachers found themselves in an online controversy after pictures surfaced of them donning blood-soaked t-shirts with "problem solved" written over them. The photos were shared by parents and locals with TPUSA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet, who said these "teachers deserve to be made famous and fired," questioning how such an outfit was approved for a school event.As the photos spread across X, users claimed the blood placement was an intentional reference to Kirks death, accusing the teachers of mocking a political figure. Others argued the costumes were inappropriate regardless of intent, given the timing and the imagery involved."Its been really disturbing to see teachers across the country glorifying a murder just because they disagreed with the victim," one user wrote. "Regardless of circumstance, this is not an appropriate shirt for teachers to be wearing at school," another user said. One commented, "Ugly and evil is no way to go through life." "Fire all of them," one commented.In a statement shared on Facebook, the Vail School District said the shirts were meant to reference solving math problems, not any political or violent event.We understand that a recent social media post showing members of Cienegas math department wearing shirts that say Problem Solved has caused some confusion and concern, the district wrote. The shirts were worn in reference to solving math problems. Any reference that these shirts were related to something other than that is simply false and untrue.The district added that the shirts had been used for previous math-themed Halloween costumes and were not intended as a reference to any person, event, or political issue.We apologise that the wearing of these shirts caused concern and was upsetting to some. That was absolutely not the intent of those who wore them. We are sorry, and the shirts will not be worn again, the statement continued. This is a hard lesson for all of us that more thought and care need to be taken in these times.The district also expressed concern that some staff members were being targeted online as a result of the misunderstanding, saying that personal attacks or threats against staff are unacceptable and do not reflect the values of our community.Superintendent John Carruth concluded the message by thanking those who reached out with their concerns and reaffirmed the districts commitment to maintaining safe and nurturing school communities where children can obtain a quality education.Many users on X also pushed back against the claims, insisting that the Problem Solved shirts have long been a common math-themed Halloween costume, worn well before Charlie Kirks killing. Kolvet himself shared an email from the school administration confirming that the same group of teachers wore the identical outfits during Halloween in 2024. However, he added that "It's a very weird constume for teachers in general, but after what happened to Charlie, I'm absolutely floored they wore it again. I do not believe for a second that all of them are innocent."Meanwhile, the simple white T-shirt emblazoned with the word FREEDOM, worn by Charlie Kirk at the time of his death and later reproduced and sold online, has become a widespread trend this Halloween. Many of these replicas are styled with fake blood stains, mimicking the shirt Kirk was wearing when he was fatally shot.The trend has sparked backlash online, with many calling it tasteless and disrespectful to turn a tragic event into a Halloween costume.
( Image credit : X | @SarahAllisonFl | Police Confirm Arrests, But Eyewitness Descriptions Spark Online Debate )

Chaos at the scene and travel disruptions following the train stabbing

( Image credit : X | @_Jack0wacko | Train Stabbing in Cambridgeshire )

Horrifying eyewitness accounts reveal chaos

Two men arrested after mass stabbing on LNER train at Huntingdon. Attack at 19:30, emergency stop 19:44. Multiple passengers slashed, blood on floors, passengers barricaded in toilets. One guard critical. Three air ambulances. Over 30 armed officers. One suspect tasered, one pic.twitter.com/IvmgcUq90c  Lewis.B.Rendell Official (@Lewisrendell1) November 1, 2025

Who was the suspect spotted by eyewitnesses?

Police respond to Huntingdon train stabbing

( Image credit : X | @SarahAllisonFl | Chaos at the scene and travel disruptions following train stabbing )

A shocking stabbing incident took place on a train heading to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on Saturday has leaving at least 10 people hospitalised and nine with life-threatening injuries. So far, two suspects have been arrested in the case, while armed police and over 30 officers responded to the chaotic scene at Huntingdon station following the emergency call at 7:39 pm. Amid the violent incident, some eyewitnesses have described that one suspect was a black male. Let's find out how true this is.A frightening video surfaced following the incident, capturing scenes of chaos on the streets and a heavy police presence. According to BCC, the footage showed multiple police vehicles with flashing lights and people gathered along the roadside.The exact number of people injured in the stabbing remains unclear. Rail services along the affected route are expected to face disruptions, with delays of up to 60 minutes or schedule adjustments anticipated, reported theWitnesses have painted a harrowing picture of the stabbing incident on the train, describing a man armed with a large knife and passengers desperately hiding in toilets to escape the attack.One bystander told The Times that blood was everywhere and people were being trampled as they tried to flee the chaos. Amid the panic, some passengers could be heard shouting, We love you, highlighting the fear and confusion that gripped those on board.According to Reddit users, one of the suspects involved in the Huntingdon train stabbing was described by an eyewitness as a Black male. Discussions on the platform have been circulating about the identity and motives of the attackers.However, IndiaTimes cannot independently verify this post and it is completely based on social media posts.Cambridgeshire Police reportedly responded to a call about a stabbing on a train bound for Huntingdon. The train was brought to a halt, and two men were arrested in connection with the incident.According to, although exact numbers remain unclear, it is reported that several people have been hospitalised. The British Transport Police (BTP) also responded to the stabbing, stating that their officers were supporting Cambridgeshire Police in managing the incident.
People capture images of a firework and light show during the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza, Egypt, Nov. 1, 2025. After two decades of construction, Egypt on Saturday inaugurated the GEM -- the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization -- during a grand ceremony held near the pyramids and the Sphinx, marking a landmark cultural event for the country renowned for its rich heritage. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- After two decades of construction, Egypt on Saturday inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) -- the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization -- during a grand ceremony held near the pyramids and the Sphinx, marking a landmark cultural event for the country renowned for its rich heritage.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi officially inaugurated the colossal museum complex on the Giza Plateau in a ceremony attended by 79 delegations from around the world, including heads of state, members of royal families, and government officials.

In his speech, al-Sisi hailed the opening of the museum as "a living testament to the genius of the Egyptian people."

"The Egyptian people were and still are builders of civilizations, creators of glory, and messengers of peace," he said, describing the opening of the GEM as "writing a new chapter in the history of the present and the future."

According to the Egyptian president, the GEM is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization -- the civilization of Egypt.

Spanning nearly 500,000 square meters, the museum will house an unprecedented collection of over 100,000 artifacts spanning thousands of years of Egyptian history. Its undisputed centerpiece is the complete collection of the boy-king Tutankhamun -- some 5,992 pieces -- including his iconic golden mask and two coffins. This priceless collection will be displayed together for the first time since the discovery of his tomb in 1922.

The museum occupies a symbolically significant site on the Giza Plateau, where the ancient pyramids are located, offering panoramic views of the pyramids and forging a direct connection between these ancient wonders and the new monumental cultural institution.

The inauguration ceremony, staged in the museum courtyard with the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx as a backdrop, featured cultural events and artistic performances celebrating Egypt's rich heritage. Festivities included musical performances, a light show, and a fireworks display.

The GEM is expected to act as a major catalyst for Egypt's vital tourism sector, with officials anticipating a substantial annual influx of visitors that will significantly enhance the country's tourism revenue.

"The museum will completely change the map of cultural tourism in Egypt and significantly aid the tourism industry," said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.

CEO of the GEM Ahmed Ghoneim hailed the museum as "Egypt's gift to the world," noting that the museum "changes the context of tourism in Egypt and enhances cultural tourism."

"It is not only the heritage that we have, but rather how we show it," he told Xinhua.

Construction of the museum began in 2005, but the project faced numerous delays over the years due to political instability and funding challenges. Now complete, the facility blends modern architectural design with elements inspired by ancient Egypt, featuring spacious halls and state-of-the-art display technologies.

The museum complex is set to officially open to the public on Nov. 4. 

This photo taken on Nov. 1, 2025 shows a drone and light show during the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza, Egypt. After two decades of construction, Egypt on Saturday inaugurated the GEM -- the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization -- during a grand ceremony held near the pyramids and the Sphinx, marking a landmark cultural event for the country renowned for its rich heritage. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi addresses the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza, Egypt, Nov. 1, 2025. After two decades of construction, Egypt on Saturday inaugurated the GEM -- the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization -- during a grand ceremony held near the pyramids and the Sphinx, marking a landmark cultural event for the country renowned for its rich heritage. (Xinhua)

Actors perform at the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza, Egypt, Nov. 1, 2025. After two decades of construction, Egypt on Saturday inaugurated the GEM -- the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization -- during a grand ceremony held near the pyramids and the Sphinx, marking a landmark cultural event for the country renowned for its rich heritage. (Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 1, 2025 shows a drone and light show during the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza, Egypt. After two decades of construction, Egypt on Saturday inaugurated the GEM -- the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization -- during a grand ceremony held near the pyramids and the Sphinx, marking a landmark cultural event for the country renowned for its rich heritage. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
A Toyota Camry and Ford Explorer are damaged from a crash that occurred on Friday night in Warrington, Bucks County. Three teenagers in the Toyota died in the crash, while a fourth was critically injured. Read more

Three teenagers were killed and a fourth was critically injured in a car crash Friday night in Warrington, Bucks County, township police said.

Two boys, ages 15 and 16, whose names were not released, were killed in the crash, police said, which happened about 9:30 p.m. Friday. Aziz Umidovich Amonov, 18, who authorities said was from Feasterville/Trevose, was also killed.

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A 14-year-old boy was in critical condition at a Philadelphia hospital, police said.

Police said the four were traveling east on Bristol Road in a Toyota Camry driven by the 15-year-old, police said. As the car approached a downward crest in the narrow road, it appears the driver lost control, causing the car to cross into the path of an oncoming Ford Explorer, which was headed west, police said.

The driver of the Explorer was not injured, police said.

Warrington Township police said they were coordinating with local school districts to prepare counseling services for students on Monday. Two of the victims attended Neshaminy High School; one was a freshman while the other was a senior, police said. Police had not confirmed the schools of the other two victims.

Police said the investigation into the crash is ongoing.
A 14-year-old boy was shot twice Saturday night in the Cecil B. Moore Station of SEPTAs Broad Street Line, Philadelphia police said.

Three people are in custody after the incident, including the suspected shooter, police Inspector D. F. Pace told reporters. He said police used SEPTA security cameras to identify those involved in the shooting, and made the arrests near the crime scene.

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The shooting occurred at 8:30 p.m. on the southbound platform of the subway, police said. The station serves the area around Temple University, and the university posted on social media shortly after the shooting, telling people to avoid the area.

The teen was shot twice in the hip, police said, and was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was in stable condition.

We do not feel that there is any additional threats or risk to the community, and particularly the student body here at Temple, based on what we have so far, Pace said.

Police did not find a weapon at the scene, but Pace told reporters that police found shell casings and a magazine.

Police did not identify the victim or the persons of interest.

The investigation is ongoing, Pace told reporters.
You may not have heard this, but Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican candidate for governor in New Jersey, wants to radically reshape the public school system in a state that consistently ranks as one of the nations best.

His two core proposals, like them or not, are dramatic.

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First, he wants to take a wrecking ball to the states funding formula, which is tilted heavily in favor of low-income districts. Ciattarelli would instead give schools a fixed amount of aid for each child, rich or poor, with minor tweaks for those for whom English is a second language.

The math, in the end, is straightforward: His plan would shift billions of dollars from poor cities to wealthier suburbs. Well get to the potential impact of that.

The second pillar of his plan is another game changer. He says his voucher plan is modeled on Floridas, where families of private school students get an $8,000 voucher for each child they enroll. Religious schools would be eligible, as would homeschools. They could teach whatever they want, with no state curriculum and no state tests. And even billionaires would be eligible to cash in.

School choice means school choice for everyone, Ciattarelli spokesperson Chris Russell recently told NJ Spotlight News. Money follows the student.

Lets first take a deeper dive into his funding plan. Shifting state aid from cities to suburbs has long been a central ambition of Republicans in Trenton, who see the undeniable waste in urban districts, and the crushing burden of property taxes in the suburbs, and say that shifting big bucks is the answer to both problems. Ciattarellis plan is in that tradition.

Shifting state aid from cities to suburbs has long been a central ambition of Republicans in Trenton.

The current formula is nefarious, he said in Jersey City in August. Its arbitrary. Its unfair  Its high time we challenge ourselves in this state to come up with a flatter, more equitable distribution.

But the plan could cripple schools in cities, even those that are achieving impressive results. The Education Law Center, a nonprofit that has successfully sued the state several times over school funding, grinded the numbers and found that Ciattarellis plan would reduce aid to Newark by about 30%, forcing the layoff of 900 teachers, 200 support staff, and 100 aides.

Theres just no way that youre not having an absolutely astonishing impact on class size and programs and supports, Danielle Farrie, the ELCs research director, told Spotlight.

Ciattarelli is a big fan of high-achieving charter schools, but his plan risks knee-capping them, as well, since their state aid is based on a share of the districts aid, by law. That would be tragic, especially in a city like Newark, where charter schools educate more than one in three students, and often miraculously beat state averages on test scores, despite much higher rates of poverty.

 READ MORE: The two big lies at the heart of the New Jersey governors race | Opinion

As for the voucher plan, lets start with the costs. New Jersey has about 200,000 kids enrolled in private schools, all of them eligible for Ciattarellis voucher. That would cost $1.6 billion, and the number would rise with each family that decides to make the switch to private school, or to teach their kids at home. Ciattarelli wont say how hed cover that cost.

And just what would these state-funded private schools be teaching? Under this plan, the state would play no role in that. And students would not have to take state tests to measure their progress, as district and charter schools must today. If a private school taught that evolution was anti-Christian bunk, so be it; they would still be eligible.

Thats not a theoretical problem. Andrew Schlafly, of Far Hills, told Spotlight he is eager to use the vouchers to resume his homeschooling operation, and has promoted the long-discredited theory that dinosaurs and humans roamed the earth together. Like in The Flintstones. Should New Jersey taxpayers fund that?

If this all leaves you spooked, let me offer some reassurance. The state Supreme Court would almost surely strike down a funding plan like Ciattarellis, which defies decades of its rulings. And if the Democratic Legislature approves a voucher plan like this one, I vow to light whats left of my hair on fire.

Still, the plans are revealing. Ciattarelli is no moderate, at least on education. Hes a flamethrower. And if he gets his way, he could do real damage.

Tom Moran is a columnist for Advance Media and a former editorial page editor at the Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J.
Adriana Mendez, 8, of South Philadelphia, holds her handmade rally sign and stands with members of the immigrant advocacy organization Juntos, rallying for sanctuary schools and safe school reopenings, outside the Philadelphia School District headquarters on North Broad Street in March 2021. Read more

Theres a certain hush that falls over a Philadelphia classroom when fear walks in  not loudly, but silently, like a shadow stretching across the floor. Its the quiet dread of a child wondering, Will my mother, my brother, my father still be here when I get home?

That is not the kind of question a child should carry into school. And yet, in neighborhoods like Kensington and South Philadelphia, it is increasingly the question that defines an entire generation.

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In the months since the Trump administration lifted the so-called sensitive locations policy  which once barred immigration enforcement from entering schools, churches, and hospitals  the spaces where children learn and grow have lost their sense of safety. The countrys great moral institutions  our classrooms, our sanctuaries, our hospitals  no longer feel like sanctuaries at all.

The Philadelphia School District has tried to respond. Since 2021, it has declared itself a welcoming sanctuary district. Staff are told not to share student information with federal agents, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is barred from entering without a warrant. The district even offers brief trainings and tool kits for teachers. Yet, the protection can feel thin. Some sessions, advocates say, last less than half an hour. Teachers are left with little practical guidance for the moment that truly matters  the knock on the door, the rumor in the hallway, the unmarked van outside.

Meanwhile, children live in a constant state of vigilance. They are learning to read and count and multiply in an atmosphere of uncertainty. They are learning not just how to speak up in class, but when it might be safer to stay silent.

There are more than 18 million children in immigrant families in this country, according to the Urban Institute  nearly one in four of all American children  and a large share of them live with this ever-present anxiety.

We like to imagine childhood as a time of curiosity and expansion, of trust in the worlds benevolence. But in too many corners of America, weve built a different reality  one defined by suspicion and fear. Immigration enforcement has become an unseen force shaping young lives, even for U.S. citizens whose parents are undocumented.

Under the first Trump administration, immigration policy shifted from an imperfect but humane management system to a tool of deterrence. More than 400 executive actions were taken to tighten, restrict, and punish. Deportation raids intensified in cities and suburbs alike. Families were separated. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was threatened.

As Jamie Longazel writes in the 2016 book, Undocumented Fears: Immigration and the Politics of Divide and Conquer in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, fear itself had become a policy. Although Hazleton has since become a town with a significant population of Trump-supporting Latinos, Longzel wrote about the weaponization of anxiety, a strategy designed not only to control immigrant populations, but to divide working-class Americans  immigrant and native-born alike  against each other. Longazel observed how fear narratives spread like wildfire, turning neighbors into threats and compassion into weakness. What began as a small-town battle over belonging became a national template for governance through division.

The emotional residue of those political choices lingers. In study after study, researchers have found that children in immigrant families who live under the threat of deportation exhibit higher levels of depression, chronic stress, and academic disengagement. A 2024 cohort study of Latinx youth, published by the American Medical Association, found that the fear of enforcement correlated strongly with anxiety and reduced school participation. These children live in what psychologists call hypervigilant states their brains wired for survival, not learning.

Psychologists and other professionals who work with immigrant youth note that its difficult for children to learn a sense of trust when they grow up in homes where someone could be taken away at any moment. That sense of perpetual danger rewires a childs brain, robbing them of the basic psychological safety necessary to thrive.

For many Black and Latino boys, the damage is compounded by the burdens they already carry: racial profiling, underresourced schools, and systemic inequities that punish rather than protect. Immigration enforcement adds another layer of trauma. The effect is cumulative. It narrows horizons and teaches young people that their citizenship, their worth, and even their right to safety are conditional.

Yet, these children are not broken. They are resilient in ways most of us can hardly fathom. But resilience is not a substitute for justice. We cannot continue to build a system that asks children to be brave in the face of our moral failures.

There are, thankfully, glimmers of a better path.

In Philadelphia and Boston, school districts are beginning to adopt trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices. Counselors are being trained to recognize immigration-related stress. Social workers are learning to navigate mixed-status family dynamics.

Organizations such as Juntos, in Philadelphia, and the Immigrant Family Defense Fund, in California, are helping schools fill the gaps left by policy neglect. These efforts, while small, represent a moral reawakening  a recognition that the harm done was not only procedural but human.

The damage was never just legal. It was emotional. It taught children that belonging is provisional, that safety is something they have to earn, that love of country might not be returned. This is what happens when a nation forgets that its greatness depends not on walls or warrants, but on the belief that every child deserves to feel safe enough to learn.

We often invoke the American dream as if it were a birthright. But dreams are fragile things. They depend on a culture of trust, on the faith that effort will be met with opportunity. And for millions of children growing up under the cloud of enforcement, that trust has been shattered.

The moral question before us is simple but profound: Can a society that terrifies its children still call itself good? Can a democracy built on fear still claim to be free?

If America is to remain a beacon of hope, it must begin by restoring safety to the spaces where our children learn, play, and believe. We cannot build a thriving nation while traumatizing its youngest citizens. We owe them more than protection. We owe them acknowledgment, empathy, and the promise of a future in which no child must carry the weight of policy on their small shoulders.

That is not only an act of compassion  it is an act of national renewal.

Jack Hill is a diversity consultant, child advocate, journalist, and writer.
If next Friday is like most Fridays, it will still be dark when Kevin Bailey and Arthur Spain vie for the first spot in Allegheny West Foundations weekly food distribution line.

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The sun will rise at 6:30 a.m., but Bailey and Spain will rise earlier, in time to say goodbye to the fading light of a waning moon  Bailey perched on his plastic milk crate at the corner of Fox Street and Allegheny Avenue and Spain next to him on his motorized wheelchair.

Theyre there by 6 a.m. at the latest. Food distribution starts about 9.

I run out of food during the month, Spain said, in line one Friday morning earlier this year. Its terrible. When you dont have anything to eat, you dont have any motivation to do anything.

As Bailey, Spain, and dozens of other people waited in a line that stretched farther down the block as the minutes passed, a truck from Philabundance, one of the regions largest food-distribution nonprofits, pulled up.

Driver Rudy Gray unloaded a pallet of canned goods and other staples, like rice and beans, and boxes of macaroni and cheese as Elizabeth Bishop watched from her place in line.

If it werent for Philabundance, I wouldnt eat, Bishop, a retired railroad worker, said. She has a pension, but by the middle of the month, Im broke.

At Allegheny West, a social service agency, its one food bag at a time, feeding one family for a few days.

But the numbers from Philabundance are staggering: 44 million  yes, million  pounds of food distributed, with 975,000 pounds of it sorted by volunteers, 17 million pounds of unsold food rescued from 300 retail partners, 422,000 meals prepared (with 218,000 of them going to children), 34,450 boxes of food packed for older adults, and 135,000 people a week served through Philabundances 350 community partner organizations, such as Allegheny West.

Allegheny West distributes 150 bags every Friday, receiving 50% of its food from Philabundance.

I feel the pressure of trying to meet the needs of the people, said Loree D. Jones Brown, Philabundances chief executive officer.

And the pressure is building.

I have to be careful what I say politically, Jones Brown said, but I have a lot of strong, negative emotions about whats going on. And Im worried.

At 44 million pounds, were barely meeting the current need, and were going to see increased need with the cuts in Medicaid and SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the governments biggest anti-hunger food program.

The situation has worsened. Across the nation, food programs like Philabundance are bracing for a surge in demand as the federal government shutdown stretches into its fourth week.

In March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would eliminate the $470 million Local Food Purchase Assistance program  a program that allowed food organizations like Philabundance to source fresh foods from local farmers. It amounts to $13 million statewide and $1.5 million for Philabundance  or 18% of last years $8.6 million annual purchased food budget.

At the same time, Philabundance needs to raise more money to buy food wholesale from major suppliers as tariffs impact pricing. Rising costs are already a problem; the 44 million pounds of food Philabundance now distributes is down from 52 million pounds the prior fiscal year.

As volunteers worked with Allegheny West chief executive Ronald E. Hinton Jr. to set up the food line, a Philabundance truck pulled up. The driver delivered a single pallet of food. It used to be two.

And even with all that  and even with as much pressure that we feel  my heart breaks for the families out there, Jones Brown said. I think about the mom who feeds her kid and then goes to bed hungry, because thats what mothers do.

Thats what breaks my heart, she said, and what motivates her to work harder to raise enough funds and in-kind donations to make up the difference.

As Jones Brown spoke, a couple dozen volunteers were busy packing birthday boxes in Philabundances South Philadelphia warehouse. (Philabundance has 250,000 square feet of space in four locations.) Families will receive a box with cake mix, oil, cupcake holders, and icing.

Given the impact of hunger, it may seem trivial to offer what amounts to a party box, but Jones Brown said its a matter of dignity and respect.

She recalls asking one mother receiving government food benefits for her reaction to the birthday box program. I remember seeing her eyes light up, Jones Brown said.

The womans childs birthday was on a Thursday, but the mother wouldnt receive her benefits in time to send cupcakes to school with her son. A birthday box would allow her child to be like the other children, and the mom to be like the other moms.

I knew we were on the right path, Jones Brown said.

The right path, she said, also includes urging community partners to set up their food-distribution systems to resemble stores, so people can choose the foods their families want or need. Allegheny West is planning just such a center when it completes renovations of a nearby building.

Jones Brown said that Philabundance wants to do more than simply tide families over, meal to meal. The goal, she said, is to end hunger and food insecurity for good.

Part of the plan is advocacy  sending its government relations people to lobby for more help, not less, and to oppose stricter regulations, such as work requirements, which make it more difficult for people to obtain food.

Philabundance needs to raise more money to buy food wholesale from major suppliers as tariffs impact pricing.

Another part of the plan is to reduce the need for Philabundances food by helping people with low incomes get training for better-paying jobs through its community kitchens program. Students spend 16 weeks in training, including an internship. Most, Jones Brown said, are hired right out of the program, with 1,000 graduating since the program began.

The community kitchen, located in a building near Temple University, prepared 422,000 meals for distribution to shelters, community centers, and summer programs for children not getting lunch at school. The kitchens also bring in revenue when hired to cater events.

Over the years, Jones Brown said, shes been seeing a change in the people needing help from Philabundance.

The face of hunger isnt what youd expect. Were seeing more dual-income families coming into the pantries, she said. Housing costs are going up, wages are low, and people are underemployed.

She could have been describing Clara Perkins, a grandmother waiting in line for food at Allegheny West.

Between the rent, paying the utilities, washing clothes, something has to give, and it seems as if its my food table, said Perkins, of Germantown. Perkins, who works full time as a certified nursing assistant, supports a daughter with medical issues and two teenage grandchildren.

Everything goes up but the paycheck, she said.

Thats why, Perkins said, those who have money should donate to Philabundance because it helps people.

When you are hungry, you are not motivated, she said. But when you have a full stomach and you know where your next meal is coming from, it gives you hope.

This article is part of a series about Philly Gives  a community fund to support nonprofits through end-of-year giving. To learn more about Philly Gives, including how to donate, visit phillygives.org.

Editors note

By Richard G. Jones

For a second successive year, The Philadelphia Inquirer is proud to join with other local media partners participating in Philly Gives, a campaign to raise money for nonprofit organizations that are committed to serving those in need throughout our region.

Beginning today and continuing weekly through the end of the year, The Inquirer will feature a series of articles about 10 local nonprofits. The organizations were selected by the Willliam Penn Foundation, which funds Philly Gives. The nonprofit groups were vetted by the Philadelphia Foundation. The Inquirer is owned by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism LLC, which is part of the Philadelphia Foundation.

The Inquirer maintains editorial control of the articles in the series, which are assigned and edited by Opinion editors. Because there are no administrative fees associated with Philly Gives, 100% of the donations are distributed to the nonprofits.

The inaugural Philly Gives campaign, which began last November and continued for nine weeks, raised $200,000. That sum was later combined with $450,000 in seed funding to provide a total of $650,000 in direct support to nine nonprofit organizations.

Philly Gives is the brainchild of Janet Haas, who drew inspiration for the campaign from the New York Times Communities Fund, a philanthropic effort once known as the Neediest Cases Fund that was started by that news organization in 1911.

Haas, a philanthropist and member of the board of the William Penn Foundation, collaborated with Elizabeth H. Hughes, The Inquirers publisher and chief executive officer, to produce Philly Gives.

The series that begins today is a window into how organizations that rely on the generosity of others work to effect meaningful and lasting change for the most vulnerable members of our community. We look forward to sharing their stories.

Richard G. Jones is The Inquirers managing editor of Opinion coverage.

About Philabundance

Mission: To drive hunger from our communities today and end hunger for good

Impact: 44 million pounds of food distributed through its 350 community partners in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester Counties in fiscal year 2025

Annual spending: $107.2 million, offset by $74.2 million in donated food

Points of pride:

25 years of Philabundance Community Kitchen (PCK): PCKs culinary training and workforce development program provides those who qualify for public benefits with the opportunity to attend a 16-week program to prepare them for careers in the service industry. The program has more than 1,000 graduates to date and produced 422,000 meals for area seniors, shelters, and community centers in fiscal year 2025. Retail Rescue Program: Philabundance partners with dozens of retailers and grocers to redirect perfectly good food headed for landfills, distributing it to our community partners for our neighbors.

Support: phillygives.org

What your Philabundance donation can do:
Former Vice President Kamala Harris speaks with Dawn Staley, (left) while promoting her new book 107 Days at the Met Philadelphia on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. The event was held in partnership with Uncle Bobbies Coffee & Books. Read more

Former Vice President Kamala Harris joined Democratic State Sen. Vincent Hughes on the radio Sunday morning to talk about the government shutdown, what Democratic voters want, and what shes seeing in the current political moment.

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The two did not address the question on many Democrats minds: whether Harris would make another run for the presidency in 2028.

Harris, who has been traveling the country since late September to promote her new book, said shes heard from people unhappy about the second term of Republican President Donald Trump.

People are really on edge, Harris said. People are afraid. But they also want to feel a sense of empowerment.

Harris said this isnt a time for Democratic voters to be in hiding. She applauded the historic turnout of recent No Kings Day rallies across the United States, where millions of people gathered across the country on Oct. 18 to protest Trump.

And the power is with the people, and we cannot let these folks defeat our spirit, Harris said.

Harris visited Philadelphia in late September to discuss her book, 107 Days, a diary-style memoir detailing her 2024 presidential run, released in late September.

The books title refers to the amount of time Harris had to mount a presidential campaign after incumbent President Joe Biden, facing concerns about his age and mental acuity, dropped out of the race in July 2024.

She told Hughes that she wrote the book to make sure her story was not lost to history.

Those 107 days are part of Americas history, Harris said. Im not letting that part of American history be written without my voice being present.

Hughes did not ask Harris whether she would run for president again in 2028  but last week, Harris told a BBC interviewer that shes confident a woman will become president, and she may run again.

Im not done, Harris told the BBC. I have lived my entire career as a life of service and its in my bones.

Early polls in a half dozen states show Harris in the mix but frequently trailing a few other potential Democratic candidates, such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Harris told Hughes shes heard from young people who are concerned about affordable housing and the cost of living, and the ways in which technology may be changing the workplace.

She said shes impressed by younger peoples willingness to openly talk about mental health and the need for more resources to address issues.

The thing that I love about our young leaders is they are really impatient, Harris said. They are not sitting around waiting for us to figure it out. They are ready to be active. They know that everything happening now will affect them."

The shutdown

Harris praised Democrats in Congress, who have rejected Republican deals that would restart the government. Democrats have demanded that Republicans first address key healthcare issues, such as extending Obamacare subsidies. People enrolling in healthcare plans for 2026 are seeing sharp increases in costs.

An NBC News poll from late October shows 52% of voters blame Trump and congressional Republicans for the standoff; 42% blame Democrats in Congress, and 4% blame all parties.

Harris said Republicans, who control the White House and both branches of Congress, are to blame for the shutdown  and for the expected cutoff of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding.

 READ MORE: A SNAP benefits freeze could mean food insecurity doomsday for the Philadelphia region

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday said that Democrats were playing games with the government shutdown and misleading people about what it takes to fund SNAP.

If we had a contingency fund that we could use, that would be done, Johnson told CNN Friday. The White House has demonstrated over and over, the executive branch, all the cabinet secretaries are doing everything they can to mitigate and reduce the pain.

Johnson said a prior authorization of Congress would be necessary to release the SNAP funds without the budget being passed.

The Democrats have put the American people in this crisis, and they are the ones that have the power to end it, Johnson said.

Two federal judges ruled Friday that the Trump administration must continue to pay for SNAP using emergency reserve funds during the government shutdown. It remains unclear when payments will resume.

For her part, Harris encouraged Pennsylvanians to vote in the general election Tuesday.

Where theyre trying to do illegal things out of Washington, and where there are judges who are in place understand the law and are standing up to it, its so important, Harris said.
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a get-out-the-vote rally for U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, right, the Democratic candidate for New Jersey governor at Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. Read more

Former President Barack Obama rallied in Newark on Saturday for U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee for New Jersey governor in an event that focused squarely on President Donald Trump.

The former president spoke in an auditorium full of a few thousand people at Essex County College, echoing Sherrills message that shell make New Jersey more affordable for working people.

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But Obama and other campaign surrogates kept Trump and GOP nominee Jack Ciattarellis alignment with him front and center in their remarks.

The stakes of the race were clear in the room. As one of two gubernatorial races in the country on Tuesday, the results will serve as a bellwether heading into the midterms.

If you meet this moment, if you believe change can happen, you will not just select Mikie Sherrill as your next governor, you will not just put New Jersey on a path to a better future, you will set a glorious example, Obama said in his nearly 40-minute speech.

Obama, who endorsed Sherrill by way of an ad paid for by her campaign a couple of weeks ago, painted Sherrill as a leader who gives him hope, as Trumps America has filled him with concern.

Excited supporters chanted for Sherrill and Obama and held signs saying Lets land this, referring to Sherrills experience as a Navy pilot, and Hit the road Jack, a Ray Charles song she embraced with an influencer in a video on TikTok. At one point, the song blared from speakers, and supporters sang along.

 READ MORE: Mikie Sherrill sponsored the TikTok ban. Now shes on the app. Heres why.

Ciattarelli has fully embraced the president, successfully seeking his endorsement and giving him an A grade in a recent debate, but he wasnt always team MAGA. Ciattarelli lost the 2017 GOP primary after emerging as an anti-Trump Republican. He largely avoided the subject as the 2021 GOP nominee, but still kept his distance from Trump. He went on to lose to Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, by three points.

Obama noted this trajectory on Saturday, saying that Ciattarellis strategy is to suck up to the Republicans in Washington" after losing twice.

He argued that Sherrill will make a noticeable impact on New Jerseyans pocketbooks, protect consumers, give seniors a safety net, invest in infrastructure and scientific research, provide adequate funding to schools, and ensure government is efficient and transparent.

You deserve a governor whos going to think for herself and work for you, Obama said.

Sherrill joked about New Jersey stereotypes in her speech like not pumping gas and being impatient at red lights.

Guys, they hate us cuz they aint us, she said, which was met with cheers.

She said the race comes down to everything  including who has a seat at the table.

Along with her promise to take on landlords colluding to raise rents and tackle pharmaceutical prices, she emphasized her campaign promise to freeze utility rate hikes on her first day in office.

New Jersey, Im not playing, Sherrill said. Im not writing a strongly worded letter and Im not starting up a working group. I am not doing a ten-year study. Im declaring a state of emergency.

Sherrill has argued that shell bring change to the status quo in a campaign that some Democrats have criticized as playing it too safe, while other members of the party feel like Democratic leaders nationally are bringing a spatula to a knife fight.

She called Trumps big beautiful bill, which Ciattarelli defends, the big beautiful betrayal.

Sherrill won a crowded primary by more than 100,000 votes earlier this year, but she struggled to connect with Black voters compared to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who came in second in the six-way primary.

Baraka won Essex County, home to Newark and one of the handful of counties Sherrill lost. Baraka attacked Sherrill during the primary but ultimately endorsed her in September, appearing on the trail with her.

Baraka spoke passionately to the crowd on Saturday, saying if youre not in this fight, youre nowhere.

Somebody asked me today, what am I doing here? Baraka said. I said one, I want to be here. Two, I need to be here.

Sherrill chose Dale Caldwell, a pastor and the first Black president of Centenary University, as her running mate in a move that was seen as a strategic olive branch to Black voters.

Sherrill has made a concerted effort to reach voters in the majority-Black and Democratic city of Newark in recent weeks, appearing alongside Caldwell, Baraka, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.

Caldwell said in a speech on Saturday that he will work with Sherrill to address Black-owned businesses making up a disproportionate amount of state contracts.

He joked that Sherrill picked him because hes old and has done a lot of things. But he urged the crowd to take the election seriously.

I need you to bring your spouse, your kids, your neighbors, your coworkers, everyone to the polls, because this right now is our moment to take our country back."

New Jersey Democrats have a voter registration advantage of more than 850,000 votes over the GOP, but unaffiliated voters also make up a significant chunk of the electorate. Republicans have seen more growth in the state, which voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election but swung significantly toward Trump compared to years past.

Sherrills team needs to turn out the Democratic base to ward off GOP gains and unaffiliated voters who could be less reliable. And bringing the first Black president to the city certainly garnered excitement.

Debbie Dunne, 76, a retired educator who lives in Monmouth County, sported a Sherrill shirt and Obama mama button.

Dunne, an activist with Jersey Shore Blue, said she feelsvery hopeful" that Sherrill will win while acknowledging uncertainty in polls that show a race that is too close for comfort for Democrats. We need Mikie Sherrill more than we ever needed her before, she said.

Dunne, a longtime supporter of Obama, said theres nobody in this would I would rather see than him.

We miss him so much, she added, joking that if Trump runs again  which hes previously teased but recently admitted is unconstitutional  Obama should too.

Lingering energy from 2024 filled the room when surrogates like LeRoy Jones Jr., the chair of the New Jersey State Democratic Party, led the chant, When we fight, we win! a slogan championed by Vice President Kamala Harris during her unsuccessful presidential campaign.

Obama compared the importance of this election to the 2024 election, noting that he heard people saying that election didnt matter.

The last nine months should have cured us of that idea, because the stakes are now clear, he said. We dont need to speculate about the dangers of our democracy. Theyre here.

Ill admit its worse than even I expected," Obama said.

Ciattarelli and his allies have criticized the Sherrill campaigns focus on Trump, and theyve argued that voters care more about issues local to New Jersey. But Sherrills surrogates stood by their message.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said it outright with congressional Democrats by his side, including U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who ran against Sherrill in the primary and has since supported her campaign.

This election is about defending New Jersey from Donald Trump and his minions, Booker declared. Whether that argument will resonate with New Jersey voters will become clear on Tuesday.

Sherrill acknowledged her national emphasis in her approximately 20-minute remarks ahead of Obamas speech.

As governor, Im going to bring real change, so you can afford to stay here in this state. But that fight doesnt, and cant, end at the border of New Jersey. Weve got to take on all those hits coming from Trump and Washington, D.C.

She accused Trump of running a worldwide extortion racket, which was met with roars from the audience.

Obama and Sherrill both argued that Trump is making the economy better for the powerful  the fossil fuel industry, well-connected corporations, and billionaires  as working class people struggle in the face of tariffs and cuts to government programs.

If we want a government that is responsive and honest and competent, that works for the many and not just the few, then weve got to get out and vote for it, Obama said.

Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, also focused on attacking Trump, said Ciattarelli nods along with the president like a bobblehead, and emphasized the national importance of the race.

New Jersey doesnt follow, New Jersey leads, he said to a roaring crowd. New Jersey will lead with Mikie Sherrill when she wins on Tuesday.
KAMPALA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan forces on Saturday thwarted a series of coordinated attacks by unidentified armed groups targeting military and police installations in the western part of the country, said the Uganda Peoples' Defense Forces (UPDF).

In a statement issued in the Ugandan capital of Kampala late Saturday, UPDF spokesperson Felix Kulayigye said the attackers, armed with submachine guns and machetes, launched assaults on the Lugendabara police posts in the western border district of Kasese, military positions in Malindi and Kakuka in Bundibugyo district, and Canon Apollo School in Fort Portal, Kabarole district.

Kulayigye said the assailants attempted to destabilize security installations and provoke unrest in the region.

"Our forces, in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force, responded swiftly and decisively to neutralize the threat," Kulayigye said.

He added that several attackers were subdued and that operations are ongoing to apprehend those who fled. "Unfortunately, the attackers killed one civilian woman in Malindi, and one soldier was killed in action," the spokesperson said, adding that investigations are underway to determine the origin, motive, and affiliations of the assailants.

Local media reported that about 20 suspected machete-wielding attackers were killed in the three districts on Saturday morning.

The military condemned any attempt to destabilize the country's peace and assured Ugandans that the situation is under control. "Additional security measures have been deployed to reinforce stability and prevent further incidents. We urge the public to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative with security agencies," Kulayigye said. 
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices Kevin Dougherty (from left), Christine Donohue and David Wecht are on the November retention ballot. Read more

The three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices on the ballot this year, and the Democratic-leaning groups supporting them, appear to have raised and spent exponentially more money than the Republican-backed groups working to oust them.

As of Oct. 20, more than $14 million had been raised in the retention race by the three justices  Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht  and the main groups supporting them.

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Full information on spending by groups opposing the justices is not available and might never be, due to loopholes in state campaign finance law, but data from the ad tracking firm AdImpact show spending on pro-retention ads outpaced spending on anti-retention ads 4-1.

Retention races in Pennsylvania are usually sleepy, off-year affairs. Just one justice has been denied retention in state history. Though Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht were each elected as Democrats in 2015, they are standing for retention in a nonpartisan election. Voters are asked just to pick yes or no.

Ousting the justices was a top priority for Pennsylvania Republicans this cycle. As tens of millions poured into a Supreme Court race in Wisconsin this spring, Democrats feared a similar effort in the commonwealth  even though the GOPs efforts in Wisconsin were unsuccessful and Supreme Court elections with candidates from both parties tend to be pricier than retention races.

Speaking to a crowd of Montgomery County Democrats in February, Dougherty said, without evidence, that Elon Musk, the worlds richest man and onetime key backer of President Donald Trump, had already invested $1 million. Musk had invested significantly in Pennsylvania during the presidential election and donated to Early Vote Action, a Trump-aligned PAC that this year has worked to oust the justices while engaging in other campaigns across the country.

But as of the final week of the election, it appears the Republican investment may have been smaller than expected  and slowing. And its unclear whether the Musk investment claimed by Dougherty ever materialized.

Historically expensive retention race

Despite this, the race appears to have been the second most expensive judicial retention race in U.S. history, said Douglas Keith, founding editor of the State Court Report at the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan think tank that aims to defend and reform American democracy.

According to campaign finance records, campaign committees for the three justices, and outside spending groups supporting them, had raised more than $14 million by mid-October and had spent nearly $12 million.

About two dozen outside groups spent an additional $5 million in independent expenditures, two-thirds of which went to supporting the judges.

The largest single expenditure was a $900,000 investment in an awareness campaign by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Among the major pro-retention spenders, Pennsylvanians for Judicial Fairness dropped $700,000 on digital ads and direct mail and was joined by three other committees  Buildings Bridges Voter Project PAC, People Power Pennsylvania, and Reproductive Freedom for All  combining for about $1.2 million in spending on advertising, mailers, and consultants.

Full extent of GOP spending is unknown

Much of the Republican-aligned spending was unclear.

The Commonwealth Leaders Fund, a PAC largely funded by Pennsylvanias richest man, Jeff Yass, raised $1.8 million, according to campaign finance reports.

Citizens for Term Limits, which is affiliated with the Commonwealth Leaders Fund, spent $1.8 million as of Sept. 16 on television and digital ads, texting, production, and emails, according to campaign finance reports.

Another PAC affiliated with Commonwealth Leaders Fund, Commonwealth Partners, has been running advertisements and sending mailers opposing the justices.

Yass, who frequently donates to Republican campaigns, is a cofounder of the Susquehanna International Group, a Bala Cynwyd-based trading firm.

As of Friday, Commonwealth Partners had reported a $2,300 expenditure for a billboard opposing retention, but further independent expenditures for mailers from both organizations were not posted in Pennsylvanias campaign finance database as of Friday afternoon.

Republican spending on TV peaked in September

Data tracked by AdImpact show that Citizens for Term Limits spent $1.7 million on TV ads opposing the justices while an additional $350,000 was spent by Commonwealth Leaders Fund. An additional $700,000 was spent by the RSLC Judicial Fairness Initiative, an offshoot of the GOPs primary committee used to support Republican candidates at the state and local levels.

Groups backing the justices, on the other hand, have spent roughly $12 million on ads, according to the AdImpact data, which include spending by groups that do not file campaign finance reports.

Republican spending has been declining for weeks. Groups opposing the justices spent their most of the cycle, around $577,000, on TV ads the week of Sept. 30 before a steady decline in the weeks since.

Democrats, on the other hand, peaked in TV spending the week of Oct. 21 and are preparing for a hectic final week of campaigning.

Former President Barack Obama posted to Facebook on Wednesday urging residents to retain the justices. And Democrats scheduled a slate of events for the weekend to get out the vote, including visits by Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin and several events headlined by Lt. Gov. Austin Davis.

The slowed GOP spending might be an indication of poor internal polling by anti-retention groups, said Keith with the Brennan Center.

For all I know, theyve determined through polling or other means that their chances of ousting the justices are not particularly high and so its not worth the investment, Keith said. It is very rare for a justice to be unseated in a retention election in Pennsylvania.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker holds a news conference at City Hall Monday, Aug. 25, 2025 to provide updates on how the city is providing support and resources to SEPTA riders during service cutbacks. Read more

Philadelphia is directing $7 million in city funds to food pantries, federal workers, and vulnerable families as the federal government shutdown passes the one-month mark, disrupting the countrys largest food assistance program.

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker signed an executive order Saturday allocating the funds as part of a citywide program responding to the pause in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

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On Friday two federal judges ordered President Donald Trumps administration to restore the critical food assistance program using emergency funds, but it could take up to a week for benefits to reach recipients.

In the meantime, more than 471,000 Philadelphians could see a disruption in food assistance payments, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

 READ MORE: Need food assistance? Heres where to find free groceries, meals, and community fridges near you.

We have mobilized city resources and coordinated logistics across departments to ensure food, housing, and utility support gets to those who need it without delay. Our teams are working day and night so families and workers know they are not alone during this crisis, Tiffany Thurman, Parkers chief of staff, said in a statement.

As part of the citys plan, $4 million will immediately be allocated to food distribution nonprofits in Philadelphia. An additional $1 million will be made available in food assistance to vulnerable families already receiving city services, and the city will offer $500,000 in emergency revenue replacement grants for corner stores and other small grocery stores.

The city is also offering $1.5 million in emergency rental assistance for furloughed federal workers who are at risk of eviction, as well as temporary deferrals for those residents water bills, owner-occupied payment agreements, and tax payments.

Together, we will ensure no neighbor is left behind while we continue advocating for the restoration of full SNAP benefits, Parker said in the statement.

In addition to city funds, the Parker administration said, the state has directed roughly $1 million toward the city to assist SNAP recipients and philanthropic groups have contributed $6 million as part of a regional food fund.

State and local leaders across Pennsylvania have been working to ensure meals are available to residents in need as SNAP disruptions deepen an already burgeoning food insecurity crisis.

On Friday, Gov. Josh Shapiro released $5 million from the state to Feeding Pennsylvania, a nonprofit, while the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners announced plans to offer $500,000 to food pantries. The Bucks County Board of Commissioners, which already released $150,000 in food assistance in response to the state budget impasse, is planning to consider an additional $200,000 next week.

In a release announcing the funds, Parkers administration warned that the city could not fully replace SNAP benefits, as the federal government shutdown and state budget impasse had already resulted in a $600 million local budget shortfall.
NEW YORK  Cabinet dealers, interior designers, and remodeling contractors in the U.S. hope new tariffs on imported kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and upholstered wooden furniture that kicked in Oct. 14 will create more business for them and eventually boost domestic production of those products.

But several small-business owners in the home improvement industry say they expect some short-term pains from the import taxes: Clients with projects already on the books might balk at having to pay more for the budget-priced cabinets they selected. Potential customers may postpone kitchen and bathroom renovations until costs  and the economy  seem more stable.

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I think the volatility around pricing is damaging to the remodeling industry, said Allison Harlow, an interior designer in Michigan whose company, Curio Design Studio, creates and builds custom bathrooms and kitchens. Most people will hear the headline of Kitchen cabinets will go up 50% and might just opt out of even reaching out to our company.

Despite high mortgage rates having depressed sales of existing homes in recent years, a forecast of remodeling activity by Harvard Universitys Joint Center for Housing Studies predicts that homeowner spending on improvements and maintenance will remain steady into the middle of 2026.

Trump calls cheap imports a national security threat

A proclamation that President Donald Trump signed on Sept. 29 cited national security and foreign trade practices as grounds for imposing the tariffs on certain finished wood products and product components.

Of them, imported vanities and kitchen cabinets incurred the steepest tax rates: 25% until the end of the year and 50% starting on New Years Day.

Upholstered chairs, seats, and sofas also are subject to a 25% worldwide tariff effective Oct. 14, with the rate scheduled to increase to 30% on Jan. 1. In addition, the presidential proclamation put a 10% import tax on softwood timber and lumber, which comes from evergreen trees like pine and cedars.

Softwoods often are used to make furniture and in wood frame construction. Canada is the source of about 85% of the softwood lumber the U.S. imports, or nearly one-quarter of the national supply, according to the National Association of Homebuilders.

Some U.S. trading partners are receiving more favorable treatment when it comes to the furniture and cabinetry tariffs. The tax on U.K. exports was capped at 10%, while the rate for wood products from the European Union and Japan was capped at 15%.

The American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance and other trade and advocacy groups lobbied for tariffs to help offset what they described as a flood of cheap cabinets from countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, China, and elsewhere in the decades since more U.S. furniture manufacturing moved offshore.

U.S.-made products tend to cost more but often are of better quality.

A higher bottom line for renovators on a budget

John Lovallo, an analyst at UBS bank, estimates the tariffs on imported cabinets and vanities could add roughly $280 to the average cost of building a single-family home, not enough to sink a project that often carries an overall price tag more than 1,000 times larger than that.

Some business owners say they plan to cover any tariff-related costs for now instead of raising customer prices.

John Dean, founder of Dean Cabinetry in Connecticut, sells cabinets that run the gamut from lower-priced imports to custom models made in his shop. Imported products account for about a third of his sales, but Dean said he does not expect much fallout from the tariffs.

Two of his vendors that he buys imported cabinets from, in China and Vietnam, said they would raise prices by 10% to recoup some of the duty costs.

Dean said he would not charge customers more for now. Since a kitchen remodel is a big-ticket item to begin with, and with the costs of building lumber and labor going up, raising cabinet prices might hurt demand, he said.

My personal perspective is most small- and medium-sized businesses are trying to absorb those costs, he said.

The wood product tariffs are likely to have a bigger effect on selection than on prices as importers scale back their orders to focus on bestsellers and products with the highest profit margins, according to Jason Miller, a supply chain management professor at Michigan State University.

It will make importers more selective in the varieties they bring in, Miller said: So I think the bigger impact is going to be on the product variety side: Consumers should expect less variety.

What cabinet companies are expecting

Although the White House said the tariffs were intended to boost domestic production and protect U.S. businesses from predatory trade practices, some cabinet makers say that will be difficult because their supply chains are multinational.

Linq Kitchen, a Los Angeles-area company that designs, builds, and installs modern-style kitchen cabinets, uses plywood and melamine panels from Asia and Europe in its projects, cofounder Josh Qian said. A suitable domestic alternative does not exist, he said.

The kitchen cabinet industry is highly globalized, and even U.S.-based manufacturers depend on imported materials, hardware, and finishes, Qian said. These tariffs may sound protective, but in reality, they often raise costs across the entire supply chain.

At the same time, cabinet companies that dont sell foreign products or rely on imported components look forward to capturing more business. One is ACO Denver Custom Cabinetry in Denver, which enlists Amish, Mennonite, and New German Baptist shops in the Midwest to handcraft custom cabinets.

Andrea Mulkey, the companys president and cofounder, said her main concern is whether interest in American-made cabinets will grow too quickly.

Its hard to predict how much new business might come our way as competitors are affected, Mulkey said. We simply couldnt serve everyone if demand suddenly surged. The real challenge is similar to what we saw post-COVID, when everyone got busy at once, and access to raw materials became strained.

The Curio Design Studio has its custom cabinets made in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but Harlow worries about the tariffs costing her customers.

I think it will decrease consumer confidence and create a narrative that the work is going to get inherently more expensive, Harlow said. I think we will have to work harder to attract potential clients with messaging of how this blanket statement, Kitchen cabinets will go up 50%, does not impact our particular business model.
It took two decades to pass legislation to regulate domestic and international surrogacy in this country. But although the landmark bill was signed into law by President Michael D Higgins on July 2, 2024, it still hasn't commenced  meaning surrogate families remain in legal limbo.

Before last year's election, then health minister Stephen Donnelly promised a commencement day of June 1, 2025, but that date came and went. So why the wait and, more importantly, what does it mean for families?

The Government is keen to commence the act, as it will give retrospective rights to the parents of children who were born via surrogate. However, during the legislative process for the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 "issues were identified that warranted further consideration and consultation with the Office of the Attorney General", as the Department of Health puts it.

The delay for families is down to the fact that the Government must now pass supplementary legislation. In other words: Fix the gaping holes identified in the 2024 act.

As part of this process, two weeks ago, the Oireachtas health committee made 18 recommendations to amend the 2024 act. It said these amendments should be addressed before the Government begins any part of the retrospective declaration of parentage, which means a further wait in legal limbo for surrogate families.

The committee's amendments include:

1. The Health Assisted Human Reproduction Bill must address all the identified gaps in the 2024 Act;

2. The bill should have a childs rights-based framework;

3. In decisions on parentage in relation to surrogacy or donor-assisted human reproduction (DAHR), the courts and decision-making bodies should be provided with some judicial discretion.

It also called for provision to be made to provide a path to parenthood for Irish citizens returning home who are in same-sex relationships, and whose children were both conceived and born abroad in countries that do not recognise both same-sex parents.

Seamus Kearney Martone:'We have repeatedly been told that the amending bill would be published; first in June, then again in July this year, yet we are still waiting.'

However, members of the LGBT+ community say they are deeply disappointed by continued delays and the piecemeal way in which the legislation has been handled.

Seamus Kearney Martone, the chairperson of Irish Gay Dads, told the Irish Examiner: "We remain deeply disappointed by the continued lack of movement on the amendment bill to the act, a bill that is crucial to ensuring that additional families, including Irish citizens living abroad, are finally recognised and included.

We have repeatedly been told that the amending bill would be published; first in June, then again in July this year, yet we are still waiting.

While we do welcome that the Oireachtas health committee recently published its pre-legislative scrutiny report on the proposed amendments, we are disappointed that this process had to be carried out without the actual legislation being available. It was, in effect, a case of going in blind without the text to properly review.

Pathway to parenthood

In addition to the delays, campaigners from the LGBT+ community also say that the legislation does not go far enough. In particular, campaigners say the outdated framing of "commercial surrogacy"  where a surrogate is compensated  closes off the path to parenthood for many same-sex couples and is discriminatory.

Ranae von Meding and her wife Audrey Rooney have three children: Two daughters and one son, aged eight, five, and six months old. They were all born through reciprocal IVF, with Audrey providing her eggs and Ranae carrying the children. Ms von Meding said the current legislation does not go far enough.

She is a member of the LGBTQ+ Parenting Alliance  which includes Equality for Children, Irish Gay Dads, and LGBT Ireland  and supports "ethical, rights-based surrogacy" that protects all parties involved: Surrogates, children, and intended parents.

Ranae said: We recognise the importance of regulation and oversight, but we must also be honest. The current framing of 'commercial surrogacy' in Irish law is outdated, stigmatising, and out of step with how Irish families are formed today.

Lets be clear: Compensating a surrogate for her time, risk, and sacrifice is not exploitation. It is respect

Around the world, including in countries like the United States, ethical surrogacy frameworks ensure that women acting as surrogates are fully informed, independently represented, and supported throughout the process. These women are not victims. They are active, willing participants who are often proud to help create families. They are not being exploited, but fairly compensated.

She said the suggestion that any payment beyond expenses turns children into commodities is deeply offensive".

It is offensive to the children born through these journeys, to their families, and to the surrogates themselves, she said.

The current legislation, which is due to be commenced, effectively leaves no legal path to parenthood for gay men unless a sister, friend, or acquaintance is willing to carry a child for free. This places an unfair burden on Irish women and creates an unequal standard for LGBTQ+ families."

She said it also ignores the fact that most domestic altruistic surrogacy journeys in Ireland are not accessible to the majority of people".

This is especially in the case of those without close female family members willing and able to take on the physical and emotional toll of pregnancy.

'No viable alternative at home'

Ranae said this has now resulted in Irish families, both LGBTQ+ and otherwise, turning to ethical, regulated international surrogacy because there is no viable alternative at home".

For many, this has been the only path to parenthood, she added. However, the legislation requires the surrogate to be habitually resident in the country where the programme has been entered into by both parties.

To now suggest that these families should be excluded from legal recognition because of where or how their children were born is unjust and discriminatory."

She said that, while they do not support unregulated or exploitative arrangements, banning compensation altogether ignores the realities of pregnancy, including lost income, health risks, and emotional labour".

Ethical, regulated surrogacy must allow for reasonable and transparent compensation, as recognised in many progressive jurisdictions, she said.

She said the current legal framework excludes Irish gay fathers from accessing the US, which is a heavily regulated jurisdiction when it comes to surrogacy.

There is always the risk that if intending parents believe they have no access to the legal route prescribed by the department, they will engage in less safeguarded frameworks, she said.

We believe its critical that the framework is both safeguarded and recognises the reality of the international context.

This, she believes, will ensure that women are safe from exploitation and that the LGBT+ community has access to forming their families, and that the children born as a result enjoy the legal recognition within their families that gives rise to rights and entitlements that would otherwise not be open to them.

If Ireland is serious about protecting children, supporting families, and advancing reproductive justice, it must move past rigid and moralising distinctions

We urge lawmakers to listen to the voices of parents, surrogates, and children, and to legislate with compassion  not fear.

"We will continue to advocate for laws that protect without punishing, that regulate without excluding, and that ensure every Irish child is treated with dignity, regardless of how or where they were born, Ms von Reding said.

As part of the 2024 act, a new Assisted Human Reproduction Authority is being established. The statutory agency will help protect and promote the wellbeing of children born via surrogacy, surrogates, and intended parents of children born through surrogacy.

The body will also be responsible for creating a National Surrogacy Register that will contain details of the child, surrogate, donor, and intending parents. To date, there are no official statistics of how many children were born via surrogacy here.

However, Seamus said that, while his group welcomes the establishment of the authority, it was disappointed that there is currently no representation from the LGBTQ+ Parenting Alliance on the authority.

The legislation clearly states that the authority shall have 10 ordinary members, yet only seven have been appointed, he said.

Our hope is that the remaining appointments will ensure that LGBTQ+ families have a genuine seat at the table, where our voices and lived experiences can help shape a fairer and more inclusive future for all.

Wexford couple Lauragh and Oisin Goggin's first baby, Christopher, was born in Ukraine in October 2021. Their daughter Eadhla Jo Goggin was born in December. Picture: Patrick Browne

The legislation has brought relief to married couple Lauragh and Oisin Goggin, from Co Wexford, who have successfully gone through the surrogacy process twice.

Their first baby, Christopher, was born in Ukraine in October 2021 while their daughter Eadhla Jo Goggin was born in December.

Lauragh faced severe medial challenges due to type one diabetes, and did not want to try and get pregnant because of the risks a pregnancy would carry. Both of her children were born in Ukraine.

Her husband, Oisin, is the biological father of their children. Currently under Irish law, Lauragh has no legal rights to her children, but this will change when the act commences. She, like so many others, must wait for the amending bill.

Lauragh told the Irish Examiner: "I was covered by the original legislation, the Assisted Human Reproduction Act (AHRA) 2024 under Section 12 as, at the time of the enactment, I had my little boy and was expecting my little girl. We have been waiting ever since for news that we could apply for parentage, but we had to wait for the amending bill. So I am absolutely thrilled it's moving along.

"So many were left out of the last legislation. So I am waiting with anticipation to see will this amending bill cover all children, so I can finally be a legally recognised mother to my babies."

Lauragh said she too would like to see better representation for the LGBT+ community.

Although I'm so unbelievably happy that we have some momentum with the act, I was very disappointed to see a lack of LGBTQ+ representation on the board. I hope that perhaps its just still in infancy and that will be addressed.

It is absolutely vital, in my opinion, that the stakeholders are involved in this process to ensure real understanding of the situations.

There is so much work still to do though. It is a very complex and intricate piece of legislation

In relation to the three vacancies on the board of the Assisted Human Reproduction Authority, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said: "Three board vacancies remain to be filled, and the minister expects to launch a further appointment campaign in due course. This process will prioritise candidates with relevant expertise."

In terms of progressing the legislation, the spokesperson said: "The minister for health, together with her ministerial colleagues and the Government, remains firmly committed to enacting much-needed legislation to establish a comprehensive and robust regulatory framework for Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR)."

The spokesperson said the formal drafting of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (Amendment) Bill "is at an advanced stage".

In terms of the issues raised by the LGBTQ+ Parenting Alliance, the department said: "The surrogacy provisions in the AHR legislation look to build on and learn from the experiences of other countries, as well as to provide for surrogacy which is ethical, altruistic and, most importantly, protects the health, safety and welfare of the surrogate mother and the children born as a result of surrogacy."
An Irishman who fought for the British army in the Second World War and helped liberate the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp has been denied a birthday card to celebrate his 100th birthday from the British monarchy because he was not born in the UK.

Dublin-born Lawrence OHara-Hutchinson also fought alongside British paratroopers in North Africa and later in the bloody battle at Arnhem in Holland when the Allies experienced some of the wars fiercest fighting.

The veteran has lived in Britain since he was 14 when he arrived in Liverpool after stowing away on a ship out of Dublin. One of five children born into an impoverished family who lived in a slum tenement, he decided to cross the Irish Sea after his mother and a sister died at a very young age. He was just 17 when the war broke out.

Now, just days before he celebrates his 103rd birthday, Mr OHara-Hutchinsons family is campaigning to get the traditional letter of congratulations for his 100th birthday from Britains King Charles.

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His family say Mr OHara-Hutchinson was very disappointed not to receive the card when he turned 100, and they and friends hope Buckingham Palace will have a change of heart and send him a belated card.

Their campaign has been highlighted by ITV News.

His daughter Kathy Hutchinson said shes disappointed her father didnt receive the card, especially given his lengthy and courageous military service.

He didnt get one because he wasnt part of the realm. Because he was born in southern Ireland, he didnt warrant a card, and hes never had one, she said.

I feel let down. I think he should have some recognition for the times that he went through.

I think anyone who fights for the country should be recognised for it, regardless of where they live or where they were born.

Mr OHara-Hutchinson was deeply traumatised by what he witnessed during the war, according to his daughter, and still cries out in his sleep, saying of the time: I just had to survive.

June Lane, a family friend and avid supporter of the campaign, said she recalls him speaking about the moment he and his regiment liberated Bergen-Belsen. More than 70,000 people were killed at the Nazi death camp and Lawrence and his fellow soldiers encountered a further 60,000 people dying from starvation.

Dubliner Lawrence O'Hara-Hutchinson was traumatised by what he saw in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp where the Nazis had murdered tens of thousands of civilians and left behind 60,000 more dying of starvation. Picture: Keystone/Getty

He was talking about the horror and he said to me, it wasnt right, it wasnt right, the people, people shouldnt be treated like that, she told ITV.

In reply, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said that residents outside of the UK must make an application with the relevant documentation in order for a card to be arranged.

As it is Their Majesties custom only to send messages to citizens of Realms or UK Overseas Territories, those born overseas, or who currently live overseas, must provide evidence of their British nationality, the spokesperson added.

Retired Irish Defence Forces Lieutenant Colonel Dan Harvey, who has researched the numbers of Irish people who served with the Allies during the war, said an estimated 125,000 Irish people fought with the British army.
Four former industrial home survivors who have been on hunger strike outside the Dail for 43 days have met with the Taoiseach but are continuing to refuse food as fears grow for their health.

Describing the two-hour meeting as "constructive", the group refused Micheal Martin's call to end their hunger strike in advance of talks with a negotiator  saying they fear "broken promises".

Maurice Patton OConnell, aged 57, from Caherciveen, Co Kerry; Mary Donovan, originally from Kerry but living in Tipperary; Miriam Moriarty Owens, also from Kerry, and Mary Dunleavy Greene all spent time in industrial schools and say they have been failed by the State for the past 26 years.

The four are refusing to eat, surviving on coffee and water. They are insisting they are entitled to a Health Amendment Act (HAA) card and a contributory pension, which they say were promised by the Government but have not been delivered as part of the industrial schools' redress scheme.

The Taoiseach met with the four hunger strikers on Wednesday night in Government Buildings, where they spoke for two hours.

They were joined by minister for education Helen McEntee and six other politicians.

Maurice Patton OConnell told the Irish Examiner that it was a constructive meeting and they are hopeful of a resolution.

We met the Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Helen McEntee. The Taoiseach asked us to come off the hunger strike," he said.

He did agree on a few things. We are feeling optimistic, we had a great discussion for two hours. But nothing was resolved."

Mr Patton OConnell said the Taoiseach has appointed a negotiator who is due to meet the group on Monday in an effort to resolve the outstanding issues.

He asked us to come off the hunger strike while we await the meeting on Monday, but we said no, because we have had promises broken in the past, so we dont have enough trust to do that.

I told him we are not backing down, and I am prepared to go all the way, and I said this should never have gotten this far."

The group had already met with Ms McEntee on the ninth day of the hunger strike, but failed to reach an agreement.

Micheal Martin told us he wont break any promises and that he does want to genuinely resolve the matter. I think he was genuine, it was a very different meeting, said Mr Patton OConnell.

If the meeting with the negotiator goes well on Monday, we will definitely end the hunger strike, but it all depends on the negotiations.

Mary Dunlevy Greene and Mary Donovan on day 40 of their hunger strike outside the Dail. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins photos

We were very clear with the Taoiseach that we are willing to sit down at the table and work it out.

We made that perfectly clear but like we said before, we are not doing this for four people, we are doing it for the last 4,000 industrial homes survivors.

We went through hell in those institutions, from beatings to sexual abuse; it is well documented by many of the survivors.

The four have been sleeping rough in a tent just yards from Leinster House, and medics have been checking on them regularly.

Mr Patton OConnell said he has lost at least four stone during the protest, which he will see to the end if I have to.
A man in his 20s has died following a suspected stabbing in Dublin on Saturday night.

Gardai said they are investigating "all of the circumstances surrounding the death" of the man following the incident in Tyrrelstown, a suburb north west of Dublin city.

It is understood that the victim  who has been named locally as Victor Mamaliga  was stabbed once in the chest during an altercation.

Garda cordons have been erected around the residential area, including across a wooded area at the edge of the housing development. An autopsy is expected today.

A spokesperson said gardai received reports of a disturbance at Curragh Hall Crescent involving a group of individuals at around 10.30pm.

"On the arrival of gardai, those involved had dispersed," the spokesperson said.

"A short time later, a male in his 20s arrived at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, with serious injuries. The male was subsequently pronounced deceased.

"A male in his 20s has been arrested by investigating gardai and is currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939, at a Garda station in the Dublin Region."

Gardai said the scene at Curragh Hall is currently preserved for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. The office of the State Pathologist has been notified.

A Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to lead the investigation from the incident room at Blanchardstown Garda Station.

A Family Liaison Officer has also been assigned to support the family of the deceased.

Gardai are now appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Blanchardstown Garda Station on 01 666 7000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

Investigations are ongoing, the spokesperson said.
An Irish woman who has made her home in Jamaica has launched a fundraising effort to help those whose lives have been devastated by Hurricane Melissa.

Orlagh Kilbride, 45, who is originally from Dublin, has been living in Jamaica for almost a decade, and described her heartbreak at the hurricane which lashed the island last week.

At least 19 people have been killed in the chaos brought by the category five storm, one of the most powerful ever measured in the Caribbean.

Ms Kilbride said they were the strongest winds she had ever seen, and she counted herself very lucky that Kingston, where she lives, did not bear the brunt of it.

But she said people were traumatised in the south and north west of the island, where some towns were destroyed and scores of people left homeless.

The beaches have completely eroded all the way up to the buildings, she told the PA news agency.

Weve had friends, that their buildings that were close to the beach and just collapsed. A lot of roof damage in that area as well, wooden structures just completely destroyed.

If you had a wooden structure, that was never going to survive any kind of wind, particularly these kinds of winds.

I spoke to somebody the other day, and they basically said that, you know, even in a developed country, buildings would struggle with 300km winds.

Theres been whole towns just completely destroyed, and Im not sure some of them will ever come back.

Theres about 30,000 people homeless, so just trying to get people back on their feet, thats what were trying to get the funds in for.

Ms Kilbride said it was much less severe in Kingston.

Although it was very strong for us it was nothing compared to what they actually had. They were worlds apart, she said.

The winds were loud, we did experience a lot of leaks, we lost a tree in our back garden. There were a lot of trees in our neighbourhood that came down.

Were in a newer house so I knew our house was going to be fine, so I wasnt fearful for our family, but we know a lot of people in St Elizabeth so we were worried for them.

Ms Kilbride said she has come to love the island and its people, and was heartbroken to see people who have lost everything they had.

She said there was a strong connection with Ireland, with 30% claiming Irish heritage, adding that, like the Irish, they love music, are funny, and know how to have a good party, some of the reasons her family fell in love with their new home.

This community in the south had just bounced back from a hurricane last year. Its really unprecedented for an island to get a hurricane year on year, like it just doesnt exist, she said.

So there was a huge amount of fundraising done last year, and pretty much all of that work has been wiped away. So were back to square one again, and the communities need even more help than they did before.

Weve set up the GoFundMe, and Im going to distribute whatever we make to two local local charities, and the Red Cross as well, because I know that these are reliable, so that we know that the money is going to the right people and for the right things, for food, for supplies and people will need building materials to try and get their homes back.

Her fundraising page can be found at GoFundMe.com.
A group pushing for the reopening of a railway line to Youghal in East Cork will meet with Irish Rail officials later this month given the "phenomenal" gridlock on roads into the town.

The East Cork Rail Alliance met with TDs and senators in Leinster House in September to lobby for the reopening of the line.

Passenger trains from Midleton to Youghal were discontinued in 1963, while freight trains continued to use the line until 1982.

Alliance chairman Michael Beecher says it makes sense to restart a passenger service which would link Cork City to Youghal, given the heavy volumes of traffic feeding to and from Cork City daily.

Mr Beecher said reopening the line for passenger travel would benefit not just Youghal, but also other areas of East Cork and west Waterford.

He said: It would be passing through Mogeely and Killeagh as well and it certainly would benefit the town of Youghal.

He described the gridlock on the N25 as "phenomenal" with people commuting from Dungarvan right up to Cork to go to Little Island, Ringaskiddy, and into Cork City, and said a lot of commuters are are driving to Midleton to get the train.

Youghal needs a boost. We have a bus service that is on the hour every hour but it gets caught up in the traffic.

A railway service would also benefit in attracting businesses to open in the town, according to Mr Beecher.

The group will meet with Irish Rail representatives at Kent Station on November 17 and will also meet with other local representatives from East Cork and Waterford over the next few weeks in a bid to progress their bid.

In February 2024, Irish Rail project manager AJ Cronin told the East Cork Municipal District Council that the reopening of the Midleton-Youghal railway line, or its use as a future rapid bus corridor, has not been ruled out.

He said that the width of the original land which was set aside when the railway was constructed is sufficient to build a twin track alongside the greenway.

He said that Irish Rail had inserted a clause in an agreement with the council on the construction of the greenway that it could use the route at any time if it wanted to reopen the railway line.